Interesting's recent activity
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Comment on Whatever happened to _____? in ~talk
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Comment on Ireland among countries boycotting Eurovision after Israel allowed to compete in ~music
Interesting (edited )Link ParentMy bad -- I had originally read this thread, and then several hours later seen that article; rereading now there are two sentences in the cheep_cheep's comment that mention this as a motivation....My bad -- I had originally read this thread, and then several hours later seen that article; rereading now there are two sentences in the cheep_cheep's comment that mention this as a motivation. That said, I still think there is a benefit to highlighting that point in an individual comment for folks.
...to make up for their (currently) poor international reputation. They are undermining the contest for everyone...We've spent years clamoring for it to be less political
So I'm not actually super familiar with Eurovision. I've never watched more than a couple of songs. Being a US-American person not super into music, I really only started hearing about it when it became very political amid Russia's aggression against Ukraine. And reading online, I also see that there was a relatively recent change to allow people to pay for up to 20 votes, which is perceived to have made the contest more political. I wonder if the early increase publicity from political involvement was seen as a positive by the EBU, since it increased the people who knew what Eurovision was.
It seems to me like Eurovision was already political and Israeli organizations, knowing that they could not naturally compete in the number of voices speaking up based on its size, ended up with an organized effort to counter grassroots folks in other nations. So I think you're right that this is just an escalation of Eurovision always having been somewhat political, with Israel just moving from a (minor, before October 2023) victim to a beneficiary.
As for a solution, I don't know. I do think that removing Israel would only encourage the use of Eurovision as a political cudgel. Likely, the best solutions to a less political Eurovision are changes to how Eurovision is run. I've been poking around trying to come up with ideas,, and I saw a paper here that noted
Interestingly, the professional background of jury members also significantly influences the individual voting bias, for instance, experts with classical music backgrounds display significantly less bias than presenters of radio or television programs or music journalists.
It was focused on positive bias, but if the a similar principle applies to negative bias, perhaps a first step would be to look carefully at the juries and select them with an eye for people uninterested in politics -- and beyond avoiding negative bias, I think the EBU would end up with fewer political songs they needed to reject in the first place. Reducing the number of votes per person would likely also improve things, since it would make organized campaigns less powerful. I imagine someone more familiar with how the actual contest works than me could have better ideas on how to do that.
Of course, all of this assumes the EBU wants the contest to be less political. More controversy is more eyes, more eyes is more advertising revenue. And I believe votes are paid as well?
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Comment on Ireland among countries boycotting Eurovision after Israel allowed to compete in ~music
Interesting LinkPeople interested in the topic of Israel and Eurovision might find this to be an article with a perspective they may not have seen or considered:...People interested in the topic of Israel and Eurovision might find this to be an article with a perspective they may not have seen or considered:
Staying in the European Broadcast Union is presently incentive for the Israeli government not to gut the "neutrality"(it is much further left than the current government) of their public broadcasting service.
I imagine many of you here in the comments have come to your conclusion and don't consider that "enough" of a reason, but given the otherwise near unamimity of what's posted, I figured I would drop in some information for anyone lurking in the background.
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Comment on New ‘Star Trek’ movie in works at Paramount from Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) in ~movies
Interesting Link ParentI mean, Star Trek: The Voyage Home exists. The D&D movie had a serious plot line with silly elements, I think it could work.I mean, Star Trek: The Voyage Home exists. The D&D movie had a serious plot line with silly elements, I think it could work.
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Comment on US President Donald Trump and EU impose new sanctions on Russia: ‘Now is the time to stop the killing’ in ~society
Interesting Link ParentGenuinely, what good do you think this would do? What would be the goal of such an action? Israel exists as a nation. It is a nuclear state, and so any governmental transition / change would need...- Exemplary
Genuinely, what good do you think this would do? What would be the goal of such an action? Israel exists as a nation. It is a nuclear state, and so any governmental transition / change would need to be careful to avoid a hostile group that would be willing to take a first strike from gaining access to nuclear weapons.
Governmental recognition is more than just a prize for being "good enough" or pressure for good behavior. It facilitates travel, deportation, scientific cooperation, trade, and ultimately provides other options beyond violence to work out problems.
Dropping recognition of a government means refusing to work with that government. Not working with that government means that problems that could be fixed or prevented by communication or cooperation don't get resolved.
And once talking is no longer an option, violence is all that's left. It's been pretty clear over the last hundred years in that region that violence just goes back and forth forever. The average citizen in Israel expects that without the protection of the army, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, etc. would murder them, and it will take at least a generation of peace before that level of fear can dissapate in anything but the most minor of ways.
The onlg way that peace will happen is either a positive peace through diplomacy, or a the sort of negative peace through absolute border security and air defense that Israel has repeatedly failed at since the second infitada.
So unless the ultimate goal is to either expel all the Jews from the region, or let the terrorist groups murder them all (or vice versa for the Palestinian population, I don't see how pretending the government isn't a legitimate representation of its citizens moves things in a positive direction.
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Comment on How are Framework Laptops? in ~tech
Interesting LinkWhich of their models are you interested in? I have the 16, and a family member of mine has the 13, and now there is the new 12, which I'll probably give in to temptation and buy one once they...Which of their models are you interested in? I have the 16, and a family member of mine has the 13, and now there is the new 12, which I'll probably give in to temptation and buy one once they sell the stylus with it
Another thing to consider is how willing to do repairs and upgrades are you? If you don't plan on keeping it for the next decade and replacing a part here or there, the premium pricing on Framework means that unfortunately, it makes more economic sense to buy a last generation laptop on sale, or a refurb than to buy a Framework.
I would also suggest to people that aren't tinkerers, that they may prefer to wait for the second generation each time Framework launches a new product line. I hear that the new 16 has ironed out a lot of issues that my first generation unit had, and my sister's second generation 13 missed out on some obnoxious issues the first one had with the RTC battery (though it has a hinge issue that was fixed in generation 3, iirc)
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Comment on McDonald’s is cutting prices of its combo meals to convince customers it’s affordable again in ~food
Interesting Link ParentI think the change is that they're now using a pricing model that pizza chains like Domino's have for years now. The menu prices are high, and the intention is that anyone price conscious will go...I think the change is that they're now using a pricing model that pizza chains like Domino's have for years now.
The menu prices are high, and the intention is that anyone price conscious will go search out a coupon code, app deal, or similar. That way, they get maximum dollars from the people who aren't paying attention.
I refuse to download the McDonald's app and let them slurp up information about me, so effectively, this means I just never eat there anymore. It's no big loss anyway.
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Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
Interesting LinkI'm really good at picking things up with my toes. It saves my lazy ass from having to bend over to grab whatever I just dropped.I'm really good at picking things up with my toes. It saves my lazy ass from having to bend over to grab whatever I just dropped.
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Comment on Looking for places to get bulk OTC medicine in the US in ~health
Interesting Link ParentCost plus would take the prescription from your doctor, like you have been doing. Then, you fill the prescription at their (typically affordable) cash price. For example: 90 days of Ompeprazole...Cost plus would take the prescription from your doctor, like you have been doing. Then, you fill the prescription at their (typically affordable) cash price.
For example: 90 days of Ompeprazole for $8 + shipping
https://www.costplusdrugs.com/medications/omeprazoledelayedreleasedr-20mg-capsule/
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Comment on 50501: Nationwide US protest Feb 5th fifty states fifty protests one day in ~society
Interesting Link ParentI would say Twitter is an exception there. At this point, it's like using Truth SocialI would say Twitter is an exception there. At this point, it's like using Truth Social
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Comment on Snacks that aren't just sugar or crazy salty in ~food
Interesting LinkI like raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds, though they can require a lot of chewing. Some of the more lightly swwetened cereals like kix might also suit. Or even plain cheerios?I like raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds, though they can require a lot of chewing. Some of the more lightly swwetened cereals like kix might also suit. Or even plain cheerios?
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Comment on The upcoming US PEPFAR cut will kill millions, many of them children in ~society
Interesting Link ParentI mean, yes, that means there is some hope for it, but malicious levels of negligence doesn't feel all that much better when the outcome may be the same.I mean, yes, that means there is some hope for it, but malicious levels of negligence doesn't feel all that much better when the outcome may be the same.
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Comment on The upcoming US PEPFAR cut will kill millions, many of them children in ~society
Interesting LinkUtterly fucking horrifying, and even if you assume a complete lack of empathy, unwise. More infections of a disease is more likely to mutate and spread as more dangerous form. I'm not sure how to...Utterly fucking horrifying, and even if you assume a complete lack of empathy, unwise. More infections of a disease is more likely to mutate and spread as more dangerous form.
I'm not sure how to cope with multiple news stories like this every single day.
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Comment on How nine popular YouTubers helped US President Donald Trump win a second term in ~society
Interesting (edited )Link ParentJust... recognize that anything related to the Israel/Palestine conflict on Wikipedia is basically under a continual edit war. And there are a hell of a lot more people out there who are Arab or...Just... recognize that anything related to the Israel/Palestine conflict on Wikipedia is basically under a continual edit war. And there are a hell of a lot more people out there who are Arab or passionate about Palestinians than there are Jews.
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Comment on Amazon to close Quebec facilities, insists it's not because of new union in ~tech
Interesting Link ParentIt seems unreasonable and unfair to expect people to be martyrs.It seems unreasonable and unfair to expect people to be martyrs.
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Comment on ADHDers, how do you speed-up, bypass, or otherwise eliminate the "ramp-up" period required for big tasks? in ~health.mental
Interesting Link ParentAnxiety (like ADHD symptoms: distractability, forgetfulness, hyperactivity) becomes a disease when it is harming your ability to live your life fully. People with ADHD can develop "helpful"...Anxiety (like ADHD symptoms: distractability, forgetfulness, hyperactivity) becomes a disease when it is harming your ability to live your life fully. People with ADHD can develop "helpful" anxiety that eventually becomes unhealthy. I like to show people the anxiety/productivity curve to explain my own personal experience.
https://www.healthline.com/health/yerkes-dodson-law#stress-performance-bell-curve
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Comment on Kids at-home science experiments (of the less tame variety) in ~science
Interesting LinkOh, completely unrelated idea. If you have a fireplace or fire pit (or just a big concrete patio and a wet day) , you can buy salts to add to a fire that changes the color. Epson salt makes white,...Oh, completely unrelated idea. If you have a fireplace or fire pit (or just a big concrete patio and a wet day) , you can buy salts to add to a fire that changes the color. Epson salt makes white, boric acid (borax) will do a purple/green flame, potassium salt will make a blue/purple...
It would be easiest to do with a good torch, but you could probably just wrap a little salt in paper and light that on fire.
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Comment on Kids at-home science experiments (of the less tame variety) in ~science
Interesting LinkDry ice can be purchased fairly affordably, and you can do some neat stuff with it.You can use it to freeze a soap bubble so you can pick it up. That's a neat demonstration on how much colder it...Dry ice can be purchased fairly affordably, and you can do some neat stuff with it.You can use it to freeze a soap bubble so you can pick it up. That's a neat demonstration on how much colder it is than water ice - - that's a neat transfer into the phases of matter and how the same material can be a solid, liquid or a gas.
The simplest explosion is putting some in a plastic bottle or Pringle can and then sealing it(watch from a window inside). You can use that to explain that gas is less dense and takes up more space than a solid, and you can use the dry ice in general to explain sublimation.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~enviro
Interesting Link ParentI've always seen the problem with taxing consumption to be that the poor have to actually spend large portions of their income to survive, and the wealthy have the choice to spend only a small...I've always seen the problem with taxing consumption to be that the poor have to actually spend large portions of their income to survive, and the wealthy have the choice to spend only a small portion. That could be mitigated with refunds, but that wouldn't account for the sort of person who comes into money quickly (say, by working a tech job for a few years) and then lives modestly on that for the rest of their lives.
Land value tax seems like it would be very useful, though I get the feeling it would result in farmers becoming secret arsonists of any development near their farms...
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~enviro
Interesting Link ParentThat's a good point. I feel like taxing such services as a luxury could reduce that externality somewhat? Particularly if the service is so expensive that the folks who can afford it are a tiny...That's a good point. I feel like taxing such services as a luxury could reduce that externality somewhat? Particularly if the service is so expensive that the folks who can afford it are a tiny minority.
Though the ethics of that approach with private healthcare feel murkier... With private fire insurance, the people are probably evacuating either way, so increasing prices for it (and reducing purchases accordingly) doesn't endanger an individual's life any further. That's not true for medical care, where the faster service of private healthcare is about more than just preserving property
They back tracked and actually ended up releasing the base rules ("SRD") under a Creative Commons license.
https://www.pcgamer.com/wizards-of-the-coast-fully-retreats-from-dandd-license-changes-after-community-outrage/