dave1234's recent activity

  1. Comment on What the all-American delusion of the Polygraph says about our relationship to fact and fiction in ~tech

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    Wow, that sounds like it might as well be torture. Horrendous. I'm guessing this is another tactic to elicit a confession?

    Wow, that sounds like it might as well be torture. Horrendous.

    About half way through my first go exam (They say the second is optional - it's not) the "head" person who handles polygraph came in and said "Mr. Dood, I'm REDADCTED from the CIA, I need you be honest with us. This is the most difficult polygraph reading I have ever seen."

    I'm guessing this is another tactic to elicit a confession?

    11 votes

  2. Comment on What the all-American delusion of the Polygraph says about our relationship to fact and fiction in ~tech

    dave1234
    Link
    This was a long, but fascinating read. I've known for years that polygraph tests are junk science, but this provided some great insight into why they're still used, especially by the US...

    This was a long, but fascinating read. I've known for years that polygraph tests are junk science, but this provided some great insight into why they're still used, especially by the US Government.

    ... And why is [the US] government the only major employer in the world that uses polygraphs to screen prospective hires?

    The answer to that question is based on a lie. Even the United States government isn’t dumb enough to believe the polygraph works. The machine’s real purpose is symbolic, as an icon of the power of the state. Law enforcement agencies don’t use the machine to detect lies. They use it to coerce confessions.

    The author recalls how the test was more akin to an interrogation, and effectively changed his memory to reflect the test's findings.

    The polygraph works a lot like a memoir. It doesn’t find the truth, it creates it. First the exam makes you doubt or forget your memories. Then, by forcing you to re-access them again and again under stress, it literally rewrites them. Since my polygraph exam, I’ve believed that I did drugs between six and eight times before then, even though my rational mind knows that isn’t true. My experience of being polygraphed showed me that not only does the polygraph not detect lies, it manufactures them.

    Scary stuff.

    24 votes

  4. Comment on Most reliable privacy-conscious notes app? in ~tech

    dave1234
    Link
    I'm a fan of Standard Notes and have been using it for around five years. While it was a bit rough around the edges when I first started with it, it's gradually gotten better and better. I use it...

    I'm a fan of Standard Notes and have been using it for around five years. While it was a bit rough around the edges when I first started with it, it's gradually gotten better and better.

    I use it via the desktop and mobile apps though - I was curious why you prefer to use it in the browser?

    2 votes

  5. Comment on What is the "bible" of your hobby or activity? in ~hobbies

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    I wouldn't generally recommend Clean Code. Its advice needs to be taken with a pretty big grain of salt, and there are surely much better books today. If anything, I think its lasting value is...

    I wouldn't generally recommend Clean Code. Its advice needs to be taken with a pretty big grain of salt, and there are surely much better books today.

    If anything, I think its lasting value is that despite the bad advice, it helps get new developers thinking about what good, readable, and maintainable code looks like. It's also pretty approachable and easy to read.

    2 votes

  6. Comment on How do you journal? in ~talk

    dave1234
    Link
    I journal every day with Daylio ever since a therapist recommended it. I just write a little about what I got up to each day. Once a week, the app shows me past entries and photos from 3, 6, 12,...

    I journal every day with Daylio ever since a therapist recommended it. I just write a little about what I got up to each day.

    Once a week, the app shows me past entries and photos from 3, 6, 12, and 24 months ago. It's a nice way to reminisce.

    I also use it to track the activities I do each day, and the medications I take.

    1 vote

  7. Comment on The West vs Asia: what drivers are taught about motorcycle brakes in ~transport

    dave1234
    Link
    Here in Australia, we also learn that the majority of braking power is in the front brake. However, we're also taught to: Apply it progressively instead of all at once. This avoids engaging ABS if...

    Here in Australia, we also learn that the majority of braking power is in the front brake. However, we're also taught to:

    • Apply it progressively instead of all at once. This avoids engaging ABS if you have it, or losing traction if you don't.
    • Apply the rear brake at the same time. Using both brakes together gives you more stopping power than just using one.
    3 votes

  8. Comment on If you came into a lot of money, what would be the indulgent thing you would buy? in ~talk

    dave1234
    Link
    First thing I would buy is a house for my partner and myself. It shouldn't be considered an indulgence, but that's not the reality we live in. Just a small and simple house, as low-maintenance as...

    First thing I would buy is a house for my partner and myself. It shouldn't be considered an indulgence, but that's not the reality we live in.

    Just a small and simple house, as low-maintenance as possible. Maybe a couple of bedrooms, and a garage with room for two cars and a few motorcycles. On a small property a bit out of town, away from neighbours. We like our quiet.

    I'd plant native trees around the perimeter of the property, and let the grass overgrow. Get some native bees. Let the wildlife roam around.

    The second indulgence I'd buy is more motorcycles.

    2 votes

  9. Comment on There are two types of airport people : Some travelers love being late [2019] in ~travel

    dave1234
    Link
    I hate flying. I try to arrive about an hour before a domestic flight so I have a comfortable amount of time to get through security and find my gate. I also try to keep at least 45 minutes...

    I hate flying. I try to arrive about an hour before a domestic flight so I have a comfortable amount of time to get through security and find my gate.

    I also try to keep at least 45 minutes between connecting flights. Here in Australia at least, all of the airlines are awful, and delays are frequent. I've been burned too many times when my flight arrived 15-30 minutes late and left me in a desperate rush to reach the connecting flight before its departure.

    3 votes

  10. Comment on Is there a programming language that brings you joy? in ~comp

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    I love C# and .NET: The standard library comes with nearly everything you could ever need - and for anything else, you can probably find it in the massive NuGet package library. The standard...

    I love C# and .NET:

    • The standard library comes with nearly everything you could ever need - and for anything else, you can probably find it in the massive NuGet package library.
    • The standard library's official documentation and tutorials are excellent - except when it comes to old stuff like ASP.NET Web Forms. I still have to maintain Web Forms projects, and there are a lot of broken links.
    • The language itself is pretty well-designed, and continues to grow with each new release.
    • Windows, Linux, and MacOS compatibility.
    • Compilation to native (Native AOT) as an option. Still early days, but getting better and better.

    It's my go-to for nearly everything.

    The only areas where I can really fault it are:

    • No official BSD support.
    • I feel like it's starting to grow too much/too quickly. Prior to .NET Core's yearly release cycle, C#'s development was much slower. Now it's constant growth makes me appreciate the simplicity of Go, but I also find that much less productive due to its comparatively tiny standard library.
    1 vote

  11. Comment on How Monty Python's Life of Brian moved past culture wars and censorship to become a beloved hit in ~movies

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    Life of Brian had its moments, but I didn't find it that great either when I watched it for the first time some 15-odd years ago. I think Holy Grail definitely aged the best.

    Life of Brian had its moments, but I didn't find it that great either when I watched it for the first time some 15-odd years ago. I think Holy Grail definitely aged the best.

    4 votes

  12. Comment on Australians reject indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum in ~news

    dave1234
    Link
    I'm disappointed, but not surprised. The amount of misinformation from the 'No' side has been shocking. Billboards in my town were running this ad: Needless to say, nobody was ever at risk of...

    I'm disappointed, but not surprised.

    The amount of misinformation from the 'No' side has been shocking. Billboards in my town were running this ad:

    YOU WILL LOSE EVERYTHING
    VOTE NO

    Needless to say, nobody was ever at risk of "losing everything", but the Voice could have helped Indigenous Australians.

    18 votes

  13. Comment on Anyone here like motorcycles? in ~transport

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    Ouch! What happened to your previous bike? Sounds like there's a story there. What bike are you thinking of getting next?

    Ouch! What happened to your previous bike? Sounds like there's a story there.

    What bike are you thinking of getting next?

  14. Comment on Anyone here like motorcycles? in ~transport

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    Nice, how's the Indian Scout going now? I'm sad that Harley discontinued the classic Sportster line, but it looks like Indian is keeping the spirit of those bikes alive with the Scout.

    Nice, how's the Indian Scout going now? I'm sad that Harley discontinued the classic Sportster line, but it looks like Indian is keeping the spirit of those bikes alive with the Scout.

    1 vote

  15. Comment on Anyone here like motorcycles? in ~transport

    dave1234
    Link
    After much consideration, I bought a Honda CRF300 Rally last month. It's my second bike (my first being a Honda Grom). I wanted a lightweight, learner legal (in Australia) do-it-all bike, and the...

    After much consideration, I bought a Honda CRF300 Rally last month. It's my second bike (my first being a Honda Grom).

    I wanted a lightweight, learner legal (in Australia) do-it-all bike, and the Rally fits the bill. I do most of my riding on the road, but I plan to explore the Outback, and this bike will tackle anything I can throw at it.

    I've been trying to do more mechanical work myself to save money. So far, I've installed:

    • A B&B Offroad rear rack
    • A B&B Offroad radiator guard
    • Zeta adjustable brake and clutch levers
    • A Quad Lock USB charger

    I'm going out on my first road trip tomorrow. Nothing too far, and mostly sticking to highways, but I'll take some camping gear with me and see how it goes.

    So far I'm absolutely stoked with this bike. I decided to keep the Grom because I figured I'd still use that for commuting and fun rides, and use the Rally for weekend trips, but the Rally outshines the Grom in practically every way. Now my Grom is gathering dust.

    1 vote

  16. Comment on Devil's advocate: Matrix 4 in ~movies

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    Thanks for sharing! Those were pretty illuminating. Now I want to watch the Matrix 4 again.

    Thanks for sharing! Those were pretty illuminating. Now I want to watch the Matrix 4 again.

    2 votes

  17. Comment on Sync for Lemmy now available on Play Store in ~tech

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    I assume you can, but I haven't tried that yet. I also follow Lemmy communities from kbin, but I haven't tried the other way around yet.

    I assume you can, but I haven't tried that yet. I also follow Lemmy communities from kbin, but I haven't tried the other way around yet.

    1 vote

  18. Comment on Sync for Lemmy now available on Play Store in ~tech

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    Are you using Sync for Lemmy when you have that problem? Or was this when browsing the Lemmy web UI in your web browser? Either way, I haven't encountered that kind of problem. For my web browser...

    Are you using Sync for Lemmy when you have that problem? Or was this when browsing the Lemmy web UI in your web browser? Either way, I haven't encountered that kind of problem. For my web browser I'm using Firefox for Android.

  19. Comment on Sync for Lemmy now available on Play Store in ~tech

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    Yeah, I'll pay the new price to remove ads if I end up using Lemmy regularly. I'm not enthusiastic about how expensive it is, but I got far more than my money's worth from Sync for Reddit over the...

    Yeah, I'll pay the new price to remove ads if I end up using Lemmy regularly. I'm not enthusiastic about how expensive it is, but I got far more than my money's worth from Sync for Reddit over the years, and it's a very polished app. I'm sure Sync for Lemmy will be the same.

    3 votes

  20. Comment on Sync for Lemmy now available on Play Store in ~tech

    dave1234
    Link Parent
    It seems to me like the surface-level Lemmy communities are generally immature in the way the front-page subreddits were. Reddit had some real gold when you dug beneath the surface and found the...

    It seems to me like the surface-level Lemmy communities are generally immature in the way the front-page subreddits were. Reddit had some real gold when you dug beneath the surface and found the smaller, niche communities. However, I don't think Lemmy has been around long enough to really establish those yet.

    Hopefully they'll come with time.

    10 votes