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ratralsis.bsky.social
Software dev, writer, occasional miniature painter, and cat owner in Columbus, Ohio. If you see a Ratralsis on the internet, it's probably me. Name rhymes with "duh-pal-sis."
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Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.

submitted 44 days ago • 707 comments

Call me radical, but I think there's something structurally wrong with an economy in which one man can lose $122 billion and still have so much left that it doesn't even touch his standard of living.

submitted 55 days ago • 1 comment

Everyone wants there to be a grand scheme behind all of this but the terrible truth is that extremely stupid people are in charge and they have a fanatical devotion to wrong, childlike concepts of society and economics cooked up by right wing radio hosts in order to sell tainted dietary supplements

submitted 77 days ago • 1027 comments

This little bastard has no idea that he turns 16 this year.

submitted 78 days ago • 0 comments

My team of a large Flapdragon and large Serpent of the Scales managed 30 wins and 0 losses. But it was my second attempt for the day (my first was with a deliberately weaker team to try to get a prize I wanted), so I don't know what the prize would have been for sure. I think it's the same as 29/30.

submitted 83 days ago • 0 comments

I feel like I've kind of proven my point by getting this far, but it's annoying that the prize isn't as good as the one for winning 24/30.

submitted 86 days ago • 1 comment

Beat the final boss, and the hidden boss, of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince today, with my level 100 party of A-rank monsters that had nearly maxed stats. Immediately took on the post-game bosses. Took me 204 hours. Monsterpedia 84.1% complete.

submitted 93 days ago • 0 comments

No game has ever made me say "I wish I weren't like this" more often or sincerely than Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. I was 95 hours into the game before I finished the fourth area (of 18). I'm now 150 hours in, still haven't beaten it, with a spreadsheet of 32 monsters I need to farm next.

submitted 100 days ago • 1 comment

I just bought the most expensive chair of my life (a Steelcase) and all I can think is man oh man I hope I still like it in two months (I have 14 days to return it and a 2-year warranty but am still worried even though I've spent the last three years not liking the chair I already have)

submitted 119 days ago • 0 comments

My morning cup of instant decaf coffee, fresh outta the microwave. Obviously I put the metal straw in last.

submitted 154 days ago • 0 comments

Told someone who asked me about my game recommendations for Switch that I liked Dragon Quest XI S. They asked if they would be able to follow the story without having played earlier games in the series. I told them "Well, the short answer is," then wrote a 2300-character text. I am bad at brevity.

submitted 154 days ago • 1 comment

I made that offhand comment about how one of the only options to play Dragon Quest VI was to buy an expensive copy for DS on eBay, and, well, one "make an offer" later, my $107 used CIB copy (including tax and shipping) is on its way. I guess it's good that I have no strong attachment to IV or V.

submitted 157 days ago • 0 comments

Like all cats, he moves when the sun moves. First picture is around 12:45 PM, second is around 3:15 and in the sunbeam of a different window. He's lucky that his newest cat tree is in the path as the sun sets. He has three of that cat tree, in different rooms, because the top is big enough for him.

submitted 161 days ago • 0 comments

All this playing dragon quest 3 really makes me want to play dragon quest 6 again. Maybe in 5 or 10 years that trilogy will get remakes, too, but until then, my options are smartphone versions that don't let me transfer saves, emulating the DS version, or buying the DS version on eBay for $100+.

submitted 161 days ago • 1 comment

This week I decided to go back to a higher making temperature for my dozen cookies, but kept the shorter time. The goal was to get a darker brown and a crisper outside on them while keeping them soft inside. I think they turned out pretty well, but I've also never had any turn out, like, bad.

submitted 161 days ago • 0 comments

Today's dinner: 610-calorie Thanksgiving-inspired tortilla pizza. Flour tortilla: 220cal 70g canned whole cranberry sauce: 110cal Oregano 2 oz (56g) mozzarella: 180cal 2 oz (56g) sliced deli turkey: 100cal Bake at 350F for 6-7 minutes in toaster oven on parchment paper. Let cool, fold in half, eat.

submitted 168 days ago • 1 comment

Anywhere from 2 to 8 inches of snow Sunday night, another 2 on Monday, when I'm expected to show up to the office to give a presentation. If there's really half a foot or more of snow on the road, I don't think I can physically go anywhere. Just have to hope nothing breaks (like my roof or furnace).

submitted 168 days ago • 0 comments

Less than 4 months after the last time someone from Spectrum came by to fix my internet issues, someone from Spectrum is coming by to fix my internet issues. I can't say strongly enough how much I hate this situation.

submitted 170 days ago • 0 comments

Made a pizza last night with a premade crust from Kroger's, a few spoonfuls of sauce, and 2 oz of mozzarella. It looks pathetic, but it folded in half like a calzone and went down pretty well anyway. Going to see if I can make more complicated pizzas in the future.

submitted 174 days ago • 0 comments

And so, with a whimper, not a bang, my 230 hours of Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remake on Switch come to an end for now. I've filled the bestiary, leveled 9 characters to 99 (Hero, 4 Thieves, 4 Martial Artists, each of whom know every skill), boosted stats hugely, wished every wish, and beaten Zoma solo.

submitted 178 days ago • 1 comment

My Curiosity Stream subscription renewed for $30 and I *immediately* got an email from @nebula.tv telling me that I wasn't subscribed to them anymore, but could be again for only ANOTHER $30. It took six days for support to get back to me to say yep, I was just screwed.

submitted 179 days ago • 1 comment

Saw Sonic 3 at the nearby theater. First time I've seen a movie by myself in over ten years. It was... Fine. If there's another sequel, I'll go see it, too. I liked it when Shadow did the Akira slide on a motorcycle. I didn't like things I probably shouldn't spoil.

submitted 181 days ago • 1 comment

I got Rusty's Retirement from @humblebundle.com and started it yesterday and goddamn it's exactly the kind of stupid incremental game that I go insane over. Not sure if that's good or bad yet! It's probably bad! But I'm playing it!

submitted 184 days ago • 0 comments

For this week's batch of cookies, I took them out 30 seconds earlier and left them sitting on the baking sheet until they were cool enough that I lifted them off barehanded. They definitely fully baked, brown on the bottom, and were a little chewier than last week's. Calling it a success for now.

submitted 185 days ago • 1 comment