arch's recent activity
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Comment on Who cleans up after the vibe-coding party? in ~tech
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Comment on Humble Choice - July 2026 in ~games
arch Link ParentInteresting take on things. Sea of Stars is the only RPG I've been able to get into for years. The last one I enjoyed this much was Evoland II. I would say it has a similar self referential,...Interesting take on things. Sea of Stars is the only RPG I've been able to get into for years. The last one I enjoyed this much was Evoland II. I would say it has a similar self referential, tongue in cheek nature to the dialog, story and characters.
There is a storyteller aspect to the game, which kind of makes sense for the "same voice" you mentioned, but not really.I've always struggled with wall of text RPGs, even if they're voice acted. I'm not sure why. For instance I've tried to play through Planescape: Torment multiple times and I just can't deal with it. I'm not making any claims about Planescape as a game, or in any way comparing it to Sea of Stars. I'm just using it as a reference for the type of dialog that is wildly different from SoS, and is likely more similar to what you felt it was lacking.
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Comment on Could I travel back in time? How physics tackles the paradoxes – with Jim Al-Khalili in ~science
arch Link ParentI mean, my understanding of quantum mechanics is pretty redimentary, so forgive me if I'm off on anything here. But from the reference point of the photon, light speed is instantaneous. In...I mean, my understanding of quantum mechanics is pretty redimentary, so forgive me if I'm off on anything here. But from the reference point of the photon, light speed is instantaneous. In practice, we understand that from every other reference frame it has a measurable speed, but for the photon time experienced from every other frame has slowed to such a degree that it is frozen. So, you've kind of already solved for the space travel part, since you're existing everywhere at the same time. But then there's the fact that acceleration to light speed requires infinite energy. So while mathematically it's cool that traveling back in time is possible, the fact that infinite energy is impossible means this is still impossible. Basically saying maybe this can happen inside a black hole is just like...okay? It's completely impossible for us to travel to the nearest blackhole, nevermind do anything like this.
I think our understanding of quantum mechanics breaks down enough to simply say that traveling back in time is likely impossible.
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Comment on No, artificial intelligence is not conscious in ~tech
arch Link ParentThis is a great point. I think a good place to start is that the LLM isn't "pretending" anything, it's processing language in a way that is proximate in similarity to our mind's processing of...I personally suspect that's encouraged by the fact that the bot is pretending to be a person, and dispelling that illusion would be a good step towards mitigating that harm.
This is a great point. I think a good place to start is that the LLM isn't "pretending" anything, it's processing language in a way that is proximate in similarity to our mind's processing of language. That's the entirety of what an LLM is doing.
So, the crux of the matter is this: merely using language isn't what consciousness is. Would we claim that a human who never learned to speak, read or write isn't conscious?
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Comment on No, artificial intelligence is not conscious in ~tech
arch Link ParentWhen you have to change or question the boundaries of what "consciousness" is to define AI as conscious, you kind of reveal the chink in the armor. It makes me think of how a virus calls into...- Exemplary
let alone the famously Hard Problem of what consciousness is.
When you have to change or question the boundaries of what "consciousness" is to define AI as conscious, you kind of reveal the chink in the armor. It makes me think of how a virus calls into question what "life" is. Ultimately, it doesn't really matter if you call a virus alive or not, because the answer doesn't make a virus a complex, or even a cellular life form.
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Comment on Apple announces significant price increases for MacBooks, iPads, more in ~tech
arch Link ParentI don't think this is the norm. It might be for select companies and high end products that already have a larger than average margin, but I believe that most consumer goods pass through costs...As we now see the bigger "shock" increase for the end product, compared to smaller more frequent increases.
I don't think this is the norm. It might be for select companies and high end products that already have a larger than average margin, but I believe that most consumer goods pass through costs very quickly. For instance, the estimates I've seen put tarrif pass through at 100 percent. When I worked in construction, major supply companies like Grainger implimented a tarrif aurchage immediately thsy were not absorbing costs. My particular company would only raise prises yearly, but they would review for the past year and the finance bros made sure that they increased enough to target the companies revenue plan for the forthcoming year.
More to the point, how are these companies all reporting record profits year after year if they're eating these costs in their margin? Is it all made up by mass layoffs? If that's the case, then we could just as easily blame the AI cost increase for this.
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Comment on Commodore Callback flip phone in ~tech
arch Link ParentThe sold to Perifractic (Christian Simpson) and a group of investors about a year or so ago. He's the CEO now, and I believe it's his first experience at that level. They're definitely trying a...The sold to Perifractic (Christian Simpson) and a group of investors about a year or so ago. He's the CEO now, and I believe it's his first experience at that level. They're definitely trying a lot of new moves to revitilize the brand. Perofractic also really does care about the retro computing community, so there is that.
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Comment on Commodore Callback flip phone in ~tech
arch Link ParentI texted frequently and never got a sidekick or blackberry. T9 worked really well, and many of us could do it very quickly without looking. We wouldn't type as much on it as we do with a full...Like why T9 texting? It was bad even back then and anyone who texted frequently got a Sidekick or a BlackBerry or something with an actual keyboard.
I texted frequently and never got a sidekick or blackberry. T9 worked really well, and many of us could do it very quickly without looking. We wouldn't type as much on it as we do with a full QWERTY, but for texting I honestly preferred a T9 with physical keys over my touchscreen keyboard. The poor display was the bigger hinderance.
The only people I knew with a blackberry or sidekick were responding to work emails from their phone, like realtors.
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Comment on Arch User Repository compromised, 1500+ packages affected in ~tech
arch Link ParentI've been using Arch since at least 2005; the AUR has been a known potential exploit vector that whole time. There have only been a couple of known instances of something like this happening in...I've been using Arch since at least 2005; the AUR has been a known potential exploit vector that whole time. There have only been a couple of known instances of something like this happening in the past to my knowledge. Unfortunately, the last few years has seen it happen more than once. This one is on a scale that is larger than anything I've heard of before. The big deal that I see here is that orphaned packages were adopted, and a compromised update was pushed en masse. So anyone who happened to install an updated PKGBUILD of a package they've been using for years was at risk.
Unfortunately, due to the design of the AUR, I can't think of any good potential solution. The point of the AUR is for users to share a PKGBUILD to install packages that no maintainer has the capacity to maintain. If a known maintainer did have the capacity to moderate and maintain that PKGBUILD, it would be in an official repository. That is the whole point.
That leaves us with maybe two official options that I can think of:
- Disable the AUR
- Disable adoption of packages
As a user, uninstalling any orphan packages is probably for the best. Aside from that, reviewing the PKGBUILD is the official recommendation, and for good reason.
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Comment on Four things to know about the newly approved US sunscreen ingredient in ~health
arch Link ParentWould you be kind enough to drop a link or name to one of the retailers you recommend? I really am not up for the level of research I would need to do to feel comfortable make a choice on this....Would you be kind enough to drop a link or name to one of the retailers you recommend? I really am not up for the level of research I would need to do to feel comfortable make a choice on this. I'm sure we're about to get inundated with years of advertising in the U.S. about how all the other sunscreens are killing us, which is going to make this even harder to clear through the FUD.
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Comment on Arch User Repository compromised, 1500+ packages affected in ~tech
arch Link ParentMore like blaming the user if they installed unsupported packages from source and then their autopilot failed because of that.More like blaming the user if they installed unsupported packages from source and then their autopilot failed because of that.
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Comment on Why young men sound "less manly" in ~humanities.languages
arch Link ParentI'm curious if there's anything linguistically to the history of this happening. I'm of an age now that I often feel the loop of history, like I've been around this bend before. My grandfather...I'm curious if there's anything linguistically to the history of this happening. I'm of an age now that I often feel the loop of history, like I've been around this bend before. My grandfather used to say "everything old is new again," and more and more I just see how right he was. I grew up in a time that people were opining about how there were "no real men anymore". How men weren't like Humphrey Bogart or Clint Eastwood any more. How their grandfather built their home with his own two hands and talked with gravel in his throat or whatever.
And honestly, my answer then was the same in the end as it is now: who cares? Seriously, who cares? Being manly is doing anything that a man does. Men can braid their daughter's hair, men can dance, men can sing any music they like, men can tell their mother they love her and hug their brother, or say the same phrases that their wives or sisters say. I will say, if anyine honestly judges people as good, bad, masculine, feminine, gay, straight, or whatever for that, they're taking actions that are representative of a bad person. That's not to say they are one, we all do things that make up bad people in the moment sometimes. But we can acknowledge it, learn from it, and grow as humans to be more accepting.
Linguistically, sure this is an interesting video. Ultimately I agree with you: framing it as feminine/masculine is playing into a very loaded diatribe. Even if its just a clickbait framing, it's giving creadance to a very negative stereotype
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Comment on What do you think is the best sandwich? in ~food
arch Link ParentNo avocado for me. Just tomato, mayo, salt and pepper on toasted white bread. The tomato should be picked ripe off the vine, and smell like warm summer sunlight. There's no better sandwich.No avocado for me. Just tomato, mayo, salt and pepper on toasted white bread. The tomato should be picked ripe off the vine, and smell like warm summer sunlight. There's no better sandwich.
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Comment on Who’s buying SpaceX and Anthropic? in ~finance
arch Link ParentI honestly don't know. That would really benefit U.S. manufacturing that the CHIPS act has brought state side. A brain drain in Taiwan from an invasion would likely be a huge negative impact for...And an increasingly likely Chinese invasion of Tiwan.
I honestly don't know. That would really benefit U.S. manufacturing that the CHIPS act has brought state side. A brain drain in Taiwan from an invasion would likely be a huge negative impact for China. I don't agree with China's politics, but Xi hasn't shown himself to be egotistical or foolish in the way the leaders of the countries currently spearheading invasions have.
Its more likely that they continue to ramp up their domestic manufacturing and compete directly with the U.S. and Taiwan. Their electric cars are impressive, their nuclear rollout is impressive, their battery manufacturing is probably the best in the world. They've really played their cards impressively well. They're set to reap huge benefits when the petrodollar is inevitably threatened. An invasion jeopardizes all of that.
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Comment on Who’s buying SpaceX and Anthropic? in ~finance
arch Link ParentI have been moving a chuck of my holdingsfrom Fidelity's blanked index fund into their FTIHX international index fund. My kntebtion is to hedge some in case of a U.S. market down turn. I'm highly...I have been moving a chuck of my holdingsfrom Fidelity's blanked index fund into their FTIHX international index fund. My kntebtion is to hedge some in case of a U.S. market down turn.
I'm highly interested of anyone has any ideas how to firmly avoid SpaceX in my index funds purchases. I'd like to cash out of TESLA, too, personally. Yes, I'd miss out on some "gains" but the stocks are not worth the ticket price, everyone know it, and one day before I retire it's going to crumble. It may be decades from now, but they're hemorrhaging money with no plan to fix it.
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Comment on Didgeridoo playing as alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in ~health
arch LinkI have OSA, I was diagnosed ~5 years ago. I have attempted didgeridoo a couple of times now, but due to life events and the difficulty of the instrument I have been wildly inconsistent. I was a...I have OSA, I was diagnosed ~5 years ago. I have attempted didgeridoo a couple of times now, but due to life events and the difficulty of the instrument I have been wildly inconsistent. I was a former trumpet player, and the didgeridoo is much more difficult to get a noise out of. All of that said, I find the headlines that call for didgeridoo as an alternative treatment to OSA wildly misleading. In every study I have skimmed, very few patients have had their AHI lowered below 5, which is considered the "treated" threshold for CPAP. What it does seem to be is promising as an adjunctive therapy, which can lower CPAP pressure requirements, or help lower AHI for patients who are resistant to CPAP for whatever reason.
I just like to clarify, because there are a number of people who will use this as a reason to forgo diagnosis or treatment, which is a bad thing. The stigma around sleep apnea and CPAP use is already very high, and something difficult to overcome.
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Comment on I think that we won’t see any new and radical new gaming input devices or form factors anymore in ~games
arch LinkValve has been alleged to be working on direct brain interfaces for a long, long time. Here's a recent article about something involving Valve and neural interfaces. I imagine it's a long, long...Valve has been alleged to be working on direct brain interfaces for a long, long time. Here's a recent article about something involving Valve and neural interfaces. I imagine it's a long, long way from fruition. I'm certainly in no rush to have anything surgically implemented.
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Comment on Apple has reached a preliminary deal with Intel to make chips in the US in ~tech
arch LinkI was surprised to see this article, because last I knew Intel had lost all ability to compete with the latest manufacturing processes in the U.S. decades ago. It looks like their new Chandler,...I was surprised to see this article, because last I knew Intel had lost all ability to compete with the latest manufacturing processes in the U.S. decades ago. It looks like their new Chandler, Arizona FAB 52 just opened last year, though! This seems to be where the 18 angstrom process is being used. A deal with Apple seems like a good sign that their process is legitimate and working. Apple wouldn't sign without vetting their facilities, capabilities and outputs. Intel also has a 14A facility in the works slated to open in 5 or 6 years.
This really is a huge benefit for the U.S. and it's brought to us thanks to the CHIPS and Science Act that was signed in 2022 under Biden. It is a little worrying that Trump has spoke about his desire to get rid of the CHIPS act, which would threaten these new foundries continued construction, use, etc. There have also been rumors of Intel attempting to sell up to 49% of their U.S. foundry stake off to foreign investors, which would kid of suck for the American taxpayers.
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Comment on Nintendo raises prices for Switch, Switch 2 and NSO in ~games
arch Link ParentI think this is finally a price correction because they do not see prices going down. If I remember correctly Nintendo did not raise prices from the U.S. tarrifs, has not adjusted for the pandemic...I think this is finally a price correction because they do not see prices going down. If I remember correctly Nintendo did not raise prices from the U.S. tarrifs, has not adjusted for the pandemic and following year's inflation, and now RAM prices are through the roof. So it's probably not a sign of things go come.
Personally, I suspect we will see the death of the petrodollar sometime in the next decade or so. That is likely to bring pain to the U.S. that is worse than 2008. America has shown the world that we aren't any more stable than any other country.
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Comment on What's something that you missed out on? in ~talk
arch LinkBitCoin. I learned about it when it was being used to buy a pizza for a couple of coin, and you could mine it with your home computer for free. I was a few years out of college, working full time,...BitCoin. I learned about it when it was being used to buy a pizza for a couple of coin, and you could mine it with your home computer for free. I was a few years out of college, working full time, and felt like I had no time any more to chase the next fad. I also thought it sounded dumb as hell. Like it had no chance to ever be worth anything.
But since it cost basically nothing but time back then, if it had happened 2 or 3 years earlier, I would have absolutely bothered to have a wallet and use my PC to mine coins. I guess I'd probably be a millionaire if that happened.Oh well.
I hope I'm not just being difficult, but I think I may have some perspective to add to this topic just based on being on the internet and engaging with Linux and open source as an end user for almost 30 years now. I am concerned that we're conflating a bunch of different topics together, and pointing to these different "evolutions" of open source as no longer being possible in order to spell doom for it. Godot wasn't even open source for over a decade, but it probably gained popularity because it was free and open. Making a living through Patreon has only been something that happens for the last 10 years or so it's not inherent of "open source". Will it continue to be possible going forward? Your prediction there is as good as mine. We don't even know if entry level programmers will be able to make a living in 10 years at this point (but they probably will be able to). Linux in the early 90's really goes back to Richard Stallman and FSF ethos that software you run should have the code accessible by the end user, so you can make changes to it. I don't think that idea is ever going to go out of date. It's kind of like saying toll roads have made public roads obsolete.