MonkeyPants's recent activity

  1. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of April 19 in ~news

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    What makes you say McConaughey is moderately intelligent and thoughtful? I frankly don't know anything about him, other than he is easy to listen to.

    What makes you say McConaughey is moderately intelligent and thoughtful? I frankly don't know anything about him, other than he is easy to listen to.

    2 votes

  2. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    MonkeyPants
    Link
    The Truth Machine by James Halperin This book was written in 1995, but has a number of technological predictions that hit surprisingly close to home. Personal Digital Communicators: Within a year...

    The Truth Machine by James Halperin

    This book was written in 1995, but has a number of technological predictions that hit surprisingly close to home.

    • Personal Digital Communicators: Within a year or two [of 2002] PDCs would be voice-activated, watch-sized, and inexpensive enough so that thieves would have to look for something else to steal. Then a few years later, they would have remote digital video cameras inside, with signals automatically stored off-site. ...Yup. Mostly happened by 2015

    • [2003] On average, the gasoline-powered automobiles clocked 96 miles per gallon on the highway, and 72 MPG in city traffic. ...Nope. Missed the electric car.

    • [2003] Businesses and individuals conduct a growing percentage of worldwide audio-visual communications over the Internet, free of charge. ...Yup. Happened slower than anticipated, but it did happen.

    • [2006] United Airlines initiates supersonic passenger service between Los Angeles and New York City. ...Nope.

    • [2006] The FDA approves Merck’s new drug Exovir (generic name, retrocycline), a cure for AIDS. ...Nope, although we are getting closer it seems.

    • [2006] Scientists in Berkeley, California, announce they have the technology to predict earthquakes anywhere in the world at least four hours before they occur... Nope.

    • [2006] the General Services Administration announces it will seek a private buyer for the U.S. Postal Service. The agency is no longer considered necessary because of the availability of less expensive and more reliable transportation and communication services from private parcel and catalog delivery firms, the Internet, facsimile machines, and cellular digital data transfer. ...Nope, although it could happen soon.

    • [2006] French scientists, using a patented technique, revive a mouse frozen two weeks ago. The first mammal ever successfully frozen and revived, the rodent sustains only minor brain damage and frostbite, and otherwise appears healthy ...Yup. Occurred on 2008

    • [2006] Ability to electronically transmit a detailed memorandum from one private computer to another. ...Yup.

    • [2011] Thumbprints will replace signatures on checks and credit card purchases, a boon for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M Corp.), the leader in inkless thumbprint technology. Coins and paper money are also officially eliminated as a means of exchange in the United States. All monetary transactions will now be conducted electronically, although previously issued cash will be redeemable indefinitely at banks and government offices. The Surgeon General and other health officials hail the measure as an effective tactic to fight the spread of disease. ...Nope. Although we are getting closer with things like Apple Pay.

    • [2012]—Vice President Garrison Roswell is elected the first African-American U.S. President. ...Yup, 2008 baby! (not exactly a tech prediction, but I could not resist)

    • [2012] Worldwide malnutrition has already been nearly expunged in recent years because of more efficient methods of transportation and storage. Even in constant dollars, foodstuffs are trading at their lowest levels since 1992, and commodity traders expect prices to fall lower. ...Nope

    • [2015] Vladimir Borovski becomes the first human to set foot on Mars. ...Nope

    • [2015] Everyone will be able to access television and radio broadcasts, electronic newspapers, and computer network media from any country, instantaneously translated into English or any language of their choosing ...Yup.

    • [2022] A record $1.1 billion dollars has been spent on political advertising by both sides of tomorrow’s referendum to divide Texas into five states. ...Again, not a tech prediction, but kinda prescient.

    • [2024] Voice controlled level four self driving

    • [2030] Self-replicating tunneling machines

    • [2047] Digital contact lenses

    • [2050] True AI. Holographic screens. 3-D screens etc...

    3 votes

  3. Comment on Weekly coronavirus-related chat, questions, and minor updates - week of April 19 in ~health

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    It's tragic how quickly India is escalating, but despite talking to Indians on a regular basis, I am still left wondering... why? They were doing so well, for so long, complacency, new variants...

    It's tragic how quickly India is escalating, but despite talking to Indians on a regular basis, I am still left wondering... why?

    They were doing so well, for so long, complacency, new variants and a recent celebration, all of that was true, I thought, for many months.

    4 votes

  4. Comment on Weekly coronavirus-related chat, questions, and minor updates - week of April 19 in ~health

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    strange, i thought it was mostly transmitted via aerosols, were they hot boxing?

    strange, i thought it was mostly transmitted via aerosols, were they hot boxing?

    3 votes

  5. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of April 19 in ~news

  6. Comment on What are some casual, kid-friendly games that can be played remotely, over a videoconference such as Zoom? in ~games

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    Kahoot is very popular among 9-10 year olds, it works for 2, but works better with 3+

    Kahoot is very popular among 9-10 year olds, it works for 2, but works better with 3+

    2 votes

  7. Comment on Derek Chauvin is found guilty of murdering George Floyd in ~news

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    Thanks for the explanatory comment.

    Thanks for the explanatory comment.

    8 votes

  8. Comment on Understanding the AeroPress (Episode #1) in ~food

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    I've noticed it's the last half cup that has the sludge: Course Grind. Add an half a cup of boiling water beyond what you need. Stir vigorously. Steep for 1-2 minutes. Press slowly. Let it sit for...

    I've noticed it's the last half cup that has the sludge:

    Course Grind.

    Add an half a cup of boiling water beyond what you need.

    Stir vigorously.

    Steep for 1-2 minutes.

    Press slowly.

    Let it sit for half a minute while you fill your cup with milk or whatever.

    Pour, leaving the half a cup of sacrificial coffee with the sludge in the french press.

    2 votes

  9. Comment on Weekly coronavirus-related chat, questions, and minor updates - week of April 19 in ~health

    MonkeyPants
    Link
    Half of US adults have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot America may be close to hitting a vaccine wall Covid-19 vaccine demand is slowing in parts of the US. Now an uphill battle starts...

    Half of US adults have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot

    America may be close to hitting a vaccine wall

    59% of U.S. adults say they're either already vaccinated, or plan to be as soon as the shot is made available to them. At the current U.S. vaccination rate, all of those vaccine-enthusiastic adults could be inoculated by the end of April.

    Covid-19 vaccine demand is slowing in parts of the US. Now an uphill battle starts to get more shots into arms

    One in five rural residents still say they will definitely not get vaccinated, according to a recent analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. About 73% of those respondents leaned Republican and 41% identified as White Evangelical Christians.

    I don't think America is going to get 70-85% of the population vaccinated. Hopefully enough have vaccinations and natural immunity to avoid overwhelming the hospitals

    9 votes

  10. Comment on Understanding the AeroPress (Episode #1) in ~food

    MonkeyPants
    Link
    That was unexpectedly interesting. Thank you.

    That was unexpectedly interesting. Thank you.

    2 votes

  11. Comment on What's your proposing/marriage story? in ~talk

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    Dang nabbit, why even say that? Now my imagination is running wild. (great story, you both sound like a fun couple)

    There are going to be some details skipped over that I would normally include, since this is a much more public space.

    Dang nabbit, why even say that?

    Now my imagination is running wild.

    (great story, you both sound like a fun couple)

    2 votes

  12. Comment on So, I just turned down my vaccination ... did I make a mistake? in ~health

    MonkeyPants
    Link
    Where is @skybrian when you need him? Assuming you are in the low risk pool, mask up during your travels, and will have the ability to stay in the Netherlands hospital system if required? I would...

    Where is @skybrian when you need him?

    Assuming you are in the low risk pool, mask up during your travels, and will have the ability to stay in the Netherlands hospital system if required?

    I would say you are very unlikely to die, and you have a very low risk of having nasty side effects.

    Only 3% of travelers to New Zealand are tested positive with COVID right now.

    The trouble is our monkey brains aren't good at calculating risks, and so it will be scary.

    But I think you did the right thing.

    I don't think Sputnik is going to give you full protection after two weeks.

    They will ask if you have had any other vaccines before giving you one in Netherlands, and you probably don't want the complications of having to say yes.

    2 votes

  13. Comment on Good electronics repair shop? in ~hobbies

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    Still could be the belts, easy fix.

    Still could be the belts, easy fix.

    1 vote

  14. Comment on Good electronics repair shop? in ~hobbies

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    Does the fast rewind still work? It appears the most common problem is with the belts, over time they degrade, and I think on your model the fast rewind uses a different belt, so it still may be...

    Does the fast rewind still work?

    It appears the most common problem is with the belts, over time they degrade, and I think on your model the fast rewind uses a different belt, so it still may be operational.

    Or if you live in Miami, you could give these guys a go...

    https://digitizingworld.com/products/transfer/audio/4-track-cassette

    1 vote

  15. Comment on What's a question you want to ask, but you're worried about how it might come across? in ~talk

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    That is a good book. Another book similar to that you might like is Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. It popularized the idea that women want to talk about problems, and want sympathy not...

    That is a good book. Another book similar to that you might like is Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. It popularized the idea that women want to talk about problems, and want sympathy not solutions, where as men prefer to avoid talking about problems, wanting instead to hang out with mates or hang out in the man cave. The book is quite old, and was very popular at the time, so you might already be familiar with most of the concepts.

    3 votes

  16. Comment on What's a question you want to ask, but you're worried about how it might come across? in ~talk

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    The best book on relationships is the Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work. The book emphasises that relationships need mutual respect to thrive. So are the problems likely to cause increasing...

    The best book on relationships is the Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work.

    The book emphasises that relationships need mutual respect to thrive.

    So are the problems likely to cause increasing levels of antagonism and disrespect outside of the immediate disagreement?

    3 votes

  17. Comment on Good electronics repair shop? in ~hobbies

    MonkeyPants
    Link
    They sell a Handy USB Cassette Player and Tape-to-MP3 Digital Converter. Frankly though, the chances of twenty year old tapes sounding that great are low.

    They sell a Handy USB Cassette Player and Tape-to-MP3 Digital Converter.

    Frankly though, the chances of twenty year old tapes sounding that great are low.

  18. Comment on The unparalleled genius of John von Neumann in ~science

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    I am now. Thanks.

    If you're interested

    I am now. Thanks.

    2 votes

  19. Comment on Our brain typically overlooks this brilliant problem-solving strategy in ~science

    MonkeyPants
    Link Parent
    Balance bikes and scooters actually teach counter steering. To steer a two wheeler left, you briefly turn right, which initiates a left lean, and once leaned you turn left into the turn....

    Balance bikes and scooters actually teach counter steering.

    To steer a two wheeler left, you briefly turn right, which initiates a left lean, and once leaned you turn left into the turn.

    https://www.adventurecycling.org/default/assets/resources/201102_MechanicalAdvantage_Cornering_Heine.pdf

    1 vote

  20. Comment on Why was Trump’s corporate tax cut such a flop? in ~finance