ShroudedScribe's recent activity
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Comment on What ridiculous thing would you spend billions on? in ~talk
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Comment on Financial collapse? in ~finance
ShroudedScribe Link ParentI am of the opinion that "market correction" and small dips are more likely. The 2008 crash was tied to banks giving out questionable loans to home buyers, and we are not in that position...I am of the opinion that "market correction" and small dips are more likely. The 2008 crash was tied to banks giving out questionable loans to home buyers, and we are not in that position currently.
The 2016 Trump admin ripped away an R&D taxation strategy businesses have used for ages, but it was reinstated in the "big beautiful bill" recently. Something like that is more likely to cause some insane ripple effects - and it already did create or at least initiate a wave of tech layoffs.
I do think concerns about an "AI bubble" are becoming more and more reasonable. But I don't think it will be a "pop" like others expect. Companies have invested insane amounts of money into failed projects before. The big investors into AI are either huge companies (all of which except OpenAI have other income streams) or startups with absurd seed money or other funding.
And I don't see some kind of coordinated ejection from AI happening either. If OpenAI announces it will shut down tomorrow, Microsoft isn't going to abandon Copilot. Apple's investment into on-device capabilities on their custom chips won't disappear. NVIDIA won't burn to the ground - though they will likely see a dip in their stock price. AI is not just one company or even one use case. Yes, it is not yet "profitable" by almost any metric, but companies are viewing it as a long play and are not blind to this.
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Comment on Introducing Beads: A coding agent memory system in ~comp
ShroudedScribe Link ParentThe difference is (theoretically) work-life balance. If you're doing everything for the sake of your work, including a ton of time outside of your pre-defined work schedule, that's a big problem....The difference is (theoretically) work-life balance. If you're doing everything for the sake of your work, including a ton of time outside of your pre-defined work schedule, that's a big problem. I don't care what your profession is - you should feel secure enough to disconnect for a while. If doing something adjacent to your work is a hobby you enjoy, that's fine, but it shouldn't be with the intent to contribute to your work.
Granted you already said that this isn't as common as media makes it sound. I don't live in this culture so I can't speak to it with confidence. But things like nap pods, bedrooms, full kitchens, etc at big tech campuses certainly makes it look like staying at work beyond work hours is highly encouraged.
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Comment on Who deserves an organ? The dilemma of severe mental illness. (gifted link) in ~health.mental
ShroudedScribe Link ParentI think this has inspired me to go register to be an organ donor. At one point I was contemplating the whole "donate your body to science" thing (and for those who still are - it looks like you...I think this has inspired me to go register to be an organ donor.
At one point I was contemplating the whole "donate your body to science" thing (and for those who still are - it looks like you can do both). But I've read a couple horror stories about how those bodies have been (mis)used and would much rather my organs go to those in need.
Article with disturbing details on bodies donated to science in one "worst case" scenario
In a perfect world, donated organs would cost recipients nothing, but I know this is really a fault of the US healthcare system vs organ donation.
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Comment on Who deserves an organ? The dilemma of severe mental illness. (gifted link) in ~health.mental
ShroudedScribe Link ParentI am optimistic this decision making will evolve as organ transplant options continue to. The concepts of transplanting animal organs, bionic organs, and other technologies will allow more people...How should hospitals decide who gets an organ?
I am optimistic this decision making will evolve as organ transplant options continue to. The concepts of transplanting animal organs, bionic organs, and other technologies will allow more people than ever to extend their lives after a traumatic event.
It is a slowly developing field, as it needs to be done morally. But maybe one day in the future organ shortage will no longer be the cause for holding up transplant surgeries.
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Comment on Who deserves an organ? The dilemma of severe mental illness. (gifted link) in ~health.mental
ShroudedScribe Link ParentThis is fascinating, thank you for sharing. Perhaps the US should pivot to this system as well. It is such a challenge to "say goodbye," but of course families are going to be emotional and biased...If the physician determines that the patient is unlikely to survive, or unlikely to have any quality of life, they often make the decision to withdraw care with or without the approval of the family.
This is fascinating, thank you for sharing. Perhaps the US should pivot to this system as well. It is such a challenge to "say goodbye," but of course families are going to be emotional and biased if faced with this decision. It's simply impossible not to be. It also comes with guilt - did you make the right call to ensure they didn't suffer further? Did you make the right call even though they can no longer speak or recognize their loved ones? Putting this in the hands of the doctor takes the burden from the family members as well.
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Comment on Recommendations for a Linux based job/ticket management system in ~tech
ShroudedScribe LinkI'm going to recommend Joplin. You can run the client locally, and create either pages or tasks. Both are created as markdown files. It supports tagging out of the box. I run the sync server on my...I'm going to recommend Joplin. You can run the client locally, and create either pages or tasks. Both are created as markdown files. It supports tagging out of the box.
I run the sync server on my local network (homelab/home server). Regardless of if you use their server or your own, you can do end-to-end encryption of pages.
I set up a "sticky note" of sorts that displays contents of a Joplin note on my desktop, pulled from the sync server API. (This is on Windows but I'm sure there's a way for whatever Linux DE you're using if you're running Linux client side.)
This is my solution after much deliberation. Flexibility is the reason I did this - I can put whatever I want in a note, including links.
If you want more structure, consider running a git server. You can create a tasks-only repo in something like forgejo/gitea so you just use the issue tracker.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ShroudedScribe Link ParentI enjoyed the side/faction quest lines well enough. The main one had so much potential, did so many cool things, but I absolutely hated the ending. To the point it soured my experience of the...I enjoyed the side/faction quest lines well enough. The main one had so much potential, did so many cool things, but I absolutely hated the ending.
To the point it soured my experience of the whole game. I thought the gunplay mechanics felt pretty good, and a couple zero g gags were neat. But then I followed it up with Cyberpunk, which is a better game in every way.
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Comment on Considering the RAV4 hybrid in ~transport
ShroudedScribe Link ParentIt's all about your driving pattern. If you're commuting far enough that home charging doesn't make up for it, you need to find a charging station somewhere along the way. This adds up from a...It's really time to be considering full electric at this point.
It's all about your driving pattern. If you're commuting far enough that home charging doesn't make up for it, you need to find a charging station somewhere along the way. This adds up from a different perspective: more initial planning.
Whereas a gas car (or hybrid) has less fear as long as you aren't driving in the middle of absolutely nowhere without a gas station.
I love our EV for driving around the city. But having a hybrid for road trips and such is fantastic.
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Comment on US President Donald Trump’s 100% China tariff triggers $20b wipeout, 1.6m crypto traders liquidated in ~finance
ShroudedScribe Link ParentYeah, the only benefits to cryptocurrency at this point are "private" transactions (if you know how to hide your tracks), and zero transaction fees. Someone elsewhere on tildes highlighted Pix,...Yeah, the only benefits to cryptocurrency at this point are "private" transactions (if you know how to hide your tracks), and zero transaction fees. Someone elsewhere on tildes highlighted Pix, which is effectively the latter implemented officially by the banking system of Brazil (think Zelle on steroids - instant transfers, much much higher transaction amount limits).
So yeah, let's implement something like Pix and keep our private transactions in paper currency. That covers most legal use cases.
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Comment on Pete Hegseth announces Qatar will build air force facility at US base in Idaho in ~society
ShroudedScribe Link ParentAnd on the same day that she posted this tweet in response to the Nobel Peace Prize award:And on the same day that she posted this tweet in response to the Nobel Peace Prize award:
Imagine thinking a woman who cries nonstop about @ NicolasMaduro has done more for the world than President Trump. 🙄 What an absolute joke. Everyone knows President Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. More affirmative action nonsense.
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Comment on Donald Trump administration begins layoffs of federal workers amid US government shutdown in ~society
ShroudedScribe LinkThe Trump administration began laying off federal workers on Friday, the 10th day of the U.S. government shutdown, administration budget chief Russell Vought said in a social media post.
“The RIFs have begun,” Vought wrote on X, using the acronym for “Reductions in Force.”
The Office of Management and Budget, which Vought leads, soon after confirmed that “RIFs have begun and are substantial.”
While many federal workers have been furloughed because of the shutdown, it is not the normal practice in shutdowns to permanently lay off government employees.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said, “Russell Vought just fired thousands of Americans with a tweet.
“Let’s be blunt: nobody’s forcing Trump and Vought to do this,” Schumer said in a statement. “They don’t have to do it; they want to. They’re callously choosing to hurt people — the workers who protect our country, inspect our food, respond when disasters strike. This is deliberate chaos.”
A spokesman for the Health and Human Services Department, in a statement to CNBC, said, “HHS employees across multiple divisions have received reduction-in-force notices as a direct consequence of the Democrat-led government shutdown.”
A number of Treasury Department employees also have received RIF notices.
A union representing federal workers, the American Federation of Government Employees, quickly replied to Vought’s tweet, writing, “The lawsuit has been filed.” AFGE, the largest federal employee union, represents 820,000 workers, some of whom work for the District of Columbia.
"America’s unions will see you in court,” the AFL-CIO said in its own tweet.
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Donald Trump administration begins layoffs of federal workers amid US government shutdown
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Comment on The spinal surgeries that didn’t need to happen in ~health
ShroudedScribe LinkI was a bit skeptical of this article, until this part: This makes it sound like dental work. There's a popular story (that is somewhat old now - from the 1990s) about a person who saw a fairly...I was a bit skeptical of this article, until this part:
To New York spine surgeon Jonathan Stieber, though, the problem isn’t inherent to the industry. Bad actors, he said, have inflated rates of back surgery across the country, and there is research that supports that belief. An update to the Lown Institute’s report, which will be published later this fall, shows that rates of spine surgery vary vastly across institutions; often, an area with extremely high rates of surgery can be traced back to one specific hospital — or one specific surgeon.
This makes it sound like dental work. There's a popular story (that is somewhat old now - from the 1990s) about a person who saw a fairly large number of dentists across the US and received wildly varying treatment advice. Very few basically said "you're fine" - others suggested root canals and other interventions for someone seemingly healthy.
I would like to think the licensure for medical surgeons (not dental surgeons) is more stringent. But unlike dentists, who fairly often own or have a large stake in a practice, surgeons seem to be at the mercy of the hospitals they practice in, who may also be adding unjust pressure to perform more surgeries than needed (per the article).
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Comment on The spinal surgeries that didn’t need to happen in ~health
ShroudedScribe Link ParentI am not suggesting this applies to your mom, but there are nurses who are/were covid deniers. I think anyone in any profession can be swayed based on the messaging they're tuned in to (by choice...Obviously being a nurse, I'd think she probably has more awareness than the Average Joe that sometimes medical outcomes are not always the positives we hope for.
I am not suggesting this applies to your mom, but there are nurses who are/were covid deniers. I think anyone in any profession can be swayed based on the messaging they're tuned in to (by choice or not).
If you are in a situation where you are in chronic pain and looking for a way out, I cannot blame anyone for seeking a way to remove or reduce that pain. Especially if a medical professional is the one suggesting a surgery. This is also a situation that can skew your perspective- it's hard to be objective when you're the one who is genuinely suffering.
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Comment on Amazon's Prime Day deals could actually cost you more in ~tech
ShroudedScribe Link ParentRideshare is the one scenario dynamic pricing makes sense to me. Assuming it's based on supply and demand, which is usually skewed heavily at night (people going to/from bars, etc.), and not based...Rideshare is the one scenario dynamic pricing makes sense to me. Assuming it's based on supply and demand, which is usually skewed heavily at night (people going to/from bars, etc.), and not based on the person requesting the ride (inferred financial status from tracking online activity, etc), I am fine with it. I would hope the majority of the increase goes to the drivers though.
I've also heard driving people at night can be a terrible experience. If someone is too drunk and throws up in your car, guess who is responsible for cleaning it up and making sure you get the smell and/or stains out otherwise your next customers will be pissed at the state of your vehicle? That risk is worth a higher charge, especially because something like that could put your car out of commission for the rest of the night.
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Comment on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement bought vehicles equipped with fake cell towers to spy on phones in ~society
ShroudedScribe LinkThe meat of the article discussing the tech - which seemingly isn't new, other than being attached to vehicles that are sold by this specific vendor (emphasis mine):The meat of the article discussing the tech - which seemingly isn't new, other than being attached to vehicles that are sold by this specific vendor (emphasis mine):
Cell-site simulators also go by the name “stingrays” because some of the earlier types of these devices, made by defense contractor Harris (now L3Harris), were named that way. Since then, stingrays have become a catch-all name for this type of technology, also known as IMSI catchers. (IMSI stands for International Mobile Subscriber Identity, a unique number that identifies every cellphone user in the world.)
As the name suggests, cell-site simulator tools can mimic a cellphone tower, tricking every phone in its nearby range to connect to the device and thus giving law enforcement the ability to better identify the real-world location of those phones and their owners.
Some cell-site simulators can also intercept regular calls, text messages, and internet traffic.
Authorities can get data from traditional cellphone towers to find the current or past location of a suspect, but the location is usually not very precise.
Stingray-like devices have been in use by law enforcement for more than a decade and have long been controversial because authorities do not always get a warrant for their use, and critics say these devices ensnare innocent people by default. These devices are also shrouded in secrecy, because the law enforcement agencies that use them are under strict non-disclosure agreements not to reveal how the devices work.
ICE has a long history of using cell-site simulators. In 2020, documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union showed that ICE deployed them at least 466 times between 2017 and 2019. The agency used these tools more than 1,885 times between 2013 and 2017, according to documents obtained by BuzzFeed News at the time.
ICE acknowledged TechCrunch’s request for comment, but did not respond to a series of questions, which included: what ICE uses these vehicles for, whether and where they have recently been deployed, and whether the agency always gets a warrant when using cell-site simulators. -
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ShroudedScribe LinkI actually beat two games over the past week! It's pretty rare for me to play a game from start to finish... First one is Teardown. It can be described as a "voxel based heist simulator" - but...I actually beat two games over the past week! It's pretty rare for me to play a game from start to finish...
First one is Teardown. It can be described as a "voxel based heist simulator" - but that really translates to "destroy and use elements in the world to set things up with as much time as you want, so you can grab items spread across the map and return to your escape vehicle in 60 seconds." It's executed really well, but it would be a difficult game to 100%. I probably overdo it, but I got the achievement for spending 1hr planning a single heist, so it can be time consuming. Technically I still haven't made it through the expansions, but the base game was a lot of fun (admittedly with some head-scratchers).
Second game I beat is Oblivion Remastered. For this one, I did actually 100% the achievements, which was more straightforward and simple than I expected. Basically just played through all the factions and DLC. I beat the original Oblivion a bit before Skyrim was released. But I definitely did not do much (if any) of the Shivering Isles DLC, which was... pretty unique. I had fun with this but I'm definitely at a point where I've had enough and don't see myself going back.
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Comment on We’re seniors. It’s not our responsibility to fix the housing supply. in ~society
ShroudedScribe Link ParentReduced prices can occur for other reasons too. Mortgage rates are a big one - we've seen some big percentage increases in the past few years, mostly tied to the Federal Reserve raising it....its literally what is required for houses to ever go down in price
Reduced prices can occur for other reasons too.
Mortgage rates are a big one - we've seen some big percentage increases in the past few years, mostly tied to the Federal Reserve raising it. Pandemic years prior to that created some insane lows. And now there's been another cut by the Fed.
There also has to be a pool of capable buyers. Usually this means families have to be able to afford a mortgage. If they're priced out of everything, to the point no one can buy, there's a gap. Outside investors were filling this gap at one point. If no one is, then prices will go down.
And of course, everyone likes to talk about the housing crash of 2008. But I don't believe we'll see another event like that anytime soon.
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Comment on We’re seniors. It’s not our responsibility to fix the housing supply. in ~society
ShroudedScribe Link ParentI was curious about this, and while this review of housing prices in US metro areas sourced from Redfin is a little light on content, it does confirm housing prices are down too. I recall people...rent in Austin is falling faster than anywhere else in the country, and housing is being built at the fastest rate of any large metro in the country.
I was curious about this, and while this review of housing prices in US metro areas sourced from Redfin is a little light on content, it does confirm housing prices are down too.
While home prices in Austin boomed over the pandemic, they are now down 12% in three years.
During the pandemic, home construction surged in Texas and Florida. But now, many of those homes sit empty. In Cape Coral, FL, sellers are cutting prices to attract buyers in a sluggish market.
I recall people being pissed about these homes "sitting empty" (in other areas) where they were actually owned by out of country investors who didn't even rent the places out. And it was hard for families to compete with these investors because they were paying with cash and no conditions (often not even an inspection). I wonder what's happened with those homes (if anything).
The concept of a Sonic Adventure game having a billion dollar budget is hysterical to me. In addition to the music you mentioned, it should also include:
A super detailed city level. Not necessarily GTA V, but let's make it into a modern Crazy Taxi sized city.
Hyper-realistic froggy fishing portion. But still very annoying and very mandatory for story progression.
The knuckles levels where you have to find emerald shards has procedurally generated levels. Your "metal detector" esque capabilities can be upgraded at the cost of spending emerald shards. So you can make it easier but have to do more work.