derekiscool's recent activity
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Comment on Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
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Comment on Arizona grand jury indicts eleven Republicans who falsely declared Donald Trump won the state in 2020 in ~misc
derekiscool Link ParentI am not a legal professional, but I believe that's correct. An indictment is an official charge from a grand jury. Meaning that unless the prosecution withdraws the case or a plea deal is made...I am not a legal professional, but I believe that's correct.
An indictment is an official charge from a grand jury. Meaning that unless the prosecution withdraws the case or a plea deal is made (or an appellate court interferes), there will be a criminal trial.
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Comment on 10-year-old Texas boy linked to 2022 killing, according to officials in ~news
derekiscool LinkOof, that's extremely depressing. It's shocking how much this sort of thing (though usually accidental) happens. Parent or caregiver leaves their gun somewhere easily accessible kid is bored and...Oof, that's extremely depressing. It's shocking how much this sort of thing (though usually accidental) happens.
- Parent or caregiver leaves their gun somewhere easily accessible
- kid is bored and caregiver isn't around
- kid gets the gun to play with, accidentally (or purposefully in this case) shoots somebody - often times their own sibling
I mean you'd think it'd be common sense- if there are ever going to be children around, keep your guns somewhere they can't get to them.
Kids are curious and don't understand fully understand the dangers of guns if they aren't explicitly tought. It's just asking for a terrible accident.
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Comment on Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
derekiscool Link ParentI agree that Max is one of the best drivers of all time, but I think you're underestimating both the strength of other drivers and the importance of the car. I really think there'd be less than a...I agree that Max is one of the best drivers of all time, but I think you're underestimating both the strength of other drivers and the importance of the car.
I really think there'd be less than a 5% chance Max would win the championship in the Ferarri. The Red Bull is really fast, especially on race pace. Sainz and Leclerc are two of the best in the field, yet are still > 0.5s slower in race pace.
Max's real skill is in consistently performing at the peak performance of the car. But he can't drive a car faster than it's physically capable of, and that's genuinely what it would take to beat most drivers in a Red Bull.
I'm sure he'd sneak in a few more wins than other drivers (a la 2016 - 2020 in Red Bull), but the only way he'd be a Red Bull in a Ferarri is if Red Bull is running two pretty bad drivers.
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Comment on Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
derekiscool Link ParentAs the other have said - the cars are all different (and Reb Bull is easily the best) so it's hard to say for sure. But given his performances since the start of last year, there aren't many...As the other have said - the cars are all different (and Reb Bull is easily the best) so it's hard to say for sure.
But given his performances since the start of last year, there aren't many arguments against him being the best overall driver on the grid right now.
That's not to say he's been the single best driver every single race (even though he's won nearly all of them). There are definitely a lot of drivers who have had better performances relative to their car than Max, but over the past 2 seasons, Max has been constantly at or near peak performance more than any other driver.
The Red Bull being so much better than every other team does make it easier for him, but it still takes a supreme amount of skill to perform at that level every race. See his teammate, Perez, for an example of that. He missed the podium in over half the races last year, even though there was only 1 race where Red Bull wasn't the fastest car a mile.
Long story short - it is almost universally agreed that Max Verstappen is arguably the best on the grid right now.
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Comment on This is World of WarCraft in ~games
derekiscool LinkWow - as somebody who started playing WoW in its prime as a young teen, this video really captures how it felt to watch it turn from something almost magical and full of spirit into a calculated...Wow - as somebody who started playing WoW in its prime as a young teen, this video really captures how it felt to watch it turn from something almost magical and full of spirit into a calculated and efficient money/time sink.
Thanks for sharing this, it brings back some strong emotions I have thought about in ages
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Comment on Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
derekiscool LinkReally happy to see Carlos have a dominant win like this. If Perez's pace is anything to go by (I'm assuming max would have been quite a bit faster), a head to head battle with Max would have been...Really happy to see Carlos have a dominant win like this. If Perez's pace is anything to go by (I'm assuming max would have been quite a bit faster), a head to head battle with Max would have been really interesting to watch.
Sainz is really proving his value as one of the best on the grid. His reputation took a bit of a hit as he struggled with the new regulations for the first half of 2022, but since then, he has been on fire.
I really think Red Bull should be looking to put him alongside Verstappen. If Max decides to leave, Carlos would be a great team leader. Even if Max stays, he'd be quite a fantastic second driver - probably grabbing a few wins here and there but never putting too much pressure on Max.
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Comment on Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
derekiscool Link ParentThe tires are a big issue, I think. They're so sensitive to temperature and fragile in general. If they follow closely for more than a few laps, their tires are cooked. If the tires aren't in the...The tires are a big issue, I think. They're so sensitive to temperature and fragile in general.
- If they follow closely for more than a few laps, their tires are cooked.
- If the tires aren't in the right temperature window, they're garbage.
- Drivers spend the whole race managing their tires and rarely push the car to the limit.
The huge cars are a problem too. Smaller cars would be a lot more agile and give the drivers more room to get creative and show off wheel-to-wheel skills
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
derekiscool Link ParentI was just about to post about iRacing, having never seen it in one of these threads! I've been racing on and off for 10 years , and iRacing (+ simracing in general) has never been in a better...I was just about to post about iRacing, having never seen it in one of these threads!
I've been racing on and off for 10 years , and iRacing (+ simracing in general) has never been in a better place. The long-awaited rain update has finally been released - to much acclaim from real-life drivers because how realistic it is.
The amount of high quality work the iRacing devs put into constantly improving and updating things really shows what a team that cares about their product can do. For me, it makes the subscription more worth it than any single game.
I always recommend simracing to anybody who follows motorsport. The cost barrier can be a bit high, but it's soooo much fun and really makes you appreciate the pros a lot more.
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Comment on American politics is undergoing a racial realignment – Democrats are rapidly losing non-white voters as the forces that ensured their support weaken in ~misc
derekiscool (edited )Link ParentYou are not accurately quoting me. I said nobody want a blanket ban on guns. That is not contradictory to a ban on assault style weapons (which I also didn't say. I said ban or make much more...You are not accurately quoting me.
I said nobody want a blanket ban on guns.
That is not contradictory to a ban on assault style weapons (which I also didn't say. I said ban or make much more difficult. The nuance is important). This isn't even something I'm personally arguing either, I'm literally just laying out the typical Democratic party position.
Again, this is very disingenuous arguing. You need to actually read what you're replying and not attribute false quotes if you want to actually have a constructive engagement
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Comment on American politics is undergoing a racial realignment – Democrats are rapidly losing non-white voters as the forces that ensured their support weaken in ~misc
derekiscool (edited )Link ParentThis really feels like a disingenuous argument you're here, in regards to guns. I don't know of any democratic politicians who want a blanket ban in guns (which you are very heavily implying is...This really feels like a disingenuous argument you're here, in regards to guns. I don't know of any democratic politicians who want a blanket ban in guns (which you are very heavily implying is the case).
The primary Democraric party position on guns is very clearly to ban / greatly limit access to assault-style weapons in particular, which is not the type of weapon you'd need or use to defend yourself against animals (or humans in your own home).
On top of that, to add some basic sanity checks to gun ownership. Like background checks (e.g. somebody with a history of domestic violence probably shouldn't be able to just walk into a store and buy a gun, no questions asked).
No reasonable person wants to "ban guns", rather, just add some common sense rules to the mix.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
derekiscool Link ParentI just started Chapterhouse Dune (book 6) this week. Definitely one of the most interesting series I've read. If you like the first book, you will most likely enjoy the others as well Hope you...I just started Chapterhouse Dune (book 6) this week. Definitely one of the most interesting series I've read. If you like the first book, you will most likely enjoy the others as well
Hope you enjoy the read!
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Comment on A Max password-sharing crackdown is coming in ~tv
derekiscool Link ParentThey've really ignored the original vision of Gene Roddenberry, which essentially boils down to 'a positive outlook of the future, where humanity is united and almost all of today's problems are...They've really ignored the original vision of Gene Roddenberry, which essentially boils down to 'a positive outlook of the future, where humanity is united and almost all of today's problems are solved (hunger, poverty, equality, corruption, etc).'
As a huge fan of the series before the reboot, that's what made it special to me (and most others). It made a case for the good in people, what life could be like in a future where our choices are guided by morals, not greed.
The new Star Trek really doesn't follow that formula. It's often times dark and painting a somewhat dystopian view of the future. It really just feels like a generic sci-fi series that's been inserted into the Star Trek universe just for the name (which is kind of how I felt about Halo).
Also, in the older series, almost each episode could be enjoyed as a standalone show. Most of the new stuff is super convoluted season long stories. That's a trend in new TV I think is overused, and it doesn't really fit the Star Trek universe.
That said - If you aren't a Star Trek fan, these issues may not actually affect your enjoyment at all.
Personally, I've watched all three new movies, and one season of Discovery and Picard. Discovery and Picard were pretty bad, even outside of the Star Trek context.
I've read that Strange New Worlds is actually good and somewhat retains the vision of the original run. I'd start there if you do want to watch some of the new Star Trek.
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Comment on A Max password-sharing crackdown is coming in ~tv
derekiscool Link ParentThey've effectively ruined the Star Trek franchise IMO, so I'll never subscribe to Paramounr+ just out of spite. They really floundered the Halo series as well, which had the potential to be a...They've effectively ruined the Star Trek franchise IMO, so I'll never subscribe to Paramounr+ just out of spite.
They really floundered the Halo series as well, which had the potential to be a huge audience draw
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Comment on ‘Dune: Part Two’: How sci-fi space worm epic reared head to $81.5m opening after strike release delay in ~movies
derekiscool Link ParentPart 2 is definitely a lot better IMO, as somebody else who read the books. I felt like a lot of the characters in the first movie were compromised for the sake of making the movie more...Part 2 is definitely a lot better IMO, as somebody else who read the books.
I felt like a lot of the characters in the first movie were compromised for the sake of making the movie more accessible, but the second movie remedied that for most of them
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Comment on The DVD biz has circled the drain for years. In 2024, it goes down the tubes. in ~movies
derekiscool Link ParentDisc's get scratched and can only be played on specific hardware. A USB stick doesn't get scratched and could be played on a lot more devices (computers, consoles, most TVs, etc) I like the USB...Disc's get scratched and can only be played on specific hardware.
A USB stick doesn't get scratched and could be played on a lot more devices (computers, consoles, most TVs, etc)
I like the USB stick idea, but honestly I would prefer if I could just get a video file when I buy a movie. Then put it on whatever storage device you want
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Comment on Joe Biden criticises US snack makers for ‘shrinkflation rip-off’ in ~food
derekiscool Link ParentKroger does this as well. It's a super nice "feature" for actually know what's a good deal and what's a rup-offKroger does this as well. It's a super nice "feature" for actually know what's a good deal and what's a rup-off
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Comment on SAG-AFTRA strikes deal for AI voice acting licensing in video games at CES 2024 in ~tech
derekiscool Link ParentSure, that may be the reality right now. But eventually, compute power will either be cheap enough to make the costs minimal (as in similar to services that most games already use) or able to run...Sure, that may be the reality right now. But eventually, compute power will either be cheap enough to make the costs minimal (as in similar to services that most games already use) or able to run seamlessly on consumer hardware.
Exposing the models should not really be an issue, there are plenty of ways to encrypt data that can't be bypassed under ordinary circumstances
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Comment on SAG-AFTRA strikes deal for AI voice acting licensing in video games at CES 2024 in ~tech
derekiscool LinkSo what I gather from this press release is that VAs can license their "AI voice" on a per-game basis? Is there any other information on what this deal actually entails? Personally, I hope it...So what I gather from this press release is that VAs can license their "AI voice" on a per-game basis? Is there any other information on what this deal actually entails?
Personally, I hope it works out, because there's a ton of creative potential for AI voices (assuming it's not just used for cost cutting, which sadly will probably be the reality).
Imagine something like a future iteration of Dwarf Fortress, where there's an option for a voiced narrator. Or some sort of advanced RPG in the future where you can type or talk to any NPC, and they will respond with a real voice (and responses could be completely generated using a character profile and an LLM) rather than text.
The level of immersion that could be possible if AI tools are used in the right way is pretty crazy to think about. As much as this is a pipe dream, the tech has the potential to make previously impossible things a reality.
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Comment on The invisible tech behemoth [Microsoft] (2021) in ~tech
derekiscool LinkTech monopolies are definitely a problem, but I'm not sure this article really accomplishes its goal of proving that Microsoft needs broken up. They focus on MS buying up other companies, but they...Tech monopolies are definitely a problem, but I'm not sure this article really accomplishes its goal of proving that Microsoft needs broken up.
They focus on MS buying up other companies, but they aren't buying competitors, just new/different products rather than develop their own (which could be a problem in itself - when does one company have too much power over a space without technically being a monopoly? I think we specifically need to look at things like the medical industry first, though.)
There are some good points regarding anti-competitive behavior with increased costs if you don't use Azure, but giving discounts for bundling / high value customers is a pretty standard tactic across all industries.
Regarding the recent gaming acquisitions - I've always thought there was no big concern unless they started buying up game engine developers like Epic, EA, or Unity. Buying game developers doesn't stop or add difficulty to new game developers from creating their games. The game market is still extremely open and competitive. More than ever, actually, with the accessibility of off-the-shelf engines and assets
The only place where Microsoft could be said to have a monopoly is in the OS industry. I'm no expert, so I can't say for certain, but I don't know of any anti-competitive behavior they use to keep market dominance. I'm interested if anybody knows more about this, though.
This has been my biggest issue with F1 this year. They seem to be letting tons of stuff go with no penalties, but then dishing out harsh penalties for other incidents which look almost identical.
Like the Alonso incident in Australia - They specifically said that Russel's crash didn't impact the decision. But then they didn't investigate Perez for almost taking out several cars at the start, even though he was clearly out of control and an incident was only avoided because Sainz turned out of the corner.
It really does feel like the stewards are letting biases strongly influence their decisions this year. It also feels like in many cases, they decide to give a penalty and then come up with the reasoning afterward.
I think the sport could really benefit from a permanent set of stewards. Surely, there are a handful of people out there who know the rules well and are able to apply them without bias.