CannibalisticApple's recent activity

  1. Comment on Cargo ship hits major bridge in Baltimore, triggering collapse (gifted link) in ~transport

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    I thought that too for a second, but with how rare incidents like this are, I don't think the costs could really be justified. Most bridge collapses aren't really "predictable" like this one. I...

    I thought that too for a second, but with how rare incidents like this are, I don't think the costs could really be justified.

    Most bridge collapses aren't really "predictable" like this one. I skimmed the Wikipedia list of bridge failures and I counted maybe about 12 involving ships, which are probably among the easiest to see coming. Otherwise they tend to be pretty sudden though, such as natural disasters (particularly floods), structural defects finally rearing their ugly heads, trains derailing, cars crashing or trucks catching fire, etc.

    Basically, a majority of collapses come from causes that either A) are very sudden and lead to a swift breakdown, so no time to really issue a warning; or B) would almost certainly already be a known risk to people on the bridge (namely floods and fires).

    So while a speaker system could have saved lives this time, most of the time it wouldn't really change anything. With the costs of installing, maintaining, repairing and replacing a system that's statistically unlikely to ever be used... Well, I support preventative measures but that would feel like a waste of funding that could be better spent elsewhere.

    6 votes
  2. Comment on Cargo ship hits major bridge in Baltimore, triggering collapse (gifted link) in ~transport

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    I think most bridges would collapse if a large cargo ship rammed into the support column, and I'm not sure how many protective barriers could effectively stop it. A lot of incidents and tragedies...

    I think most bridges would collapse if a large cargo ship rammed into the support column, and I'm not sure how many protective barriers could effectively stop it. A lot of incidents and tragedies basically boil down to some external factor going wrong, regardless of design.

    I think the reason this doesn't happen more often is just because of other preventative measures and regulations within the maritime industries. There are regular ship inspections for starters (and this ship passed one in September 2023), and most ships will have experienced veterans in command positions who know how to steer ships around bridges. Then there are pilots, who are local specialists familiar with the waters around ports who take control of navigating ships into ports. A few articles mention that the ship was under control of at least one pilot at the time of the accident.

    But even with all those measures, issues can still pop up with very little notice. This time really does seem like a case of horrific bad timing for a mechanical issue.

    8 votes
  3. Comment on Apple has kept an illegal monopoly over smartphones in US, Justice Department says in antitrust suit in ~tech

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    That reminds me of this recent post to Tildes about Apple terminating Epic Games' developer account in Sweden, before quickly reversing the decision. Apple claimed it was due to Epic violating...

    The FTC has a pretty solid case to be made given that Apple has a long term (and current!) ability to lock out competitors or raise prices. Apple could, tomorrow, ban all third-party apps from the app store which compete with their offerings, and raise their cut on the app store to 95%. It doesn't matter whether they will do these things, merely that they could.

    That reminds me of this recent post to Tildes about Apple terminating Epic Games' developer account in Sweden, before quickly reversing the decision. Apple claimed it was due to Epic violating policies in the past, but this was after Epic announced intentions to open its own third-party app store on iOS due to the DMA. The timing is suspicious, to put it lightly.

    So basically, Apple has already shown they're willing to try to shut out competition even in the face of legal regulations.

    5 votes
  4. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    CannibalisticApple
    Link
    I just started Cassette Beasts at long last because we're traveling. I was hooked in the first five minutes, and have been consistently hooked since. I went in blind and didn't expect it to be an...

    I just started Cassette Beasts at long last because we're traveling. I was hooked in the first five minutes, and have been consistently hooked since. I went in blind and didn't expect it to be an isekai-type setting/story, or for the player and NPCs to transform into beasts instead of using them. Currently battling a third captain, but we're about to head out to dinner so it's on pause.

    Overall it's pretty refreshing!

    4 votes
  5. Comment on US libraries struggle to afford the demand for e-books and seek new state laws in fight with publishers in ~books

    CannibalisticApple
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    The fact that there's such a short limit on how long libraries can have copies of ebooks is just shocking to me. Two years or 26 checkouts is just so low. They don't have limits on physical books....

    The fact that there's such a short limit on how long libraries can have copies of ebooks is just shocking to me. Two years or 26 checkouts is just so low. They don't have limits on physical books. Is it because publishers have more control over digital copies, and thus can give into the greedier impulses more?

    Either way, I now feel guilty about the ebook I'd just checked out from my local library because I don't know if I'll actually read it.

    26 votes
  6. Comment on The future of Duck Game in ~games

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    Looking it up, I think there's a one-time registration fee to get a game published on Steam along with a 30% royalty rate on sales. The only cost I can imagine would be if they're running any...

    Looking it up, I think there's a one-time registration fee to get a game published on Steam along with a 30% royalty rate on sales. The only cost I can imagine would be if they're running any servers for online games, but no clue if that would even be on WBD's side.

    So if anything, they're making money by having the games for sale. Even if the division of profits would only give WBD 5%, it's still free income with zero effort on WBD's side. They're basically cutting off one of the few revenue sources, so this move is even more nonsensical. They're not gaining anything, but losing instead.

    5 votes
  7. Comment on The future of Duck Game in ~games

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    At this point, I can only think spite is the main motivator. I've ranted many times about Zaslav now, but this decision... I just can't see the logic. My one guess is that he's hoping for a panic...

    At this point, I can only think spite is the main motivator. I've ranted many times about Zaslav now, but this decision... I just can't see the logic. My one guess is that he's hoping for a panic rush of people buying the games before they're pulled, but that wouldn't be nearly significant enough to impact the $40B debt. I don't know if it would even get $1 million.

    So, at this point, only spite towards all those who came before him is left.

    3 votes
  8. Comment on Canadian pet DNA company sends back dog breed results from human sample a second time in ~life.pets

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    One of my regrets is we never found out my second dog's heritage, because I swear we found the super mutt. She was incredibly smart, active, and lived to be ~19/20 with overall good health. She...

    One of my regrets is we never found out my second dog's heritage, because I swear we found the super mutt. She was incredibly smart, active, and lived to be ~19/20 with overall good health. She warped my perception of dog age, her body only really started breaking down in the last month or so of her life. People were consistently shocked when they'd hear her age. We knew she was part sheltie, but guesses on the rest ranged all over.

    9 votes
  9. Comment on Boeing whistleblower found dead in US in ~transport

    CannibalisticApple
    Link
    I doubt Boeing murdered him, because that would be absolutely moronic when they're already under so much dang scrutiny for the door plug incident. I fully believe this was a suicide, either due to...

    I doubt Boeing murdered him, because that would be absolutely moronic when they're already under so much dang scrutiny for the door plug incident. I fully believe this was a suicide, either due to stress over his involvement in this case, self-assigned guilt for not doing more in his time at Boeing, or some other personal factors we're not privvy to.

    Even then though, the timing is bad for Boeing. I'd never heard of this case (1 in 4 oxygen masks don't work?? They used parts from scrap bins to avoid production delays!?), but it's now going to get plenty of national spotlight.

    Previously I'd found writeups on plane crashes reassuring because each one was a lesson for the industry on how to prevent each particular cause from happening again, but that only works if everyone involved actually cares about safety. And clearly, Boeing doesn't.

    30 votes
  10. Comment on What irrational video game requirements do you have? in ~games

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    Also an advantage on the Switch. I often use the home button instead of the pause button at this point.

    Also an advantage on the Switch. I often use the home button instead of the pause button at this point.

  11. Comment on The mystery social media account schooling US Congress on how to do its job in ~tech

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    It's the result of 200 years of laws, rules and processes spawning to address various needs and challenges. It's pretty natural for them to get complex, and I expect part of the complexity arose...

    It's the result of 200 years of laws, rules and processes spawning to address various needs and challenges. It's pretty natural for them to get complex, and I expect part of the complexity arose due to trying to minimize room for loopholes. The bigger issue in my mind is that it takes multiple books to understand it.

    I wonder how feasible it would be to condense the most crucial rules and processes into a more easily digestible single-volume format, with notes on where to find the details on more obscure processes. Maybe train an AI specifically on the all of the documentation for more obscure questions, not to provide answers like ChatGPT (because we can't guarantee it would give the correct answers) but to point people on where to find them within all the documentation.

    5 votes
  12. Comment on The mystery social media account schooling US Congress on how to do its job in ~tech

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    With how convoluted and long the "manual" is, I'm not surprised how few have read it. The article mentioned he used an 18-volume House reference book, and that's just one source on precedents. And...

    With how convoluted and long the "manual" is, I'm not surprised how few have read it. The article mentioned he used an 18-volume House reference book, and that's just one source on precedents. And with how dry a lot of reference books tend to be... Yeah, really not surprised.

    I wonder if it would be feasible to create a condensed version of all the rules that's easily digestible as required reading for new members of Congress, and can point to more detailed sources for specifics on more obscure topics.

    13 votes
  13. Comment on Akira Toriyama has passed away in ~anime

    CannibalisticApple
    Link
    For those who want details, there's a statement on the official Dragon Ball Twitter. Text from it: I'm just... Damn. He is one of the most influential mangaka in history, right up there with Osamu...

    For those who want details, there's a statement on the official Dragon Ball Twitter. Text from it:

    “Dear Friends and Partners,

    We are deeply saddened to inform you that manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1st due to acute subdural hematoma. He was in age of 68.

    It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve. However, he had left many manga titles and works of art to this world. Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years. We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.

    We inform you of this sad news, with gratefulness for your kindness during his lifetime.

    Funeral service was held with his family and very few relatives. Following his wishes for tranquility, we respectfully inform you that we would not accept flowers, condolences gifts, visiting, offerings and others. Also, we ask you to refrain from conduction interviews with his family.

    Future plans for a commemorative gathering is not decided, we will let you know when it’s confirmed. We deeply thank you for your understanding and support as always.”

    I'm just... Damn. He is one of the most influential mangaka in history, right up there with Osamu Tezuka. Dragon Ball is part of what made anime a global phenomenon, it's likely still the most mainstream series even now. His influence can be felt on so many works, both within manga and anime but also in other mediums.

    His death is so sudden and tragic, it really hammers home that death waits for no one. I'm glad his family had some time to grieve in peace before going public.

    I'm sad his legacy came to such an abrupt end, but I'm glad for the impact he's had on so many lives. Rest in peace, Toriyama.

    16 votes
  14. Comment on What irrational video game requirements do you have? in ~games

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    Out of curiosity, do you get motion sickness from watching videos of people playing first-person games?

    Out of curiosity, do you get motion sickness from watching videos of people playing first-person games?

    1 vote
  15. Comment on What irrational video game requirements do you have? in ~games

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    Depends on how it's implemented, I think. I know some people struggle with the reaction time in fishing in Stardew Valley for example, to the point many mods exist for it. It can make completing...

    Depends on how it's implemented, I think. I know some people struggle with the reaction time in fishing in Stardew Valley for example, to the point many mods exist for it. It can make completing at least one of the Community Center bundles pretty hard. Other games can have it be an incredibly flimsy mechanic, or take up a LOT of time.

    Then there's Big the Cat's levels in Sonic Adventure DX...

    1 vote
  16. Comment on Please, enough with the dead butterflies! in ~enviro

    CannibalisticApple
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    This article has definitely ruined most butterfly depictions for me. And I just spread that ruination to my mother because it's an interesting perspective and kinda neat way to reframe how I view...

    This article has definitely ruined most butterfly depictions for me. And I just spread that ruination to my mother because it's an interesting perspective and kinda neat way to reframe how I view butterflies.

    While I now may be unable to look at my pretty butterfly keychain from Costa Rica the same way, I think this will give me a greater appreciation for depictions of live butterflies.

    9 votes
  17. Comment on One in four school-starters in England and Wales not toilet-trained, say teachers in ~life

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    The most hopeful interpretation I have is that the respondents mentally lumped "schools" with childcare services like daycare or preschool (nursery school?). In which case I can agree to an...

    Looks like it was on a five-point scale from "completely parents" to "completely schools."

    The most hopeful interpretation I have is that the respondents mentally lumped "schools" with childcare services like daycare or preschool (nursery school?). In which case I can agree to an extent, since part of supervising toddlers in those settings is reenforcing good habits and behaviors.

    Otherwise, I'm worried what else those parents would think isn't their responsibility. And I'm worried about anyone who answered "completely schools" no matter how they interpreted the question.

    23 votes
  18. Comment on One in four school-starters in England and Wales not toilet-trained, say teachers in ~life

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    Article seemed to be talking about kids entering Reception, which Wikipedia says starts around ages 4-5. So... Yikes.

    Article seemed to be talking about kids entering Reception, which Wikipedia says starts around ages 4-5. So... Yikes.

    14 votes
  19. Comment on How to subtitle your book so people will read it: Tajja Isen on balancing the demands of marketing with artistic vision in ~books

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    That got me curious enough to check. The word counter I found says When the pawn... is 90 words, and Robinson Crusoe is 68. I think When the pawn... feels less imposing to look at since it's a...

    That got me curious enough to check. The word counter I found says When the pawn... is 90 words, and Robinson Crusoe is 68. I think When the pawn... feels less imposing to look at since it's a poem and broken into lines, and not a big block of text like Robinson Crusoe.

    2 votes
  20. Comment on Helium discovery in northern Minnesota may be biggest ever in North America in ~science

    CannibalisticApple
    Link Parent
    Not sure if you're joking or serious, so I'll just assume serious. From my admittedly limited knowledge based on a quick Google search, nuclear fusion is incredibly expensive and energy-intensive....

    Not sure if you're joking or serious, so I'll just assume serious. From my admittedly limited knowledge based on a quick Google search, nuclear fusion is incredibly expensive and energy-intensive. The process also doesn't produce enough helium to really justify the cost, or at least not when there's naturally occurring helium.

    So basically, if we get to a point where we have to synthesize helium to have any at all... Well I'm not looking forward to how much hospitals would have to charge for MRIs to justify the cost.

    8 votes