EgoEimi's recent activity
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Comment on California Governor Gavin Newsom praises Charlie Kirk’s outreach to young men, suggests Democrats do more of their own in ~society
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Comment on Is America ready for Japanese-style 7-Elevens? in ~finance
EgoEimi Link ParentIt's a real 50-50 toss up. On one hand, in many ways, America is completely different: it's much more racially diverse, and the cuisines that minorities have imported to the country have...But even if they do bring over their Japanese stuff, will it have the staying power, as @blivet mentions when Family Mart tried 20yrs ago, and more importantly will they maintain the necessary quality? Or will their potential Japanese offerings suffer the same fate as their American offerings?
It's a real 50-50 toss up.
On one hand, in many ways, America is completely different: it's much more racially diverse, and the cuisines that minorities have imported to the country have thoroughly infused its cuisine. You can find mochi ice cream in most urban grocery stores. 20 years ago, matcha was a niche thing you could find only in Japanese ethnic stores and hippy food co-ops: now it's everywhere, from every grocery store to every Starbucks offering matcha lattes. Dutch Bros Coffee has incorporated popping boba as a drink ingredient.
On the other hand, there is inertia in some fundamental eating habits. Americans tend to like big meals and don't really lightly snack throughout the day like the Japanese do. And 7-11's and mini eateries are all within a few minutes walking distance for many Japanese urbanites, who are used to walking a few doors down to grab a snack. But Americans are 5–15 minutes driving, so Americans are less inclined to just hop over to a convenience store for a snack. Maybe 7-11 will need a drive through concept.
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Comment on Sweden's employment agency has been tracking the online locations of thousands of citizens claiming unemployment benefits in an effort to crack down on welfare fraud in ~tech
EgoEimi Link ParentI think that even if the gross amount of fraud may be small, it produces bad optics and erodes public trust in The System. There's a special kind of indignity in paying some of the highest taxes...I think that even if the gross amount of fraud may be small, it produces bad optics and erodes public trust in The System. There's a special kind of indignity in paying some of the highest taxes in the world while feeling cheated somehow. It's important for public services to maintain the image of trustworthiness.
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Comment on Is America ready for Japanese-style 7-Elevens? in ~finance
EgoEimi Link ParentAh interesting! I looked it up. It is unusually small for an H Mart. They probably chose a smaller footprint for an urban format. Normally H Mart stores are in the suburbs and have traditional big...Ah interesting! I looked it up. It is unusually small for an H Mart. They probably chose a smaller footprint for an urban format. Normally H Mart stores are in the suburbs and have traditional big box footprints.
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Comment on Is America ready for Japanese-style 7-Elevens? in ~finance
EgoEimi Link ParentI think there are a few things working in 7-11's favor: Japanese snack foods are trending. Lots of people like to watch influencers visit Japanese 7-11's. In hip US cities, Japanese sando pop-ups...I think there are a few things working in 7-11's favor:
- Japanese snack foods are trending. Lots of people like to watch influencers visit Japanese 7-11's. In hip US cities, Japanese sando pop-ups are all the rage. I'm sure 7-11 has been taking notes.
- Both adapted and modern Asian food has historically been very successful in making inroads into (urban) American tastes, more so than other cuisines (except maybe Mexican). First you had the mom and pop Chinese restaurants blazing the trail. Then you got the Panda Expresses, sushi restaurants, Thai restaurants. Now boba shops are ubiquitous in US cities.
I bet 7-11 senses that the konbini as the next Asian food 'thing'. At least in cities. I doubt they'll roll this out to small towns or rural areas.
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Comment on Is America ready for Japanese-style 7-Elevens? in ~finance
EgoEimi Link ParentI wouldn't describe H Mart as a convenience store: it's a full-service grocery store on the level of Safeway or Whole Foods, with a bakery, meat and seafood counter, deli, produce, etc. They...I wouldn't describe H Mart as a convenience store: it's a full-service grocery store on the level of Safeway or Whole Foods, with a bakery, meat and seafood counter, deli, produce, etc. They definitely have a very good and relatively healthy prepared food section. A roll of kimbap is always a delicious, nutritious, and cheap lunch option.
These kinds of businesses open to serve existing Asian American communities, but they end up attracting non-Asian shoppers too.
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Comment on Samification of the current Web in ~design
EgoEimi LinkI want to add that in the old days, you didn't have to care about accessibility. But around 2020ish, the DOJ said that ADA does apply to the web, so websites can be sued for being insufficiently...I want to add that in the old days, you didn't have to care about accessibility. But around 2020ish, the DOJ said that ADA does apply to the web, so websites can be sued for being insufficiently accessible — and they do. It generated a whole industry of lawyers looking for websites to sue. This meant more standardization in colors and forms.
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Comment on Is America ready for Japanese-style 7-Elevens? in ~finance
EgoEimi LinkGift link I'm really excited about 7-11 bringing elements of the Japanese Konbini experience to the US. There are technical and logistical challenges. I hope Mr. Dacus succeeds. If he succeeds in...I'm really excited about 7-11 bringing elements of the Japanese Konbini experience to the US.
Leading the push to expand Japanese-quality fresh food to 7-Eleven in North America is Stephen Dacus, a Japanese American former Walmart executive who started as chief executive of Seven & i Holdings, the 7-Eleven parent company, three months ago.
There are technical and logistical challenges.
The sandwiches are made with the fluffy Japanese “milk bread,” and a team in Texas worked with Japanese suppliers to learn how to produce it in the United States. Milk bread and Japanese mayonnaise give the egg sandwiches “the heavenly pillow thing,” Mr. Dacus said.
In the United States, Mr. Dacus said, fresh food often means hot food that can be frozen and cooked on site, eliminating the need for multiple daily deliveries. He added that the company could draw on a Japanese-style model of having closer ties to its food suppliers to improve products in response to what customers want.
I hope Mr. Dacus succeeds. If he succeeds in making convenience food fresh, healthy, cheap, and readily accessible—and convince other American companies that this is a real shift—then he will make seriously positive social impact on the American food landscape. I want to see a future where Americans can just easily and cheaply reach for a healthy rice ball or sushi roll as they can for a burger or hot dog.
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Is America ready for Japanese-style 7-Elevens?
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Comment on Conservative activist Charlie Kirk shot and killed at Utah college event in ~society
EgoEimi Link ParentIronically for 2A supporters, a gun was used explicitly as a tool of political sovereignty to push back on an increasingly tyrannical government (and its groupies like Mr. Kirk) that oppresses...Ironically for 2A supporters, a gun was used explicitly as a tool of political sovereignty to push back on an increasingly tyrannical government (and its groupies like Mr. Kirk) that oppresses marginalized demographics that can arm themselves. If the irony weren't lost on them, they'd be delighted.
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Comment on Many lonely people would rather deal with a robot than interact with an actual human, according to research co-led by Newcastle University in ~health.mental
EgoEimi Link ParentThere’s definitely a sense of hurry with a cashier, like if you have to be as quick as possible to not waste their time or hold up the people waiting behind you. There’s also a 1:1 queue, so every...There’s definitely a sense of hurry with a cashier, like if you have to be as quick as possible to not waste their time or hold up the people waiting behind you. There’s also a 1:1 queue, so every extra second you take to clear your groceries or spend talking with the cashier certainly delays or maybe annoys people in the queue.
But self checkout doesn’t have that same time pressure because the queue is 1:many. You can take however long you like because you’re not the bottleneck.
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Comment on Conservative activist Charlie Kirk shot and killed at Utah college event in ~society
EgoEimi Link ParentAlso, dear domestic intelligence apparatus, we're not celebrating Charlie Kirk's tragic death, we're just musing how Charlie Kirk would celebrate it himself. We're just here to discuss and respect...Also, dear domestic intelligence apparatus, we're not celebrating Charlie Kirk's tragic death, we're just musing how Charlie Kirk would celebrate it himself. We're just here to discuss and respect his beliefs.
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Comment on Conservative activist Charlie Kirk shot and killed at Utah college event in ~society
EgoEimi Linkwhen the givers of certain principles get to be the receivers thereofwhen the givers of certain principles get to be the receivers thereof
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
EgoEimi Link ParentBut now see there are many people for whom their phone is Their Computer: they don't own a laptop or desktop. They do everything on the phone: banking, shopping, reviewing and signing contracts,...In the end, "real" research (restaurants, hiking trails, ect.) needs 14" - and a keyboard.
But now see there are many people for whom their phone is Their Computer: they don't own a laptop or desktop. They do everything on the phone: banking, shopping, reviewing and signing contracts, etc. When they think of A Computer, they think of the phone.
Many Tildes users grew up desktop-first and then later got a phone. But there many people—especially in newly middle-class countries—whose first foray into consumer tech is the (smart)phone.
It's why some years ago iOS transitioned to doing on-device restore, no longer requiring connecting to desktop iTunes. And why—outside of the US where middle-class consumers are used to doing 'serious' tasks on a personal home computer—do-everything apps like WeChat have become so big.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
EgoEimi Link ParentI used to be team 'mini phones', thinking big phones were gargantuan and grotesque — until I got a big phone. Now I'm on team 'big phones'. Modern life happens through our phones, and having the...I used to be team 'mini phones', thinking big phones were gargantuan and grotesque — until I got a big phone.
Now I'm on team 'big phones'. Modern life happens through our phones, and having the extra screen real estate makes everything significantly easier. I'm often find myself researching restaurants, looking up hiking trails, pulling up legal or event ticket pdfs, reading an eBook when I'm on a bus, and so on.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
EgoEimi Link ParentThere are some important differences: A sealed design is necessary for water resistance. A removable battery requires a lot space: space for locking/release mechanisms, and a redundant inner wall...There are some important differences:
- A sealed design is necessary for water resistance.
- A removable battery requires a lot space: space for locking/release mechanisms, and a redundant inner wall that protects the internals from the battery compartment. An internal battery frees up that precious space to either make the phone thinner/smaller/lighter or make the battery bigger.
Modern phone batteries + efficient processors means that with moderate usage you will get 1–1.5 days of battery life, so most modern phone users don't need a recharge. But heavy habitual (you watch lots of TikTok videos on the train) or situational (you're traveling and taking lots of video and photos) use can bring that down to 0.5 days battery life, so then you can just slap on this little battery backpack and bam, you've got the other half of the day covered.
Also, that being said, many modern phones have both USB-C and Qi charging—their chargers are ubiquitous—so people are frequently topping up their charge at the office, in restaurants, in the car, at friends' homes, etc. It's very different from the days when there are like 100 different proprietary charger cable types so you couldn't rely on finding your phone's type outside the home. If my phone battery is low and I'm out and have forgotten mine, I'll often just ask the gym reception desk or restaurant waitstaff to charge my phone for me.
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Comment on Two young women are set to become Finland's first same-sex ice dancing team after a landmark rule change by the country's skating federation in ~sports
EgoEimi Link ParentOn average, men are stronger thanks to having more testosterone, but women are more flexible due to an array of anatomical and hormonal reasons: having less muscle mass, roomier hip joints, and...On average, men are stronger thanks to having more testosterone, but women are more flexible due to an array of anatomical and hormonal reasons: having less muscle mass, roomier hip joints, and more relaxed ligaments.
I think that in a sport where flexibility and agility seem to be the most important drivers, then—theoretically—a two-women dance team could have an edge over teams that have one or two men.
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Comment on What is a business/org that is great and ethical in so many aspects that everyone should consider using? in ~life
EgoEimi Link ParentI like Patagonia. People complain it's expensive and is for rich people. But $240 for a jacket that'll last decades is... actually a pretty deal? Can't get high-quality, ethical clothing with good...I like Patagonia. People complain it's expensive and is for rich people. But $240 for a jacket that'll last decades is... actually a pretty deal?
Can't get high-quality, ethical clothing with good customer service and warranty for cheap.
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
EgoEimi Link ParentSimilarly, there was news about a "Karen" stealing a baseball from a boy. When I saw clips and the headlines, I believed the story. But when I watched the full video, I actually realized that the...Similarly, there was news about a "Karen" stealing a baseball from a boy. When I saw clips and the headlines, I believed the story.
But when I watched the full video, I actually realized that the baseball landed by her and she reached and grabbed it, but the boy's father had run over like 8 seats and forcibly grabbed it from her. Anyway, I think she's being unfairly lambasted. The boy's father is an asshole. God forbid women stand up for themselves.
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Comment on Why language models hallucinate in ~tech
EgoEimi LinkThe crux of it: In real life, penalties for guessing are context-dependent. In some contexts, like cooking, guessing is harmless: worst case scenario you ruin a meal. In other contexts, like...The crux of it:
As another example, suppose a language model is asked for someone’s birthday but doesn’t know. If it guesses “September 10,” it has a 1-in-365 chance of being right. Saying “I don’t know” guarantees zero points. Over thousands of test questions, the guessing model ends up looking better on scoreboards than a careful model that admits uncertainty.
There is a straightforward fix. Penalize confident errors more than you penalize uncertainty, and give partial credit for appropriate expressions of uncertainty...
In real life, penalties for guessing are context-dependent. In some contexts, like cooking, guessing is harmless: worst case scenario you ruin a meal. In other contexts, like aerospace engineering, accuracy is paramount; lives are at stake.
The conclusions section is interesting:
Finding: Accuracy will never reach 100% because, regardless of model size, search and reasoning capabilities, some real-world questions are inherently unanswerable.
Truth maybe exists only in the pure domains of math and logic: outside of them, truth is merely a lossy compressed descriptions of our infinitely detailed reality, and the various ways we represent and transmit those descriptions will always leave out detail.
Is that a bad thing? Being cynical doesn't mean being unprincipled: sometimes you recognize that the ends justify the means. Sometimes you have to prioritize being effective over being right. Maybe Newsom has higher principles; maybe he's useful as someone who's able to harness power.
Times and politics have changed — a lot. The old strategy isn't working anymore. Democrats must evolve and win the hearts and minds of alienated demographics. Democrats need to learn how to cultivate and wield real power. If we don't and stick to our milquetoast Karen-from-HR, don't-offend-anyone ways, we risk losing the country.