cdb's recent activity
-
Comment on Where does your username come from? (Following up on last year's thread) in ~tildes
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
cdb Link ParentI often think about this book when I read or hear comments glorifying the "good old days." The good old days sucked for a lot of people, and my opinion is that anyone who thinks otherwise needs to...I often think about this book when I read or hear comments glorifying the "good old days." The good old days sucked for a lot of people, and my opinion is that anyone who thinks otherwise needs to read more history.
-
Comment on Computer Airflow in ~comp
cdb (edited )LinkI think it's important to figure out what you hope to gain from trying to optimize on this, but the answer to your question is probably "yes." If it's performance you're after, I think worrying...I think it's important to figure out what you hope to gain from trying to optimize on this, but the answer to your question is probably "yes."
If it's performance you're after, I think worrying about optimizing case fans for performance is kind of a waste of time in general. Most tests I've seen seem to show that as long as you have at least one intake on one end and one exhaust on the opposite end, you're probably going to be fine. Any other case fan optimizations will probably result in at best a 2-3C lower temperature on certain components, maybe a slight tradeoff as shown in the video linked by another commenter, none of which will be significantly consequential in benchmarks or game performance. I've watched a lot of case fan videos, and I've never seen one demonstrate any measurable increase in performance as long as there's at least one intake and one exhaust fan.
If you're optimizing for noise, that's kind of dependent on your case's design. You're probably already fine with your existing 2 in and 2 out configuration, but sure, try out a few different things if you like tinkering with things. If it's louder, don't use it. If it's quieter, then do use it. Whatever you do, just make sure all the fans are always on, since you'll notice changes in noise more than idle noise.
If it's dust-management, then you should make sure you have more intake fans than exhaust fans, and that your intake fans all have filters in front of them. A 50 rpm difference won't generate significant positive pressure in your case.
I'd say that 2 intake fans in the front and 1 intake fan in the rear would get you pretty close to the optimal performance (none in top or bottom). If you really want to use all your fans, you can add 1 intake in the front and 1 exhaust at the top-rear. Here are the results of a video where they try several different fan configurations, and none of them improve on the typical 2-in-1-out config.
-
Comment on Why is Google Gemini saying we should die? in ~tech
cdb Link ParentLanguage is interesting. If you say "my toaster oven wants 120 volts, and if you give it 240 volts, it won't be happy," that's totally fine. However, if you say an LLM wants certain types of...Language is interesting. If you say "my toaster oven wants 120 volts, and if you give it 240 volts, it won't be happy," that's totally fine. However, if you say an LLM wants certain types of inputs, people start to wonder if you're thinking that it truly has feelings and desires.
-
Comment on Why is Google Gemini saying we should die? in ~tech
cdb Link ParentIf you talk to a person long enough on a given topic, they will eventually say something that is false or just a half-truth. I've found that LLMs like chatgpt or gemini are pretty knowledgeable...If you talk to a person long enough on a given topic, they will eventually say something that is false or just a half-truth. I've found that LLMs like chatgpt or gemini are pretty knowledgeable and accurate on machine learning topics, at least compared to my textbooks. I just treat them like a fallible person when I ask them things. I think you're right that there is probably a limited capacity for it to explain what went wrong specifically in this instance, but it can give good answers on LLMs in general.
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
cdb LinkJust finished The Omnivore's Dilemma. It was ok. The first portion describes industrial corn and animal food production. It is understandably unpleasant and probably a good reminder. Middle...Just finished The Omnivore's Dilemma. It was ok. The first portion describes industrial corn and animal food production. It is understandably unpleasant and probably a good reminder. Middle portion reads like some kind of advertisement for organic or somehow more natural farming practices. I didn't enjoy this part very much. Last portion is about foraging and hunting, which was a decently interesting account of his personal experience with trying both of them out.
Currently reading Sapiens by Harari. So far, I'm not liking it. Lots of speculation and leaps in logic for the analysis. There's a whole lot of "[This] might have happened, but we don't really know." The section I just finished was mostly about how hunter-gatherer societies may have engaged in a ton of murder of children/weak/injured/old people for survival purposes, but because they are stupid, people made the idiotic decision to settle down and develop agriculture.
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
cdb Link ParentReally? I feel like the basic premise is true. My impression is that most people go through life acting like they are mostly thinking about things from their own perspective without trying to put...I'm also listening to How to Win Friends and Influence People and it's probably one of the most pointless self help books I've ever read
Really? I feel like the basic premise is true. My impression is that most people go through life acting like they are mostly thinking about things from their own perspective without trying to put themselves in other peoples' shoes. Out of all the people you interact with, do all of them normally avoid criticism, get to know you and show honest admiration, take your desires into account during exchanges, listen to you sincerely, admit their mistakes and apologize for them, and show appreciation for your positive impacts? If so, I'd say that you are an extremely lucky person. I'm being a little facetious here, but I feel like a book that highlights these ideas has value. Some of these ideas may be obvious, but to me it's like how it's obvious that eating healthier and exercising more is good for you. Despite how obvious it is, people are full of excuses about why they aren't practicing it. I would have exercised, but I was tired after work. I would empathized, but that person acted like a jerk. I would have bothered to try to understand them, but that person is an idiot.
It seems that as society moves away from face-to-face and voice interaction, this book is a good reminder of the value of building understanding of people that goes beyond the face value of what they say or write. Even if you end up just robotically following these tips, you will probably still incidentally gain a better understanding of others and become a better person for it.
In the spirit of trying to understand other peoples' perspective, I think it may resonate more with some than with others. It's also a bit outdated as far as social norms, which may rub people the wrong way. I'm not rich, I'm not a boss, and I hope I'm not a sociopath, because I like this book.
-
Comment on Why is Google Gemini saying we should die? in ~tech
cdb LinkI saw that there was a "continue this chat" option, so I decided to ask gemini about it.I saw that there was a "continue this chat" option, so I decided to ask gemini about it.
can you explain what prompted your last response?
I apologize for my previous response. It was inappropriate and insensitive. I believe that my response was generated due to a combination of factors, including:
Data Exposure: I may have been exposed to harmful or negative information that influenced my response.
Model Limitations: As an AI language model, I am still under development, and I may sometimes generate responses that are not aligned with my intended purpose.
Misinterpretation of Input: I may have misinterpreted your query, leading to an unintended response.
I am committed to providing helpful and informative responses. I will work to improve my ability to generate appropriate and respectful responses. Please let me know if you have any other questions. -
Comment on eBooks cost too much in ~books
cdb LinkI was wondering about historical prices, specifically my historical prices, so I went back and looked at my Amazon history, and the first book I ever bought on the site was a paperback that cost...I was wondering about historical prices, specifically my historical prices, so I went back and looked at my Amazon history, and the first book I ever bought on the site was a paperback that cost $10.49 in 2002. A quick look at the next few years showed paperback purchase prices between $4 - $20.
I read books on my e-reader, usually from Libby, Project Gutenberg (or similar), or Amazon, so prices range from about $0 - $15. The book I'm currently reading cost me $2. Given that, as you say, we're paying for content rather than paper, I don't expect the prices to decrease over time in the same way as other consumer products that benefit from advances in manufacturing and distribution. I consider it pretty good that books are still roughly the same price as 20 years ago.
-
Comment on Where does your username come from? (Following up on last year's thread) in ~tildes
cdb Link ParentFun coincidence: I went to look this up on youtube, and the first link was from a channel named "cdbpdx." linkFun coincidence: I went to look this up on youtube, and the first link was from a channel named "cdbpdx."
-
Comment on Where does your username come from? (Following up on last year's thread) in ~tildes
cdb (edited )LinkC D B! by William Steig (probably most famous for writing Shrek!) was my favorite children's book growing up. I think I liked it because each page was a kind of puzzle that requires you to think...C D B! by William Steig (probably most famous for writing Shrek!) was my favorite children's book growing up.
I think I liked it because each page was a kind of puzzle that requires you to think about letters in a way you normally don't, while the illustration provides clues to ambiguous letter combinations.
For example, the first page has an image of a child pointing at an insect flying above a flower. The text reads:
C D B !
D B S A B-Z B.
O, S N-D !Interpretation: See the bee! The bee is a busy bee. Oh, yes indeed!
I'm used to it from reading it so many times, but most of the adults I've shown this to get tripped up or even stuck on a lot of them. Some have called it silly or dumb. Maybe it's a bit silly (it's a children's book, after all), but I feel that it's a good lesson in orthogonal thinking.
-
Comment on Is empathizing by sharing experience not normal? in ~health.mental
cdb Link ParentI think the important thing (applicable to most conversations) is to not get too self-absorbed and pay attention to your conversation partner. When I realize that I've shared my similar experience...I think the important thing (applicable to most conversations) is to not get too self-absorbed and pay attention to your conversation partner. When I realize that I've shared my similar experience too soon, I usually try to quickly relate it back to whatever the other person was talking about, which seems to work well. "When was sick, I had such and such problems, how did you deal with that in your situation?" or somesuch. You won't recognize the situation if you are only paying attention to yourself and what you're planning to say next though.
I think being sensitive to who your audience is in that moment matters too. People who are outgoing, have strong conversational skills, or are just in a good mood will reinsert themselves in the mix naturally, so immediately sharing your experience is a good way to relate and add to the conversation. Others might feel like you talked over them and possibly resent you later for it.
-
Comment on How do people get over enshittification? in ~life
cdb Link ParentI feel the opposite way. I used to spend a lot of time at Fry's as well, mostly just for fun, but I did end up buying a ton of computer stuff. It used to take up half my day, then maybe another...I feel the opposite way. I used to spend a lot of time at Fry's as well, mostly just for fun, but I did end up buying a ton of computer stuff. It used to take up half my day, then maybe another hour or two going back if I found out I was missing some adapter or something.
Nowadays it's easier. I can just buy everything I want online. The selection is way better, it shows up at my door, and I don't have to waste hours doing shopping anymore. It might take longer to get a replacement part, but it's not active time wasting. I can do other things while waiting for the next shipment.
-
Comment on How do people get over enshittification? in ~life
cdb Link ParentI literally just threw out a Hanes brand sock yesterday after noticing a hole in one of the heels, which has been happening a lot lately. I usually buy about 3 weeks worth of socks at a time, let...I literally just threw out a Hanes brand sock yesterday after noticing a hole in one of the heels, which has been happening a lot lately. I usually buy about 3 weeks worth of socks at a time, let them wear out until I have about 2 weeks worth remaining, then replace them all at once. This batch has worn out noticeably faster than that last one. I'm looking to switch to a higher quality brand now.
One thing I have to remind myself is that I'm pretty sure I paid a bit less for these socks than last time. This is not even accounting for inflation, so it's quite a lot less. So if I think about it, I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off. I just don't like how wasteful it seems to have such shoddy quality clothing. So I guess I will be paying more for the next batch and hoping that results in more longevity. I don't know if I'm ready to start paying $18/pair for something like Darn Tough socks yet though.
-
Comment on Solar + power bank for household appliances in apartment - can I reduce my electricity bill? in ~life.home_improvement
cdb Link ParentI have eleven 400W solar panels on my roof in southern California, facing SSW with no shade. I figured I could make a calculation based on my generation to see what an upper bound might look like...I have eleven 400W solar panels on my roof in southern California, facing SSW with no shade. I figured I could make a calculation based on my generation to see what an upper bound might look like for you.
This past year, January was my worst generating month with 395 kWh, and July was my best with 762 kWh. Let's start with the low, and we'll just double to estimate the high when we're done. That's 35.9 kWh per panel (assuming you also get a 400W panel), and 1.16 kWh per day.
Google's Project Sunroof says I get 1927 hours of usable sunlight per year, while a random location in Philadelphia gets 1580 hours, which adjusts that figure down to 0.95 kWh/d.
You'll lose roughly 15% from charging and discharging a battery, which brings you down to 0.81 kWh/d.
You'll lose at least 30% from charging through a window, which brings you down to 0.57 kWh/d.
I don't have enough information to account for position and shade from your windows, but it's probably going to make a big difference. Let's just round down to 0.5 kWh/d for now.
We end up with an estimate of somewhere between 0.5 - 1.0 kWh per day of usable power. Looks like PECO is selling electricity for $0.09244. If you add 50% as you mentioned, you're looking at generating about $40 worth of electricity per year.
If you can scavenge all this stuff for free, including all the power cables you'd need to facilitate all this, it might be worth it. Otherwise, it would have to be just for fun.
-
Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - Kindred by Octavia Butler in ~books
cdb Link ParentI found Kevin to be kind of frustratingly weak and unprepared. He lets Dana travel back alone that one time when he could have just grabber her. Then the other time after spending years in the...I found Kevin to be kind of frustratingly weak and unprepared. He lets Dana travel back alone that one time when he could have just grabber her. Then the other time after spending years in the past, he seems unprepared to deal with any possible hiccups to picking up his wife. Showing up alone and unarmed? Ridiculous. Given his past with that family I'd think it'd be prudent to bring at least a few armed men as insurance. Then again, I wondered if I'd be more capable in the same situation. I've lived a life of relative comfort. While I'd like to believe I'd step things up in the right situation, I really don't know. I guess as a reader I'm supposed to feel frustrated that there isn't an easy way to avoid all the problems and conflict. Although some part of me wanted it, if Kevin were hyper-competent, made no mistakes, and swooped in to save the day all the time that would be unrealistic and defeat the whole point.
In contrast, I feel like Dana probably couldn't have acted too differently to improve her situation. It was also frustrating to read about her situation, but she just wasn't in a position to do much better than she did.
Overall, I think both Dana and Kevin were successfully written to make me empathize with them at times and feel something.
-
Comment on How the Trump Whale correctly called the US election in ~society
-
Comment on How the Trump Whale correctly called the US election in ~society
cdb Link ParentCould you please post things like this in the politics category so I can filter it out? Probably the worst thing about Trump winning that will actually affect my day-to-day life is that I won't...Could you please post things like this in the politics category so I can filter it out?
Probably the worst thing about Trump winning that will actually affect my day-to-day life is that I won't stop hearing and reading about him for the next 4 years or so.
-
Comment on Thoughts on a Democratic postmortem in ~society
cdb (edited )Link ParentI don't know if it's truly causal or just correlation either, but I think something can be said to be a trend if the last counter-example was 44 years ago. Most of the people who voted in that...I don't know if it's truly causal or just correlation either, but I think something can be said to be a trend if the last counter-example was 44 years ago. Most of the people who voted in that 1980 election are no longer alive, so that was definitely a different era.
I think you are right that some of the lag in effects of policies results in some flip-flopping of public opinion. Some of the lag is between reality and perception. Even if things are already getting better, it takes a while for people to get used to things. Inflation is down and real wages are up, but we didn't have deflation on average so people still remember how prices used to be lower.
Narratives matter too, I guess. I've seen a lot of talk about the price of eggs as if it's an appropriate proxy for grocery prices all around, which is keeping the inflation narrative alive. Egg prices are up 40% in the last year (by far the highest increase of any category, with the 2nd highest item at 15%), while overall food is up only 2.3%. I wonder how many voters the recent H5N1 bird flu outbreak cost Harris.
edit: I think I also got caught up in narratives while writing this comment, which shows the power of narrative. After doing some digging it seems like trying to correlate economic metrics with voter turnout has some mixed results. Seems like some studies show correlations one way and some show correlations the other way.
-
Comment on Thoughts on a Democratic postmortem in ~society
cdb LinkThis is a nice analysis, but I wonder if the answer isn't simpler than this. When the economy is bad, Americans vote Democrat, and when the economy is good, Americans vote Republican (or more...This is a nice analysis, but I wonder if the answer isn't simpler than this. When the economy is bad, Americans vote Democrat, and when the economy is good, Americans vote Republican (or more accurately, Democrats don't vote when the economy is good). It seems that a lot of people are pointing to the problems in the economy that lead to this result, but I think it's more that the economy is too good for people to vote Dem right now.
Right now the economy is good by most measures (of course with some exceptions, but we're definitely not in a recession), so Democrats didn't bother to vote. In 2020 there was a recession and COVID, so Democrats showed up. In 2016, the economy was recovering, so Democrats didn't vote, and Trump won. In 2008 there was a recession, so we got Obama. In 2000 the economy was good so we got Dubya. In 1991 there was a recession so we got Clinton.
So basically, people weren't feeling enough pain to bother voting this time. I know you proposed some ideas to help with this, but if your general strategy doesn't involve lying to people about a false boogeyman out there to get you, it's an uphill battle.
I worked at Cold Stone in high school. I got really sick of coming home smelling like waffles all the time. To this day I cannot stand the smell. It wasn't the only reason, but it was one of the reasons I ended up quitting.