Englerdy's recent activity
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Comment on Woman covertly filmed for 'humiliating' social media content - then told to pay for removal in ~tech
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Comment on New AI data center in Utah will generate and consume more than twice the amount of power the entire state uses in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentDisclaimer that I'm coming from an American lens for context For sure, my "maybe we're not where we should be" comment wasn't coming from a defeatist lens. I was more thinking that there's been...Disclaimer that I'm coming from an American lens for context
For sure, my "maybe we're not where we should be" comment wasn't coming from a defeatist lens. I was more thinking that there's been decades of disinformation and suppression of alternative and renewable fuels from the petroleum industry that in my opinion slowed its development. And despite all that opposition, there's been enough support to keep it's momentum going. So my view is that the technologies have actually advanced really quickly despite a lot of investment to slow them down, which I think is a good and encouraging thing!
I completely see the concern about over building renewables, and as far as I can see storage is really the key to make renewables a stable contributor to the grid. I'm encouraged by some of the non-battery storage solutions I've seen reaching early commercialization. Things like grid scale Iron Air batteries, Nickle-Hydrogen batteries (EnerVenue is the company for these), reversable compressed CO2 grid storage (I think the project I saw for this was European), or high temperature thermal storage in molten salt (Malta) or as sensible heat (there's a few companies). There's so many technology ideas in the space that don't rely on rare earth metals and use existing mature technologies, just in new ways. I think each of these ideas have the potential to scale easily once there're a few years of test cases for utilities to evaluate and develop trust in. And they're technologies that are not as sensitive to geopolitical issues so they can be rolled out more easily by countries. I would really like to see more even balanced power on the international stage.
And from a personal world view, I operate choosing to look for positive and hopeful points of view without being unrealisticly optimistic. Building Energy is my area of expertise, but I've spent a lot of time watching this space from the academic side and the progress gives me a lot of well founded hope.
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Comment on New AI data center in Utah will generate and consume more than twice the amount of power the entire state uses in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentTo be fair, I think over all having hope is good. Because, as you touched on, the technology exists and is there, it's just not cost competitive enough all the time (and we keep coming up with...To be fair, I think over all having hope is good. Because, as you touched on, the technology exists and is there, it's just not cost competitive enough all the time (and we keep coming up with increasingly energy intensive things we want to use energy for). But there's a lot of renewable and storage projects underway that weren't feasible a decade ago. So maybe we're not where we should be today, but don't lose hope that it could be both technically and financially feasible in a decade. There's lots of innovation and research still going on in the space.
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Comment on Woman covertly filmed for 'humiliating' social media content - then told to pay for removal in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentNot sure if you're into podcasts, but this reminds me of a group called The Mothers from the show Midst (and their new show Unend releasing on the same feed). Phenomenal show if your into science...Not sure if you're into podcasts, but this reminds me of a group called The Mothers from the show Midst (and their new show Unend releasing on the same feed). Phenomenal show if your into science fantasy audiodrama stuff. It took my brain an episode or two to adapt to their story telling, but the three narrators are phenomenal story tellers.
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Comment on New AI data center in Utah will generate and consume more than twice the amount of power the entire state uses in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentJust dropping in with a brief note on thermal batteries used to generate electricity later (rather than for the purpose of using the heat directly for something like space heating). Heating...Just dropping in with a brief note on thermal batteries used to generate electricity later (rather than for the purpose of using the heat directly for something like space heating). Heating something like sand to turn back into electricity later requires getting it SUPER hot (like 1000°C-2000°C). Way hotter than a data center is running (I think they might run up to 40°C max). For power storage, the hot sand essentially becomes to heat source to drive a power cycle later instead of combustion. So recovering waste heat from the data center won't really work for that kind of application. That's why any project we've seen that talks about reusing waste heat from data centers is trying to send the waste heat to nearby communities to use for space heating.
That said, you may see someone discuss a thermal battery where the whole point is to store heat to reuse for heat later. If you just want heat later you don't need nearly as high of a temperature.
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Comment on Space Hauler | Announcement trailer in ~games
Englerdy Link1:1 scale solar system... Neat, but also I wonder how they're going to speed up travel times.1:1 scale solar system... Neat, but also I wonder how they're going to speed up travel times.
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Comment on Do you prefer chunky or smooth peanut butter? in ~food
Englerdy (edited )LinkGrew up on chunky peanut butter and drifted to smooth peanut butter as I got older. I still like chunky, I just don't keep it in the pantry. Always the natural stuff that's 100% peanuts which is...Grew up on chunky peanut butter and drifted to smooth peanut butter as I got older. I still like chunky, I just don't keep it in the pantry. Always the natural stuff that's 100% peanuts which is also still my preference. I can get two large jars of all natural Kirkland brand from Costco which is nice. I like it with breakfast (on toast, pancakes, and waffles), lunch in a sandwich, or just as a snack by the spoonful. The non-seperating kinds are usually sweetened and feel more like a treat than food to me. Not to hate on them though, I like them a lot! I always enjoy having it while traveling (hotels usually have little jackets of JIF which I like putting on waffles) or at family members' houses.
I also like the utility of the powdered peanut butter. It's easier to mix and incorporate into things like oatmeal or cereal. The taste isn't as good, but it's useful and I use quite a bit of that as well. I suppose I do keep two types of peanut butter in the pantry.
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Comment on Tips for "refinishing" a D pad? in ~games
Englerdy LinkIf it's the texture of the groove bothering you, you could always try a putty like sugru to fill the gap. I think a putty of any kind will be more forgiving to apply than something thin like a...If it's the texture of the groove bothering you, you could always try a putty like sugru to fill the gap. I think a putty of any kind will be more forgiving to apply than something thin like a paint or polish if you don't want to get stuff in the cracks around the dpad.
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Comment on Need help making an atlas-styled map without ultramega distortion in ~creative
Englerdy Link ParentGotcha, thanks for clarifying. Overall sounds like a fun project. I hope you share results with us when you settle on something you like! Good luck!Gotcha, thanks for clarifying. Overall sounds like a fun project. I hope you share results with us when you settle on something you like! Good luck!
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Comment on Need help making an atlas-styled map without ultramega distortion in ~creative
Englerdy LinkNot my area of experience, but just want to make sure that we're on the same page that flattening a 3D sphere in to 2 dimensions will always distort the shape or change the area, yeah? If you're...Not my area of experience, but just want to make sure that we're on the same page that flattening a 3D sphere in to 2 dimensions will always distort the shape or change the area, yeah? If you're asking about trade offs, do you have a map example in mind you could point people toward as an example of what you're trying to achieve? Also have you read the wikipedia on map projections? It offers a lot of trade off comparisons for different map projection methods.
Just thinking as I type, but one option is to use multiple maps that are zoomed in on specific areas where the distortion to size and shape will introduce less error.
Alternatively you could make it a flat world/cosmos and then your flat map will always be exact size and area! :D (I'm only being a little cheeky with this suggestion, it is a legit option)
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Comment on New Steam Controller reportedly $99 in ~games
Englerdy LinkI feel like I'm at the other end of the spectrum from a lot of folks on the price. In this economy where everything is getting super expensive, I was worried it was going to end up more expensive....I feel like I'm at the other end of the spectrum from a lot of folks on the price. In this economy where everything is getting super expensive, I was worried it was going to end up more expensive. $100 is definitely expensive. That said, if it ends up feeling high quality and holds up to abuse, I think it's likely a fair price point. I plan to pick one up probably not long after release as long as it's received well. I still have and love a couple old steam controllers that are still doing great, so I'm optimistic.
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Comment on Tildes Survey #1: How old are you? (Results) in ~talk
Englerdy Link ParentI'm not convinced, seems like something Dennis would say ಠಿ_ಠI'm not convinced, seems like something Dennis would say ಠಿ_ಠ
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Comment on What is watts, volts and amps? in ~science
Englerdy (edited )LinkI'll take a stab at something really short and maybe a bit more conceptual*: Watts: How much energy is flowing every second Volts: How strongly motivated electrons are to move Amps: How many...I'll take a stab at something really short and maybe a bit more conceptual*:
Watts: How much energy is flowing every second
Volts: How strongly motivated electrons are to move
Amps: How many electrons are flowing every second
And then some slightly longer explanations maybe:
Watts is power transfer which comes from the combination of voltage (motivation for electrons to move) and amps (how many electrons are flowing). Watts can also be used for heat flow (how much thermal energy moves every second) which may or may not be helpful for remembering.Voltage is often called a potential. You could almost think of it like a rubber band or spring. Without pulling it has zero potential, but as you stretch it, there's increasingly greater potential energy that can be released when you let it go for it to jump back to its unexpanded state. Voltage relates how motivated electrons are move from a high voltage ("stretched out") to a low voltage (a resting state).
Amps are measuring the individual electrons as they race from a high voltage to a lower voltage (which is electric current). This is the water in the water analogy. But could also be marbles rolling down a hill. It's counting how many run by every second on their way down.
You didn't mention it, but thinking of resistance also helps intuition. For the rubber band/spring anology, resistance is kind of like the air the rubber band or spring is sitting in. When the spring gets released, air doesn't really resist it snapping back to its original shape. But if you held the spring in honey or molasses and stretched it, you'd see it contract more slowly because of it needing to move really thick liquid out of the way. Resistance slows down the rate that electrons move from high voltage to low voltage. So for the same voltage, it affects how quickly electrons flow and as a result, how much energy moves every second.
*Trying to keep this pretty abstract, I know these aren't especially rigorous explanations.
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Comment on Empty department stores are housing Cleveland’s booming population in ~life
Englerdy Link ParentLooks like these are pretty well executed, at least from an aesthetic stand point. Would be very cool to tour some units like this in person some day just to see what solutions they came up with...Looks like these are pretty well executed, at least from an aesthetic stand point. Would be very cool to tour some units like this in person some day just to see what solutions they came up with to work around the prior space use. Thanks for sharing!
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Comment on Continous feed pickle jar? in ~food
Englerdy Link ParentMostly Noise But man, why do so many people chose to funnel so much time and energy into just being awful people online? I know that's like, the modern internet in a nut shell, but like, are all...Mostly Noise
But man, why do so many people chose to funnel so much time and energy into just being awful people online? I know that's like, the modern internet in a nut shell, but like, are all these people just as awful in real life?
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Comment on Inside Pixar’s scrapped movie ‘Be Fri’ and the “devastating” aftermath in ~movies
Englerdy Link ParentYes! That's it! Thanks for sharing. I had googled around a bit and couldn't find it, but it's been nawing at the back of my head since I'd read the article.Yes! That's it! Thanks for sharing. I had googled around a bit and couldn't find it, but it's been nawing at the back of my head since I'd read the article.
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Comment on Inside Pixar’s scrapped movie ‘Be Fri’ and the “devastating” aftermath in ~movies
Englerdy LinkI swear I just saw an ad last week for a movie that feels like it had a very similar premise. Two teen girls, besties since grade school, kind of drifting apart approaching graduation, and then...I swear I just saw an ad last week for a movie that feels like it had a very similar premise. Two teen girls, besties since grade school, kind of drifting apart approaching graduation, and then getting swept off into another universe and needing to find get home. It looked like the movie was set in like Hawaii or a Pacific islander nation. Can't think of the name though. I'll come back and edit this if I think of the name or see the ad again.
All the same, I'm left to wonder if another studio was able to scoop up the idea and maybe some of the creative team.
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Comment on Used electric vehicles are a bargain right now in ~transport
Englerdy Link ParentReplying to both you and @DynamoSunshirt, that range loss is partly because of battery heating (cold batteries can't supply as much current so keeping it warm in the cold makes sure you cans still...Replying to both you and @DynamoSunshirt, that range loss is partly because of battery heating (cold batteries can't supply as much current so keeping it warm in the cold makes sure you cans still accelerate normally), but is almost entirely from running the cabin heater. The car heats using an electric resistance heater and cars don't have a ton of insulation, so you're basically always drawing 1-3 kW for heating depending on how cold it is. That said, you can just turn off the cabin heater if you don't mind the cold. If you were parked in the garage and heated it while parked, you could probably do short trips without getting too cold. In my experience also in a cold climate, the added drain just means I need to charge an extra time during the week. And the extra charge feels worth not being cold while driving.
I have a 2019 Bolt, but as far as I know none of the Bolts have heat pumps for heating yet which would be much more efficient. I think Teslas and maybe 1 or 2 other manufacturers have heat pumps in their EVs, but a heat pump adds expense over a resistance heater.
@patience_limited, related to your high level comment, I too wish the Bolt was AWD. Better tired made a huge difference in the snow this year, but that is the one thing I miss about the IC car I sold. It was AWD and handled phenomenal in the snow. The Bolt is certainly capable in the snow with better tires, but it's still not as controlled of an experience when things get slushy or really icy. :/
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Comment on Used electric vehicles are a bargain right now in ~transport
Englerdy Link ParentI had a similar thought when I initially bought my EV. It's a 2019 Chevy Bolt. It uses a deep cycle lead acid battery (similar to marine batteries, different design from starter batteries for...I had a similar thought when I initially bought my EV. It's a 2019 Chevy Bolt. It uses a deep cycle lead acid battery (similar to marine batteries, different design from starter batteries for lower current applications than starting an engine).
So in addition to what @papasquat noted, I've noticed that it also provides isolation from the high voltage system. When the car is off, I'm pretty sure the high voltage battery is isolated from everything with relays (little electronically activated switches for bridging circuits). So in a sense I think it's also a safety thing so that you can still have power in the low voltage system (for lights and the computer system) without the high voltage system needing to be engaged.
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Comment on Donald Trump says it's 'not possible' for the US to pay for Medicaid, Medicare and day care: 'We’re fighting wars' in ~society
Englerdy Link" I'm starting wars", that makes more sense."
We'reI'mfightingstarting wars", that makes more sense.
I think part of the core issue here is women who were recorded during a conversation by someone with smart glasses and didn't know that their interaction was actively being recorded. I can see why that would feel significantly more invasive than someone walking up with their phone camera pointed at you. If someone's holding their phone up, or an actual camera, you have a clear understanding that your interaction is being recorded. So even though you may not have a reasonable expection of privacy in public, descrete recording devices do feel like a step beyond most other public recordings we've accepted as a society (regular point and shoot cameras, phone cameras, security cameras, etc.).
With that in mind, I do wonder if there's a chance that recording a conversation with smart glasses potentially violates two party consent recording laws in some states. It would also be interested if we see those laws expand in states that don't have them to prevent this kind of behavior where people are being descretely recorded in conversations without realizing it.