devilized's recent activity
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Comment on Why don't we do more food-based activism? in ~talk
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Comment on Why don't we do more food-based activism? in ~talk
devilized LinkI think there are a few factors that prevent this from working on a larger scale than it currently does. This sort of thing does exist in pockets, though. There's one of those restaurants near me...I think there are a few factors that prevent this from working on a larger scale than it currently does. This sort of thing does exist in pockets, though. There's one of those restaurants near me that has a "pay what you can" model that has suggested prices, and you can pay more or less than that depending on your financial situation. There are also restaurants that have programs where they'll hire disabled workers. But at the end of the day, it's kind a niche thing and there is only so much room in the restaurant industry to sustain that model. Restaurants are difficult and expensive to run. Food costs are a generally only about 1/4-1/3 of a restaurant's expenses, so having cheap/simple ingredients doesn't make a huge financial difference. The rest of the expenses (rent, labor, utilities, marketing, etc) don't change all that much if you're trying to prepare simple foods. Yeah, maybe you need less equipment and a less-talented chef to make simple foods, but you're still overall on the hook for running a very expensive and labor-intensive enterprise.
Now, is it possible? Sure. There's a place near our cabin in Western NC that has an old-time Pharmacy / Drug Store diner that's been there forever and has very simple, inexpensive food. But it's in a rural area where rent and labor (and therefore cost of living) costs are lower than metropolitan areas.
Activism can also be divisive. When you take any kind of activist claim, no matter how morally right it might be, you risk alienating a significant portion of your potential customer base. For a low cost restaurant, which would rely on volume instead of average ticket price to survive, it can be a death sentence for the business.
The last thing I can think about is the reason that people go out to eat. For most people, they go for amazing food that they can't make at home, for great service because they don't want to do it themselves, or just to be social with whoever they're dining with. Most diners aren't going to care about activism stuff while they're dining. They just want to spend time with their friends/family and be served yummy food.
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Comment on ‘The science isn’t there’: do dating apps really help us find our soulmate? in ~life
devilized Link ParentYes, that's what I mean by the part of the comment that you quoted. Both (potential) partners need to make a concerted effort to actually get to know each other, over time, in person. It's so easy...For me I think there’s this gap between meeting someone and feeling attraction that’s hard to bridge.
Yes, that's what I mean by the part of the comment that you quoted. Both (potential) partners need to make a concerted effort to actually get to know each other, over time, in person. It's so easy to set some filters and swipe your finger on your phone to find a potential match like you're looking for the perfect socks on Amazon. The harder part is the actual in-person (or at least off-app) where you get to know each other and develop a connection. And because that first part (swiping and sending a message) was easy, the slightest bit of adversity while getting to know each other often leads one of the partners to immediately end things and go back to swiping. Or maybe they're still swiping in the middle of trying to develop that connection, in which case it's hard to develop that connection with the distraction of other potential people.
In your case of developing a connection with your colleague, you went through all of the work of developing that connection only to find a fundamental incompatibility (the type of relationship you're looking for, which is a very filterable property on dating apps if people are truthful) at the end. That's something that apps have the potential to prevent.
It seems to me that many people just don't want to put actual work into forming and maintaining relationships. I dealt with that when online dating as well. It was easy to tell when that was going on. I don't know if this is at all related, but I remember seeing all of those relationship advice threads on Reddit that basically said "my partner slighted me in some minor way" and all of the top comments were saying "you should break up!" instead of, you know, communicating with your partner about it. The parallel I'm trying to draw in all of this is: relationships take work to foster and maintain, apps make it easier to make the initial connection, and the combination of the two results in people seemingly trying to keep making connections until they find a relationship that is effortless.
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Comment on ‘The science isn’t there’: do dating apps really help us find our soulmate? in ~life
devilized LinkI really think it depends on how you use it. I met my wife on a dating app just over a decade ago, so it can be done. But I'm also a serial monogamist, so I deactivated my profile while we were...I really think it depends on how you use it. I met my wife on a dating app just over a decade ago, so it can be done. But I'm also a serial monogamist, so I deactivated my profile while we were dating, and so did my partner at the time. I do think that apps have potential benefits. You are both explicitly there for the purpose of dating, so there's no wondering about intentions like meeting at a bar or something. You can get some obvious deal breakers out of the way. So it's good for making the initial connection, but you do have to put effort into the relationship offline. And I can't help but wonder if that's where people are going wrong with dating.
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Comment on Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold in ~transport
devilized Link ParentYou got 2 comments as to why in terms of engine efficiency, but I'll also provide another point of view as a truck owner. Towing a trailer still does have a pretty large impact on mileage/range....You got 2 comments as to why in terms of engine efficiency, but I'll also provide another point of view as a truck owner. Towing a trailer still does have a pretty large impact on mileage/range. My F-250 can get about 20mpg on the highway empty, but when towing, I average 12-14mpg. But, my range on a 26 gallon tank is about 500 miles to begin with instead of the 300ish for an EV truck. Additionally, it takes me about 5 minutes to fill up at one of the hundreds of gas stations that I'll pass on my trip instead of 30 minutes at one of the few EV stations along my route that may or may not support my vehicle / be available for me to use / actually be operational.
The lack of charging infra is tied with price for #1 as to why my next truck is also unlikely to be an EV. It needs to make financial sense (it doesn't), and it needs to not be a pain in the ass (it currently is for the way that I use it).
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Comment on Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold in ~transport
devilized Link ParentLowering prices might help increase the number of units sold, but they'll obviously still need to make enough profit on each unit to recoup their investment costs. It's pretty obvious that they...Lowering prices might help increase the number of units sold, but they'll obviously still need to make enough profit on each unit to recoup their investment costs. It's pretty obvious that they expected sales to be better given how much they've had to scale back production due to softening demand.
Currently, cost is only one of the downsides of EV ownership. This doesn't help them either, given that many people currently don't want to own an EV for reasons beyond cost.
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Comment on Big Tech has slashed its office presence in San Francisco by half in ~finance
devilized LinkNot surprising. During the pandemic, many people left the whole Bay Area for lower-cost places as well. Our company, which is CA-based, has pretty much stopped hiring in CA altogether. We had an...Not surprising. During the pandemic, many people left the whole Bay Area for lower-cost places as well. Our company, which is CA-based, has pretty much stopped hiring in CA altogether. We had an office in San Francisco from an acquisition, which has since closed. It doesn't make sense to maintain an expensive office in an expensive place where people don't want to live.
In addition, large tech conferences used to often the Moscone Center in downtown SFO. Most tech conferences have now been moved to Las Vegas or other places. So hotels and restaurants that were supported by 30k+ conference attendees have been suffering as well.
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Comment on New EPA regulation requires coal plants in the United States to reduce 90 percent of their greenhouse pollution by 2039 (gifted link) in ~enviro
devilized Link ParentMost coal plants already have scrubbers. This new requirement goes beyond those scrubbers, and would require full CCS systems. This requires the infrastructure for transportation and long-term...Most coal plants already have scrubbers. This new requirement goes beyond those scrubbers, and would require full CCS systems. This requires the infrastructure for transportation and long-term storage or disposal of compressed CO2.
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Comment on New EPA regulation requires coal plants in the United States to reduce 90 percent of their greenhouse pollution by 2039 (gifted link) in ~enviro
devilized Link ParentWhat are you expecting? National infrastructure change take time. Yes, decades for stuff like this.What are you expecting? National infrastructure change take time. Yes, decades for stuff like this.
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Comment on New Jersey is motivating telecommuters to appeal their New York tax bills. Connecticut may be next. in ~finance
devilized Link ParentYeah, makes sense. I guess I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever decide to work for a NY-based company. There's no way in hell that I'd live there, and my tax rate in NC is lower than NY's.Yeah, makes sense. I guess I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever decide to work for a NY-based company. There's no way in hell that I'd live there, and my tax rate in NC is lower than NY's.
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Comment on New Jersey is motivating telecommuters to appeal their New York tax bills. Connecticut may be next. in ~finance
devilized Link ParentI didn't know that this was a thing either. I guess companies agree to it when they decide to put their HQ in NY. I wonder if having offices in other states changes anything? Could they a company...I didn't know that this was a thing either. I guess companies agree to it when they decide to put their HQ in NY. I wonder if having offices in other states changes anything? Could they a company put a tiny useless office in NJ and just say that the NJ people work from there and telecommute?
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Comment on Amazon grows to over 750,000 robots as world's second-largest private employer replaces over 100,000 humans in ~tech
devilized Link ParentI'm willing to bet that Amazon has had more than 100k employees quit on their own accord in the past year or two. They're known for having high turnover. Amazon is not the only place to work, and...I'm willing to bet that Amazon has had more than 100k employees quit on their own accord in the past year or two. They're known for having high turnover. Amazon is not the only place to work, and walking around a warehouse to grab items to toss into boxes is not the only job.
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Comment on Spotify lowers artist royalties despite subscription price hike in ~music
devilized Link ParentAh ok, that was helpful. So that 15% is only one of three royalty categories. Overall, Spotify is paying 70% of their revenue to the music industry. That's a lot. If anything, we should be angry...Ah ok, that was helpful.
Your total Spotify Royalty is your Master Use Royalty + Performance Royalty + Mechanical Royalty combined.
So that 15% is only one of three royalty categories. Overall, Spotify is paying 70% of their revenue to the music industry. That's a lot. If anything, we should be angry at record labels instead of Spotify.
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Comment on Spotify lowers artist royalties despite subscription price hike in ~music
devilized Link ParentSo if they put 70% of their revenue aside and then share it proportionally based on plays, what's with the 15% number? I get the audiobook vs music thing, that part makes sense.So if they put 70% of their revenue aside and then share it proportionally based on plays, what's with the 15% number?
I get the audiobook vs music thing, that part makes sense.
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Comment on Spotify lowers artist royalties despite subscription price hike in ~music
devilized Link ParentTheir "basic" non-free plan (that doesn't exist yet) would not have ads, though. The ads are only for their free plans. I'd imagine that they have to count ads in a similar way to subscription...Their "basic" non-free plan (that doesn't exist yet) would not have ads, though. The ads are only for their free plans. I'd imagine that they have to count ads in a similar way to subscription revenue from a royalty perspective since that's the only revenue they're getting for those users.
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Comment on Amazon grows to over 750,000 robots as world's second-largest private employer replaces over 100,000 humans in ~tech
devilized Link ParentAs a customer, I'm giving them (and others who invest in automation) props for managing their operational expenses, so that they can offer goods and services at higher speed and lower cost to me...As a customer, I'm giving them (and others who invest in automation) props for managing their operational expenses, so that they can offer goods and services at higher speed and lower cost to me (and their other customers). The cost (both time and dollars) is the primary driver for why use them instead of other options.
I know that's not a popular viewpoint because everyone loves to hate Amazon around here, but I'm looking at this as a customer of their service.
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Comment on Spotify lowers artist royalties despite subscription price hike in ~music
devilized LinkThere's something about this I'm not understanding. So that seems to be saying that the royalty rate for streaming is about 15% of subscription revenue. But then, they say So which is it? 15% or 70%?There's something about this I'm not understanding.
Under the CRB settlement, the headline royalty rate for standalone music streaming services is set to increase gradually over a 5-year period. This started from 15.1% in 2023 and should reach 15.35% by 2027.
So that seems to be saying that the royalty rate for streaming is about 15% of subscription revenue. But then, they say
In 2023, the company paid record labels, artists, and other rights holders more than $9 billion from its $13.2 billion in revenue. This amounted to about 70% of its sales.
So which is it? 15% or 70%?
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Comment on Spotify lowers artist royalties despite subscription price hike in ~music
devilized Link ParentUnless I misunderstood something, it actually sounds like the basic plan actually will be paying artists more than the premium plan. The article says that Spotify is able to pay less royalties on...Unless I misunderstood something, it actually sounds like the basic plan actually will be paying artists more than the premium plan. The article says that Spotify is able to pay less royalties on its premium plan by bundling audiobooks + music. And then at the bottom of the article, it says
The new ‘Basic’ music tier will not be considered a bundle. Instead, it will be a standalone subscription that will pay the agreed headline mechanical rate to songwriters and publishers.
which sounds like they would be paying the normal, non-bundled rate for customers on the basic plan? So that's even more reason to use the basic plan if you don't want audiobooks.
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Comment on Amazon grows to over 750,000 robots as world's second-largest private employer replaces over 100,000 humans in ~tech
devilized LinkAutomation has been replacing human labor since the invention of the first machine. These robots are performing menial, manually laborious jobs that nobody really wanted to do in the first place.Automation has been replacing human labor since the invention of the first machine. These robots are performing menial, manually laborious jobs that nobody really wanted to do in the first place.
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Comment on Where are you on the spectrum of vacation planning? Detailed to the hour or floating like a leaf in the wind? in ~talk
devilized LinkWe're somewhere in the middle. My wife and I both research things that we might want to do before we go so that we're not sitting around trying to figure it out when we get there. But we always...We're somewhere in the middle. My wife and I both research things that we might want to do before we go so that we're not sitting around trying to figure it out when we get there. But we always leave room for flexibility and spontaneity. There are also times where we plan something, but something better comes up when we get there, so we'll change plans. Flexibility is key to relaxing travel, IMO. It's kinda like planning a wedding - if you try to force it to be a certain way down to the minute, you'll likely wind up stressed and disappointed.
They don't, but you have to at least cover 100% of their expenses. They can't lose money. Unless you're going to find staff to work for you for you for free/less (good luck finding a kitchen staff), a building that will allow you to operate rent-free and utility-free, vendors that will give you significant discounts on supplies and equipment, you have no choice but to consider the financials. I think you are overestimating the amount of money that most restaurants make, especially a small standalone one compared to a corporation who can operate with economies of scale. It's an expensive endeavor.
I serve on the Board of Directors for a large nonprofit 501(c)(3) in my city. We, by definition, do not turn a profit. We spend every dollar that we bring in. We're either funding our programs, or paying down debt that we accrued during COVID when we had almost no income but still had to make payroll. We have to pay for our buildings, staff, insurance, and all of our vendors (our biggest expense due to the nature of our work). Our vendors give us a minuscule discount for being a well-known nonprofit. Our staff takes a lower-than-industry (but still livable) wage in exchange for working on a mission that they're passionate about, but our turnover is significantly higher than our for-profit counterparts (this is very common in NP vs FP). Our vendors and our people expect to get paid. No payment, no vendors or people. Nonprofit doesn't mean you have no bills. I see in this reply and the other reply that you're trying to ignore the economics, but that's just not the reality. It's the very reason that you're not finding what you're looking for.
Now, if this is something you're so passionate about, what's stopping you from organizing people and assets to make it happen in your community? I got involved in a community organization that I'm passionate about - as I mentioned, I serve on their board and also go out and volunteer with the organization hands-on. There are plenty of groups who would love to engage with someone who is willing to help make projects like this come to life.