Weldawadyathink's recent activity
-
Comment on 3D printers, do you use glue stick? in ~hobbies
-
Comment on 'Dungeon Crawler Carl' TV series lands at Peacock in ~tv
Weldawadyathink Link ParentBy the end, I could tell it was trying to criticize, but it felt like I as the reader was doing more to make it critical than the author did. When I was part way through, I honestly could not tell...By the end, I could tell it was trying to criticize, but it felt like I as the reader was doing more to make it critical than the author did. When I was part way through, I honestly could not tell if the authors goal was for it to be critical or in earnest. After the end of the first book, I was pretty sure it was critical, but it shouldn't take the reader that long.
To me, it was just a tiny handful of actual critiques littered among a vast ocean of misogyny and sexualization that it wasn't worth it for me to continue. There are plenty of other books that give better criticism without me having to suffer so much.
-
Comment on 'Dungeon Crawler Carl' TV series lands at Peacock in ~tv
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI got a glowing recommendation for the books from a friend that has given me very good recommendations in the past. I made it through the first book for the sake of my friend, but I will not be...I got a glowing recommendation for the books from a friend that has given me very good recommendations in the past. I made it through the first book for the sake of my friend, but I will not be reading any more. If that description is nauseating to you, just give it a pass. The big turn off for me was the unfettered misogyny and sexualization of women. At one point the main character spends multiple minutes (audiobook) describing in detail someone's gigantic breasts. Just not for me.
-
Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
Weldawadyathink LinkI am spending the next few days at Disneyland and had Claude write me an iOS scriptables app script to pull the ride queue times from an api. I just asked the chat app interface to work on it...I am spending the next few days at Disneyland and had Claude write me an iOS scriptables app script to pull the ride queue times from an api. I just asked the chat app interface to work on it while driving down. It took a lot of specific prompt massaging, but for this whole trip, I get a nice color coded list of the rides I am interested in and their wait times. It's been quite nice to use. Much easier to navigate than the main Disneyland app.
It actually has me thinking of a potential officially released app. I don't have any iOS programming experience, but I have wanted to get into it. The api I am using is free, so ongoing server costs could be quite cheap. I am thinking my potential value add could be things like push notifications. If you can set up notifications so you know when closed rides reopen, it could be quite helpful. My group managed to get a very short line for space mountain right when it reopened because of my script. For costs, I am thinking free (maybe with ads), and a week pass for stuff that needs server infrastructure (mostly notifications), like how flighty has week passes.
-
Comment on Air Canada CEO will retire this year after his English-only crash message was criticized in ~transport
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI haven’t been to French Canada, but my experience in France proper is the exact opposite. I found the French to be incredibly nice as long as you seem to be trying to speak their language, and...I haven’t been to French Canada, but my experience in France proper is the exact opposite. I found the French to be incredibly nice as long as you seem to be trying to speak their language, and happy to fall back to English if they speak it (which the vast majority in France do not).
-
Comment on Thinking of getting Proton and using it as my day-to-day email, but I have concerns in ~tech
Weldawadyathink LinkI can’t really speak to the privacy aspect, but if you just want a Gmail replacement, I can highly recommend Fastmail. I can also recommend getting your own domain, so you can seamlessly port your...I can’t really speak to the privacy aspect, but if you just want a Gmail replacement, I can highly recommend Fastmail. I can also recommend getting your own domain, so you can seamlessly port your email to a new provider.
Personally, my threat model is just « please don’t do really creepy things » which fits Fastmail well. If a government wanted to find me, there is nothing I am doing to successfully stop them. Fastmail also support open standards in a way that protonmail has not, at least in the past. I was using proton during the poor launch of their imap bridge software. Even if it works now, having to use a bridge software is a clunky workaround. Fastmail just supports imap out of the box (and the newer jmap standard).
-
Comment on BYD claims five-minute electric vehicle charging with new battery tech in ~transport
Weldawadyathink Link ParentIn case you aren’t aware, this technology already exists and is in use by the public. Ping for /u/Eji1700 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNZy603as5w It’s a Tom Scott video from 2023 of Chinese...In case you aren’t aware, this technology already exists and is in use by the public. Ping for /u/Eji1700
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNZy603as5w
It’s a Tom Scott video from 2023 of Chinese auto maker Nio’s swap system installed in Norway. Obviously it isn’t yet viable outside of places with these stations, but it’s certainly a solvable problem.
Edit: ping also for /u/tanglisha
-
Comment on That one study that proves developers using AI are deluded in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI can absolutely recommend switching to Claude code from cursor. I just made the switch myself about two weeks ago. It took me about 2 hours of using Claude code to cancel my cursor subscription....I can absolutely recommend switching to Claude code from cursor. I just made the switch myself about two weeks ago. It took me about 2 hours of using Claude code to cancel my cursor subscription.
If I were to characterize each, I would say cursor agents are a good step in the right direction. They always gave me a good starting point, but I would always touch up the code myself. Claude seems to get it how I want it almost every time. Very minimal touch up needed.
-
Comment on BYD claims five-minute electric vehicle charging with new battery tech in ~transport
Weldawadyathink Link ParentStreet parking is a whole other beast. (Only because the US hasn’t realized that you can put chargers in lamp posts.) I wasn’t meaning to contradict the street parking part. But any rental that...Street parking is a whole other beast. (Only because the US hasn’t realized that you can put chargers in lamp posts.) I wasn’t meaning to contradict the street parking part. But any rental that comes with a garage will have power somewhere in the garage. I guess it’s possible that some garages don’t have power, but how common is that?
And the 30-50 miles is only on the lowest 15a socket. If you have a 20a socket you get more than that. I think 20a sockets are required by code in a garage in California. If you have a dryer socket, you get way more than that.
From some random internet source, in 2023 Americans drove 12200 miles per year on average. If driven exclusively on work days of a 5 day work week, that is 46.9 miles per day. Many people could easily fit into 30-50 miles a day. And if there is even a single extra factor in an electric cars favor, the vast majority of people can fit into it. If they can charge at work, or charge at the grocery store, gym, etc. Or they can even just allow their battery to drop throughout the week and top up at a level 2 charger on the weekends. If you get 25 miles per day and drive 50 miles for a commute, and have a 250 mile total range, you still only need to level 2 charge every 10 days. I have to fill up my gas car more than that.
My point isn’t that electric cars are great for everyone. It’s just that we need to stop thinking of level 1 charging as useless for daily commutes.
-
Comment on BYD claims five-minute electric vehicle charging with new battery tech in ~transport
Weldawadyathink Link ParentSince it seems like you aren’t aware, overnight charging is already possible without any cost in basically all garages, even rentals. You can just plug a car into a standard outlet. It isn’t...permission to do so (renter) as overnight charging for something like an apartment complex isn't going to be possible without a massive cash influx.
Since it seems like you aren’t aware, overnight charging is already possible without any cost in basically all garages, even rentals. You can just plug a car into a standard outlet. It isn’t terribly fast, but it’s plenty for a moderate commute. AI estimated it can charge at 3-5 mph, which gives you 30-50 miles overnight. That doesn’t work for all commutes, but it does work for a lot of commutes. Even more so if the person has access to charging at work, which is becoming more common.
-
Comment on What do you think about putting your driver's license in your digital wallet? in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentGood to know about the gas! I am still annoyed that you can’t just scan the Costco credit card through Apple Pay and have it look up your account that way (although I might try that next time)....Good to know about the gas! I am still annoyed that you can’t just scan the Costco credit card through Apple Pay and have it look up your account that way (although I might try that next time).
California does have that app. I downloaded it, but I can’t remember if I ever added my license. CA license is now supported directly in Apple Pay. I set mine up without the CA app even being installed. It has you scan the nfc in the card and take a few « live selfies ». It’s like setting up face id but has you do something weird, like look in a specific direction, open your mouth, smile, and possibly other things. It appears to pick 3 actions randomly so you can’t keep a video of someone to fake as easily. Despite apple’s problems, I trust them far more than a government app when it comes to data privacy.
It claims to be a valid usable id for any interaction with the government. I’ve never used it, since the only interaction I could think of it being useful for is getting pulled over, and I don’t get pulled over that often. I can’t remember if it can be legally used for age verification (it either doesn’t mention it or explicitly says it can’t). I work in alcohol service and I can say for sure that I would be hesitant if someone tried to use one when I ID’d them. Not because I think it would be wrong, but because the alcohol laws are so strong with active enforcement that even a trustworthy id that isn’t « one of the correct ones » can be problematic.
It sounds like the Nomad is nearly identical to the chipolo. I went with chipolo since I previously had their original wallet tracker. It wasn’t rechargeable, and I think was the first find my wallet tracker. They gave me a discount when my battery died. The new one is chargeable just like the nomad. I believe the precision finding is exclusive to the AirTag with the ultra wideband chip. So we won’t get it in a wallet tracker without Apple getting off of their ass and actually addressing the market that is obviously there.
-
Comment on What do you think about putting your driver's license in your digital wallet? in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI know this is unsolicited, but I can recommend chipolo brand wallet trackers. They have an Apple find my compatible version, to take advantage of the large install base of Apple devices. I can...I know this is unsolicited, but I can recommend chipolo brand wallet trackers. They have an Apple find my compatible version, to take advantage of the large install base of Apple devices.
I can also heartily recommend paring down your wallet as much as possible. I only carry a passport card, driver license, Costco card (I think this is still needed for their gas stations), and a debit card. To be honest, I could probably get away with just the driver license and the Costco card. And since California takes Apple wallet licenses now, I could get away with just the Costco card if I didn’t sometimes need an id to purchase alcohol.
-
Comment on In the world of tech, people constantly ask “Could chatbots ever be conscious?” but I feel like asking “Are you?” Take the test! in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI don’t even think terminating a chat is even the right line to draw. LLMs don’t do anything while they aren’t actively generating tokens. In between its response completing and the user entering...I don’t even think terminating a chat is even the right line to draw. LLMs don’t do anything while they aren’t actively generating tokens. In between its response completing and the user entering a new response, it doesn’t exist. If they are conscious, is it ethical to deprive an AI of tokens to process?
Furthermore, you can freely switch which model is used to respond in the middle of a chat. Is that ethical? You can even edit what the model thinks is its own previous output, a compound mixture of memory editing and gaslighting. Is that ethical?
-
Comment on "I started growing lettuce in a spare server cabinet. This is, for many reasons, a terrible idea. Here's how I did it." in ~tech
Weldawadyathink LinkSlightly relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/1439/Slightly relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/1439/
-
Comment on What is your top, unknown, non fiction recommendation ? in ~books
Weldawadyathink LinkHow to think: A survival guide for a world at odds, by Alan Jacobs. I read it more than 5 years ago now, but it was pretty influential to my way of thinking. I don’t remember it well, but it talks...How to think: A survival guide for a world at odds, by Alan Jacobs.
I read it more than 5 years ago now, but it was pretty influential to my way of thinking. I don’t remember it well, but it talks about why and how people change their minds, why stereotypes exist, and things like that. I think it is a very useful book to read, especially in the current political climate.
-
Comment on The average US college student is illiterate in ~life
Weldawadyathink Link ParentInteresting, I might have to try this. My go to method is to stare down the driver and start walking in front of them. In my experience, very few drivers will fail to stop with a pedestrian who is...Interesting, I might have to try this. My go to method is to stare down the driver and start walking in front of them. In my experience, very few drivers will fail to stop with a pedestrian who is staring at them, despite the inattention. I have only had to bail a handful of times.
And I think people like you are probably few and far between. My guess is that people like you are probably as common as people using torrents for Linux isos. Yeah, they exist, but if you pick a random sample there is basically zero chance.
-
Comment on Apple announces Macbook Neo, a new budget Mac in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentHonestly I have to disagree with you here. I have an 8gb air, and it works perfectly for all lightweight tasks. The 256gb ssd is far more limiting than the ram. No, you won’t be doing Xcode on it,...Honestly I have to disagree with you here. I have an 8gb air, and it works perfectly for all lightweight tasks. The 256gb ssd is far more limiting than the ram. No, you won’t be doing Xcode on it, but basic web browsing and pages document editing is fine. And that is what the target audience needs out of a laptop like this. If you are doing development, get a different computer. But I hope nobody needed me to say this. But for the way my mom and sister use computers, this would be absolutely fine.
-
Comment on A day in the life of an ensh*ttificator in ~tech
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI think the generic term is « mechanical fuse » A good example is kitchenaid stand mixers. The old ones that are otherwise all metal drivetrains have a single plastic gear in them. If you overload...I think the generic term is « mechanical fuse »
A good example is kitchenaid stand mixers. The old ones that are otherwise all metal drivetrains have a single plastic gear in them. If you overload it, that gear shreds, protecting the motor and the rest of the drivetrain. I’ve heard that people often aren’t aware of this, and sell them as used and broken. You can apparently get really good deals on them if you find one and replace the single fuse gear.
Very useful idea.
-
Comment on British Columbia announces it is making daylight time permanent after years of promises in ~society
Weldawadyathink Link ParentI wonder if you can work around it by just changing when you go into and out of DST. It’s not permanent DST. We could go to standard time at 10:00 on New Year’s Eve, and back to DST at 10:01 on...I wonder if you can work around it by just changing when you go into and out of DST.
It’s not permanent DST. We could go to standard time at 10:00 on New Year’s Eve, and back to DST at 10:01 on New Year’s Eve.
-
Comment on What’s your preferred work monitor setup? in ~comp
Weldawadyathink LinkIf I am stuck with the awfulness that is windows, any multiples of monitors have to use the same display scaling. There are so many visual annoyances and bugs that come from mixed scaling sizes....If I am stuck with the awfulness that is windows, any multiples of monitors have to use the same display scaling. There are so many visual annoyances and bugs that come from mixed scaling sizes. This usually rules out the laptop+external monitor, since laptops usually have 150%+ scaling. Or at least the laptops I have been given for work. So clamshell mode it is.
My monitors need to be as high resolution as I can get it. Size doesn’t really matter, but it needs to be large enough to not need to scale up the display to read things. My previous roles have been analyst type roles, so a ton of looking at spreadsheets. With spreadsheets, you literally just need as many pixels as you can get. I would keep asking my work for higher resolution monitors, and they would keep sending larger monitors that were still 1080p. That literally just makes things worse. I ended up buying my own cheap 4k monitors.
So my current setup is 2x 4k 27" monitors, just because I invested in those at my last job. I like the idea of a single 5k or 6k large monitor, but I don’t have the money for that right now.
Back when I had a cheap i3 clone and an ender 3, I did use it from time to time. But I dumped those a few years ago and got a Prusa mini. I have a smooth sheet and a textured sheet. I don't print that much, but I've never had a problem with those. I've had a few prints fail, but that was mostly trying to do large pla prints on the textured sheet. As soon as I take the 10 seconds to switch to the smooth sheet, it works every time. Personally I don't like using disposable materials if possible, and it seems very possible to avoid glue stick. When using the correct sheet, my only print failures have been from filament feed issues.