The Column
Public Service Announcements, mostly having to do with things you can spend money on. I guess ‘tis the season.
PSAs
A Good Computer
I recently got the new Mac Mini M4, base model. No upgrades. On Black Friday sale at Costco it was marked down from its MSRP of $599 to a very hard to pass up $499. I have used this new insanely small computer for a couple weeks now, the thing rocks. Used it for development work, pushing two 4k monitors at one point. I did some light video editing on it - including color corrections and effects - and it has yet to show any semblance of a hiccup. This coming year I will put it through its paces as I try to learn Fusion360 for CAD Modeling.
If you’re nearing the market for a new computer, this looks to be a great choice.
A (Bad) Free Game
As of the posting of this column, you can click this link to do my puzzle box for 2024 for free - no box required!
What you need:
- A computer (or tablet, maybe, but not your phone)
- Approximately 30 minutes, depending on how you do
- End of list
That’s right! After multiple years of puzzle boxes that only ~12 groups got to play, this one is available with an online only option.
(Good) Free Games
I’ve decided I don’t play enough games in my life. I’ve solved that recently via a few avenues I’d like to make sure my reader knows about.
New York Times Games app - gives you access to a bevy of free word-based games. Everyone was into the Wordle a few years back. They are still going with that, and several other similar-ish games. Great way to spend some (but not all of your time)
Netflix games - Did you know, if you have an active Netflix subscription you also have a subscription to a host of games on Apple’s App Store? Sure some (most) of them don’t interest me, but there are a few good & critically-adored games too. Examples:
- Kentucky Route Zero (which I stopped playing due to time constraints)
- Rise of the Golden Idol (which I’m playing now)
Amazon Prime games - Did you know, if you have an active Amazon Prime subscription you also have a subscription to a host of games on the web? As I wrote about in Column 453, I played Fallout: New Vegas recently. What I didn’t share there was that I played it through my iPad browser using a PlayStation Controller without signing up for anything or paying a $0 on top of my regular Prime Subscription. This was using a cloud gaming service Amazon runs called Luna that I hadn’t known about. You can click this and probably play Fallout for free within a minute.
A Good Application of AI
I came across a good application of ChatGPT recently. In creating the intro video to “Brief Mystery”, I utilized Final Cut Pro on my aforementioned awesome computer. I have not worked with Final Cut before, so I didn’t know how to do very basic things like color corrections, clip splitting, slip-editing, and changing the export settings. I Googled some stuff and found semi relevant forum posts, but wasn’t satisfied. I turned next to ChatGPT and asked for help - holy crap it was like having someone sitting next to me who knew what I was trying to do and coached me through the button presses and keyboard shortcuts. It was awesome.
If you're struggling to work a new software application, try asking ChatGPT
Next Up:
Column 467 will my annual “2024 → 2025”-type post. I’m writing it just in time to use my fancy spreadsheet new and improved Data Journal.
Top 5: Terms I Don’t Know the Difference Between
5. Parable
4. Allegory
3. Fable
2. Metaphor
1. Simile
Quote:
A song lyric. I don’t often do this, but this one has been stuck running on a loop in my mind the past few weeks.
As we leave the front pages in bed
With the war raging on in our heads
I could write a swath a humanity off
Cause of something that I just read
But I don’t wanna fight fire with fire
And I don’t want to preach for the choir
Giving just as much hell as I get
To people that probably like if I metSo whether these days leave you laughing or crying
If your doing you best to be kind
This land is as much yours as mine - Chris Thile