Sycamore's recent activity

  1. Comment on Do you prefer chunky or smooth peanut butter? in ~food

    Sycamore
    Link
    Teddy's 100%. I like both Smooth or Chucky but smooth preferred only cause its easier to spread.

    Teddy's 100%. I like both Smooth or Chucky but smooth preferred only cause its easier to spread.

    3 votes

  2. Comment on US landlords want to be paid for pandemic losses and hope to reach a deal with the Donald Trump administration in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Thanks for the ping @gary ! A good reminder that real-estate is not risk-free.. (i did somewhat consider investing in real estate thinking it was reasonably safe but not wanting to be a landlord...

    Thanks for the ping @gary ! A good reminder that real-estate is not risk-free.. (i did somewhat consider investing in real estate thinking it was reasonably safe but not wanting to be a landlord was the major reason to avoid... )

    1 vote

  3. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    What did you end up investing in ?

    What did you end up investing in ?

  4. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Not sure but what are some of the higher risk ones you're referring to?

    Not sure but what are some of the higher risk ones you're referring to?

    2 votes

  5. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Only up to 250,000 or so typically. Not that I have that much saved right now. But in general I want to have options.

    Only up to 250,000 or so typically. Not that I have that much saved right now. But in general I want to have options.

    1 vote

  6. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Yes... I don't want to play this game but I also don't want to lose

    Yes... I don't want to play this game but I also don't want to lose 🫠

    8 votes

  7. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Good points. I do try to minimize the amount of funds in a big bank HYSE and more towards a mutual bank CDs that are supporting local businessees. But its also risky to store all my savings in a...

    Good points.

    I do try to minimize the amount of funds in a big bank HYSE and more towards a mutual bank CDs that are supporting local businessees. But its also risky to store all my savings in a local bank.

    Alternatives that are on par with stock market growth may not really exist under capitalsm - but i really wish there is something somewhat comparable.

    3 votes

  8. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Hmm interesting idea, but having to manage something like that makes me a bit uncomfortable. Seems like it'll add a weird flavor to a relationship...

    Hmm interesting idea, but having to manage something like that makes me a bit uncomfortable. Seems like it'll add a weird flavor to a relationship...

    4 votes

  9. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Sorry - yes, something more ethical. Updated the post

    Sorry - yes, something more ethical. Updated the post

    2 votes

  10. Are there alternative ways to invest savings?

    ~finance Ask (advice)
    What are some ways to grow your savings without investing it into the stock market/401k? In short, I don't want my savings to fund giant corporations. It seems like most mutual funds can't exist...

    What are some ways to grow your savings without investing it into the stock market/401k?

    In short, I don't want my savings to fund giant corporations. It seems like most mutual funds can't exist without a portfolio of such corporations despite calling themselves green or ethical.

    I've been storing funds in CDs or HYSEs but wondering if there are any other avenues.

    38 votes

  12. Comment on How to find (a) new music (community)? in ~music

    Sycamore
    Link
    I discovered this website that plots every known genre (via Spotify) on a scatterplot (w song snippets as an example). Its quite fascinating and will likely help you understand what kinds of sound...

    I discovered this website that plots every known genre (via Spotify) on a scatterplot (w song snippets as an example). Its quite fascinating and will likely help you understand what kinds of sound you haven't explored yet!
    Every Noise

    1 vote

  13. Comment on The center has a bias in ~tech

    Sycamore
    Link
    One of the major mainstream criticisms I hold is the very abstract ones around the environmental, social implications and disgust around the hype even with these negative impacts known. And if you...

    One of the major mainstream criticisms I hold is the very abstract ones around the environmental, social implications and disgust around the hype even with these negative impacts known.

    And if you take those concerns as a moral issue like I do - it feels wrong to use AI agents/LLMs at all. To support and use a tool that is essentially accelerating the climate crisis as an environmentalist would be totally unprincipled.

    So even if abstract, i don't think its necessarily missing anything in its criticism. Unless somehow data centers and chip production are produced with 100% clean energy & materials. The actual performance of AI and experience using it become irrelevant.

    1 vote

  14. Comment on Falling demand for cardboard boxes — long a proxy for consumer spending — is raising concerns about the US economy in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link
    I'd wish metrics like these would be taken as people buying less stuff, going for used, and producing less waste etc. Nevertheless, its an interesting proxy.

    I'd wish metrics like these would be taken as people buying less stuff, going for used, and producing less waste etc.

    Nevertheless, its an interesting proxy.

    24 votes

  15. Comment on Are there any small Android phones comparable to the size of an iPhone 12 mini? in ~tech

    Sycamore
    Link
    Bought the Zenphone 10 with the same intent of looking for a smaller Android couple years ago. Its a pretty average phone, but I stopped caring about specs and more about useabililty. Been...

    Bought the Zenphone 10 with the same intent of looking for a smaller Android couple years ago.

    Its a pretty average phone, but I stopped caring about specs and more about useabililty. Been satisfied with it so far.

    1 vote

  16. Comment on That one study that proves developers using AI are deluded in ~tech

    Sycamore
    (edited )
    Link
    I read this post, then subsequently read this other post about how AI models are financially unsustainable. Essentially AI models are much cheaper to use now, than they will likely be in the near...

    I read this post, then subsequently read this other post about how AI models are financially unsustainable. Essentially AI models are much cheaper to use now, than they will likely be in the near future (if they want a profitable business model which currently they are not). Users will get sucked in now while its accessible and build a reliance on these tools. Then have to bear the costs when prices will inevitably rise. It will be expensive - AI tools are inherently unaffordable for the masses.

    So while i could understand the argument that they are useful tools to some now - you may not be able to actually afford it in the future. This is what i imagine will burst the AI bubble. Will folks be prepared for that?

    6 votes

  17. Comment on The Uncensored Library - where censored words find a safe haven inside Minecraft in ~society

    Sycamore
    Link
    I don't play Minecraft but found this super intriguing. Has anyone explored this Library? Anything you've discovered or learned that you'd like to share?

    I don't play Minecraft but found this super intriguing. Has anyone explored this Library? Anything you've discovered or learned that you'd like to share?

    2 votes

  19. Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    I got really interested in Elon after reading Wait But Why's post on him and his 1st biography. I had admired his ambition and intensity to bring about his aspirations, despite some of the...

    I got really interested in Elon after reading Wait But Why's post on him and his 1st biography. I had admired his ambition and intensity to bring about his aspirations, despite some of the allegations of toxicity and terrible workplace culture. He seemed like a person who was genuinely interested in clean cars and space exploration & colonization - not from a capitalizing view but out of his own curiosity and push to save humanity. I kinda related to his neurodivergent nature that I hadn't seen in other mainstream figures.

    He began to sour on me when he tried that stunt of saving the kids from the cave. And totally lost respect when he went and bought Twitter. And for many other reasons he's been going downhill since.

    I like to think he'd been corrupted by capitalism... But its just sad what he's turned into.

    23 votes

  20. Comment on Color game — how well can you remember colors? | Dialed in ~games

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Correct not the developer! Just sharing

    Correct not the developer! Just sharing

    3 votes