derekiscool's recent activity
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Comment on New ‘Stargate’ TV series ordered at Amazon from ‘Blindspot’ creator Martin Gero in ~tv
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Comment on A new era of intelligence with Gemini 3 in ~tech
derekiscool Link ParentThat's all well and good until you're one of the millions who loses their job and needs to start selling assets or pulling from retirement to survive. Meanwhile, the wealthy see minimal impact and...That's all well and good until you're one of the millions who loses their job and needs to start selling assets or pulling from retirement to survive.
Meanwhile, the wealthy see minimal impact and can continue investing during the crash.
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Comment on Project Hail Mary | Official trailer in ~movies
derekiscool Link ParentAppreciate the warning! I was about to watch it, but I'd rather go in blind than have anything spoiled!Appreciate the warning! I was about to watch it, but I'd rather go in blind than have anything spoiled!
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Comment on US Senate suddenly passes the Jeffrey Epstein bill just hours after it cleared the House in ~society
derekiscool Link ParentThe problem that I see is that even obviously scrubbed documents will convince 99% of their base that Trump had nothing to do with Epstein. And once they're convinced, no amount of uncovering by...The problem that I see is that even obviously scrubbed documents will convince 99% of their base that Trump had nothing to do with Epstein. And once they're convinced, no amount of uncovering by high-quality journalism will change their minds.
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Comment on James Comey, the situation: Malevolence, incompetence, and the strange case of prosecutor Lindsey Halligan in ~society
derekiscool LinkSo it looks like this was, what should be a shocking (but sadly isn't) complete disregard for the law. Are there any mechanisms to hold the DOJ and FBI accountable for this? It seems, even if the...So it looks like this was, what should be a shocking (but sadly isn't) complete disregard for the law.
Are there any mechanisms to hold the DOJ and FBI accountable for this? It seems, even if the case is thrown out (likely), a significant amount of damage was still done. What is there to stop this administration from targeting dissenters with completely fabricated charges, with the sole intent of financial and resource drain?
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Comment on Best recommendations for PC couch multiplayer games? in ~games
derekiscool LinkHuman Fall Flat is a really fun one - for some reason, it's the only game my wife has ever been willing to play with me.Human Fall Flat is a really fun one - for some reason, it's the only game my wife has ever been willing to play with me.
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Comment on New ‘Star Trek’ movie in works at Paramount from Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) in ~movies
derekiscool Link ParentTotally agree. They keep trying to make Star Trek an action movie/series, which is almost totally antithetical to the original vision of the series. Star Trek needs to be thought-provoking. It...Totally agree. They keep trying to make Star Trek an action movie/series, which is almost totally antithetical to the original vision of the series.
Star Trek needs to be thought-provoking. It needs to paint an encouraging view of the future. I want to see a world where humanity has overcome its worst tendencies and learned to coexist.
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Comment on Pennies are being canceled and the US Mint won't make any more. What does that mean? in ~finance
derekiscool Link ParentI mean, in a sense, you would be part of the problem (but only like 0.1%). I can't really fault a small business for doing what it needs to survive (especially something as niche as piano tuning)....I mean, in a sense, you would be part of the problem (but only like 0.1%). I can't really fault a small business for doing what it needs to survive (especially something as niche as piano tuning).
My complaint was more directed the "in your face" sort of advertising that tries to use every trick in the book to get your dollar for something you don't need.
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Comment on Pennies are being canceled and the US Mint won't make any more. What does that mean? in ~finance
derekiscool Link ParentOh, I would be so happy if we could get rid of that $x.99 and $x.95 BS. I despise all the little psychological games advertisers play.Oh, I would be so happy if we could get rid of that $x.99 and $x.95 BS. I despise all the little psychological games advertisers play.
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Comment on Looking for watch recommendations as my partners Apple Watch doesn't even last a day anymore in ~tech
derekiscool Link Parent+1 for Garmin. They are extremely well built in my experience, and they've always been the bar setters for fitness tracking quality. Battery life on all the watches I've owned has been phenomenal.+1 for Garmin. They are extremely well built in my experience, and they've always been the bar setters for fitness tracking quality. Battery life on all the watches I've owned has been phenomenal.
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Comment on UC San Diego sees students’ math skills plummet in ~society
derekiscool Link ParentStandardized testing has its flaws, but to me, math is the one area where it makes complete sense. There can be no ambiguity (assuming properly written questions) in the answers. By definition,...Standardized testing has its flaws, but to me, math is the one area where it makes complete sense.
There can be no ambiguity (assuming properly written questions) in the answers. By definition, you can't just memorize the answers. You need to memorize the rules. And once you know the rules, you should be able to tackle almost any problem.
They say it’s essential to include the high school attended as one input
I fully agree that this is a bad metric that will almost certainly lead to racial and class biased admissions.
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Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games
derekiscool Link ParentThe one thing I wonder about is whether it's viable to sell the Steam Machines at a loss. For consoles, it's an easy decision because you're locked into the console ecosystem and storefront,...The one thing I wonder about is whether it's viable to sell the Steam Machines at a loss. For consoles, it's an easy decision because you're locked into the console ecosystem and storefront, making that money relatively easy to recoup.
But since this is just a standalone PC, the (near) guarantee of purchases on the storefront is not there.
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Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games
derekiscool LinkDang, I'm a little shocked they finally followed through with the steam machine after all these years! Camera tracking on the headset is a big deal. It makes it so much more accessible. I wasn't a...Dang, I'm a little shocked they finally followed through with the steam machine after all these years!
Camera tracking on the headset is a big deal. It makes it so much more accessible.
I wasn't a fan of the previous steam controller - this one looks a bit better, but I'm still not a fan of trackpads.
I'm very interested to see how these perform and how well they're received.
Edit: If the steam machine does end up being popular, it's really going to push Linux support - which is great for anybody who wants to break out of the Mac/Windows oligopily
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Comment on Pathfinder 1 airship overflies Golden Gate bridge: pictures in ~transport
derekiscool Link ParentI believe the main attraction is cost. They're supposed to be much less expensive to build, maintain, and operate than airliners.I believe the main attraction is cost. They're supposed to be much less expensive to build, maintain, and operate than airliners.
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Comment on Donald Trump AI advisor David Sacks says ‘no federal bailout for AI’ after OpenAI CFO’s suggestion of US federal government backstop in ~tech
derekiscool LinkIs this (that is, OpenAI's want for gov help) an indicator that an AI bubble does exist and reaching its limit? It feels like it to me, but I'm also not business or finance savvy enough to...Is this (that is, OpenAI's want for gov help) an indicator that an AI bubble does exist and reaching its limit?
It feels like it to me, but I'm also not business or finance savvy enough to actually know if it means anything at all.
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Comment on California voters pass Prop 50 to redraw the state's congressional maps in ~society
derekiscool Link ParentAgreed. Until we have a national law/ammendment preventing gerrymandering, this is, unfortunately, the only way to keep the other party in check.Agreed. Until we have a national law/ammendment preventing gerrymandering, this is, unfortunately, the only way to keep the other party in check.
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Comment on Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayor’s race, capping a stunning ascent in ~society
derekiscool (edited )Link ParentThis is and prop 50 are two massive wins for democracy. This takes away one opportunity for "legally" ignoring the results in a critical swing state. Prop 50 obviously offsets the extreme...This is and prop 50 are two massive wins for democracy.
This takes away one opportunity for "legally" ignoring the results in a critical swing state.
Prop 50 obviously offsets the extreme gerrymandering going on in other states, which is critical - because if Republicans have control of the house in 28, they can (and based on 2020, very likely would) choose to not certify the election results and choose the president based on house rules (each state delegation gets one vote).
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Comment on Republicans rebuke Donald Trump's 50% emergency tariffs on Brazil in US Senate vote in ~society
derekiscool LinkThis feels entirely performative to me. A few Rs being allowed to look like they care, all while millions of people are suffering because they refuse to extend healthcare benefits and end the...This feels entirely performative to me. A few Rs being allowed to look like they care, all while millions of people are suffering because they refuse to extend healthcare benefits and end the shutdown. And because of the house rules, this will be completely forgotten about and never passed in the house.
While the resolution, led by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., advanced from the upper chamber, it can’t be taken up in the House until early next year.
That’s because House Republicans recently passed a rule that would not allow the chamber to consider legislation dealing with Trump’s tariffs until January of next year.
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Comment on Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix 2025 - Race Weekend Discussion in ~sports.motorsports
derekiscool Link ParentIt seems like all of Piastri's problems have stemmed from qualifying the past 4 races. Baku - crashes in qualifying, crashes in lap 1 Singapore - Qualifies P3, decent result Austin - Qualifies P6...It seems like all of Piastri's problems have stemmed from qualifying the past 4 races.
Baku - crashes in qualifying, crashes in lap 1
Singapore - Qualifies P3, decent result
Austin - Qualifies P6 while Lando is P2
Mexico - Qualifies P8 while Lando is P1Which is so bizarre given how insanely consistent he's been this year in qualifying. Even if he Qualifies 1-2 places behind Lando all of those races, he'd probably still be leading the championship.
Hopefully he can get it back together, I'd love to see this battle go down to the wire.
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Comment on mRNA COVID vaccines may substantially extend life for those undergoing cancer treatments in ~health
derekiscool (edited )LinkWhat's interesting is that they think it just acts as a non-specific signal to activate the immune system. That makes me wonder how we haven't stumbled upon something with similar effects already....What's interesting is that they think it just acts as a non-specific signal to activate the immune system. That makes me wonder how we haven't stumbled upon something with similar effects already. It must be something specific to mRNA vaccines that trigger the response since it is also mentioned that flu shots don't have the same effect.
Either way - if this proves to be true, hopefully it can act as a one of the breakthroughs for cancer treatment we've been hearing about for so many years.
I also wonder if there are any implications regarding cancer rates in general? Will we find that those who've received mRNA vaccines have lower rates of cancer? Or do the effects only occur alongside this specific type of cancer treatment?
I'd like to think the absurd amount of Stargate I've watched over the past few years is a major factor in this getting greenlit, lol.
Jokes aside, it seems like Amazon has done well with its sci-fi series, so I'm cautiously optimistic that this will turn out good. As long as they keep the ensemble cast and "doesn't take itself too seriously" format, it has great potential.