caliper's recent activity
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (May 2024) — Version 1.0 is out for iOS! in ~tildes
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Comment on Whistleblower who accused Boeing supplier of ignoring defects dies in ~transport
caliper Link ParentYou may want to update your comment because you took the wrong age from the article.The Seattle Times, which first reported his death, said Dean was 45 years old
You may want to update your comment because you took the wrong age from the article.
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Comment on Setting up a pen-turning workshop for my son — need advice! in ~hobbies
caliper Link ParentSounds like you’re already on top of it! Taking some shop classes together is a great idea.Sounds like you’re already on top of it! Taking some shop classes together is a great idea.
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Comment on F1 drivers surprised by China track that’s been ‘repainted, not resurfaced’ in ~sports.motorsports
caliper Link ParentThat’s not what I’m getting from this article. It’s not a resurface, which is bad on its own, but what’s more: This is all amateur hour and you’d expect better from a F1 track.That’s not what I’m getting from this article. It’s not a resurface, which is bad on its own, but what’s more:
I think it looks a bit inconsistent. That inconsistency is what I worry about the most—the inconsistency from entry to mid-corner to exit in each corner. If it's variable, that's going to be pretty tricky.
This is all amateur hour and you’d expect better from a F1 track.
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Comment on Setting up a pen-turning workshop for my son — need advice! in ~hobbies
caliper LinkAt some point in time a attended a 4 year fine woodworking/furniture making college. When I decided to switch careers, I had spent about 10 years in shops. I have never made any pens, but I can...- Exemplary
At some point in time a attended a 4 year fine woodworking/furniture making college. When I decided to switch careers, I had spent about 10 years in shops. I have never made any pens, but I can see that being a lot of fun to do! I'm unfortunately at a place where I can't watch any videos, so I may make some wrong assumptions about the process or your knowledge, I'm sorry if I do.
I always love hearing about kids wanting to make things. I was always intrigued by tools and crafts but we didn't have much to work with at home, so it's really nice to hear a parent trying to make that happen for their kid. I'm going to touch a subject that has always been very important in my career: safety. Please don't feel discouraged if it comes across as a grumpy old man being grumpy, I just want to make sure you're not underestimating the safety aspect.
Power tools are no joke, even ones you may think are harmless. I've seen quite a few accidents, mostly with routers and table saws, but also with lathes. There are a lot of wrong ways to use lathes, table saws and even drill presses. In the best scenario you'll crap your pants and walk away unharmed, in less fortunate scenarios you'll lose a finger or an eye. See safety as a skill that's worth developing, just like learning to use tools. I've got all these checklists in my head I run through before turning on any machine. Memorizing those and adhering to them kept me safe and in one piece. There were some near misses, and each reminded me to never be too comfortable using power tools. Being cautious and thinking twice is way better than messing up once.
This doesn't mean my kids can't come into the shop (I still have a small woodworking shop at home), but I'm always there to supervise. A lot of kids 12-18 will gladly tell you they know exactly what they are doing, I know because I was just like that. The truth is they overestimate their own abilities and underestimate the complexity of the thing they are attempting to do. That's part of growing up. That does mean somebody needs to be there to look over their shoulder to step in when it's needed.
Some tools are off limits. The table saw, for instance, is very much off limits. There are just way to many things to think about while setting up and while cutting, that I don't feel comfortable leaving that up to my kids just yet.
Another thing is clothing. I have strict rules for my own clothing (no hoodies with pull cords for instance) and the same I'm trying to teach my kids. Getting pulled into a machine by your hair or clothing is a very bad time.
There's a lot more, but I think this rambling already gives you the idea I'm trying to get across. I hope he's going to enjoy it! If you feel like sharing pictures later on, I'm always interested in seeing project progress.
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Comment on Question for those in colder climates: Pellet HVAC/boilers? in ~life.home_improvement
caliper LinkCouple of disclaimers before I get started: I've only owned this setup for 2 years I do not live here year round This is in Europe Two years ago I became the proud owner of a "serious" pellet...Couple of disclaimers before I get started:
- I've only owned this setup for 2 years
- I do not live here year round
- This is in Europe
Two years ago I became the proud owner of a "serious" pellet setup, at least it is for me. It's a Viessmann Vitoligno 300P furnace that was installed in 2009. It's already a big machine, but next to it is a big warm water tank that can combine multiple heat sources (for instance solar and pellet) to heat the central heating water. This already takes up most of the mudroom space. Behind the mudroom is a separate small addition for a 5m3 hopper. The hopper is connected to the furnace pellet storage through a vacuum system. Central heating water is pumped through the system with a "smart" setup that decides when water needs to go into the tank, or when it needs to circulate. There's some black magic involved, I'm sure.
I hope this already sets the tone: this is your average over engineered German setup with a lot of moving parts. It took me a full summer to get the system cleaned and working properly again. The previous owner clearly had no idea what they were doing: the fan was blocked, the automated cleaning was seized, the ash tray was missing important gaskets, the tank was shut off for some reason, etc. It really was a fun tinkering project. Now, the system runs faultless and I'm very pleased with it.
We filled the hopper last summer for the first time. From what we've heard from neighbors, pellet prices have gone through the roof in the last couple of years. I'm not sure that's different from all other sources; gas, oil, wood, all have increased dramatically. The setup here is very convenient: a truck rolls up to the house and blows a couple of cubic meters of pellets into the storage in less than 30 minutes. If we would need to haul that stuff in ourselves, I would probably be a lot less happy with this system.
To sum things up:
- having a hopper is extremely convenient
- when maintained properly, this system runs itself
- lots of moving parts that can make life miserable if you're not a DIY person
- I love how slowly we burn through the stuff, it's so much more efficient than the fireplace
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
caliper Link ParentGreat in-depth reply! I’m curious, and I hope you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing now? It sounds like you’re not in that space anymore.Great in-depth reply! I’m curious, and I hope you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing now? It sounds like you’re not in that space anymore.
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Comment on Folding bike recommendations in ~transport
caliper Link ParentPeople are very active on the site and I’ve only dealt with trustworthy people, so don’t worry too much about meeting up with people. The French do tend to ask at the higher end, so don’t feel bad...People are very active on the site and I’ve only dealt with trustworthy people, so don’t worry too much about meeting up with people. The French do tend to ask at the higher end, so don’t feel bad haggling. Hope you can find a bike you like!
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Comment on Folding bike recommendations in ~transport
caliper LinkHave you considered a second hand one? https://www.leboncoin.fr is France’s Craigslist and it’s pretty amazing. I’ve bought a bunch of stuff in the past and it’s always fun to meet some local...Have you considered a second hand one? https://www.leboncoin.fr is France’s Craigslist and it’s pretty amazing. I’ve bought a bunch of stuff in the past and it’s always fun to meet some local folks that way!
Otherwise, Decathlon is big in France and they have affordable bikes, also. They will not be Bromptons, but great for getting you from a to b.
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Comment on What did you do to "prepare" for your marriage? in ~life
caliper Link ParentEven now, being together with my wife for over 20 years and married for almost 15, I find this list eye opening. I wish we had this explicit list instead of bumping into the topics over time....Even now, being together with my wife for over 20 years and married for almost 15, I find this list eye opening. I wish we had this explicit list instead of bumping into the topics over time. Luckily we are mostly on the same page, but I can definitely see how a relationship can break down over these things.
What I find interesting is that these talks come up when people start talking about marriage. Around here, marriage isn’t as important and it’s pretty common not to marry. This list could come in useful for any long term relationship.
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Comment on Cow magnets in ~science
caliper Link ParentI totally agree, but I don’t think treating the symptom of the problem is the right approach. Metal shouldn’t be entering the cow in the first place.I would think the unethical thing would be not finding a solution that makes life comfortable for the cow
I totally agree, but I don’t think treating the symptom of the problem is the right approach. Metal shouldn’t be entering the cow in the first place.
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Comment on Cow magnets in ~science
caliper Link ParentThat’s some mental gymnastics. When hit by a car driving over a sidewalk, I’ve never heard anyone say they’re suffering from a “vehicle disease”. The car shouldn’t be on the sidewalk, just like...That’s some mental gymnastics. When hit by a car driving over a sidewalk, I’ve never heard anyone say they’re suffering from a “vehicle disease”. The car shouldn’t be on the sidewalk, just like metal object shouldn’t be in feed or on the pasture.
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Comment on Cow magnets in ~science
caliper LinkNaming it “Hardware Disease” makes me sick. Instead of resolving the actual problem - nails, wire and other metal objects ending up in cattle - we name it a “Hardware Disease” and start putting...Naming it “Hardware Disease” makes me sick. Instead of resolving the actual problem - nails, wire and other metal objects ending up in cattle - we name it a “Hardware Disease” and start putting magnets in cows. This is so backwards, how terrible. How can people work at companies like this, let alone come up with unethical solutions like this?
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
caliper LinkI’ve been slowly working on setting up home assistant. We have a second home with a furnace from 2009 there that has a digital interface, but no internet capabilities. Luckily there have been many...I’ve been slowly working on setting up home assistant. We have a second home with a furnace from 2009 there that has a digital interface, but no internet capabilities. Luckily there have been many before me, so it’s a case of piecing together the parts I need and setting it up in a way I like.
What’s fun about this project is that I’ve been slowly chugging along for months now. Usually my projects don’t last much longer than a weekend or two, in which I’m totally obsessed with it and try to spend every waking hour on it. And then I quickly lose interest.
But this is fun for much longer and I’m not obsessing over it. So I’ll work on adding a VPN server for a couple of hours spread over some days, and just enjoy making slow progress. And it’s a great mix of low level software, hacking some hardware together and working on a nice UI when I feel like it. Even the setbacks are not getting to me; I’ve redone the interface with our furnace at home 3 times and don’t mind wasting time on it.
The only thing I know is coming is keeping the thing running for years. With all the configuration it’s hard to keep everything neatly in a repo. I should be using Ansible or similar, but it feels like too big of a mountain to climb next to getting all the other stuff running.
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Comment on Interview with the creators of the AI generated short film 'Air Head' in ~tech
caliper Link ParentIt’s comforting to read your reply. Seeing so much attention AI is receiving in both the online world and my work life, makes it sometimes seem as if I’m just the grumpy old dev who’s jaded by...It’s comforting to read your reply. Seeing so much attention AI is receiving in both the online world and my work life, makes it sometimes seem as if I’m just the grumpy old dev who’s jaded by developments. I feel being cautious and not jumping on the bandwagon is perceived as negative, while all the go getters are viewed as curious people that like to improve things. It makes me think very negatively about myself, even though I have the company’s best interest at heart.
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Comment on Interview with the creators of the AI generated short film 'Air Head' in ~tech
caliper LinkThis isn’t really a reply to this particular post, more AI in general. The topic is wearing me down. Ever since ChatGPT became broadly known, I’ve felt the constant dread of the effect the hype...This isn’t really a reply to this particular post, more AI in general. The topic is wearing me down. Ever since ChatGPT became broadly known, I’ve felt the constant dread of the effect the hype will have on my software development role. And sure enough, management has completely bought into this golden goose. And because it is “the next best thing” suddenly it has to be applied to everything.
Having gone through similar phases with big data, nosql and blockchain, just to name a few, I’m just burned out. Does anyone else feel the dread of management pushing new tech on anything and everything?
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (April 2024) — Version 1.0 is out for Android! in ~tildes
caliper Link ParentI might be too dense to find it, so there’s a good chance I’m overlooking it: where’s the donate option in iOS?I might be too dense to find it, so there’s a good chance I’m overlooking it: where’s the donate option in iOS?
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Comment on What email client do you use? in ~tech
caliper Link ParentThis is what I love about Mail on MacOS and iOS: simplicity. I use a couple of mail providers with imap and don’t want to use any swanky features. Just give me folders and decent way to search,...This is what I love about Mail on MacOS and iOS: simplicity. I use a couple of mail providers with imap and don’t want to use any swanky features. Just give me folders and decent way to search, that’s all I ask for.
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Comment on Backdoor in upstream libxz targeting sshd in ~comp
caliper (edited )LinkHoly shit! This is crazy, the coincidence of finding it now is just crazy. Hopefully Darknet Diaries will do a show on it. The time and effort that has gone into getting this exploit into the...Holy shit! This is crazy, the coincidence of finding it now is just crazy. Hopefully Darknet Diaries will do a show on it. The time and effort that has gone into getting this exploit into the stack, is insane.
The analysis is also so very impressive. This is so in depth, already uncovering the intricate setup to be finally able to ship the backdoor. It’s exciting and horrifying at the same time.
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Comment on Album of the Week #26: Gang Starr - Moment of Truth in ~music
caliper Link ParentThe Pharcyde was definitely one of my favorite groups in the nineties. The beats are great and I got a good chuckle out of a lot of the themes/lyrics. So I found out I gravitate more towards...The Pharcyde was definitely one of my favorite groups in the nineties. The beats are great and I got a good chuckle out of a lot of the themes/lyrics.
So I found out I gravitate more towards certain producers than I do to rappers with good lyrics. 9th Wonder, the Alchemist, of course Dilla and many others are TOTALLY my jam. I didn't know this until I finally figured it out with Dilla. Then I started to see patterns in the music I love.
The other thing is rappers with interesting voices. Q-Tip, Brother Ali, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Busta, Skyzoo, Kendrick Lamar, Eazy E, Twista, André 3000, etc. All rappers I LOVE(D). I don't think I'm good at listening to or understanding lyrics, so often when people talk about great rappers, I'm lost. That's just not what clicks with me. It's their sound, the rhythm, their way of playing with rhyme; all those things make me totally psyched about a rapper. And that's where Guru falls short for me: it's too mellow, too straightforward. But I totally understand why other people enjoy it, Gang Starr is definitely a solid duo.
So I gave the album you posted another listen today! It was a good blast of the past. There were definitely songs I had totally forgotten about, songs that are much more up my alley. Thanks for the post, I really enjoy thinking about all this again!
Really impressed with the constant updates! Congratulations on this milestone. I’m looking forward to the official AppStore release.