SuperJerms's recent activity
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Comment on What’s your “I didn’t know I needed that” item? in ~life
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Comment on What are the cons of Google being forced to give up its control of Chrome? in ~tech
SuperJerms (edited )LinkWell, you're all going to hate this idea, but: we're really talking about revenue streams here as the problem, so what if a big corporation with a deep developer bench took over? Instead of...Well, you're all going to hate this idea, but: we're really talking about revenue streams here as the problem, so what if a big corporation with a deep developer bench took over? Instead of everything being ad supported, they monetize by making the homepage serve their core business, but also legislatively enforced strict limits on collection/leverage of user data?
I'm picturing a retail homepage that is truly blind to the users as soon as they leave it. Want a non-dev-driven business driving it instead of something like the data-vacuum that is Amazon? Spin out Mozilla and chromium into dedicated non-profits that can't spend their money anywhere else, say they can only spend their money on the browser or .dev-like resources, and the sponsor corp writes a check or rev share to fund them indefinitely.
Basically something to switch monetization from ads and data over to literal retail purchases (ignoring all the problems of retail juggernauts and their disruption on local markets for no , just to serve the thought experiment).
(just edited this for clarity a couple minutes after posting).
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Comment on Supporting an artistic child in ~creative
SuperJerms Link ParentSo, let's into that one a little bit. Frankly, I'm pretty much your parents, very supportive of growing the art while my child is young, but always telegraphing that this is a very tough and risky...So, let's into that one a little bit. Frankly, I'm pretty much your parents, very supportive of growing the art while my child is young, but always telegraphing that this is a very tough and risky way to try to make a living professionally.
I'm fairly connected to several professional art communities, and it takes a rare combination of business-minded, networking, talented (sometimes), and just plain lucky for someone to make art into a living. For every one of those, there's at minimum 5-10 artists who aren't.
I encourage commission work, teach Photoshop, and praise/show interest in their art. But honestly, I don't know how to set my high schooler up for a long-term success in the future without discouraging them from making art into a living. Or, more realistically, settling for a different form of art that is more commercially viable than what they really want to do (e.g. advertising, marketing graphic design).
I'm four short years away from paying for college, and it feels like I would be out of my mind to let my kiddo specialize purely in art. I'm naturally drawn to say make it a double major so that you can get a real job when you can't get an art job.
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Comment on How long was it before you let your dog off leash? in ~life.pets
SuperJerms LinkYeah, we've got leash laws here, not just for others' safety, but for the dog's as well. I've seen dogs get pepper sprayed for being off leash by someone who has previously been attacked.Yeah, we've got leash laws here, not just for others' safety, but for the dog's as well. I've seen dogs get pepper sprayed for being off leash by someone who has previously been attacked.
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Comment on Starfield reviews in ~games
SuperJerms Link ParentI've never understood something, maybe you can explain it to me. I feel like I'm the only person that can't stand bethesda's inventory management. Give me all this really rad armor and...I've never understood something, maybe you can explain it to me.
I feel like I'm the only person that can't stand bethesda's inventory management. Give me all this really rad armor and weaponry...Oh wait! Now you can't walk because you weigh 500 lbs. Exactly what is fun about having to stop mid-dungeon and do your taxes to decide whether you can afford to pick up that loot? Or to decide whether you'll throw away the "Omega sword of burning fire", or the "Alpha poison sword of death?"
If I'm okay with being able to build power armor with a toothpick, or explode a goblin with a shout, I can suspend my disbelief about having a hammerspace.
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Comment on Tylenol: Six more years of failure in ~health
SuperJerms Link ParentIn the article (or maybe it was the comments afterwards) you mentioned that Tylenol is useful at fever reduction. Aside from that, anything else that showed efficacy?In the article (or maybe it was the comments afterwards) you mentioned that Tylenol is useful at fever reduction. Aside from that, anything else that showed efficacy?
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Comment on Squabblr is now a free speech platform in ~tech
SuperJerms (edited )Link ParentQuestion for everyone participating in this particular string of discussion. How do you allow for deprogramming of those who truly are willing to come around? Edit it to expand: In my own life, I...Question for everyone participating in this particular string of discussion. How do you allow for deprogramming of those who truly are willing to come around?
Edit it to expand:
In my own life, I know that there are certainly thoughts and opinions that were 100% based on lack of exposure. And I believe this to be true of everybody. Most likely, we can hold some truly horrendous beliefs because we've never had any contact with anything that would cause us to question those. And I don't see that as a moral failure in any way shape or form, it's just simple ignorance. And, as a result, usually takes me multiple exposures to a given idea before it's possible to actually "get it." There's in dash group language, and meanings that go past the surface that it just takes time to realize are there.That doesn't negate the need for safe spaces where people don't have to put up with it, but without some sort of venue to have ignorant discussions, people who are willing to never get the opportunity to move past their own ignorances.
And one of the problems is those kinds of spaces are absolutely likely to get taken upper by bad faith actors. But you also don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water.
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Comment on X user “super pissed” that Musk ordered takeover of his @music account in ~tech
SuperJerms Link ParentIf the story had been, "Elon takes over page from president of Musk fanclub," yeah that'd make sense and I too would give it a chuckle. I think what's interesting is that so many people are...If the story had been, "Elon takes over page from president of Musk fanclub," yeah that'd make sense and I too would give it a chuckle.
I think what's interesting is that so many people are interpreting the article as saying, "And he still thinks musk is just great!" It might be something of a Rorschach test, looking at the passage:
Vaught is mostly a Musk fan, as he's interested in Musk's electric cars and space developments. He said that this experience with X hasn't tainted his opinion of Musk or his relationship too much with X as a platform.
Emphases mine, and this was a comment made by the author, not by the interviewee. I could be wrong, maybe the guy has a Musk-shaped body pillow and everything, but nothing in the story made him come across to me that way. Sounded like someone who wants to keep using Twitter the way he always has been, and is in the, "don't like what I'm seeing but I'm not ready to rage quit just yet" stage. Have to imagine that there are some folks here that just went through those same thoughts leading up to the Reddit migration.
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Comment on I'm curious why this topic "Shaking up the US two-party system: Cornel West’s 2024 Presidential bid, with Jill Stein" was removed? in ~tildes
SuperJerms Link ParentThose who are likely to suffer the consequences of those policies should have a greater desire for deconstructing arguments and focusing on discussion instead of devolving into emotional...Those who are likely to suffer the consequences of those policies should have a greater desire for deconstructing arguments and focusing on discussion instead of devolving into emotional invective. It might not be surprising, but it's still not a particularly good strategy to affecting change.
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Comment on I'm curious why this topic "Shaking up the US two-party system: Cornel West’s 2024 Presidential bid, with Jill Stein" was removed? in ~tildes
SuperJerms LinkSeemed like a fair number of comments were going along the lines of, "the only political positions that exist are: far left, spineless, or fascist." Don't know if that was the reason, but it...Seemed like a fair number of comments were going along the lines of, "the only political positions that exist are: far left, spineless, or fascist." Don't know if that was the reason, but it wasn't really an insightful 70+ comments.
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Comment on X user “super pissed” that Musk ordered takeover of his @music account in ~tech
SuperJerms LinkAnyone take a look at the Ars forum on that one? The discourse is usually pretty okay over there, but it's wild how "eff this random guy" the tone is. They're straight-up gloating about it. Came...Anyone take a look at the Ars forum on that one? The discourse is usually pretty okay over there, but it's wild how "eff this random guy" the tone is. They're straight-up gloating about it. Came back here wondering if anyone would point that out, but it almost looks we've got a microcosm of the same. This is so weird to me, folks.
I have no love for musk, and his antics are just kinda boring to me at this point. What is interesting to me is seeing these somewhat aggro responses to some random guy getting screwed over. It's not like the guy went and got a tattoo, he just said, "I like electric cars and space and the thing I've been using for over a decade."
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Comment on Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted on four counts on Tuesday, by a grand jury in the District of Columbia, over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in ~news
SuperJerms Link ParentOr to put it more succinctly, the 2 years is referring to is just defining how long someone has to serve in order for it to "count" as one of the 2-term maximum. Part of the context of that...Or to put it more succinctly, the 2 years is referring to is just defining how long someone has to serve in order for it to "count" as one of the 2-term maximum.
Part of the context of that amendment was that the president at the time (FDR) was very popular and had been elected four times, but towards the end his health started deteriorating. This was partly a check against that happening in the future, so the goal was to establish a range of acceptable min/max, not disqualify someone generally.
I wouldn't be surprised if we eventually get a new amendment that adds a "maximum age" limit.
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Comment on Shutting down Feminist Frequency in ~games
SuperJerms Link ParentI just watched the video series, thanks for the link I was struck by how much similarity there has been between gamergate and some of the newer antagonistic social media movements in the U.S....I just watched the video series, thanks for the link
I was struck by how much similarity there has been between gamergate and some of the newer antagonistic social media movements in the U.S. (e.g. COVID denialism, presidential election denialism, and most recently the "anti-woke" movement). In particular, his 4th video that discussed how the abhorrent, 4chan crowd hid within and had a symbiotic relationship with the larger "Angry Jack" crowd.
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Comment on Scientists at Purdue have created a white paint that, when applied, can reduce the surface temperature on a roof and cool the building beneath it in ~science
SuperJerms Link ParentHow much of that ambient heat is only there because it radiated from surfaces that had absorbed it from the sun? Quite a bit (pdf). How much of it came from condenser units that displaced the heat...As far as I know, the basic laws of thermodynamics will not allow to sustain a state like this. The heat energy of the ambient air will inevitably migrate into the painted surface, heat it up, and even out the temperature difference into an equilibrium.
How much of that ambient heat is only there because it radiated from surfaces that had absorbed it from the sun? Quite a bit (pdf).
How much of it came from condenser units that displaced the heat inside of the building (heat that wouldn't be there in the first place if the albedo of the surfaces was higher)?
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Comment on Strategies to manage ADHD in ~health.mental
SuperJerms Link ParentDo you actually read the sticky notes after writing them? When I've done it, I wind up with a stack of 100 inscrutable bullet point lists all over my desk from the last 2 years that I plan on...Do you actually read the sticky notes after writing them? When I've done it, I wind up with a stack of 100 inscrutable bullet point lists all over my desk from the last 2 years that I plan on looking at later.
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Comment on Does the "inflation due to wage growth" narrative hold water? in ~finance
SuperJerms Link ParentCan you drill into what you mean by "pathological hoarders of wealth?" Where do you say the out-of-line compensation and growing capital are going, if not to economic productivity?Can you drill into what you mean by "pathological hoarders of wealth?" Where do you say the out-of-line compensation and growing capital are going, if not to economic productivity?
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Comment on The actual danger from AI is mostly not what is getting talked about in ~tech
SuperJerms Link ParentIn the healthcare scenario, workers aren't just the doctors, they're also the entry level workers employed by the growing industry. Instead of one lab trying to cure one disease, we get five labs...In the healthcare scenario, workers aren't just the doctors, they're also the entry level workers employed by the growing industry. Instead of one lab trying to cure one disease, we get five labs scrambling to apply the breakthroughs to new diseases before someone else beats them to it (and along the way, 5x the custodians, orderlies, clerical, etc).
If anything, it's painful in the short term, when redundancy has hit, but new industry hasn't had time to get going yet. John Henry's job is lost when the steam driver comes along, but all those mountain tunnels meant more hammers swinging to lay new rails. Not to mention the massive number of jobs those railways created through new industries.
That said, I don't expect we as a species ever end up truly working less. Not because of class warfare, but because I don't think we're wired that way -- even in a theoretical post-scarcity world.
What we do see across history is the back-breaking work becoming lighter, the quality of life becoming better, fewer mouths going hungry, and everything becoming harder/better/faster/stronger. Even at the bottom of the social ladder, it's a fair improvement from serfdom in the middle ages.
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Comment on The actual danger from AI is mostly not what is getting talked about in ~tech
SuperJerms Link ParentThat's only true if no new innovations, jobs, and industries are created by the advent of AI, right? Isn't it the same as saying, "If we cure cancer it's going to make healthcare providers...That's only true if no new innovations, jobs, and industries are created by the advent of AI, right? Isn't it the same as saying, "If we cure cancer it's going to make healthcare providers redundant," instead of viewing it as clearing the barriers to focus on previously incurable diseases?
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Comment on The actual danger from AI is mostly not what is getting talked about in ~tech
SuperJerms LinkFeels like an unsupported claim. Calculators and spreadsheets have absolutely made my math abilities atrophy, but they've only made me better at spending time doing the more important work of......increasingly uncritical embrace of it, in a variety of narrow contexts, means the gradual erosion of some of humans’ most important skills. Algorithms are already undermining people’s capacity to make judgments, enjoy serendipitous encounters and hone critical thinking.
Feels like an unsupported claim. Calculators and spreadsheets have absolutely made my math abilities atrophy, but they've only made me better at spending time doing the more important work of applying the output. ChatGPT may make my low-value writing more lazy, but that only frees me to spend more time thinking of better ideas than noodling on the exact right words for an hour.
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Comment on Google updates its privacy policy to clarify it can use public data for training AI models in ~tech
SuperJerms LinkI really don't understand the negative reaction to LLMs using other people's work, particularly invoking the question of copyright. Copyright exists, "to promote the progress of science and useful...I really don't understand the negative reaction to LLMs using other people's work, particularly invoking the question of copyright.
Copyright exists, "to promote the progress of science and useful arts." It's tough to think of a better example of this progress...not just because of the direct output of the machine itself, but also the "force multiplier" aspect of what happens when such a productive tool becomes widely available. On this explosion day, who better to speak to this idea then the king of marches, John Phillips Sousa and his essay, "The menace of mechanical music."
Time and again throughout history, creatives fear that technology will run them out of business. Time and again, technology that makes reproduction easier, better, and more accessible has led to infinitely more creation than before that technology existed.
But say one disagrees. From a law standpoint, we've got a reasonably clear path to knowing if copyright is either violable (e.g. satire and education) or is inapplicable (e.g. transformative works). A publicly discovered dataset being used to train something and not being published seems like the very definition of an educational use. Output of a machine that creates something new from many sources seems like the definition of transformative.
From a "profit" standpoint, there are also plenty of cases defining lines where a derivative work does or doesn't infringe. For one, there's the question of potential markets. Oversimplifying a bit here, but making money from someone's work explicitly isn't wrong unless it's depriving them of potential income. If I gave those words to Twitter for free, I'm probably not harmed by an AI using them later, and whether OpenAI or Google made money from it along the way is moot.
But it's not like AI just spits out those old tweets wholesale, anyway. They synthesize, remix, and ultimately create something new based on patterns in style, and old ideas. I'm skeptical that any ideas expressed within the last 20,000 years are actually new, but even if they were, the relevant government body would say, "copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation."
Kreg jig. I wanted one for a long time, but never thought I'd use it that much. And I actually don't (just putzing around with small ad-hoc projects), but on the rare occasions where I need it, it's x10000 worth it. No need for the fancy ones, just the one that you can clamp to a board and has three hole sizes. The micro one might be good, too.
Wood. If you know a woodworker, that stuff is expensive. They all have their own sources, so give them cash with a wrapping that makes it clear that that's why you're buying it for them.
Cash puzzle box. Don't have a link, but somewhere I came across wooden puzzle boxes that have a slot in the side for cash or gift cards, and a puzzle on top to open it. Seems like an interesting way of giving it.
Dremel MultiMax. Somehow more versatile against wood than a normal Dremel with a fiberglass cut off wheel.
Impact driver. I really like Bosch's stuff. Nobody who has ever stripped out Philips head screw should be without one.
Ego cordless power tools. Too many to list, but I've the a leaf blower, weed wacker, snowblower, edger, and pole trimmer. I've used other brands, egos tools are more solidly made. The batteries die after a couple years, unfortunately (but I've never bought a cordless power tool that didn't have that problem), and reconditioning isn't really a viable option either. But most of the tools come with a battery and charger out of the box. Seems like the Gillette give the shaver away and sell the razors model