Ashelyn's recent activity
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Comment on Californian police can’t stop sideshows. Solution: Make the streets more annoying. in ~transport
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Comment on Why autonomous trucking is harder than autonomous rideshare in ~transport
Ashelyn Link ParentThe flexibility part I get, but the infrastructure argument is the direct result of spending decisions that can be shifted at any time, given enough public support. While it's true that a...The flexibility part I get, but the infrastructure argument is the direct result of spending decisions that can be shifted at any time, given enough public support. While it's true that a comprehensive rail network doesn't really exist in the US, nor could one be built overnight, the argument remains that the infrastructure advantage only remains an advantage through ongoing budgetary decisions.
Last mile delivery is still a problem, yes, but I think it's a bit ridiculous to assume that just because we don't currently have rail running into every strip mall that we couldn't see a future where the vast bulk of freight transportation is done by rail. We'd certainly be able to cut down on a lot of fuel usage and/or lithium extraction going the rail route instead of the one that involves hundreds of thousands of autonomous drones carrying multi-ton payloads.
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Comment on US stores increasingly reverse course on self checkout in ~tech
Ashelyn Link ParentOdd, they have the handheld scanners at the Costcos around here. It's kind of iffy if you can use them or if it's supposed to be employees only but I was able to scan everything with it and pay...Odd, they have the handheld scanners at the Costcos around here. It's kind of iffy if you can use them or if it's supposed to be employees only but I was able to scan everything with it and pay pretty easily.
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Comment on 'We are really struggling with space': Amsterdam pushes more cars off its streets but is it enough? in ~transport
Ashelyn Link ParentAnd I highly value the ability to choose between multiple feasible options of travel including biking, public transit, or just plain walking. In a location that doesn't have every building spaced...And I highly value the ability to choose between multiple feasible options of travel including biking, public transit, or just plain walking. In a location that doesn't have every building spaced at like 500 feet apart to accommodate minimum parking requirements, those become easier options, and then I can get out of my car so you have more space to use yours.
Driving is a much better experience when everyone on the road actually wants to be driving there, and everyone who doesn't want to drive has alternative options. That's what autonomy means, my decision for me and your decision for you. Maybe I have to leave 10-20 minutes earlier for this hypothetical appointment if I don't drive, but that's also just part of the personal responsibility and planning that goes into being on time.
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Comment on Big SUVs become most sold new vehicles in Europe. "Customers feel more safe, they feel more powerful" says car industry executive. in ~transport
Ashelyn LinkI feel like this is another Tragedy of the Commons situation. SUVs are less energy efficient and more dangerous to pedestrians, but since they feel better/safer for drivers, that's what each...I feel like this is another Tragedy of the Commons situation. SUVs are less energy efficient and more dangerous to pedestrians, but since they feel better/safer for drivers, that's what each individual is likelier to go for.
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Comment on Introducing RustRover: a standalone Rust IDE by Jetbrains in ~comp
Ashelyn LinkAwesome! I remember using IntelliJ for Java stuff a few years back and while I'm not a fan of freeware/subscription IDEs (or software in general), it was hard to deny the quality of life features...Awesome! I remember using IntelliJ for Java stuff a few years back and while I'm not a fan of freeware/subscription IDEs (or software in general), it was hard to deny the quality of life features and overall polish. If I ever pick up rust this will probably be what I go with just for the ease of use.
Apparently while it's in early access it will be completely free regardless, which is nice.
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Comment on Teen’s death after eating a single chip highlights risks of ultra-spicy foods in ~food
Ashelyn Link ParentSeconded on the garlic reaper sauce, that stuff is delicious and goes well with a lot of foods!Seconded on the garlic reaper sauce, that stuff is delicious and goes well with a lot of foods!
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Comment on People with visible abs, when did you reach it? in ~health
Ashelyn LinkProbably not the story you were looking for but perhaps it may provide insight. I used to have visible abs during high school and up until very recently, but that was just because I was...Probably not the story you were looking for but perhaps it may provide insight.
I used to have visible abs during high school and up until very recently, but that was just because I was underweight with a higher metabolism and occasionally skipped meals. I didn't work out or anything, most physical activity was just for PE classes or occasional outdoor tomfoolery with friends. During HS specifically, a lot of peers seemed to be impressed by my abs, and once or twice I even had classmates ask to touch them (which I obliged, but I was quite socially awkward at the time so I didn't know what to do with potential signals of interest). I found the occasional positive attention nice, but I was only 120-125lbs (54-57kg) and 5'10 and I honestly felt like I needed to gain weight for the longest time (and still do today tbh). My mom always told me to eat a sandwich and "get some meat on my bones" when I'd visit... I picked up quite a few insecurities from her comments over the years but that's another subject.
At one point, I had my body fat percentage measured in a Weights class and it was at like 5%. My weight hovered up to 130lbs(59kg) after graduating high school but I'd have to practically force myself to eat to get appreciably above that.
Some self discoveries since then and a year of cross sex hormone therapy to date, I've gained another 10lbs. The abs aren't clearly visible anymore, but honestly, I'm more at peace with my body now than I ever was in the past. For me personally it gets better the more progress I make towards the upper middle "healthy" BMI ranges.
But of course, since I didn't have to work for it earlier on in life, I didn't particularly see visible abdominals as such a big deal in the first place. I definitely feel like I got the better end of the stick overall because there's less social stigma about being skinny but, as a consequence, I felt like more of my body image concerns weren't taken seriously. If I wanted, I might be able to get visible abs again if I started doing exercises for it, but they're far from the top of my personal priority list at the moment.
I guess the takeaway is that it's pretty closely tied in with weight and body fat percentage as other people in this thread mention. I guess you could also just refuse to lean your back against anything and not slouch when sitting down like I did throughout most of my life until recent years, but that could also have some potential back health impacts that I don't feel like doing research on right now.
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Comment on Windows 11 has made the “clean Windows install” an oxymoron in ~tech
Ashelyn Link ParentI'm running it on Plasma, I'm pretty sure with X11 as the backend but I'd have to double check that.I'm running it on Plasma, I'm pretty sure with X11 as the backend but I'd have to double check that.
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Comment on Windows 11 has made the “clean Windows install” an oxymoron in ~tech
Ashelyn Link ParentI'm currently running Void so it's probably some sort of library issueI'm currently running Void so it's probably some sort of library issue
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Comment on Windows 11 has made the “clean Windows install” an oxymoron in ~tech
Ashelyn Link ParentI purchased a MacBook at one point for a variety of reasons including potential music production and "on the couch" use, and I have to say that OS is stellar! The main issue I have with Apple is...I purchased a MacBook at one point for a variety of reasons including potential music production and "on the couch" use, and I have to say that OS is stellar! The main issue I have with Apple is with their extremely aggressive anti-repair practices on their hardware, but the desktop OS is very pleasant to use. It's odd, because they do similar things to Microsoft (iCloud v OneDrive, by default assuming you're going to want all of their apps) but the whole execution is so much better and less intrusive on MacOS. In my opinion, the whole UX design of an Apple product is pretty much unmatched by any comparable device.
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Comment on Windows 11 has made the “clean Windows install” an oxymoron in ~tech
Ashelyn Link ParentI will have to look into that, thank you! I had intended on doing some research but just wanted something with realtime audio and more granular control than I can get from PulseAudio.I will have to look into that, thank you! I had intended on doing some research but just wanted something with realtime audio and more granular control than I can get from PulseAudio.
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Comment on Windows 11 has made the “clean Windows install” an oxymoron in ~tech
Ashelyn Link ParentBy "that person" I meant more in the vein of being the one to pop in and immediately proselytize Linux when anyone voices a complaint about Windows. I'm really glad to see that people are coming...By "that person" I meant more in the vein of being the one to pop in and immediately proselytize Linux when anyone voices a complaint about Windows. I'm really glad to see that people are coming around, but for a good while there was (and still is to an extent) the meme of obnoxious Linux proponents. The online landscape of this issue has changed remarkably compared to even a couple years ago.
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Comment on Windows 11 has made the “clean Windows install” an oxymoron in ~tech
Ashelyn Link ParentThe switch was pretty good! I had prior Linux experience, having used different distros on and off through high school. I actually installed Linux Fedora on my first built computer because I...The switch was pretty good! I had prior Linux experience, having used different distros on and off through high school. I actually installed Linux Fedora on my first built computer because I couldn't afford Windows! The experience left a lot to be desired back then but at least It could play Minecraft. I also didn't know what I was doing so much, that partition ended up getting nuked because I tried to resize an encrypted LVM and didn't do it correctly, then tried to fix it from the command line and made it worse x.x
On my current build, I ended up going with Void Linux because I enjoy the process of setting up the OS and programs and wanted to try it out. The Void handbook is pretty good. It had a few spots that could have been explained better but it does an overall superb job of providing explanations and step by step walkthroughs. It's been very stable and reliable—the main issues I've run into are outcomes of my deliberate choice to select a "DIY" distro.
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Comment on Windows 11 has made the “clean Windows install” an oxymoron in ~tech
Ashelyn Link ParentI tried troubleshooting it for several hours, maybe I'll give it another shot at some point but I reinstalled EAC probably 10 times trying a bunch of different configurations and orders of steps...I tried troubleshooting it for several hours, maybe I'll give it another shot at some point but I reinstalled EAC probably 10 times trying a bunch of different configurations and orders of steps before I just gave up.
Might try to get it working again sometime but it gave me a lot of trouble on my computer
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Comment on Windows 11 has made the “clean Windows install” an oxymoron in ~tech
Ashelyn Link ParentIn a strange way I feel like office programs are the final frontier of Linux usability. They'll probably never be fully cross-compatible thanks to the constantly evolving proprietary file formats...In a strange way I feel like office programs are the final frontier of Linux usability. They'll probably never be fully cross-compatible thanks to the constantly evolving proprietary file formats in semi-closed ecosystems like Office 365.
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Comment on Windows 11 has made the “clean Windows install” an oxymoron in ~tech
Ashelyn LinkYeah, I'm gonna be that person in this thread: this is one of the main reasons I've swapped to Linux as my daily driver. Windows has been slowly getting worse over the years, and every time I use...Yeah, I'm gonna be that person in this thread: this is one of the main reasons I've swapped to Linux as my daily driver. Windows has been slowly getting worse over the years, and every time I use it I feel like the OS just doesn't respect my decisions or privacy. Baked in telemetry even if you scale it back with Windows-provided settings options, ad shove-ins, One Drive and other preinstalls, all the reminder popups; every time I had to delve deeper into the settings to find where to turn these off. Then a Windows Update turns half of it back on again and gives me another setup screen asking if I'm super sure I don't want an Advertising ID on my account, and putting the Edge icon back on my desktop just because they can.
It's really grating and it gets really old.
Linux hasn't been perfect smooth sailing, especially at the start when I was missing a bunch of libraries for the stuff I wanted to use, but it runs great on the whole and I feel like I actually have a semblance of control over what goes on with my computer. I can play 98% of the games I've wanted to thanks to Lutris and Steam/Proton (never got battlebit working due to the anticheat but it runs well enough on my Win10 laptop). There's stuff I need to change that's rather involved (still need to set up JACK) but I don't feel like the OS is literally just fighting me every step of the way.
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Comment on What is your most annoying (minor) movie trope? in ~movies
Ashelyn Link ParentHearing a Wilhelm in like the second cutscene of Baldur's Gate 3 got a big eye roll out of me. At least they got it out of their system very early on, I can respect that. It kills me though (and...Hearing a Wilhelm in like the second cutscene of Baldur's Gate 3 got a big eye roll out of me. At least they got it out of their system very early on, I can respect that.
It kills me though (and not in a good way) when I'm well into a movie and they pull out ol reliable, like... really? You really had to use that sound effect for this sequence/death/etc? It's almost always shoehorned in, like not even lazily so—it feels like they (screenwriters, editors, whoever) sometimes go out of their way to put the obligatory Wilhelm in at the worst, most conspicuous moment possible.
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Comment on US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time in ~science
Ashelyn Link ParentMy issue is a nitpick on how the energy development is being framed in the statement; how it's worded can greatly affect how people think about it. The current statement read to me like it's...My issue is a nitpick on how the energy development is being framed in the statement; how it's worded can greatly affect how people think about it. The current statement read to me like it's trying to appease 'defense budget' hawks, and I just don't like the characterization even though, yes, thermonuclear bombs are already a thing.
It's highly possible that I have missed the mark and read subtext out of the DoE's writing that doesn't exist (as I believe I touched on elsewhere in this thread)
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Comment on A new weapon in the war against robocalls in ~tech
Ashelyn Link ParentI'd personally push for a telecommunications framework that requires spoofed numbers to be authorized in some way by the end user that is paying for them. You can spoof numbers but you can't pick...I'd personally push for a telecommunications framework that requires spoofed numbers to be authorized in some way by the end user that is paying for them. You can spoof numbers but you can't pick any number you don't have permission to use. Definitely need those hefty fines for misuse either way.
I don't know if it's fair to call it "making the streets more annoying". It looks like the people in this article made great efforts to ensure their measures had as little negative impact as possible on regular driving and cycling. Designing streets in a way that discourages annoying behavior has the net benefit of making the streets less annoying to everyone overall. The equation should include people who don't drive, as they're still affected by the roads and drivers thereon.
This isn't the same exact subject, but related: many drivers seem to get annoyed by calming measures, but I get far more annoyed by a wide, straight and open road with a 25mph sign than I do with one that has put up speed humps and similar obstacles. The first one screams incompetent design, whereas the other makes that speed feel natural, and has the added benefit of removing pressure from impatient drivers who would otherwise blast through and/or aggressively tailgate other vehicles.