bbvnvlt's recent activity
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Comment on Longevity of tech equipment in ~tech
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Comment on What small questions do you have that aren’t worth a full topic on their own? in ~talk
bbvnvlt Link ParentAnswer in Progress did a whole 25min video on this exact problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYRkQEFWnNoAnswer in Progress did a whole 25min video on this exact problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYRkQEFWnNo
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Comment on What are some of your favorite PlayStation 1 games? Any odd or unique ones worth playing? in ~games
bbvnvlt LinkTOCA Touring Car Championship! First semi-realistic racing game I ever played. Got me into simracing. So may hours beating my older brother and best friend in the Audi :) (this topic is making me...TOCA Touring Car Championship!
First semi-realistic racing game I ever played. Got me into simracing. So may hours beating my older brother and best friend in the Audi :)
(this topic is making me sad I got rid of the console at some point)
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Comment on What are some of your favorite PlayStation 1 games? Any odd or unique ones worth playing? in ~games
bbvnvlt Link ParentThis was the first game I purchased. Together with the console. Good memories. Getting the steering with the air brakes just right, was so satisfying. I never managed to beat it completely in my...WipeOut 2097
This was the first game I purchased. Together with the console. Good memories. Getting the steering with the air brakes just right, was so satisfying.
I never managed to beat it completely in my teens, but after re-installing my PS1 at a LAN party in my late twenties (I think), I managed to complete the whole thing in a single night. Good times :).
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Comment on What are some of your favorite PlayStation 1 games? Any odd or unique ones worth playing? in ~games
bbvnvlt Link ParentThis was my go-to for playing with friends. Loads of fun. Especially the mode where you share a controller between two people so you can play with 4 people :)This was my go-to for playing with friends. Loads of fun. Especially the mode where you share a controller between two people so you can play with 4 people :)
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Comment on Screws - The early years in ~engineering
bbvnvlt LinkThanks. Cool! This covers much of the same ground (and images) as Witold Rybczynski's book 'One Good Turn : a natural history of the screwdriver and the screw'. Recommended if you like this sort...Thanks. Cool!
This covers much of the same ground (and images) as Witold Rybczynski's book 'One Good Turn : a natural history of the screwdriver and the screw'. Recommended if you like this sort of thing.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
bbvnvlt LinkI recently installed Ubuntu on my home 2012 MacBook Pro as an experiment. Before, I used to run Windows. I love the hardware, but MacOS not so much. Everything runs super smooth. I was super...I recently installed Ubuntu on my home 2012 MacBook Pro as an experiment. Before, I used to run Windows. I love the hardware, but MacOS not so much.
Everything runs super smooth. I was super surprised to what extent Ubuntu just works. Very happy with the switch.
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Comment on The new dot com bubble is here: it’s called online advertising in ~tech
bbvnvlt Link ParentAgree. I found myself nodding along while reading the article, untill I started thinking of all the things they weren't discussing/how limited their analysis is.Agree. I found myself nodding along while reading the article, untill I started thinking of all the things they weren't discussing/how limited their analysis is.
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Comment on What do you gift a couch host? in ~life
bbvnvlt LinkThouroughly scrub their kitchen? Cook them a really good meal? Fix their ceiling light that's been broken for ages? I have a growing dislike of receiving stuff from people and increasingly...Thouroughly scrub their kitchen? Cook them a really good meal? Fix their ceiling light that's been broken for ages?
I have a growing dislike of receiving stuff from people and increasingly appreciate offers of company, help, and other over-and-above acts of friendship.
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Comment on Designing Facebook's new company branding in ~design
bbvnvlt Link ParentYou're right. Apologies. It's just such obvious BS. Hit a nerve. The wrong kind ;)You're right. Apologies. It's just such obvious BS. Hit a nerve. The wrong kind ;)
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Comment on What YouTube channels have you been watching more recently and would recommend? in ~talk
bbvnvlt LinkI'm a longtime Vlogbrothers watcher. Usually I enjoy John's videos more. But I watch pretty much all of them. A recent project from Hank Green (and collaborators) is Journey to the Microcosmos...I'm a longtime Vlogbrothers watcher. Usually I enjoy John's videos more. But I watch pretty much all of them.
A recent project from Hank Green (and collaborators) is Journey to the Microcosmos about microscopic life. Interesting, beautiful, and relaxing to watch. Much slower paced than much else on YT. It's nice.
Tom Scott is a favorite. Science and nerdery. Often visits interesting places, buildings, and facilities.
Objectivity dives into the archives of the Royal Society. Lighthearted but does give a nice peek into science history.
Plus I keep an eye on The RSA and The Royal Institution for interesting lectures/talks.
Alternatively, I sometimes get into a MOOC of the 'watch videos/take short multiple choice tests' type. I highly recommend Chinese Thought: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science and Arab-Islamic History: From Tribes to Empires is also good.
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Comment on The debate over Facebook's political ads ignores 90% of its global users in ~tech
bbvnvlt Link ParentI read the novel Infomocracy (first few chapters available free at the publisher) a few years back, in which a corporation called simply 'Information' pretty much runs the show (administers a...I read the novel Infomocracy (first few chapters available free at the publisher) a few years back, in which a corporation called simply 'Information' pretty much runs the show (administers a massively federated democratic system). It seemed a bit of a stretch when I read it. But I've been thinking back to it more and more as not so strange a future after all...
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
bbvnvlt LinkA while back I built a web-app text-editor for myself that only lets you backspace for half a minute or so. It's called Backstop. After that 'the ink dries' and the text is set. It helps me write...A while back I built a web-app text-editor for myself that only lets you backspace for half a minute or so. It's called Backstop. After that 'the ink dries' and the text is set. It helps me write drafts without getting lost in stupid edits. It's based on (copied from) someone else's app 'Rough Draft' that no longer exists. I didn't like some aspects of it so built my own.
I've been playing around with making it into a native application with electron.js this week, but ended up mostly adding some functionality and polishing things. I'd like to get it to a lever where I'm comfortable telling more people about it (edit: as far as I'm aware, no other editor exists with this sort of behaviour, so it should be useful for others). Not quite there yet.
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Comment on Tell me about your smartphone! in ~tech
bbvnvlt Link ParentBecause electronics contain many materials that are mined in very earth-unfriendly ways and often under appaling social conditions. That, in combination with the fact that there's so many...Because electronics contain many materials that are mined in very earth-unfriendly ways and often under appaling social conditions. That, in combination with the fact that there's so many perfectly functional and relatively up-to-date phones, tablets, and laptops sitting around in people's drawers because they've upgraded means I'd rather use one of those idle leftovers untill they give out. Plus it's cheaper. Although I'd probably even go for second-hand if that weren't the case.
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Comment on Tell me about your smartphone! in ~tech
bbvnvlt LinkI have an iPhone SE, bought refurbished with a 2 year guarantee. Got it only last month after I dropped my hand-me-down iPhone 5 on the pavement after having it for 2 or 3 years. The 'new' one...I have an iPhone SE, bought refurbished with a 2 year guarantee.
Got it only last month after I dropped my hand-me-down iPhone 5 on the pavement after having it for 2 or 3 years. The 'new' one cost me € 189,-
Not looking to upgrade, as the most important feature is I don't like te buy virgin (new) electronics. I also like its small size and the design of Apple's hardware.
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Comment on Let's talk bags in ~life.style
bbvnvlt LinkI have a monochrome bright orange Côte et Ciel Isar (current model has many changes to mine). (edit: Although, not so bright orange anymore, it's many years old and almost threadbare. Bookmarked...I have a monochrome bright orange Côte et Ciel Isar (current model has many changes to mine). (edit: Although, not so bright orange anymore, it's many years old and almost threadbare. Bookmarked this topic for future reference :-P)
Large reason is aesthetics, but I still love the basic design of a big variable sack with a laptop back stuck to the back. Perfect for laptop/work, and I can take enough for a weekend away.
When I was looking around, I very much appreciated the in-depth reviews of bags on carryology.com.
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Comment on The Dutch hardly bike at all in ~design
bbvnvlt Link ParentAccording to the third graph in the article, around 15% of 20km trips are done by bike. That seems plausible. And it's still a lot of biking. The title is grade-A clickbait BS, imho. Other graphs...According to the third graph in the article, around 15% of 20km trips are done by bike. That seems plausible.
And it's still a lot of biking. The title is grade-A clickbait BS, imho.
Other graphs rely a lot on averages. Average distance per person per day is going to be low if you include everyone.
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Comment on There is no algorithm for truth in ~tech
bbvnvlt (edited )Link ParentI watched the talk aswell, and this seems like a relatively accurate summary. Although I didn't feel it was 'all over the place'. The goal seems to have been to give a view of science...I watched the talk aswell, and this seems like a relatively accurate summary.
Although I didn't feel it was 'all over the place'. The goal seems to have been to give a view of science communication, and how there is no single right and perfect way to do this. And he had to cover a number of concepts and explanations to make his points.
Two stand out for me (two days or so after a casual viewing):
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The 'echo-chamber' <-> 'nazi bar' dichotomy (highly versus un-regulated speech, heavy vs no moderation). Both are bad, but there is no one right place on those spectra to be. Every forum will have to decide on a policy that works for their goals.
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The dilemma of popular presenters versus actual experts [edit: Scott analyses this through the concept of 'parasocial relationships', which seems to be something a number of YouTubers are thinking about]. Popular presenters don't really know what they're talking about and investing in them puts authority where it maybe shouldn't be. But if you're only going to let actual experts communicate science, then less people will listen. Again, Scott's point was that this is a dilemma without a single right answer but one every media producer should be conscious of (and he seems to feel you should do your best to lean toward the expert-side of this spectrum as far as you can get away with).
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Comment on Twelve hours. Four Syrian hospitals bombed. One culprit: Russia. in ~news
bbvnvlt LinkVideo reporting exactly what it says in the title. Looks unrefutable. Unsuprising but still shocking.Video reporting exactly what it says in the title. Looks unrefutable. Unsuprising but still shocking.
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Twelve hours. Four Syrian hospitals bombed. One culprit: Russia.
12 votes
Ha, an iPhone 8. So up-to-date! ;-)
I have a first-gen SE that I bought (refurbished) in 2019. Very little issues, apart from one or two apps that require newer iOS versions. And the cameras have degraded a bit due to condensation inside, making photos in bright light a bit fuzzy. I'm dreading the day that it breaks, though. Current day phones are way too big for my taste.
My iPad mini from 2014 is also still fine for daily use. Although that one is running into more and more websites that refuse to display/run properly because of some apparent javascript incompatibility with the older iOS version, let alone apps. For most of what I want to read, it's still perfectly OK, though.
Fun topic, btw. Good to see so many tech unthusiasts that actively aim not to upgrade until necessary :-)