DrStone's recent activity
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Comment on Is ‘birdnesting’ the answer for divorcing parents? The arrangement in which children of separated couples stay in the family home with one parent, before the other swaps in, is taking off. in ~life
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Comment on We unleashed Facebook and Instagram’s algorithms on blank accounts. They served up sexism and misogyny. in ~tech
DrStone Link ParentI can think of two reasons. The first is that a pause can mean slight interest, but not enough to go out of your way to take an action on it. Maybe presenting more related content will grow that...I can think of two reasons.
The first is that a pause can mean slight interest, but not enough to go out of your way to take an action on it. Maybe presenting more related content will grow that interest enough to engage, like the point of advertising.
The second is that it’s something the user is interested in, but doesn’t explicitly engage with for whatever reason - embarrassment, denial, politically/socially “correct” response, whatever. “We don’t know if you like these, wink wink, so we’ll keep them in your feed until you tell us”.
In either case, if the person is indeed having a negative reaction (pausing in “consternation”), they’ll either leave active feedback eventually (or reduce feed usage) or don’t care enough. Until then, views cost very little, so tune based on broader trends and any signal you can get no matter how small and hope for the best.
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Comment on You don’t need a pickup truck, you need a cowboy costume in ~transport
DrStone Link ParentI’m driving a Fit (“Jazz” here) that I inherited. It’s not great, I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to choose it, but it’s fine as a city car. Pros: Small enough to fit in any space and through...I’m driving a Fit (“Jazz” here) that I inherited. It’s not great, I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to choose it, but it’s fine as a city car.
Pros: Small enough to fit in any space and through any gap one would reasonably consider. Decent bit of trunk space for the size and roomy enough interior, though a bit cramped with rear-facing toddler seats.
Cons: The power is awful though, and you practically have to floor it to get up to speed for highway merging our getting out of a stopped lane. Sight lines aren’t the best, particularly hate the giant A-pillar which blocks a good bit of the view of pedestrians crossing the road nearby or in a curve. Speakers and AC vents are only in the front, which means you’re getting blasted by both as the driver if you hope to keep the people in back comfortable.
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Comment on Cheap phone plan with international service? in ~tech
DrStone Link ParentSeconding Google Voice. I did the same thing when I moved abroad years ago. Super simple and it’s generally worked well. I’ve been able to use it to make outgoing “domestic” US calls; what was the...Seconding Google Voice. I did the same thing when I moved abroad years ago. Super simple and it’s generally worked well. I’ve been able to use it to make outgoing “domestic” US calls; what was the roadblock you ran into @paris?
The one big caveat is that some businesses, often banks, won’t send texts to VoIP numbers like GV. It can make things difficult when you can’t get them to send you a verification text.
Also keep in mind that regardless of what approach you take, all calls going to your US number - including spam - will still be during US times, which can be a real pain depending on your local offset.
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Comment on Escape from the box: new technology and old tactics have made buying a car a death march of deception in ~transport
DrStone LinkThe best car purchase experience I’ve ever had was a new Scion FRS (aka Toyota 86) from a Scion dealership before the brand was completely folded into Toyota. Scion had a policy called “Pure...The best car purchase experience I’ve ever had was a new Scion FRS (aka Toyota 86) from a Scion dealership before the brand was completely folded into Toyota.
Scion had a policy called “Pure Price”
[…] the price posted, whether on the vehicle, in an advertisement, or on a menu display board in the dealership, was the price customers would pay. This included the vehicle, accessories, finance and insurance products.
Only one trim level offered, no negotiation, no surprises.
Great car, by the way. A blast to drive and held its resale value well. Back seat was a joke though.
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Comment on Does anyone have any advice for new dads? in ~life.men
DrStone Link ParentIf you’re the kind of person who gets sucked in, definitely cut the habit. If you’re the kind of person who can pass the time reading an article, but still have full awareness of your kid so as...If you’re the kind of person who gets sucked in, definitely cut the habit. If you’re the kind of person who can pass the time reading an article, but still have full awareness of your kid so as soon as they look for your attention you’re ready to give it (and do give it), it can be ok. Kids need both interactive and independent play time, and how much they like or can handle of each varies from kid to kid and over time. One of my kids has always wanted a lot of attention, while the other likes to do their own thing as long as someone is nearby and ready to jump in when she wants you to.
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Comment on Does anyone have any advice for new dads? in ~life.men
DrStone Link ParentI don’t think it’s mental. I went in to my first child thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal because I’m a night owl. For the first few weeks, it seemed like I was right. Then the initial novelty and...I don’t think it’s mental. I went in to my first child thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal because I’m a night owl. For the first few weeks, it seemed like I was right. Then the initial novelty and adrenaline wore off, the terrible sleep wore on, and it was rough until the kid started sleeping the night. When the second kid came along, I still went in with confidence… and quickly got my ass kicked.
Sleep deprivation effects depend a lot on the individual. Some people get drowsy and fight to stay awake through the day; this can be dangerous for a newborn as the risk of falling asleep while holding them goes up, as well as making mistakes in the daze. Some people slowly run out of patience, able to complete the tasks required but getting frustrated and shouting/snapping/whatever easily. Some people have no problem once they’re awake and caffeinated. Some people’s issues kick in under 7 hours and others not until under 3.
Then there’s how long it’s going on. A few particularly bad nights will have a different outcome than weeks on end. You can’t store sleep, but deprivation - or at least the effects - are cumulative. Plus, after a long enough time of nights with frequent wakings, it becomes a bit of an habit for your body, and it can be hard to get quality sleep when the rare opportunity arises.
There’s also how that little amount of sleep is broken up. Getting two 3h chunks is so much better than waking up for 15 min at the top of every hour and sleeping in 45min chunks, even if they both end up with 6h of sleep total.
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Comment on Does anyone have any advice for new dads? in ~life.men
DrStone Link ParentAnecdotally, I have always had a lot of patience and could keep my cool under pressure. Enough so that it was a regular compliment in school, sports, emergencies, etc. I have found myself more...Anecdotally, I have always had a lot of patience and could keep my cool under pressure. Enough so that it was a regular compliment in school, sports, emergencies, etc. I have found myself more frustrated, for longer periods, after having young kid(s) than ever before, amplified by the poor sleep.
Be prepared, recognize it, do what you need to do to handle it. It’s ok to let your baby cry for a few minutes while you step away to cool off. It’s ok to ask your spouse to step in because you’re at the end of your rope. Fasten your own mask before helping others. It doesn’t mean you don’t love your kid enough.
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Comment on Does anyone have any advice for new dads? in ~life.men
DrStone Link ParentJust to add, the lack of immediate connection is, perhaps more surprisingly, also something that can affect mothers too! And I’m not talking about postpartum depression, which is its own kind of...Just to add, the lack of immediate connection is, perhaps more surprisingly, also something that can affect mothers too! And I’m not talking about postpartum depression, which is its own kind of struggle.
It’s not uncommon to take a while to deeply warm up to them beyond the more general care for a vulnerable little person. The sleep deprivation, mental and physical exhaustion, frustration, and for quite a while very little substantial reciprocated interaction certainly doesn’t help.
Just take it one step at a time. Actions and words speak infinitely louder than internal thoughts; you’ll be a good parent as long as you’re there for your kid and spouse, show them care and love, regardless whether there’s Disney-level magic in your heart yet or not.
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Comment on What's a life lesson you've applied that has changed your life? in ~life
DrStone Link ParentThat Kid President quote is a cute version of the parable “The Mote and the Beam”That Kid President quote is a cute version of the parable “The Mote and the Beam”
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
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Comment on The struggle to contain, and eat, the invasive deer taking over Hawaii in ~enviro
DrStone Link ParentsourceAkira Toriyama actually tried a number of poses when he was alone in order to decide the best pose for the Kamehameha. After much contemplation, he could not decide on a name for his "Kame" attack, so he asked his wife (Nachi Mikami), who came up with the name.[13] She told Akira that it would be easy to remember the name of the attack if he used the name of the cultural Hawaiian king named Kamehameha (lit. "the very lonely one" or "the one set apart" in Hawaiian language).
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Comment on The American elevator explains why housing costs have skyrocketed in ~engineering
DrStone Link ParentI don’t see it that way, no, based on what I know about the concept of opinion pieces/columns in newspapers and what I’ve seen historically in various papers and publicationsI don’t see it that way, no, based on what I know about the concept of opinion pieces/columns in newspapers and what I’ve seen historically in various papers and publications
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Comment on The American elevator explains why housing costs have skyrocketed in ~engineering
DrStone Link ParentI think you’ll find a lot of disagreement whether publishing an opinion piece - excluding staff editorials - implies endorsement by the publisher. Plenty of outlets will feature opinions that vary...I think you’ll find a lot of disagreement whether publishing an opinion piece - excluding staff editorials - implies endorsement by the publisher. Plenty of outlets will feature opinions that vary significantly across the spectrum of a given topic over time.
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Comment on Lemonade stands in ~life
DrStone LinkI hate to say it, because it makes me sad, but check if the combination of your local laws and the community “vibe” would let your kids run this without getting into trouble. If it’s by the books...I hate to say it, because it makes me sad, but check if the combination of your local laws and the community “vibe” would let your kids run this without getting into trouble. If it’s by the books or if people / local law enforcement are generally chill (haha), you’re good to go. If it’s against the rules and someone’s going to be a stick in the mud, it might be an unpleasant learning experience for the kids. Selling prepackaged, sealed goods is probably “safer” in terms of liability.
As for an actual stand, it only works if you get enough regular foot traffic. It’s pretty cool when it works though, like a real little shop. I do like the (dog) park idea if it’s a popular place; plenty of people out in the hot sun with no other convenient immediately accessible options for refreshment already primed for fun family-friendly interactions. You could get a large, well insulated cooler for the bulk storage and a smaller one with for staging the next handful for sales; your main stock will stay frozen longer without frequent cooler opening. You could also throw in some bottled drinks. If there’s any little doggy drinks/treats (again, prepackaged), I bet the kids could get a laugh and an additional sale.
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Comment on Where do you consume technology news from? in ~tech
DrStone LinkIs there a reason you created a new post instead of using the one you posted on essentially the same topic a little over a month ago?Is there a reason you created a new post instead of using the one you posted on essentially the same topic a little over a month ago?
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Comment on Database schema for project management app in ~comp
DrStone Link ParentIf you want this to be used and not just a personal learning project, it is essential to slow down and spend enough time doing deeper market research first, before you start designing the schema...I'm also thinking what other useful features a user can have for project/goal tracking
If you want this to be used and not just a personal learning project, it is essential to slow down and spend enough time doing deeper market research first, before you start designing the schema and writing code.
There’s a lot of time/project/goal solutions already available. Find out what features the current offerings have in common and what differentiates them. Figure out a way to talk your target audience directly. Find out the breakdown of features that real users believe are essential (dealbreakers if omitted), non-essential but nice to have, disliked, hated, and missing.
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Comment on Does emacs or vim have better support for PHP parameter hinting and intellisense? in ~comp
DrStone LinkTake a moment to consider why you want to switch from your current editor, or any modern IDE, to emacs or vim. For me, I started with and would recommend vim. More specifically, get fluent in...Take a moment to consider why you want to switch from your current editor, or any modern IDE, to emacs or vim.
For me, I started with and would recommend vim. More specifically, get fluent in vanilla vim first, as an editor, before you customize and install plugins. Why? For all intents and purposes, it is everywhere, unlike emacs. No matter what system you’re on, what you ssh remote into, fresh install or long lived, default configured vim will be there. If you know vim, you can be productive immediately anywhere instead of learning or fiddling with the editor itself.
Further, the vim keybindings have made their way into various other applications over the years - at least as an option - so learning them benefits beyond just vim.
If you’d prefer to customize every aspect of Lisp-based operating system that happens to include a ok text editor, then emacs is the way to go.
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Comment on Anyone tried the IndexNow feature yet? Does it benefit SEO anyhow? in ~tech
DrStone (edited )LinkIs it highly talked about? I’m finding practically no current discussion. The linked article is from 2022. I’m not finding much newer than 2023, and it’s all blog posts (and mostly seo spammy...Is it highly talked about? I’m finding practically no current discussion.
- The linked article is from 2022.
- I’m not finding much newer than 2023, and it’s all blog posts (and mostly seo spammy blogs); nothing on Wikipedia, MDN, or other popular industry publications.
- There’s only 25 questions on stack overflow tagged “indexnow”, with just two from 2024.
- The full search engine implementation list is only: Bing, Naver, Seznam.cx, Yandex, and Yep.
- Anecdotally, I’ve been in the web industry for well over a decade and have never heard it mentioned by my peers in person or online.
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Comment on What slow-burn game is worth the time? in ~games
DrStone Link ParentFor context, I just looked up the wait times on the puzzles people are complaining about: Braid cloud puzzle: 2 hours The Witness: 1 hour I don’t have strong opinions on wasting/respecting player...For context, I just looked up the wait times on the puzzles people are complaining about:
- Braid cloud puzzle: 2 hours
- The Witness: 1 hour
I don’t have strong opinions on wasting/respecting player time, in The Witness or otherwise, but Jon’s linked response is wholly unsatisfying. The two defenses seem to be 1. It’s a small part of a larger game, so don’t pick at it and 2. Making the player wait is, like, meditative or something, man.
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Comment on Spaced repetition for teaching two-year olds how to read (Interview) in ~life
DrStone Link ParentOn the flip side, baby enrichment is a booming business. Swimming, music, dance, foreign language, chess, gymnastics, and countless others I’ve seen accepting kids as young as six months (some...On the flip side, baby enrichment is a booming business. Swimming, music, dance, foreign language, chess, gymnastics, and countless others I’ve seen accepting kids as young as six months (some like gymnastics are 2, still very young). Plus more traditional tuition in elementary school not to catch up, but to push further. Days filled with structured and, most importantly, “productive” activities. Even the unstructured play is often only done with a careful selection of academic “toys” and guidance if they’re not being played with in the “correct way”. Parents feeling like their kid is lagging behind for being a kid.
It seems less and less acceptable for a toddler to just enjoy the world being a toddler, let alone a kid to be a kid.
If you’re going that deep and speculative, then this shared home may be no better. Maybe it’s worse having the family and parenting aspects change in the same physical location rather than a clear delineation between “mom” and “dad” environments, similar to how mixing your leisure space with your work or sleep space can lead to problems compared to designated separate spaces.