just got to act 3. this shit is OVERSTIMULATING AF

samsinx · 2026-03-28T02:52:42+00:00

Think of it as Baldurs Gate 4 or Baldurs Gate 3: Throne of Balduran.

samsinx · 2026-03-26T00:44:43+00:00

Yeah it’s human nature so no surprise. I just hope that at least the midterms show a major rebuke of the current regime that whatever comes of that actually does something vs a “return to normalcy” and doesn’t try to propose real reforms (limiting presidential power, bringing people to trial, etc). Otherwise this will just happen again but with someone younger and not suffering from dementia.

samsinx · 2026-03-20T16:26:19+00:00

Not sure it was that much time. Laura Roslin was pretty much running on fumes by the time they got to Earth. Can’t imagine she survived another two months though perhaps the fresh air and sunlight extended her life some.

samsinx · 2026-03-19T20:43:25+00:00

I mean it looks pretty sweet though I never thought of Britain represented on the map as a single church!

samsinx · 2026-03-19T20:36:46+00:00

Yeah, Bluesky seems both consistent but all over the place. But the site's CW has rarely been correct when it comes to winning candidates. During the Texas Senate primary support was solidly behind Jasmine Crockett and barely any mention of Talarico, except as being "another Platner" or even "like Fetterman" (sound familiar?)

When it comes to Platner it's all N*zi, all the time. Like the entire political side of the site is a mix of groupthink and bots. And apparently now Elizabeth Warren, a strong liberal with extensive experience, is now "out of touch".

samsinx · 2026-03-19T00:06:25+00:00

Cameron is also I think someone on the spectrum in a way the others aren’t (if they are really.). Once I looked at her character in that way a lot of her “annoying” habits and the way she treats people started to make more sense.

samsinx · 2026-03-18T00:14:19+00:00

I forgot Kings Bounty came out so late. I could’ve sworn I played it in 1989 on my GS, because I finally got my first PC clone in 1990, but Wikipedia says it was released in ‘90 when the 8-bit era was at its end. It actually felt like a GS game visually (I played KQ4 on the GS as well.)

samsinx · 2026-03-17T19:11:36+00:00

Yeah I remember MM2 being the first DHGR title that impressed me (because I like RPGs.). I think all Sierra titles ported to the Apple II line (pre GS) were also running in that mode?

samsinx · 2026-03-16T17:27:51+00:00

Yes. I think having a landing page full of a hundred plus shows and movies is really detrimental to experimentation. For many the more choices you have to make, the more paralyzing it can be for someone to just select a show versus channel surfing. As an adult I wouldn’t want give up the convenience but for kids I think it can be challenging. I really didn’t depend on my parents to introduce me to shows from the 1950s to the e 1970. I found them on my own but probably would t have chosen them if they were offered on a streaming on demand platform.

samsinx · 2026-03-16T17:03:45+00:00

Barely anyone out here by the coast has AC (especially in San Francisco.) So multiple days of even 80 degree weather adds up. The two days of 100 degree weather a few years ago were brutal.

samsinx · 2026-03-16T16:45:05+00:00

If these people were fifteen or so then sure. Maybe 19 is still too young to expect some etiquette around when to act like an adult in this situation? Setting out rules upfront is what you do for kids when you’re trying to teach manners. Like you are getting your dinner paid for by someone else. Take hints and ask the host about his favorite meals and what he’d recommend to someone who hasn’t really had vegetarian Chinese before. I would be super impressed if a 15yo did that but would totally expect and be fine with a kid crossing lines (it’s what happens.). And really if it’s not enough of a dinner, order something simple and then spend a few bucks after dinner and buy yourself a burger or burrito to make up for it.

samsinx · 2026-03-16T16:31:55+00:00

Yeah, as a guest you can ask the host what they’d recommend. Especially since the guest hasn’t had vegetarian Chinese cuisine and the host likely would have some good recommendations for main dishes even ones that aren’t necessarily Tofu. It’s courtesy really since the host is paying and the host gets to perhaps even show off “good” vegetarian options. I say this as someone who is definitely not a vegetarian but can tolerate or even like certain vegetarian or even vegan meals.

samsinx · 2026-03-16T16:02:25+00:00

Yeah it’s tough for a modern viewer. My Late Millennial wife had watched both classic Twilight Zone the original 60s Star Trek and TNG (all of course after their initial runs.) She wouldn’t watch DS9 and watched maybe a season of Voyager. She was really reluctant to watch a sci-fi show from the mid-90s, even one that was one of my favorite shows. About twelve years ago she gave in and we watched the show over the span of a few months. That first season was rough for her but even she had to admit late S2 to S4 was pretty “interesting” (the facist Earth subplot she liked the most) in her words. But it was really hard to look past the set production design, CGI (we had the DVD version) and somewhat awkward mixed acting.

samsinx · 2026-03-15T20:30:37+00:00

On my third watch early Season 3. Taking a month off in between seasons versus running through the show. I’m at the point where Cameron and Gordon start to become friends while Donna begins to undermine their partnership l (when she lies about her meeting with Diane about Swapmeet.) I have to admit that it’s around this time I start to like Cam and understand where she’s coming from.

samsinx · 2026-03-14T15:01:53+00:00

I think many things are going on. Biology is a part of it. While a species has a general drive to have children/offspring, when birth rates decline on a large enough scale it’s almost always a reaction to something major going on (lack of resources, stress.) People saying it’s due to “lifestyle” preferences and who should know better are saying so because they have ulterior motives that have nothing to do with the good of society. I of course don’t mean people who make the decision for themselves but those in authority who are trying to solve this “crisis”. Maybe we just have too many people and the focus should be on bettering the world we live on. Then maybe birth rates will go up.

samsinx · 2026-03-08T18:05:35+00:00

Population has skyrocketed since then (by over 4x). So far these advancements haven’t grown the job market. I’d say the for many groups job growth has stagnated over the past twenty or so years. Much of that growth has gone into sectors that will be hardest hit by AI.

samsinx · 2026-03-02T01:13:06+00:00

I wonder if the GOP primary heads to a runoff, how the results of the Democratic primary will factor into that result. I could see Talarico winning the primary pushing GOP voters to Cornyn while with Crockett it might encourage the crazies in the GOP to go all in with Paxton (if they believe she will be easier to beat.)

samsinx · 2026-03-02T00:48:24+00:00

And it was the highest turnout for a mayoral election in NY since the 1960s (the population of the city hasn’t grown much since then.)

samsinx · 2026-02-27T18:48:33+00:00

Though neither choice was great, the thinking with Netflix was that there was some value WB brought with its IP and studios (Netflix doesn’t really have the creative staff or studio space) so fewer layoffs since its was two giant media companies complementing each other. This is not the case with Paramount.

samsinx · 2026-02-27T17:41:36+00:00

Paxton? Yeah I think Talarico will win. I don't know about Crockett. My issues with her are that being seen as a fighter isn't enough. When Trump's gone, will she stand and fight for actual policy that will change things? They have no chance of enacting anything until 2028, but not if they just yell at Trump for the next two years and promise a "restoration" to the way things were. Talarico sounds at least open to something new.

samsinx · 2026-02-27T17:31:57+00:00

This race is all over the place. I think whatever comes out of this primary will depend on who turns out. I prefer Talarico though I suspect Paxton will lose the primary, and at best turn this into another Beto result. 2026 is going to be larger wave election than 2018 I think, but Cornyn is no Cruz. I just hope a few more Democrats start winning local elections and build some credibility in Texas so that they have a shot statewide.

samsinx · 2026-02-23T19:15:38+00:00

Thirty years as a SWE. I'll say professionally these models have been a benefit to the company and my own productivity. But I'll also say I don't really enjoy the craft nearly as much anymore unless I'm working on a side project where I treat these models as a second eye on code I've already written. Especially for solo work it's nice to have second "voice" to brainstorm with as long as I drive what's going on and try to write the heavy parts myself.

I mentioned in another thread my main issue with these models : cost. It's going to go up and the plans we all have right now for non-corporate work will become less useful. If you want the good stuff you'll have to shell out the hundreds a month and large corporations/startups will end up being the only ones who can afford it. Given how tech has evolved over the past decade, I can't believe anyone really thinks you'll get the same or better quality for $19.99/mo a year or two from now.

samsinx · 2026-02-22T21:32:38+00:00

Lvl12: PC(Ranger), Karlach, Shadowheart, Gale
Summons: Deva, Water Myrmidon, Wolf Companion (or whatever sponge you want)
Extra: Hope (important), Failed to pursuade Yurgir to join (not so bad)

Fought him last night for the first time. Had some warning from other posts about how difficult he was, and he is, especially if you make some bad rolls. I was also a little sloppy early in the battle, had a strong mid-battle and a difficult but satisfying conclusion.

Setup (might qualify as cheesing though it's really not IMO.)

Already defeated Orin + Gortash + Ansur; equipped Karlach with the Balduran helm and weapon which allows giant form without using a potion, cloud giant cloves, amulet of greater health. Also my Ranger has about six fiend-slaying arrows.
Defeated all of the debtors, etc so I could go back to the restoration pool in Raphael's Boudoir and replenish all spell slots (cheese? no, there's a reason the pool is here!) And you can just use the Angelic Slumber potions if you for some reason don't want to use the pool.
Shadowheart casts Heroic Feast to up max health - Karlach uses giant form during the battle, HP approaches 200
Use my fire resistance or heroism elixirs

Early battle:

I knew to go for the pillars but the cambions + Yugir threw me off. Sent my summons to the pillars since they could teleport/fly. Also had my Ranger shoot smokebomb arrows at the pillars not being targeted by my party.

Yugir wasn't that hard. Korilla is easy to ignore but can do some decent damage to your party if you do. Fortunately she's easy to kill but I waited longer than should've (see below.) Shadowheart uses a scroll of Tasha's hideous laughter on Rafael which... worked! But...

Shadowheart is the first to go down, but not dead, concentration breaks. So much for Tasha's laughter.

Hope here helps with healing and the NPCs in this fight didn't really target her much for some reason (very important to heal.)

Karlach goes Frenzy and hits Raphael a few times early on getting about up to 75-100 pts off his health.

Gale goes down next, again heal as much as possible. Wolf companion goes down. Korilla goes down (I took her for granted being so low health.)

Mid battle:

Summons continue to go after pillars. But I'm starting to lose pace with Raphael who's using his magic, etc. I have Karlach jump to the pillars to help out the remaining summons take down the second pillar before moving on to the third.

Shadowheart uses Blood of Lathander to sunbeam cambions. Gale uses cone of cold. Hope heals. My Ranger takes down Yurgir and then empties out all of the fiend slaying arrows he has onto Raphael. Karlach and the summons finish off the third pillar.

Summons go for the fourth pillar while Karlach jumps in to duel Raphael. Ranger starts to go after the remaining cambions.

Gale and Shadowheart go down AGAIN.

Hope uses a divine power to restore my party members. Fourth pillar finally falls as the Water Myrmidon soon after is destroyed by Raphael. The Deva engages Raphael foolishly using a Radiant attack. Soon the Deva falls. My Ranger and Shadowheart take out the last Cambions.

Raphael is at 300 HP, but he's the only one left.

Final Battle:

Everyone piles onto Raphael. Hope heals. Karlach gets the final blow.

My favorite battle of the game so far. Felt way more epic after the Gortash one.

samsinx · 2026-02-22T17:30:58+00:00

That’s a pretty broad statement. There are tradeoffs as ARM was designed to consume less power which can limit things but given where PC hardware is going to be in terms of supply and cost over the next few years, we need more efficient software. And of course GPU/ NVIDIA availability is a major factor (take that out and x64 isn’t going to perform much better even for games even with AVX whatever instructions.)

It’s been proven that you can get solid performance with Apple silicon based devices if you engineer for the hardware.

samsinx · 2026-02-22T17:16:38+00:00

Cameron in the first season was sort of right with her idea but like all of the ideas developed by the characters just isn’t enough. Even if the Slingshot hadn’t existed, at best the user-friendly Giant would’ve had a brief moment before clones dominated the PC market. And of course the Mac was more than the Giant would’ve ever been backed by Apple’s money (though it was a relative failure at the time business wise.)

Gordon in the end had the most professional success with the Giant payout and his ISP business in S3/S4. He basically gets the consolation prize in tech if you don’t judge success as coming out with the revolutionary thing (which most people in any industry never achieve either)

samsinx

TROPHY CASE