caliper's recent activity
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Comment on Feeling weird about my career with respect to AI in ~life
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Comment on Regarding travel agency exoticca.com in ~travel
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Comment on Regarding travel agency exoticca.com in ~travel
caliper Link ParentThat’s an interesting one. Unless time is super constrained, I’d wouldn’t necessarily pick the fastest option over the slow one. Slow, cheap transport often gets you to meet locals, see places you...While it's important to find good prices for things, don't skimp on things that will actually matter on your trip like taking a cheaper, slower train to another city that saves you $20, but you lose 3 hours of exploring time for example.
That’s an interesting one. Unless time is super constrained, I’d wouldn’t necessarily pick the fastest option over the slow one. Slow, cheap transport often gets you to meet locals, see places you wouldn’t see otherwise and possibly find you some unexpected adventures. For me, travel isn’t just going from sight to sight, the traveling itself is part of the fun.
This doesn’t stop at traveling too. Going on expensive tours are less exciting than finding your own way. Being guided by a local, cheap guide can be more interesting than picking a larger group. Being on a dingy fishing boat can be more fun than traveling on a sturdy luxurious boat.
In short, finding fun and adventure for me is much easier by being cheap than by throwing money at a trip.
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Comment on Strange Pop! OS 24.04 behavior in ~tech
caliper LinkIf you’re struggling to get into the bios, unhook the drive with the OS and start the PC. Without the drive, you should be able to figure out how to get in.If you’re struggling to get into the bios, unhook the drive with the OS and start the PC. Without the drive, you should be able to figure out how to get in.
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Comment on Mac advice for a long time Windows user in ~tech
caliper Link ParentTIL and I’ve been a mac user for I don’t know how long. I use the screenshot shortcut on a daily basis and do a cleanup every once in a while. This will improve my life significantly!TIL and I’ve been a mac user for I don’t know how long. I use the screenshot shortcut on a daily basis and do a cleanup every once in a while. This will improve my life significantly!
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
caliper Link ParentStarlings are such amazing birds. Not sure if they are like the ones around here, but here they are great singers ánd can mimic all kinds of sounds. Ringtones, alarms, other birds, etc, they will...Starlings are such amazing birds. Not sure if they are like the ones around here, but here they are great singers ánd can mimic all kinds of sounds. Ringtones, alarms, other birds, etc, they will pick up sounds and go crazy. Absolutely love them. Oh and in flocks they are spectacular!
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
caliper LinkLast two weeks I’ve been at our vacation home. There’s always DIY stuff to do, which I love. I can’t relax during the holidays, so I did jobs that have been on my todo list. First week was...Last two weeks I’ve been at our vacation home. There’s always DIY stuff to do, which I love. I can’t relax during the holidays, so I did jobs that have been on my todo list. First week was replacing a breaker box and rewiring parts of the house. Also did some plastering. This week worked on some shelves, completed the rewire work and replaced a huge water heater. That last job was not at all on my list (so sadly can’t check it off my todo list) but it was good to replace now before it crapped out. Luckily I have lovely neighbors here that have all kinds of tools, including a winch. Getting the old heater out without one would’ve been a total cluster fuck. This only took some mild cussing. If stores hadn’t been closed on the 1st, I could’ve finished the job in a day. Now we had one extra day without hot water. It wasn’t as bad as 4 days without electricity in part of the house 😅 Good thing the family is forgiving!
Too bad vacation is over again and I have to go back to work. I could’ve spent another week here to do some more DIY stuff!
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Comment on Steam Replay 2025 in ~games
caliper Link ParentThis reminds me of that year when my home music server went on a U2 bender for a good week and totally messed up my Spotify wrap up. And I really really hate U2.This reminds me of that year when my home music server went on a U2 bender for a good week and totally messed up my Spotify wrap up. And I really really hate U2.
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Comment on Steam Replay 2025 in ~games
caliper LinkI don’t want to intimidate Tilderions, but I played 3 games and unlocked 15 achievements. This has to be my lowest amount of game time ever. I’ve been wondering recently why I haven’t made time to...I don’t want to intimidate Tilderions, but I played 3 games and unlocked 15 achievements. This has to be my lowest amount of game time ever. I’ve been wondering recently why I haven’t made time to play, but I keep coming back to having the feeling there is more important things to do. I’ve got real life achievements to unlock, and many of them. Maybe when that’s all done, I’ll be able to catch up on the great games that need to be explored!
One idea I’ve been toying with is getting a PS Vita and do some gaming on the commute. But I can’t justify getting another console and having to explain to my SO why there is more crap in the house.
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
caliper LinkWe moved a month or two ago. We went from a smaller town with lots of green to a small quaint city. Our dog is loving it so far! She seems more alive here. Each walk we do a different route and...We moved a month or two ago. We went from a smaller town with lots of green to a small quaint city. Our dog is loving it so far! She seems more alive here. Each walk we do a different route and there’s a lot of things for her to sniff and people to meet. We adopted her at a year and a half, and I think her street life is showing. She’s finding things to eat everywhere. I’m still unsure if I should try to avoid this or just let her have her fun time.
Our cat is less happy. He used to roam the neighborhood and trot along when we’d go for walks with the dog. Now he’s more confined to indoors. We’ve got a small patio for him to enjoy some fresh air, but it is clearly a downgrade for him. So far we’ve only been able to take him on a walk early on a Sunday morning. He was skittish with all the people that were already around, but he stayed close to us. I hope we can make this our new routine.
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Comment on Can we maybe have an informal agreement to avoid posting articles that require you to sell your firstborn child to the devil just to read them? in ~tildes
caliper (edited )Link ParentThat’s good advice too. Although that still means you have to do something while browsing, those cookie popups will still be there and the cookies also while the browser is open. On second...That’s good advice too. Although that still means you have to do something while browsing, those cookie popups will still be there and the cookies also while the browser is open. On second thought, how often do you close the browser? On my devices, the browser is only closed when the device needs a reboot or when Firefox requires a restart. Uptime on my laptop is usually weeks, if not months.
A much better addition is by @d32 in another topic:
Minor correction: it's not about cookies actually, at all. Cookies are an implementation detail. Those popups are asking for your consent to being tracked by the site, which can come in various forms and technical implementations. Calling it "cookies" misses the point. It can mean gathering your data, correlating it with data from other sources, using it to determine strategy to adjust your views, selling it to the american government - anything.
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Comment on Can we maybe have an informal agreement to avoid posting articles that require you to sell your firstborn child to the devil just to read them? in ~tildes
caliper Link ParentUnfortunately I don’t. When I looked I couldn’t find an alternative that does block those. I hope somebody will swoop in and tell us both!Unfortunately I don’t. When I looked I couldn’t find an alternative that does block those. I hope somebody will swoop in and tell us both!
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Comment on Can we maybe have an informal agreement to avoid posting articles that require you to sell your firstborn child to the devil just to read them? in ~tildes
caliper Link ParentJust a heads up: last time I checked, consent-o-matic did not turn off “legitimate interest” toggles. Aren’t those the real evil consents?Just a heads up: last time I checked, consent-o-matic did not turn off “legitimate interest” toggles. Aren’t those the real evil consents?
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Comment on Can I hope to defeat telematics in a new car? in ~transport
caliper Link ParentWhy be protective about the VIN? It’s not private and can, on most (all?) modern cars, be read through the windshield.Why be protective about the VIN? It’s not private and can, on most (all?) modern cars, be read through the windshield.
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Comment on A lot at steak: US beef and cattle prices soar to record highs in ~food
caliper Link ParentThat’s awesome. How has the change been? And if beef prices would drop again, do you think you’d switch back again?That’s awesome. How has the change been? And if beef prices would drop again, do you think you’d switch back again?
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Comment on A lot at steak: US beef and cattle prices soar to record highs in ~food
caliper LinkIf this would lead to overall lower beef consumption it would be a net positive, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part. For now it just seems like dumb policy (tariffs) at work, which...If this would lead to overall lower beef consumption it would be a net positive, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part. For now it just seems like dumb policy (tariffs) at work, which is hitting people already struggling. Not a sustainable way to achieve a positive goal. It’s pretty depressing to watch from a distance, because it all feels so incredibly pointless.
I don’t currently live in the US, but when I did I was always so surprised about produce prices. Cooking yourself using fresh products was often more expensive than buying processed or even fast food. It baffled me because the part of Europe I came from was the other way around. Growing up, going to McDonalds was a luxury that we couldn’t afford. Anybody have an idea why this is/was the case?
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Comment on NATO alphabet in ~talk
caliper Link ParentOh man, I want to be on a call with a random person where they say “…and R as in Rectum”. I would totally lose it and laugh uncontrollably.Oh man, I want to be on a call with a random person where they say “…and R as in Rectum”. I would totally lose it and laugh uncontrollably.
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Comment on Things to do when you've lost your job in ~talk
caliper LinkTalk to people, in person. I’ve found most of my jobs by talking to friends, friends of friends, etc. Ask people to have a coffee with you and tell you about their work because you’re not sure...Talk to people, in person. I’ve found most of my jobs by talking to friends, friends of friends, etc. Ask people to have a coffee with you and tell you about their work because you’re not sure what your next step in your career should be. Don’t ask if they are hiring! Bring some home baked cookies. Have a fun conversation. Ask lots of questions about their job, the industry, etc. If they think you’re a valuable addition to the team, they will ask you to formally apply. Rules and hiring freezes mean nothing if someone wants you on the team. Follow up with a “thank you”. If you feel it’s a place where you want to work, ask if they think a spot will open up soon.
I’ve been on the interviewer side of the table many times and what I’m looking for is a personal connection. If someone is smart and seems like a good fit for the company culture, they will get the job regardless of missing checkboxes on their resume.
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Comment on Idle complaints of indebtedness and isolation in ~talk
caliper LinkYou are in poverty, something I suspect not many here have been in. I come from a poor family, but we were never in the place you are. It seems like you are barely keeping your head above water....You are in poverty, something I suspect not many here have been in. I come from a poor family, but we were never in the place you are. It seems like you are barely keeping your head above water. You’re already listing a bunch of things breaking down and a big setback could get you in real trouble.
Part of being in financial trouble is worrying and stress. This has a significant impact on your health. Take care of yourself and please don’t feel “others have it worse, so I shouldn’t complain”, because that is not true. You have a right to feel bad, it sounds like you are really in a very tough situation.Have you considered getting help? There is, or should be, no shame in going to food banks or soup kitchens. Are there any programs in your area to support people in need? You might qualify for assistance. Around here, libraries often organize programs to connect people. And even if it is just to warm up and chill for a bit, it might be nice to hang out for a couple of hours in a corner of the library with a book. Take care of your mental health.
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Comment on Automotive repair costs on modern vehicles. Any horror stories? in ~transport
caliper Link ParentThat sucks. It feels so wrong to be the one paying for damages caused by something out of your control. Your car must be glad to have you as an owner though. Hope it keeps on purring!That sucks. It feels so wrong to be the one paying for damages caused by something out of your control. Your car must be glad to have you as an owner though. Hope it keeps on purring!
The pessimism for me comes from seeing how others use it and what management thinks it can do. I personally use LLMs regularly for coding and sometimes get good results with a little massaging. But I'm a senior dev and I like to believe I've read enough code to pick sensible solutions that match code style of a project, and above all, solutions that won't introduce a massive amount of technical debt.
Looking at the code diarrhea that some of my coworkers pull out of LLMs is just extremely infuriating. I'm the one reviewing that crap and I'm the one that needs to nag and explain and take time out of my day to read and understand it all. It's just so frustrating to deal with. My fear is that this will only get worse with time. New devs won't be required to hone their skills. The amount of technical debt will just grow exponentially. It all just seems so short sighted and management is totally to blame. They jump on the hype train and push it without understanding the implications. The feeling of "these people have no idea what their company is actually doing" has never been greater for me, and that's after the "BigData, NoSQL, everything cloud, blockchain" nonsense we've already lived through.