Crespyl's recent activity
-
Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin in ~books
-
Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin in ~books
Crespyl Link ParentI thought the use of a conlang in Pravic was interesting as well. Today, to my understanding, Sapir-Whorf/lingustic relativity is considered largely discredited (at least in the strong form) but...I thought the use of a conlang in Pravic was interesting as well. Today, to my understanding, Sapir-Whorf/lingustic relativity is considered largely discredited (at least in the strong form) but it remains interesting. I do think that even within an existing language, choosing to use specific phrasing can influence how we approach a problem, to cool a heated argument, or to gently express a conflict without offending.
There's an interesting contrast between Pravic and Orwell's Newspeak, 25 years prior. Pravic is constructed and adopted communally from whole cloth, while (IIRC, it's been ages since I read it) Newspeak was something of a butchery of an existing language.
Pravic by design must be flexible enough to support the "permanent revolution" and shifting ideas, while Newspeak is all about limiting the ability to communicate/think complex ideas or dissent.
I loved the use of a single word for "work" and "play", it's a refreshing reminder of what our work can or should be like, the idea that the human spirit naturally desires to exert itself in a meaningful way.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Crespyl Link ParentI've also been digging further into Animal Well, really enjoying it. I've just gotten to 32 eggs, not sure if I'll go for all 64, but I'll definitely poke around a bit more with the newest rewards...I've also been digging further into Animal Well, really enjoying it. I've just gotten to 32 eggs, not sure if I'll go for all 64, but I'll definitely poke around a bit more with the newest rewards and items I've found.
I kind of disagree with the Outer Wilds comparison (though a lot of people have been making it), AW is much more explicitly gated by having the right items, and there's not really any narrative outside of some hints and design elements that you can try to interpret.
That said, the creativity and sense of discovery when you realize the clever ways you can use the items you get does remind me of the way I felt playing OW or The Witness for the first time.
-
Comment on Tildes Book Club - How is it going with The Dispossessed? in ~books
Crespyl LinkI finished it sometime last week. Definitely enjoyed it, although I had to take a bit of a breather after some of the events about halfway through. My copy also has two chapters that are in all...I finished it sometime last week. Definitely enjoyed it, although I had to take a bit of a breather after some of the events about halfway through. My copy also has two chapters that are in all caps for no obvious reason that I took my time getting through. I don't like it when my book is shouting at me.
I'm interested to see what everyone thinks of it!
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Crespyl LinkAnimal Well released today, and it's pretty great so far, a few hours in. It's sort of a mix between a metroidvania and a puzzle platformer, and it feels like there's layers of things to uncover....Animal Well released today, and it's pretty great so far, a few hours in.
It's sort of a mix between a metroidvania and a puzzle platformer, and it feels like there's layers of things to uncover. I've collected two macguffins out of three (maybe four?), and I'm loving the items and the creative ways you can use them.
Spoilers for an item
I just accidentally discovered that the disc/frisbee can be ridden on, and I'm only just now beginning to think of places to apply that. And that's on top of what you can do with the bubble wand.It really feels like one of those games that rewards curiosity and exploration, in a way that reminds me a little of Rain World. I highly recommend trying to avoid spoilers, it's definitely the kind of game you want to go in blind if possible.
-
Comment on Leslie Fish - Carmen Miranda's Ghost (1989) in ~music
Crespyl LinkI recently came across Vixy and Tony's cover of Dawson's Christian and have been on a "space shanty" kick since then. Carmen Miranda's Ghost is an album by Leslie Fish (and some from Vic Tyler)...I recently came across Vixy and Tony's cover of Dawson's Christian and have been on a "space shanty" kick since then.
Carmen Miranda's Ghost is an album by Leslie Fish (and some from Vic Tyler) featuring a number of such space shanty "filk" songs.
-
Leslie Fish - Carmen Miranda's Ghost (1989)
3 votes -
Comment on What are some non-science-fiction books that are deep, insane, mind-bending, etc? in ~books
Crespyl Link ParentTo some extent, if one exists! You'd be missing out on the Escher illustrations and other diagrams which are frequently referenced. He gets into quite a bit of "mathy" stuff that might be hard to...To some extent, if one exists! You'd be missing out on the Escher illustrations and other diagrams which are frequently referenced. He gets into quite a bit of "mathy" stuff that might be hard to follow in audiobook form.
The dialogues and maybe the first third or so would translate decently well, which might be enough to decide if you'd find it worth getting a physical copy to better follow along.
-
Comment on What are some non-science-fiction books that are deep, insane, mind-bending, etc? in ~books
Crespyl (edited )Link ParentI've probably read GEB almost ten times (maybe more), starting at around age 10-12, most recently a couple years ago. It's one of my favorite books, and made an indelible impact on how I think...I've probably read GEB almost ten times (maybe more), starting at around age 10-12, most recently a couple years ago. It's one of my favorite books, and made an indelible impact on how I think about formal systems, logic, and consciousness.
The first few times I struggled with the prose, but the cool pictures and diagrams, and especially the fantastic dialogues kept me going. The way Hoftstadter works his themes into the structure of the dialogues as well as their content is delightful; I remember one where Tortise and Achilles are going back and forth on a theme, their lines making a certain pattern, then Crab shows up right in the middle, says something sideways that turns the dialogue on its head, and then Tortise and Achilles reverse their pattern, ending with each of them having taken up the others original position. (Edit: I had to look it up, it's "Crab Cannon" paired with the Escher print and Bach compositions of the same name)
I'd say the book is worth it for the dialogues and illustrations alone, even if you just skim the rest, though you may find yourself drawn in anyway.
If you enjoy GEB, I can also recommend Hoftstadters Metamagical Themas, which is a collection of articles he wrote for Scientific American. It's similarly full of interesting ideas and playful explorations.
-
Comment on Tildes Book Club - Voting thread 2 in ~books
Crespyl (edited )Link ParentI'd like to be added to the list if you don't mind. I'm looking for my next read and would love to join in.I'd like to be added to the list if you don't mind. I'm looking for my next read and would love to join in.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Crespyl LinkI've started playing Grounded with my brother, they ran a free weekend on Steam these past couple of days, and we both decided to pick it up during the sale. It's a fun survival crafter that runs...I've started playing Grounded with my brother, they ran a free weekend on Steam these past couple of days, and we both decided to pick it up during the sale.
It's a fun survival crafter that runs great on my Steam Deck, and has a lot of fun world to explore. The tone is a lot sillier than something like The Forest, but it feels internally consistent and very cheesy 90's. The tiny world setting reminds me a bit of Supraland, which is no bad thing.
-
Comment on Best "dad" jokes and puns! in ~talk
Crespyl LinkWhere does King Arthur keep his armies? In his sleevies!Where does King Arthur keep his armies?
In his sleevies!
-
Comment on How do you organize your phone's home screens and apps? in ~tech
Crespyl Link ParentI'll second Niagara, it's one of those "opinionated" tools that can be kind of love-or-hate, but I happen to love this one. The only annoyance is the "recently-used" sort order within the...I'll second Niagara, it's one of those "opinionated" tools that can be kind of love-or-hate, but I happen to love this one.
The only annoyance is the "recently-used" sort order within the alphabetic sections doesn't always seem to work the way I'd want, but on the whole I've really liked it.
-
Comment on Eclipse plans in ~talk
Crespyl Link ParentNot this year, but I got some cool pictures of the partial eclipse through leaves back in 2017! A really surreal effect.Not this year, but I got some cool pictures of the partial eclipse through leaves back in 2017! A really surreal effect.
-
Comment on Eclipse plans in ~talk
Crespyl LinkMy family had a small gathering at my uncles house, right in the path with ~4 minutes of totality. I was not prepared for how abrupt the switch over from 99% to 100% was, almost like someone hit a...My family had a small gathering at my uncles house, right in the path with ~4 minutes of totality.
I was not prepared for how abrupt the switch over from 99% to 100% was, almost like someone hit a switch and replaced the sun with a ring of light.
Really one of the coolest things I've ever seen.
-
Comment on Apple has kept an illegal monopoly over smartphones in US, Justice Department says in antitrust suit in ~tech
Crespyl Link ParentThis can certainly be done with an HTPC setup, but that takes work and space compared to having all the tech built into the display. It's also getting harder (though not impossible, yet) to find...This can certainly be done with an HTPC setup, but that takes work and space compared to having all the tech built into the display.
It's also getting harder (though not impossible, yet) to find "dumb" TVs, especially if you care about things like 4k or HDR.
-
Comment on Adult Swim Games titles are being pulled from stores by Warner Bros in ~games
Crespyl LinkI'm pretty sure Rain World was published by Adult Swim, I really hope that one doesn't get pulled too. This kind of thing always baffles me, I really think there should be some kind of protection...I'm pretty sure Rain World was published by Adult Swim, I really hope that one doesn't get pulled too. This kind of thing always baffles me, I really think there should be some kind of protection against just pulling creative works like this. If the rightsholder no longer wishes to commercialize a work, and isn't willing to sell it to someone who will, IMO it should revert to the creators or else the public domain after some deadline.
-
Comment on KDE Plasma 6 is (mega) released in ~tech
Crespyl Link ParentThanks for all the hard work! I've been a KDE user since Xandros was a thing, and it's been a great experience, thanks to people like you making it possible!Thanks for all the hard work! I've been a KDE user since Xandros was a thing, and it's been a great experience, thanks to people like you making it possible!
-
Comment on Collapse comments? in ~tildes
Crespyl LinkOn a slight tangent, having a Hacker News-style "next" button to skip to the next sibling comment might be a helpful way to navigate precisely past long/already read comments.On a slight tangent, having a Hacker News-style "next" button to skip to the next sibling comment might be a helpful way to navigate precisely past long/already read comments.
-
Comment on Monday, April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse: where and when in ~space
Crespyl Link ParentThat's a nice tool! I also like the timeanddate one, which (at least on mobile) lets you zoom in the map a little more, nice if you're trying to make travel plans. The last one went right next to...That's a nice tool! I also like the timeanddate one, which (at least on mobile) lets you zoom in the map a little more, nice if you're trying to make travel plans.
The last one went right next to where I was living at the time, and this time around, despite having moved across the country, the totality goes just south of my city. I'm looking forward to seeing the full thing this year.
I think without Shevek's effort to tear down the wall between Anarres and the rest of the world, it would have been a story about how this "ambiguous utopia" becomes more ambiguous and less utopia, contracting inward and becoming calcified by it's growing implicit bureaucracy (Sabul, the PDC) and hostility to revolutionary ideas (Shevek's playwright friend who went/was pressured into the asylum).
Instead, his choice to leave and then return drives home the theme of "permanent revolution" by demonstrating the importance of continuing to exchange ideas, continuing to test your foundations and convictions, to trust their strength as enough to withstand the world outside the utopian cloister.