babypuncher's recent activity
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Comment on Unfuck Google Drive (It's Gemini garbage, of course) in ~comp
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Comment on Upgrade desktop to win11 when hardware isn’t supported? in ~tech
babypuncher (edited )Link ParentLTSC versions have caused compatibility issues with software in the past by leaving users behind on feature updates. But Windows 10 is never getting another feature update.LTSC versions have caused compatibility issues with software in the past by leaving users behind on feature updates. But Windows 10 is never getting another feature update.
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Comment on Looking for feedback on a homelab design in ~tech
babypuncher Link ParentSoftware RAID solutions (and ZFS in particular) have become very popular because they solve a lot of the pain, headache, and reliability problems that come with using hardware RAID controllers....Software RAID solutions (and ZFS in particular) have become very popular because they solve a lot of the pain, headache, and reliability problems that come with using hardware RAID controllers. It's gotten to a point where many are readily declaring that hardware RAID dead. While it still sees use in many datacenter/enterprise deployments, it is has become functionally nonexistent in the homelab scene.
I admittedly am not as well versed in ZFS. I opted against it in my setup for a couple reasons, mostly not wanting/having the RAM required to operate optimally on my NAS.
It's worth noting that the memory requirements of ZFS are often grossly overstated. The "1GB per TB" rule you might be familiar with is assuming more enterprisey workloads like hosting big high performance databases and/or dozens of concurrent SMB clients.
It's rare for home use cases to get that intense. I run my 60TB ZFS pool with only 8GB dedicated to ARC and that is likely still way more than it really needs to serve its purpose as a storage place for backups and my Jellyfin library.
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Comment on Can we bury enough wood to slow climate change? in ~enviro
babypuncher Link ParentAre you suggesting that my affection for cheeseburgers could be a vehicle for positive change in the world?Are you suggesting that my affection for cheeseburgers could be a vehicle for positive change in the world?
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Comment on Financial collapse? in ~finance
babypuncher Link ParentI say it's unsustainable because western democracies have a tendency of turning nasty, then eventually Doing The Right Thing when the situation becomes untenable for a large enough subset of the...I say it's unsustainable because western democracies have a tendency of turning nasty, then eventually Doing The Right Thing when the situation becomes untenable for a large enough subset of the population.
The Industrial Revolution created the Gilded Age, which in turn led to the Progressive Era.
I'm somewhat hopeful that as we watch history continue to repeat itself, the good parts will eventually be repeated too.
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Comment on Financial collapse? in ~finance
babypuncher Link ParentI think an AI pop is very much in the cards. Right now AI accounts for a way bigger slice of the American economy than the internet did in 1999. I also think the real world utility of AI is a lot...I think an AI pop is very much in the cards.
Right now AI accounts for a way bigger slice of the American economy than the internet did in 1999. I also think the real world utility of AI is a lot more dubious. This insane level of investment is predicated on the idea that "AGI" is just around the corner, and the first company there will win the market and go on to reap untold riches. That is seeming increasingly unlikely.
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Comment on Financial collapse? in ~finance
babypuncher Link ParentThe problem that has been growing steadily, and recently reached levels not seen since before 1929, is the the massive disparity in economic growth for the top 10% of the economy vs the bottom...The problem that has been growing steadily, and recently reached levels not seen since before 1929, is the the massive disparity in economic growth for the top 10% of the economy vs the bottom 90%. This has become extra obvious recently with the stock market hitting record highs while unemployment is exploding.
This trend is not sustainable, and I don't think many people will argue with that. What nobody knows is where the breaking point will be.
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Comment on Paramount considering a hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery in ~tv
babypuncher Link ParentThese aren't the reasons Warner has been king of the box office this year. I think you're also overstating the damage done to the HBO brand by the train of nonsensical streaming service renames.He may have temporarily helped boost profits by firing a lot of people and cancelling completed projects for the tax write downs
These aren't the reasons Warner has been king of the box office this year. I think you're also overstating the damage done to the HBO brand by the train of nonsensical streaming service renames.
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Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
babypuncher Link ParentI think the "coming back" phase lasts for as long as sales volume keeps growing, and doesn't end until it plateaus, goes back into decline, or somehow makes it all the way back up to where it was...I think the "coming back" phase lasts for as long as sales volume keeps growing, and doesn't end until it plateaus, goes back into decline, or somehow makes it all the way back up to where it was in the '80s.
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Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
babypuncher (edited )Link ParentTo play a cassette tape requires the magnetic analog signal on the tape to be converted into an electronic signal, which is then electronically amplified to drive an electronic transducer such as...- Exemplary
To play a cassette tape requires the magnetic analog signal on the tape to be converted into an electronic signal, which is then electronically amplified to drive an electronic transducer such as a dynamic driver.
The early recording technologies which eventually evolved into the vinyl record, such as Emile Berliner's phonograph, reproduced sound through an entirely mechanical process with no electricity at all.
Here's a picture of Berliner with his first phonograph in 1878, three years before the first practical incandescent light bulb was invented. You can fairly easily make out how it works. The turntable is hand-cranked, no need for an electric motor. The pickup needle directly actuates a transducer, with the physical sound waves it produces getting amplified by the cone.
Modern vinyl records still operate on the same principal. And although we've enhanced everything around the record by replacing most of these parts with electronic alternatiaves, there's still no reason you couldn't build a purely mechanical phonograph capable of playing a freshly pressed Billie Eilish record from Target. You would just find out very quickly why electronics make the whole experience way, way better.
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Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
babypuncher Link ParentThese noise reduction tricks would also cause consumer frustration and confusion. Tapes mastered for any of the Dolby noise reduction systems and played back on decks without support will not only...These noise reduction tricks would also cause consumer frustration and confusion. Tapes mastered for any of the Dolby noise reduction systems and played back on decks without support will not only keep the high natural noise floor of the recording medium, but also make the music itself sound wrong in various ways.
It's no wonder that Dolby S never took off despite how good it was. CD was rapidly maturing and inherently free of this mixed bag of competing proprietary standards as well as the underlying problem they were all designed to solve.
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Comment on Help choosing a new linux computer? in ~tech
babypuncher Link ParentThis is finally changing with the new Nova modules, which will replace both Nouveau and the proprietary DKMS module once they are ready.This is finally changing with the new Nova modules, which will replace both Nouveau and the proprietary DKMS module once they are ready.
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Comment on ‘Predator: Badlands’ officially rated PG-13, meant to be “boundary-pushing” in ~movies
babypuncher Link ParentI think this movie really rubbed up against the ceiling of the PG-13 rating when it comes to violence. Christopher Nolan is a talented filmmaker and really knew how to make the action feel gritty...I think this movie really rubbed up against the ceiling of the PG-13 rating when it comes to violence. Christopher Nolan is a talented filmmaker and really knew how to make the action feel gritty and intense without being outright graphic. The prosthetics and CGI for Harvey Dent's face post-injury are another area they spent considerable time fine tuning to get exactly the right vibe while keeping it PG-13.
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Comment on ‘Predator: Badlands’ officially rated PG-13, meant to be “boundary-pushing” in ~movies
babypuncher Link Parent"Intense" means a lot of it happens or it has strong implications, "graphic" means lots of blood and/or guts. The Joker slamming a pencil through a guy's forehead in The Dark Knight is a good..."Intense" means a lot of it happens or it has strong implications, "graphic" means lots of blood and/or guts.
The Joker slamming a pencil through a guy's forehead in The Dark Knight is a good example of on-screen violence that is intense but not graphic in its depiction.
The rules get fuzzier the less human the targets of the violence are, which is probably why a science fiction movie about aliens getting hunted is able to "push boundaries".
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Comment on Hot take: 4:3 > 16:9 in ~tv
babypuncher Link ParentThese are hilarious, I can't believe I've never seen them before!These are hilarious, I can't believe I've never seen them before!
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Comment on Hot take: 4:3 > 16:9 in ~tv
babypuncher Link ParentTNG was shot open matte and cropped to 4:3 in post production. Keeping the original aspect ratio it was composed for was the right call, however CBS also didn't have much choice in the matter....TNG was shot open matte and cropped to 4:3 in post production. Keeping the original aspect ratio it was composed for was the right call, however CBS also didn't have much choice in the matter. While the photography was open matte, no attempts were made to keep film crew and equipment out of parts of the frame that were going to be cropped out later.
Later seasons of DS9 were actually shot with 16:9 widescreen in mind so we might see that if it ever gets a proper remaster.
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Comment on Hot take: 4:3 > 16:9 in ~tv
babypuncher (edited )LinkThe 4:3 screens these shows were originally composed for were almost certainly smaller than the letterboxed 4:3 area on any modern 16:9 TV. Just like the benefits of tall aspect ratios you point...The 4:3 screens these shows were originally composed for were almost certainly smaller than the letterboxed 4:3 area on any modern 16:9 TV.
Just like the benefits of tall aspect ratios you point out, there are also very good reasons artists will choose a wide aspect ratio as well.
This is why 16:9 was chosen for the switch to high definition. It's a decent middle ground that allows both 4:3 and 2.39:1 content to be presented with minimal pillar/letterboxing.
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Comment on Elon Musk plans to take on Wikipedia with 'Grokipedia' in ~tech
babypuncher Link ParentIt would be funny if the people who believe this nonsense didn't have so much power.It would be funny if the people who believe this nonsense didn't have so much power.
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Comment on imgur.com geoblocks the UK in ~tech
babypuncher Link Parentare.....are they stupid or something? "We don't think this will work, and it will cause a lot of problems. Let's do it anyways!"are.....are they stupid or something?
"We don't think this will work, and it will cause a lot of problems. Let's do it anyways!"
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Comment on OpenAI enables shopping directly from ChatGPT in ~tech
babypuncher Link ParentI was around when people were making similarly disastrous predictions about the future of social media and we all dismissed them as reactionary.I was around when people were making similarly disastrous predictions about the future of social media and we all dismissed them as reactionary.
If you're not opposed to self-hosting, copyparty is super powerful and easy to set up