cdb's recent activity
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Comment on Introducing all-new Amazon Alexa Tablets—powerful tablets with Alexa+ built in in ~tech
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Comment on Amazon uses its tracking data to guess whether shoppers have a flat butt and no friends in ~tech
cdb (edited )Link ParentHere's the way I see the math working out. What are the odds any random person will buy a toilet seat? Surely less than 1%. Maybe even less than 0.1%. Many people aren't even in a position that...Here's the way I see the math working out.
What are the odds any random person will buy a toilet seat? Surely less than 1%. Maybe even less than 0.1%. Many people aren't even in a position that they would replace a toilet seat, you only need one person per household to do it, people might hire a contractors or handymen to do it resulting in concentration in buying, etc.
However, once you've purchased one toilet seat, you've established yourself as someone who actually would buy a toilet seat. You are now a toilet seat buyer. This is relevant in the same way that I'm a bike accessory buyer or someone else might be a flat butt enhancement product buyer. It is absolutely relevant information about that person. Also, the return rate on amazon is pretty high, about 5-15% depending on category. If you're buying in person, you'll probably stick with your choice. If you're buying online, you might buy the wrong size or be unhappy with it once you see it in person.
So for an individual, being 95% sure you're going to keep the product is very high, but that 5% that you might return that product is very relevant to amazon. That means you're more than 50x more likely to buy a toilet seat soon compared to our 0.1% estimate for the average person. Also in the long run, even if you don't have another bathroom to remodel right now, toilet seats are a thing that need replacement from time to time. Even if you're on a 20 year replacement cycle, that's 5% for any given year, so you're still 50x more likely to buy a toilet seat than any other random account.
Overall, showing you product suggestions for things you have greater odds to buy is better than showing you random product suggestions, at least for generating more sales. Well, aside from the return rate, the numbers are made up, but I think they're conceptually accurate. I think you still have a point that it's not the most effective strategy for items like toilet seats, but if you get labeled as "home goods buyer" rather than "toilet seat enthusiast" and the recommendations are not just toilet seats but other home items, it makes a lot of sense.
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Comment on The fine dining flip in ~food
cdb LinkThe article seems to rely only on a few anecdotes, so I wonder if it's really a trend or not. My personal and also anecdotal impression is that most restaurants at all price levels have gotten...The article seems to rely only on a few anecdotes, so I wonder if it's really a trend or not. My personal and also anecdotal impression is that most restaurants at all price levels have gotten more expensive and/or have reduced portion sizes.
On the other hand, I wonder if there's something going with price brackets and psychology here where 3 digits feels like a big jump. The kind of attitude that if I'm going to be paying $100+ for a meal, it better be damn good. That used to be nice fine dining kind of territory, but since everything has moved up in price, the mid-range-kind-of-nice-but-not-super-nice bracket has moved up to about $100, despite not necessarily providing the super high end experience. So, maybe it's hard to be a restaurant charging near that hundred-dollar threshold right now. A lot of people might balk at the $100 price tag, while people willing to spend that much for a meal might just be willing to spend $200 on a michelin starred restaurant instead. I've personally found myself reacting that way after dining at such a restaurant. Conversations like: "We spent $100 each here? I didn't think it was that nice a place."
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Comment on What was a small but bright moment of your day? in ~life
cdb LinkI have two dogs. The older one will usually wander over to my side of the bed after I turn the lights out and put his head on the bed next to me until I pet him for a bit. Then he goes back to his...I have two dogs. The older one will usually wander over to my side of the bed after I turn the lights out and put his head on the bed next to me until I pet him for a bit. Then he goes back to his bed and goes to sleep. The newer puppy is less than a year old and had never done that... until last night! After I laid down in bed, she came over to me, and I pet her for a bit before she wandered off to bed. Small thing, but it definitely put a smile on my face.
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Comment on Amazon uses its tracking data to guess whether shoppers have a flat butt and no friends in ~tech
cdb Link ParentIt's true that a lot of these inferences are either obvious or slightly off-target. Sure I've bought a lot of bike-related gear over the years, so obviously I'm a frequent cyclist. Isn't that...It's true that a lot of these inferences are either obvious or slightly off-target. Sure I've bought a lot of bike-related gear over the years, so obviously I'm a frequent cyclist. Isn't that obvious? However, I kind of wonder if the general public underestimates the usefulness of these seemingly shallow insights.
The classic one I've seen on the internet is someone buying a toilet seat and getting a bunch of ads for toilet seats afterwards, as if amazon is stupid for doing that. The way I see it, any average person is highly unlikely to purchase a toilet seat at any given time. Someone who's recently purchased a toilet seat has a vastly higher chance of purchasing another toilet seat, since they might return the first one or have another bathroom to work on later.
I don't have any evidence to support it, but my guess is that amazon makes a ton of sales due to their profile-based recommendations. I guess in my case the data is not that sparse. I've purchased about a thousand things on there with purchase history going back to 2002. That's a lot of data.
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Comment on OpenAI releases findings on 377 math problems, further roiling field in ~science
cdb Link ParentHonestly, I don't find your comments here civil at all. You engaged in name-calling. You suggest that this user or his comments should be removed from the site, and the only reason they aren't is...I will be civil about it
Honestly, I don't find your comments here civil at all. You engaged in name-calling. You suggest that this user or his comments should be removed from the site, and the only reason they aren't is lack of moderation. You advise others to ignore this user. I was a hair away from labeling your comment malice, but I decided to comment instead.
I feel like you did have a good piece of advice here, but I'd like to reflect it back a bit. I don't see how your comments here are contributing to the discussion. You're right that one does not need to engage in discussions they're not interested in. If you've come here just to badmouth a frequent contributor to the site, I'd say that you are in fact violating Tildes' number one rule.
I hope you will take this as feedback rather than fighting.
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Comment on I'm having a glow up, but it sucks in ~life.men
cdb LinkI feel like I understand how you feel, at least in some ways. About the tying social value to work, not the being hot part. When I was unemployed for a while, I started doing some part time...I feel like I understand how you feel, at least in some ways. About the tying social value to work, not the being hot part.
When I was unemployed for a while, I started doing some part time volunteer work, and that really helped my mental state. It got me socializing in a work-type environment, and I felt like I was doing something useful. Turns out that I was feeling kind of useless when my only tangible output for the past several months was getting better at rock climbing and denied job applications. I ended up putting the volunteer work on my resume, which may have contributed to getting a job offer later. That's just a bonus though. I think the main benefit was the effect on my attitude and mental state at the time.
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Comment on Blocking of unverified apps on Android starts in Brazil and other three countries in ~tech
cdb Link ParentMy understanding is that this move is in fact related to government regulation. It's just that they are regulating google rather than individuals. That's why it's rolling out in southeast Asia...My understanding is that this move is in fact related to government regulation. It's just that they are regulating google rather than individuals. That's why it's rolling out in southeast Asia first. Although I didn't look into Brazil.
My take is that corporations don't tend to do anything unless it's profitable or if someone makes them. I know people are suggesting that this move gives them more control, but I don't really see how it makes google money. So, it seems likely to me that it's because someone is making them do it. "Government partnerships" tend to be the government telling a company to do something rather than a real collaboration.
From a Singapore government site:
Google Singapore announced that, in partnership with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), Google is launching a new enhanced protection feature within Google Play Protect to help further safeguard mobile users against malware-enabled scams, by blocking the installation of potentially-risky sideloaded apps. ... Singapore will be the first country to begin a phased pilot of this feature on Android devices in the next few weeks. This feature has undergone pre-testing and was developed as part of the ongoing partnership between Google and CSA on cybersecurity and anti-scam efforts
From Google:
To further keep Malaysians safe from financial fraud, Google has rolled out its enhanced fraud protection feature within Google Play Protect to all Android users in Malaysia. This initiative is supported by the National Cyber Security Agency, National Security Council (NACSA, NSC), and is designed to better safeguard mobile users against malware-enabled scams, by blocking the installation of potentially-risky sideloaded apps. ... The announcement was made at the Google 2026 Online Safety Dialogue, alongside Malaysia Minister of Communications, YB Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. This is in line with the Ministry’s ‘Kempen Internet Selamat’, aimed at bolstering nationwide digital safety against threats such as online scams.
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Comment on Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges in ~tech
cdb Link ParentI think the real advancement for this use-case is the all in one washer/dryer combos where you can just hit a button and come back 3 hours later to clean and dry clothes. Yeah, it takes longer, in...I think the real advancement for this use-case is the all in one washer/dryer combos where you can just hit a button and come back 3 hours later to clean and dry clothes. Yeah, it takes longer, in part due to the heat pump dryer, but they're efficient and don't need an external exhaust vent. The reviews on these aren't great either though, so it seems like there are some engineering issues to overcome. I really want one of these, but I'm waiting for the tech to mature.
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Comment on Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges in ~tech
cdb Link ParentSurprisingly, I think the answer to these is "kind of." There are some fridges that have expiration timers, track inventory, and will help add items to your cart or shipping list if you run out....Will it order beer when I take the last one out? Is it able to move the meat from freezer to the fridge so it can thaw out before need it for cooking?
Surprisingly, I think the answer to these is "kind of."
There are some fridges that have expiration timers, track inventory, and will help add items to your cart or shipping list if you run out. There are also some that have compartments that can switch between fridge and freezer temp, which functionally could be similar to moving an item from freezer to fridge.
These are only mildly interesting, but I guess some advancememts are being made. I'd never get a smart fridge in their current form though. Still seems like more hassle than convenience.
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Comment on What do you call a bun, bacon, some amount of cheese, and two burger patties? (Not a setup to a joke) in ~food
cdb Link ParentOh yeah?! Well some people would argue YOU'RE the main attraction!Oh yeah?! Well some people would argue YOU'RE the main attraction!
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Comment on What do you call a bun, bacon, some amount of cheese, and two burger patties? (Not a setup to a joke) in ~food
cdb LinkDouble cheeseburger with bacon. "Bacon double cheeseburger" Puts too much emphasis on "bacon". We're talking about a double cheeseburger here. Bacon is just an add-on. "Double bacon cheeseburger"...Double cheeseburger with bacon.
"Bacon double cheeseburger" Puts too much emphasis on "bacon". We're talking about a double cheeseburger here. Bacon is just an add-on.
"Double bacon cheeseburger" As others have mentioned, this makes it ambiguous.
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Comment on How to find a new calling in life? in ~life
cdb LinkI'm reaching a point where I'm realizing that I've perhaps spent too much time on autopilot and need to take more control of my career. That might be doing something different at my current job or...I'm reaching a point where I'm realizing that I've perhaps spent too much time on autopilot and need to take more control of my career. That might be doing something different at my current job or looking externally for other paths. What I notice from people who I think are successful is that they're not afraid to make changes. All the career development events with senior leadership seem to have a common thread, which is that most of the higher-ups moved around and learned diverse things during their career. I think the idea that one should frequently test their limits by doing something new is actually a good mindset here, as long as you are responsible with your finances. It's similar to the paralysis I felt when selecting my undergrad major in the first place. How could I know what I liked unless I tried a bunch of things? So, I ended up taking a bunch of courses in different fields, then changed my major to fit my preferences.
So, basically, start trying things and see how they work out.
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Comment on How to find a new calling in life? in ~life
cdb (edited )Link ParentAs someone who's worked a few food/customer service jobs and now works a "high skill" job, those service jobs are definitely low skill. They are not low effort though. These are the kind of jobs...As someone who's worked a few food/customer service jobs and now works a "high skill" job, those service jobs are definitely low skill. They are not low effort though. These are the kind of jobs where you can learn the majority of your responsibilities for the role within 3 months and be at least 80-90% as productive as a longtime employee within about 6 months (very rough timelines), requiring no more education than simple arithmetic. These times are actually kind of high for some of these jobs. Frankly, the majority of people are hitting that 80-90% productivity mark within 1-2 months unless they're kind of a problem, although that's pretty common in this kind of job. In the "high skill" job, most applicants have PhDs and are still not fully trained after a year.
No arguments on the idea that these jobs need to be staffed by adults though. How else am I going to get a burger for lunch when school is in session?
My boomer opinion is that everyone should work one of these jobs for at least 6 months to help with empathy and toughness. That's not to say that you can't have empathy or toughness otherwise, but I mean this is just reality for a large portion of the populace. The idea that you can just quit and do something easier or more suited to your preferences is a luxury that a lot of people don't have.
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Comment on An AI created viruses not found in nature in ~science
cdb (edited )Link ParentSurprisingly common thing in drug development. The labs I work with have had to deal with this kind of issue a few times. Kind of like ice nine from Cat's Cradle but a lot less dramatic. That's...Surprisingly common thing in drug development. The labs I work with have had to deal with this kind of issue a few times. Kind of like ice nine from Cat's Cradle but a lot less dramatic. That's why there's a lot of formulation and stability work that goes into drugs. I don't know if it's that terrifying these days. This wikipedia section states that they switched to a solid dispersion form. There are many ways to do this, but it's essentially mixing the drug with polymer in a way that prevents crystallization. Although they have their own potential issues, these are very popular nowadays because they more or less guarantee exposure.
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Comment on Women should be able to open things in ~life.women
cdb Link ParentI already commented as a reply elsewhere talking about this type of tool, but I guess it's a pet peeve of mine so I'm commenting again. It drives me crazy that there are so many life hacks and...I already commented as a reply elsewhere talking about this type of tool, but I guess it's a pet peeve of mine so I'm commenting again. It drives me crazy that there are so many life hacks and weird specialized tools when something so simple and so old and so effective like this exists. Works 100% of the time, although you might have to pry in a circle around the lid a few times for very tight lids.
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Comment on Women should be able to open things in ~life.women
cdb Link ParentYeah, I feel like this is just reality. I deliberately train grip strength, so I'm probably on the higher end of the grip strength curve, but I've also been defeated by some jars. I always thought...Yeah, I feel like this is just reality. I deliberately train grip strength, so I'm probably on the higher end of the grip strength curve, but I've also been defeated by some jars.
I always thought the classic way was just to pry the edges of the lid away from the jar slightly with a church key or similar tool. Eventually the vacuum breaks and the lid loosens. If the threads are still too tight, you just keep prying around until it's not so tight. There are many other "life hack" tricks to loosen the lid such as tapping the lid, rubber bands, tools with longer levers etc., but this way works every time, even with manufacturing defects. Jar lids are made of a relatively soft metal compared to other common kitchen tools, after all.
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Comment on Adults have struggled to set rules for AI in US schools. These teens figured it out. in ~tech
cdb LinkPretty click baity title. I don't really see anything in the student section of the bill that wasn't likely already on most schools' academic code of conduct already. Seems good to have some...Pretty click baity title. I don't really see anything in the student section of the bill that wasn't likely already on most schools' academic code of conduct already. Seems good to have some standardization on a national level though, especially the requirements around accusations of AI use.
As usual, the issue is not setting the "shoulds" but figuring out the "hows". Like how are we going to ensure that AI is not used for graded work, how are we going to ensure AI is not used for writing, or how are we going to stop students from feeding all their work into an AI and having it give them all the answers? Even if we do all that, just using the AI for outlining and "guidance" can remove all critical thinking from an assignment. These policies are an ok minimum baseline, but they won't solve the majority of problems with AI use in learning.
I think some of the mandatory AI training for both students and teachers could end up being a positive. I know a lot of people don't pay attention to these kinds of things, but it should remove the excuse of ignorance from some of these discussions and allow for some assignment of responsibility.
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Comment on No WebGL, no AI, no bytes to spare. My new game is a 3D 90s fever dream in 1024 bytes! in ~comp
cdb LinkThis definitely feels like third person Marble Madness. I played that game so much. Haven't played the other two games you mentioned though. At first I thought that some iterations were...This definitely feels like third person Marble Madness. I played that game so much. Haven't played the other two games you mentioned though.
At first I thought that some iterations were unbeatable. It took me several tries to get to the 4th color. Then I realized you could jump, haha.
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Comment on A philosopher’s one-word theory to explain why the world feels so weird: uni-context in ~humanities
cdb Link ParentIt's kind of hard to compartmentalize things online these days. I think that was partially the promise with reddit, where you can just subscribe to the specific subreddits you're interested in....It's kind of hard to compartmentalize things online these days. I think that was partially the promise with reddit, where you can just subscribe to the specific subreddits you're interested in. Unfortunately, politics and other negative or identity topics end up invading every damn subreddit, especially with Trump as president. Not that I'm sticking my head in the sand, but I just want to engage with it in limited contexts.
I'm very protective of my in-person moments. The first argument I ever had with my wife was because she was on her phone during our third date. She was trying to check in on Foursquare or something like that, a platform that doesn't even exist anymore. It wasn't a long argument, but it was one. Nowadays phones aren't allowed while we're having dinner together, except for taking a quick photo. I don't really blame anyone for having the inclination to post on social media all the time. It seems that it's become so normalized for the internet use to pollute our personal moments. I don't want it in my life though.
With Amazon already being the largest android tablet seller in the US, seemingly mostly for children, I guess it makes sense to try to start selling tablets that can appeal to older children and adults as those tablet-using children grow up. Most amazon tablets start to look really terrible in performance once you start comparing it to a decent phone.
Maybe they're also trying to appeal to people who use and like alexa devices. I don't personally know anyone who does, but apparently they are still selling.
The iPad is tough to compete against, but it seems like it wouldn't take that much to deliver a better software experience than what samsung offers. As a tablet user myself, I'm happy to see more competition in the space.
edit: I ended up looking into the specs, and the 8 and 11 inch tablets are still using a low performance SoC with 6 year old cores, same as the current fire max tablet. Only the 12 inch tablet is using a decent processor from less than 2 years ago. So, never mind about my previous comment on performance, except for the top end one starting at $500. If they don't sell, it might be nice to snag one of the 12 inch ones at half price in a year or two.