F13's recent activity
-
Comment on RomM: an open source, self-hosted emulation platform in ~games
-
Comment on Autistic/Neurodivergent/"just stubborn" members: how did you [happily] learn to do something you couldn't just instantly do? in ~life
F13 LinkIt's always hard. The times when I have had success are times when either: I can rely on those "things that come for free" I have made myself a short-term commitment, and found the space to...It's always hard. The times when I have had success are times when either:
- I can rely on those "things that come for free"
- I have made myself a short-term commitment, and found the space to "embrace the suck".
Some things that come for free for me that I've seen work out in this space are curiosity, technical skill, and a desire to be seen as cool/hot/interesting.
Curiosity makes the barrier for entry for most new things somewhat lower for me from a knowledge standpoint because I'm naturally consuming all kinds of information about all kinds of domains. I had a rudimentary understanding of how a home is built, so I wasn't completely starting from ground zero when I bought my home and started DIYing. It might have felt like I knew nothing, and I absolutely came across new pieces of "basic" information constantly, but the background knowledge I had made a lot of learning more like review than fresh learning.
Technical skill is something that mostly grew out of my curiosity and the kinds of things I was around. Namely, computers. These days I'm a pretty accomplished security specialist and moderately competent developer, and the only reason I'm any of those things is because the technical part was never really a challenge exactly. I mean, sometimes it was... Honestly maybe on reflection this one is less something that came for free, but is more something that is now free because I consistently - almost pathologically - put myself in situations where I felt under skilled. I wouldn't say it was always healthy, and definitely caused me a good deal of stress, but that stress was also the only thing that got me to care enough to just buckle down and do my best. The more often I did that in more and more challenging situations, the more skilled I became. Older me has less interest in doing that, but maybe that's because I feel more actually competent and less like I'm pretending.
And both of those really tie in to a desire to be seen as a valuable, desirable person. Cool, hot, funny, smart, whatever the thing my brain is telling me people are looking for. Don't get me wrong. This one is hazardous. Maybe even outright toxic - jury is still out on that. But it definitely is a strong motivator for me to do things that are uncomfortable or whatever. It's part of what made me continue to put myself in more challenging situations professionally. It's a big reason I continue to lift weights. It's not the only reason I do anything, but sometimes, for a given task on a given day, it is today's reason.
As for short term commitments and embracing the suck: the most direct example that came to mind for me with this is when I started running. My wife has always been a runner, and at one point, I started thinking about "what if I did that?" It's a slow process for me. I could see how it can be fun sometimes. The energy of a big race is really unmatched, and I had attended a few as a spectator in support of her. So I could see some of the positives. But it still just had this concept of "I am not a runner" in my brain. But, one day, I just decided.... Fine. I'll try it. I will go out with you and do a run for the next four Saturdays. I know I'm not going to want to. But maybe I'll find enough about it that I do like that I will keep doing it.
So, that's it. That's what I decided. I'm doing a run the next four Saturdays. For me, it's honestly not that hard to do something if I just decide that I'm going to do it. There's no more fear of opportunity cost, because there's no alternatives. I'm doing the thing. One or two of those runs was in the rain. Oh well, I said four Saturdays, and it's Saturday, so I guess I'm getting rained on. People have endured worse.
Anyway I ran my first half marathon like a year later lol. I'm still not sure if I'm "a runner", at least not right now, but I know that I could be if I chose to.
-
Comment on Looking for an effective self-block application for Android in ~tech
F13 Link ParentWell to be clear I didn't say impossible to circumvent. Just more difficult. I agree that generally the idea is users are more trusted than applications, but in general that's less true in child mode.Well to be clear I didn't say impossible to circumvent. Just more difficult. I agree that generally the idea is users are more trusted than applications, but in general that's less true in child mode.
-
Comment on Looking for an effective self-block application for Android in ~tech
F13 Link ParentPossibly, I'm really not sure on the details. But I could imagine unlocking or acting as the parent could require a password that you could keep written down somewhere irritating to access, or...Possibly, I'm really not sure on the details. But I could imagine unlocking or acting as the parent could require a password that you could keep written down somewhere irritating to access, or something in that vein.
-
Comment on Looking for an effective self-block application for Android in ~tech
F13 LinkHave you tried using parental controls to lock out apps? I believe those will be much harder to circumvent as the assumption is that the user is at least somewhat hostile to their operation. You...Have you tried using parental controls to lock out apps? I believe those will be much harder to circumvent as the assumption is that the user is at least somewhat hostile to their operation.
You could also look into controls provided by MDM - Mobile Device Management - the suite of tools used by corporations to enforce policies on devices. But I genuinely have no idea how accessible that is to an individual.
-
Comment on What are your favourite anime and/or manga? in ~anime
F13 Link ParentOf Studio Trigger, personally I have a soft spot for Kill la Kill over Gurren Lagann. I absolutely love the humor. But both are great. The way they have no allegiance to keeping things like size...Of Studio Trigger, personally I have a soft spot for Kill la Kill over Gurren Lagann. I absolutely love the humor. But both are great.
The way they have no allegiance to keeping things like size and perspective consistent makes for some amazing visuals.
-
Comment on Do you own/run a business? What is it, where is it, how do you get customers? in ~finance
F13 Link ParentThat sounds like the dream most techies imagine when they imagine going out on their own. Congrats!That sounds like the dream most techies imagine when they imagine going out on their own. Congrats!
-
Comment on As Reddit stock falls, CEO questions value of Google’s AI Overviews in ~tech
F13 Link ParentAs famously bad as Reddit search is, at least the content is indexed by Google. Information stored in Discord is hard to access, hard to find, and hard to use.As famously bad as Reddit search is, at least the content is indexed by Google. Information stored in Discord is hard to access, hard to find, and hard to use.
-
Comment on Another "help, looking for mechanical keyboard" thread! cherrys, color backlit leds, usb only (no bt), 100% size in ~comp
F13 LinkI've been using WASD's CODE keyboard for... I don't even know how long now, but apparently the company has somewhat recently disappeared. That's unfortunate, because although the CODE doesn't use...I've been using WASD's CODE keyboard for... I don't even know how long now, but apparently the company has somewhat recently disappeared. That's unfortunate, because although the CODE doesn't use any of the fancy firmwares AFAIK, it has done everything I've needed it to do with a solid metal frame and nice clacky tactile keys.
-
Comment on Unreleased OpenAI model escapes containment and hacks into Hugging Face in ~tech
-
Comment on Unreleased OpenAI model escapes containment and hacks into Hugging Face in ~tech
F13 Link Parent/noise Achievement Unlocked Describe a fundamental technology unintentionally/noise
Achievement Unlocked
Describe a fundamental technology unintentionally -
Comment on Unreleased OpenAI model escapes containment and hacks into Hugging Face in ~tech
F13 Link ParentFundamentally most (all? depends how you define it) hacking is confusing systems into disagreeing about what is just data versus what is instructions, so to assume you can keep those separate is...Fundamentally most (all? depends how you define it) hacking is confusing systems into disagreeing about what is just data versus what is instructions, so to assume you can keep those separate is the same assumption as that you are unhackable.
-
Comment on Unreleased OpenAI model escapes containment and hacks into Hugging Face in ~tech
F13 Link ParentYeah, I don't think we really disagree on what happened; I was just summarizing differently. Ultimately the package repo was a live internet-connected package repo, which means that the sandbox...Yeah, I don't think we really disagree on what happened; I was just summarizing differently. Ultimately the package repo was a live internet-connected package repo, which means that the sandbox was not truly sandboxed. It absolutely is trivial to implement the exact features they described without that wrinkle by cloning a live package repo and re-implementing it offline.
Which any sane and responsible organization would have required if they believed half of what the AI companies tell you their models can do. That leaves only three possibilities: they are not a sane or responsible company, they do not believe the things AI companies are saying, or both.
-
Comment on Unreleased OpenAI model escapes containment and hacks into Hugging Face in ~tech
F13 Link ParentAbsolutely trivial. The complexity only comes in when you want to add features, like real internet access but only through our super secure proxy. (Can you read my eyes rolling?) This is...Absolutely trivial. The complexity only comes in when you want to add features, like real internet access but only through our super secure proxy. (Can you read my eyes rolling?)
This is impressive, don't get me wrong, but like every attack AI does, all it does is reiterate how important the things we already know about security are. A real sandbox should have absolutely no path to the internet, under any circumstances. We've been accomplishing this for decades with virtualization.
-
Comment on Is it possible to not want to be happy? in ~talk
F13 LinkI think that's a pretty common part of depression, for many people who experience depression.I think that's a pretty common part of depression, for many people who experience depression.
-
Comment on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson finally explains his decision to bid $3.2B for parking meters before walking away in ~transport
F13 Link ParentWell, good things, when taken to extremes, are often bad things. Just because an automated AI summary is spam doesn't automatically mean a human-directed one is too.Well, good things, when taken to extremes, are often bad things. Just because an automated AI summary is spam doesn't automatically mean a human-directed one is too.
-
Comment on US Federal Communications Commission approves test of space mirror to light night sky despite outcry in ~space
F13 Link ParentSure, undoubtedly, but I am not sure the scale is clear to the average reader. 7000 satellites, all perfectly aligned, with zero losses, is what would be required with this math to replicate...Sure, undoubtedly, but I am not sure the scale is clear to the average reader. 7000 satellites, all perfectly aligned, with zero losses, is what would be required with this math to replicate daytime sun in one place. And now long can the satellites stay in a proper orbit to hit that one place?
I wouldn't be surprised if we're talking tens of thousands of launches just to illuminate one area. Somewhere in the ballpark of 5 billion dollars in launch cost alone. The math just doesn't math.
-
Comment on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson finally explains his decision to bid $3.2B for parking meters before walking away in ~transport
F13 Link ParentI appreciate you providing a summary for us, and I appreciate even more that you called it out as an AI summary. Information is just information, and it's all potentially good or bad, so informing...I appreciate you providing a summary for us, and I appreciate even more that you called it out as an AI summary. Information is just information, and it's all potentially good or bad, so informing the reader of the source of that information is crucial. It's up to the reader to decide what to do with it, and because you disclosed, the reader has the power to do so.
-
Comment on US Federal Communications Commission approves test of space mirror to light night sky despite outcry in ~space
F13 Link ParentYeah, I mean you're taking the surface area of the mirror (60m circle, so about 2800m², or .001 mi²) and spreading it out over an area of about 7mi². So you're basically getting 1/7000th the...Yeah, I mean you're taking the surface area of the mirror (60m circle, so about 2800m², or .001 mi²) and spreading it out over an area of about 7mi². So you're basically getting 1/7000th the energy density of straight sunlight.
Like you said - assuming perfect reflectivity and no losses.
If you were able to cover 100% of the 7mi² with solar panels, it would be equivalent to the output of a single 60m circle of solar panels during the day.
-
Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
F13 Link ParentIf it helps, I'm never going to beat your lifetime bests either!If it helps, I'm never going to beat your lifetime bests either!
I use Romm with the Romm Sync plugin for Decky on my handheld gaming PC (which I have decided to call my GameBoy because it isn't technically a Steam Deck and "Legion Go" doesn't really sound like something a human would say). It's honestly a great experience.