an_angry_tiger's recent activity
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Comment on SpaceX stock tumbles 23% from its high as average investor sees gains wiped out in ~finance
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Comment on How funerals keep Africa poor in ~life
an_angry_tiger LinkI remember this making the rounds on hacker news (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47710907) a few months ago, and the discussion was roughly the same kind of split as here (albeit Tildes has...I remember this making the rounds on hacker news (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47710907) a few months ago, and the discussion was roughly the same kind of split as here (albeit Tildes has a much higher floor on bad comments than HN).
I think my take away from reading it this time (I didn't read it the first time on hn), in addition to all the great discussion here so far, is that I don't feel like the article really supports the "wealth destroying" argument. All throughout the article are quotes like:
Your body is going to remain in that refrigerated unit for a long time. Typically it will be weeks or months; sometimes bodies can stay refrigerated for an entire year. Why so long? Because the longer that the body stays in the mortuary, the more time the family has to raise funds for a funeral truly befitting your status. And, since the hospital charges escalating fees for each additional week that your body is stored there, keeping your body refrigerated for a long time is itself a mark of prestige.
Eventually, your family decides that they’ve raised the funds they’re going to raise. So they pick a Saturday—the funerals of Christian Ghanaians are always held on Saturdays—and plan a lavish event that will, in fact, stretch across three days. They hire a graphic designer to produce large colorful banners bearing your name, your photograph, your dates of birth and death, and the time and place of your funeral: these are hung on walls and fences at intersections around the city. They rent a venue, hire a large staff—caterers, a DJ or live band, a photographer, maybe a videographer, perhaps even dancing pallbearers—and choose a funeral cloth for the family to wear. And if your family can afford it, or wants the community to believe that they can, they commission a craftsman to carve you a “fantasy coffin” shaped like something you enjoyed or admired in life: perhaps a cocoa pod, a school building, a crab, a paintbrush, or a giant blue teapot.
And, finally, after all this, the big day comes. Your body is retrieved from the mortuary; hundreds of people show up, many of whom never knew you in life; and a great deal of money is spent feeding them, entertaining them, and sending you off in the style that an Akan elder deserves.
It’s often observed, in fact, that families will spend more money on burying the dead than on keeping the sick alive: indeed, in the Kagera region of northern Tanzania, families spend 50 percent more money on funerals than on medical care.
Sometimes they’ll have insurance of some kind: funeral insurance, where the payout is earmarked for the funeral costs, is one of the most popular financial products in sub-Saharan Africa—often, in fact, more popular than health insurance. And much of the time, family members will pay for funerals with loans from others. About a quarter of households in KwaZulu-Natal, for example, pay for funerals by going into debt.
In each case it's an example of the deceased's relatives paying money to someone in exchange for goods or services. You pay money to a hospital, to the staff of that hospital, to the graphic designers, to the caterers, the DJ, you're paying for food, where is that money going? It sounds like its going to the local hospital, to local labour, to local goods, where is the wealth being destroyed? Individual wealth, by which I mean the family of the deceased who are paying for the funeral, that seems to be decreasing in these incidents, but its not going on a funeral pyre, nor does it sound like its going outside of the country (or even municipality I bet), the money is exchanging hands and powering a local economy.
I could, myself, personally, probably come up with reasons why (whether I agree or believe them or not) -- but the article, as best I can tell, does not.
The kinship network has a strong interest in preventing any of its members from becoming prosperous enough to no longer need it: someone who no longer needs your help is also someone who might not help you.
"any of its members", it claims are prevented from prospering, but doesn't support why the network itself is not prospering as a whole from, what sounds like, a big wealth distribution mechanism.
There’s a reason why virtually every economically successful society has graduated from a social order that stresses the claims of kin into one that stresses the rights of individuals. Living in a society of individuals governed by impersonal institutions, we have an understandable wistfulness for the imagined world of warm communities and thick familial bonds. But we forget how suffocating that social world is, how parasitical it is on its most productive members, and how poisonous it is for any prospect of economic development.
I don't believe at any point does it delve in to why it poisons any prospect of economic development, it's laid out like a natural fact without elucidation
The obvious incentive, then, is to hobble the most productive: the demands that the kinship group makes on its most productive members are not simply demands for solidarity but demands for a kind of enforced mediocrity.
"mediocrity" is an interesting choice, we all use contemporarily use it to imply subpar, but the actual definition is moreso "the state or quality of being average, ordinary, or merely adequate". An "enforced average", the most productive members of the group are "hobbled" as it claims, by having to pay out for all these expenses, but does not address why the expenses are not bringing the average up, and making the network more prosperous as a whole.
It's an interesting take on what is a society I know very little about, and is very different from the ones I am familiar with, but I don't get the sense that it backs up its arguments, that it "makes the math work". The author seems in-line with modern western-style individualism, and writes with the conviction that its' principles are inherent and synonymous with positive economic growth, and whether I or anyone agrees or disagrees with that, you still have to make the arguments and back up why that's the case.
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Comment on What are your gaming idiosyncracies? in ~games
an_angry_tiger Link ParentDamn, there goes mine. Sports games are the worst for it, the stories they create are always the same. You and your best friend are playing on a high-school/college team, your friend goes on to be...I'll steer clear of games trying to be movies.
Damn, there goes mine.
Sports games are the worst for it, the stories they create are always the same. You and your best friend are playing on a high-school/college team, your friend goes on to be the best draft pick, you have to slum it a bit and work your way back up, you'll meet up with your friend again in the big leagues, and thats the climax of the story.
Not a terrible story, just boring and repetitive, but the worst part is, story doesn't follow the gameplay at all. You play the game on easy, crush the other team 100-0, cut to a cutscene where your coach is chewing you out for playing badly. Reeks of failed movie directory wannabe who gets a job directing a game instead.
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Comment on When did your preferred fighting game franchises peak? in ~games
an_angry_tiger LinkStreet Fighter Alpha 2. Alpha 1 wasn't all there, 3 had some weird stuff. Street Fighter 3 is good but third strike has some weird competitive stuff. Not a fan of SF4 and onwards.Street Fighter Alpha 2.
Alpha 1 wasn't all there, 3 had some weird stuff. Street Fighter 3 is good but third strike has some weird competitive stuff. Not a fan of SF4 and onwards.
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Comment on Lifetime Plex Pass will cost $750 USD after July 1st in ~tv
an_angry_tiger LinkWell damn, glad I got mine at $75 during the pandemic, $750 is a real tough fucking sell.Well damn, glad I got mine at $75 during the pandemic, $750 is a real tough fucking sell.
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Comment on We should take hantavirus more seriously in ~health
an_angry_tiger Link ParentAre you.............a mouse?Are you.............a mouse?
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Comment on How I made a shooter game in 64 KB in ~games
an_angry_tiger LinkGlad to see the demoscene spirit still alive :)Glad to see the demoscene spirit still alive :)
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Comment on Spirit Airlines shutting down after rescue talks collapse in ~transport
an_angry_tiger LinkAnd here's the conclusion of that anti-trust ruling blocking the JetBlue acquisition, a dead company whose assets may get bought up by JetBlue anyway. People seemed pretty happy about that ruling...And here's the conclusion of that anti-trust ruling blocking the JetBlue acquisition, a dead company whose assets may get bought up by JetBlue anyway. People seemed pretty happy about that ruling at the time, and I still don't really get it -- but I am biased as I did buy some Spirit stock expecting the deal to go through, so that's my cards on the table.
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Comment on How are we all feeling about piracy these days? in ~movies
an_angry_tiger LinkI swap between paying and pirating pretty fluidly and randomly. I have a Youtube TV subscription that's pricey but I like it, gets me TCM (hell yes) and most major sporting events, but not all of...I swap between paying and pirating pretty fluidly and randomly. I have a Youtube TV subscription that's pricey but I like it, gets me TCM (hell yes) and most major sporting events, but not all of them.
I tend to pirate movies to my Plex since I have a diverse range of tastes for what movies I want to see at what time, and a lot of them aren't available on common streamers, so I find it easier to download them and come back to the curated collection on my Plex than have to track which ones I wanted to see.
On the other hand, sometimes my gf and I will browse through and watch something on Tubi (with ads), which is nice since it's free and has a real weird ass collection of movies.
Most sports stuff, if it's not on national TV (i.e. my Youtube TV) then I tend to just pirate it since it's just as easy as going to one specific site and they have all the games I want to see from a single click. I would much rather continue pirating sports things than have to pay $30 a month to watch just to the friggin Knicks (who I do want to watch, but I don't want to pay James Dolan that much money for it).
But on the other hand I paid like $7 for a month of Prime to watch the NBA play-ins this week, and I didn't really hesitate on that much.
So it's a real mixed bag for me, I pirate when the pirating is easier and better than doing the thing, but also pay for things semi-often, especially when I feel like the money is going to something better (such as independent podcasters I listen to, instead of paying $30 to a billionaire to watch a single team play, did I mention that's more than the NBA League Pass itself? That's fucked up and fuck james dolan).
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Comment on Chemist Hitler Louis nears three dozen retractions for image duplication, self-citation and more in ~science
an_angry_tiger Link ParentI had to re-read the title a few times to confirm that yes, that's the name, and that's what it actually says, wasn't misreading it. Other cultures, especially Africa and India I've found, really...I had to re-read the title a few times to confirm that yes, that's the name, and that's what it actually says, wasn't misreading it.
Other cultures, especially Africa and India I've found, really don't seem to shy away from just naming kids after known names like Hitler or Stalin or the like, and boy that's gotta get weird.
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Comment on The AI disruption has arrived, and it sure is fun in ~tech
an_angry_tiger Link ParentQuebec also has Hydro-Quebec, I'm sure it's a term used across the whole country.Quebec also has Hydro-Quebec, I'm sure it's a term used across the whole country.
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Comment on Liberals who were formerly far-left (communist, anarchist, etc.), what led to you coming to liberalism? in ~society
an_angry_tiger Link ParentWould be interesting to the see the reverse thread get made too (liberals who become far-left) to see the perspectives the other way around. I don't think I could put in a good enough starter post...Would be interesting to the see the reverse thread get made too (liberals who become far-left) to see the perspectives the other way around.
I don't think I could put in a good enough starter post myself unfortunately.
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Comment on What are your food aversions? in ~food
an_angry_tiger LinkChicken feet. It's bone and cartilage with a little bit of meat, there are many more offerings for meat (and non-meat proteins) out there, I would prefer all of them over chicken feet. I've tried...Chicken feet.
It's bone and cartilage with a little bit of meat, there are many more offerings for meat (and non-meat proteins) out there, I would prefer all of them over chicken feet. I've tried it, I gave it a shot, I don't like it, I don't need chicken feet in my life.
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Comment on US users: how are you watching Olympics coverage? in ~sports
an_angry_tiger LinkLiving in the USA but coming from Canada, I bought a month of NordVPN (and plan to use the 30 day money back guarantee) so I can watch the Canadian coverage free on CBC Gem. Seemed to work well...Living in the USA but coming from Canada, I bought a month of NordVPN (and plan to use the 30 day money back guarantee) so I can watch the Canadian coverage free on CBC Gem. Seemed to work well for the opening ceremony.
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Comment on 2025 NFL Post Season 🏈 Weekly Discussion Thread – Playoffs, Week 3 in ~sports.american_football
an_angry_tiger Link ParentMan that panthers team was just awful, I tuned in for a year because Baker (my boy) also joined the team, and god that was horrible football to watch. One of those teams where nothing goes well...When he got his second chance with the Panthers I saw a player that had thr potential, but he had to both work out his lingering issues and also not be held down by a shit coach in Rhule.
Man that panthers team was just awful, I tuned in for a year because Baker (my boy) also joined the team, and god that was horrible football to watch. One of those teams where nothing goes well and you can't judge any players because the whole thing is rotten, no one could succeed in a position like that.
Which I guess makes sense for Darnold too, can't trust the jets, they will betray you.
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Comment on 2025 NFL Post Season 🏈 Weekly Discussion Thread – Playoffs, Week 3 in ~sports.american_football
an_angry_tiger LinkWho would have guessed, many years ago, that we'd be seeing a Sam Darnold superbowl. All aboard the GEQBUS baby.Who would have guessed, many years ago, that we'd be seeing a Sam Darnold superbowl. All aboard the GEQBUS baby.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~society
an_angry_tiger Link ParentWell I clicked on the "Contact Us" page and am immediately greeted by their contact email: sudaninvest192@gmail.com , so I have a strong feeling you may be right. If not a straight up scam, at...Well I clicked on the "Contact Us" page and am immediately greeted by their contact email: sudaninvest192@gmail.com , so I have a strong feeling you may be right. If not a straight up scam, at least could be an AI SEO kind of slop content site.
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Comment on 2025 NFL Post Season 🏈 Weekly Discussion Thread – Playoffs, Week 2 in ~sports.american_football
an_angry_tiger LinkBoy the Bills huh. They really played like shit and lost that game on their own, womp womp who would have guessed. McDermott leaving I'm fine with, I don't think he's the cause but after so many...Boy the Bills huh. They really played like shit and lost that game on their own, womp womp who would have guessed. McDermott leaving I'm fine with, I don't think he's the cause but after so many years you kinda have to make a change. Beane staying and being promoted makes me feel like the situation is not going to remedy itself and they'll continue running a shitty team around Allen and losing in the playoffs similarly until he moves or retires. Ah well that's the Bills I suppose, already had a feeling they were going to lose going in.
The narrative of "this was the best chance they had for a superbowl" is funny to me. No more Mahomes/Chiefs to ruin the playoffs this year, but even then, what was the expectation? It's the shittiest Bills team in a few years, and they still had to go against the top 3 teams in the league. Feels like an odd sentiment to me that the Patriots, Seahawks (how the hell did they and Darnold get so good suddenly), and Broncos were seen as an easier road than getting through the Chiefs (who uh, I mean, they're not going to return to being the superteam next year are they? do they have the roster construction and flexibility for that? is Mahomes going to return as good as he's been in the past?).
And now of course the part where I complain about the refs -- but not about them winning the game for the Broncos, because that's not true, the Bills lost it on their own fair and square. No what I'm complaining about is that I don't think I understand the rules and I don't think anyone else does either, I think the rules are very vague and give a lot of leeway to the refs to just kind of make it up as they go along. I don't think that's unique to the NFL either, it happens a ton in the NBA as the refs just kind of make up what they consider a foul or not as they go along, and then in the NBA playoffs they just make up an entirely different consideration of what counts as a foul or not. There's no consistency to be had there, just up to whatever refs are in the game and how they decide to call it, and I guess how much the NBA execs want to give guidelines to the refs.
Anyway, back to complaining about the NFL, I finally looked up the definition of a "football move" after hearing about it so many times, well the rulebook doesn't use the term "football move", but the sentiment is found here (under "Article 7 Player Possession"):
To gain possession of a loose ball that has been caught, intercepted, or recovered, a player (a) must have complete control of the ball with his hands or arms and (b) have both feet or any other part of his body, other than his hands, completely on the ground inbounds, and, after (a) and (b) have been fulfilled, clearly perform any act common to the game (e.g., extend the ball forward, take an additional step, tuck the ball away and turn upfield, or avoid or ward off an opponent). It is not necessary that he commit such an act, provided that he maintains control of the ball long enough to do so. This rule applies in the field of play, at the sideline, and in the end zone.
It's just "clearly perform any act common to the game", with a non-exhaustive list of examples. A lot of discussion online pro-interception keeps dropping the term "survive the ground", which hasn't been a rule in years. A lot of discussion pro-catch says stuff about the knee being grounded and the player hitting the ground making it a catch, that also hasn't been a criteria in the rules for years. At this point I'll say it's an interception, and I'll say that because the refs and the NFL have decided it's an interception and will back them, and that seems pretty final, but honestly I don't think it's an ironclad case from the rules, I think there's enough flex room that just about supports any argument they could make. Same thing with pass interference and other such fouls, you watch a game and see tons of stuff that looks like pass interference that doesn't get called, and then calls for pass interference that don't match it. I've been watching this league for like 10 years and I feel like I'm no closer to having any intuition on what a ruling will be for any play.
That being said, not really interested in debating whether any specific play is or isn't valid, what's the point? Already a done deal and I doubt they're going to change to make the rules to make them more clear, and they're not going to overturn any of these, c'est la vie, I'm still going to watch this garbage and have it ruin my day, what else are any of us going to do?
Anyway, also grateful for CJ Stroud for making Josh Allen's performance look a little less bad. What the fuck happened there? Disastrous. I have no strong feelings about him either way, hope this isn't bad news for his future, but I also have to feel like that kinda fucked up a big payday for him in his next contract.
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Comment on Iran’s supreme leader signals harsher crackdown as protest movement swells in ~society
an_angry_tiger Link ParentWhat a repulsive thing to say.Sucks for the civilians, but on the other hand, a majority of them have enabled that horrible government for 45 years.
What a repulsive thing to say.
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Comment on What private companies are you happy doing business with? in ~talk
an_angry_tiger Link ParentI've gone in to hiking clothing, its practical and tends to be at least decent quality (although you still have to be careful about cheap brands and luxury/fashion margins). Patagonia has a lot of...I've gone in to hiking clothing, its practical and tends to be at least decent quality (although you still have to be careful about cheap brands and luxury/fashion margins). Patagonia has a lot of good core principles and make good clothing, and they sell used clothing on their website. Cotopaxi is also good quality, although I don't know about their principles (and their used clothing website seems to have gotten worse). REI is a great store and has their own house brand that makes really practical clothing for a great price.
Also UNIQLO, I know everything there is going to be a good baseline of value for the price.
The IPO price was $130, the first price when it was available for trading was around $157, you are right in that it's still up from the IPO price (which itself is probably massively overvalued already) and not yet down from what it was initially trading from.