babypuncher's recent activity
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Comment on Wireless is a trap in ~tech
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Comment on Wireless is a trap in ~tech
babypuncher Ideally, the security capabilities of the network interface shouldn't matter. Every connection your computer makes to another should be done over an encrypted protocol (i.e. HTTPS). Most of the...Ideally, the security capabilities of the network interface shouldn't matter. Every connection your computer makes to another should be done over an encrypted protocol (i.e. HTTPS). Most of the web is already there. The big holdout is DNS, which is still completely unencrypted by default for the vast majority of users, and the current slate of secure alternatives are a little controversial.
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Comment on Reddit hires its first chief financial officer as it prepares for an IPO in ~tech
babypuncher People don't like the growth-oriented direction Reddit has taken in recent years, and an IPO is likely to make that problem worse as hungry shareholders demand constant short term growth.People don't like the growth-oriented direction Reddit has taken in recent years, and an IPO is likely to make that problem worse as hungry shareholders demand constant short term growth.
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Comment on Is building a folding iPhone possible? Let's take a closer look at these flexible amoled screens I found on AliExpress in ~tech
babypuncher I'm not sure the smaller size is worth having to put up with a plastic capacitive touch panel. It feels cheap to the fingers and scratches extremely easily compared to Gorilla Glass.I'm not sure the smaller size is worth having to put up with a plastic capacitive touch panel. It feels cheap to the fingers and scratches extremely easily compared to Gorilla Glass.
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Comment on New York Times angers Italians with "smoky tomato carbonara" recipe in ~food
babypuncher At first glance this seems like a really dumb thing for people to complain about. But I'm not a chef or a "foodie", so I have no expertise in the field. Then I remember that time The Verge tried...At first glance this seems like a really dumb thing for people to complain about. But I'm not a chef or a "foodie", so I have no expertise in the field.
Then I remember that time The Verge tried to show us how to build a computer and now I'm guessing this is a pretty similar situation.
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Comment on Why sitcoms stopped using laugh tracks - Short history of the laff box in ~tv
babypuncher It is a relevant distinction, but it is still useful to have a single term that captures both concepts.It is a relevant distinction, but it is still useful to have a single term that captures both concepts.
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Comment on Why sitcoms stopped using laugh tracks - Short history of the laff box in ~tv
babypuncher When most people say "laugh track" they are referring to any non-diegetic laughter used to accentuate punchlines. This used to be accomplished with a Laff Box, and later with a live audience.When most people say "laugh track" they are referring to any non-diegetic laughter used to accentuate punchlines. This used to be accomplished with a Laff Box, and later with a live audience.
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Comment on Social media platform Parler is back online with new hosting in ~tech
babypuncher I think being banned from the major app stores has already relegated them to obscurity. These things only spread to the masses when they are made easily accessible. Any inconveniences or barriers...I think being banned from the major app stores has already relegated them to obscurity. These things only spread to the masses when they are made easily accessible. Any inconveniences or barriers to entry can do a tremendous amount of good by limiting new users to the sufficiently motivated.
They will never go away entirely, but that shouldn't be the goal. People are free to be assholes on the internet. The rest of us shouldn't be required to provide a platform for their garbage.
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Comment on Disney's Cruella - Official trailer in ~movies
babypuncher I don't understand this meme. Villain character studies are usually more interesting when the character is given sympathetic motivations. Breaking Bad certainly wouldn't have worked without...I don't understand this meme. Villain character studies are usually more interesting when the character is given sympathetic motivations. Breaking Bad certainly wouldn't have worked without Walter's pay for cancer/provide for my family angle.
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Comment on Texas' grid operator warns rolling blackouts are possible as winter storm escalates demand for electricity in ~enviro
babypuncher I could see it not being worth running gas lines for cooking, laundry, and water heating if your furnace is not expected to get used more than a few weeks out of the year. My high efficiency...I could see it not being worth running gas lines for cooking, laundry, and water heating if your furnace is not expected to get used more than a few weeks out of the year. My high efficiency furnace still accounts for about 70% of my natural gas consumption over the course of a year despite only seeing real use for about 4 months or so.
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Comment on Starting March 16, LastPass users on the free plan will only be able to use it on one "device type" (either PC or mobile) in ~tech
babypuncher If you use a cloud storage service like DropBox or iCloud Drive, you can easily self-host a KeePass 2.x database on it without needing to run your own server. I have found the experience pretty...If you use a cloud storage service like DropBox or iCloud Drive, you can easily self-host a KeePass 2.x database on it without needing to run your own server. I have found the experience pretty seamless across Windows, macOS, and iOS using KeePassXC (desktop app) KeePassium (mobile app). The latter even supports using TouchID and FaceID to unlock your database, and integrates with iOS' built in password management API.
The only rough part comes from my choice of iCloud over DropBox. Apple does not provide a Linux client. This isn't an issue for me, as my only Linux machine is a desktop that is always on the same network as my Windows-powered home server, so I just made iCloud Drive available as a network share from the server and made a service that auto mounts it after boot.
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Comment on Texas' grid operator warns rolling blackouts are possible as winter storm escalates demand for electricity in ~enviro
babypuncher I find the article a tad confusing. Where I live, my electric bill is much lower in the winter than in summer, because while my air conditioner is electric, my furnace runs on gas. Do they not use...I find the article a tad confusing. Where I live, my electric bill is much lower in the winter than in summer, because while my air conditioner is electric, my furnace runs on gas. Do they not use natural gas for heating in Texas?
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Comment on Kingdom Hearts series is coming to PC - Four games releasing on the Epic Games Store on March 30, 2021 in ~games
babypuncher The $60 package a few years ago excluded KH3. The non-sale price for the complete collection is $100, $70 less than EGS is asking. I'm just a bit salty because Tim Sweeney pitched EGS as making...The $60 package a few years ago excluded KH3.
The non-sale price for the complete collection is $100, $70 less than EGS is asking.
I'm just a bit salty because Tim Sweeney pitched EGS as making the PC games market better for the consumer by lowering prices and increasing options. So far, prices are exactly the same (or worse, in this case), and EGS has only succeeded in giving me fewer options when buying some games.
I don't care about having to use multiple storefronts, I just feel icky when they make bad faith arguments to justify their existence and pull stupid crap like this.
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Comment on Kingdom Hearts series is coming to PC - Four games releasing on the Epic Games Store on March 30, 2021 in ~games
babypuncher $170 on the Epic Games store, or $25 on PSN. What a great value proposition.$170 on the Epic Games store, or $25 on PSN. What a great value proposition.
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Comment on Will American ideas tear France apart? Some of its leaders think so. in ~misc
babypuncher I am not surprised to hear any of this, because humans seem to be jerks just about everywhere you go.I am not surprised to hear any of this, because humans seem to be jerks just about everywhere you go.
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Comment on Will American ideas tear France apart? Some of its leaders think so. in ~misc
babypuncher I know very little about the history of race relations in France, so I won't defend or attack their use of blackface here. I do think historical context and cultural norms are an important factor....I know very little about the history of race relations in France, so I won't defend or attack their use of blackface here.
I do think historical context and cultural norms are an important factor. Blackface may not be considered inappropriate in a hypothetical culture where black people were not historically marginalized, or blackface did not have a history of being used to make a mockery of an entire race of people). In America, we have had long standing recent problems with both of these, making it a highly sensitive topic.
So without knowing how this plays out with people of color in France, I can't say one way or the other how problematic it is. The article doesn't seem to address it directly.
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Comment on Replacing ableist and mental health exclusive language (crazy, insane, whack, ...) in ~talk
babypuncher The n-word hasn't gone through the same dilution and transformation though. It has an actively used, hateful definition that is still the primary definition. It will be virtually impossible for...The n-word hasn't gone through the same dilution and transformation though. It has an actively used, hateful definition that is still the primary definition. It will be virtually impossible for that word to see any rehabilitation outside the black community until its use as a slur is a distant memory.
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Comment on Replacing ableist and mental health exclusive language (crazy, insane, whack, ...) in ~talk
babypuncher I think that is a different situation though. Someone is applying a negative adjective to you because of your condition. You could replace "crazy" with any negative word that never had a clinical...I think that is a different situation though. Someone is applying a negative adjective to you because of your condition. You could replace "crazy" with any negative word that never had a clinical definition (like "dipshit") and I think it would still be just as thoughtless and cruel.
Context and intent are both important factors.
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Comment on Replacing ableist and mental health exclusive language (crazy, insane, whack, ...) in ~talk
babypuncher (edited )Link ParentI think you're missing the point where these words haven't been used to disparage groups of people in a very long time. What they were used for a century ago is irrelevant. Language changes over...I think you're missing the point where these words haven't been used to disparage groups of people in a very long time. What they were used for a century ago is irrelevant. Language changes over time, it is not static. These words aren't like the n-word or f*g, which are actively used to spread hate.
I don't believe someone saying "That movie last night was insane!" is disparaging anyone.
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Comment on Replacing ableist and mental health exclusive language (crazy, insane, whack, ...) in ~talk
babypuncher They aren't useless, they are context-sensitive slang. Some more profane examples of words with varying definitions include "shit" and "fuck". We use words like these to accentuate ideas and add...They aren't useless, they are context-sensitive slang. Some more profane examples of words with varying definitions include "shit" and "fuck". We use words like these to accentuate ideas and add color to language, not enhance specificity. They don't belong in your doctoral dissertation or testimony to Congress, but they are perfect for talking about the action scenes in the latest blockbuster with your friends.
As usual, Apple wasn't happy with the user experience possible with the capabilities of the existing standard and decided to extend it with their own proprietary bits.
And, as usual, the rest of the industry doesn't seem to understand why Apple/users want these extra features to begin with and continue plugging along without them. At least this time Apple decided to maintain full interoperability with the existing standard in addition to their proprietary superset, instead of creating an annoyingly fractured ecosystem.