sbf

Whenever I see a community as the top search result that isn't on .world or .ml, I always appreciate it more for some reason

I understand the basic of quantum computing (qubits, superposition, probability distributions, noise, how observing works, etc), but I'm struggling to understand what operations actually go on within an algorithm. I know you essentially do linear algebra to transform a vector closer and closer to the "true" outcome, but that's very abstract. What's actually going on when one does that? How does an operation "know" what the "true" outcome is?

Apologies if my terminology is way off---I'm only just looking into this, lol.

My dog eats and drinks out of metal bowls. I’ve noticed that when I turn around after filling up the water bowl in the sink, any spit bubbles or backwash on the surface of the water stay oriented the same way (relative to everything else, not me). Why is this? This behavior doesn’t change regardless of how fast or slow, careful or not I am. I’m not sure what kind of metal the bowl is, but it’s about the size and shape of half a basketball. Where I live, the tap water is pretty damn clean. If there are any extraneous factors I haven’t thought to mention, let me know.

Every vanilla playthrough of mine follows a rough progression: get to blue science with spaghetti, organize a bit, and then get bots all with my initial ore deposits (maybe a few trains to the closest other ones if needed). After that, I build a larger, more organized base with a comprehensive train network from scratch in another location and then work to finish the game.

I assumed this was the norm---or close to it---but I've seen people just progressively expand their initial base at spawn until they beat the game. I feel like I could do it differently just because I have less experience and hence less foresight into what I'll need as I go, but I'm not sure.

What do you guys do? How come?

...and am I a pussy for maxing out richness and turning off bugs?

I'm trying to move away from service-based gaming, and I only really play two games, so that shouldn't bee too hard. I've found Terraria on GOG, but I'm trying to find a replacement for Counter Strike. Are there any good tactical shooters that don't require an account on an online service like Steam or Ubisoft? If you can't think of any tactical shooters, what about non-Quake-likes (like Xonotic)? I'm not a huge fan of movement shooters.

I am a road cyclist, and I intend on getting a new bike soon. I'd like to use it to zoom around town for fun like I already do on my road bike, but I also want to be able to commute with it. As such, I'd like it to be able to handle light grass and dirt when I need to (no mud, gravel, excessive drops, etc). I've been thinking about a gravel or cross bike, but they're just not quite "zoomy" enough for me; I like more aggressive geometry and a nice, aero frame. Additionally, there has been a growing trend for thicker tires on road bikes, so a modern road bike should be able to fit cross tires. Should I just get a new road bike and throw some 33mm cross tires on it? Or should I suck it up and get a cross/gravel bike that's actually designed for dirt? On one hand I want to zoom and won't be on dirt/grass all that much, but on the other I don't want to ruin an expensive bike by taking it off-road when I shouldn't. Help a brother out.

I’ve been researching and saving for the Light Phone III for a while, but there’s just one thing that’s making me hesitant about getting it: music streaming. I have no problem with downloading all of my music, but that prevents me from discovering new songs that Spotify or YouTube Music or whatever recommends me. I feel like I’m going to miss it in situations I can’t have my laptop (like on long drives).

What do you miss most?

I want that REAL spicy stuff. Not that crap labeled "Medium"

(I'm in the US/Germany btw)

Warning: This was a rant and I have NOT proof-read it, so please ignore any poor writing, lol.

I (19M) and my girlfriend (18F) have been doing long-distance for about a year. We met in-person in school, but she had a very rough home life and had to move almost 500 miles away to live with her aunt and get away from her abusive mother while she finishes her last year of school. Since she's still in school, neither one of us have been able to make the drive/flight to see one another, and the soonest we will be able to is July. I have generally been taking the distance fairly well

I'm content with our video calls and texting

but she's been having a really rough time and has been for several months. On top of being separated from me, she's away from her immediate family and all of her longtime friends, in a completely new environment where she has to adjust to customs and meet new people, and generally struggles with some minor mental health issues. With all of these things piled up, she has become incredibly depressed and is growing more and more jealous in the relationship. We've had many a long talk about all of these topics, but the problems seem to persist. She can often be short-tempered, dry over text and call, jealous of my female friends (of which I have many), and generally a bit petty. Now, I can't blame those on her

they're products of the absolutely shit situation she's been forced into

but I'm still beginning to resent her for them, and I feel awful. I've found myself avoiding her when she wants to talk, and I sometimes struggle to to keep conversations going because I feel like I'm doing most of the work. And again, I've been upfront, so she's aware of these issues and says she's trying to fix them

which I truly believe

but it's beginning to be too much.

In addition to those push factors, there's one pull factor. This has kept me up at night because I feel so awful about it. My love language is physical touch, and no, I don't mean sex. I feel and express love largely through hugs, cuddling, holding hands, and even just sitting shoulder to shoulder. Hell, I feel great receiving a high five from people! The issue, of course, is that physical touch is kind of hard from 500 miles away, so I'm starting to feel lonely despite being completely fulfilled in every other aspect of the relationship. The part that makes my stomach do back flips is that I've noticed myself starting to seek that physicality with my female friends. I have never and will never even think about physically cheating, but I have on a few occasions sat a bit too close to people, been too touchy while laughing, let a hug go on for a bit too long, or something like that. Additionally, my best friend in the whole world is female, and I know she has feelings for me. Part of me has thought about ending things with my current girlfriend and pursuing those physical desires with this friend because, well, we're already super duper close and I know she wants it, too. But I just can't bring myself to do it. I love my girlfriend so much and I can't imagine doing relationship-y stuff with anyone else despite how bad I might want it

it juts feels gross. I know that sounds backwards

I want it but it's gross

but idk; it's just how I feel. I feel I may begin or have already begun an emotional affair and I'm absolutely disgusted at myself.

I don't want to leave because I do truly love this woman, and she was everything I needed and more before she moved, but her bad situation has made me resent her. I would just wait it out until she graduates and we can be close again and all will be good again, but she plans on starting college in-state where she is, and I'm being shipped off in August to serve 4 years in the military, so I just don't think I can wait that long with how much has built up in just one year. Additionally, because she's struggling with her mental health, I fear my leaving won't be good for her physical safety because she's mentioned desires to harm herself already (though, she hasn't actually done it). I helped her out a lot with her issues with her abusive mom (I was actually the one that got her out and moved her away in the first place), so I know I mean a whole whole lot to her. She says I'm the only one close to her that's treated her with care respect. I do truly believe things will go back to normal if we can close the distance, and I do truly want a future with her, but I just don't think I'll be able to wait the time required for that.

What on earth do I do?