DeepThought's recent activity
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Comment on Thoughts on a Democratic postmortem in ~society
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Comment on 2024 United States election megathread in ~society
DeepThought (edited )Link ParentThis one feels so much worse. In 2016 it felt like we elected a clown, but there's was a hope that he could be restrained by our institutions, and by and large he was. This one feels hopeless. He...- Exemplary
This one feels so much worse. In 2016 it felt like we elected a clown, but there's was a hope that he could be restrained by our institutions, and by and large he was. This one feels hopeless. He ran without any sort of mask, just pure fascist and our shithole country voted for him. Any institutions that held him back last time will be gutted and filled with loyalists. There are no rationalizations I can come up with to convince myself it won't be a catastrophe. Come January we will live under permanent one party rule. The supreme court is guaranteed to have at least a 6-3 majority for the next three decades. We're guaranteed to hit 3 degrees warming if not more. There will be a crackdown on all independent media and mutual aide organizations like other autocrats have done. There won't be any reporting on the atrocities committed against migrants, trans people, and other vulnerable populations. The Democratic party is dead. According to the exit polls it's coalition has collapsed and demographic changes it relied on to be competitive in the future will not favor them at all. It will take multiple decades to come out of this and there will be so much suffering.
That being said, now is the time to build local organizations to help as many people as we can. Yeah it's going to suck, but we can try to make it suck less for the most vulnerable of us and be prepared to pounce on our chance to take our country back whenever that may come.
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Comment on AI is killing remote work in ~tech
DeepThought Link ParentCare to expand on the user ase quality of bsky? I've found the vast majority of my interactions there to be quite friendly and interesting.Care to expand on the user ase quality of bsky? I've found the vast majority of my interactions there to be quite friendly and interesting.
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Comment on AI is killing remote work in ~tech
DeepThought Link ParentI wish others in our profession would have listened to those of us wanting to unionize while we held all the powerI wish others in our profession would have listened to those of us wanting to unionize while we held all the power
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Comment on AI is killing remote work in ~tech
DeepThought Link ParentAnd often this makes debugging take even longer. It's like we've been trained for years to look for the kinds of mistakes a human would have made when debugging and the sorts of mistakes and LLM...Every line must be double-checked.
And often this makes debugging take even longer. It's like we've been trained for years to look for the kinds of mistakes a human would have made when debugging and the sorts of mistakes and LLM makes don't quite line up with that mental model.
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Comment on Donald Trump US tariffs would increase laptop prices by $350+, other electronics by as much as 40% in ~society
DeepThought (edited )Link ParentThat whole interview was infuriating. The only upside is that the interviewer (and hopefully people like him) was probably not going to vote.That whole interview was infuriating. The only upside is that the interviewer (and hopefully people like him) was probably not going to vote.
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Comment on You're running for office on a somewhat petty, yet univerally-understood single issue. What is it? in ~talk
DeepThought LinkWealth cap. After a certain point, say 100 million, you get a medal, a statue at the hall of heroes, and your name on a federal building for winning capitalism. You can't own a cent above that.Wealth cap. After a certain point, say 100 million, you get a medal, a statue at the hall of heroes, and your name on a federal building for winning capitalism. You can't own a cent above that.
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Comment on Where do you fit in the US political typology? in ~society
DeepThought Link ParentSimilarly, I found the question about the US being the greatest/among the greatest/worse than others to be lacking the very obvious option of it being impossible and pointless to rank countries as...I found it funny how the only two options for the military power question were "America should stay the most powerful militarily" and "Other countries could also get as powerful as America" without any option for weakening US military power, but I suppose that accurately reflects the political climate in the US.
Similarly, I found the question about the US being the greatest/among the greatest/worse than others to be lacking the very obvious option of it being impossible and pointless to rank countries as overall better or worse rather than on specific metrics.
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Comment on Help on deciding whether to stay with a low cost simple life, or to "live life to the fullest" in ~life
DeepThought LinkAll the reasons you gave for wanting a car seem to be for sporadic events. You can just rent a car for those. Cars are also way more expensive than you would expect when purchasing your first one....All the reasons you gave for wanting a car seem to be for sporadic events. You can just rent a car for those. Cars are also way more expensive than you would expect when purchasing your first one. Make sure you fully take into account costs of insurance, maintenance, parking, etc...
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Comment on What is a software you wish existed? in ~comp
DeepThought Link ParentThe issue has always been economics. Either you make it ad supported or you paywall it. The problem with pay walling is that most of the young hip and interesting people aren't rich. So your...The issue has always been economics. Either you make it ad supported or you paywall it. The problem with pay walling is that most of the young hip and interesting people aren't rich. So your platform becomes populated almost exclusively by older people who have disposable income.
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Comment on What is the motivation to keep sending Benajmin Netanyahu military aide while the Gaza crisis continues? in ~talk
DeepThought Link ParentWouldn't Jordan already meet that criteria?Wouldn't Jordan already meet that criteria?
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Comment on I'm visiting the region you're from, what's your favorite food I should try? in ~food
DeepThought (edited )LinkIn Quito, Ecuador If you go in late September to early November you must try Colada Morada. It is a drink made from fermented purple corn flour, various spices (cinnamon, clove, and some local...In Quito, Ecuador
If you go in late September to early November you must try Colada Morada. It is a drink made from fermented purple corn flour, various spices (cinnamon, clove, and some local ones as well), and fruits that is made during finados (day of the dead) season. It is the pinnacle of Ecuadorian cuisine.
If you go during March, be sure to try Fanesca. It is a very dense soup made with 12 different types of grains and legumes, bacalao (cured fish although many people skip it), tiny cheese empanadas and fried plantains. It is only made during Easter (get it? Jesus and his 12 apostles ) and it is the centerpieces in what is the equivalent of Thanksgiving for us in that it is the holiday when you eat until you are absolutely stuffed.
Helados de Paila are a local type of fruity sorbet made in huge bronze pans. Highly recommended, especially the more exotic fruits like Ovo, Taxo and Naranjilla. They are originally from Ibarra, but you can find just as good ones in Quito.
Various empanadas. My favorite are Empanadas de Morocho. Deep fried empanadas made from a special type of corn. They are incredibly crispy. The filling is usually meat based with rice and peas. But there's also empanadas de viento (soft airy dough with a cheese filling), de mejido (sweet filling), and verde (made from green plantains).
Tamales/Choclotandas/Humitas. Our version of the tamal. There are so many different types. Corn based, rice based. Served in corn or banana leafs. Savory or sweet. Just try them all.
Soups. There are so many flavors and textures. Though some of them might be harder to find as a tourist. I would recommend Locro, Sancocho, Aji de Carne, Quinoa, Arroz de Cebada, Morocho.
The rest of our cuisine is kind of boring tbh. Lots of pork and potatoes. I'm not a huge fan, but people love seco de chivo/pollo. Because of this it is often served with Ají, a very mild fruit based hot sauce. Pretty much every restaurant/family has their own version of Aji with different fruits and varying spiciness levels. It is an interesting space to explore culinarily.
Coastal and Amazonian food are completely different beasts that I am less familiar with. I will say one thing though, Manabí's cuisine is probably the best in the country. Lots of seafood, coconut, and green plantains.
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Comment on The far right has moved online, where its voice is more dangerous than ever in ~society
DeepThought Link ParentAlong those lines I think publishing something for your mutuals to see is different than posting something to your followers. The former, I think, should be exempt from screening.Along those lines I think publishing something for your mutuals to see is different than posting something to your followers. The former, I think, should be exempt from screening.
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Comment on US President Joe Biden announces that he will not run for re-election in ~news
DeepThought Link ParentLook, I agree that donors have outsized influence that they shouldn't. But I think you are making a lot of incorrect assumptions as to their motives. Right now it sure looks like Harris will be...Look, I agree that donors have outsized influence that they shouldn't. But I think you are making a lot of incorrect assumptions as to their motives.
Right now it sure looks like Harris will be the nominee, having gathered major endorsements from Biden himself, the Black and Hispanic caucuses, a ton of senators and influential representatives as well. Given that, are there any substantive differences in tax policy between Harris and Biden? I think the answer is a solid no. So, isn't it more likely that they actually were scared by Biden's debate performance and that's what drove them to action?
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Comment on Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd in ~news
DeepThought LinkAfter digesting these news for the past day and trying to think how this will impact the election I think a lot of us were a bit premature in assuming this would benefit Trump's chances. Up until...After digesting these news for the past day and trying to think how this will impact the election I think a lot of us were a bit premature in assuming this would benefit Trump's chances. Up until now Trump's modus operandi has been to fan the flames of polarization at every opportunity. Always trying to appeal to the fears and hatred of his base. Often alluding to violence against his political enemies, if not outright calling for it. He has never campaigned as a candidate trying to promote peace, compromise, and unity. And it's why he has been successful. His base crave hate and violent rhetoric.
Now his campaign has a big decision to make. They could change course and try to paint him as the candidate for unity and de-escalation in an attempt to secure the votes of everyone that is outraged that this happened in our democracy . But this runs the risk of dampening dampening enthusiasm in his rabid base who are craving revenge.
Or they could continue campaigning as usual and alienate those who think polarization and instigation has gone too far. It will be interesting to see what happens at the convention. -
Comment on Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd in ~news
DeepThought Link ParentThere's precedent for such a thing though. Hinkley shot Reagan not for any political reasons, but to impress Jodie Foster.it'd be surprising to find that the guy who tried to assassinate Trump doesn't have strong feelings about him one way or the other
There's precedent for such a thing though. Hinkley shot Reagan not for any political reasons, but to impress Jodie Foster.
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Comment on Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd in ~news
DeepThought Link ParentHypothesis 3: It was apolitical. He was a lonely young male who just like so many mass shooters before him picked a high profile target in order to cause the most noise and cement his name in...Hypothesis 3: It was apolitical. He was a lonely young male who just like so many mass shooters before him picked a high profile target in order to cause the most noise and cement his name in history before bowing out. And it just so happened that Donald Trump was visiting his hometown.
That to me fits everything. Interviews with his classmates confirm he was lonely and was obsessed with guns/camo. The flimsiness of both pieces of evidence linking him to either political party do as well.
There are other possible hypotheses, and other possible evidence, but these seem to be the most compelling in my opinion.
What makes you believe this is this less compelling than your top two hypotheses?
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Comment on Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd in ~news
DeepThought (edited )LinkI really hope the shooter wasn't an immigrant. The US will become a very scary place for us if they were. Update: phew. Apparently it was a white libertarian incel.I really hope the shooter wasn't an immigrant. The US will become a very scary place for us if they were.
Update: phew. Apparently it was a white libertarian incel.
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Comment on US Soccer fails to deliver in ~sports.football
DeepThought Link ParentSo much young talent is wasted. Playing youth soccer at a high level is prohibitively expensive for huge segments of the population, many of whom are children of Latin American and African...So much young talent is wasted. Playing youth soccer at a high level is prohibitively expensive for huge segments of the population, many of whom are children of Latin American and African migrants who absolutely love the sport.
Having said that, the criticism does feel a bit reactionary. At the WC the US played at the expected level given the quality of players at their disposal. And while the Copa was certainly disappointing, it really all came down to Weah's idiotic red card. There was nothing the manager could have done to prevent that.
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Comment on Texas congressman becomes first House Democrat to call on Joe Biden to withdraw in ~news
DeepThought Link ParentHarris? From what I've read she should be able to use the money raised by the DNC if Biden chooses to drop out.Harris? From what I've read she should be able to use the money raised by the DNC if Biden chooses to drop out.
Just one small correction. We did not see significant shifts among black voters towards trump.