Nsutdwa's recent activity
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Comment on Reddit, AI spam bots explore new ways to show ads in your feed in ~tech
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Comment on How GM tricked millions of drivers into being spied on (including me) (gifted link) in ~transport
Nsutdwa Link ParentEven if it's SIM based now, eSIMs are a thing, and it's trivial to build in something that can't be disabled/removed without some serious intervention. While necessary, it's an exhausting mindset...Even if it's SIM based now, eSIMs are a thing, and it's trivial to build in something that can't be disabled/removed without some serious intervention. While necessary, it's an exhausting mindset to consider your car manufacturer as an adversary. I think it genuinely adds mental stress when we have to interact with the world in this way, assuming the worst, fixing hostile actions. It's not just your car, it's any electronic device you buy, all of which try to track you and commoditise you.
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Comment on How GM tricked millions of drivers into being spied on (including me) (gifted link) in ~transport
Nsutdwa Link ParentAgree on all points, but driving old cars is a temporary solution. I know, I drive a pre-2010 car, but when it breaks down expensively, I'm worried about what kind of solution there'll be. The...Agree on all points, but driving old cars is a temporary solution. I know, I drive a pre-2010 car, but when it breaks down expensively, I'm worried about what kind of solution there'll be. The author of the article suggested that sales reps were clicking through consent screens (and extremely uninformative consent screens, in any case) without customer interaction... What defence do consumers have against that? It's one thing fending off the known evils, but how can we refuse something we're not told exists?! That's such an underhanded practice.
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Comment on Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
Nsutdwa Link ParentThe clip of that rookie and an interviewer talking about what time the flight home was, to which the rider answered that he's going home in his van, no money for a flight, right after a good...The clip of that rookie and an interviewer talking about what time the flight home was, to which the rider answered that he's going home in his van, no money for a flight, right after a good result, was very funny. He really emanates strong petrolhead energy. I imagine that he drove all of his neighbours up the wall by revving and tinkering and revving and fixing bike (and other) motors in his garage every evening and weekend, but finally he's come good.
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Comment on Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
Nsutdwa Link ParentWhen Mercedes rocked up at one of the pre-season practices and were filmed pulling and pushing their steering wheels, that got a lot of people riled up. That was a genuinely smart loophole that...When was the last time someone rocked up with ground effect and we had some genuine conflict with everyone moaning? Ferrari got in some private trouble for burning engine oil or something when it was VET/RAI or VET/LEC. I can't think of any other spicy tries since.
When Mercedes rocked up at one of the pre-season practices and were filmed pulling and pushing their steering wheels, that got a lot of people riled up. That was a genuinely smart loophole that they found in the rules and by priming the authorities first, they very much pulled up the ladder behind them for that year they had it.
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Comment on Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
Nsutdwa Link ParentI think I'd find Rosberg a bit of a nightmare to work with, but I also love the chaotic, contradictory energy in the box. His willingness to outright reject statements made by the others is great....I think I'd find Rosberg a bit of a nightmare to work with, but I also love the chaotic, contradictory energy in the box. His willingness to outright reject statements made by the others is great. At one point, Croft said something about (Alonso's?) race coming good, or the strategy going well, and Rosberg just chimed in with "It's going terribly!" (I'm paraphrasing), and they compromised more or less on the fact that Alonso was making the best of a bad job. Really good commentary. I don't enjoy fictional hype, particularly when Croft (generally it's Croft) just invents possible excitement (will XXX pass YYY at pit exit – of course not, there's easily five seconds between them, but he brings it up) for the sake of enlivening a dull moment. Rosberg is much more willing to criticise a team and praise it when something truly is good. That said, I'm sure he has his own biases, I'm not saying he's truly neutral.
I'll I only joined in about 50 minutes in to this race, just couldn't summon the enthusiasm for another predictable podium. Norris was an agreeable surprise, nevertheless.
Nepo-baby Stroll continues to be Stroll, poor guy should just quit already. I hope he's not being pressured by his father, but I can't imagine it's fun to be shown up by Alonso's quality each time they're on track.
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Comment on France urged to repay billions of dollars to Haiti for independence ‘ransom’ in ~news
Nsutdwa Link ParentInteresting, why is Kenya taking the lead (or planning to do so)? I have very little knowledge of Haitian history, overall, but I definitely wasn't aware of those links. I've just read some...Interesting, why is Kenya taking the lead (or planning to do so)? I have very little knowledge of Haitian history, overall, but I definitely wasn't aware of those links. I've just read some stories about the intervention I think you were talking about - but why did those come about? From what I'm reading, Kenya is relatively involved in this kind of overseas mission, which I wouldn't have guessed, although it does chime with the fact that the UN has a duty station in Nairobi, I suppose.
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Comment on As I get older, I get more and more disillusioned with "activism", and I'm fine with this in ~talk
Nsutdwa Link ParentI found the massively different reactions in the people around me to climate people blocking roads versus farmers blocking roads to be quite depressing. The very same people who froth at the mouth...I found the massively different reactions in the people around me to climate people blocking roads versus farmers blocking roads to be quite depressing. The very same people who froth at the mouth saying "Just run them over!" will pivot seamlessly into defending the farmers' tactics. I'm not complaining about agreeing/disagreeing with the actual causes, but the double standard on how two groups were "allowed" to express their discontent was shocking. It really highlighted how the media coverage is so biased and frames very different narratives.
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Comment on "Civil War" discussion thread in ~movies
Nsutdwa Link ParentI'm looking forward to seeing Offerman again. I was pretty neutral on him in general, apart from enjoying him in Parks and Rec., but his episode in The Last of Us was mine and my partner's...I'm looking forward to seeing Offerman again. I was pretty neutral on him in general, apart from enjoying him in Parks and Rec., but his episode in The Last of Us was mine and my partner's favourite episode, by some way, of that series.
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Comment on "Civil War" discussion thread in ~movies
Nsutdwa Link ParentNot, OP, but I love well-meaning pedantry, lovely delivery, friend. P.S. I resisted slipping a howler like "pedantism" into my comment to make your day.Not, OP, but I love well-meaning pedantry, lovely delivery, friend.
P.S. I resisted slipping a howler like "pedantism" into my comment to make your day.
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Comment on Swedish company Scout Park has launched a mobile app where you can tip off wrongly parked cars to traffic wardens to earn money in ~transport
Nsutdwa Link ParentI'm on your side here, I don't think either is violence. That said, I see where the other poster is coming from, because ultimately, if you refuse to pay an accumulating fine and the state shows...I'm on your side here, I don't think either is violence. That said, I see where the other poster is coming from, because ultimately, if you refuse to pay an accumulating fine and the state shows up to take your car, any resistance on your part will ultimately be met by some sort of physical enforcement - whether you being restrained or forcibly removed from the scene. Ultimately, anything the state enforces is enforced by its (theoretical) monopoly on violence, right?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Nsutdwa LinkI started playing Elden Ring and am now ~25 hours in (for anyone familiar, in my case, that means I've got past Margit and Godrick, along with some minor dungeon bosses). I'm very much in two...I started playing Elden Ring and am now ~25 hours in (for anyone familiar, in my case, that means I've got past Margit and Godrick, along with some minor dungeon bosses). I'm very much in two minds about the game though.
On the one hand, it's visually stunning. The aesthetic is very well achieved and consistent. Monsters/baddies are creative and scary, while landscapes are often gorgeous. It's also very satisfying in the way that if you can see something (e.g. a castle in the far-off, misty distance), you can go there. It'll take a while as you ride and you may have to fight/dodge things on the way, but you can go there. That's very immersive.
Combat is tough, but very satisfying when you get it right. I came from games where mashing the "attack" button is enough, but that gets you nowhere in this game.
However, there are huge negative points. There's little to no explanation, even of basic stuff, like tutorial-level stuff. You get turfed out onto a map with very little idea what's going on and almost instantly stomped by the first NPCs you come across. I ended up following the first video of a humongous walkthrough playlist, and that way I got hooked up with what, for example, a "golden seed" is. The game does a terrible job of telling you what all the stats and addins and pockets you have are for. You only get the privilege of levelling up and riding a horse if you go to a specific spot (that is not marked as anything special, just another save spot (to describe it roughly)). I was wandering around just getting stomped until I watched that tutorial.
Overall, the game feels very hostile to a beginner. It doesn't feel like a game that wants you to play it, if that makes sense. I understand that some people find that interesting/different, but I don't like it. It feels like the annoying people on forums who gatekeep membership of a fanhood unless you've watched all the side content and read up on all the lore. It feels like the game itself is gatekeeping you, which is NOT a good feeling, and being opaque and difficult for their own sakes is NOT a good thing. Change my mind (/s).
Great game, but huge shortcomings, and the fanbase is marred by the presence of (thankfully a minority) of fans who just chant "git gud" or "skill issue tbh" if you dare to voice any difficulty or question any of From Software's choices.
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Comment on Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
Nsutdwa Link ParentCould the positive feedback loops be strengthened? Could you "penalise" the top teams even more when they're ahead? If Red Bull aren't being reined in and Sauber/Haas/Williams/Alpine are dropping...Could the positive feedback loops be strengthened? Could you "penalise" the top teams even more when they're ahead? If Red Bull aren't being reined in and Sauber/Haas/Williams/Alpine are dropping back, perhaps the sliding scales need tilting even further? I don't know if this is feasible, but the problem of the pecking order being baked in for a whole era is problematic. I know friends that were borderline when Vettel was dominating, which meant that Hamilton's dominance was the final straw. I probably only kept on watching because I'm a Hamilton fan, but I could sympathise. I don't know if a balance of power solution is workable - a quick google on the issue showed me that the WEC community is pretty split, with passionate and solid arguments on both sides.
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Comment on What AI tools are you actually using? in ~tech
Nsutdwa Link ParentI'm looking forward being able to locally produce audiobooks with a customised voice so that I can listen to my mum/dad/partner reading stories. That's got to be great for drifting off to sleep. I...I'm looking around at AI audio, because ever since Adobe announced they were going to have a voice software, I've had it in the back of my head that I can actually get a computer voice (that doesn't sound like a computer) to read some stuff for me, and put that together in some other projects. But I think those are sort of still cloud, or cloud-ish right now. Or maybe I haven't looked properly yet. But I'm still keeping an eye on it when I remember.
I'm looking forward being able to locally produce audiobooks with a customised voice so that I can listen to my mum/dad/partner reading stories. That's got to be great for drifting off to sleep. I refuse to give those voices to some corporation though, so until it can be done locally, it's a pipe dream. I have Chinese friends who have uploaded their child's voice to their map app on their phone, and now their 5 year old's voice does the directions when they're navigating. But I also guess they can't undo that... so as well as being creepy (being told to slow down by your child and having all directions in an uncanny-valley version of your child, ew), they've also sold out their kid there. I guess your voice changes as you grow up, so it's not the worst. Overall, I didn't like it, but I'd like to be able to do it locally.
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Comment on Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
Nsutdwa Link ParentBeing able to predict the winner is going to kill the series if it persists, it was terrible with Vettel, barely tolerable with Hamilton when Rosberg was around (partnered with Bottas, it was back...Being able to predict the winner is going to kill the series if it persists, it was terrible with Vettel, barely tolerable with Hamilton when Rosberg was around (partnered with Bottas, it was back to being dire) and it's awful now that Verstappen is occupying that position. It's a huge, long-term issue for the sport, but it's what it needs to overcome for a huge breakout moment. I've stopped watching live, it's just not worth committing that time any more. I'll find a stream somewhere later and skip through the boring laps and be done. No more listening to breathless commentators wondering whether an overtake is coming (it nearly never is) or whether Verstappen might not win (lol). I've been watching since 2010, so I'm not an ancient fan, but I'm not a newcomer either. Packing in more and more races each year, demanding more and more time, while offering a less-entertaining product... it's just got as good a deal as it used to be.
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Comment on Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
Nsutdwa Link ParentHonestly, he had his shot, that's still a massive win, in my opinion. I don't think he's good enough (along with a handful of others), but being "not good enough" to stay in Formula 1 is almost...Honestly, he had his shot, that's still a massive win, in my opinion. I don't think he's good enough (along with a handful of others), but being "not good enough" to stay in Formula 1 is almost meaningless with how élite-level he probably still is as a driver. He's demonstrated good character, team spirit and grit - that should surely stand him in good stead to move elsewhere.
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Comment on Kobold letters. Why HTML emails are a risk to your organization. in ~tech
Nsutdwa Link ParentThe laws don't apply to large corporations in the same way they do to individuals. Orange, for example, also flout the law on accepting payments from non-domestic European bank accounts (it's...The laws don't apply to large corporations in the same way they do to individuals. Orange, for example, also flout the law on accepting payments from non-domestic European bank accounts (it's called "IBAN discrimination". I reported them, and nothing happened. Corporations don't care and are rarely held accountable.
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Comment on French revolution: Cyclists now outnumber motorists in Paris in ~transport
Nsutdwa LinkIt's really great to see a city put policies in place that drive towards this kind of result and see it realised. If cities can make cycling infrastructure widespread and safe, "normal" people...It's really great to see a city put policies in place that drive towards this kind of result and see it realised. If cities can make cycling infrastructure widespread and safe, "normal" people will use it, not just hard-core cycling aficionados. The endless chicken-and-egg debate regarding whether it's worth building cycling infrastructure is incredibly annoying - we have examples like this (and other cities, Paris isn't the first,by any means, although it's a very useful case now) showing that if you build it, they will come. I saw someone comparing the stance of "but nobody uses bikes so why build it out?" to measuring the need for a bridge over a river by looking at how many people currently swim across the river.
I move around my city by bike nearly every single time I have to travel, but it's still way too dangerous to suggest to my wife or child that they should do the same. The other day, I found my first protected bike lane - normally there's a picture of a bike in the lane and it's denominated a "car-bike" lane, which is exactly as useless as it sounds.
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Comment on [SOLVED] What does the unsubscribe button on Outlook or Apple mail do? in ~tech
Nsutdwa Link ParentIt's hard to know which ones I've hit unsubscribe for, too, when I get so many. I unsubscribe very regularly, and I do feel like the volume of spam from firms that have (no doubt underhandedly)...It's hard to know which ones I've hit unsubscribe for, too, when I get so many. I unsubscribe very regularly, and I do feel like the volume of spam from firms that have (no doubt underhandedly) got my permission to spam me has dropped, but if it's a very irregular schedule, it's hard to detect. I could sometimes swear that I've requested to unsubscribe and it's been ignored, but to take the time to make a list or something to track it is something I don't have the energy for.
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Comment on Kobold letters. Why HTML emails are a risk to your organization. in ~tech
Nsutdwa Link ParentAll emails from Orange, my ISP, are nothing more than the privacy footer and an image. It's infuriating, because you don't know if they're notifying you of a problem (service outage, etc.) or...All emails from Orange, my ISP, are nothing more than the privacy footer and an image. It's infuriating, because you don't know if they're notifying you of a problem (service outage, etc.) or sending you an advert (90% of this time it's an ad) until you let them load the image. Having images proxied is just the sort of solution I need to mitigate their bs practices.
About 10% of my contacts have moved to Signal over the years, but Whatsapp is the default choice for chat groups of fellow professionals, and leisure, it's just so ingrained.