Halfloaf's recent activity

  1. Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 13 in ~news

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    I’m not really sure why the original link formatting wouldn’t work.

    I’m not really sure why the original link formatting wouldn’t work.

  2. Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 13 in ~news

  3. Comment on Macklemore - Hind's Hall (2024) in ~music

  4. Comment on Macklemore - Hind's Hall (2024) in ~music

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    Have you written to your local and national representatives, telling them about the importance of Gaza?

    Have you written to your local and national representatives, telling them about the importance of Gaza?

    2 votes

  5. Comment on Macklemore - Hind's Hall (2024) in ~music

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    I understand that you can’t vote for either candidate. I can at least understand that rationale. We all do have our own fights in this arena. I can understand Macklemore not voting for Biden, as I...

    I understand that you can’t vote for either candidate. I can at least understand that rationale.

    We all do have our own fights in this arena. I can understand Macklemore not voting for Biden, as I doubt there is a high likelihood of that state going to Trump in November. I also sincerely wish that more states would operate on a ranked-choice or similar voting scheme, so that we may effectively vote against one candidate while also voting for another.

    However, in my experience, I have a different fight. I live in a swing state, and in a part of it that tends to lean Republican. Every day, I have to spend my energy convincing my neighbors that racism exists, and that illegal immigration isn’t to blame for our economic woes. I have to choose to burn my energy in those arenas, instead of this one.

    I think I have a better chance there, because I can interface with people in a way that’s more personal.

    You can vote as you want to, but please consider that my honest options may be more limited than yours.

    5 votes

  6. Comment on Macklemore - Hind's Hall (2024) in ~music

  7. Comment on Macklemore - Hind's Hall (2024) in ~music

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    I certainly believe that Biden’s climate policies will be far better than the climate policies of Trump, considering that he asked oil CEOs for $1 billion last month. (gift article) Unfortunately,...

    I certainly believe that Biden’s climate policies will be far better than the climate policies of Trump, considering that he asked oil CEOs for $1 billion last month. (gift article)

    Unfortunately, I do believe that these are the only two options available to us.

    14 votes

  8. Comment on FKCaps launches URSA keycaps for topre switches in ~tech

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    Thank you so much for the detailed response! I'm an electrical engineer that is slowly moving from a controls / modelling background into data science, and it's been nice to slowly make a computer...

    Thank you so much for the detailed response! I'm an electrical engineer that is slowly moving from a controls / modelling background into data science, and it's been nice to slowly make a computer setup that I really enjoy.

    I've had the same sort of hit-or-miss experience with System76. I've been lightly disappointed with my Galago Pro laptop, but I've been very happy with the Thelio Mira desktop that I got from them. I'm really happy with Pop!_OS as my daily driver, too. The Launch keyboard has a wonderful quality feel to it, but it's heavy, and they layout isn't really ideal for me. I love that it has two USB-A and two USB-C ports attached to it, but I really miss having a super-clean desk, with the wires coming off of the back. I do feel a little like I should make better use of the split spacebar, but, as I have to swap between two keyboards between work and home, I haven't felt like I can really use a new keyboard layout consistently.

    I'm partway through the review video that you linked - Thank you for it! I like the level of detail presented by the reviewer!

    I may have to add a new line item to my monthly budget now. :)

    1 vote

  9. Comment on FKCaps launches URSA keycaps for topre switches in ~tech

    Halfloaf
    Link
    This is the first time that I’m hearing of the HHKB - it looks really nice! My current daily driver is the System76 Launch - I like it, but I miss having a wireless keyboard. I like the idea of...

    This is the first time that I’m hearing of the HHKB - it looks really nice! My current daily driver is the System76 Launch - I like it, but I miss having a wireless keyboard. I like the idea of taking my keyboard between my home office and my desk at work. Do you think the HHKB would be a worthwhile upgrade?

  10. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of April 15 in ~news

  11. Comment on I’ve been at NPR for twenty-five years. Here’s how we lost America’s trust. in ~news

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    In this specific case, NPR does indeed have reporting in regard to the debate over COVID-19’s origins. Nowhere does the author point to this in his essay. Indeed, he points to the contrary,...

    In this specific case, NPR does indeed have reporting in regard to the debate over COVID-19’s origins. Nowhere does the author point to this in his essay. Indeed, he points to the contrary, saying:

    Instead, we introduced our coverage of that development on February 28, 2023, by asserting confidently that “the scientific evidence overwhelmingly points to a natural origin for the virus.”

    Note, the date he cites is the date of the article that I’ve linked. Given that example, I find it hard to believe that he is arguing in good faith.

    Especially in the throws of 2020, the internet was awash with COVID misinformation. Much of it was politically-driven, aimed at discrediting health officials in the US. Research and study now may be handled and reported differently than it was then, and it should be.

    8 votes

  12. Comment on I’ve been at NPR for twenty-five years. Here’s how we lost America’s trust. in ~news

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    Oh! That’s wonderful! Ha! I’ll have to show that to my partner when I get home from work. No one in my locale really knows what my company does, so it’s a joke that I’m secretly a robot. They’ll...

    Oh! That’s wonderful! Ha! I’ll have to show that to my partner when I get home from work. No one in my locale really knows what my company does, so it’s a joke that I’m secretly a robot. They’ll get a kick out of this comment.

    Going back and looking at my comment, I can absolutely see where you’re coming from on that. I wonder if that means I’ve spent too much time on StackExchange.

    8 votes

  13. Comment on I’ve been at NPR for twenty-five years. Here’s how we lost America’s trust. in ~news

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    I doubt that it was, as the article is from 2010. I can see what you’re saying though, from the tone of the article itself.

    I doubt that it was, as the article is from 2010. I can see what you’re saying though, from the tone of the article itself.

    7 votes

  14. Comment on I’ve been at NPR for twenty-five years. Here’s how we lost America’s trust. in ~news

  15. Comment on Backdoor in upstream libxz targeting sshd in ~comp

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    That detail actually reminds me of the book The Cuckoo’s Egg by Clifford Stoll. The book is non-fiction, and it recounts Clifford’s accidental discovery of early computer espionage because a lab...

    That detail actually reminds me of the book The Cuckoo’s Egg by Clifford Stoll.

    The book is non-fiction, and it recounts Clifford’s accidental discovery of early computer espionage because a lab manager wanted him to work out a 75 cent error in the computer time budget at Berkeley’s computer lab. It’s a short and fun read!

    6 votes

  16. Comment on What watch do you wear daily? in ~hobbies

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    That is an absolutely beautiful watch! I am bookmarking this for myself in the future. Thank you!

    That is an absolutely beautiful watch! I am bookmarking this for myself in the future. Thank you!

    1 vote

  17. Comment on Favorite game shows? in ~tv

    Halfloaf
    Link
    I’m am also a fan of Game Changer and Task Master! To complete the trio, I have to recommend Jet Lag. That link will take you to my favorite intro season, where the three main people play tag...

    I’m am also a fan of Game Changer and Task Master!

    To complete the trio, I have to recommend Jet Lag. That link will take you to my favorite intro season, where the three main people play tag across Europe using the public transit system!

    Each season (for the most part) is a different game! I especially like that they structure the games explicitly to avoid being rude/annoying to other travelers.

    7 votes

  18. Comment on Jet Lag | Season 9 trailer : Hide and Seek across Switzerland in ~hobbies

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    There were a couple of interesting parts! Some rules spoilers below! The hider doesn’t have to do challenges to get coins. Instead, the chasers have to pay the hider for truthful information. More...

    There were a couple of interesting parts!

    Some rules spoilers below!

    1. The hider doesn’t have to do challenges to get coins. Instead, the chasers have to pay the hider for truthful information. More detailed information is worth more coins. The hider can then spend the coins on curses, which are determined semi-randomly through a die roll.

    2. Each chase is split into two sections —- the initial phase and the endgame. During the initial phase, the hider can move around a little. I think it’s something like 1.5 miles. This can give them flexibility in answering some of the questions mentioned above. After the chasers are within that 1.5 mile radius, the hider must stay exactly where they are. There are also some questions that would give way too much power at that stage, so the hider can respond with “I cannot answer that question”, thus confirming to the chasers that their target is close!

    I really feel like this ruleset could work in a number of locations, and I hope to see it used more than once!

    7 votes

  19. Comment on Jet Lag | Season 9 trailer : Hide and Seek across Switzerland in ~hobbies

    Halfloaf
    Link
    I’m so excited for this season! I listened to the an episode of their Nebula podcast where they described the rules and game design, and it feels like their most mature and interesting system yet!

    I’m so excited for this season!

    I listened to the an episode of their Nebula podcast where they described the rules and game design, and it feels like their most mature and interesting system yet!

    5 votes

  20. Comment on How to learn chess as an adult (or, how I went from 300 to 1500 ELO in nine months) in ~games.tabletop

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    I’ve really been enjoying Eric Rosen’s rating climb speedrun. He really takes time to explain why he’s making the moves that he’s making, and the way he evaluates a position has helped me to slow...

    I’ve really been enjoying Eric Rosen’s rating climb speedrun. He really takes time to explain why he’s making the moves that he’s making, and the way he evaluates a position has helped me to slow myself down and think about what the opponent is planning to do. I’ve been sitting around 1000 on Chess.com for a while, and I think this has bumped me up to around 1100, and in a way that I feel I can sustain.

    4 votes