blivet's recent activity
-
Comment on The tech baron seeking to “ethnically cleanse” San Francisco in ~life
-
Comment on The beautiful dissociation of the Japanese language in ~humanities.languages
blivet Link ParentI’ve been told that Japanese has a similar construction, where you have to refer to things as members of a certain category. The example I was given was when purchasing a train ticket you had to...I’ve been told that Japanese has a similar construction, where you have to refer to things as members of a certain category. The example I was given was when purchasing a train ticket you had to ask for a <flat object> ticket.
-
Comment on Is Tildes failing to thrive? in ~tildes
blivet Link ParentYeah, it always frustrates me on old-style forum sites when someone genuinely adds to the discussion on an old thread, only to be chastised for necroposting. If you’ve got something useful or...Yeah, it always frustrates me on old-style forum sites when someone genuinely adds to the discussion on an old thread, only to be chastised for necroposting. If you’ve got something useful or interesting to say, it shouldn’t matter that the topic hasn’t been brought up in a while.
-
Comment on Scientists push new paradigm of animal consciousness, saying even insects may be sentient in ~enviro
blivet Link ParentIt might be possible, but that is manifestly not what is happening.It might be possible, but that is manifestly not what is happening.
-
Comment on Scientists push new paradigm of animal consciousness, saying even insects may be sentient in ~enviro
blivet Link ParentSo you're saying that you did not perceive or understand my earlier comment, that you were entirely unaware of it, and your brain wrote a response to it automatically?So you're saying that you did not perceive or understand my earlier comment, that you were entirely unaware of it, and your brain wrote a response to it automatically?
-
Comment on Scientists push new paradigm of animal consciousness, saying even insects may be sentient in ~enviro
-
Comment on Help me ditch Chrome's password manager! in ~tech
blivet Link ParentI also use the Bitwarden extension with Firefox. The only thing I don’t like about it is that when I login to a site it always puts up a fairly intrusive banner asking if I want to save the...I also use the Bitwarden extension with Firefox. The only thing I don’t like about it is that when I login to a site it always puts up a fairly intrusive banner asking if I want to save the password, even if the password is identical to what it already has stored.
-
Comment on Scientists push new paradigm of animal consciousness, saying even insects may be sentient in ~enviro
blivet Link ParentJudging by what I’ve seen online, there is a fairly sizable contingent that refuses to acknowledge that even dogs and cats are conscious. They seem to genuinely think that animals are just robots...Judging by what I’ve seen online, there is a fairly sizable contingent that refuses to acknowledge that even dogs and cats are conscious. They seem to genuinely think that animals are just robots made of meat.
-
Comment on Is Tildes failing to thrive? in ~tildes
blivet Link ParentYeah, in fact Reddit got too much traffic, now that I’m looking back on it. Posts would get “old” far too quickly. One thing I like about Tildes is that a given topic will stay current for much...Yeah, in fact Reddit got too much traffic, now that I’m looking back on it. Posts would get “old” far too quickly. One thing I like about Tildes is that a given topic will stay current for much longer, leading to more solid discussion.
-
Comment on Ryan Gosling movie 'Project Hail Mary' set for Spring 2026 in ~movies
blivet Link ParentI liked how his lack of courage explained a significant plot point. It was nice seeing all the pieces fall into place.I liked how his lack of courage explained a significant plot point. It was nice seeing all the pieces fall into place.
-
Comment on Trap | Official trailer in ~movies
blivet Link ParentAssuming the trailer is actually telling us the truth, the twist is actually more subtle this time around: we don't want the protagonist to succeed. That said, I think there is quite a bit more...Assuming the trailer is actually telling us the truth, the twist is actually more subtle this time around: we don't want the protagonist to succeed.
That said, I think there is quite a bit more going on. How could the authorities know that the person they are looking for would attend the concert? Why was the guy working the concession stand such a blabbermouth, and why would someone in his position know all about the plan anyway? It would make more sense for people like him to be treated like the concertgoers and told nothing.
Anyhow, at the very least it looks like a solid action movie.
-
Comment on AI and the end of writing in ~tech
blivet Link ParentYeah, people who use words like “hallucination” want to make it sound like these text generation algorithms are conscious when they are nothing of the sort.Yeah, people who use words like “hallucination” want to make it sound like these text generation algorithms are conscious when they are nothing of the sort.
-
Comment on Norwegian bridge collapsed ten years after it was built – all because designers focused too much on making it look good in ~engineering
blivet LinkThere’s got to be more to the story, or maybe something was lost in translation. This bridge looks really basic and functional. It’s hard to believe that anyone involved in its design got carried...There’s got to be more to the story, or maybe something was lost in translation. This bridge looks really basic and functional. It’s hard to believe that anyone involved in its design got carried away by an aesthetic vision.
-
Comment on I’ve been at NPR for twenty-five years. Here’s how we lost America’s trust. in ~news
blivet Link ParentYeah, I really don’t think that reflecting the worldview of a mob of insane fascists is something to aspire to. And Berliner is factually wrong about the specific areas where he says NPR has...Yeah, I really don’t think that reflecting the worldview of a mob of insane fascists is something to aspire to. And Berliner is factually wrong about the specific areas where he says NPR has fallen short. Hunter Biden’s laptop, of all things!
-
Comment on EV bargains to be found as Hertz sells off some of its US electric cars in ~transport
blivet Link ParentAgree. I think this is overall a pretty bad period in automotive design. About the best you can get is boring.Agree. I think this is overall a pretty bad period in automotive design. About the best you can get is boring.
-
Comment on Iowa hospital IT systems architect used a fake identity for thirty-five years in ~life
blivet (edited )Link ParentI was asking why he stole his coworker’s identity in the first place, not why he maintained the charade.I was asking why he stole his coworker’s identity in the first place, not why he maintained the charade.
-
Comment on Iowa hospital IT systems architect used a fake identity for thirty-five years in ~life
blivet Link ParentMaybe so, and certainly after he had a nice career going he would have had a strong motivation to continue the fraud, but the article doesn’t give any indication as to why he wanted to pretend to...Maybe so, and certainly after he had a nice career going he would have had a strong motivation to continue the fraud, but the article doesn’t give any indication as to why he wanted to pretend to be his coworker in the first place.
What about Woods’ life was so attractive, or conversely, what was Keirans trying to get away from in his own life?
-
Comment on Hey, monthly mystery commenters, what's up with the hit-and-runs? in ~tildes
blivet Link ParentThree Cheers is great, but I use another app that displays text in a larger font that’s easier for me to read. I actually did get a notification of your reply, so maybe that issue has been resolved.Three Cheers is great, but I use another app that displays text in a larger font that’s easier for me to read.
I actually did get a notification of your reply, so maybe that issue has been resolved.
-
Comment on Hey, monthly mystery commenters, what's up with the hit-and-runs? in ~tildes
blivet Link ParentThis isn't the whole answer, but I think at least part of it is purely technical. I mostly interact with Tildes via an iOS app that is still a work in progress, and it usually doesn't notify me...This isn't the whole answer, but I think at least part of it is purely technical. I mostly interact with Tildes via an iOS app that is still a work in progress, and it usually doesn't notify me when someone has replied to one of my comments. Every now and then I look at the "my account" view and am surprised to see that someone reacted to something I said a couple of weeks ago. Unless they have asked me a direct question I usually figure that by that time there's no point in continuing the conversation.
-
Comment on Sorry. Your car will never drive you around. in ~transport
blivet (edited )Link ParentThat Airbus crash was the source of my most frustrating ever online discussion. Someone claiming to be an engineer kept insisting that it simply wasn’t possible to have a switch in the cockpit...That Airbus crash was the source of my most frustrating ever online discussion. Someone claiming to be an engineer kept insisting that it simply wasn’t possible to have a switch in the cockpit that toggled control between the pilot and copilot, and that the current system where the two pilots agree between themselves as to which one is actually flying the airplane at any given time was the only way it could be. I find this extremely hard to believe.
Even talking to other programmers about programming can be incredibly frustrating. Some of us apparently just can't conceive of ever being wrong or knowing less than another person.