Englerdy's recent activity
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Comment on Donald Trump suggests using ‘dangerous’ US cities as ‘training grounds’ for military in ~society
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Comment on Tildes, I need your advice. Looking for Nintendo Switch 1 and NS2 games. in ~games
Englerdy Link ParentI didn't know you could do Co-op! I played it during Covid and it was probably the perfect amount of light puzzle solving and goofy humor.I didn't know you could do Co-op! I played it during Covid and it was probably the perfect amount of light puzzle solving and goofy humor.
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Comment on Tildes, I need your advice. Looking for Nintendo Switch 1 and NS2 games. in ~games
Englerdy Link ParentUntitled Goose Game is great. Stardew Valley is pretty addictive to me but is also a phenomenal game. These are great recs. 👌Untitled Goose Game is great. Stardew Valley is pretty addictive to me but is also a phenomenal game. These are great recs. 👌
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Comment on Tildes, I need your advice. Looking for Nintendo Switch 1 and NS2 games. in ~games
Englerdy Link ParentI've only played 3 so can't say which is better. I played it during Covid and didnt have a lot going on at the time. Not sure it's a game I'd reach for again but definitely aimed towards probably...I've only played 3 so can't say which is better. I played it during Covid and didnt have a lot going on at the time. Not sure it's a game I'd reach for again but definitely aimed towards probably a pre-teen audience.
I have Splatoon and played it a few times. I think you need online play to make it worth it, however Ive had a lot of fun every time I've picked it up for a couple hours. I think that one has much broader age appeal. Definitely worth considering.
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Comment on Tildes, I need your advice. Looking for Nintendo Switch 1 and NS2 games. in ~games
Englerdy LinkFirst, you seem like a very thoughtful aunt or uncle and I hope everything turns out ok. Your nieces/nephews sound lucky to have you. Second: Doesn't look like anyone has mentioned Nintendo Sports...First, you seem like a very thoughtful aunt or uncle and I hope everything turns out ok. Your nieces/nephews sound lucky to have you.
Second:
Doesn't look like anyone has mentioned Nintendo Sports for the Switch, so I'll throw that out as a recommendation. I've really enjoyed playing the games with a few friends, and despite not living up to Wii Sports, I think is still a great game and good value. The controls might be a bit hard to pick up for the 4 year old, but the 15 year old shouldn't have any trouble.You can play up to 4 people locally and don't need the online play to enjoy everything (though online is the only way to earn more outfits and cosmetics unfortunately).
Luigi's Mansion 3 might be good for the younger, but it's essentially a vacuuming simulator so your mileage may vary. I did play the whole thing and remember getting stumped at a couple parts.
Links Awakening is a great remake and thoroughly challenging.
The little one might love Echos of Wisdom. It's very cute and I don't think every particularly overwhelming. I'm about half through and it definitely feels more geared to a young audience.
Super Mario All Stars might be a good contender. You get 3 great classic games. The controls are a little weird, but I think Super Mario Sunshine is the best and it's worth picking up just for that alone.
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Comment on Has anyone here tried bone conduction headphones? in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentI have these as well and really like them. I generally wear them running and while walking the dog to be more aware of my surroundings. The only time the experience isn't great is when I get near...I have these as well and really like them. I generally wear them running and while walking the dog to be more aware of my surroundings. The only time the experience isn't great is when I get near a busy road. It can be pretty hard to hear a podcast clearly over road noise, but that only accounts for like 2% of the time I'm wearing them. Their sound reproduction for voice is pretty good so podcasts and audiobooks are clear.
I can usually wear them for a few hours and often forget I have them on if I paused what I was listening to. I do occasionally get some irritation at high volume after a couple hours of listening. I think the small vibrations are enough to irritate the skin wear they rest if I need them at high volume for some reason.
I have not enjoyed using them at the gym. It's usually too loud between the overhead music and background noise to actually hear what I'm listening to. So that's one use case they don't work for.
I do like them around the house occasionally too. I'll wear them while doing quite chores or cooking if I still need to be able to intermittently hold a conversation with my spouse. They're easy to pause and unpause by scrunching the side of my head into my shoulder to hit the pause/play button. Great if I've got food and stuff on my hands since I don't need to touch them to pause them. The mic is apparently decent enough to talk on if I've gotten a call while using them too.
I have a pretty wide variety of earbuds and headphones that I use for different occasions and I'm definitely very happy to have a pair of bone conducting headphones to reach for.
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Comment on I'm Not a Robot in ~games
Englerdy Link ParentI don't think it's cute enough that I'd recommend going and searching the picture for it. I'll put the details in the following block to avoid spoiling it for someone, but you can use the info to...I don't think it's cute enough that I'd recommend going and searching the picture for it. I'll put the details in the following block to avoid spoiling it for someone, but you can use the info to decide for yourself:
Spoiler about the Guitar Cat
The Guitar Cat is a photoshopped graphic on the back of someone's shirt. So it's just a picture of a cat playing guitar, but not a real cat sadly. -
Comment on I'm Not a Robot in ~games
Englerdy Link ParentI had to come back today but I did find guitar cat! It's there and not symbolic like I was afraid it was.I had to come back today but I did find guitar cat! It's there and not symbolic like I was afraid it was.
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Comment on California's next energy experiment is happening above aqueducts, reducing evaporation and increasing solar panel efficiency in ~enviro
Englerdy Link ParentThere seem to be a few factors that positively reinforce each other so there's a chance for a multiplicative benefit. Assuming a nominal efficiency of 20%, that's at a bare minimum 20% less solar...There seem to be a few factors that positively reinforce each other so there's a chance for a multiplicative benefit. Assuming a nominal efficiency of 20%, that's at a bare minimum 20% less solar heat reaching the water. But it'll be higher because the panels reflect a good portion of that radiation not absorbed. And the IR that they re-emit underneath from the heat will be substantially lower energy. And I'd bet the cool air above the water creates a bit of a breeze and keeps the panels much cooler. So without digging out a textbook I'd take a ball park guess at the panels reducing heat gain on the water between 50%-70%. The effects at play seem pretty substantial, but this is an off the head guess so that it for what it's worth.
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Comment on A full body air dryer in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentI'm not sure I want one, but I want to try one. The hot air seems like it'd be delightful in the winter.I'm not sure I want one, but I want to try one. The hot air seems like it'd be delightful in the winter.
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Comment on Throwback Thursday: Let's talk old flash and memes! in ~talk
Englerdy Link ParentI haven't thought about The Impossible Quiz in a hot minute! I never finished it and I don't think any of my friends did, but boy did we spend ages trying! Can't believe you can still run it in a...I haven't thought about The Impossible Quiz in a hot minute! I never finished it and I don't think any of my friends did, but boy did we spend ages trying! Can't believe you can still run it in a browser. I assume it's been updated somehow?
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Comment on The case for cultured meat has changed in ~food
Englerdy Link ParentI don't have time to do much of a deep dive right now, but most meat products (at least in the US but I suspect most governments due it to some extent) are directly subsidized by the government,...Like a lot of the meat imitation plant-based products are still fairly expensive compared to actual meat . . . and I have to assume it's largely just due to the scale they operate at since plant based meat imitation products are a very tiny fraction of the market. I think they've gotten slightly better cost-wise over the years but still quite a bit more expensive.
I don't have time to do much of a deep dive right now, but most meat products (at least in the US but I suspect most governments due it to some extent) are directly subsidized by the government, where as I can't find any plant based meats products are. The crops going into their supply chain are, but the feed for animals is too so that at least balances. However the end products are definitely not competing on the same footing. That's not to say scale isn't also a big factor in the cost difference as you point out, but it's not going to be the only major driver.
I have a strong suspicion that meat wouldn't be nearly as cost advantaged over plant alternatives if it wasn't for government subsidy. I think subsidy is probably a big part of exasperating the cost difference and even then meat prices have been climbing despite help from government subsidy.
As for market adoption, that's always going to be a tough sell. Food is tied so strongly to memories and personal experience that it's really hard to get people to try new things. Still, the plant-based meat companies still seem to be selling well enough to stay on business so far. Who knows how the next 10 years will look.
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Comment on Alleged Washington DC sandwich thrower charged with a misdemeanor after grand jury rejects felony indictment in ~society
Englerdy LinkLol, because they apparently realized no jury is going to fault someone standing up to the unprecedented takeover of their city. Fingers crossed they can't find a judge who doesn't think this is...Since prosecutors filed the charges by information – instead of by complaint as they previously did – they can skirt around using a grand jury and instead go right to the judge, who would need to decide whether there is probable cause and the case can proceed.
Lol, because they apparently realized no jury is going to fault someone standing up to the unprecedented takeover of their city. Fingers crossed they can't find a judge who doesn't think this is ridiculous either.
Dunn was arrested on August 10, right after he allegedly threw the sandwich. He was then released the next morning, his attorney said in court earlier this month, and attempted to get an attorney to turn himself in when he learned of a warrant for his arrest.
Instead, 20 officers came to Dunn’s apartment and arrested him there, his attorney told the magistrate judge initially in charge of the case.
Her assertions would later be proven when the White House posted a propaganda film of decked-out deputy US Marshals and other law enforcement, including FBI agents, showing up at Dunn’s door with guns drawn and a riot shield deployed to arrest him.Yes, nothing projects power like a completely disproportionate response to dissent. I wish more Americans had better emotional training to see how much insecurity the moves of this administration project. They seem to want to create the same sense of fear that the SS or KGB created, but I hope we never allow that to take root in the public mindset. I really hope more people who've previously bought into the party's rhetoric come to feel contempt for the party's clear disregard for them as an average person and clear desire to only enrich themselves. Though on the other hand maybe that's too much to hope for.
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Comment on Data centers don't raise people's water bills in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentWithout a doubt an important consideration (that seems to be getting overlooked by some cities which is frustrating). Which the added massive electric load likely also places additional strain on...Without a doubt an important consideration (that seems to be getting overlooked by some cities which is frustrating). Which the added massive electric load likely also places additional strain on the local water resources in a water scarce region before even factoring in the cooling on top of it.
But a lot of the politics (and big lack of apparent science driving the policies around it) in water scarce regions in the US are a complete mystery to me. Water is all the more important for the actual people living there, why incentivise companies and people who want to use it for water intensive applications to do that? 🙃 They should go somewhere without that scarcity.
I hope the water utilities are raising hell to who ever is greenlighting the projects in places where people's taps barely trickle because the pressure is so low. That becomes a health and safety issue once the pressure in the system drops since it'll start sucking in contaminated ground water back in through system leaks.
Just feels like death spiral without a clean resolution that doesn't end with a lot of frustration, expense, and likely endangered health/life.
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Comment on Data centers don't raise people's water bills in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentThis was my impression as well, that the high water usage was from evaporative cooling towers which can use a tremendous amount of water. That said, this can still be an over-all water reduction...This was my impression as well, that the high water usage was from evaporative cooling towers which can use a tremendous amount of water. That said, this can still be an over-all water reduction compared to just a standard air-cooled air-conditioning system because of the reduced electricity. At least if the electricity comes from a petroleum fuel source which also tends to need a constant supply of fresh water for cooling, so by reducing electricity requirements directly reduces the overall water requirements. Granted this is an over-all water reduction, but not necessarily water reduction from a specific water source if the electric plant and data-center rely on two different water sources. The data-center could still stress the fresh water source it's on.
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Comment on Data centers don't raise people's water bills in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentCan't use what you don't have. (☞ﾟ∀ﾟ)☞Can't use what you don't have. (☞ﾟ∀ﾟ)☞
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Comment on The ancient Roman alternative to daylight saving time; An hour was not a consistent unit of time. In the summer it could be as long as 75 minutes and in the winter it sometimes lasted just 45 minutes. in ~humanities.history
Englerdy Link ParentYou're dead on. It's also a really big data presentation issue (and unfortunately not an uncommon thing to have presented in media). The slight rise in fatalities looks more like random noise in...You're dead on. It's also a really big data presentation issue (and unfortunately not an uncommon thing to have presented in media). The slight rise in fatalities looks more like random noise in the data rather than being actually caused by the change. Granted statistics are not intuitive (even though human brains think they're good at them), but without any information about prior trends and average deviation based on the prior years it's just not useful information. But people see numbers change and just run with it especially if it confirms an existing bias in some way. 🙃 The lizard brain is strong.
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Comment on Valve's secretive 'Fremont' gaming device surfaces in benchmarks in ~games
Englerdy Link ParentInteresting! That's an important detail I forgot to mention. My only experience has been with Windows as the host.Interesting! That's an important detail I forgot to mention. My only experience has been with Windows as the host.
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Comment on Valve's secretive 'Fremont' gaming device surfaces in benchmarks in ~games
Englerdy Link ParentNot sure the last time you tried Steam Streaming, but it's gotten way better recently. I do have my steam link hardwired and made an upgrade to my router in the last year. However I think part of...Not sure the last time you tried Steam Streaming, but it's gotten way better recently. I do have my steam link hardwired and made an upgrade to my router in the last year. However I think part of the improvement has come from steam's upgrades to the desktop app as they align it with the steam deck. I've had a really smooth experience streaming from desktop (on WiFi) to both the steam link and the steam deck.
If it's been a while since you've tried using steam streaming I'd recommend giving it another shot. They may have pushed some upgrades in support of this new hardware that improves the streaming experience. I think it's smoother, more polished, and more stable than a few years ago. 👀
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Comment on The crisis of the US university started long before Donald Trump in ~finance
Englerdy Link ParentI'm not sure your point about STEM PhDs not having expertise transferrable to different fields is representative of the average STEM PhD. There's certainly a lot of PhDs out there like that, but...I'm not sure your point about STEM PhDs not having expertise transferrable to different fields is representative of the average STEM PhD. There's certainly a lot of PhDs out there like that, but I'm not sure they make up the majority of STEM PhDs. My perception is obviously biased by the sample of people I know, but the STEM PhDs I know have skills that make them broadly employable in other STEM areas other than their specialty. Many of them seem to do very well in small businesses in roles that have them wearing many hats beyond their specific technical specialty. Or take roles in other areas STEM areas than their specific technical training.
I agree that STEM PhDs have highly specialized knowledge and skills, but that doesn't mean they don't have a broader skill set developed that's desirable in fields other than their specialty. By nature of the degree they have to develop and refine skills for public speaking, statistical and data analysis, written and verbal science communication, and presentation design. Probably the thing that would make them more difficult to employee is they tend to be very independent because they've spent 5ish years having to do everything on their own.
I'm not necessarily trying to nit-pick, but the link you shared is about STEM employment broadly which doesn't really support evidence of STEM PhDs being unemployable compared to other disciplines. There are a lot of more STEM undergrads than PhDs so that statistic isn't representative of them as a subgroup.
Not like there's a shortage of things to criticize here from another shining example of someone failing to the top, but since you highlighted his comment with the broken windows theory: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_windows_theory#Criticism
The broken windows theory, famously a strong foundational example for your argument. 🤦♂️ I'm not rooting for a military coup, but there's no way every person in that room, most of who are at least an order of magnitude more competent, isn't trying to figure out how to wrestle control back before it all goes sideways, right? ... Right?