FirstTiger's recent activity
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Comment on EU hits Google with €2.95bn antitrust fine despite trade tensions with US in ~tech
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Comment on What are your favorite and least favorite airports? in ~transport
FirstTiger LinkI think I'm nowhere as well-traveled as some of the other commenters on this topic, but let me throw in my two cents: Favorite airports? Fairbanks International (FAI) in Fairbanks, Alaska and...I think I'm nowhere as well-traveled as some of the other commenters on this topic, but let me throw in my two cents:
Favorite airports? Fairbanks International (FAI) in Fairbanks, Alaska and Hector International (FAR) in Fargo, North Dakota. Not because they have good amenities or amazing architectural design, but because they address my root problem with air travel- having to be inside an airport at all.
Both are small on the commercial side- just 5-6 gates each, with no more than 10 destinations (even counting seasonally). But, the way both their 'departure' flowthrough works, I can literally can get dropped off at the front door, check in, go through security, and be ready at my gate in just 30-45 minutes. Minimal time in terminal purgatory!Least favorite? Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). I will loathe that rat's maze until the last atom in the universe stops vibrating. No part of it makes sense, there are no amenities when you truly need them, and if somehow your sanity remains intact, your legs will still have given out from underneath you for all the endless walking between terminals. Forget making your connection if you don't have an EU passport, either! The internal customs line will make sure you will become intimately familiar with the scratched chrome during the remainder of your sentence.
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Comment on Chappell Roan says her second album ‘doesn’t exist yet’: ‘It’s probably going to take at least five’ years in ~music
FirstTiger LinkIt feels a bit parasocial for me to say this, but I'd much rather she take the time to write & produce a full album if it means she makes something 'authentic'. I enjoy her music (in part) because...It feels a bit parasocial for me to say this, but I'd much rather she take the time to write & produce a full album if it means she makes something 'authentic'. I enjoy her music (in part) because it seems to stem from her personal life experiences- if what she has going on now doesn't lead to a whole album's worth of songs, then so be it.
It worked out well for Adele, why not Chappell Roan?
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Comment on Christian missionaries are using secret audio devices to evangelise Brazil’s isolated peoples in ~humanities
FirstTiger LinkMysterious, out of context voices in the rainforest, repeated endlessly? That sounds beyond creepy..Mysterious, out of context voices in the rainforest, repeated endlessly? That sounds beyond creepy..
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Comment on New DNA map of the pistachio could create better varieties in ~food
FirstTiger LinkIt was rather neat to read through the article (esp. nice little infographic about pistachio development in the latter half), but dunno if this better, more detailed sequencing of the most common...It was rather neat to read through the article (esp. nice little infographic about pistachio development in the latter half), but dunno if this better, more detailed sequencing of the most common pistachio cultivar is going to be very helpful to current growers of 'stachios.
Like, it takes 7-10 years for a tree to reach maturity & start producing nuts. If you need trees that are better adapted to warmer winters, the time to be working on that was several years ago.
But hey, maybe this group has other publications detailing other cultivars that are less stressed by heat? That, I think, would be more valuable to growers. -
Comment on The mysteries of Roman inscriptions are being solved with a new AI tool in ~humanities.history
FirstTiger LinkThis is precisely the use of machine learning I want to see. Human beings have spent years generating these research datasets, but searching through them and making comparisons from them was...This is precisely the use of machine learning I want to see. Human beings have spent years generating these research datasets, but searching through them and making comparisons from them was always the friction point. This AI tool really seems to be that- a tool. Something to aid in human discovery (esp. here, where someone still needs to uncover the inscribed artifacts), not making grandiose claims about replacing it.
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Comment on Parenting is not just for pronatalists: the progressive case for raising kids in ~society
FirstTiger Link ParentThe way you put this, it seems like progressive movements like women's rights, abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights are more likely to fail... If people with progressive views and childcare...The way you put this, it seems like progressive movements like women's rights, abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights are more likely to fail...
If people with progressive views and childcare responsibilities are too tired to go protest and are likely to stay home, then the movement is going to have to rely more on people either with exceptional stamina or who don't have children.
Makes it seem like the potential coalition just splits itself around life experience/personal resources in ways that are just detrimental to the movement...
So what then? How do progressive movements close that gap & make their social/political goals more likely to happen? -
Comment on Elon Musk calls for US President Donald Trump to be impeached as extraordinary feud escalates in ~society
FirstTiger Link ParentYeah, that's a line from his novel The Fault in Our Stars from the character of Hazel Grace. I believe the whole line is: "I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."Yeah, that's a line from his novel The Fault in Our Stars from the character of Hazel Grace. I believe the whole line is:
"I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once." -
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life
FirstTiger LinkI keep mine in the same folder as the rest of my "important papers"- birth certificate, passports, transcripts, etc. Though, this is a more recent arrangement, as I needed to present it to attend...I keep mine in the same folder as the rest of my "important papers"- birth certificate, passports, transcripts, etc. Though, this is a more recent arrangement, as I needed to present it to attend graduate school in Germany, but prior to that it was kept in a storage tote in the garage along with my other college paraphernalia.
I might've been more inclined to keep it in a more prominent place if it had the name of my full degree on it, but it was just a generic "Bachelor of Science" degree instead. It would've been nice to have that little bit more of recognition for something I put so much effort in to earning.. -
Comment on What hard scifi books could you recommend? in ~books
FirstTiger LinkTwo recommendations: The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey- this one I can credit with both really compelling characters & worldbuilding and (largely) realistic space travel physics. It also...Two recommendations:
The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey- this one I can credit with both really compelling characters & worldbuilding and (largely) realistic space travel physics. It also covers a kind of gap that most space travel sci-fi doesn't cover- the societal transition between humanity being able to traverse only our native solar system and the wider universe.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir- if you like The Martian I think you'd have no problem enjoying this one. The main character(s) definitely spend most of their time actively thinking through how to solve technical problems, but the underlying plot conflict is fascinating too.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
FirstTiger LinkI recently saw the sci-fi classic "War Games" (1983) from my partner's personal movie collection. Aside from the helicopter chase towards the end of the movie, so much of the film felt so real! I...I recently saw the sci-fi classic "War Games" (1983) from my partner's personal movie collection.
Aside from the helicopter chase towards the end of the movie, so much of the film felt so real!
I had heard about phone phreaking as an early hacking method, but never really understood how it might work- it was an incredible plot point!
I could do with the love interest character (played by Ally Sheedy) either being recast as a dog or rewritten to actual have a human personality, though. Which is a problem I have with a number of older sci-fi movies, which leads me to enjoying the genre less than I would like :/ -
Comment on You're running for office on a somewhat petty, yet univerally-understood single issue. What is it? in ~society
FirstTiger LinkExcluding a situation where universally everyone goes deaf & therefore needs to have sufficient visual space to communicate-- Toilet stalls should have no gaps between the door and the doorframe....Excluding a situation where universally everyone goes deaf & therefore needs to have sufficient visual space to communicate--
Toilet stalls should have no gaps between the door and the doorframe.
And if they do, any "accidental" eye contact by another bathroom user is lifetime barred from the good hand dryer.
And, if elected to second term, I will bring a bill to the legislature prohibiting flickering fluorescent lights! -
Comment on Has anyone worked at <20 person startup before? How was it? in ~tech
FirstTiger LinkMy startup experience has been in the biotech/gene therapy sector. I held a position at that company for a little over three years before I decided to move on to graduate school. When I started...My startup experience has been in the biotech/gene therapy sector. I held a position at that company for a little over three years before I decided to move on to graduate school. When I started there, I was just the 3rd employee to be hired, and by the time I left, the overall company had grown to ~15 people.
The initial experience was quite interesting- I literally helped to build a molecular biology lab from scratch (assembling furniture, installing the water purification system, establishing protocols for brand-new equipment, etc.) I put in long hours, but it didn't bother me then- I was learning new techniques & actually using my bachelor's degree in a way that felt meaningful. We had new ideas to bring to the market, we were funded out for several years with seed capital and grants, and I genuinely thought if we could actually develop product based on those ideas, the company would be successful.
Over time, though... it became painfully obvious that the people hired to be in R&D leadership shouldn't have been. They would frequently shift priorities in the lab, fail to communicate with others in the company about changes they made to projects, and engage in petty, near-shouting matches in the conference room if data they were presenting in a meeting was questioned. Several scientists burned out and quit after working themselves sick over a project, only to have that project scrapped by leadership. The misogynistic attitudes of one manager were frequently papered over by the CEO/co-owner (I suspect because they were members of the same religious community)...
So, yeah. Even with good base ideas & plenty of funding, the workplace turned toxic because of poor leadership and an unwillingness to actually address that toxicity. The company is still going, with a small market presence- but I wonder where it might actually be now if it weren't for the internal conflicts I was present for during my time there.
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Comment on What are some good, non-microtransaction riddled mobile games? in ~games
FirstTiger LinkI don't mobile game much- but I really appreciate the simplicity & variety within the Lichess app. It connects you to the same platform as Lichess.com, for open-source free chess. I appreciate it...I don't mobile game much- but I really appreciate the simplicity & variety within the Lichess app.
It connects you to the same platform as Lichess.com, for open-source free chess. I appreciate it mostly for it's support for chess variants- such as Antichess, King of the Hill, Horde, and (my personal favorite) Atomic.
It's very well used even by grand & international masters, so even if you don't feel like playing a game, you can watch a number of tournaments with excellent gameplay (heck, even Magnus Carlson shows up periodically to play a bullet tournament). -
Comment on AlbumLove recommendations thread: August 2023 in ~music
FirstTiger LinkRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons (2012) I had been introduced to this composer by a deeply underrated, criminally underappreciated DJ formerly operating out of Classical MPR...Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons (2012)
I had been introduced to this composer by a deeply underrated, criminally underappreciated DJ formerly operating out of Classical MPR (Minnesota Public Radio), Garrett McQueen (look him up at least, if this album doesn't appeal to you!)
I've struggled at times to love classical music because of the tendency of some classical broadcasters to stick to the same composers & pieces, acting like the genre is basically stuck playing the chords dead men wrote centuries ago. But, then I listened to Richter's re-writing of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and it made me feel- vividly. I have to be careful to not listen to this album while doing visual work- the imagery that passes through my mind completely distracts me from any other artistic vision. I can loop it around and around for hours, and feel regretful when I have to stop listening.
I overall would recommend the composer for his work, but most of his other albums contain tracks with talking/human voices, and that takes away a bit of the pure emotion (for me) of listening to an instrumental album.
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Comment on Human touch in ~talk
FirstTiger LinkI'm glad to hear that your complaint was treated in such a humane way. It's far too rare to be treated like a 'real' person by a business, especially such a large one.I'm glad to hear that your complaint was treated in such a humane way. It's far too rare to be treated like a 'real' person by a business, especially such a large one.
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Comment on Bye bye blue checkmarks: Twitter removes legacy verifications in ~tech
FirstTiger Link ParentRight? I don't even really see there being a pretense about being fair or transparent towards user privileges here. Musk giving away blue checkmarks on seemingly his own personal whims just makes...Right? I don't even really see there being a pretense about being fair or transparent towards user privileges here.
Musk giving away blue checkmarks on seemingly his own personal whims just makes me think of toxic, overpowered Reddit moderators. The kind that break a community over their own ego.
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Comment on Chinese EV maker NIO has opened its first European "Power Swap Station" in Denmark – drivers can stop to replace their battery with a fully charged one in ~tech
FirstTiger LinkI wish I had the ability to check out this kind of EV charging infrastructure out for myself. I admit, I appreciate not having to go to a gas station to fuel my car (especially when most of my...I wish I had the ability to check out this kind of EV charging infrastructure out for myself. I admit, I appreciate not having to go to a gas station to fuel my car (especially when most of my driving is commuting). But for longer trips, it would be nice to have a quicker option than waiting & charging at a public charging station.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
FirstTiger LinkMy Year of Rest and Relaxation, by Ottessa Moshfegh. I've been meaning to read this one for a while, just because the central premise seemed intriguing. The main character, with the assistance of...My Year of Rest and Relaxation, by Ottessa Moshfegh.
I've been meaning to read this one for a while, just because the central premise seemed intriguing. The main character, with the assistance of a wildly incompetent psychiatrist, attempts to sleep an entire year using psychotropic drugs to escape her feelings and increasingly alienating relationships.
I initially felt rather unable to sympathize with her as a character, but at as the story has been progressing, I'm kinda beginning to see why she is as she is. Emotionally neglected most of her life, with no real goals or ambitions.
A bit of a surreal read, but weirdly enthralling. -
Comment on Barbie | Teaser trailer 2 in ~movies
FirstTiger Link ParentNot trying to knock Gosling, not at all- I just haven't seen a movie with him in it in about a decade, so I don't think I have enough points of reference to say how I feel about him as an actor....Not trying to knock Gosling, not at all- I just haven't seen a movie with him in it in about a decade, so I don't think I have enough points of reference to say how I feel about him as an actor.
What would you say is the best movie he's acted in, thus far? One of the above?
I was concerned that this enforcement action wasn't going to be taken, and leave everyone out in the cold with Google.. given the recent decision regarding the antitrust against Google in the US, this is really good news!