Halfloaf's recent activity

  1. Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    Well said. -another tired and sad individual

    Well said.

    -another tired and sad individual

    7 votes

  2. Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    Does this diversity report count? I’d say it’s an account of honest effort to improve.

    Does this diversity report count? I’d say it’s an account of honest effort to improve.

    2 votes

  3. Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    I think an important part of progressivism (that I haven’t seen explicitly mentioned in this topic) is earnestly listening to feedback. I feel like a progressive grandma would listen to feedback,...

    I think an important part of progressivism (that I haven’t seen explicitly mentioned in this topic) is earnestly listening to feedback.

    I feel like a progressive grandma would listen to feedback, and give an earnest shot at using those slurs less often.

    If that grandma instead continues to use the slur, or increases usage defensively, then that grandma transitions from being “kind”, to being something else. I think they would cease being progressive, at least.

    14 votes

  4. Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    You should read the book! It’s a good and thought-provoking read.

    You should read the book! It’s a good and thought-provoking read.

    1 vote

  5. Comment on US Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes to shut down in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link
    Between this and the shutting down of NASA’s Goddard Library, it’s already been a sad year for those of us that love the seeking and communication of knowledge. How is 2026 already this...

    Between this and the shutting down of NASA’s Goddard Library, it’s already been a sad year for those of us that love the seeking and communication of knowledge.

    How is 2026 already this depressing?! Rude!

    23 votes

  6. Comment on I am kinda curious about the demographics of Tildes in ~talk

    Halfloaf
    Link
    Late 30’s/M/Massachusetts, US - I’m a signal processing engineer at a startup, which generally means I’m a weird mix of software/electrical engineer/mechanical engineer. I feel like I mostly...

    Late 30’s/M/Massachusetts, US - I’m a signal processing engineer at a startup, which generally means I’m a weird mix of software/electrical engineer/mechanical engineer.

    I feel like I mostly translate / teach stuff from one specialist to another. I love geeking out with people about what they do!

    Also, former home appliance engineer. I will forever know too much about clothes washers and dryers, but a fair amount about the other appliances too.

    10 votes

  7. Comment on US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Nicolas Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    In the case of Bin Laden, it’s worth noting that congress approved the use of military force (Now, Trump is saying it also applies to everything now, but that’s obviously bullshit) Thank you for...

    In the case of Bin Laden, it’s worth noting that congress approved the use of military force

    (Now, Trump is saying it also applies to everything now, but that’s obviously bullshit)

    Thank you for pointing out Noriega! That’s an interesting one. The only (maybe) meaningful difference that I can see there is that Panama had declared war on the US, which seems like weak justification at best.

    8 votes

  8. Comment on US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Nicolas Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    In regard to the “celebrations” of Venezuelan people being broadcast at the moment: I think a different framing is relevant here. If someone were to assassinate Trump, there would also likely be...

    In regard to the “celebrations” of Venezuelan people being broadcast at the moment:

    I think a different framing is relevant here.

    If someone were to assassinate Trump, there would also likely be people celebrating that in the street.

    We would still find the assassin. We would still convict them. They would likely never be free for the rest of their lives. This is the correct response because we, as a society, have agreed that assassinations are very bad.

    We, as a society, have also agreed that only congress can declare War.

    Instead, Trump and his “Secretary of War” invaded a country and kidnapped the leader of that country, without telling any part of congress about it

    The blatant illegality of Trump’s actions yesterday (oh time has slowed to a crawl) means that he should be punished.

    14 votes

  9. Comment on US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Nicolas Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    I can’t think of a more direct act of war than capturing the leader of another country.

    I can’t think of a more direct act of war than capturing the leader of another country.

    12 votes

  10. Comment on US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Nicolas Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link
    The only reasonable response to this is the impeachment of Trump, and his conviction in the senate. There is simply nothing else that is acceptable.

    The only reasonable response to this is the impeachment of Trump, and his conviction in the senate.

    There is simply nothing else that is acceptable.

    72 votes

  11. Comment on Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God in ~humanities

    Halfloaf
    Link Parent
    They got a chuckle out of me! Thank you!

    They got a chuckle out of me! Thank you!

    3 votes

  12. Comment on CBS News pulls report on “brutal and torturous conditions” at El Salvador prison where Donald Trump Administration sent deportees in ~tv

  13. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of December 15 in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link
    Trump orders blockade of ‘sanctioned oil tankers’ into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on Maduro Traditionally, a blockade is an act of war. From legalclarity.org:

    Trump orders blockade of ‘sanctioned oil tankers’ into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on Maduro

    “Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform. “It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.”

    Traditionally, a blockade is an act of war. From legalclarity.org:

    Another recognized act of war is the blockade of a state’s ports or coasts. By cutting off a nation’s access to maritime trade, a blockade has profound economic and military consequences. This action is viewed as an aggressive use of naval power intended to coerce the targeted state.

    12 votes

  14. Comment on Spain to launch €60 monthly nationwide public transport pass, in January in ~transport

    Halfloaf
    Link
    Fingers crossed for Jet Lag Spain! :)

    Fingers crossed for Jet Lag Spain! :)

    7 votes

  15. Comment on Advent of Code starts tomorrow/tonight! Are you participating? Do you have any specific plans for this year? in ~comp.advent_of_code

    Halfloaf
    Link
    Yes! I’d like to use it to get a better grasp on Rust, so that’ll be my focus!

    Yes! I’d like to use it to get a better grasp on Rust, so that’ll be my focus!

    3 votes

  16. Comment on Jeffrey Epstein alleged in emails that US President Donald Trump knew of his conduct in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link
    From the ABC article: Also relevant, from a few months ago:

    From the ABC article:

    The other newly released email exchanges are between Epstein and author Michael Wolff, who has written four books chronicling the Trump presidency. Wolff has said he spoke to Epstein at length about Trump during his reporting for the books.

    "I hear CNN planning to ask Trump tonight about his relationship with you--either on air or in scrum afterwards," Wolff wrote to Epstein in December 2015, six months after Trump had officially entered the race for the White House.

    "If we were to craft an answer for him, what do you think it should be?" Epstein replied.

    "I think you should let him hang himself," Wolff replied the next day. "If he says he hasn't been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency. You can hang him in a way that potentially generates a positive benefit for you, or, if it really looks like he could win, you could save him, generating a debt. Of course, it is possible that, when asked, he'll say Jeffrey is a great guy and has gotten a raw deal and is a victim of political correctness, which is to be outlawed in a Trump regime."

    Also relevant, from a few months ago:

    Trump was in Scotland answering questions from reporters on July 28 as the controversy over the criminal case files on the financier indicted on sex trafficking charges continues to roil his administration. Epstein owned a small private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where sex trafficking of young girls allegedly occurred.

    “I never had the privilege of going to his island, and I did turn it down, but a lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island," Trump said. “In one of my very good moments, I turned it down. I didn't want to go to his island.

    5 votes

  17. Comment on 2025 Nobel Prize – This year's Nobel Prize announcements will take place between 6th - 13th October 2025 in ~science

    Halfloaf
    Link
    I’m pretty anxious about the Peace prize announcement on Friday. Either way, I feel like it’ll have more impact on my life than I want it to have.

    I’m pretty anxious about the Peace prize announcement on Friday.

    Either way, I feel like it’ll have more impact on my life than I want it to have.

    4 votes

  19. Comment on Vladimir Putin has called up 135,000 men for routine military service, the country's biggest autumn conscription drive since 2016 in ~society

    Halfloaf
    Link
    Doesn’t this seems like a very short time period for such a large conscription?

    In a decree issued Monday, Putin ordered "the conscription of 135,000 citizens of the Russian Federation from Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2025”.

    Conscripts are expected to serve for a year at a military base inside Russia, not to fight in Ukraine, although there have been reports of conscripted men being sent to the front line.

    Doesn’t this seems like a very short time period for such a large conscription?

    2 votes

  20. Comment on What game is your personal "Silksong"? in ~games

    Halfloaf
    Link
    Celeste! I’d been a fan of Towerfall Ascension for years - it was my favorite multiplayer game, and I’d even won some tournaments at various PAX-es! I got the chance to play Maddy as a result, and...

    Celeste!

    I’d been a fan of Towerfall Ascension for years - it was my favorite multiplayer game, and I’d even won some tournaments at various PAX-es! I got the chance to play Maddy as a result, and she destroyed me. :D)

    I was so excited by the motion in the Celeste demos that I played, but I was absolutely not ready for such an emotional roller coaster. It’s a game that I will think about at least once a week for the rest of my life.

    14 votes