Halfloaf's recent activity
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Comment on 2026 United States midterm elections megathread in ~society
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Comment on 2026 United States midterm elections megathread in ~society
Halfloaf LinkVoted a couple of weeks ago! Fingers crossed! Now, to figure out what to do tonight that will be a healthy distraction from scrolling. In the past, I’ve gone to see movies, but that doesn’t seem...Voted a couple of weeks ago! Fingers crossed!
Now, to figure out what to do tonight that will be a healthy distraction from scrolling. In the past, I’ve gone to see movies, but that doesn’t seem like an option this year.
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Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of October 26 in ~society
Halfloaf Link ParentAnd she’s lost a lot of her staff as a result. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6187032-stevens-staffers-resign-rogers-endorsement/And she’s lost a lot of her staff as a result.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6187032-stevens-staffers-resign-rogers-endorsement/
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Comment on Manifestos, fear, and ‘loser thinking’: inside Proton’s AI reckoning in ~tech
Halfloaf Link ParentYeah, I don’t have as much of a problem with it, but it’s still a little messy if you’re not controlling the training of those LLMs. If someone else sets the network weights, then it doesn’t...Yeah, I don’t have as much of a problem with it, but it’s still a little messy if you’re not controlling the training of those LLMs.
If someone else sets the network weights, then it doesn’t really matter who hosts it.
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Comment on Manifestos, fear, and ‘loser thinking’: inside Proton’s AI reckoning in ~tech
Halfloaf Link ParentIn my opinion, the LLM isn’t the problem. The problem is instead that a company controls the LLM, and in specific cases, that company will put its thumb on the scale. The same is certainly true...In my opinion, the LLM isn’t the problem.
The problem is instead that a company controls the LLM, and in specific cases, that company will put its thumb on the scale.
The same is certainly true for a human summary, but people are more used to understanding what biases and incentive structures that person has (to a small degree, at least). I can tell you that I wouldn’t trust Fox News’ analysis of Trump’s actions, for example, due to obvious ties. However, I can’t tell you anything about Anthropic’s investors, or what their goals may be.
It’s worth noting that Anthropic (among other LLM-owners) has yet to turn anywhere near a profit. At some point, that bill will come due, and then, the reliance on LLMs will have a very different value proposition.
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Comment on What do you watch on Nebula? in ~hobbies
Halfloaf Link ParentBernadette’s larp video was an amazing recommendation! That was so cool! Thank you!Bernadette’s larp video was an amazing recommendation! That was so cool! Thank you!
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Comment on What do you watch on Nebula? in ~hobbies
Halfloaf Link“17 pages” was a really cool way to do a documentary. Don’t look it up too much - it’s a good experience blind! Also, NileRed (chemistry), People Make Games (gaming documentaries?) and Sebastian...“17 pages” was a really cool way to do a documentary. Don’t look it up too much - it’s a good experience blind!
Also, NileRed (chemistry), People Make Games (gaming documentaries?) and Sebastian Lague (coding/visualizations)
Oh! Just found Mustard (engineering) and Synthetic (music) too, which have both been fun!
Honestly, it’s been fun to explore nebula content - the ads on YouTube have just gotten so bad recently that I just want to watch something without too much disgust every ten minutes or so.
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Comment on Does the dryer shrink your clothes? in ~life
Halfloaf Link ParentFormer appliance design person here! I bet you’re right on the money with this one! just read your response - a condenser dryer is interesting. Usually those go to much lower temperatures (and are...Former appliance design person here! I bet you’re right on the money with this one!
Also, op - have you cleaned out your dryer vent tube recently? If that’s twisted or clogged, it could also lead to higher-than-usual temperatures.just read your response - a condenser dryer is interesting. Usually those go to much lower temperatures (and are way more energy efficient as a result) - have you noticed your dry cycles getting longer? If you’re hitting a secondary thermal safety system (often the case when your primary fails), you’ll be cycling between really high temperatures and really low temperatures, as the safety system resets.Are you in an area with hard water? You may have lime buildup somewhere, which could be affecting evaporation in a way similar to the linked tube idea on vented dryers.
(Saw stuff like this in my five years writing dryness sensing algorithms!)
Fun fact, shrinking is sort of going to occur any time you have fabric motion. High temperatures just usually accelerate the process.
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 19: Japanorama | Trailer in ~hobbies
Halfloaf Link ParentIt does sort of feel like they could just ride the Shinkansen for ages after a move like that!It does sort of feel like they could just ride the Shinkansen for ages after a move like that!
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Comment on Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO in ~news
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Comment on Climate.us is a new website created by former NOAA employees who worked on Climate.gov until they were laid off last year as part of the heinous DOGE cutbacks in ~enviro
Halfloaf Link ParentIn this case and in many others, I think it’s reasonable to expect some real hesitancy to use LLMs. Here, for example, LLMs were used extensively by DOGE to justify firing these very employees....In this case and in many others, I think it’s reasonable to expect some real hesitancy to use LLMs.
Here, for example, LLMs were used extensively by DOGE to justify firing these very employees.
Also, many “AI” companies are paying absurd amounts of money to some of the people responsible for the loss of climate.org.
I know that if I were in the authors’ shoes, I wouldn’t want to use LLMs as my first option.
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Comment on Signs you're a dangerous terrorist: using Signal, moving zines in ~society
Halfloaf Link ParentThe person that shot the officer stated that at the time, they were worried that the officer was going to shoot someone instead, arguing that they were acting in defense. Given the recent (even...The person that shot the officer stated that at the time, they were worried that the officer was going to shoot someone instead, arguing that they were acting in defense.
Given the recent (even more recent at the time of this action) killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, I think that is relevant context to the state of mind.
In my opinion, that should have resulted in a lower penalty, rather than a life sentence. I admittedly don’t know any of the actual facts around the timeline though, so this is really just my uninformed opinion.
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Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of June 22 in ~society
Halfloaf Link ParentHere’s a good thread talking about another possible reason the bloom is so bad - they may have refilled it with untreated city water, which algae loves.Here’s a good thread talking about another possible reason the bloom is so bad - they may have refilled it with untreated city water, which algae loves.
Since I did do my PhD in cyanobacteria growth and treatment optimization modeling AND work in the water treatment industry, I’m gonna share my theory as to what’s happening here and how to fix it.
People are focusing on the painted bottom of the pool increasing residual heat, and while that 1/19
could contribute to faster algae growth, the real issue is nutrient eutrophication. Given warmth and light (summer), ANY water with enough nutrients will grow algae. Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) isn’t limited by temperature and light this time of year, it’s limited by nutrient availability 2/19
(typically phosphate, sometimes but rarely nitrogen).
So why, all the sudden, would it be really high in nutrients? My guess is they refilled it with city water. Washington DC like most major metropolitan areas, adds orthophosphate to the water for lead corrosion control. It works beautifully 3/19
for this, but orthophosphate is also a bioavailable form of phosphate, aka algae food!
Eutrophication, the term used to describe water that is so high in nutrients it causes an explosion of algae growth leading to ecosystem disruption, is defined by water containing more than 0.03 mg/L of 4/19
phosphorus, which is equivalent to 0.09 mg/L of orthophosphate.
In order for orthophosphate to reach the ends of a distribution system, water treatment plants typically dose it high enough to carry a residual between 1.0-2.0 mg/L, more than 10-20x the amount needed to cause an algae bloom. 5/19
This pool is 6.9 million gallons. Typically, only a relatively small amount of water is added to top off the pool, so orthophosphate is diluted to levels low enough for typical treatment and natural biology to handle. But because they refilled the entire pool at once, 6/19
they had high phosphate levels and caused this bloom.
This theory is consistent with the fact that we ALSO saw an algae bloom in 2012 after it was entirely refilled following repairs and renovations. The bottom was still light colored then, but high nutrients lead to a bloom. 7/19
So, what could be done about it? Actually, the hydrogen peroxide was NOT a bad idea to start with, it was just poorly executed.
Peroxide oxidizes cyanobacteria cell membranes and causes them to lyse VERY quickly. But, it also breaks down very fast into water and oxygen, so it has to be spread 8/19
evenly and at a high enough dose to completely kill the algae. Typically you'd want a dose of 10-20 mg/L of H2O2 depending on the bloom density. Since they used 12% H2O2, that would be at least 600-1200 gallons for this pool. I don't know how much they applied, but I doubt it was that much. 9/19
Because they only applied to the edges, and peroxide breaks down before it has time to reach the middle, as we saw it was only effective at the edges. On the bright side anyone who was worried about wildlife rest assured peroxide is one of the safest algaecides you can use since it breaks down 10/19
into water and oxygen. I would have recommend it to start with, but I would have recommended they use a stabilized form (such as sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate) labelled as an algaecide and distributed it evenly across the entire pool.
But that's not enough. Even if they apply more and 11/19
manage to kill back the algae, ALL of that phosphate that was bound up inside the algae cells is immediately released BACK into the water. They will see rebound growth within a week or two.
So, obviously they need to treat the cause of the problem: the phosphate. 12/19
I have seen interviews and articles claim it's not possible to remove algae to a low enough level to prevent a bloom, but this is simply not true. In fact, this is exactly what I'm working on in research and development at my company. 13/19
Phosphate removal and sequestration is done in wastewater treatment and to manage recreational and drinking water lakes and reservoirs all the time. A water treatment coagulant is all you need to achieve this. These are typically aluminum (or sometimes ferric) based coagulants that are used to 14/19
treat your drinking water before disinfection, and your wastewater before it is released into waterways. While wastewater typically only treats down to around 1.0 mg/L phosphate, lower levels are achievable with the right coagulants.
The phosphate will bind to the aluminum ions, precipitate, 15/19
collect into clumps called floccs, and settle to the bottom of the pool. From here, it can be vacuumed into the filters where it can be easily removed with a backwash.
So in conclusion, this problem can be solved, and would be solved if they listened to the appropriate scientists. 16/19
And while I am THOROUGHLY enjoying pointing and laughing at this administration's avoidable failures just like the rest of you, I WOULD like to see this problem solved sooner rather than later. Why?
Many species of cyanobacteria are capable of producing cyanotoxins, 17/19
which can be fatal if ingested. People, wildlife, pets, all can come in contact with this water. If it contains cyanotoxins such as microcystins, which is more likely than not given it's appearance, and someone's pet dog drinks from it, it could be fatal to that dog. 18/19
A kid splashing in it could get a serious rash. Wildlife swimming in it and drinking from it are also at risk.
So as funny as green water for the fourth of july celebrations might seem to you, let's hope these folks get their shit together quickly! 19/19
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Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of June 22 in ~society
Halfloaf LinkDoes DOJ even know how to issue subpoenas for a proper purpose these days? This is very refreshing to read, personally. (Also, Chris Geidner has some great law coverage, imo!)Does DOJ even know how to issue subpoenas for a proper purpose these days?
“Because the Court finds that the dominant purpose of the challenged subpoenas is to coerce Minnesota officials into assisting the federal government with enforcing civil immigration law and to harass and retaliate against them for failing to do so, the Court grants the motions to quash,“ Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote.
It is “beyond reasonable dispute,” he wrote, that “the subpoenas were a part of a broader campaign to coerce state and local officials in Minnesota to assist the Trump administration in its enforcement of immigration laws.”
This, Schiltz explained, runs counter to “the Tenth Amendment’s ‘anti-commandeering’ rule,” under which — quoting the Supreme Court — the federal government “may not ‘command the States’ officers, or those of their political subdivisions, to administer or enforce a federal regulatory program.’”
This is very refreshing to read, personally.
(Also, Chris Geidner has some great law coverage, imo!)
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Comment on Test your medical knowledge with daily clinical scenarios in ~health
Halfloaf LinkWell, this is a fun -dle! It felt like playing through an episode of “House, M.D.”, except I had no idea what I was doing, and I’m guessing my patient died. I’m definitely going to make my fourth...Well, this is a fun -dle!
It felt like playing through an episode of “House, M.D.”, except I had no idea what I was doing, and I’m guessing my patient died.
I’m definitely going to make my fourth guess “Lupus” from here on out though, in honor of the show.
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Comment on What do you think is the best sandwich? in ~food
Halfloaf Link ParentThis thread was a delight to read. Thank you both. (I have no stance on the Grilled Cheese / Melt debate, I only strongly believe that they’re best made with mayo instead of butter for the...This thread was a delight to read. Thank you both.
(I have no stance on the Grilled Cheese / Melt debate, I only strongly believe that they’re best made with mayo instead of butter for the grilling process)
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Comment on Among Us S01E01 - ”A Pizza Party Where Nothing Bad Happens” in ~tv
Halfloaf LinkI thought this episode was fun, and I’m curious how they handle the concept of the game throughout multiple episodes. That being said, I don’t think an episode could be good enough to get me to...I thought this episode was fun, and I’m curious how they handle the concept of the game throughout multiple episodes.
That being said, I don’t think an episode could be good enough to get me to give Paramount money.
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Comment on A Parade of Horribles - Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl #8) in ~books
Halfloaf LinkThis is a related and fun video - the author and the audiobook voice actor ranking various characters! It’s really just a fun showcase of the talent of the voice actor. I’m really impressed with...This is a related and fun video - the author and the audiobook voice actor ranking various characters!
It’s really just a fun showcase of the talent of the voice actor. I’m really impressed with his range!
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The US Supreme Court's Republican appointees end civil rights redistricting protections
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Comment on Did wokeness leave us worse off? (gifted link) in ~society
Halfloaf Link ParentSorry! I should’ve been a little clearer in my statement! Parsing the right chain is really tricky with all the various branches - I’ve done the same multiple times in the past!!Sorry! I should’ve been a little clearer in my statement!
Parsing the right chain is really tricky with all the various branches - I’ve done the same multiple times in the past!!
I would love to, but my job now is too unpredictable, and has too many long days with < 12 hours of notice.
Early felt like the safest option for me.