bret's recent activity

  1. Comment on What have you spent "too much time" trying to fix or streamline? in ~talk

    bret
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    The most recent bug at work. In a nutshell, I have an excel file. In column A, each row corresponds to a line of XML code. I created a VBA macro to iterate through each line, update values, and...

    The most recent bug at work.

    In a nutshell, I have an excel file. In column A, each row corresponds to a line of XML code. I created a VBA macro to iterate through each line, update values, and write it to an XML file. Then I use a tool in our application to upload the XML and create a bunch of assignments in our software.

    The XML it created didn't have any errors parsing, but for some reason the assignments it created had some corrupted artifacts. After a lot of trial and error, I found something very weird.

    If I instead copied everything from column A onto column B, and used the XML from column B, everything suddenly worked fine. If I literally copy-pasted what was then on column B back onto column A, and used the XML from column A - nope, didn't work again.

    I tested this multiple times. Same results. I copied into two XML files, one from column A, and one from column B, and compared line by line. Same exact code. I even put it through AI to see if there were ANY differences, including things like leading or trailing spaces or anything like that. Zero difference between the files. Still, the column A file works and the column B file didn't.

    After a full day of examining this, I simply updated the macro to copy everything on column A onto column B and use that.

    3 votes
  2. Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv

    bret
    Link Parent
    Just wanted to let you know I checked out Counterpart because of this post and so far it is absolutely fantastic (just finished s01 ep09).

    Just wanted to let you know I checked out Counterpart because of this post and so far it is absolutely fantastic (just finished s01 ep09).

    1 vote
  3. Comment on What’s your “I didn’t know I needed that” item? in ~life

    bret
    (edited )
    Link
    Two purchases really surprised me how much I really loved them after buying them: Anker 120w charger - I really love the fact one compact device can fully replace my laptop charger, phone charger,...

    Two purchases really surprised me how much I really loved them after buying them:

    Anker 120w charger - I really love the fact one compact device can fully replace my laptop charger, phone charger, and pretty much anything else I have.

    ROCO Minimalist Wallet - had this wallet for YEARS and it holds up incredibly and is just so satisfying. I have not seen anyone with a slimmer wallet, and I just like it

    3 votes
  4. Comment on What’s your “I didn’t know I needed that” item? in ~life

    bret
    Link Parent
    is there any specific knife sharpener you recommend?

    is there any specific knife sharpener you recommend?

    2 votes
  5. Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv

    bret
    Link Parent
    As a huge fan of Christopher Nolan films, I'm surprised I didn't know he had a brother! Definitely checking out Person of Interest next

    As a huge fan of Christopher Nolan films, I'm surprised I didn't know he had a brother! Definitely checking out Person of Interest next

    3 votes
  6. Great shows with interesting premises?

    I was just thinking how many of the TV shows I've been loving recently have a really cool premise about the world (or, at least, the characters world). From - People that enter this town are...

    I was just thinking how many of the TV shows I've been loving recently have a really cool premise about the world (or, at least, the characters world).

    From - People that enter this town are unable to leave (all roads lead back to town), get hunted by monster-people at night

    Silo - 10,000 people live in a silo. Their history has been erased, they know nothing of the outside world.

    Severance - People can disconnect their 'work-self' from their 'non-work' self via a mysterious company.

    The Leftovers - Two percent of the worlds population vanish instantly.

    The Devils Hour - It's hard to not give anything away in this one but the premise at the very start is a woman wakes up at 3:33AM every single day. Has a timelooping premise later on

    What are some of your favorite shows in the same vein (interesting premise)?

    62 votes
  7. Comment on Real-Debrid decides to dock, no more sea sailing in ~tech

    bret
    (edited )
    Link
    goddamnit. for a few glorious months i had a perfect sea-sailing setup with a chromecast, stremio, torrentio, and real-debrid. it was like if netflix had every movie and tv show known to man and...

    goddamnit. for a few glorious months i had a perfect sea-sailing setup with a chromecast, stremio, torrentio, and real-debrid. it was like if netflix had every movie and tv show known to man and was basically free.

    16 votes
  8. Comment on Should I stop using Kagi because they do business with Yandex? in ~tech

    bret
    Link Parent
    It kind of depends on the extent of the involvement of those companies. One of the defining characteristics of Russia right now is the heavy amount of corruption involved in doing any business...

    It kind of depends on the extent of the involvement of those companies. One of the defining characteristics of Russia right now is the heavy amount of corruption involved in doing any business there. And yes, if Trump did something as bad as trying to invade, rape, and pillage another country, I would extend my discrimination to any American company not taking a stand against that.

    13 votes
  9. Comment on Should I stop using Kagi because they do business with Yandex? in ~tech

    bret
    Link Parent
    Yeah, well I do.

    We do not discriminate based on current geopolitical issues.

    Yeah, well I do.

    56 votes
  10. Comment on Wicked, Dune, It, and deceiving the audience about two-parters in ~movies

    bret
    Link
    I thought the hobbit movies were a two-parter and was super disappointed when the whole desolation of smaug movie never resolved

    I thought the hobbit movies were a two-parter and was super disappointed when the whole desolation of smaug movie never resolved

    2 votes
  11. Comment on Wicked, Dune, It, and deceiving the audience about two-parters in ~movies

  12. Comment on 2024 United States election megathread in ~society

    bret
    Link
    I live in maricopa county, home of all the crazies like Kari Lake and Joe Arpaio... absolutely can't wait for all the deranged political signs to be taken down and the mailers to stop

    I live in maricopa county, home of all the crazies like Kari Lake and Joe Arpaio... absolutely can't wait for all the deranged political signs to be taken down and the mailers to stop

    17 votes
  13. Comment on PocketPlay phone case in ~games

    bret
    Link
    This is exactly what I've been looking for but for my android phone :(

    This is exactly what I've been looking for but for my android phone :(

    3 votes
  14. Comment on ‘Terrifier 3’ takes over box office as ‘Joker 2’ suffers 82% 2nd weekend drop in ~movies

    bret
    Link Parent
    I'm the same way. I was just recommended to watch it by a friend. I get that it's cool that it's got that classic gorefest vibe. I like the genre. But I expected some kind of plot or something...

    I'm the same way. I was just recommended to watch it by a friend. I get that it's cool that it's got that classic gorefest vibe. I like the genre. But I expected some kind of plot or something else it has going for it. I wasn't expecting a good or even mediocre plot, but it didn't even have that.

    I've read online that Terrifier 2 has a better plot, but I'm not sure I can bring myself to watch it knowing how much I did not enjoy Terrifier 1.

    2 votes
  15. Comment on Don't talk to the police in ~life

    bret
    Link
    I wrote a reddit post a few years ago that was basically just a recap of this guys book. #YSK The Dangers of Talking to Law Enforcement, Even When Innocent ##Why YSK: Innocent People Can Be Found...

    I wrote a reddit post a few years ago that was basically just a recap of this guys book.

    #YSK The​ Da​ng​e​rs of​ Ta​lking​ to La​w Enf​orc​e​me​nt, Eve​n Whe​n Innoc​e​nt
    ##Why YSK: Innoc​e​nt Pe​ople​ Ca​n Be​ Found​ Guilty, And​ Ove​rc​rimina​liza​tion (US)

    ###Innoc​e​nt Pe​ople​ Ca​n Be​ Found​ Guilty
    Polic​e​ c​a​n mista​ke​nly implic​a​te​ innoc​e​nt pe​ople​ b​e​c​a​use​ polic​e​ a​re​n't pe​rf​e​c​t.

    • Conf​irma​tion Bia​s.
      Af​te​r some​one​ c​ome​s to a​ c​onc​lusion, it is ve​ry d​if​f​ic​ult f​or the​m to a​d​mit tha​t the​y we​re​ wrong​. It is muc​h e​a​sie​r a​nd​ more​ c​omf​orta​b​le​ f​or the​m to c​onvinc​e​ the​mse​lve​s tha​t the​y d​id​ not ma​ke​ a​ mista​ke​, a​nd​ tha​t the​ir initia​l a​c​c​usa​tions we​re​ c​orre​c​t. The​ir me​morie​s will g​la​d​ly c​oope​ra​te​ in tha​t e​f​f​ort. Eve​n if​ the​y a​re​ not a​wa​re​ of​ how it is ha​ppe​ning​, the​y mig​ht re​c​a​ll none​xiste​nt d​e​ta​ils to c​oinc​id​e​ with a​nd​ c​orrob​ora​te​ the​ story the​y ha​ve​ a​lre​a​d​y b​e​g​un pe​rsua​d​ing​ the​mse​lve​s to b​e​lie​ve​.

    In the​ c​a​se​ of​ Ea​rl Ruf​f​in, a​ polic​e​ of​f​ic​e​r b​roug​ht a​ c​opy of​ his type​s note​d​ f​rom his inte​rvie​w with him, whic​h he​ ha​d​ type​d​ up d​uring​ the​ir inte​rvie​w thre​e​ months e​a​rlie​r. But he​ c​ha​ng​e​d​ those​ note​d​ a​nd​ a​d​d​e​d​ thre​e​ more​ word​s tha​t we​re​ ha​nd​writte​n tha​t implic​a​te​d​ Ruf​f​in, a​nd​ this wa​s use​d​ a​t tria​l to c​onvic​t him. He​ wa​s e​xone​ra​te​d​ some​ twe​nty ye​a​rs la​te​r only a​f​te​r DNA e​vid​e​nc​e​ e​xone​ra​te​d​ him.

    • Impe​rf​e​c​t Le​g​a​l Syste​m. The​ me​thod​s la​w e​nf​orc​e​me​nt use​ to inte​rrog​a​te​ a​nd​ g​a​the​r inf​orma​tion is surprising​ly e​f​f​e​c​tive​ a​t g​e​tting​ innoc​e​nt pe​ople​ to c​onf​e​ss to c​rime​s the​y d​id​ not c​ommit. Ac​c​ord​ing​ to one​ stud​y of​ 250 prisone​rs e​xone​ra​te​d​ b​y DNA e​vid​e​nc​e​, 16 pe​rc​e​nt of​ the​m ma​d​e​ wha​t’s c​a​lle​d​ a​ f​a​lse​ c​onf​e​ssion: a​d​mitting​ the​ir c​ommission of​ a​ c​rime​ tha​t the​y d​id​ not c​ommit.

    You a​re​ impe​rf​e​c​t.

    Misspe​a​king​ or sa​ying​ a​nything​ e​ve​n slig​htly ina​c​c​ura​te​ c​a​n b​e​ d​e​va​sta​ting​ to your d​e​f​e​nse​.

    • It he​lps c​onvinc​e​ the​ polic​e​ the​y ha​ve​ the​ rig​ht suspe​c​t, ma​king​ the​m le​ss like​ly to pursue​ othe​r le​a​d​s.

    • The​ prose​c​utor c​a​n pre​se​nt tha​t e​vid​e​nc​e​ to a​ jury, a​nd​ the​ jury will b​e​ instruc​te​d​ tha​t if​ the​y b​e​lie​ve​ you kne​w your sta​te​me​nt to the​ polic​e​ wa​s f​a​lse​, the​y a​re​ pe​rmitte​d​ to re​g​a​rd​ tha​t knowing​ f​a​lse​hood​ a​s e​vid​e​nc​e​ you a​re​ g​uilty.

    • You c​a​n b​e​ prose​c​ute​d​ f​or the​ c​rimina​l of​f​e​nse​ of​ lying​ to the​ g​ove​rnme​nt. You ma​y b​e​ se​nt to prison f​or up to f​ive​ ye​a​rs if​ you ma​d​e​ a​ sing​le​ sta​te​me​nt to a​ f​e​d​e​ra​l a​g​e​nt tha​t turns out to b​e​ f​a​lse​, if​ the​ prose​c​utor a​nd​ jury c​ould​ b​e​ pe​rsua​d​e​d​ tha​t you kne​w it wa​s ina​c​c​ura​te​.

    Ove​rc​rimina​liza​tion

    You c​a​n b​e​ c​onvic​te​d​ a​nd​ imprisone​d​ f​or c​ommitting​ a​ c​rime​ e​ve​n if​ you ha​d​ no c​rimina​l inte​nt a​nd​ ha​d​ ze​ro knowle​d​g​e​ tha​t your a​c​tions we​re​ f​orb​id​d​e​n b​y la​w. The​re​ a​re​ so ma​ny thousa​nd​s of​ la​ws tha​t ke​e​p b​e​ing​ a​d​d​e​d​ to tha​t e​ve​n the​ Cong​re​ssiona​l Re​se​a​rc​h Se​rvic​e​[is no long​e​r a​b​le​ to ke​e​p c​ount of​ the​ is no long​e​r a​b​le​ to ke​e​p c​ount of​ the​ e​xa​c​t numb​e​r of​ f​e​d​e​ra​l c​rime​s. ^1

    The​ d​e​c​k is sta​c​ke​d​ a​g​a​inst you. As Justic​e​ Bre​ye​r of​ the​ Unite​d​ Sta​te​s Supre​me​ Court c​ompla​ine​d​ in 1998 -

    “The​ c​omple​xity of​ mod​e​rn f​e​d​e​ra​l c​rimina​l la​w, c​od​if​ie​d​ in se​ve​ra​l thousa​nd​ se​c​tions of​ the​ Unite​d​ Sta​te​s Cod​e​ a​nd​ the​ virtua​lly inf​inite​ va​rie​ty of​ f​a​c​tua​l c​irc​umsta​nc​e​s tha​t mig​ht trig​g​e​r a​n inve​stig​a​tion into a​ possib​le​ viola​tion of​ the​ la​w, ma​ke​ it d​if​f​ic​ult f​or a​nyone​ to know, in a​d​va​nc​e​, just whe​n a​ pa​rtic​ula​r se​t of​ sta​te​me​nts mig​ht la​te​r a​ppe​a​r (to a​ prose​c​utor) to b​e​ re​le​va​nt to some​ suc​h inve​stig​a​tion.” ^2

    Just a​b​out e​ve​ryone​, whe​the​r the​y know it or not, is g​uilty of​ nume​rous f​e​lonie​s f​or whic​h the​y c​ould​ b​e​ prose​c​ute​d​. One​ e​stima​te​ is tha​t the​ a​ve​ra​g​e​ Ame​ric​a​n now c​ommits a​pproxima​te​ly thre​e​ f​e​lonie​s a​ d​a​y. ^3

    In c​onc​lusion, a​s f​orme​r Unite​d​ Sta​te​s Attorne​y Ge​ne​ra​l a​nd​ Supre​me​ Court Justic​e​ Rob​e​rt Ja​c​kson put it:

    [A]ny la​wye​r worth his sa​lt will te​ll the​ suspe​c​t in no unc​e​rta​in te​rms to ma​ke​ no sta​te​me​nt to the​ polic​e​ und​e​r a​ny c​irc​umsta​nc​e​s. ^4


    ^(1 Pa​ul Rose​nzwe​ig​, "The​ Ove​r-Crimina​liza​tion of​ Soc​ia​l a​nd​ Ec​onomic​ Cond​uc​t," Cha​mpion, Aug​ust 2003, 28.)

    ^(2 Rub​in v. Unite​d​ Sta​te​s, 252 U.S. 990 (1998)^) ^Bre​ye​r, ^J. ^d​isse​nting​ ^f​rom ^d​e​nia​l ^of​ ^c​e​rtiora​ri

    ^(3 Ha​rve​ry Silve​rg​la​te​, Thre​e​ Fe​lonie​s a​ Da​y: How the​ Fe​d​s Ta​rg​e​t the​ Innoc​e​nt (Ne​w York: Enc​ounte​r Books, 2009)^.)

    ^(4 Forme​r Unite​d​ Sta​te​s Attorne​y Ge​ne​ra​l a​nd​ Supre​me​ Court Justic​e​ Rob​e​rt Ja​c​kson, Wa​tts v. Ind​ia​na​, 338 U.S. 49, 59 (1949)^) ^((c​onc​urring​ opinion)^)


    7 votes
  16. Comment on Huawei announces phone with tri-folding screen in ~tech

    bret
    Link Parent
    I love mine, but the more I use it the more I am used to just using the front screen and not unfolding it at all haha. I'm kind of at the point where I think I might as well just get a regular...

    I love mine, but the more I use it the more I am used to just using the front screen and not unfolding it at all haha. I'm kind of at the point where I think I might as well just get a regular phone again.

    11 votes
  17. Comment on Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris: Who is leading in the US presidential election polls? in ~society

    bret
    Link Parent
    Yeah that's exactly what I said you got me.

    Are you saying that she will lose significant numbers of voters if she doesn't continue to signal that she will support Israel's genocidal campaign?

    Yeah that's exactly what I said you got me.

    4 votes
  18. Comment on Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris: Who is leading in the US presidential election polls? in ~society

    bret
    Link Parent
    Fully disagree. The group that the 'going full left' appeals to appears much bigger on the internet than they are in reality, and the demographics that actually vote won't show up for it.

    Fully disagree. The group that the 'going full left' appeals to appears much bigger on the internet than they are in reality, and the demographics that actually vote won't show up for it.

    24 votes
  19. Comment on Against Netflix in ~tv

    bret
    Link
    I'm going to netflix even harder now

    I'm going to netflix even harder now

    13 votes
  20. Comment on What are your ten favourite movies of all time? in ~movies

    bret
    Link Parent
    Yes. There were a lot of Gylenhaal movies I thought about adding to the list, he really has an insanely good filmography. Something about End of Watch is so good though - even though it's corny,...

    Is End of Watch the one with Jake Gylenhaal and Michael Pena? That's on my to-watch list already, but I also haven't seen it.

    Yes. There were a lot of Gylenhaal movies I thought about adding to the list, he really has an insanely good filmography. Something about End of Watch is so good though - even though it's corny, and very pro-cop, the chemistry between the characters is so good.

    1 vote