winther's recent activity
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Comment on Denmark has proposed scrapping its tax on chocolate, cake and other sweets, as well as coffee, to help consumers cope with high food prices in ~food
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Comment on Which directors have a flawless filmography? in ~movies
winther Link ParentPolytechnique ruined my week a bit more, but Incendies is definitely something as well. I just couldn’t help finding the story too constructed, which took a notch of the emotional impact off the...Polytechnique ruined my week a bit more, but Incendies is definitely something as well. I just couldn’t help finding the story too constructed, which took a notch of the emotional impact off the ending.
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Comment on Spotify is adding direct messaging to their music streaming app in ~tech
winther Link ParentTidal already exists and it is pretty much just a music streaming service. It has its userbase but I don’t see it blowing up any time soon.Tidal already exists and it is pretty much just a music streaming service. It has its userbase but I don’t see it blowing up any time soon.
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Comment on Spotify is adding direct messaging to their music streaming app in ~tech
winther Link ParentIt is jus the inevitable way things go for successful tech companies that have a thousand engineers that need “something” to do and share holders want infinite growth. In my opinion, music...It is jus the inevitable way things go for successful tech companies that have a thousand engineers that need “something” to do and share holders want infinite growth. In my opinion, music streaming is pretty much a solved problem. I would be happy if they will just keep up with new releases and make it easy to see new releases from my favorite artists. But of course that isn’t enough for the “number must go up” people. Also happily switched to Apple Music. It is basic but it does no more than it needs to.
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Comment on Which directors have a flawless filmography? in ~movies
winther Link ParentHaven't seen Vortex yet but if it is anything like his other films, I can imagine it will be "fun".Haven't seen Vortex yet but if it is anything like his other films, I can imagine it will be "fun".
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Comment on Which directors have a flawless filmography? in ~movies
winther Link ParentI have very mixed experiences with all his films, but they have all been worth watching for being so unique and different. Even though I didn't like Kinds of Kindness, I think it is brilliant he...Yorgos Lanthimos
I have very mixed experiences with all his films, but they have all been worth watching for being so unique and different. Even though I didn't like Kinds of Kindness, I think it is brilliant he went out and made that crazy thing after the relative mainstream success of Poor Things - which also is his most "normal" film to date. Dogtooth is still my favorite though.
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Comment on Which directors have a flawless filmography? in ~movies
winther Link ParentI think the 4 hour version is a myth. There was a first screening that was longer than the theatrical release, but only by 19 minutesI think the 4 hour version is a myth. There was a first screening that was longer than the theatrical release, but only by 19 minutes
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Comment on Which directors have a flawless filmography? in ~movies
winther LinkFor me it is Stanley Kubrick and Michael Haneke. Both filmmakers are for levels above most other directors for me, and every film is either a big or small masterpiece. Some are better than others,...For me it is Stanley Kubrick and Michael Haneke.
Both filmmakers are for levels above most other directors for me, and every film is either a big or small masterpiece. Some are better than others, but their low bar is higher than most. It sounds like a pretentious cliche, but watching their films usually goes deeper on a philosophical emotional level. Especially Haneke is often deeply uncomfortable to watch, but I also think that makes it more interesting to reflect on as their films stay with me long afterwards. More questions than answers, more frustrations than nice conclusions.
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Comment on Danish government has announced it will abolish a 25% sales tax on books, in an effort to combat a "reading crisis" in ~books
winther Link ParentIt is not unusual for a regular novel to sell for about €40, so 25% tax is certainly noticeable.It is not unusual for a regular novel to sell for about €40, so 25% tax is certainly noticeable.
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Comment on Danish government has announced it will abolish a 25% sales tax on books, in an effort to combat a "reading crisis" in ~books
winther Link ParentWe have 25% sales tax on everything basically. Newspapers and such are exempt.We have 25% sales tax on everything basically. Newspapers and such are exempt.
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Comment on Danish government has announced it will abolish a 25% sales tax on books, in an effort to combat a "reading crisis" in ~books
winther Link ParentWhile I can point to a plethora of things wrong with our school system, I am not sure this is correct. I have seen it mentioned about 4th graders (10 year olds) though.While I can point to a plethora of things wrong with our school system, I am not sure this is correct. I have seen it mentioned about 4th graders (10 year olds) though.
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Comment on Germany legal case alleging adblockers violate copyright in ~tech
winther Link ParentI block ads/malware on the DNS level. If that is also copyright infringement, then it becomes even more insane, as they would then force people to connect to specific servers. In many cases, ad...I block ads/malware on the DNS level. If that is also copyright infringement, then it becomes even more insane, as they would then force people to connect to specific servers. In many cases, ad and malware are interchangeable and come from the same network of ad servers, so basically also making firewalls copyright infringement.
Yeah, this would break all kinds of things.
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Comment on The enterprise experience in ~tech
winther LinkThis confirms my decision to chose to work for small to medium sized companies. I would go insane in such an environment. Though as the company grows, we do need to be aware to avoid the worst...This confirms my decision to chose to work for small to medium sized companies. I would go insane in such an environment. Though as the company grows, we do need to be aware to avoid the worst downsides of becoming a larger organization.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
winther LinkI rarely watch TV shows as I am mostly in ~movies but I have really been enjoying the Appel TV show The Studio. Just the first three episodes, but is an absolute hoot with its satirical cringe...I rarely watch TV shows as I am mostly in ~movies but I have really been enjoying the Appel TV show The Studio. Just the first three episodes, but is an absolute hoot with its satirical cringe comedy of a Hollywood studio. It is full of references an inside jokes, maybe mostly funny for filmgeeks, but in general it is a very tightly written show that is almost constantly funny without relying on traditional setup punchline format.
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Comment on Denmark has been a stalwart supporter of image scanning and chat control to detect child sex abuse material. Now, they hold the keys to make it a reality. in ~society
winther Link ParentThat is true, though the pessimistic prediction (and in my opinion pretty likely given the track record of our politicians), is that after a year with this control the law enforcement will say it...That is true, though the pessimistic prediction (and in my opinion pretty likely given the track record of our politicians), is that after a year with this control the law enforcement will say it is ineffective and can easily be bypassed, and then we roll up the next iteration of even more privacy invading monitoring and a path is paved for trying to outlaw encryption for citizens.
This sort of thinking has been going on for decades with Danish politicians. We started with a DNS filter blocking CSAM sites, which was difficult to criticize for its lack of transparency and legal oversight, because the supporters were quick to label people as pedophiles if they did so. Surely enough, after some time the idea started to creep up to use the same filter to block other types of sites such as piracy or unauthorized gambling.
In addition to all this, we are also on a path in Denmark were a giant AI system is supposed to combine all the data that exist on citizens like health records, library uses, social cases, tax record etc. for the supposed monitoring against terrorism. Of course criticism is being labelled as being on the side of terrorists and organized crime.
I have very little faith in our politicians to not constantly pushing the boundary further on further with their surveillance tools. And sadly it seems to be working, as the general public seems to be on board with the notion of "nothing to hide, nothing to fear".
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Time to judge books by their covers
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Comment on So what happened? Revisiting the superhero and box office questions. in ~movies
winther LinkAwesome writeup! I don't follow the numbers of Hollywood as close as you, but I can definitely attest to the same impression that 2024 and 2025 aren't nearly up to the same level as 2023. Trends...Awesome writeup! I don't follow the numbers of Hollywood as close as you, but I can definitely attest to the same impression that 2024 and 2025 aren't nearly up to the same level as 2023. Trends in moviegoing is probably impossible to predict, as at the end of the day, it simply comes down to good films being released. Barbenheimer was a perfect storm that couldn't be planned, though I am sure the next Nolan film will do well again.
With regards to world ticket numbers, I don't think the Trump effect can be ruled out there either. There is a general trend in Europe at least with people wanting to move away from American products, and there are some things brewing when it comes to cultural products as well. There is an increased awareness that we are also in the midst of a cultural war on values, and that of course includes movies as well. Danish films have been way above average this year for example, also in ticket sales as far as I can tell. However, it is totally possible that all that is within a very small cultural "elite" circle of people who are actively trying to focus more on non-American entertainment. I don't see any massive upcoming buycut of the next Hollywood blockbuster.
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Comment on UK's Online Safety Act is exactly the obvious failure predicted in ~society
winther Link ParentThere is an EU pilot project in the works that claims to be a zero knowledge system, that can only give an answer of “adult” and “not adult”. That has its own problems, but it does seem like the...There is an EU pilot project in the works that claims to be a zero knowledge system, that can only give an answer of “adult” and “not adult”. That has its own problems, but it does seem like the UK have chosen the absolute worst implementation of age verification.
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Comment on Slash pages: common root-level web pages in ~tech
winther LinkThis seems like the maximalist version of aboutideasnow :) I have a couple of those on my own website and I do enjoy browsing around others, especially if they are well curated and makes for...This seems like the maximalist version of aboutideasnow :)
I have a couple of those on my own website and I do enjoy browsing around others, especially if they are well curated and makes for further exploration. I don't find long lists of stuff very inspirational. A blogroll with dozens of only blog names, or a long list of software you use isn't that interesting to read. I would much rather have a short curated list of blogs with a description of what they are and why the person likes them, or a blog entry of why you use emacs and 1password is better than just a list of software.
But of course, the beauty of the indieweb is that people can do whatever they want on their own website. No one has to abide by a set of standards or practices if they don't like them.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
winther LinkGoing back to very old movies sometimes need a prepared mindset of looking for how the movie has influenced later films and why it is part of cinematic history to appreciate it. Other times it...Going back to very old movies sometimes need a prepared mindset of looking for how the movie has influenced later films and why it is part of cinematic history to appreciate it. Other times it still holds up as a very effective engaging narrative, which was the case for me with Fritz Lang's M from 1931. It is the simplicity that wins. Modern films about serial killers will have multiple layers, characters, themes, subplots and variety, but this is just in every sense of the word just pure and simple. There is tension right from the start with incredibly simple film techniques, that works so well because they are so clear and effective. A shot of a poster with a reward for capturing a serial killer of children, a girl playing with a ball and a the shadow of a man asking her a question. Easy to understand the implication in mere seconds, backed up by a scene of a mother waiting for her daughter to get home and things are already scary and fully grabbed my attention.
This simplicity holds up while keeping things interesting with a rather hilarious development of both the police and the criminal underworld wanting to catch the killer, all leading to a chilling finale. Worth watching not merely as a history lesson, but as a thriller that still holds up and can rival the crippling tension of many modern movies it has influenced.
Yes, it would be better if we could lower tax on food in general of just fruit and vegetables. This will most likely just result in more consumption of sweets. People generally buy more candy and chocolate when it is on sale. This is really just mostly pandering before an election.
We have a flat 25% sale tax on everything in Denmark, so the argument for decades has been that we can't possibly deal with different sales tax on different items. And the general assumption that it won't actually result in lower prices for consumers, but just increased profits. Both valid concerns as there will be a transition period for various IT system to adapt and so forth, but it is also a bit annoying to see it all the time as a sort "giving up" answer. Because we have had this high sales tax forever, we can never at least try to change it.
So yeah, the short answer is basically that it is easier and cheaper to simply remove the extra taxes on chocolate and coffee, rather than do something about the general sales tax on healthy food.