honzabe's recent activity
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Comment on Russia loses almost 46,000 troops, over $3 billion worth of military equipment in November, Defense Ministry says in ~news
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Comment on Favorite "A Christmas Carol" adaptation? in ~movies
honzabe (edited )LinkI really like the adaptation from 1984. Whenever I feel down, I re-watch it, or at least the end - the dark scene at the graveyard and the even darker scene before that... and then the joyous...I really like the adaptation from 1984. Whenever I feel down, I re-watch it, or at least the end - the dark scene at the graveyard and the even darker scene before that... and then the joyous closing part; that is like an anti-depressant to me.
It is freely available on YouTube: link
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Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv
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Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv
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Comment on World’s oldest known man dies aged 112 in Merseyside in ~life
honzabe (edited )Link ParentMy grandmother is 98. On the one hand, she outlived her husband and all her friends, some of them by decades. She clearly misses them, especially grandpa. On the other, she lived to see her eighth...Too old and you grow so very lonely...
My grandmother is 98. On the one hand, she outlived her husband and all her friends, some of them by decades. She clearly misses them, especially grandpa. On the other, she lived to see her eighth great-grandchild (so far).
She's clearly ready to go - she even jokes about it sometimes; last time she gave me instructions to cremate her and use the ashes to fertilize the giant thicket of blackberries in the garden - they'll benefit from this kind of "nutrition," she said, laughing.
But when you see her with her 97 years younger great-granddaughter... I think she's glad she's still here. The clan she started with grandpa is quite a lot of people now. And she's still witnessing it branch out further and further.
Actually, it's kind of strange to think that if it wasn't for her chance meeting with grandpa, none of us would be here. -
Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv
honzabe LinkThanks for the excellent question, I found a lot of things here that look extremely interesting and I had never heard of them. Can I mention a few that are not originally in English? El Ministerio...Thanks for the excellent question, I found a lot of things here that look extremely interesting and I had never heard of them.
Can I mention a few that are not originally in English?
El Ministerio del Tiempo (The Ministry of Time) - a Spanish series about a secret government agency tasked with protecting Spain’s history by traveling through time to prevent changes to key historical events. The agency’s team, comprising characters from different eras, works together to solve cases while navigating cultural and personal conflicts. Funny, sometimes a bit sad, and you learn a thing or two about Spanish history. The first season is great, but then it goes slightly downhill, probably because one of the actors left and they had to rewrite the plot.
Vida perfecta (Perfect Life) - another Spanish series. A neurotic and controlling woman gets high after her boyfriend breaks up with her (mainly to prove she can be "wild") and has unprotected sex with a mentally disabled man. The ensuing pregnancy turns her life upside down. A comedy, but a realistic one, not a sitcom - sometimes I get a bit tired of unrealistic plots about secret agents having to save humanity before midnight - this series is real, about people like me.
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Comment on Vladimir Putin approves changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine in ~society
honzabe (edited )Link ParentHeretofore? Dear @deimos, does Tildes have any way to detect Russian bots? Would that be possible/feasible? I am from the Czech Republic, which is often used as a testing ground by the Russian lie...A change in doctrine seems like a much bigger deal than the sabre-rattling that Russia has heretofore engaged in. Scary stuff.
Heretofore?
Dear @deimos, does Tildes have any way to detect Russian bots? Would that be possible/feasible? I am from the Czech Republic, which is often used as a testing ground by the Russian lie machine - too bad the book "Průmysl lži" (The Industry of Lies) by Alvarová is only available in the Czech language. I can smell (some of) that shit from miles away. When Russians do certain actions and suddenly there is a flood of comments on all kinds of forums with the same sentiment and the same weird language quirks and ruscisms spreading fear, muddying the waters, and wasting our time, I get annoyed and often leave the discussion - which I should not, because that is exactly what they want. Any other solution would be preferable.
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Comment on Should I stop using Kagi because they do business with Yandex? in ~tech
honzabe LinkIt doesn't strike me as an overreaction. It feels like a principled response. If everyone did this, the world would be a better place.Am I over reacting here? What do others think?
It doesn't strike me as an overreaction. It feels like a principled response. If everyone did this, the world would be a better place.
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Comment on Joe Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US long-range missiles in ~society
honzabe (edited )Link ParentThroughout history, psychopaths always tried to use threats to get what they want. People signaling their willingness to give in to threats are basically inviting psychopaths to threaten them....I will vote for the end-of-democracy candidate for the rest of my life if it means no one has to get nuked or fight world war three.
Throughout history, psychopaths always tried to use threats to get what they want. People signaling their willingness to give in to threats are basically inviting psychopaths to threaten them. This must be one of the reasons why honor codes and labeling certain behaviors as cowardice evolved. To discourage people from inviting psychopaths to threaten their community.
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Comment on Joe Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US long-range missiles in ~society
honzabe Link ParentI don't think we are. We are simply aware, that we can't give in to nuclear extortion, because that would basically mean giving absolute power to the extortionist. Also, you argue as if we were...We're assuming that we're working with logical actors who want to preserve the world.
I don't think we are. We are simply aware, that we can't give in to nuclear extortion, because that would basically mean giving absolute power to the extortionist.
Also, you argue as if we were only optimizing for maximum safety. Many people have other values. Some people believe certain values are worth a risk. Remember that "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech? Some people actually believe that.
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Comment on Looking for eclectic and little-known websites that bring joy in ~health.mental
honzabe (edited )LinkMental hygiene has its place. One doesn't need to spend all their time on toxic websites. Maybe you just need a rest day. But still, there might be one thing worth mentioning. If you already know...I have been trying to avoid internet sites that could trigger anxiety.
Mental hygiene has its place. One doesn't need to spend all their time on toxic websites. Maybe you just need a rest day. But still, there might be one thing worth mentioning. If you already know this, just disregard it.
I grew up with a mother who suffered from anxiety disorder and for a long time, I struggled with anxiety as well. I also majored in psychology. If I've learned anything really important about anxiety, it's that avoidance feeds anxiety. Anxiety is like a parasite - it wants something from you, and every time you give it what it wants, it gets stronger. If your anxiety is asking you to behave in a certain way ("Avoid those sites, or...!"), maybe it's not the best idea to obey. Because next time it's going to demand something all the more forcefully.
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Comment on Community Check-In: How is everyone doing? in ~life
honzabe Link ParentThat's a good point.I think it's important that we don't avoid opportunities because of some idea we have about who they're for.
That's a good point.
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Comment on I teach a student with Reactive Attachment Disorder and I need help in ~health.mental
honzabe LinkI do not understand teaching, but what you describe sounds like a job with a high risk of burnout. Take precautions, take care of yourself. I have no idea how this works in the US school system,...I do not understand teaching, but what you describe sounds like a job with a high risk of burnout. Take precautions, take care of yourself.
I have no idea how this works in the US school system, but I used to work in a different field with a high risk of burnout and we had some systems in place to prevent that - training, psychological support, "unloading" sessions, etc.
One thing was especially helpful - we had designated "backup" colleagues, and when there was some conflict where you would feel that you were just about to lose it and start screaming, you would go to your backup and switch places with them, no questions asked (we had a signal). You would start doing what they were doing and they would deal with the troublemaker calm and collected. I am not sure if something like this is possible in a school setting, but maybe you could have at least one supporting colleague who would be able to unload a bit of that burden when it seems too much for you.
I worked in that institution many years ago - maybe they have come up with even better strategies since then.I imagine your job must be incredibly hard. If I am completely off the mark, I am sorry.
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Comment on Community Check-In: How is everyone doing? in ~life
honzabe (edited )Link ParentPersonally, I can't imagine a worse place to meet someone. I've never been to a speed dating, but it sounds terrifying - the expectation of meeting someone must create such pressure. Ditto dating...Have you checked out speed dating in your area? It's back!
Personally, I can't imagine a worse place to meet someone. I've never been to a speed dating, but it sounds terrifying - the expectation of meeting someone must create such pressure. Ditto dating apps - those are definitely not for me, they only work for handsome men, which I am not.
Why do people here keep treating this as such a difficult task (mostly referring to other comments I've seen on Tildes, not the parent specifically)? One example from yesterday: I was sitting in a park and eating a cake I bought in a cake shop next to the park. I noticed a pretty lady nearby kept looking at me, so I smiled at her (I was in a good mood - it was sunny and the cake was good). She smiled back. I asked if she wanted a piece of that cake. She said yes and we started talking about cakes, books (I also had a book with me), movies... We seemed to click so I asked if she wanted to get a coffee. She did. So easy. No pressure. The worst case scenario was that I would still have one more piece of that cake left for me.
Opportunities like that present themselves every day. All it takes is to be in a good mood, go outside and behave friendly (and perhaps buy a delicious-looking cake). Good vibes outcompete handsome every single time - but those do not get through on those dating apps. There is no doubt in my mind that I would never get a date on any app where you decide based on a picture. And I can't imagine myself being relaxed and in a good mood on a speed dating event.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
honzabe (edited )LinkAbout a year ago I discovered the Flask Python framework, and I liked it so much that I started using it for all my pet projects. First, I rewrote an app I made for myself to help me learn...About a year ago I discovered the Flask Python framework, and I liked it so much that I started using it for all my pet projects.
First, I rewrote an app I made for myself to help me learn languages - the original one was a "quick and dirty" thing that only worked locally, with no database, no user accounts, and data stored in localStorage. Now it's a decent app that I keep improving.
Another app came about sort of by accident. It started here on Tildes, during last year's TiMaSoMo - I wanted to make an app for training data analysis. The part that handles data from .fit files turned out to be more complex than I expected... but to my surprise, I found that what was originally supposed to be just the core of the app is useful on its own - a journal with a few simple tools for data analysis. When I write my #weight = 160 lbs, the journal looks at older entries and makes a nice graph of my weight over time.
I'm a bit of a data nerd. When I start doing pushups, I make a chart and see if the progress is steeper with two days of rest instead of one. And when I start getting recurring headaches, for example, I'll write down everything that might be related - how long I slept, how many coffees I had, whether I ate sweets or not... - and look for patterns.
Even the simplified version of the app is still rough around the edges, but I find it useful for understanding how things in my life are related. BTW, interesting fact - tinnitus, at least in my case, signals the onset of overtraining before anything else.I have other projects too, but this is already too long. And they are all written with Flask.
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Comment on Announcing Tildes' Make Something Month (Timasomo) for 2024! in ~tildes
honzabe (edited )LinkI have some half-baked app ideas that I am considering: writing feedback community/app with commits like Git - I write non-fiction articles and I miss college where we had to write a lot and...I have some half-baked app ideas that I am considering:
- writing feedback community/app with commits like Git - I write non-fiction articles and I miss college where we had to write a lot and professors would dissect that writing and give specific suggestions how to fix each issue. I always thought it would be great to have some simplified Git where users (non-programmers) could commit "bugfixes" to your drafts and you would see a diff with a comment explaining the reasoning behind the fix... something like that, it is still a pretty vague idea.
- YouTube investment game - you get some virtual money to start with and you "invest" them in unknown YouTube channels you think are great - the more they grow, the more virtual money you get back. I think it could be a fun game, and maybe a discovery mechanism for interesting new channels.
EDIT: Or I could try to finally write the article about learning Spanish without classes or textbooks, memorizing, and mostly without talking to people - I think I have learned some interesting things while doing that.
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Comment on Schengen ain't what it used to be in ~society
honzabe Link ParentJust to clarify, you are a citizen of a non-EU country, is that assumption correct? I am asking because I did not bother renewing my passport - I was under the impression that my national ID (EU...Even within Schengen, I've never travelled without bringing my passport, just in case. But I never used to have to show it other than at some hotels.
Just to clarify, you are a citizen of a non-EU country, is that assumption correct? I am asking because I did not bother renewing my passport - I was under the impression that my national ID (EU country) would be sufficient within the EU. I hope I did not miss something.
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Comment on EU expected to impose import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in ~transport
honzabe (edited )Link ParentAbility to produce matters. Actually, it is what wins wars. At the beginning of the Cold War 2, we find ourselves in a vulnerable position. China could outproduce us. This is why it is wise to...It's really unclear how this creates risky dependency on China [...]
Ability to produce matters. Actually, it is what wins wars. At the beginning of the Cold War 2, we find ourselves in a vulnerable position. China could outproduce us. This is why it is wise to protect our production capacity because when you outsource everything including strategic things to someone who starts acting hostile, you can't just spin production out of thin air. You need to have factories, skilled workers, knowledge base etc.
This is a very simplified entry to this topic - if you want to learn more, Sizing up the New Axis by Noahpinion is a good start.
BTW, some people believe that China is hollowing out our production capacity intentionally, in preparation for the World War 3. I don't know what to think about this, but I think this is one of those things where it is better to err on the side of caution.
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Comment on Things the guys who stole my phone have texted me to try to get me to unlock it in ~life
honzabe (edited )LinkI am not an American and this might be a naive question, but the owner knew where the phone was... why didn't they tell the police where the phone was and have them get it for him? In the...I am not an American and this might be a naive question, but the owner knew where the phone was...
I spent the rest of the night anxiously refreshing the Find My app, watching my phone move around Manhattan before it finally stopped at Rockefeller Center.
why didn't they tell the police where the phone was and have them get it for him? In the beginning, the phone was still pretty close - how exact is the location in that iPhone finding app? Probably not exact enough to find it in a crowded place, I guess. If I remember correctly, the Android app can do stuff like sounding an alarm remotely - can iPhone do that?
Maybe there is some law preventing this in the US. Or maybe iPhones are considered so cheap in the US that is is not worth it.
BTW, here is a fun story (in Czech, please use Google Translate or something) about an interesting lost phone pursuit: https://www.minar.cz/clanky/jak-najit-ukradeny-mobil/
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Comment on GPT-4o in ~tech
honzabe Link ParentYou described very well my first impressions from that demo. I use ChatGPT a lot, and I like how factual and "human, but not too much" it feels. The AI complimenting a guy on his hoodie gives me...As a human though, I don't think I'll have much tolerance for the personality and voices they've given it. Too bubbly and eager to pepper in one-liners, and at the same time so corporate vanilla. If I'm going to be having long conversations with an AI in the future, it'll need to come off a little more phlegmatic or risk being just exhaustingly tryhard. I guess this is officially the uncanny valley of voice synthesis.
You described very well my first impressions from that demo. I use ChatGPT a lot, and I like how factual and "human, but not too much" it feels. The AI complimenting a guy on his hoodie gives me the creeps. Do I detect a slight hint of flirtiness?
Russia already has NATO forces in a few hours drive from Moscow. Latvia was a few hours drive from Moscow before the war even started. And now also Finland. St. Petersburg is now, as my grandma would say, just a stone's throw away from NATO.