ChingShih's recent activity
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Comment on How can I prevent my work computers turning my home into an oven? in ~comp
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Comment on How can I prevent my work computers turning my home into an oven? in ~comp
ChingShih Link ParentYeah, it really depends. If you're in France and your electricity is mostly nuclear or solar/hydro, then you're already using a lot of water to create that electricity, so maybe it's more...Yeah, it really depends. If you're in France and your electricity is mostly nuclear or solar/hydro, then you're already using a lot of water to create that electricity, so maybe it's more efficient just to use the supply that's created at a national/regional level. If you're in a coal-burning area, then you're using a lot of everything else (not sure how much water coal plants actually use), so using water instead of electricity is the most environmentally-friendly option ... even if we're all running out of fresh water on a human timescale.
I guess if you wanted to get really out-there you could capture grey-water from washing your hands in the sink and use that to fill your open-loop liquid cooling system. Then treat the water with a drip-feed of chlorine to keep the insides of the tubes clean.
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Comment on How can I prevent my work computers turning my home into an oven? in ~comp
ChingShih Link ParentI was going to post this as a top-level musing, but it's not top-level worthy, so I'm saddling you with this response for no particular reason. Congrats xD I've always wanted to do a mineral...I was going to post this as a top-level musing, but it's not top-level worthy, so I'm saddling you with this response for no particular reason. Congrats xD
I've always wanted to do a mineral oil-submerged PC build, but repairing/replacing components is a hassle. It got me thinking about different ways to better utilize liquid cooling setups or heatsinks in general. For instance, why use a copper heatsink-to-air/liquid when you could run pipes directly into your home/apartment foundation? Geothermal on the cheap! (And maybe some building code violations, too! So fun!) I don't know what the thermal capacity of the average concrete foundation is, but I'm sure it's enough for a few hardware geeks to exploit here and there.
Another idea, and one that's more friendly to those of us wanting to recapture heat in the winter, is to expand the liquid cooling reservoir itself (in OP's case between the system and the minisplit AC) and to use a silicone oil or something as the coolant to maximize efficiency. Most consumer liquid cooling systems that I see don't even have a spare reservoir (which makes topping up closed-loop systems that much harder). So running part of the cooling loop into a large fish tank would give additional thermal capacity to the system, but also allow the operator to take off the top of the fish tank and exhaust some of that heat during colder temps -- including optionally at night. I think it would be a fun project to have exhaust fans on a timer to open up either into the home or out of the home at night. Refilling the reservoir would also be easy and maintenance on the PC hardware wouldn't be as troublesome as it would be with a submerged mineral oil system.
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Comment on How can I prevent my work computers turning my home into an oven? in ~comp
ChingShih Link ParentI like that idea, and I hate that I'm going to say this, but I think the cheapest option is simply to run water into the liquid cooling system and then ... dump the hot water down the drain. Water...I like that idea, and I hate that I'm going to say this, but I think the cheapest option is simply to run water into the liquid cooling system and then ... dump the hot water down the drain. Water is incredibly cheap and most nuclear power plants don't waste much time or expense on trying to recapture all the steam from the turbines, they simply dump it back out into their local water source (which is why so many are built on lakes or along rivers or are ocean-adjacent). If OP has to dump a bunch of BTUs somewhere, dumping that down the drain and utilizing the already fairly good thermal capacity of cool water is just a cheap one-size-fits-all solution.
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Comment on How can I prevent my work computers turning my home into an oven? in ~comp
ChingShih Link ParentYeah I think a split AC system is the only thing that's really going to appreciably lower OP's room temperature and use that increase in electricity cost in the most effective way (as apposed to...Yeah I think a split AC system is the only thing that's really going to appreciably lower OP's room temperature and use that increase in electricity cost in the most effective way (as apposed to getting a window AC unit or something like that to cool the existing air). Then, if OP's building allows it (although they mentioned it's a first floor apartment), they could offset some of their energy costs with balcony solar. I'm not really sure that non-HVAC people should be messing with a configuration as potentially risky as all this, but it's always sounded like a fun project to me.
I'm also concerned that any solution that's not what papasquat suggested is just moving inside air to the outside and outside air to the inside of the apartment. Any cool air that's created through a closed-loop HVAC system and exhausted to the outside is turning the entire dwelling into an open-loop system. The air from the apartment that gets warmed in a computer and vented outside has to be replaced with air from somewhere else. Generally that's going to be through the gaps around doors, door frames, windows, etc. You will find out real fast how well sealed and square your dwelling is when trying to vent a lot of heat. The split AC system essentially keeps outside energy outside all the time, which should keep it might nicer inside.
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On 8 March, 1910 Raymonde de Laroche became the world's first licensed female pilot
I don't really have any cool articles about de Laroche besides the Wikipedia page on her, but it is quite good and a shortish read, so very worthwhile. There is also this short article from the...
I don't really have any cool articles about de Laroche besides the Wikipedia page on her, but it is quite good and a shortish read, so very worthwhile. There is also this short article from the University of Houston, complete with a 3-minute audio version.
The week of 8 March is also International Women of Aviation Week, celebrating all the female aviators (people are getting away from using gender-specific words like aviatrix that weren't necessary in English anyway), including Jacqueline Cochran, the wartime head of Women Airforce Service Pilots in the U.S. and who would go on to be the first woman to break the sound barrier; Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman, the first African-American and Native American woman aviator and presumably the first licensed female pilot of mixed race to participate in air races and barnstorming stunt shows across the U.S. and Europe; Leah Hing, the first Chinese-American female pilot and who started her own flight school after the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931; among many other women past and present who are earning their pilot's license.
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Comment on Syrian security forces accused of executing dozens of Alawites in ~society
ChingShih (edited )LinkI was curious about more information regarding this, because the extremely multi-party conflict has so many variables. I haven't really turned up anything else yet, since the renewal of military...I was curious about more information regarding this, because the extremely multi-party conflict has so many variables. I haven't really turned up anything else yet, since the renewal of military clashes is still quite fresh.
On that note, there is now a fledgling Wiki page about March 2025 Western Syria clashes and unfortunately it sounds like things are heating up again. So it may be a while before these killings are linked to specific opposition groups, whether they're reprisals for recent support of remnants of Assad-aligned forces, or if they're the result of tracking down specific people (and invariably families) and associates known to have supported Assad or the Syrian Ba'athists (like the 'Shabiha,' who are primarily Alawite).
Edit: On 8 March, 1963 the Ba'ath Party came into power in Syria and also led to the Alawite minorities gaining control of the military structure, which Assad would later rebuild and unify with the help of the usual suspects. So quite some coincidences leading up to the 8th.
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Comment on Best "complete" anime you'd recommend? in ~anime
ChingShih Link ParentGankutsuou is such a wild show and the art style is REALLY COOL, even if some styles clash with others and I sorta wish they'd stuck to just doing one thing well. I highly recommend anyone with an...Gankutsuou is such a wild show and the art style is REALLY COOL, even if some styles clash with others and I sorta wish they'd stuck to just doing one thing well. I highly recommend anyone with an interest in art check it out. I can't really find a clip that does the art style justice the ending theme showcases all the styles as well as the CG (... and the mobile suits and disco balls...). But damn, that whole thing where people's outfits exist on their own "layer" and they're simply moving across a pattern? So cool.
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Comment on Best "complete" anime you'd recommend? in ~anime
ChingShih Link ParentOne of my favorites. How do you think the show holds up versus the film? It's been a long time since I've watched the show, the film is just a more convenient use of time. Bonus, after watching...X/1999
One of my favorites. How do you think the show holds up versus the film? It's been a long time since I've watched the show, the film is just a more convenient use of time.
Escaflowne
Bonus, after watching this classic people can give the fan parody Nescaflowné a try. xD
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Comment on Best "complete" anime you'd recommend? in ~anime
ChingShih Link ParentOutlaw Star still holds a special place for me. It has an excellent magic system (without being overly complex) and otherwise a very cool world for the eclectic characters to inhabit. But if...Outlaw Star still holds a special place for me. It has an excellent magic system (without being overly complex) and otherwise a very cool world for the eclectic characters to inhabit. But if there's one thing I can do to recommend people watch this cult-favorite sci-fi, it's that it's not just a futuristic Japanese/western setting. There's eastern magic and culture. Even in the far reaches of space there's a sense of cultural otherness that goes beyond cat-girls and princesses in eye-catching getups.
The Japanese dub is great. The English dub is quite good for its time and I think probably holds up reasonably. Better than GTO, imo, but the audio quality isn't perfect. So there's really no reason not to watch.
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Beijing's deflation dilemma: Falling prices signal bigger troubles ahead for China's economy
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Comment on Can I upgrade my XMP memory? in ~comp
ChingShih LinkYou can buy another exact set, yes. Needs to be identical serial numbers for best compatibility. Otherwise, consult a RAM configurator from the RAM manufacturer. Assuming the RAM is in the right...-
You can buy another exact set, yes. Needs to be identical serial numbers for best compatibility. Otherwise, consult a RAM configurator from the RAM manufacturer. Assuming the RAM is in the right slots in the first place, you'll go from a dual-channel sets (2x16GB) to a quad-channel setup (if 4x16GB at the end).
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Depending on how you feel about the cooler, it might be convenient to upgrade the cooler as well, then put in whatever RAM you want. If you haven't changed the thermal paste/pad on your CPU in a couple years, then that's another excuse to at least take off your cooler for maintenance. :) It used to be that people could just take off the heat-spreader on the RAM when situations like yours arose, but I don't know if DDR5 is happy with that and I don't know the airflow of your rig's case. I wouldn't immediately recommend it.
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You can mix and match RAM capacities, yes (but check a RAM configurator for the right RAM set). You may hit some bandwidth limitations when trying to use more than 4 x n your RAM (where n is the smallest capacity), and the motherboard might not want to default to quad-channel, but for gaming and stuff I doubt you'll see a performance hit from that. If you think you'd benefit more from having more RAM, then do it.
For other people looking at upgrading/doing a new build with totally new RAM: look for a RAM-motherboard compatibility thing on the RAM manufacturer's website. I upgraded recently and needed to find the right G.Skill RAM for my motherboard so I found their RAM configurator to figure out the compatibility with my motherboard.
In OP's case I think this should be the right page for their rig.
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Comment on 'Anora' wins five Oscars including Best Picture in ~movies
ChingShih Link ParentI haven't seen Chalamet in A Complete Unknown yet, but I watched The Brutalist recently and Adrien Brody did a really phenomenal job so I'm glad he got the recognition he has long deserved for the...I haven't seen Chalamet in A Complete Unknown yet, but I watched The Brutalist recently and Adrien Brody did a really phenomenal job so I'm glad he got the recognition he has long deserved for the energy he puts into his acting. I also liked Felicity Jones' role in The Brutalist. It's still a big deal for people to play people with disabilities. Maybe one day we'll have people with disabilities portray people with disabilities, but anyway, props to her for taking on the role. I also hope that we have more recent Star Wars actors find success in interesting films.
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Comment on Cousin marriage: What new evidence tells us about children's risk for ill health and how governments are responding in ~life
ChingShih Link ParentI wonder if a ban on such marriages also "improves" (through social pressure or other encouragements) people's opportunities for upward mobility. Like if someone's family has been a rural area for...I wonder if a ban on such marriages also "improves" (through social pressure or other encouragements) people's opportunities for upward mobility. Like if someone's family has been a rural area for several generations and their family forbids them from a relationship with a cousin, are they more likely to move to a place with more relationship prospects and, as a consequence, also more job opportunities? Seems like there must be historical evidence supporting that as well, even if the sample sizes are a bit smaller than today.
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Comment on Bread and circuses - to generate public approval, not by excellence in public service or public policy, but through superficial appeasement in ~society
ChingShih Link ParentWell put! Complacency definitely leads to a lot of normalizing and acceptance of the way things are, and even the entrenchment of defensive reasoning to resist change, even if things might get...Well put! Complacency definitely leads to a lot of normalizing and acceptance of the way things are, and even the entrenchment of defensive reasoning to resist change, even if things might get better for oneself or others in the long-term in exchange for near-term stability. Even when that near-term stability is an unhealthy relationship, unsustainable spending practices, or some other situation that people could meaningfully change, they're reluctant to choose the outcome with more uncertainty.
My optimism for the near-term is that some people already came to terms with some of these critical decisions during the pandemic. They had to make some tough choices (for better or worse) like uprooting their family to move to a lower population density area, to homeschool kids with respiratory problems, changing careers to one they can remote work, or changing their saving habits. A lot of people went the other way though and have worse spending habits, drive recklessly, and so on. But hopefully we can continue to encourage people to make the necessary decisions, rather than the easy ones.
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Comment on Antiaging pill for dogs clears key US Food and Drug Administration hurdle in ~life.pets
ChingShih LinkWe've reached an interesting point in time where it's economical for companies to develop, produce, and market medicines for pets that are also accessible to humans. This isn't just about...We've reached an interesting point in time where it's economical for companies to develop, produce, and market medicines for pets that are also accessible to humans. This isn't just about pharmaceuticals being pet-safe, but about there being enough money in the market at every level that it's feasible for pet parents to be able to buy some of these medicines affordably (it'd be nice if some things like tranquilizers were more affordable for conservation purposes, but that's another issue). But we're also at a point where there are medical treatments, like stem cell therapies, (and I use these terms loosely) are affordable and accessible for pets. Pet parents and caretakers can literally get stem cell therapies for a dog, cat, or horse with osteoarthritis or tissue or joint problems.
It's going to be really interesting to see the wealth and health gap between poor humans and rich pets widen and what people do with that discrepancy. As much as we try to ignore it, this gap also exists, and is widening, between people in developed countries and those in undeveloped countries or significantly unstable regions. Humanitarian support of other people -- of each other -- is important and there doesn't need to be a compromise between caring about one group of people or the other. Or caring about animals over humans or vice versa.
I also think that longevity medicines and treatments like what's mentioned in the article are going to force a change in the way that the majority of people think about pets and animals in general. Pets won't be shorter-term companions, but during adoption people will really consider this as adding a family members (I recently had a man in his 70s confide in me that when his dog died it was actually losing a family member, as though this is a great secret). Medicines like this might pave the way towards more people adopting positive views of animal personhood, or at least not as overt property, and continue to influence our cultural values.
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Comment on A boutique German car customization house has given the Tesla Cybertruck a radical exterior and interior makeover in ~transport
ChingShih Link ParentYeah, it's weird. I shamelessly stole that link from /r/Switzerland, where the comments are leaning towards that the plate is of a variety, and is registered to a business, that allows it to be...Yeah, it's weird. I shamelessly stole that link from /r/Switzerland, where the comments are leaning towards that the plate is of a variety, and is registered to a business, that allows it to be put on any car for limited purposes. But apparently the Cybertruck doesn't meet enough road standards to be acceptable even with this type of plate. Oops!
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Comment on Schloss Heidelberg is hosting Fascination Lego through 30 March in ~hobbies
ChingShih LinkI visited Heidelberg castle a while back and really enjoyed the self-guided tour and walking around the gardens. I didn't know they hosted events like this, this would've been fun to attend! If...I visited Heidelberg castle a while back and really enjoyed the self-guided tour and walking around the gardens. I didn't know they hosted events like this, this would've been fun to attend! If anyone goes, tell us how it was!
Has anyone here attended unique hobby-related events (trains, model aircraft, crafts, etc.) at interesting locations like this? Has anyone been to Lego-related events/conventions and would like to share their experience?
I'm not sure if this really deserves being in ~hobbies, I just wanted to share this somewhere! :D
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Schloss Heidelberg is hosting Fascination Lego through 30 March
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Comment on A boutique German car customization house has given the Tesla Cybertruck a radical exterior and interior makeover in ~transport
ChingShih LinkHaving just watched The Brutalist the other day, I'm further convinced that the Cybertruck is an artistic personification of internalized pain and suffering. But what Mansory has done is just...Having just watched The Brutalist the other day, I'm further convinced that the Cybertruck is an artistic personification of internalized pain and suffering. But what Mansory has done is just special. Like really, really special and not in the bespoke "I'm making a gaudy statement" way. This is just ugly wealth for the sake of being ugly. I guess we'll get more of these kind of things to differentiate EVs, since it'll be tough for third parties to do traditional improvements to horsepower, torque, and range.
In other cybertruck news, a driver in Switzerland was arrested (English here) because the car is illegal to register and drive in the country.
Edit: oops, forgot to add these tags: source.insideevs, author.andrei nedelea
Yikes! I didn't know water was that expensive in the EU! And thanks for doing the math!
Where I am in the US the cost of water is around 1/2 of that of some (median?) EU cities (although OP is in the UK). I just wanted to see this in numbers: At 3.5 Euros/m3 of water and converting it to a nominal 1,000 cubic feet of water (a baseline amount in the US), that would be about EUR100 or $108. I'd pay around $50 if I used that much water and I don't use half that much water in a 3-month period.
Apparently even water in San Francisco costs less than it does in Denmark. Yeesh!