TurtleCracker's recent activity
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Comment on Was this English queen a 'predatory' collector of beautiful things? in ~humanities.history
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Comment on My guess and opinion on the common blockers to Linux adoption in ~tech
TurtleCracker LinkI can share my experiences. I run Windows (+ WSL2), Mac, and Linux both at home and professionally. I would opt for a Mac for software engineering / development, Linux for hosting / running a...I can share my experiences. I run Windows (+ WSL2), Mac, and Linux both at home and professionally.
I would opt for a Mac for software engineering / development, Linux for hosting / running a service, and Windows for gaming. Outside of those specific use cases I'd probably default to Mac. For me it has all of the same power as Linux, with far more mainstream software support. Anything I can run on Linux I can pretty easily run on Mac.
I think a significant part of this comes down to price concerns too. If that's at the top of your list Linux is probably a more viable option. You can get Linux running way cheaper than either Mac or Windows.
I still run into weird fiddly little bugs on Linux that I just don't encounter on Mac or Windows. Even if you do encounter them on Mac or Windows you can usually quickly Google to find someone with an identical issue and an easy resolution.
One example, I run a linux distro via VMWare and the scroll wheel on the mouse just behaves super weird on Chrome specifically. It's almost like it's lagging. No issue on anything else with a scroll bar. No issue running Windows via VMWare for the same mouse.
I don't really have any blockers for linux adoption. I'm more of an "all of the above" for OS. If anything I'll probably stop using Windows due to the direction of Windows 11 but continue to use both Mac and Linux. I have a lot of devices.
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Comment on Many lonely people would rather deal with a robot than interact with an actual human, according to research co-led by Newcastle University in ~health.mental
TurtleCracker LinkI'd rather use a robot sometimes, but it's not due to loneliness, it's just due to having more control over the experience. Would I rather have something making minimum wage, with poor working...I'd rather use a robot sometimes, but it's not due to loneliness, it's just due to having more control over the experience.
Would I rather have something making minimum wage, with poor working conditions, that is being forced to act happy or a robot? A robot.
Would I rather have someone well paid, actually happy (as much as you can be when working), and good at their job or a robot? The person.
I'm on a first name basis with a few of the business I frequently visit and very much enjoy the interactions. I would never want them replaced with a robot.
It's the same with self serve drinks at a lot of places - don't make me ask a front counter for a drink if the service and/or staffing is bad. Just let me do it myself.
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Comment on Vimeo enters into definitive agreement to be acquired by Bending Spoons for $1.38 billion in ~tech
TurtleCracker Link ParentGetting acquired is amazing news (or it can be) for anyone with a significant amount of equity at the correct strike price. For people without equity, with underwater profits interests, or...Getting acquired is amazing news (or it can be) for anyone with a significant amount of equity at the correct strike price. For people without equity, with underwater profits interests, or underwater stock options it usually sucks.
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Comment on What is a business/org that is great and ethical in so many aspects that everyone should consider using? in ~life
TurtleCracker Link ParentThere might be "processing fees" depending on payment type if I remember correctly. We'd also have to setup autopay again whenever the loan changed hands.There might be "processing fees" depending on payment type if I remember correctly. We'd also have to setup autopay again whenever the loan changed hands.
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Comment on What is a business/org that is great and ethical in so many aspects that everyone should consider using? in ~life
TurtleCracker Link ParentMy credit union was willing to put in writing that they would never sell our mortgage to another company. This was a big deal for us because we got tired of having to setup new payment processes...My credit union was willing to put in writing that they would never sell our mortgage to another company. This was a big deal for us because we got tired of having to setup new payment processes and dealing with totally new fees every time it was sold.
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Comment on What is a business/org that is great and ethical in so many aspects that everyone should consider using? in ~life
TurtleCracker (edited )LinkI won't name a specific one, because they are too regional for that, but I highly recommend credit unions. My family got tired of traditional banks trying to milk us for every dollar and selling...I won't name a specific one, because they are too regional for that, but I highly recommend credit unions. My family got tired of traditional banks trying to milk us for every dollar and selling our mortgage in an endless loop. We closed all of our accounts at traditional banks and moved to a credit union a few years ago and have had nothing but positive experiences.
Edit: As a side note my family has started trying to shift our business to Certified B Corps when possible.
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Comment on What is a business/org that's so terrible no one should use if possible? in ~life
TurtleCracker Link ParentAbsolutely. I have no idea why most companies choose to use it.Absolutely. I have no idea why most companies choose to use it.
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Comment on What is a business/org that's so terrible no one should use if possible? in ~life
TurtleCracker LinkOracle If you have "Director" or above in your title plan on getting harassed at some point by an Oracle sales rep. The sales will also use near bribery-style tactics with leadership to get them...Oracle
If you have "Director" or above in your title plan on getting harassed at some point by an Oracle sales rep. The sales will also use near bribery-style tactics with leadership to get them to purchase software. The software is absurdly expensive and they will try to lock you into their products.
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Comment on Vivaldi takes a stand: keep browsing human in ~tech
TurtleCracker Link ParentOne of the most irritating bugs is that if you cut the URL out of the address bar to paste elsewhere it just won’t ever refill the address bar. Very frustrating.One of the most irritating bugs is that if you cut the URL out of the address bar to paste elsewhere it just won’t ever refill the address bar. Very frustrating.
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Comment on Vivaldi takes a stand: keep browsing human in ~tech
TurtleCracker LinkI like Vivaldi, but it's UI is easily the buggiest out of the "Chrome clones" I've used.I like Vivaldi, but it's UI is easily the buggiest out of the "Chrome clones" I've used.
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Comment on Europa Universalis V release date announced (Nov 4th) and prepurchase now available in ~games
TurtleCracker Link ParentLike I said. I'll buy it. I've bought pretty much every Paradox grand strategy game and haven't regretted them. Paradox games easily dominate my top 5 most played games on steam. By a significant...Like I said. I'll buy it. I've bought pretty much every Paradox grand strategy game and haven't regretted them. Paradox games easily dominate my top 5 most played games on steam. By a significant amount even. Until they break that "trust" I'll keep buying.
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Comment on Europa Universalis V release date announced (Nov 4th) and prepurchase now available in ~games
TurtleCracker LinkI'm a massive Paradox fanboy and will probably buy this. That being said I really don't like the UI / design of it visually. It looks like a mobile game. The text is difficult to read in many of...I'm a massive Paradox fanboy and will probably buy this. That being said I really don't like the UI / design of it visually. It looks like a mobile game. The text is difficult to read in many of the screenshots. As a die-hard EU4 player I'd take enhanced performance over a new visual style every single time.
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Comment on McDonald’s is cutting prices of its combo meals to convince customers it’s affordable again in ~food
TurtleCracker Link ParentThis is only true if you have time, knowledge, and access to good grocery stores. A single mom working two jobs probably isn't making food at home that is cheaper or healthier than McDonalds. We...This is only true if you have time, knowledge, and access to good grocery stores. A single mom working two jobs probably isn't making food at home that is cheaper or healthier than McDonalds. We used the microwave far more often than than the stove (when it worked).
My family was in a similar situation and the stuff we ate at home was also garbage. As a child the only meal I'd have for an entire day might simply have been doritos.
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Comment on AI is a mass-delusion event in ~tech
TurtleCracker LinkLLMs / AI / Whatever we are going to call it are massively overhyped. They are here to stay though. I don't think it's as revolutionary as everyone wants to claim it is. To me this is like the...LLMs / AI / Whatever we are going to call it are massively overhyped. They are here to stay though.
I don't think it's as revolutionary as everyone wants to claim it is. To me this is like the productivity boost we gained from integrated development environments (IDE) for software engineer, or photoshop for graphic design, or search engines for general productivity, or wikipedia for looking up information about a specific topic. All of these things are very useful and increase productivity. "AI" is just another thing in that category.
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Comment on What happened to your first car? in ~transport
TurtleCracker LinkBackstory: I wanted a specific car. I researched the car. Found a dealership that said they had it. I had a job and the money to finance the car, but no credit history - so I needed a co-signer....Backstory:
I wanted a specific car. I researched the car. Found a dealership that said they had it. I had a job and the money to finance the car, but no credit history - so I needed a co-signer. We went there, dealership lied about having the car. Sales talked my mom into a more expensive car. She said she would refuse to co-sign for another car at another dealership if I didn’t take this “deal”. Bought a car I didn’t want.Anyways I hated this car and committed myself to driving it until it absolutely broke. I had a vendetta against this car. I drove it for about ten years until a tree shredder being towed by a truck swerved into my lane in a thunderstorm and ripped half the car off and totaled it. Airbags went off. Ambulance came. I was smiling the whole time.
It’s the most severe accident I’ve ever been in, but still a happy memory.
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Comment on Is AI actually useful for anyone here? in ~tech
TurtleCracker LinkI use it as a better search engine, but I have to validate the results. It is faster than using Google though. That's less a benefit of more LLMs and more of a condemnation of how difficult modern...I use it as a better search engine, but I have to validate the results. It is faster than using Google though. That's less a benefit of more LLMs and more of a condemnation of how difficult modern websites are to use and get information out of.
I've also had pretty good success using it to generate some relatively boilerplate code, or to provide suggested refactors to code. Generating tests can work too. This is really hit or miss though. Sometimes the code it suggest is very wrong.
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Comment on The hater's guide to the AI bubble in ~finance
TurtleCracker Link ParentAre you sure they aren’t using chat in reference to streamer culture? IE: Chat am I cooked, Chat what do I do? Some of my friends kids say this stuff and it’s not a reference to ChatGPT at all.I spend time in classrooms and students can’t get enough of “Chat”.
Are you sure they aren’t using chat in reference to streamer culture? IE: Chat am I cooked, Chat what do I do?
Some of my friends kids say this stuff and it’s not a reference to ChatGPT at all.
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Comment on Malaysia no longer takes US plastic waste, creating a dilemma for California in ~enviro
TurtleCracker Link ParentI believe they are still filtered quite extensively when burned for power. I’m not sure if plastic sitting in a landfill is better than it being burned to generate electricity though.I believe they are still filtered quite extensively when burned for power. I’m not sure if plastic sitting in a landfill is better than it being burned to generate electricity though.
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Comment on ‘Superman’ powers to $217m global opening; ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ roars past $500m; ‘Lilo & Stitch’ soon to sew up $1b WW in ~movies
TurtleCracker Link ParentMaybe this had more to do with release timing. A lot of Americans had 3-5 day weekends around the release of Jurassic World and summer was just getting into full swing. I suspect much of the...Maybe this had more to do with release timing. A lot of Americans had 3-5 day weekends around the release of Jurassic World and summer was just getting into full swing. I suspect much of the Jurassic World crowd was just looking for something to do with air conditioning. A lot of the domestic market had a heat wave impacting it then.
You could stop the title at the word predatory and just answer with "Yes".