2025-07-30 05:52:00
Energy prices have significantly increased in my state for many consumers.
Energy prices are going up for everybody because of increased demand coming from data centers, large manufacturers, electric vehicle owners, and electric heat pump users, according to NPR.
So these power users who are using large amounts of energy are causing prices to rise for everybody, and I don't think this is fair. I think we should have energy-consumption pricing brackets similar to how we have tax brackets.
If you use a low amount of energy each month (1 bedroom apartments), you should pay a lower rate for your energy than some mid-level users (two-story house + 2 electric cars), who should still pay a lower rate than high-usage consumers like data centers and manufacturing facilities.
These brackets would also incentivize home-owners, data-centers, and manufacturers to install solar to bring down their personal costs.
As it stands, poor people are subsidizing the middle class's energy consumption, and the middle class is subsidizing the data centers and manufacturers, and none of that subsidy is guaranteed to lead to public benefit or reduction of carbon emissions.
If the poor and middle class are to subsidize the wealthy, it should be through a tax and strategic development of our energy grid that will reduce costs and environmental impact in the long term, rather than laissez faire energy markets that punish the middle class and the poor without any guarantee of long-term improvements.
NPR Writes that energy prices (according to an interviewee) are up because of:
increasing demand from data centers and large manufacturing as well as procedural issues slowing down new renewable projects.
Another interviewee notes:
The increased demand stems from data centers, increasing adoption of electric heat pumps and the rise of electric vehicles, according to NERC.
So energy prices are increasing for everybody because of some energy consumers who are using more. This means that the poor people are subsidizing the high-users. I'm pro electric vehicle, but I don't think it's my responsibility to pay more for power because my neighbor got an electric car. It shouldn't be their responsibility to pay more for gas just because I have a pickup truck. (but I suppose they do, because of how supply & demand work)
So I would like to write to my legislators advocating for energy pricing brackets - those who use less energy should pay a lower rate per kWh. There should be at least three brackets - low consumption, average consumption, industrial consumption. I'd be open to four or five brackets - whatever makes sense based upon the data.
Now, how this should be legislated and how power companies should handle auctions for energy ... that's not my problem. That's something my legislators would need to figure out if they like the plan.
2025-07-30 04:27:00
I was trying to explain to a friend that 'AI Overview' and other AI text responses are not trustworthy, that the AI hallucinates. They said something like "I'm sure it's not just pulling it out of it's ass." It was hard to explain.
Then last night, they sent me a video of a bear jumping on a trampoline - except the whole video is AI generated. We discussed this, and how it is unsettling, and kind of obvious on a closer look.
And it clicked. AI Videos are generated the same way that AI text responses are generated. The Bear video is not a display of video that is in the AI's video archive. It is a generated approximation of what the video could be.
Similarly, when AI gives you text - it's not remembering or pulling from a knowledge-base. It is not understanding the topic and language. It's not regurgitating something it knows. It is generating text based on your prompt and the vast amounts of data it trained on.
While the generated images can be EXTREMELY convincing, sometimes perfect, and so can the generated videos, there's this inherent understanding that they're still fake, that the videos and images are not real, are not of the world, but are fiction created by a computer algorithm.
But when the generated content is text, when it is language, stated confidently, it gives the illusion of being factual, of being remembered, of being reliable.
Often times the text responses ARE accurate, ARE perfect. But other times, they are not. And in both cases, you're dealing with generation of text, not understanding of a topic, not human intelligence, not knowledge.
And AI can carry on convincing dialogue, that makes some wonder "Is it conscious?" But this too, is an illusion. It is generating dialogue based on inputs, based on prompts, based on mathematical algorithms. But it looks so much like the real thing, is so convincing, that it can trick us.
This fake dialogue convinces us the same way an ai-generated image convinces us. But with images and videos, we can often find the little things (the ball not moving right, the extra fingers, etc) that clue us in to how fake it is.
The text is much more convincing, but it's no more real, even when it's accurate.
P.S. AI overviews can undoubtedly be useful. Especially for topics that quite frankly don't matter, or that are easily validated - like if you want help troubleshooting a video game that's crashing. But this doesn't mean they should be trusted, especially for anything important, like legal briefs or fact-checking politicians.
P.P.S. The hallucinations and fake-ness are extremely apparent to me when I've used the A.I.s to generate code. Because they DO PRODUCE CODE, but often it doesn't work. But the AI always think its generated code is right. Because it doesn't actually understand code, it's just generating text.
P.P.P.S. While I would not trust AI for fact checking or research, I do think AI can be useful as a starting point, especially for a topic you're brand-new to. It can say some shit, then you can go do some actual research about the things it says.
2025-07-27 05:48:20
A story of an Ina (vampire) girl-woman (50ish years old, but looks like a 10 year old) who wakes up with no memories and finds a burned village and must figure out how to live as an Ina.
I really enjoyed this book. It is action-packed, characters are interesting, overall plot is good, and the Ina lore is a unique and interesting take on vampires. (maybe "action" packed is not the word, but it is fast-paced and very good, very well written, good storytelling)
I'm really put-off by the main character's sexual relations with a grown man. In this case he's not a creep because he's basically drunk on her venom and basically doesn't have control, but I'm weirded out by this. Everything else about this book is great. But this part is ... not chill IMO.
I really enjoyed reading the book. The creepy child thing knocks it out of being one of my favorites though. I'm curious if Butler has been interviewed about this aspect, and I'm curious what she's said about it. I've since read Kindred by Butler, and I will read more Butler.
2025-07-27 05:41:41
Orogenes are humans with magical powers to manipulate the earth. Guardians control them and rock-eaters are a whole other thing.
I loved this book. Very possibly my favorite fiction I've ever read. I don't care to say much about it now, but I really really loved it.
2025-07-16 09:46:00
The dev of inventorix emailed me offering a steam key to try out the beta. So here I will be putting my notes & feedback as I play.
Here's my previous review of the demo
I submitted my feedback on July 27th, 2025 after making some final notes. Most of my feedback was finished by July 23rd.
I may have more feedback at a later time, but that would go in a separate post
I started playing on July 15 and have been taking notes since then. 14.2 hours of gameplay as of now, and it is July 23rd today. Some of my notes may be outdated since Inventorix Beta has had some updates since I started playing & taking notes.
I love this game. It is a lot of fun, and who doesn't like a number go big game? There are various different builds that work well. Some are definitely unreasonably stronger than others, but since almost every strategy can win you a run, I'm not bothered by this. There is a lot of RNG, which I think works in Inventorix. Some games would not work as well with this much RNG, I think, but in Inventorix I really like it. However, it would be nice to have more RNG modifiers.
I have one huge issue with it, and it is the difficulty. There appear to be 20 levels of increasing difficulty, but the additional levels just don't really increase the difficulty much, and certainly not fast enough. There are also 10 different devices. Device #5 is proper difficult on higher Levels, Device #9 & 7 have some difficulty. But the device difficulty does not increase from left to right. That's not a big deal, but it's odd that Device #8 is easier than Device #5. Either way, the main issue is that difficulty doesn't meaningfully increase. I like some of the ideas of the increasing difficulties, but they happen too slowly, and with too small of modifiers.
There are also several aliens and some items that are ... utterly useless IMO. I don't mind that some items and aliens are relatively weak, but there are quite a few that seem like they are ... completely pointless to ever take.
And a big thing I want in this game is something to work toward. Perhaps a Device #10 that unlocks after beating all other devices. Perhaps a challenge mode that unlocks after beating all 20 levels + all devices. And then there could be a series of increasing challenges that drastically increase the difficulty. The final challenge could be to get infinity money. It might also be nice to have some build-specific challenges (earn 30+ with a single turtle) that unlock new items for selection in the shop.
ALSO, I'd LOVE to see a Bear item or Bear alien. I don't know what it would/should do, but I love bears and it would just make my day to have a bear alien or item (as long as it's good)
My MANY notes below are in no particular order. I hope some of these notes are helpful. I'm definitely a fan of this game and wishing for it to succeed. I still need to beat Device #5 & finish all the difficulty levels.
I like how the aliens look. Aliens seem stronger than when I played the demo, and it seems like there's more variety too. Definitely a good improvement. Productier is SO good.
Hovering on spaceball - shows descriptions of all spaceballs. I like this.
Being able to move all items with arrow keys is really great.
Underdoggy + Trigon + Planetoken is awesome. 131,076 on my final extraction (end of payment 8).
Seeing Gnomes for the first time at level 8 was very exciting.
Upgrading items - When you hold an item over an identical item (such that you upgrade if you drop the item), the extract money value doesn't change. It would be nice if it did. I was merging two teletubes together. With both down I make 8 money. With one picked up I make 4 money (this updates while I'm holding the teletube). After merging, I make 6 money. It would have been nice to see the 6 before merging.
It might be nice to be able to revert my setup to the start of the current turn. So, when I choose a new item, it saves the state of the board just before I place it. If I revert, then the newly chosen item would be in the discard area and all my existing items would be back where they were. I don't think such a feature is necessary, and being stuck with your choices is sometimes part of the fun, so idk I could actually go either way.
I think the extract button should be able to display up to 9,999 instead of doing x.xE3
A 'New Run' button in the 'Options' menu (during a run) would be nice. Should require confirmation before abandoning the current run for a new run.
When hovering on an item it says how much I made 'Last Turn' and its really hard to read the number (actually the number next to 'Gives' is hard to read too, but not as bad). I think partially because of the size, partially because it is a little greyed out or a little transparent? But also the blue color of the number on the dark background is just hard to read. The numbers in the text box (light grey bg) are easy to read. The black text 'Gives' on the dark background is also easy to read. But the blue on the dark bg is very hard to read. A setting to change the color might be nice, cuz it could have something to do with my monitor (a budget gaming laptop screen).
When text pops up (like 'Another Alien Unlocked') it would be nice to be able to click the text box to make it disappear, rather than waiting for it to timeout.
When picking items, some items overlap if next to eachother (TripleC, Oh-Ring, C-Shape)
Once I've started a run, I'd like a way to see what my current device does. Perhaps a question mark in the bottom right corner or in the options menu or something.
The first time I noticed the boss incoming, I was confused, and didn't know what it was doing. I thought maybe some "incoming" text on the boss's description might be good. But I think this was just something I needed to learn by playing.
When I want to re-work my entire inventory, I remove everything to the discard zone first. Once I do that, some items overlap, all items are overlayed with a discard value, and I can't tell what tier different items are. It would be nice if I could hide the discard values (maybe when I hover over one, all the overlays disappear? Or maybe a checkbox, but that seems cumbersome). It would be nice if like-items were next to eachother, or if there were a 'sort' button to do that when I want to. Some items also overlap eachother in the discard area. I wonder if the panel of aliens could move over (most of the way off the screen) to make room for more discard items so they don't overlap. I also can't tell what tier an item is while I am clicking-and-dragging it. This is fine normally, but a nuisance when dragging out of the discard area.
Level 10 says 'Encounter another Boss', but it seems like I still only see one boss on each run. Is it a harder boss? Or am I just not seeing one of the bosses? I think having two bosses would be great. (I have since realized that the spaceship shows multiple different bosses/aliens in it. I think hovering on the spacecraft OR any of the bosses could show the text boxes of all the bosses in the spacecraft)
When hovering over locked devices, it says "LOCKED: (text) to unlock". I think this would be fine without the "to unlock", or if it were "TO UNLOCK: (text)". Or if it were "(text) to unlock". Personally, I like "LOCKED: (text)". I just think having both is redundant though and makes it read a little awkward.
For items like Infinitoken and Everroll, that can level up tiers forever - Once you hit the max tier, I'd like to see what the next tier is. So Tier 3 gets moved to the middle of the listed tiers & I can see what Tier 4 is.
I'd like to access the Codex while in a run (and not have to return to the main menu)
In the first couple payments, it is possible but EXTREMELY difficult to hover over the bosses and see what they do, bc the icons are so small.
Communist alien (each existing item becomes common, but -3 items): -3 items seems a bit steep, -2 items might be better. I didn't have Starrosa when I selected Communist, but then I saw Starrosa and it said it was 'common' (codex says its rare), so I think 'existing item' may not be the best wording.
Might be nice if A.R. Row (items in a random grid row get 1 more per cell) would only choose from rows that have at least one cell unlocked.
Lord Tolken - I'm confused about what it does. 'Respawn' makes me think that I have to discard the token & then it would respawn in my inventory. But since it says "if you pick", I think it might spawn a second one even if I leave the token in my inventory, or maybe it's a 10% chance to appear in the shop after extraction. I don't think I've ever had the 10% chance be successful, despite having a token-heavy run once. Perhaps 10% is also too low a chance.
I like starting with a Selector, but I don't think I've ever seen one show up to add after extraction. (I assume this is because it is "unique". Perhaps "unique" items could drop still, but ONLY be used for upgrading an existing placement, so you still can't have two copies)
Jellius - "Gives combined value ..." Is it a sum of values or a product of values? (Cactoid also says "combined", and I'm assuming it is a sum)
Some tokens could be buffed. The token that gets you two rerolls - when merging two into Tier II or Tier III, you should get one extra reroll. The token that discards for 10 money when merged actually becomes worse. I think the Tier 2 should discard for 20 while generating 1 per turn so that Tier 2 is actually better than tier 1. The token that discards for 3 (I), 9 (II), and 27 (III) is significantly worse than the discard for 10. I like the idea of having a token that scales, but I think it should scale more - 3 (I), 27 (II), and 81 (III) or something. That way it actually becomes better than the other token if you scale it. (July 19 - I just noticed Infinitoken is now 4, 16, 64. This is great) (July 23 - I think 3, 27, 81 would be better than 4, 16, 64)
T1-Rex doesn't seem to add any difficulty. Only tier 1 items giving money doesn't matter since I'm already rich by the time payment 9 comes. (I since realized that the boss doesn't take money from what I've collected. I only realized this when playing Device #5. So yeah, actually I think this can be a good boss)
Tierexponix - I thought it would downgrade all my items by ONE tier, but it downgraded all of them to Tier 1. I think this is fine, but it should be more clear from the wording (I had tier 7 and tier 8 Everrolls)
Difficulty scaling is too slow IMO (playing device #0, though I have since played all the devices and feel the same way). I like that level 1 is limited classes, and that level 2 unlocks all classes. I like that Payment 6 is added at level 3. But making 6 payments isn't actually more difficult. It's more fun because I get to rock my build a little longer. But it isn't harder. Maybe Level 2 could be 'Add Payment 6 AND Blocker', then Level 3 is 'Add Payment 7 AND Obnox Elder'. Also Blocker & Obnox Elder could be more difficult. You could also add more blockers and/or more obnox elders on subsequent levels. Obnox Elder could be a permanent alien that is non-removable and/or close more cells. Perhaps it could add an alien slot. 5% increase in payments is not a big enough increase IMO. Only increasing payment on later turns (Level 9: Payment 8 +10%) is not a difficulty increase IMO. The only challenging part is getting a build going in the first few payments, since the money I'm generating scales by large multipliers, but the payments only scale by a small margin each time. Device #6 is the first time I've felt a meaningful difficulty increase (I've played devices 0, 3, & 4 before playing 6). Adding some device-specific difficulty increases would also be great - like Device 6 would be more challenging if I only got to pick 4 items instead of 5 or if it were 'Subtotal x2' (or x2.5). This would also add replayability because there would be more differences between runs with different devices. Device 9 adds some felt difficulty (for the early payments), but the cost of items should increase with each payment. Also, items costing money could be a difficulty on one of the levels instead of (or in addition to) being a device.
I was very excited to see Level 8 is going to have a Boss Encounter. The boss's ability was to make aliens and items that SPAWN only be common. I already had my build, so this didn't affect me (and wouldn't have affected me on most of my other runs either). (I had an AutoAdd III, CarrierMul, and TripleCIII, plus some big buffs from aliens/gnomes. Last turn I got 1.7E10 points!). I think some bosses just need to be more difficulty, or perhaps apply for an entire run, not just the last payment.
The Extract value is wrong when dealing with Wayfinders. AutoAdd (my only item) got me 6 last turn. So 'Extract' says it'll give me 6. It says this no matter where AutoAdd is placed (even if I know I'm getting less than 6). I also had this problem with AutoMul in another run. I think it should say 0+ like it does for the chance items.
Obnox Elder should close a free cell EVERY turn, or perhaps close 2 or 3 cells on the last turn and be impossible to remove. It's just not a real difficulty increase to have to spend an extra 10 to remove it in the first 5 turns.
Subtotalix - I was on payment 9 of device 7 with Subtotalix in an Alien slot. I discarded several items, then extracted. I only got a couple hundred thousand points for something that shoulda been like E15. And Subtotalix didn't depart. I completed the boss payment, though. The boss was just ... 2 fewer aliens and items offered iirc (I might have had another boss that I didn't notice. I'm not sure). I started Endless. On my next payment, subtotalix departed and I got 7E18 subtotal. (Also I'm wondering how Patron works with this device. I tried to test it, but failed the next payment so didn't get to find out.)
I had Multibonix AND Diversix selected. Diversix triggered & departed, but Multibonix did not. Multibonix DID trigger on the next extraction. (I have no issue with this if it is intended, but thought it might be a bug)
I'd like other items similar to the selector: Make a class of item LESS likely to appear (or cause a class never to appear, maybe at Tier 2 or 3), items of the target class spawn with an upgraded tier, items of a target rarity more/less likely to appear
Might be nice to have an item that increases the number of aliens I am able to have.
I'd like to upgrade aliens sometimes - especially the weak ones, like 'get 3 money if your extract value is a multiple of 3'.
Some of the aliens are too weak imo. There is good variety, and plenty strong ones, so I think weaker ones are okay, but I feel some of the are still too weak.
It might be fun to have some aliens that have both a positive AND negative effect.
I'd love to see a Device #10 that unlocks only when you've WON with devices 0-9 (maybe also having beaten the highest difficulty once). And possibly a device #11 that only unlocks when you've beaten the hardest difficulty with Device #10. With this, I'd feel like I'm working toward something. Perhaps a Device #11 could require me to get infinite money (perhaps on endless)
Device #5 unlock - 'without unsnapping any items' Does this mean to not select anything from the market? Or does this mean not moving anything in my inventory? Maybe both? (It means not moving items after I've placed them in my inventory. I think the wording is okay, but perhaps "without moving any items" would be clearer. I'm not sure)
Device #2 - Surprisingly added some difficulty. I really didn't expect it to, but it was definitely an added challenge dealing with my cells constantly closing. Though, I did a teletube build, and I'm sure I could have gone for something a lot stronger.
Device 8 - The deduction for opening cells is quite small and does not add difficulty imo, except maybe for the 2nd payment.
Device #5 is very difficult when getting the boss that only allows tier 1 items to make money. I think this is great. I think that boss could be good as a device instead (or as well).
2025-07-11 00:21:55
I'm reading Will Do Magic For Small Change by Andrea Hairston, which features almost exclusively black characters so far, some of whom (to some extent) use AAVE, and some who were described as having some kind of a southern drawl.
I'm used to reading books by white authors with white (or unspecified but probably white) characters. Characters are white in my mind unless a book says otherwise. And in my mind, their voices are also just like mine (I don't personify feminine voices either).
The thoughtspeak in my head (the imagined sound I hear as I read words, or especially as I read what a character is saying) almost never has any character to it. It's pretty flat, and has a stereotypical white tone to it, if anything.
Thing is - I can imagine black characters, see them in my head, and depict the different descriptions of their skin color ("So brown he's almost black" I read in another book recently). White characters never have their skin-colors described by white authors I've read, though we do range from basically paper-white to peachish to darkly-tanned italian-like.
But ... I don't hear different thoughtspeak. I think I could. But I would need to practice. I think it would be neat. And I think being able to hear different accents and tones could help me do impressions if I wanted to, too. I've never been good at impressions. (There's an irish character in Overwatch that I'd like to impersonate)
