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    1. What is the current state of facial recognition or other morphological detections?

      Curious to know if we have a current morphometric based system that can detect with the same accuracy as DNA testing, if two people are related, without a priori knowledge that they are related,...

      Curious to know if we have a current morphometric based system that can detect with the same accuracy as DNA testing, if two people are related, without a priori knowledge that they are related, if that makes sense.

      Meaning, if a system is fed 100 random photos of humans, but is not told "there are definitely related people in here" can it match it as accurately as a DNA test of those same humans' DNA samples?

      context

      I was wondering to myself, "you know, for as dissimilar as our DNA is to our siblings, it's actually quite remarkable that we look so similar." Which lead me to wondering, do we look similar to our siblings, or are our brains so deeply primed to think we look similar to those who are related to us, that we do indeed "look similar," to our brains(or simulations produced by our brains). If that makes sense.

      8 votes
    2. Looking for recommendations for a dumb phone (Canada)

      So I am considering switching to a dumb phone. All I really need it to do is call and text. However, the texting part might be slightly tricky. I am fine learning how to text using a numpad, but...

      So I am considering switching to a dumb phone. All I really need it to do is call and text. However, the texting part might be slightly tricky. I am fine learning how to text using a numpad, but being able to do group chats would be something I would want to keep. Using Google Messages as my texting app even on an older Samsung has worked to get effective group chat functionality, so being able to access the Google Play Store to download it would be beneficial. Other than that, I don't have any other tasks I need to do on my phone. Does anyone have any recommendations?

      A list of requirements:

      • Available in Canada
      • Can handle group chats or can download and install Google Messages
      • Ideally not too expensive
      8 votes
    3. What would your past self say about your current self?

      What would your past self(intentionally vague) say about your current self(also intentionally vague)? my own answer My past self would be surprised by the following: I am both less black and white...

      What would your past self(intentionally vague) say about your current self(also intentionally vague)?

      my own answer

      My past self would be surprised by the following:

      I am both less black and white and more black and white thinking than I used to be.
      I no longer put as heavy of an emphasis on Science being the only way to explain things.
      I have chosen to have less reliance on external validation.
      I burned out and hit at least two rock bottoms, and still have not fully recovered from them.
      I am pansexual and have at least grey thoughts about monogamy.
      I am more spiritual.
      I struggle socially (not in making friends, but how much anxiety or exhaustion I have around it)
      I am disabled.
      I can no longer travel or do physical activities that were a large part of my life.
      Experiencing pain that is constant and chronic.
      I would mourn so many things at such young an age.
      My family would become disconnected.
      I would have a much better relationship with my dad, but not my mom.
      I would live in a non-high density or HCOL area.
      I would consider a career outside of lawyer, psychiatrist, or scientist.
      Difficulty reading or learning.
      Commitment issues.
      Losing some of my best friends or other partners.
      I am neurodivergent (though that is only because the terminology did not exist at the time).
      Not being able to solve all problems or get myself out of everything, a drop in self-reliance, see burnout.
      Liking children and desiring to be a mentor or some sort of male au-pair.
      No longer like drinking, but do enjoy cannabis, ketamine, and LSD.

      My past self would not be surprised by:
      Still a perfectionist
      Still argumentative
      Still a clown and silly
      Enjoyment of philosophy and law
      Holding out to not have a car for decades only to be saddled with a lemon.
      Constant boredom and a need to know "why" or learn something new or otherwise seek out novelty and stimulation.
      Don't know what to do in life. Want to be a constant traveler and learner.
      Still hate cars.
      Still have a pretension and elitist problem.
      Struggle with self-love and self-worth, probably self-compassion too.
      Overly generous.
      Overly forgiving.
      Lover of showers and baths.
      Foodie despite hating the word and being anosmic. Becoming anosmic for two years and counting should be on the surprised list.
      I learn best by visual instruction as well as hands on.

      My current self, for the most part, likes itself in a way that I hadn't experienced for a long time. It's like my body took a break for ten years, deciding it hated itself and wanted constant improvement, all the while being its own worst critic and never really cheering it on. My current self is turning away from this mindset, and it feels great to have a more optimistic and self-satisfying life, but I just wish my physical body had not taken such a toll over the last few years.

      Look forward to hearing others' thoughts.

      28 votes
    4. What have you been listening to this week?

      What have you been listening to this week? You don't need to do a 6000 word review if you don't want to, but please write something! If you've just picked up some music, please update on that as...

      What have you been listening to this week? You don't need to do a 6000 word review if you don't want to, but please write something! If you've just picked up some music, please update on that as well, we'd love to see your hauls :)

      Feel free to give recs or discuss anything about each others' listening habits.

      You can make a chart if you use last.fm:

      http://www.tapmusic.net/lastfm/

      Remember that linking directly to your image will update with your future listening, make sure to reupload to somewhere like imgur if you'd like it to remain what you have at the time of posting.

      8 votes
    5. What have you been listening to this week?

      What have you been listening to this week? You don't need to do a 6000 word review if you don't want to, but please write something! If you've just picked up some music, please update on that as...

      What have you been listening to this week? You don't need to do a 6000 word review if you don't want to, but please write something! If you've just picked up some music, please update on that as well, we'd love to see your hauls :)

      Feel free to give recs or discuss anything about each others' listening habits.

      You can make a chart if you use last.fm:

      http://www.tapmusic.net/lastfm/

      Remember that linking directly to your image will update with your future listening, make sure to reupload to somewhere like imgur if you'd like it to remain what you have at the time of posting.

      10 votes
    6. When is it okay to give up?

      When is is okay to give up on making a situation work? I legitimately ask, as I’ve pretty much given up on most “immediate” family in recent months. As an American federal civilian employee, I...

      When is is okay to give up on making a situation work?

      I legitimately ask, as I’ve pretty much given up on most “immediate” family in recent months. As an American federal civilian employee, I found the rhetoric of my immediate family crazy enough to warrant cutting them out of my life. I can’t get beyond their clear contempt for my livelihood. Despite conversations regarding how a certain admin’s policies are making my life worse, I have been told constantly not to complain because it could be worse. So I have “given up” and no longer interact with them. There have been further conversations prior to this, but I don’t think it’s necessarily important to the conversation.

      I ask this legitimately, as I am feeling guilt over it, despite the fact that I no longer feel dread or anxiety about it. I haven’t visited immediate family in over 2 months now, despite living within walking distance.

      At what point should one continue making attempts to repair to maintain relationships, even familial, and when is it okay to end them?

      34 votes
    7. Is there any source for news that hits the editing floor? That is, doesn't make the published edition?

      I figure that for each new story that hits a site like Reuters, theres at least a few that don't get chosen, hitting the editing floor so to speak (like scenes of a film falling to the editing...

      I figure that for each new story that hits a site like Reuters, theres at least a few that don't get chosen, hitting the editing floor so to speak (like scenes of a film falling to the editing room floor). Doe anyone know where these might be reported?

      Like, an rss feed of some editor somewhere that lists the stories they passed over.

      7 votes