disk's recent activity
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
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Comment on Why do some people posting ChatGPT answer to the discussion/debate/question? in ~tech
disk Link ParentCertainly, it reminds me of mailing lists, with laconic answers ("yes", "no", "read the man pages") that contribute little to the discussion, since they're so vague you can't derive an actual...Certainly, it reminds me of mailing lists, with laconic answers ("yes", "no", "read the man pages") that contribute little to the discussion, since they're so vague you can't derive an actual solution to your problem/genuine answer.
LLMs/transformers are a lot like that, I've asked Copilot about crystallography concepts as a test, only to be met with information about the fall of the Ottoman empire. And when it works, sometimes it comes up with vague non-answers (or worse yet, a confidently wrong answer).
I don't see how someone could even equate "asking ChatGPT" to quoting an article or website. It's stripped of all references when posted here, and for all I know, it could be looking at a 1970s datasheet for something that was heavily reworked in the 2000s (that happened before, just not on Tildes).
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Comment on Ferrari patents inverted I6 hydrogen engine with electric turbocharging in ~engineering
disk Link ParentYeah, this is not going to be a "full package" that will be pushed commercially, but rather a conjunction of different experimental technologies that Ferrari can then cherry pick to augment their...Yeah, this is not going to be a "full package" that will be pushed commercially, but rather a conjunction of different experimental technologies that Ferrari can then cherry pick to augment their offerings for high performance engines.
I could even see some of these (most likely the compressor arrangement) being tested on petrol engines in "real" environments, but definitely not all features at once.
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Comment on Tesla's gear-shifting problems known long before Angela Chao's death in ~transport
disk LinkThese attempts at innovation are frankly pointless. Sportscars have gullwing/scissor doors precisely because they sit close to the floor, and this is one way of making access slightly easier....These attempts at innovation are frankly pointless. Sportscars have gullwing/scissor doors precisely because they sit close to the floor, and this is one way of making access slightly easier.
However, this is a SUV/crossover, which sits fairly high. There is no point in having fancy doors, other than looks, and the "emergency procedure" for the back doors looks damn near impossible to perform in a true emergency.
Couple this with the weird procedure for shifting into reverse (apparently, they're using touchscreen controls now, which is easily worse than all the shifting mechanisms I've ever seen in my life, including knobs), and a regular car driver would get easily confused.
Then you have the yoke as a steering wheel replacement, which is frankly ridiculous. It's even worse than the Austin Allegro's square steering wheel in every single way. The reason F1/GT3/WEC cars have steering wheels that look like they do is precisely because they have incredibly short steering racks, which mean they rotate much less lock to lock.
And of course, the massive tablet that replaces every single control. Although this is done in plenty of modern cars, prompting Euro NCAP to step in and say "bring back physical controls", Tesla takes it even further.
I never thought we'd have to regulate cabin controls, but this is getting ridiculous. Cars gravitated towards round steering wheels, gear levers and pedals the way they did precisely because of years of evolution in ergonomics, and this has proven time and time again to be the superior design. Senseless innovation is, well, senseless.
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Comment on Denmark's second-largest city is trialling a first-of-its-kind deposit scheme to tackle single-use coffee cups in ~enviro
disk LinkSeems like a good idea, and it definitely solves the problem of "what if I forget my cup at home". Also, the disposable lids (at least it seems like they are disposed of), although not...Seems like a good idea, and it definitely solves the problem of "what if I forget my cup at home". Also, the disposable lids (at least it seems like they are disposed of), although not ecologically ideal, make it a bit more hygienic.
I'd really like to see the results of this trial, as cup longevity, economic viability and return rates are absolutely going to make or break this. Especially cup longevity, since the cups use less plastic and don't seem as sturdy as regular reusable cups. Although the lessened amount of plastic should affect energetic use break-even, regular cups come in at about 17 uses, so a similar figure for a cup's "usable lifetime" needs to be achieved.
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Comment on Know a good mix? Drop it here. in ~music
disk LinkBonkers 3 - Hixxy Mix Nanna Makina Sunrise Set @ Tynemouth Priory DJ Cotts in general A bit happy hardcore/makina/breakbeat-centric, but they're all gemsA bit happy hardcore/makina/breakbeat-centric, but they're all gems
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Comment on Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and Lewis Hamilton to part ways in ~sports.motorsports
disk LinkDoes anyone on the grid seem poised to take Hamilton's place at Mercedes? Certainly Russell will take up a "first driver" position, but I'm rather interested on what this means for Mercedes....Does anyone on the grid seem poised to take Hamilton's place at Mercedes? Certainly Russell will take up a "first driver" position, but I'm rather interested on what this means for Mercedes. Personally, I think they might pull a McLaren and have two young drivers (Albon maybe?) instead of giving Bottas a call.
Although I feel like they "could" bet on a rookie, their programme is still "in its early days", and the only one that feels like they might be ready for F1 in 2025 is Vesti, and that would leave a sour taste afterwards, since that might just displace Antonelli, who is touted as the next great thing.
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Comment on The world’s largest cruise ship is a climate liability in ~transport
disk Link ParentThat's a very good point, and I agree to an extent. I've had friends go on cruises to excellent, exquisite locations and they most certainly enjoyed it, and there was no other way to achieve that....That's a very good point, and I agree to an extent. I've had friends go on cruises to excellent, exquisite locations and they most certainly enjoyed it, and there was no other way to achieve that. However, my main gripe is with how cruise ships got larger and larger for increasingly diminishing benefits, and these often outweigh the gains in efficiency.
For example, having a casino inside a cruise ship feels sensible, but when you move towards things like waterparks, or 12 different restaurants, it starts to feel like there should be a limit. These require an exponentially higher amount of resources, and the industry seems to gravitate towards these larger cruise ships.
As for modernisation, yes, I agree, there was modernisation and I don't think I phrased it too well, but ultimately, trains went through blistering innovation in the last years, without sacrificing comfort (admittedly in different conditions), and in the meantime, cruise ships can still cruise with dirtier, heavier oil, and I feel like the switch to alternate fuels (which are less energy dense) like LNG is not possible if size keeps increasing.
I don't want to get rid of all cruises, but the industry should definitely stop trying to create floating cities, and instead, focus on delivering excellent experiences without getting stuck in an unending arms race.
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Comment on The world’s largest cruise ship is a climate liability in ~transport
disk LinkThat's an excellent article, and I can't for sure say if I was surprised that cruise ships emit twice as much carbon as flying. However, there is something that compounds this even further: flying...That's an excellent article, and I can't for sure say if I was surprised that cruise ships emit twice as much carbon as flying. However, there is something that compounds this even further: flying is often a necessity, and just as instrumental to transport as trains, cars or coaches. And yet, as the article mentions, "flight-shaming" is a thing, whilst cruise ships are free to run on sooty, inferior oil, and face little to no pressure to modernise.
Certainly no businessman is taking cruise ships to their next meeting, nor would I take cruise ships to visit family abroad. Cruise ships are, by all means, a dispensable luxury, and that reflects on the industry's commitments in past years.
Modern cruise ships dwarf the Titanic in terms of size and weight and constantly pack in more and more features into their ships, ranging from karting tracks to full-on coasters, all as part of an arms race that completely disregards efficiency.
And frankly, albeit this is a personal opinion, these are all things you could do inland, with a much greater level of comfort. Certainly the gimmick of doing it all on sea should not be a deciding factor, but alas, it is. Most importantly, it does not follow the same line of reasoning as other "premium" methods of travel, like Rovos Rail, or first class flying, which focus on respectable improvements to the travel experience, but without going massively out of their way to turn the trip into a seaside carnival.
We haven't been building increasingly larger trains to accommodate ridiculously large on-board amenities, and planes like the 747 and the A380 are falling out of favour precisely because smaller planes work just as well without compromising first class experiences too much, but cruise ships the size of a village get a pass for some reason.
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Comment on After Dobbs, US doctors say more people are turning to permanent contraception in ~health
disk LinkRecently, I've been in a fairly good position financially, and I've struck good work-life balance, but I would still consider having children an ultimately detrimental event. I'm not in a...Recently, I've been in a fairly good position financially, and I've struck good work-life balance, but I would still consider having children an ultimately detrimental event. I'm not in a particularly stable moment of my life, due to how much my career forces me to travel/move. Furthermore, there's not much pointing to stability in the next 10 years, but I'm adamant that things might improve and I might change my mind.
However, if I was faced with the possibility that birth control/contraception options where I live could be taken away, it would be a no brainer to go for a vasectomy. I do not want to have one, but at the same time, I don't want to go through the process of raising a child without being mentally and financially
ready for it.The irony of taking away birth control options is just that, you might just force the hand of people who want to be parents, but at a moment where they are most likely to be able to provide a kid with all the resources they need.
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Comment on Despite it still being spring in Brazil, temperatures reach 35-40 degrees Celsius almost every day in dangerous heatwave in ~enviro
disk Link ParentThe worst part is that cities like São Paulo are prone to creating massive heat islands that culminate in even more tortuous conditions, which is a problem that could be solved with smart urban...The worst part is that cities like São Paulo are prone to creating massive heat islands that culminate in even more tortuous conditions, which is a problem that could be solved with smart urban planning, vegetation, and so on.
Recently I've read something about São Paulo's municipal government uprooting trees from parks for a number of dumb reasons, ranging from poorly thought out makeovers of public spaces to curtailing "public indecency".
Besides, the trees themselves are often poorly maintained, and in windy conditions, they present a risk to property and life. The solution? Chop them.
Add all of these factors together, throw in São Paulo's aging, poorly maintained electrical infrastructure, flood-prone streets, and you have a 3 day long blackout, during the hottest days of the year, meaning you have no fans or air conditioning, with heat emanating from the ground making it all so much worse.
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Comment on Curbside trash is a problem in NYC. Officials have a not-so-novel fix: plastic bins in ~enviro
disk LinkA bit of a silly question, but why was this never done in the past? Are there any advantages to leaving your rubbish out in the curb, other than space concerns? Or is it some some sort of...A bit of a silly question, but why was this never done in the past? Are there any advantages to leaving your rubbish out in the curb, other than space concerns? Or is it some some sort of "inertial" thing where they kept doing it for "historical reasons" and because that's how it has always been done?
The article mentions a sanitation strike, but the effects of that strike shouldn't have lingered for as long as they did, not that only using bare bags help much when a strike happens
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Comment on Let us return to natural time in ~life
disk (edited )Link ParentI had to perform extensive hotfixing, testing and retesting on control system software because of DST being abolished where I lived. And even outside that, certificates "broke", systems had to be...I had to perform extensive hotfixing, testing and retesting on control system software because of DST being abolished where I lived. And even outside that, certificates "broke", systems had to be updated, it was absolute pandemonium. That was a minor change, comparatively.
Then, I worked alongside people developing part of a system involving shipping, and dealing with timezones as it is is already hard enough. Even whilst using libraries, there are so many edge cases and special conditions we need to take into account, we had to rethink a lot of things tens of times over.
I'm never going to willingly sign up for having to implement a clever system that takes into account latitude, longitude, time of year and so on when that makes it exponentially more difficult to apply this to critical systems, because even if I'm storing everything in UTC, I'll have to display it as "human time" eventually, and if I display everything as UTC (which makes sense, because at least where I work, we need to keep a logbook of events that is consistent throughout the year), I assume a lot of industries also will, meaning this proposal would be dead on arrival. Besides, it would drive me around a bend to have to think in microseconds when having to deal with timing on electronic circuits, but then I need to think in some abstract, ever-changing definition of hour when I want to do something else.
I already have to convert between metres and miles in my head, so I'm not too keen on having to do that when I need to be at the track at, say, "1600" four months from now, but my laptimes are measured in an unchanging unit of measurement.
This article also mentions that computers will also do a lot of the thinking for us, but I don't want to have to pull up a website to figure out what is the best time of day to call my relatives if it's the 26th day of winter, in Bristol... so on, so forth. I would very much like to look at my 1990s watch for a second and tell whether or not it's still too early for that. Said watch has barely enough processing power to keep the time, and naturally we would have to scrap a lot of existing material/hardware/software, but I tried to avoid this point because it feels a bit overdiscussed already.
I appreciate the initiative to create a discussion around how we could keep time better, but a lot of systems require stable timekeeping practices, which is rather easy to do with simple logic/circuits. This approach, however, would add great amounts of complexity which would require a lot more work. Also, Tom Scott has a video on him going mad over timezones, so I think that's a nice addendum to this whole situation
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Comment on Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2023 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
disk LinkFerrari has squandered their chances at a second place in the WDC with this DNS. Not that I was too hopeful, but maybe if Sainz's fuel system didn't decide to go on strike in Qatar, coupled with...Ferrari has squandered their chances at a second place in the WDC with this DNS. Not that I was too hopeful, but maybe if Sainz's fuel system didn't decide to go on strike in Qatar, coupled with Leclerc's advantageous start position, Ferrari could take this to the last race of the season.
It's just weird because no other team is having that much unluckiness with reliability before a race even starts, even Ferrari's customer teams (which are admittedly doing just as bad if not worse during races). A driver crashing out during the formation lap in a dramatic way due to a mechanical fault is such a glaringly unusual sight that it should warrant some self-questioning at Maranello.
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Comment on I guess this whole time I was a small minority - enjoying working in person in ~life
disk LinkI agree. Naturally, of course, to each their own and I do not feel like jobs that can be done from home with the same level of quality should enforce a strict "work-from-office" policy, but I...I agree. Naturally, of course, to each their own and I do not feel like jobs that can be done from home with the same level of quality should enforce a strict "work-from-office" policy, but I enjoy working in person.
Not only from a productivity standpoint, I enjoy talking to my colleagues, and above all, I think it creates a sense of "community" (not trying to use buzzwords here) that lends itself to the creation of strong unions, workplace discussions about working rights and cooperation.
It simply does not feel natural going for a "virtual coffee break" or checking out projects/implementation details through the internet. Besides, I work in a campus that includes not only the facility I work in, but many others, and I get to visit them in person, either for work or socialising in general, which makes it all feel "connected" and part of a much larger effort. I get to see exactly who and what my work is affecting, in real time.
When working from home, I feel isolated, and limited, resource-wise. I genuinely like my job, and in a previous job that I liked just as much, I had to work from home for the better part of the pandemic, and it was easily one of the most mentally draining things during that period, even though I woke up at 0500 and came back at 1800 when working in person and working from home allowed me to wake up 2 hours later.
I dread working from home, and I would avoid it as much as possible given the chance.
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UK's nuclear fusion site (JET) ends experiments after forty years
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
disk LinkBlack Celebration, by Depeche Mode. I have a thing for 80s synthpop, and "But Not Tonight" is an absolute experience. Alongside that, a lot of Gigi D'Agostino, really. Italodance is an often...Black Celebration, by Depeche Mode. I have a thing for 80s synthpop, and "But Not Tonight" is an absolute experience.
Alongside that, a lot of Gigi D'Agostino, really. Italodance is an often overlooked genre, and my go tos have been "Silence" and "Parole Parole" .
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Comment on Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2023 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
disk LinkWilliams needs to drop Sargeant. Vowles has admitted the lack of parts is costing Williams valuable resources and time, and the team needs someone that can provide insightful car feedback and a...Williams needs to drop Sargeant. Vowles has admitted the lack of parts is costing Williams valuable resources and time, and the team needs someone that can provide insightful car feedback and a minimal amount of incidents in this "recovery" phase.
Maybe someone as consistent as Drugovich would be a good fit? Lawson isn't too far off too, but I'm willing to bet Red Bull isn't going to ignore Liam, given Marko said that Williams "doesn't want a driver for just one year", which may imply they have plans for him in the future.
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Comment on The iPhone 12 emits too much radiation and Apple must take it off the market, French agency says in ~tech
disk LinkAlthough this finding certainly is not usual, according to this and other articles, there is no perceived link between this excess and any health risks yet:Although this finding certainly is not usual, according to this and other articles, there is no perceived link between this excess and any health risks yet:
The agency’s tests are carried out at diagnostic lab that uses a liquid-filled mold simulating a human head and body with brain and muscle tissue. Devices transmit at maximum power for the six-minute test, the agency says on its website, acknowledging that the tests “do not reflect the most common use of a telephone.”
While mobile phones have been in widespread use for years, studies haven’t shown a clear link to adverse health effects like cancer, headaches and cognitive function, said Ian Scivill, a senior scientist with expertise in radiation at the U.K.’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital.
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The iPhone 12 emits too much radiation and Apple must take it off the market, French agency says
39 votes
Where Wizards Stay Up Late by Katie Hafner and Matthew Lyon. It's a fairly thorough dive into the beginnings of ARPANET, both from a political and technical standpoint, followed by an enticing exploration of how TCP/IP, backbones, the internet, and e-mail grew naturally from that. There are a few excursions into "what-could-have-beens", such as competing protocols for data transmission, or radio instead of undersea cables, all of which I believe are tackled in a superb manner.
That being said, I'm trying to get my hands on a copy of How to Build a Car, but with limited success.