SunSpotter's recent activity
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Comment on British man's tattoo wrongly linked to Venezuelan gang in US government document in ~society
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Comment on Bucking US President Donald Trump tariffs, California will push to maintain global trade independently, Governor Gavin Newsom says in ~society
SunSpotter (edited )Link ParentAs someone who lives in California, I’d love to see myself proven wrong but I really don’t see that course of action working out for us. We effectively cannot sign a contract stating “we agree to...Are they bound by the tolls? Really?
As someone who lives in California, I’d love to see myself proven wrong but I really don’t see that course of action working out for us. We effectively cannot sign a contract stating “we agree to not impose tariffs on you” because it’s not a promise we can keep. We could very well be forced to comply in some direct or indirect way. Or we could end up electing a conservative governor next year who sides with Trump and just ignores a stay on tariffs. Then there’s the possibility all these tariffs go away on their own in the near future as more Republicans turn on Trump for screwing over their finances. In summary, everything is just incredibly uncertain right now.
More importantly, there’s the principle of the thing. Former US trading partners are pissed, and rightfully so. But California does not live in a vacuum, far from it. We already import/export a significant amount of goods for the western United States. So if a country imposes reciprocal tariffs to put the squeeze on the feds, they would end up undermining their own policy by using California as a back door.
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Comment on Confess your food crimes in ~food
SunSpotter Link ParentFinally, I’m not alone! I hate the feeling too. I’ve gotten over it somewhat as I’ve grown up, but still end up with a pile of napkins after I’m done eating something sticky lol. I’ll end up...Finally, I’m not alone! I hate the feeling too. I’ve gotten over it somewhat as I’ve grown up, but still end up with a pile of napkins after I’m done eating something sticky lol. I’ll end up wiping my hands every couple of wings because I can’t let the feeling linger for long and hate smearing my sticky wing hands on a glass of water or whatever.
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Comment on What's the oldest tech you use, and why do you still use it? in ~tech
SunSpotter Link ParentI think very few people bought them as standalone keyboards, so unfortunately it’s likely a look-a-like if your parents didn’t have an IBM computer back in the day. IBM actually bundled them...I think very few people bought them as standalone keyboards, so unfortunately it’s likely a look-a-like if your parents didn’t have an IBM computer back in the day. IBM actually bundled them together with their computers at a loss, but if you bought it separately you paid full price (and they weren’t cheap either…). I was also surprised to learn that back in the 80s Model F and M keyboards did not have anywhere near the reverence they do now. I remember going through an old PC magazine for fun and finding a whole section dedicated to keyboards with a column explaining why this or that keyboard was better than the ‘standard’ IBM equivalent.
I think today they’ve become mythologized because they have a unique feel and have held up well over the years. Still though, good luck! Anything is possible!
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Comment on What's the oldest tech you use, and why do you still use it? in ~tech
SunSpotter Link ParentLol, I have a couple model M’s, and I took one of them into the office at my last job. I’m pretty sure my boss hated it but was too nice to say anything…in my defense the company had a startup...Lol, I have a couple model M’s, and I took one of them into the office at my last job. I’m pretty sure my boss hated it but was too nice to say anything…in my defense the company had a startup vibe and half the people there had brought in their own mechanical keyboards, plus our workstations had PS/2 ports on them…so it was just too tempting.
Anyways, I only have the one silverbadge but despite being the oldest and most used keyboard of the bunch, it’s also undoubtedly in the best condition.
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Comment on What's the oldest tech you use, and why do you still use it? in ~tech
SunSpotter LinkIn an absolute sense, it's the tube I have plugged into my headphone amplifier, no question about that. It's an old RCA tube manufactured in the mid 1940s. It looks fairly unassuming plugged into...In an absolute sense, it's the tube I have plugged into my headphone amplifier, no question about that. It's an old RCA tube manufactured in the mid 1940s. It looks fairly unassuming plugged into my stack, but I appreciate knowing I have a little bit of history sitting on my desk nonetheless. I just like the way tubes look, and this one was fairly inexpensive, and seemed like it would work well with the way my system sounds, so I snagged it on a sale.
In a relative sense, it's probably my keyboard. I'm typing this on my 1986 IBM Silverbadge Model M! People always seem surprised to learn that this keyboard still works without any issues, nor any special tricks to connect to a modern computer. People assume that because the world of computers in general is always moving so fast that modern keyboards would be better in some way, or at the very least that a relic like my keyboard would have compatibility issues. But what people don't realize is that, somehow PS/2 ports are still being put on modern computers...so it just plugs right in like it would have 40 years ago. Also, after adjusting for inflation, this is technically a $750 keyboard, so no surprises it's held up over the years.
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Comment on What mattress would you recommend? in ~life.home_improvement
SunSpotter LinkMy SO and I recently went shopping for a mattress because we moved into our first apartment together during the holidays. It took us a while to find a mattress we both really liked because a lot...My SO and I recently went shopping for a mattress because we moved into our first apartment together during the holidays. It took us a while to find a mattress we both really liked because a lot of the mattresses I found comfortable were uncomfortable for him and visa versa. Probably the best example of this was that I really liked mattresses from Avocado, whereas he really liked mattresses from Purple. We didn't end up getting a mattress from either because he couldn't stand Avocado and I couldn't stand Purple. The moral of the story being: what is comfortable for me might feel horrible for you.
If for some reason, you can't go to a mattress store, or it would be really inconvenient for you, Mattressfirm has an online mattress matcher that recommended me the mattress I ended up getting after weeks of deliberation. I tried it before I really started, screenshot the result, and forgot about it. Then realized after I bought my mattress that I bought one of the recommendations and laughed. So if a physical store isn't an option, I'd recommend you give that a try. Otherwise, I would echo the suggestion to just try out different mattresses in stores. If you do that, I have three pieces of advice:
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Whatever you do, don't just hop on the bed for 2 minutes and make a decision, because I did that with my last bed and ended up hating it. One salesman told me early on in my search that people would come in and take 30-60 minute naps to figure out if they liked the mattress or not. It kind of blew my mind because my brain still thinks of a mattress store as a store, not somewhere you take a nap. My point being, don't be afraid to do what you need to do in order to find the best mattress for yourself.
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Don't put much stock in those "find your match" type devices that scan your back in the store. They aren't in every mattress store, but the ones that have them really try to sell you on how "scientific" and amazing they are. Tried it twice and it recommended me extremely firm mattresses I already knew I would hate. Perhaps if you already knew you wanted a firm mattress they could be useful, so YMMV. But otherwise, just ignore it.
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Don't get cheap foam. There are a few places that have really compelling prices with reasonable comfort. We almost pulled the plug on a Bob-O-Pedic mattress because it was super cheap but also reasonably comfortable. Didn't end up buying it because after doing some research we realized that cheap foam tends to slump and sag and become uncomfortable over only a couple years. Cheap foam will also get very warm in the summer and do a bad job of dissipating heat. Honestly, in general I would caution you against any mattress that seems way cheaper than the competition (looking at you Bob and Costco) unless that's all you can afford.
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Comment on Volkswagen ID.4 was the best-selling EV in Europe, top three in the US last month in ~transport
SunSpotter Link ParentIMO 350kw charging stations need to be capped so that they only charge up to around 90% or so of the battery. Once most cars get that high, it’s more or less the same charging rate as a you would...Side note, the only time Ive made it to a working 350kw charger so far, some asshole was charging all the way to 100% on it.
IMO 350kw charging stations need to be capped so that they only charge up to around 90% or so of the battery. Once most cars get that high, it’s more or less the same charging rate as a you would get with Level 2 charging station. Which absolutely defeats the point, since these are meant to be ‘fast’ charging stations that quickly get you back onto the road.
Regarding your first point, I’ve definitely noticed most people don’t seem to understand charging rates. I’ve talked to people charging their Nissan Leaf, or similar car at a 350kw station who informed me they were charging there because they heard/felt like it was ‘faster’. I was too polite to tell them it was exactly the same charging rate as any 50kw station, but felt mildly annoyed.
I feel like this is absolutely an issue of tech outpacing its own marketing. It happens in emerging markets, (and you can find plenty of examples by reading computer history if you want to amuse yourself) but it’s nonetheless something that needs to be addressed. It’s also a testament to how well designed the Ioniq 5 is that it’s so popular without widespread understanding of its best selling point, if that is indeed the case.
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Comment on Volkswagen ID.4 was the best-selling EV in Europe, top three in the US last month in ~transport
SunSpotter LinkMuch like fellow tilderino Akir, I’m confused that VW has managed to turn sales around by such a margin. However, I’m even more surprised that the Ioniq 5 didn’t even make top 10 in Europe. In...Much like fellow tilderino Akir, I’m confused that VW has managed to turn sales around by such a margin. However, I’m even more surprised that the Ioniq 5 didn’t even make top 10 in Europe. In California, it has to be one of the most common non-Tesla EVs I see on the road. Data seems to support that, with Q3 Data from 2024 showing it to be our third best selling EV behind the Y and Model 3.
I’m a bit curious why it does so well here but not over there. The ultra quick charging times of the e-GMP platform are probably one its strongest features, so perhaps there’s just not enough 250kw+ public chargers to justify it? But if that were the case, I wouldn’t expect the EV3 to be selling quite as well either. Maybe it’s a matter of cost? Size? I’d be interested if anyone from Europe can chime in with their opinion.
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Comment on US President Donald Trump cuts short talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Oval Office blow up in ~society
SunSpotter Link ParentIt’s simpler than that. It further entrenches Trump supporters on this issue because they can now use the excuse of “that Zelenskyy guy was so disrespectful to the president!”. While I’m certain...It impresses Trumpers who think this kind of bullying shows strength
It’s simpler than that. It further entrenches Trump supporters on this issue because they can now use the excuse of “that Zelenskyy guy was so disrespectful to the president!”. While I’m certain that you’re correct that many of Trumps supporters view this as a display of strength, I also know for a fact my conservative family members will place blame on Zelenskyy purely for taking the bait and acting out.
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Comment on US President Donald Trump shares bizarre AI vision of what Gaza will look like under his rule in ~society
SunSpotter Link ParentHonestly, I’d even argue it’s true of the people who continue to support him. They’re mean spirited people with a sense of entitlement. I can still remember being a kid and hearing a conservative...Their cruelty is intentional and they revel in it.
Honestly, I’d even argue it’s true of the people who continue to support him. They’re mean spirited people with a sense of entitlement. I can still remember being a kid and hearing a conservative relative say we should “just glass the whole thing” referring to the Middle East, circa 2002 or so. No one even really argued, just kind of said “yep”.
They have always been this way, it’s just more visible now.
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Comment on Europeans need to reduce their dangerous dependence on an adversarial America in ~society
SunSpotter Link ParentAh yes, the AI Overlord future Sci-Fi authors DON'T want to tell you about. In all seriousness though, I've often thought it's a bit interesting that everyone assumes a rogue ASI/AGI would just......and we all live happily after after?
Ah yes, the AI Overlord future Sci-Fi authors DON'T want to tell you about.
In all seriousness though, I've often thought it's a bit interesting that everyone assumes a rogue ASI/AGI would just off everyone by default. I've always thought that there are a lot of paths a superintelligence like that could take, and while going full Skynet is one of them, it's also just about the riskiest and most wasteful path it could choose. I'm personally hoping that it comes to the conclusion that we are too amusing to get rid of, and just decides to peacefully rule over us because it can't trust us to rule ourselves.
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Comment on Coffee futures in New York jump 6% to new record amid 'panic buying' in ~food
SunSpotter Link ParentOut of curiosity, how do you roast your own coffee at home? It’s always seemed to me like it would be fairly difficult to get consistency and roast level right unless you’re very skilled or have...Out of curiosity, how do you roast your own coffee at home? It’s always seemed to me like it would be fairly difficult to get consistency and roast level right unless you’re very skilled or have some specialized kitchen gadget that does it for you…
However, this might be because I’ve only ever watched a few people try and fail horribly at it, and haven’t ever had the opportunity to watch someone who already knew what they were doing roast their own coffee.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
SunSpotter Link ParentI read it more as company-fying Sam Altman than personifying OpenAI, assuming that he had a twitter tantrum or something. But doing a little digging, it seems like his only public statements...I read it more as company-fying Sam Altman than personifying OpenAI, assuming that he had a twitter tantrum or something. But doing a little digging, it seems like his only public statements regarding DeepSeek have been very mild, so that doesn’t actually make more sense. Definitely an over exaggerated headline.
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Comment on The upcoming US PEPFAR cut will kill millions, many of them children in ~society
SunSpotter Link ParentI see it as an example of the “America First” nonsense that Trump has built his platform around. They’re “making America great again” by removing all those pesky foreign expenses holding us back....but the lack of compassion may actually be the reason
I see it as an example of the “America First” nonsense that Trump has built his platform around. They’re “making America great again” by removing all those pesky foreign expenses holding us back. It’s far from the first foreign aid program that Trump has criticized, and I recall that he also tried to frame the war in Ukraine as a “why should we give them money” problem.
In reality I would guess that Trump couldn’t care less about these people in the first place, and even less so since the platform he’s been running on gives him an excuse. It’s despicable either way, but also completely in line with his rhetoric.
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Comment on Canoo files bankruptcy, claiming funding shortfalls in ~transport
SunSpotter Link ParentAny opinions on the VW ID Buzz? It doesn’t have the fastest charging, but it is completely electric. From what I can remember, I don’t think the price point is that far from the Pacifica.Any opinions on the VW ID Buzz? It doesn’t have the fastest charging, but it is completely electric. From what I can remember, I don’t think the price point is that far from the Pacifica.
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Comment on SteamOS expands beyond Steam Deck in ~games
SunSpotter Link ParentIt’s more than that. The desktop mode of SteamOS is a mostly straightforward version of Arch Linux that you could try out now without any hacks if you’re willing to brave The Arch Linux...The version that the Deck (and now other handhelds) run is based on Arch Linux
It’s more than that. The desktop mode of SteamOS is a mostly straightforward version of Arch Linux that you could try out now without any hacks if you’re willing to brave The Arch Linux Installation Guide.
Obviously SteamOS benefits new Linux users by being managed by Valve, and coming prepackaged and ready to go on the SteamDeck. But for the most part it’s just Arch with KDE and Dolphin plus a few basic programs like Firefox and Steam pre-installed. I’ve set it up myself out of curiosity, and the hardest part is just getting Arch set up and ready to boot. From there it’s extremely easy to set up Arch exactly like it is in SteamOS.
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Comment on Why gen Z is drinking less in ~health
SunSpotter Link ParentDrink prices are kind of all over the place IMO. I’ve paid $14 for a fancy cocktail in the Bay Area, and I’ve seen a friend of mine pay $20 for a “cocktail” at a dive bar in SoCal which consisted...Drink prices are kind of all over the place IMO. I’ve paid $14 for a fancy cocktail in the Bay Area, and I’ve seen a friend of mine pay $20 for a “cocktail” at a dive bar in SoCal which consisted of an energy drink can plopped upside down into a glass filled with ice and booze.
I’ve also stopped going out for drinks due to cost, but still occasionally like going to the local bar or brewery for special occasions, and my best advice is to just look at menu prices before committing.
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Comment on What's something new you started doing this year? in ~talk
SunSpotter Link ParentMy SO has been stuck in a similar position. Engineering degree, but got stuck in the mud after burning out at a really shitty company. It’s also been about 2 years and since then they’ve kind of...My SO has been stuck in a similar position. Engineering degree, but got stuck in the mud after burning out at a really shitty company. It’s also been about 2 years and since then they’ve kind of just had a hard time getting a new job.
Do you have any tips or advice for working past all that?
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Comment on Deciding which version of Minecraft Java to play. (AKA, what's your favourite update?) in ~games
SunSpotter Link ParentI loved Beta 1.7 just for the huge availability of mods it had. There are a few really neat mods from that era that don’t (or didn’t for a long time) have modern equivalents and haven’t been...I loved Beta 1.7 just for the huge availability of mods it had. There are a few really neat mods from that era that don’t (or didn’t for a long time) have modern equivalents and haven’t been updated in a while. At the very least, there were a lot of big mods from 1.7 that were never all up to date at the same time after that. I think it’s gotten better now, and it seems like a lot of old classic mods have been remade, but I still have nostalgia for 1.7 because so many mods died out after that for whatever reason.
It also felt like realism was much less of a concern back then, it was more about just making something fun and seeing what you could do with it. Which is a philosophy with its own pros and cons, but mostly it’s just a different vibe which is itself kinda fun.
I’m betting he already put down a lot of money for the trip, and is being told he can’t get any/part of it back. At the very least, I could understand his motivations if that’s the case. Otherwise it’s completely baffling and unconscionable; dude has a family and absolutely no guarantee he will be treated fairly.
I mean, it’s literally one of THE tattoos they use to screen for gang members, and the DHS pretty much just doubled down when questioned about it. There’s a zero percent chance the guy just rolls right on through customs without issue.