EpicAglet's recent activity
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Comment on Denmark is a cycling nation, but our research shows rates are declining – here's why in ~transport
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Comment on UN says world will miss its climate target, warming must be reversed in ~enviro
EpicAglet Link ParentThere is a conspiracy that PETA is funded by the meat industry to make the protesters look bad and similarly Just Stop Oil by the fossil fuel industry. Not that I want to lend any credibility to...There is a conspiracy that PETA is funded by the meat industry to make the protesters look bad and similarly Just Stop Oil by the fossil fuel industry.
Not that I want to lend any credibility to these types of conspiracy theories, but the fact that this sounds vaguely plausible shows that their reputation is far from stellar indeed
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Comment on UN says world will miss its climate target, warming must be reversed in ~enviro
EpicAglet Link ParentI think it all links back to what another commenter has said. The sources are way too diverse and complicated to dismantle. This also means that it is hard to find a single cause to rally behind....I think it all links back to what another commenter has said. The sources are way too diverse and complicated to dismantle.
This also means that it is hard to find a single cause to rally behind. Like you can shout "just stop oil", but if you start mumbling stuff the moment someone asks "how?" or start reading a 600 page PhD thesis, the message is not nearly as powerful.
At the same time, there is no clear target. Who is to blame for climate change? Government are, companies are, consumers are, pretty much everything and everyone. Getting radical action going is probably a lot easier if there is a clear bad actor we can blame.
There have been some large climate protests near where I live. The ones that stayed with me are the ones with a clear message, e.g. against tax benefits for air travel. More generic ones are mostly just disruptive and annoying, which probably hurts the cause more than it helps.
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Comment on Why normal people aren’t using AI agents in ~tech
EpicAglet Link ParentReminds me of the quote "I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing. Not for AI to do my art and writing for me so that I can do my laundry and dishes."If the LLM agent could do the dishes or run to the grocery store for me, sure.
Reminds me of the quote "I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing. Not for AI to do my art and writing for me so that I can do my laundry and dishes."
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Comment on What music have you been playing recently? in ~music
EpicAglet Link ParentI'm using Reaper at the moment and am quite happy with it. Honestly just picked it because of the free trial and stuck with it. At one point a long time ago I used ableton and played around with a...I'm using Reaper at the moment and am quite happy with it. Honestly just picked it because of the free trial and stuck with it.
At one point a long time ago I used ableton and played around with a few others but never got into producing as much as I did recently.
Still learning all that it has to offer but haven't found any reason to switch so far.
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Comment on What music have you been playing recently? in ~music
EpicAglet LinkI started playing guitar in my early teens, so now that would be nearly 20 years ago. Though I haven't always been practising regularly. These days I mainly just pick the guitar up for a few...I started playing guitar in my early teens, so now that would be nearly 20 years ago. Though I haven't always been practising regularly. These days I mainly just pick the guitar up for a few minutes a day's to relax and quiet my mind down.
Recently, I decided to try and start writing my own stuff again and bought some equipment to record it. So right now I'm on a journey of learning home music production, which is kind of fun. Though truthfully, I find starting a new project is very daunting each time. So at the moment I am sitting on a bunch of ideas for songs and am procrastinating the part where I finish writing it and start recording.
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Comment on As Reddit stock falls, CEO questions value of Google’s AI Overviews in ~tech
EpicAglet Link ParentThese days, I am very much the type of traffic that the article is referring to. I largely left Reddit after the API controversy like many people here. Ever since I stopped casually browsing...These days, I am very much the type of traffic that the article is referring to. I largely left Reddit after the API controversy like many people here. Ever since I stopped casually browsing Reddit.
However, occasionally I find myself in the situation where I want to read the views and opinions of random people on a certain topic. I then Google the question and Reddit is basically the only result that is worth reading (and on rare occasions quora, but quora is a mess).
I try not the read the AI overview, and go for the actual comments, as the whole point was trying to find input from fellow humans. But I noticed that I don't always stick to this anymore and catch myself just reading the summary. So I can totally see how AI can hurt this type of traffic.
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Comment on FIFA scraps controversial plan to sell commercial rights to private investors in ~sports.football
EpicAglet Link ParentHonestly, part of me wanted him to not back down. All of Europe actually boycotting the world cup would've been wild, and it would've been very interesting to see where it would go from thereHonestly, part of me wanted him to not back down.
All of Europe actually boycotting the world cup would've been wild, and it would've been very interesting to see where it would go from there
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FIFA scraps controversial plan to sell commercial rights to private investors
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Comment on ‘The Odyssey’ holds strong worldwide, cumulative near $640m; ‘Toy Story 5’ third picture YTD to cross $1b worldwide in ~movies
EpicAglet Link ParentSeems like Tom Holland's career is doing wellSeems like Tom Holland's career is doing well
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Comment on ‘The Odyssey’ holds strong worldwide, cumulative near $640m; ‘Toy Story 5’ third picture YTD to cross $1b worldwide in ~movies
EpicAglet Link ParentI'm also wondering. For concert tickets I can totally see someone look for a reseller if they are too late and the tickets sold out. But for a cinema ticket that wouldn't even occur to me. So I...I'm also wondering. For concert tickets I can totally see someone look for a reseller if they are too late and the tickets sold out. But for a cinema ticket that wouldn't even occur to me. So I wonder how they even go about finding buyers
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Comment on Meta is adding ridiculous ‘rate limits’ and a soft paywall to its smart glasses in ~tech
EpicAglet LinkSo it's basically like BMW's heated seat subscription. A bit of a strange move considering the backlash BMW got, and right now they should probably be pushing mass adoption rather than monetization.So it's basically like BMW's heated seat subscription. A bit of a strange move considering the backlash BMW got, and right now they should probably be pushing mass adoption rather than monetization.
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Comment on Reddit will require you to be logged in to use old.reddit.com in ~tech
EpicAglet Link ParentOr they aim to kill old.reddit.com but want to limit backlash, so they make it increasingly hard to access before removing it entirelyOr they aim to kill old.reddit.com but want to limit backlash, so they make it increasingly hard to access before removing it entirely
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Comment on Reddit will require you to be logged in to use old.reddit.com in ~tech
EpicAglet Link ParentI only really used reddit these days if I land on it through google. The annoying things is that often, if you are looking for a discussion or an opinion etc, reddit and sometimes quora are still...I only really used reddit these days if I land on it through google. The annoying things is that often, if you are looking for a discussion or an opinion etc, reddit and sometimes quora are still is the only real options.
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Comment on OpenAI says the US government will vet users of its latest AI model in ~tech
EpicAglet Link ParentWhile I share the sentiment, it got me thinking about this for a sec and reached the conclusion that I'd still rather have them not get too involved. The bursting of the AI bubble will not be fun....While I share the sentiment, it got me thinking about this for a sec and reached the conclusion that I'd still rather have them not get too involved.
The bursting of the AI bubble will not be fun. It'll probably be a massive economic crisis. I think it's true that the longer this goes on, the worse the collapse will likely be. And the great cheeto getting involved will most likely hasten this. So on the surface it seems like you'd want this outcome.
But maybe not. I'd fear he'd get himself into a situation where he'd feel like he cannot afford to let the bubble burst. I could see them somehow finding a way to use the US government to keep the bubble intact (for a while longer). What happens when it bursts might be much much worse then. The more involved the Tangerine Toddler gets, the more likely I'd think this would be.
Alternatively, if it pops too soon, the economic crisis will happen during this presidential term. Luckily of course, this master deal maker has shown that he is tremendous when it comes to dealing with a crisis, the best.
You might be better off with a slightly worse crisis if it is being handled by an administration that actually knows what they are doing. Over the bubble popping now, but then expecting Agent Orange to deal with the fallout effectively.
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Comment on German retailer Thomann is suing Fender over recent cease and desists in ~music
EpicAglet Link ParentThanks. That makes sense. I suppose that's how they get you. As long as the inconvenience of switching remains greater than your annoyance towards them, you're not going anywhere as a customer. I...Thanks. That makes sense. I suppose that's how they get you. As long as the inconvenience of switching remains greater than your annoyance towards them, you're not going anywhere as a customer.
I picked Reaper simply because of the free trail and I liked the vibes the company was giving off. I kind of assumed all the major DAWs are comparable, but I never really looked into the others much. It seems like that is the case from your comment, so it's reassuring to know that I'm not missing out on anything by sticking to Reaper
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Comment on German retailer Thomann is suing Fender over recent cease and desists in ~music
EpicAglet Link ParentA bit off-topic, but why do you use Studio One? I'm fairly new to recording, but I am currently using Reaper. I'm happy with it, but never really tried other DAWs apart from briefly playing around...A bit off-topic, but why do you use Studio One? I'm fairly new to recording, but I am currently using Reaper. I'm happy with it, but never really tried other DAWs apart from briefly playing around with Ableton in the past.
Does the DAW really make a difference, or is it just a matter of being used to a certain workload?
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Comment on German retailer Thomann is suing Fender over recent cease and desists in ~music
EpicAglet Link ParentExactly. Yet they've been using this to send cease and desist orders to a lot of small little luthiers, in order to pressure them to stop selling S-style guitars and even destroy their current...Exactly. Yet they've been using this to send cease and desist orders to a lot of small little luthiers, in order to pressure them to stop selling S-style guitars and even destroy their current inventory.
It's seems however, that they made the mistake of also targeting some of the big players. Thomann, who owns the brand Harley Benton, is by far the biggest retailer outside North America. And they are the 3rd largest distributor of Fender guitars in the world after Guitar Center and Sweetwater. They have deep pockets and can afford to fight this out in court. For reference, Fender has a revenue of about 700M USD whereas Thomann is about 1.5B USD.
Moreover, they are based in Germany where the default judgement was won. So they will be very familiar with the legal system there.
Overall, this whole debacle seems like a giant mistake on Fender's side. They've lost a great deal of reputation in order to bully some smaller companies, and now they're in a fight with one of their most important distributors.
Meanwhile, a company like Fender relies largely on brand reputation in order to make its sales. These days, others make similar and arguably better guitars (I'm looking at you, PRS Silver Sky). People buy Fender because of the name on the headstock. What for heaven's sake were they thinking?
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German retailer Thomann is suing Fender over recent cease and desists
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Comment on Does generative AI have a natural limit without a major innovation? in ~comp
EpicAglet Link ParentI understood it as that progress is logarithmic as function of resource cost. So that's why progress seems limited despite massive investmentsI understood it as that progress is logarithmic as function of resource cost. So that's why progress seems limited despite massive investments
I am from the Netherlands, which is probably the only country with a stronger cycling culture than Denmark, so maybe I can chime in.
I think point 1 is partly a vicious cycle (pun not intended). You are far less likely to crash if riding on pristine asphalt on a dedicated protected cycling lane. Especially if you have been riding a bike every day since you were a little kid. So I think if you wanted to build up the same cycling culture this part can be solved, it'll just take time.
Point 2 I fully agree with. I've never been to Texas, but I've visited California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah so I am basing my pov on those states. I think I'd favor an air-conditioned car too and my bike wouldn't see much use. No way I'd expose myself to that kind of heat for no good reason.
Plus the distances are just much larger. European cities are generally just much more compact than American ones. So even if it is hot in the Netherlands, you'd spend maybe 5-10 minutes on a bike. In the US even local trips would probably take longer depending on exactly where you live.
On top of that, the same trip may take 15-20 min by car, just cause the route is more direct and traffic gets in the way less and you don't have to find a parking spot. So cycling is also just more convenient most of the time.
I do think it could work better in other places, if the infrastructure and attitude changes. I've also been to Boston and NYC and could totally see myself cycling there if it felt safer to do so.
Like I'd want proper cycling lanes that are properly separated from the cars and go everywhere, the cities themselves are compact enough that it could totally work. Also, I'd want the same type of bikes we have back home. For some reason in the US (and most countries), the only bikes you can find are sports bikes.
Dutch bikes are different. We don't sit arched over for aerodynamics, but just upright for instance. It's much slower, but that's not the point, it's just more comfortable to sit like that. I think that's also a cultural thing, we don't cycle as a means to exercise, it's just how you get around.