agentsquirrel's recent activity
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Comment on The one-and-done pen? in ~hobbies
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Comment on The one-and-done pen? in ~hobbies
agentsquirrel Link ParentFountain pens are the bomb. After I run through my stash of Signo gel Uni-Ball ballpoint pens (which have been my favorite for years), I'm going to go 100% fountain pens until I die. There's just...Fountain pens are the bomb. After I run through my stash of Signo gel Uni-Ball ballpoint pens (which have been my favorite for years), I'm going to go 100% fountain pens until I die. There's just something so fulfilling and enjoyable about writing with one.
My current favorite is the Pilot Metropolitan:
https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-metropolitan-fountain-pen-black-plain
I'm sure some would call this a beginner's fountain pen, but it has a nice feel with a metal body with some weight to it. It's a joy to write with, and I can see the few of them I have lasting a lifetime.
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Comment on Why airlines are always going bankrupt in ~transport
agentsquirrel Link ParentIt does suck to fly. 37 years ago when I started flying regularly for business it wasn't that way. Airline employees were happy, or at least it seemed that way. Airlines published monthly...It does suck to fly. 37 years ago when I started flying regularly for business it wasn't that way. Airline employees were happy, or at least it seemed that way. Airlines published monthly magazines to read during flights, they took pride in them, and they were actually quite enjoyable to read during a flight. On some flights you could listen to ATC radio traffic on one of the audio channels. Several airlines provide multi-channel audio programming you could listen to by plugging in a headphone at your seat. Meals were abundant on flights and the food was actually good. There were obviously bad days with flight delays and cancellations, but for the most part, it was enjoyable to fly.
Today most every employee seems miserable. Gate agents, who used to seem like they were smart, in charge, and there to help, are now pretty much mindless robots reading prompts from monitors. Amenities on aircraft have been removed one by one over the years; the only thing that is better now is we have the Internet and aircraft Wi-Fi. Pilots have become glorified bus drivers at the mercy of some faceless remotely-located central control. (It may have been that way decades ago, but it wasn't so obvious.). Frequent flyer clubs are overcrowded and now have all the mayhem you used to avoid in the airport outside the clubs. When it comes to airlines and flights I find myself in search of choices that suck the least. I'll be so happy when I retire and don't have to take another flight again.
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Comment on 'The report's so stupid': The DNC 2024 autopsy is roiling US Democrats in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentFor us in PA, he was a folk hero and (for me at least) a blueprint for the type of candidates Democrats should be running in order to find their way out of the wilderness they seem to be in....John Fetterman would be a folk hero
For us in PA, he was a folk hero and (for me at least) a blueprint for the type of candidates Democrats should be running in order to find their way out of the wilderness they seem to be in. Fetterman was the kind of politician people in Pennsyltuckey could relate to, outside of the God and guns candidates. Sadly, the stroke really changed Fetterman. I don't see him going much of anywhere after his term runs out.
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Comment on Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ in ~tech
agentsquirrel LinkI don't think this change is as drastic as the headline or the CEO makes it sound. They still have a team that is essentially doing HR tasks, with a new name. You can't run any sizable company...I don't think this change is as drastic as the headline or the CEO makes it sound. They still have a team that is essentially doing HR tasks, with a new name. You can't run any sizable company without an HR department to do onboarding and offboarding, oversee training, and comply with laws and regulations galore. Any gains from truly eliminating HR would be wiped out when the first sexual harassment lawsuit came around. I'm not defending or commending this CEO, far from it. Honestly, his talk about employee entitlement, eliminating four day work weeks, etc. makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
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Comment on Donald Trump’s deal to drop suit against US Internal Revenue Service creates $1.8b ‘anti-weaponization fund’ in ~society
agentsquirrel LinkAnd as if the $1.7B slush fund wasn't enough, I just saw a report that the IRS is “forever barred and precluded” from pursuing “examinations” of Trump, “related or affiliated individuals,” and...And as if the $1.7B slush fund wasn't enough, I just saw a report that the IRS is “forever barred and precluded” from pursuing “examinations” of Trump, “related or affiliated individuals,” and related trusts and businesses. Whatever ongoing tax audits he was subject to are now dead, and Trump is scot free.
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Comment on Donald Trump’s deal to drop suit against US Internal Revenue Service creates $1.8b ‘anti-weaponization fund’ in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentDJT also controlled the defense, through the power and governance he has over the IRS. As you mention, it was probably extremely difficult to prove damages. This was all a fixed game from the...What I don't get is where the threat of success in this lawsuit even came from.
DJT also controlled the defense, through the power and governance he has over the IRS. As you mention, it was probably extremely difficult to prove damages. This was all a fixed game from the start; sue for some unrealistically outrageous sum, like $10B, settle for something less outrageous, like $1.7B. The acting AG at DoJ, who Trump controls, gets to pick the board that administrates the payouts. So, Trump controls the payouts as well. This is so throughly corrupt and criminal, it's hard for me to even think of a parallel. I can only hope there is some sort of investigation and the communication between Trump and the IRS and DoJ sees the light of day, and this is determined to be racketeering. It sure feels like racketeering to me.
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Comment on Donald Trump’s deal to drop suit against US Internal Revenue Service creates $1.8b ‘anti-weaponization fund’ in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentYou posted almost verbatim what I had in my head to post. I'm just amazed there aren't people in the street calling for revolution or something after this. Trump is getting things set up for 2028....You posted almost verbatim what I had in my head to post. I'm just amazed there aren't people in the street calling for revolution or something after this.
Trump is getting things set up for 2028. He's not going to leave office peacefully.
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Comment on The everything, everywhere, all at once corruption story in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentIsn't this great? On top of Trump granting pardons to the January 6th insurrectionists, if this goes through he'll be able to send them checks to reward them for their loyalty and breaking the law...Isn't this great? On top of Trump granting pardons to the January 6th insurrectionists, if this goes through he'll be able to send them checks to reward them for their loyalty and breaking the law at his behest. This is third-world banana republic stuff.
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Comment on Red Hot Chili Peppers sell music catalogue for $300m in ~music
agentsquirrel LinkI have no problem with this; the history of music is littered with great artists who never got paid or got screwed out of a lot of revenue. (See Industry Rule #4080). If you're getting old, might...I have no problem with this; the history of music is littered with great artists who never got paid or got screwed out of a lot of revenue. (See Industry Rule #4080). If you're getting old, might as well cash in before you get really old and can't enjoy the fruits of your labor over the years. You can't take it with you once you assume room temperature.
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Comment on US will revoke passports for parents who owe child support in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentI agree with this policy, but I, too, find it highly suspect that this administration has placed new focus on it. I doubt they're "doing it for the kids". They don't do anything for the kids.I agree with this policy, but I, too, find it highly suspect that this administration has placed new focus on it. I doubt they're "doing it for the kids". They don't do anything for the kids.
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Comment on US Department of Justice arrests soldier who made $400,000 betting on Nicolás Maduro's removal in ~society
agentsquirrel Link Parent"One of them" being the key part of that sentence. There are likely many, but the administration will cite this one case as being it, no investigations needed. Trump's obviously cool with it; him,..."One of them" being the key part of that sentence. There are likely many, but the administration will cite this one case as being it, no investigations needed. Trump's obviously cool with it; him, his family, and close allies are likely playing the game as well. Case closed, nothing to see here.
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Comment on Apple names insider John Ternus as CEO, Tim Cook to become executive chairman in ~tech
agentsquirrel LinkTim Cook clearly did an exceptional job operationally; Apple’s growth and execution under his leadership speak for themselves. But I’ve always felt the company became more iterative than...Tim Cook clearly did an exceptional job operationally; Apple’s growth and execution under his leadership speak for themselves. But I’ve always felt the company became more iterative than innovative during his tenure. Apple had an early lead with Siri and didn’t capitalize on it, and more recently seems to have been behind the curve on AI. There were also some notable hardware missteps along the way, like the Magic Mouse with the underside charging port, the butterfly keyboard, the Touch Bar, and the “dongle era” of USB-C–only MacBooks. Many of those decisions have been reversed, and recent MacBooks feel like a return to form. Still, it raises the question of whether the company prioritized operational excellence over innovation during this period.
I think back to Jobs’ famous line to Sculley about “selling sugar water vs. changing the world” and wonder whether Apple leaned a bit more toward the former than the latter in recent years. I hope the new CEO is an innovator.
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Comment on Which Linux distro do you use, and why? in ~tech
agentsquirrel LinkI know the question was about Linux, not *nix, but if one's only exposure to *nix is Linux, I'd highly recommend trying FreeBSD to get a sense of that "old school" Unix feel. Additionally, if...I know the question was about Linux, not *nix, but if one's only exposure to *nix is Linux, I'd highly recommend trying FreeBSD to get a sense of that "old school" Unix feel. Additionally, if you're ever looking to build a headless appliance that continues to "just work" with little to no upkeep, the BSDs are the way to go.
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Comment on IETF has published an IPv8 draft in ~comp
agentsquirrel Link ParentBackwards compatibility is a great idea in theory, but I wonder how an IPv4 device would properly route an IPv8 packet when it's only looking at four octets of the destination address? I guess I...Backwards compatibility is a great idea in theory, but I wonder how an IPv4 device would properly route an IPv8 packet when it's only looking at four octets of the destination address? I guess I should probably read the draft, but I tend to doubt IPv8 would be a drop in replacement. (Yes, IPv6 is/was a pain to adopt.)
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Comment on Income tax will be dead within five years as AI jobs crisis grows, says Monzo founder in ~tech
agentsquirrel LinkThis laughable, at least in the US. Ever since the reduction in capital gains taxes in the Reagan administration, actual labor income income has been taxed more than income passively gained. All...This laughable, at least in the US. Ever since the reduction in capital gains taxes in the Reagan administration, actual labor income income has been taxed more than income passively gained. All the major campaign donors, who are going to reap the benefits from laying off workers and automating using AI won't support taxing AI. This is quite simply a DOA idea.
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Comment on Why Microsoft’s war on Windows’ Control Panel is taking so long in ~tech
agentsquirrel Link ParentViva Insights Copilot Identity ServiceWhat will be called in 6 months if marketing gets tired of the name again?
Viva Insights Copilot Identity Service
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Comment on Used electric vehicles are a bargain right now in ~transport
agentsquirrel Link ParentAh, yes. That makes total sense. I hadn't considered the redundancy / isolation / control systems availability side of this.Ah, yes. That makes total sense. I hadn't considered the redundancy / isolation / control systems availability side of this.
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Comment on Used electric vehicles are a bargain right now in ~transport
agentsquirrel Link ParentI'm surprised they haven't eliminated the 12V batteries in EVs. I would think manufacturers could easily have a step-down switching power supply running off the main drivetrain batteries to...I'm surprised they haven't eliminated the 12V batteries in EVs. I would think manufacturers could easily have a step-down switching power supply running off the main drivetrain batteries to provide 12V for systems that need it. It's not like it would need a huge amount of current capability to turn a starter motor over, and it likely would be cheaper than the 12V lead acid batteries they're installing, and certainly less of a maintenance pain.
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Comment on According to a poll, Finns now trust the US as little as Russia and China and overall social trust is on the decline in ~society
agentsquirrel Link ParentNot being cynical, but, I am a pretty average US citizen, and this very accurately articulates how I feel about the US nowadays, too. This is what happens when your political system is a two party...Not being cynical, but, I am a pretty average US citizen, and this very accurately articulates how I feel about the US nowadays, too. This is what happens when your political system is a two party system and one party continually and happily does the wrong thing (ironically screwing over their voters most of the time), and the other party doesn't have the courage to do the right thing. A lot of us didn't realize until now that many of our presidential guardrails are dependent on a president that is a gentleman and has some decency and wants to abide by the law. Trump, of course, is none of that. There's also this crazy thing called the Electoral College. In school we were taught about democracy and how unique we were, one person - one vote, etc. The reality is the only presidential election votes that determine the winner are a handful of swing states. Couple that with a large number of low information voters, and about 23% (by my estimation) of the population which is as dumb as a bag of rocks, and you get a Donald Trump, a felon, as president. Twice. I don't hold out much hope this is all ever going to get fixed or that we'll repair our reputation abroad within my lifetime. Considering what happened January 6th and for the most part there was no accountability, I fully expect Trump to pull something prior to the next election in 2028 to stop elections and stay in power, probably proclaiming evidence of voting fraud afoot, declaring martial law, and deploying ICE everywhere, which has basically become his brownshirts.
All I can say is, don't hate us sane US citizens. We're just as much along for the ride as you all, but we're stuck here.
That's another thing I love about fountain pens - with refillable converters you're not filling up a landfill with cartridges.