@stanjames@mstdn.social
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

stanjames

@stanjames@mstdn.social

I am an adorable kitten. In my heart. I write, draw, take photos and run, but not all at the same time.

I am also left-handed and have ink-smeared projects to prove it.

🏳️‍🌈 • Canadian • Bad hair

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

baldur, to random
@baldur@toot.cafe avatar

"Social media."

https://www.baldurbjarnason.com/2024/social-media/

Originally this was supposed to go out with today's newsletter but I figured it might be better to see if people have feedback on it before I send it out to the list

Basically just having some thoughts on how I approach my social media.

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@baldur I came across you here on Mastodon when someone boosted your blog post about how Apple doesn't "get" the EU. I found it so well-reasoned, I started following you (that sounds kind of creepy, doesn't it?), but like warning low flying owls (!) I stay silent. Always appreciate your POV, though!

matt, to random
@matt@isfeeling.social avatar

These don't really do it justice, but Alan Wake 2 looks astounding. The lighting in particular elevates everything beyond the more traditional “video game look”.

image/jpeg
image/jpeg
image/jpeg

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@matt I'd probably love this game, but wonder how it would run on my now lowly 2070. @matt, I think you have a 4070, right?

matt, to random
@matt@isfeeling.social avatar

Settle down about the Apple Pencil, nature is healing https://birchtree.me/blog/settle-down-about-the-apple-pencil-nature-is-healing/

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@matt I think you're mostly right, but I don't see Apple making the "Pro" pencil compatible with the base iPad (the inevitable 11th gen), because it's an obvious upsell. Buy a more capable iPad (Air, Pro), get a more capable Pencil. But it would still mean only two Pencils in the line-up, rather than four, so still an improvement!

matt, to random
@matt@isfeeling.social avatar

Yes, 100% this. Even if the DOJ made Apple do everything in their suit, I don’t think it would move the needle much on people switching to Android.

I do still believe it’s very problematic for one corporation to have absolute control over that software and business models are allowed to exist on the biggest, most important, and most influential consumer computing platform in the U.S.

https://overcast.fm/+B7NAWZ9uI/40:14

video/mp4

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@matt @gr36 I think there’s a couple other things, too. Apple has always had a reputation for making good (“premium”) devices, long before the iPhone even existed. That helps. Also, the iPhone line is fairly simply and comes from one company. Compare that to Android, where the experience ranges from throwaway budget phones to the Galaxy Ultra 24. Buying an iPhone is easy compared to looking at the Android options. And people trust the well-established brand.

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@matt @gr36 Yep, I agree, some people just prefer the choices Apple has made for its hardware and software.

matt, to random
@matt@isfeeling.social avatar

A few thoughts on the DOJ’s antitrust case against Apple https://birchtree.me/blog/a-few-thoughts-on-the-dojs-antitrust-case-against-apple/

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@matt You have a smart and sensible wife. :)

I like your take here. The DoJ case is probably overbroad, stretches weirdly in some ways, but will hopefully at least push Apple toward opening up more. I got a Garmin Forerunner 255 to replace my Series 5 Watch and now I can't respond to texts from the watch--and it's because Apple won't give third parties access to that. Pretty bad.

andyn, to random
@andyn@social.lol avatar

Firefox or Brave?

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@andyn 100% Firefox. Brave is skeevy, as is the CEO behind the company.

AbandonedAmerica, to random
@AbandonedAmerica@mastodon.social avatar

Lost in the depths of an abandoned power plant

See the rest: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/gould-street-power-station

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@AbandonedAmerica Fantastic shot. Love the light, composition and color. Basically everything. :)

matt, to random
@matt@isfeeling.social avatar

The Birchtree awards for movies I watched in 2023 that didn’t come out in 2023 https://birchtree.me/blog/the-birchtree-awards-for-movies-i-watched-in-2023-that-didnt-come-out-in-2023/

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@matt Ha, 100% with you on Sunshine. Great movie until...yeah. But still great. Also, the Jurassic movies are basically a line going down from the first one (which was and still is a great popcorn flick).

dangillmor, (edited ) to random
@dangillmor@mastodon.social avatar

I wish Mozilla hadn't broken the unified inboxes in Thunderbird. People with multiple email accounts have to constantly scroll up and down the folder pane, and it's a pain in the neck.

Update: As noted in the comments, the Favorites feature is a fine substitute for what's broken. In some ways (e.g. selecting only sub-folders you want to see routinely) it's even better.

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@HikerGeek @dangillmor Yep, I do the same! I monitor five email accounts and each inbox sits as a favorite at the top. Not the same as a unified inbox, but works well for me.

AbandonedAmerica, to random
@AbandonedAmerica@mastodon.social avatar

A bowling alley in an abandoned state hospital

Explore the rest: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/mayview-state-hospital1

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@AbandonedAmerica That is just plain weird.

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@AbandonedAmerica I admit I am rather ignorant of how these operated--partly because I'm afraid of what I'll find. Thanks for the insight! I'll have to hit your site and read up some more.

fraying, to random
@fraying@xoxo.zone avatar

Posting to my blog is so fucking frustrating now. I have to get off Wordpress. They have screwed the pooch so badly. I don't need blocks, I just need a decent writing environment. What a shame.

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@fraying The block editor is better for writing now than when it was introduced, but it's like getting a car with square wheels instead of no wheels. I'm looking around for a better solution myself, so sympathize with you 100%! (I wrote about this recently on my, yes, WordPress blog: https://creolened.com/im-kind-of-tired-of-wordpress/)

cabel, to random
@cabel@panic.com avatar

I’ve never been more excited to do a blog post.

My goal was to preserve some never-before-heard recordings of the Firehouse Five Plus Two, a famous Disney-employee dixieland jazz band.

But along the way, I accidentally uncovered something incredible… a lost song that was cut from Walt Disney’s Cinderella, a song that hasn’t been heard in almost 75 years.

And you’re about to hear it too.

Read now: 🌟 https://cabel.com/2024/02/13/firehouse-five-and-the-cinderella-surprise/

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@cabel Fantastic story. I sent you thucks®!

andyn, to random
@andyn@social.lol avatar

I wonder how much Apple could knock off the retail price of the Vision Pro by dropping that stupid front display? It looks like there are quite a few ‘luxuries’ or fluff elements that could be taken out to make a non ‘pro’ version, at a more sensible price.

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@andyn They should totally replace the front display with giant googly eyes. Come on, Apple, don’t be afraid to innovate!

AbandonedAmerica, to random
@AbandonedAmerica@mastodon.social avatar

The abandoned Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit, reputedly once the largest ruin in North America.

See the rest: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/packard-motor-car-company

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@AbandonedAmerica That photo is equal parts crazy and kind of cool.

BasicAppleGuy, to random
@BasicAppleGuy@mastodon.social avatar

An Ignorant Take on Vision Pro 🥽
I have been intrigued and puzzled by the Apple Vision Pro, so I thought it might be therapeutic to jot down my jostling thoughts about it all.
https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/itoavp

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@BasicAppleGuy I know Apple has a reputation for coming later into a market and dominating it (music players, tablets, smartphones), but I can’t see the Vision Pro being anything but a niche, just as VR remains a niche. No matter how amazing it (or any other headset) is, I just don’t think most people want to strap a headset to their faces and wear them for extended periods of time. If I’m wrong, everyone is welcome to Nelson “Haha!” at me. :)

AbandonedAmerica, to random
@AbandonedAmerica@mastodon.social avatar

The lobby of the abandoned Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Philadelphia

Gallery: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/most-blessed-sacrament-church

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@AbandonedAmerica Great composition with the rays of light (especially for a church)!

cabel, to random
@cabel@panic.com avatar

like looking in a mirror

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@cabel The alt text is a delight. I remember Egghead, we had one in Vancouver. I bought OS/2 there! It was right next to a Future Shop, two chains both long gone. I do not remember seeing these t-shirt designs and am thankful for that.

matt, to random
@matt@isfeeling.social avatar

The rise and fall (and rise?) of Birchtree https://birchtree.me/blog/the-rise-and-fall-and-rise-of-birchtree/

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@matt I can't remember how I found your site, but I've started reading more blogs in the last few years, not fewer! I do like getting the blog links on Mastodon, because it a) lets me know there's something new I might find interesting and b) I just need to click a link, which satisfies my inmate laziness.

My own blog has been running since 2005. This week it peaked at 15 visitors per day. This neither surprises nor bothers me because it's just random junk. :)

joesteel, (edited ) to random
@joesteel@duck.haus avatar

Poll for people that use a laptop and at least 1 external display.

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@joesteel My M1 MacBook Air, for reasons unknown, stopped working in clamshell mode for a long time. When it did I normally had it connected to two identical 27" displays. I had to use a StarTech USB to HDMI dongle for the 2nd monitor, but it worked. I kind of get why Apple regressed on multi-monitor support, but it's still a regression and they should feel bad about it. BAD!

matt, to random
@matt@isfeeling.social avatar

Bladerunner is my favorite sci-fi character https://birchtree.me/blog/bladerunner-is-my-favorite-sci-fi-character/

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@matt Worth it just for the awesome image you generated. 😄

matt, (edited ) to random
@matt@isfeeling.social avatar

Which does Tim open with tonight?

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@matt I had a good chuckle when they mentioned Myst. It's almost like an in-joke at this point. They did call out Baldur's Gate 3, though!

joesteel, to random
@joesteel@duck.haus avatar

Honestly, how funny would it be if instead of new Macs, Tim Cook walks out on stage and introduces a fourth Apple Pencil that has faster polling speeds and someone just demos drawing the Finder face? That would be a good laugh.

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@joesteel Titanium Apple Pencil (Fourth Generation).

matt, to random
@matt@isfeeling.social avatar

Person A: hey, I like this thing!

Person B: ugh, here are 5 reasons why that thing kinda sucks…

When I was younger, I appreciated Person B a lot more. Nowadays I’m much more like “my dude, why would you see someone expressing joy for something and try to bring it down?”

stanjames,
@stanjames@mstdn.social avatar

@matt I had thousands of posts on a forum that I'd been part of for 10 years and left it (quietly) when it became dominated by Person B (or rather, several B's). While debate and criticism are fine, it's usually pretty obvious when someone is expressing joy in something--and what kind of person wilfully dumps on that? My avatar is a kitten in part to remind me to be gentle and kind. :)

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • JUstTest
  • khanakhh
  • kavyap
  • thenastyranch
  • everett
  • tacticalgear
  • rosin
  • Durango
  • DreamBathrooms
  • mdbf
  • magazineikmin
  • InstantRegret
  • Youngstown
  • slotface
  • anitta
  • ethstaker
  • ngwrru68w68
  • cisconetworking
  • modclub
  • normalnudes
  • osvaldo12
  • cubers
  • GTA5RPClips
  • Leos
  • tester
  • megavids
  • provamag3
  • lostlight
  • All magazines
    •