infpossibilityspace's recent activity
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Comment on Messy 2026 F1 cars leave a deeply disturbing impression in ~sports.motorsports
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Comment on Messy 2026 F1 cars leave a deeply disturbing impression in ~sports.motorsports
infpossibilityspace LinkF1 has always been in a strange tug-of-war between driver challenge, engineering innovation, and team costs. There's never been a time when the balance was right, in my opinion. It used to be that...F1 has always been in a strange tug-of-war between driver challenge, engineering innovation, and team costs.
There's never been a time when the balance was right, in my opinion. It used to be that championship points, and therefore prize money, was only awarded down to 6th place (simplified), so most teams actively lost money (until 2002, then awarded down to 8th and now 10th).
It was fine for so long because car development was relatively cheap. But owing to the push of engineering, cars got faster and more costly to develop, risking the death of the sport as it became less viable for a new team to overcome the barrier to entry.
Plus there's the safety aspect - we've long decided (since Clark, Senna and Bianchi) that deaths in F1 aren't acceptable. Drivers understandably want to be challenged to go faster, but that comes with an increased risk of injury.
So the FIA is in a battle it can never win. Slower cars are healthy for the sport in terms of competitiveness and safety, but worse for drivers and spectators who want to see fast, exciting action.
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Comment on A case for increasing computer literacy (but also a rant) in ~tech
infpossibilityspace Link ParentI think there's a lot of truth to this, and it speaks to the (at least initial) excitement of cheap, hackable computers like the Raspberry Pi. I wasn't around for the BBC Micro or Commodore 64,...I think there's a lot of truth to this, and it speaks to the (at least initial) excitement of cheap, hackable computers like the Raspberry Pi.
I wasn't around for the BBC Micro or Commodore 64, but to your point hackable doesn't equal approachable. A Pi is vastly more intimidating thanks to the complexity of Linux (the kernel has over 40,000,000 lines of code, and god forbid you mess something up and get booted to the grub shell!) even without being a black box. I think those early learning computers had a good balance of basic commands but ability to make fairly complex and freeform programs.
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Comment on A case for increasing computer literacy (but also a rant) in ~tech
infpossibilityspace LinkOn a deeper level, I think we're not as successful in fostering curiosity these days, or at least it's become easier to exist in the world without honing it. The extrinsic motivations you describe...On a deeper level, I think we're not as successful in fostering curiosity these days, or at least it's become easier to exist in the world without honing it.
The extrinsic motivations you describe can be useful to a limited degree, but pushing them can just as easily backfire and build resentment instead.The sw and hw are magic black boxes that cannot be understood so the consensus is to avoid trying to understand even the superficial basics that would be considered trivial even a decade before.
I think examining how we got here is key to this, and there's no simple explanation. For example you could point to the change in entertainment from actively choosing what to do (even which TV channel to watch) to having it decided for you by a company controlled algorithm. Or how it's easy to be ignorant about the inner workings of a computer if your primary device is a phone or tablet and you've never needed to open the file explorer. Individually they're technical and design achievements but together they create a darker mosaic.
And when you are interested in something, finding reliable information has gotten harder. As a younger millennial, I've seen the transition from: "Don't trust things on the Internet, use books", to "Some sources are good", to "Many seemingly good sources are just SEO", and now to "Was this written by an AI? Use books". I'm sure someone older than me will describe an even bigger transition.
So we're in a weird position where a kind of learned helplessness is seeping into general culture, fewer people see the long-term value of good, robust education for example, and it's becoming a battle in those specialist institutions to maintain trust and integrity against the external malaise.
I think there are conflicting incentives at play economically too, where it's easier to make money off passive people who don't have the curiosity and critical thinking to recognise what's happening, but at the same time you need smart and vapid people to build those exploitative systems in exchange for money.
I don't know how to foster curiosity in people other than to share what I find interesting and hope it inspires other people to do the same. I regularly share discoveries in Physics or Medicine or Cybersecurity with my family and friends (whether they read them is a different matter), and write to my representative about things I care about and believe myself to be genuinely knowledgeable in and hope it works in a small way.
Or I've just rambled for a while about something I'm utterly wrong about and I've just wasted your time :)
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Comment on Wired vs. wireless mouse and keyboard? in ~tech
infpossibilityspace LinkOne of the reasons I use wired, mechanical keyboards and mice is repairability and longevity. Keyswitches will eventually wear out (though it takes many years), and being able to swap in a new...One of the reasons I use wired, mechanical keyboards and mice is repairability and longevity. Keyswitches will eventually wear out (though it takes many years), and being able to swap in a new switch in a few minutes is way cheaper than buying new.
Cables can also be replaced if they break and I never need to worry about losing a dongle or a future Bluetooth standards making my stuff obsolete. USB has proven it's longevity - you can adapt a USB 2.0 port to USB-C and it works fine, that's 26 years of compatibility and counting.
If it ain't broke, don't change it.
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Comment on The downfall of OnePlus will be studied | The "enthusiast brand" arc in ~tech
infpossibilityspace (edited )Link ParentYou're right the android enthusiast niche is smaller than it used to be, but I think it's because of how the software is so integral to the experience in a way that's different from the past....You're right the android enthusiast niche is smaller than it used to be, but I think it's because of how the software is so integral to the experience in a way that's different from the past. De-googling a phone makes it harder to do mobile banking, for example (even shopping on my PC sometimes asks me to confirm a purchase via the phone app).
And while there are some companies catering for the niche buyer, like Fairphone aiming for an ethically produced phone, they confusingly don't add a headphone jack despite cabled headphones lasting decades compared to wireless stuff (and no Bluetooth fiddling) which goes against their purported longevity.
I guess that's the double-edged sword of commodification. Paradoxically a more level playing field ripe for disruption, and an entrenched duopoly because people stick to what they know.
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Comment on Resist and Unsubscribe in ~society
infpossibilityspace Link ParentHe's said on a recent podcast this isn't necessarily aimed at people who don't have or can't afford alternatives. He's also said this isn't designed to be a long-term thing, his reasoning/hope is...He's said on a recent podcast this isn't necessarily aimed at people who don't have or can't afford alternatives. He's also said this isn't designed to be a long-term thing, his reasoning/hope is if enough people do it for a month or two, their CEOs will notice and they have the ear of Trump.
Moodys claims the 10% of earners account for almost 50% of discretionary consumer spending in the US right now. Those are people who could very easily cut/replace a few services and barely notice a difference in their quality of life.
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Comment on The downfall of OnePlus will be studied | The "enthusiast brand" arc in ~tech
infpossibilityspace LinkThe problem with pivoting to being mainstream is, while your theoretical demographic gets larger, you're now competing with the brand loyalty that Apple and Samsung have, and people aren't going...The problem with pivoting to being mainstream is, while your theoretical demographic gets larger, you're now competing with the brand loyalty that Apple and Samsung have, and people aren't going to change from what they know because they don't have a reason to.
It's antithetical to the enthusiast trap idea, but I believe if Oneplus had kept catering to the enthusiast, they would naturally become the mass-market option. Every family has the techy person they go to, and if you can prove to them you don't abandon your values, your products will eventually filter through to the general public.
The problem is that takes a very long time and very few companies have the patience to pull it off. The last company to truly make that jump in my opinion is Apple. Distasteful business practices aside (and boy do I have some beef there), through the 90s and early 00s they had a reputation for being easy to use, aesthetically pleasing, and reliable. They were never the cheapest or the first to market with a given product category, but that value commitment made them easy to recommend for techies who knew they wouldn't have to spend hours fixing weird problems for friends and family (I still remember those "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC" commercials).
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Comment on European electricity review - For the first time the EU produced more electricity from renewables than fossil sources in 2025 in ~enviro
infpossibilityspace Link ParentI'm slightly more optimistic about the use-case of SMRs as a way to fill the baseline electricity demand such as the overnight usage. Surely only consistent alternatives would be geothermal and...I'm slightly more optimistic about the use-case of SMRs as a way to fill the baseline electricity demand such as the overnight usage. Surely only consistent alternatives would be geothermal and hydro, but those are quite location-dependent (and hydro dams have their own issues with habitat destruction).
Maybe a large wind turbine network would be able to compensate for localised dead-spots?Obviously much smarter people than me have thought about how to solve overnight generation, I just don't know what their conclusions are.
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Comment on How have you changed in the last year? What are your goals for this year? in ~life
infpossibilityspace Link ParentThis is one of my projects for the year too! I'm so guilty of leaving problems for my future self rather than dealing with them now. To me it ties in with concepts like self-love and -respect,...The thing I figured out is that if you could do the opposite of that, to have your present self serve and help your future self, so your future self can thank your past self for taking care of it, that you'd be much happier.
This is one of my projects for the year too! I'm so guilty of leaving problems for my future self rather than dealing with them now.
To me it ties in with concepts like self-love and -respect, it's one thing to have care for your family and friends, but it's so much harder when it's directed at yourself.
Best of luck!
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Comment on Post-American internet by Cory Doctorow in ~tech
infpossibilityspace LinkCory Doctorow, the guy who popularised enshittification, discussing an alternative that other countries could take in response to US tariffs. His idea strikes at a core tenet of the DMCA (which...Cory Doctorow, the guy who popularised enshittification, discussing an alternative that other countries could take in response to US tariffs. His idea strikes at a core tenet of the DMCA (which most countries have enacted similar versions of) that prevents circumvention of DRM to repair equipment like hospital ventilators, tractors and computers, and how it could be profitable for small business if it was repealed.
I think the timing of this could turn out to be a masterstroke. The rhetoric around right-to-repair and enshittification has been building for a while and, in my bubble at least, is relatively popular. But public desire doesn't mean jack if there's no avenue for change.
This gives that desire a form. The fallout from US tariffs might be the catalyst for other country leaders to take notice and try something new, having seen that capitulation or retaliatory tariffs don't help or only make their own citizens poorer.
It distils the rhetoric down to something simple you could write on a placard and take to a rally or just message your representative - Repeal the [insert your DMCA equivalent]
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Post-American internet by Cory Doctorow
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Comment on Rapid swings between pro-EV and anti-EV US policies have disrupted long-term planning, forcing Ford, GM, and Stellantis to scramble to reshape their strategy in ~society
infpossibilityspace Link ParentYes, it's basically an i3 REX. Since they stay under a constant load, that is, the load of the alternator, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't need any changeable gearing (CVT or otherwise). EREV...Yes, it's basically an i3 REX.
Since they stay under a constant load, that is, the load of the alternator, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't need any changeable gearing (CVT or otherwise).
EREV engines are also much smaller than conventional engines (the i3 REV had a 650cc scooter engine).
However they would run at a fixed RPM for efficiency, so they would have a constant drone similar to the effect of a CVT.
Also worth noting that fuel degrades over time and stagnant, months-old fuel can damage the engine, so someone who doesn't use all the fuel in a timely manner may need the fuel purging before refilling
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Comment on Rapid swings between pro-EV and anti-EV US policies have disrupted long-term planning, forcing Ford, GM, and Stellantis to scramble to reshape their strategy in ~society
infpossibilityspace Link ParentTo be clear, EREVs are quite different from traditional plug-in hybrids. Essentially the combustion side never drives the wheels, it's only job is to recharge a small battery, which in turn powers...More plug-in hybrids doesn’t seem like a bad thing, particularly if they have decent electric range. Most car trips are short.
To be clear, EREVs are quite different from traditional plug-in hybrids. Essentially the combustion side never drives the wheels, it's only job is to recharge a small battery, which in turn powers an electric motor to move the vehicle.
It's an interesting balancing act because you replace the cost of a giant battery with a fuel tank which is far more energy-dense (and thus smaller/lighter), but adding the complexity of a combustion engine means you lose the reliability and low maintenance cost of a pure EV.
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Comment on Statement from Mozilla's new CEO in ~tech
infpossibilityspace Link ParentWhat in the USP that keeps people on Chatgpt compared to other LLMs? If OpenAI start charging, why wouldn't their entire user base switch to Claude or Gemini on Mistral? Even if all western AI...People pay for things they really want or find useful when they have no alternative to get it for free
What in the USP that keeps people on Chatgpt compared to other LLMs? If OpenAI start charging, why wouldn't their entire user base switch to Claude or Gemini on Mistral? Even if all western AI companies started charging, there are plenty of excellent Chinese models too. I mean we all remember the panic they had when Deepseek was released and it got there with a fraction of OpenAI's budget.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
infpossibilityspace LinkI have a couple: My non-fiction book is Why We're Getting Poorer by Cahal Moran. It's an economics book that investigates the root of systemic inequality in the world and how we can improve it....I have a couple:
My non-fiction book is Why We're Getting Poorer by Cahal Moran. It's an economics book that investigates the root of systemic inequality in the world and how we can improve it.
He's the person behind the Unlearning Economics YouTube channel and I really like how he discusses nuanced, complex topics without the intimidating jargon that non-economists won't be familiar with, while also humanising it with personality and humour.
My fiction book is going to be Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. I read the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, earlier this year not knowing it was a prequel and I enjoyed it so much I wrote to him to express my joy.
I've just finished Orwell's 1984 and Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 before that so I need something cosy to even the balance.
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Comment on The woman on a mission to photograph every species of hummingbird in the world in ~hobbies
infpossibilityspace LinkI really hope she binds them into a book when she's done, I'd buy o a copy and stare at it for hours. Even better if it includes facts with each one!I really hope she binds them into a book when she's done, I'd buy o a copy and stare at it for hours. Even better if it includes facts with each one!
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Comment on Why humanity needs a Lunar seed vault in ~space
infpossibilityspace Link ParentI think the question behind ideas like this - Should we have a backup of Svalbard because climate change is putting Svalbard in danger? - is the wrong question to ask. It's a problem of...I think the question behind ideas like this - Should we have a backup of Svalbard because climate change is putting Svalbard in danger? - is the wrong question to ask. It's a problem of opportunity cost.
The article doesn't give any timescales, but realistically something like this is going to take at least a decade to build and hundreds of millions of <insert currency> (Svalbard took 4 years and $9 million and it's not going to be less). That's a lot of time and money that could go towards fixing the core issue instead.
That someone can win a presidency partly based on the promise of less renewable energy (or at least in spite it) shows we haven't even convinced the general public that climate change is a problem. Let alone make reasonable progress to solving it. I don't see how this helps in that fight.
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Comment on Why humanity needs a Lunar seed vault in ~space
infpossibilityspace (edited )Link ParentAccording to this article, if we're on track to hit 2C of warming, the Earth would be back to the average temperature of the Pliocene era about 3-5 million years ago (for context, it's estimated...According to this article, if we're on track to hit 2C of warming, the Earth would be back to the average temperature of the Pliocene era about 3-5 million years ago (for context, it's estimated the earliest humans emerged around 300k years ago).
Checking the vault website it doesn't say anything about having recovered seeds which grew that long ago (happy to be wrong about this). Isn't it a bit of a guess to assume any of our current samples could survive climates like that?
https://earth.org/data_visualization/a-brief-history-of-co2/
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Comment on Why humanity needs a Lunar seed vault in ~space
infpossibilityspace LinkI'm struggling to understand the climate catastrophe use-case. If global warming occurs to such an extent that Svalbard is lost and we have to resort to the moon vault, wouldn't it be likely that...I'm struggling to understand the climate catastrophe use-case.
If global warming occurs to such an extent that Svalbard is lost and we have to resort to the moon vault, wouldn't it be likely that the seeds will find their previous habitat now inhospitable?
Even if they're planted in cooler climates, the weather patterns will be different too. Maybe the only way they'd survive is in a tightly controlled greenhouse which is going to be energy intensive and pricey, and therefore not suitable at scale.
I'd agree with that, I think fans will sympathetic to slightly slower cars if the benefit is having small, nimble cars that can follow closely and produce great racing.