updawg's recent activity
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Comment on Claude Code is the ceiling on vibe-coded software in ~tech
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Comment on I got slopped: someone used AI to write my biography in ~tech
updawg Link ParentIt's always sad when a technical writer is forced to write something soulless and formulaic.It's always sad when a technical writer is forced to write something soulless and formulaic.
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Comment on The Odyssey - discussion thread in ~movies
updawg (edited )Link ParentNo one needs a spoiler for the Odyssey. Edit: ...warning...No one needs a spoiler for the Odyssey.
Edit: ...warning...
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Comment on Evidence for a giant companion orbiting Tabby’s star (KIC 8462852) in ~space
updawg LinkThis is the star that was consistent with a Dyson Swarm.This is the star that was consistent with a Dyson Swarm.
Abstract
KIC 8462852, also known as Tabby’s star, shows deep, irregular flux variations up to 20percnt in its Kepler light curve. These unusual events show no apparent periodicity. Multi-wavelength observations show the dips are consistent with transiting dust, although its origin remains uncertain. The leading explanation is that dust may originate from a family of exocomets or planetesimal fragments. TESS data reveal a unique, symmetric transit event consistent with a planet or brown dwarf. This would support the theory that incoming exocometary bodies may result from orbital perturbations by a planet. The analysis of the TESS and, archival and newly obtained radial velocity (RV) data, suggests that a companion could orbit around Tabby’s star with a period of at least ~1030 d. When combined with the constraints imposed by Kepler and other photometric surveys, we find only five orbital period windows are possible. We conduct observations to follow-up the first two windows, significantly reducing the allowed ranges. Fitting the TESS transit using exocometary models produces a poor fit or the need of physically unrealistic parameters, favouring the giant companion hypothesis. A 2.3σ detection of 9.4 (+4.9,-4.1)
MJup (3σ upper limit < 28.0 MJup) at the transit orbital period provides tentative evidence of the companion, but more RV observations are required. Along with the radius R = 1.7 ± 0.1 RJup, the companion would lie in the giant planet-brown dwarf regime. In the future Gaia DR4 astrometry will reveal the nature of this object. -
Evidence for a giant companion orbiting Tabby’s star (KIC 8462852)
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Comment on More people around the world now favour China over the US, Pew study suggests in ~society
updawg Link ParentWhat are you disagreeing with me on? Just Biden? Because our statements on that administration aren't mutually exclusive.What are you disagreeing with me on? Just Biden? Because our statements on that administration aren't mutually exclusive.
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Comment on Boycotting palm oil in general is actually bad for the environment in ~enviro
updawg Link ParentI'll stop by the Nabisco factory I know of next time I'm in the area!I'll stop by the Nabisco factory I know of next time I'm in the area!
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Comment on More people around the world now favour China over the US, Pew study suggests in ~society
updawg Link ParentIt's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. During the last Trump administration, public perception of China was probably at its lowest since...It's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
During the last Trump administration, public perception of China was probably at its lowest since Tiananman Square.
Nothing has really changed in China, the US had its most progressive administration ever, and now has the same president...but things have gotten louder in the US so positions have reversed.
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Comment on MapTap: Daily challenges to test your geographical knowledge in ~games
updawg Link ParentCool it's in the Google Play store!Cool it's in the Google Play store!
Item not found.
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Comment on MapTap: Daily challenges to test your geographical knowledge in ~games
updawg Link ParentI'd never even heard of it before. I thought the others were all fairly easy, though #2 was kind of an exercise in guessing which splotchy patch was the right one.That last city I feel was definitely way easier than the fourth one though
I'd never even heard of it before. I thought the others were all fairly easy, though #2 was kind of an exercise in guessing which splotchy patch was the right one.
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Comment on Boycotting palm oil in general is actually bad for the environment in ~enviro
updawg Link ParentDo you avoid any other oils from an environmental or social perspective?Do you avoid any other oils from an environmental or social perspective?
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Comment on Boycotting palm oil in general is actually bad for the environment in ~enviro
updawg Link ParentI know this is a joke, but it's legitimately true, and that's part of why I wanted to post this. I know it can't be as black and white as some organizations say, and I thought it was interesting...I know this is a joke, but it's legitimately true, and that's part of why I wanted to post this. I know it can't be as black and white as some organizations say, and I thought it was interesting and could generate a good discussion.
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Boycotting palm oil in general is actually bad for the environment
This was something I was surprised to learn on a recent trip to the zoo. While the palm oil industry is absolutely wrecking a lot of our rainforests, and, most notedly, orangutans, boycotting all...
This was something I was surprised to learn on a recent trip to the zoo. While the palm oil industry is absolutely wrecking a lot of our rainforests, and, most notedly, orangutans, boycotting all palm oil is actually worse for the environment because palm oil is the most land-efficient vegetable oil crop. It supplies 40% of global vegetable oil but only uses 6% of the land dedicated to oil production.
It's also extremely versatile because "it is semi-solid at room temperature so can keep spreads spreadable; it is resistant to oxidation so can give products a longer shelf-life; it’s stable at high temperatures so helps to give fried products a crispy and crunchy texture; and it’s also odourless and colourless so doesn’t alter the look or smell of food products."
The issue is who produces it and how, so it's only certain products that should be boycotted.
I'm sure the solution isn't as simple as "download this app," but the zoo I went to recommended using the PalmOil Scan app (produced under the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and led by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Chester Zoo, Auckland Zoo, Zoos SA and Mandai Wildlife Group). It's essentially only available in the Anglosphere (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States), but it tells you if the entire company meets their standards (but not individual products so users don't just boycott all palm oil).
We acknowledge that all companies that receive a rating are in different places on their journey to use 100% certified sustainable palm oil. We want to recognise those companies that are doing well and encourage those companies that need improvement. We hope that by creating this rating system we will accomplish this task and assist consumers with making the most educated shopping choices in regards to sustainable palm oil.
Companies are scored on a point structure and can earn a rating of Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, or No Commitment.
I'm sure a lot of Tilderianeses are conscious of this, so I wanted to share the information (and presumably get more info from someone who knows more).
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Comment on Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act in ~society
updawg Link ParentI bet you have to use De-mail and the German NGOs only know how to fax things.I bet you have to use De-mail and the German NGOs only know how to fax things.
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Comment on Eat ice cream for a long and healthy life in ~health
updawg LinkAnd though the title is a bit tongue-in-cheek, he points to evidence that people who are in the habit of eating ice cream have a lower risk of metabolic disease, despite the fact that it has lots of sugar and fat. Researchers have dubbed this the "ice cream paradox." There's data from 2015 that suggests "that ice cream is actually pretty good at preventing development of Type 2 diabetes, and dairy in general is good at preventing Type 2 diabetes," Emanuel says.
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Comment on Share your fav environmentally-friendly building tech! in ~enviro
updawg LinkThese are all awesome, but my favorite tech is still just putting a tree where it shades your house in the summer and lets all the light in once the leaves fall off.These are all awesome, but my favorite tech is still just putting a tree where it shades your house in the summer and lets all the light in once the leaves fall off.
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Comment on Need advice about work in ~life
updawg Link ParentIt's pretty much a language-by-language thing with the euro sign. I'm not sure if some symbols are currency-specific, but the Euro sign switches depending on the country/language.It's pretty much a language-by-language thing with the euro sign. I'm not sure if some symbols are currency-specific, but the Euro sign switches depending on the country/language.
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Comment on US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's surveillance of cyclosporiasis in ~health
updawg Link ParentThe issue is usually irrigation systems using contaminated water and not a lack of bathrooms.The issue is usually irrigation systems using contaminated water and not a lack of bathrooms.
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Comment on China is dealing with its own manosphere in ~life.men
updawg Link ParentShip 'em offworld and send 'em to fight the bugs.Ship 'em offworld and send 'em to fight the bugs.
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Comment on Need advice about work in ~life
updawg Link ParentOff-topic, but this is finally something that makes putting the currency sign before the number look undeniably better.250k€+
Off-topic, but this is finally something that makes putting the currency sign before the number look undeniably better.
Examined grammar usage and...
The user is pointing out that my grammar was typical of an LLM—cliché opening, "it's not x; it's y", em dash. I should acknowledge it simply and move on.