sparksbet's recent activity
-
Comment on The rise of Whatever in ~tech
-
Comment on The rise of Whatever in ~tech
sparksbet Link ParentI find it quite funny that you immediately think of iDEAL -- as someone in Germany, which is pretty slow to adopt new technologies like this, even just the basic functionality provided by SEPA...I find it quite funny that you immediately think of iDEAL -- as someone in Germany, which is pretty slow to adopt new technologies like this, even just the basic functionality provided by SEPA transfers is better than what you get from American banks. Even without something like iDEAL the ecosystem is much better in Europe.
-
Comment on Weather forecast is for extreme heat in Europe. Heat related deaths are expected. in ~enviro
sparksbet Link ParentThey've been a lifesaver for me for sure.They've been a lifesaver for me for sure.
-
Comment on Weather forecast is for extreme heat in Europe. Heat related deaths are expected. in ~enviro
sparksbet Link ParentHere in Germany it's definitely at least possible to find window screens that attach with magnets and thus don't require drilling or other advanced installation. They're not as robust as proper...Here in Germany it's definitely at least possible to find window screens that attach with magnets and thus don't require drilling or other advanced installation. They're not as robust as proper window screens but they're a massive improvement over nothing at all. I was similarly shocked that they're so rare here.
-
Comment on Weather forecast is for extreme heat in Europe. Heat related deaths are expected. in ~enviro
sparksbet Link ParentI don't think this actually serves as an advantage over most of the US. Until you get quite far north (like, the northern portions of Nordic countries), winters throughout most of Europe are very...Another advantage in much of Europe is that we get actual winters, so there was a huge push to insulate buildings against heat loss in some countries, and insulation also protects against heat in summer if done well
I don't think this actually serves as an advantage over most of the US. Until you get quite far north (like, the northern portions of Nordic countries), winters throughout most of Europe are very mild when compared to most of North America. A particularly bad winter here in Berlin is still far milder than even an average or relatively mild winter back in Cleveland -- despite Cleveland being on the same latitude as Florence. Buildings in parts of the US that aren't the south have to be just as well-insulated if not more so to survive much worse winters than the vast majority of even northern Europe, and they still usually have air conditioning because we're very used to hot summers like this. Insulation and other low-tech measures like closing curtains and blinds can protect against the heat milder summers like what they used to get here, but the sustained high heat that had been getting worse every year makes this no longer tenable.
Also, it nearly reached 40⁰C here in Berlin this week, so the inevitable deaths from heat are not limited to just southern Europe.
-
Comment on You're going to use Gemini on Android whether you like it or not in ~tech
sparksbet Link Parentiirc here in Germany it's required for the company to pay for a company device if they expect you to do work on that device. The impression I got from my boss was that my using Slack for work on...iirc here in Germany it's required for the company to pay for a company device if they expect you to do work on that device. The impression I got from my boss was that my using Slack for work on my personal smartphone was skirting the rules for this. Not sure if that applies all the way to 2FA, but I wouldn't be shocked if it did
-
Comment on China cracks down on women who write gay erotica in ~books
sparksbet Link ParentThis probably isn't responsible for its widespread popularity, but I personally had interest in male/male pairings when I still identified as a straight cis woman probably in large part due to...This probably isn't responsible for its widespread popularity, but I personally had interest in male/male pairings when I still identified as a straight cis woman probably in large part due to being closeted transmasc and finding it a safe way to explore a lot of related thoughts and feelings. I get people's hesitance at straight women fetishizing gay men, but I think framing this as the only reason fujos exist (not what you were doing but a common occurrence) is an oversimplification.
-
Comment on Lyon, France joins European exodus from Windows to Linux in ~tech
sparksbet Link ParentI literally just use Google Sheets if I ever need a spreadsheet to avoid having to interface with LibreOffice. I literally can't figure out how to do pretty basic shit in LibreOffice Calc to an...I literally just use Google Sheets if I ever need a spreadsheet to avoid having to interface with LibreOffice. I literally can't figure out how to do pretty basic shit in LibreOffice Calc to an absurd degree. I don't even need spreadsheets for anything fancy either -- they fail at communicating even basic functionality even to an otherwise highly technical user.
-
Comment on Advice on 6 year old's trantrums? in ~life
sparksbet LinkAre these car rides generally to visit the same set of people? Or does it happen with completely unrelated circles? I don't have kids of my own, so I can't really weigh in on general parenting...Are these car rides generally to visit the same set of people? Or does it happen with completely unrelated circles? I don't have kids of my own, so I can't really weigh in on general parenting advice, but kids this age getting or faking sick whenever you visit a certain person or group can be a warning sign of abuse. It's absolutely not the only or even the most plausible explanation in your scenario, but since you have more knowledge of the situation yourself, I thought it wise to at least bring it up in case does end up being something there that you notice.
-
Comment on How a controversial Danish ‘parenting test’ separated a Greenlandic woman from her children in ~life.women
sparksbet LinkThis is incredibly sad, and I wish I were surprised that Denmark still regularly does something so indisputably abominable.This is incredibly sad, and I wish I were surprised that Denmark still regularly does something so indisputably abominable.
-
Comment on Texas man born to US soldier on US army base abroad deported in ~society
sparksbet Link ParentWhile this isn't exactly common, I think saying this is unlikely is naive.It seems unlikely that someone would be born in, and live their entire life in, a country without becoming eligible for citizenship somewhere along the way (which would then be passed on).
While this isn't exactly common, I think saying this is unlikely is naive.
-
Comment on ‘Elio’ box office flop: Why can’t Pixar launch original films? in ~movies
sparksbet Link ParentHonestly I think the not having cable and thus never encountering these shows organically is probably a bigger factor than you give it credit for! I don't think it's really possible for a show to...Honestly I think the not having cable and thus never encountering these shows organically is probably a bigger factor than you give it credit for! I don't think it's really possible for a show to grab people who aren't encountering them organically like that without word of mouth.
-
Comment on ‘Elio’ box office flop: Why can’t Pixar launch original films? in ~movies
sparksbet Link ParentI think this has much more to do with your perspective and place in life at these different points in time than it does whatever changes have been made to Cartoon Network's programming. And at the...Actually that’s kind of interesting, has Cartoon Network maybe pivoted down with the average age of their target audience? A lot of adults used to tune in for older-skewed shows like Justice League and Batman Beyond but it’s difficult to imagine them airing shows like that now.
I think this has much more to do with your perspective and place in life at these different points in time than it does whatever changes have been made to Cartoon Network's programming. And at the bare minimum Steven Universe had a thriving adult fanbase.
As for 2D animated feature films, those have been on the decline for well over 20 years, so I'm not inclined to think there's much evidence that there's any particularly recent change on that front.
-
Comment on ‘Elio’ box office flop: Why can’t Pixar launch original films? in ~movies
sparksbet (edited )Link ParentI think you may have a point to some degree, but I do think you're overlooking a lot of the existing variety in North American animation. A lot of the shows you cited before are cartoon network...I think you may have a point to some degree, but I do think you're overlooking a lot of the existing variety in North American animation. A lot of the shows you cited before are cartoon network shows, and if you look at the shows currently on Cartoon Network, they're still pretty damn visually distinct. Teen Titans Go looks nothing like The Amazing World of Gumball which looks nothing like We Bare Bears which looks nothing like Steven Universe (or at least none of these shows look any more similar to each other than the older Cartoon Network show you mentioned, and I could tell them apart arguably as or more easily than I could those older shows). Sure, some of these are joint productions, but this isn't new either -- all the original episodes of The Powerpuff Girls were animated in Korea, for instance.
-
Comment on Update: A murder mystery game in a castle in Ireland in ~games
sparksbet Linkooh this sounds so fun. I'd love to take part in something like this someday. I just played my first jubensha (similar concept, but not on-site and with a smaller group of people) with some...ooh this sounds so fun. I'd love to take part in something like this someday. I just played my first jubensha (similar concept, but not on-site and with a smaller group of people) with some friends yesterday and absolutely loved it.
-
Comment on What's a new skill that you've picked up recently? in ~life
sparksbet Link ParentI'm not a bread baker myself (and I have never done it in a dutch oven), but is there any reason that oiling it doesn't work? That's what my mom did when she baked bread when I was a kid, but she...I'm not a bread baker myself (and I have never done it in a dutch oven), but is there any reason that oiling it doesn't work? That's what my mom did when she baked bread when I was a kid, but she was using normal bread pans. I'm curious if there's some difference present when using a dutch oven instead.
-
Comment on Rough ride: how Uber quietly took more of driver's fare with its algorithm change in ~transport
sparksbet Link ParentI do also think the fact that taxis are competing with good public transportation probably adds some pressure here in Berlin that they didn't have in most US cities.It's probably not a coincidence...I do also think the fact that taxis are competing with good public transportation probably adds some pressure here in Berlin that they didn't have in most US cities.It's probably not a coincidence that taxis are an iconic feature of NYC, which has much better public transit and a much lower rate of car ownership than most US cities. But I'm also young enough that Uber was founded when I was in middle school, and I didn't move to Europe until after I graduated college, so I don't have a clear picture of the pre-uber world in either country as a result.
-
Comment on Reddit in talks to embrace Sam Altman's iris-scanning Orb to verify users in ~tech
sparksbet Link ParentSeveral EU countries have already banned the orb on privacy grounds, though, so I doubt this is really an effective solution.Several EU countries have already banned the orb on privacy grounds, though, so I doubt this is really an effective solution.
-
Comment on Why handwriting matters in ~humanities.languages
sparksbet Link ParentI appreciate the trivia! I probably won't seek out a fountain pen anyway, since even for less than $50 I don't want to spend money on one without being able to try it and thus know I actually like...I appreciate the trivia! I probably won't seek out a fountain pen anyway, since even for less than $50 I don't want to spend money on one without being able to try it and thus know I actually like the feel of it, but the information about how they work is genuinely interesting.
-
Comment on Rough ride: how Uber quietly took more of driver's fare with its algorithm change in ~transport
sparksbet Link ParentI don't really have taxi experience that predates uber to compare it to myself, but I think everything you say in this comment sounds more than plausible.I don't really have taxi experience that predates uber to compare it to myself, but I think everything you say in this comment sounds more than plausible.
Oh yeah the instants have made it a lot better. SEPA transfers are more salient for me here because a lot of German banks charge extra for an actual debit card, and instead give you an EC card (which afaik only work in Germany don't work online), and thus many German online stores will allow you to pay via invoice, where you just SEPA transfer them your payment.