jcd's recent activity
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Comment on New electric-powered locomotive designed for harsh winters unveiled near Edmonton Canada in ~transport
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Comment on Nvidia, AMD agree to pay US government 15% of AI chip sales to China in ~tech
jcd Link ParentWho pays for his golfing trips on his golfing courses, (reportedly hundrends of millions per year) I wonder.Who pays for his golfing trips on his golfing courses, (reportedly hundrends of millions per year) I wonder.
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Comment on New Android phones, stock or flash? in ~tech
jcd Link ParentI still don't get why the HW manufacturer has a say in the SW I can and cannot use (other than tech limitations). Same for right to open / repair. IMO its dystopicI still don't get why the HW manufacturer has a say in the SW I can and cannot use (other than tech limitations). Same for right to open / repair.
IMO its dystopic
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Comment on New Android phones, stock or flash? in ~tech
jcd LinkI personally root + flash a custom rom the moment I get a new phone. LOS is pretty good compared to most stocks: Better performance, battery use, support, less bloat. Of course then I need to play...I personally root + flash a custom rom the moment I get a new phone. LOS is pretty good compared to most stocks: Better performance, battery use, support, less bloat. Of course then I need to play games to make apps that hate rooted/custom ROMs work, but I gladly pay that price.
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Comment on How is Linux these days? in ~comp
jcd LinkI've been using linux as main desktop OS for 15 years now. My use is general: media/gaming/code stuff. IMO Linux has never been better and is still going in the right direction. The only hitch can...I've been using linux as main desktop OS for 15 years now. My use is general: media/gaming/code stuff. IMO Linux has never been better and is still going in the right direction.
The only hitch can be the X/Wayland thing, but Wayland is close to covering 99% of peoples needs. We do need a little more compositor options, but kde is nice. No real windows compatibility problems for a while, except for MS software of course.
In comparison, i actively dislike the Windows experience forced on me by work, which is is getting worse all the time.
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Comment on 'I can't drink the water' - Life next to a US data centre in ~enviro
jcd (edited )Link ParentBoycotting LLMs makes their training and their supporting data centres less profitable. Its just slow/ long term. Also, it is against the tide and wont succeed in 2025/2026.Boycotting LLMs makes their training and their supporting data centres less profitable. Its just slow/ long term. Also, it is against the tide and wont succeed in 2025/2026.
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Comment on Weather forecast is for extreme heat in Europe. Heat related deaths are expected. in ~enviro
jcd (edited )Link ParentJust come to Greece and see: Summer temperature range 40-28C (heatwaves clock 40-45-48C) Window shutters + screens in mostly every home AC galore (though I prefer roof fans) Houses built to...Just come to Greece and see:
- Summer temperature range 40-28C (heatwaves clock 40-45-48C)
- Window shutters + screens in mostly every home
- AC galore (though I prefer roof fans)
- Houses built to dissipate heat, not trap it.
Point is that Europe is too big and our climate diverse enough, so such generalizations can't/don't apply
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Comment on Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix 2025 - Race Weekend Discussion in ~sports.motorsports
jcd (edited )Link ParentNorris seems a bit faster, but Piastri seems to handle pressure better. It is interesting to see their competition -esp. because McLaren allows it (which is good IMO)- In the end I tend to bet on...Norris seems a bit faster, but Piastri seems to handle pressure better.
It is interesting to see their competition -esp. because McLaren allows it (which is good IMO)-
In the end I tend to bet on Piastri, but it remains to be seen. Lando may well get "in the zone" for a few races and win them all.
Also it IS possible that Max can "steal" the championship from under both their noses.
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Comment on What caused the power outage in Portugal and Spain? in ~engineering
jcd (edited )Link ParentNope. EU frequency went below 50Hz (eg.49.8) then came the shedding. That hints at supply deficit. But I agree that the oscillations are a strong hint to find the real problem. By my el.eng....Nope. EU frequency went below 50Hz (eg.49.8) then came the shedding. That hints at supply deficit.
But I agree that the oscillations are a strong hint to find the real problem. By my el.eng. training I would think of transient phenomena though I wont dare speculate for their cause.
Also, REE is regarded as a highly competent TSO (and their RES management practices are world-leading afaik), so I suspect the cause to be something highly unusual (to catch them unawares)
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Comment on Power outages in Spain, other EU areas in ~enviro
jcd (edited )Link ParentThe graph is based on entso-e transparency platform data, which should not be entirely reliable after such an outage. But yes, this is a huge blackout. The director of REE mentioned something...The graph is based on entso-e transparency platform data, which should not be entirely reliable after such an outage. But yes, this is a huge blackout. The director of REE mentioned something about an extreme oscillation, but no news yet of the cause.
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Comment on Assassins Creed Shadows and stealth in ~games
jcd (edited )LinkI have only played the old thief games (thief 1, 2 and deadly shadows) and dishonored (not AC). I found thief 2 really amazing, but all those games require a level of time and effort/energy that I...I have only played the old thief games (thief 1, 2 and deadly shadows) and dishonored (not AC).
I found thief 2 really amazing, but all those games require a level of time and effort/energy that I haven't nowadays.
Stealth games can be very fun, but not possible in my current life phase.
Honorable mention on a good FOSS stealth game (built like and by fans of the thief series): https://www.thedarkmod.com/main/
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Comment on AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT reviews and launch in ~games
jcd Link ParentTheir next gen will change the architecture (UDNA vs RDNA). Might as well end this round on a 9xxx, then start fresh next yearTheir next gen will change the architecture (UDNA vs RDNA). Might as well end this round on a 9xxx, then start fresh next year
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Comment on US tariff war risks sinking world into new Great Depression, International Chamber of Commerce warns in ~finance
jcd Link ParentMusk fancies himself as dr. Moriarty? But he is too high profile for the job.Musk fancies himself as dr. Moriarty?
But he is too high profile for the job. -
Comment on Looking for an Android tablet with some probably unreachable requirements in ~tech
jcd LinkIf you want to use custom ROMs, do you really need manufacturer long term software support? Lineage would get its own updates irregardless. That said, android manufacturers are getting...If you want to use custom ROMs, do you really need manufacturer long term software support? Lineage would get its own updates irregardless.
That said, android manufacturers are getting increasingly more hostile against custom ROMs and rooting (which irritates me and strengthens my resolve and effort to install them on each new device)
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Comment on Candy Crush, Tinder, MyFitnessPal: See the thousands of apps hijacked to spy on your location in ~tech
jcd Link ParentI do use identically named (SSID) personal wifis (same password as well), but I suspect this practice cannot scale :)I do use identically named (SSID) personal wifis (same password as well), but I suspect this practice cannot scale :)
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Comment on What are some words or usage that became more prominent in 2024, either in your life or in general? in ~talk
jcd LinkDunkelflaute: A period with little-to-no wind and sun. In such periods most of Europe's electricity price spikes badly. I don't live in Germany or even close to it, but we are all impacted....Dunkelflaute: A period with little-to-no wind and sun. In such periods most of Europe's electricity price spikes badly. I don't live in Germany or even close to it, but we are all impacted.
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Comment on Living in times of technical feudalism in ~tech
jcd Link ParentAfter a little readup, it is a new Linux distro. It claims to be independent, fully free, and not to use systemd.After a little readup, it is a new Linux distro.
It claims to be independent, fully free, and not to use systemd.
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Comment on Looking for an Android keyboard app in ~tech
jcd (edited )LinkI use https://anysoftkeyboard.github.io/ (fdroid) It checks all your boxes (you can configure it without gifs/emojis/etc), but it is old school, without swype-type and a bit complex to configure.I use https://anysoftkeyboard.github.io/ (fdroid)
It checks all your boxes (you can configure it without gifs/emojis/etc), but it is old school, without swype-type and a bit complex to configure. -
Comment on Ukraine war latest: Moscow claims clashes with Ukrainian troops on Russian soil in ~news
jcd Link ParentHappily, we can wait and see. And since the source is Ukrainian, I hardly worry on the impact of it being false.Happily, we can wait and see. And since the source is Ukrainian, I hardly worry on the impact of it being false.
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Comment on Ukraine war latest: Moscow claims clashes with Ukrainian troops on Russian soil in ~news
jcd Link ParentSure, it can easily be misinformation, but Lgov can become tactically important, so big if true.Sure, it can easily be misinformation, but Lgov can become tactically important, so big if true.
According to the article, the locomotive will be powered both by a battery and by overhead lines. So my questions are, (1) why a battery if it will rely on overhead lines and (2) why is it a big deal to have an electric powered locomotive in Canada, if the battery is optionally used?