koopa's recent activity
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Comment on Faulty valve scuttles Starliner’s first crew launch in ~space
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
koopa Link ParentI bounced off both UE and Unity back in the day but have made lots of progress in Godot very quickly when I started working with it in January this year. It definitely has the best on-ramp of any...I bounced off both UE and Unity back in the day but have made lots of progress in Godot very quickly when I started working with it in January this year.
It definitely has the best on-ramp of any of the game engines. 3D is surpassingly competent at this point, you’ll eventually run into things you have to do yourself that are included in other engines but because it doesn’t have every conceivable feature built in it’s really easy to understand everything that is there. (And don’t have to download 100GBs of features you don’t need)
They’re on a 4ish month release cycle so new stuff is coming in at a steady pace and being an open source project you can see everything that is going on and even contribute yourself or just join in on the discussions of where the engine should go next.
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Comment on React, Electron, and LLMs have a common purpose: the labour arbitrage theory of dev tool popularity in ~comp
koopa LinkThe implication here seems to be that the tech stack developers work in is decided in a top down decree from management. This might be the case in some companies but has never been my experience,...The implication here seems to be that the tech stack developers work in is decided in a top down decree from management.
This might be the case in some companies but has never been my experience, every team I’ve worked on has had complete control over their choice of tech stack at least at the start of a project. One of the big selling points for the microservice craze was always pitched as different teams could work in different languages.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky and others can pitch in their experience but I’m not seeing this as the real mechanism behind certain tech/framework’s popularity.
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
koopa Link ParentIf you truly believe that self interest is the only motivation that exists in geopolitics I don't know what to tell you, it's never in anyone's self interest to have a world war but we've already...If you truly believe that self interest is the only motivation that exists in geopolitics I don't know what to tell you, it's never in anyone's self interest to have a world war but we've already had two of those. Russia and it's people would be far better served trading their oil with the world and using that money to develop the country and economy rather than being cut off from world trade and sending hundreds of thousands of people to die because Putin wants to rebuild the Russian empire. China would be better served to continue it's economic rise by being the world's manufacturing powerhouse rather than throwing it all away to take over Taiwan.
The EU has sent almost as much aid to Ukraine at this point as the US, is the EU also engaged in a self interested proxy war for geopolitical influence? Or do you think maybe they have legitimate concern that they are the next target of an authoritarian on a warpath of conquest? Is it possible that things that are in your self interest are also morally right?
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
koopa (edited )Link ParentIt is Whataboutism to the letter. The United States is a democracy that depending on it's leadership has acted both in principle and self interest at different times in history. That the US...That's not what Whataboutism is.
It is Whataboutism to the letter.
The US can't have it both ways. It's either driven by principle or acting in self interest.
The United States is a democracy that depending on it's leadership has acted both in principle and self interest at different times in history. That the US engaged in a stupid, pointless war in Iraq does not change the facts of today that authoritarians are seeking to conquer their neighbors and pushing the world dangerously close to another world war. Opposing that horrific cause is in fact a very good and right thing to do regardless of bad actions of the past.
The United States has led the global coalition of support against Russia working with worldwide allies to impose sanctions, providing massive amounts of military aid and intelligence to Ukraine. That the US did bad things in it's past does not take away from doing good right now TODAY when it matters most.
"You can't be doing a good thing now because you did a bad thing before" is a ridiculous argument, it's like saying the US can never have done any wrong because it did good in joining the cause to defeat the axis in World War 2. It's nonsensical false equivalence.
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
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Comment on The cycling revolution in Paris continues: Bicycle use now exceeds car use in ~transport
koopa Link ParentExactly this. My city has a couple of unprotected bike lanes on 40 mph stroads that end up completely covered in a pile of snow because the plows are only concerned with clearing the road for...Exactly this.
My city has a couple of unprotected bike lanes on 40 mph stroads that end up completely covered in a pile of snow because the plows are only concerned with clearing the road for automobiles.
The city then says they can’t put in protected bike lanes because nobody is using the snow gutters we already have (while also bragging that we have the highest bike commuting numbers in the state).
So many people would happily use bikes to get around if they had proper, safe infrastructure but too many US cities paint some lines on the gutters and then say they’re out of ideas.
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
koopa Link ParentI don’t know why you think data gathering is the primary concern when at every point I have articulated that the problem is TikTok’s use as a propaganda tool directly controlled by the CCP. I...I don’t know why you think data gathering is the primary concern when at every point I have articulated that the problem is TikTok’s use as a propaganda tool directly controlled by the CCP.
I don’t know why you are quoting “force for good” when I never stated that America is somehow always righteous and good in any of my posts.
I feel like you are arguing with an idea of America and Americans that you have in your mind and not what I am saying. Vague statements about how America isn’t always good is not engaging with the issue at hand, given the active threat of authoritarian countries to peace.
Is your solution that America should sit and watch China conquer Taiwan and Russia subjugate Eastern Europe because America did things you didn’t like in the past? I’m not sure what you really want here other than pretending that the United States is the only country with agency.
If China were still acting as friendly as it did under rulers previous to Xi Jinping this wouldn’t even be on the table, regardless of the fact that American social media has been banned in China for over a decade.
You don’t see the the United States forcing the sale of Spotify because they’re owned by Europeans or shouting about how they are going to invade Canada because they both come from English heritage.
The 90’s are over, the United States is no longer the superpower that can basically single handily determine the outcome of international events. That is why I have said over and over and over that America must work with democracies around the world against authoritarian states.
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
koopa Link ParentI do not support this move because of “nationalism” or some desire for America alone to dominate the world. America needs to work closely with the democracies of the world to prevent and deter the...I do not support this move because of “nationalism” or some desire for America alone to dominate the world. America needs to work closely with the democracies of the world to prevent and deter the authoritarian countries of Russia, China etc. from dominating their neighbors through their nationalistic desires for conquest.
I want all nations to live in cooperative peace but as the Ukrainians know better than anyone, your strong desire for peace doesn’t mean anything when an authoritarian drives tanks across your border. At that point you either fight or die.
We should be doing everything we possibly can to make sure the people of Taiwan, South Korea, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, etc are not the next ones to be forced to fight or die. And you don’t do that by allowing authoritarians a direct propaganda tool.
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
koopa Link ParentFeel exactly the sameBut none of that matters here anymore. I don't believe you have any interest whatsoever in hearing what I have to say, and so I in turn have no interest in discussing this any further.
Feel exactly the same
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
koopa Link ParentWhat’s gross is carrying a water for an authoritarian government today by saying the US did a horrible thing 100 years ago before WW2 had even begun and the current Chinese government didn’t...What’s gross is carrying a water for an authoritarian government today by saying the US did a horrible thing 100 years ago before WW2 had even begun and the current Chinese government didn’t exist.
The Chinese people deserve far better than the CCP that is currently, today running concentration reeducation camps, destroying human rights and democracy in Hong Kong, and loudly preparing to invade Taiwan.
The US has plenty of problems but simply compare the ability of tens of millions of Americans to protest across all 50 states during the BLM protests of 2020 (while having the worst, most authoritarian president in recent US history at the helm) and the violent destruction of protests and democracy in Hong Kong and I think you might see some differences. Here’s an easy one, the US still had democratic elections in 2020 that forced out that authoritarian president. Hong Kong will never have legitimate democratic elections again.
The United States isn’t loudly shouting that it plans on invading Canada because they both come from English heritage. To pretend that you can justify and equalize the atrocities of China TODAY because the US has done horrible things in its past is disgusting.
Otherwise you might as well say Russia invading Ukraine is justified because the United States had slavery.
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
koopa Link ParentIf one of your main examples is something that happened over 100 years ago, 1 year after women got the right to vote and the republic of China still ruled the country, I don’t think you are...Date August 25 to September 2, 1921
If one of your main examples is something that happened over 100 years ago, 1 year after women got the right to vote and the republic of China still ruled the country, I don’t think you are seriously engaging the facts of today.
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
koopa Link ParentAmerican social media companies do not take marching orders from the US government. The United States has a strong and independent court system and constitution that has routinely protected the...- Exemplary
I don't see how it's any better to hand this over to a US-based company that will probably do the same thing, only to the benefit of the United States.
American social media companies do not take marching orders from the US government. The United States has a strong and independent court system and constitution that has routinely protected the press from interference from government.
China has no independent courts and the CCP largely rules by decree. Chinese companies are required to have a seat on their board reserved specifically for the CCP. The Chinese government treats dissent and protest with violence.
Instead of suppressing information about Hong Kong and Xinjiang, we now have the opportunity to suppress information about Gaza, BLM, and/or whatever future conflict we decide to involve ourselves in
No American social media company has suppressed these topics. BLM protests in 2020 were massive with 10’s of millions of people in the streets across all 50 states. While there was some conflict with police they were largely quite peaceful. You can’t spend 5 minutes on Twitter without seeing something about Gaza.
The US is by no means a perfect darling country, but this whataboutism that pretends that the US and China are somehow even close to the same has no basis in reality.
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
koopa LinkThere will be a lot of drama and outrage but this is the right thing to do. At no point would we have allowed the Soviet Union to own a major news outlet and the personalization of the TikTok...There will be a lot of drama and outrage but this is the right thing to do.
At no point would we have allowed the Soviet Union to own a major news outlet and the personalization of the TikTok algorithm makes it neigh impossible to know how a thumb is being put on the scale. We do have hard evidence that TikTok suppressed videos supporting the Hong Kong protests, suppressed NBA highlights of only the Houston Rockets after their general manager tweeted support of the protests.
In the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan does anyone really doubt that TikTok would be used as a propaganda tool to try to prevent the United States coming to Taiwan’s defense?
There’s a reason that India, who has a disputed border with China with frequent deadly skirmishes has already banned TikTok.
Like it or not we are already moving into a Cold War 2, and we should hope that a Cold War is all we get, because the alternative is world war 3. Autocracies are on the march, and the democracies of the world need to be ready before we sleep walk into something far worse than your favorite app being banned.
This isn’t something I’m gleeful about, I wish we could all just trade, travel, and live in peace between all nations. But we are entering dangerous geopolitical times, and we need to be ready.
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Comment on European Commission approves creation of an environmental zone in the city centre of Stockholm, where petrol and diesel cars will be banned entirely from 2025 in ~transport
koopa Link ParentContrary to the way North America has been built, cars are not the only way to get around, especially in the center of a European city.But how is this partial ban fair to those who cant afford an EV? Suddenly you're banished from part of your city because you cant drive the 'correct' type of vehicle? That seems patently unfair.
Contrary to the way North America has been built, cars are not the only way to get around, especially in the center of a European city.
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Comment on An honest assessment of American rural white resentment is long overdue in ~misc
koopa Link ParentAnd in politics especially if 55% of demographic group vote a certain way then all discussions get short handed into “demographic group believes this” when in fact 45% of demographic group voted...And in politics especially if 55% of demographic group vote a certain way then all discussions get short handed into “demographic group believes this” when in fact 45% of demographic group voted the other way.
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Comment on Instagram generated almost 30% of Meta’s revenue in early 2022 in ~tech
koopa Link ParentInstagram has the best targeted ads in the business and people are absolutely spending many millions of dollars on the products advertised there. Ad prices are based on an automated auction...Instagram has the best targeted ads in the business and people are absolutely spending many millions of dollars on the products advertised there.
Ad prices are based on an automated auction between companies targeting a specific interest/demographic and whoever is willing to pay the highest price gets their ad shown. Companies would not be spending millions of dollars on ads here if there wasn’t a huge return on investment (we’re talking costs of $5+ a click for the most competitive demographics) but the ad targeting is just that good. And with a billion active users there’s plenty of supply to be had.
I think a lot of us more tech savvy, older internet folks kind of have an immunity (and ad block) to ads but for the vast majority of people they are very effective. My wife likes seeing ads on Instagram because they show her things she is genuinely interested in that she had no idea existed.
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Comment on Why do negative topics dominate social media sites, even here? in ~tech
koopa Link ParentThis is a big part of it, a study came out just a few days ago showing that “people report they are cynical in order to avoid giving the impression they do not know much about politics. “ And this...This is a big part of it, a study came out just a few days ago showing that “people report they are cynical in order to avoid giving the impression they do not know much about politics. “
And this is a great piece I came across the other day on the “ugh capitalism” culture of social media and how it’s mostly used to seem like you are making a sophisticated point while not having to actually know much about the thing you are complaining about.
Most of social media is talking about the news of the day, the main character of Twitter, etc. And negativity is the best way to sound smart without having to dig to deep into anything (and why would you? There’ll be a new main topic tomorrow)
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Comment on A pill to make exercise obsolete (2017) in ~health
koopa Link ParentKind of unrelated but this was my reasoning for getting a walking treadmill to use while working. It’s been a big success for me so far, according to my Apple Watch stats I’ve doubled my average...I for one would love to be able to exercise without actually taking the time or attention to do so. I don't mind the fatigue or soreness, just having to use my free time towards it. There are things I'd much rather do with my limited free hours.
Kind of unrelated but this was my reasoning for getting a walking treadmill to use while working. It’s been a big success for me so far, according to my Apple Watch stats I’ve doubled my average daily number of steps vs last year and haven’t committed any extra time to exercise.
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Comment on House passes bill that could ban TikTok in the US, sending it to the Senate in ~tech
koopa Link ParentThere have been reports that TikTok is tracking the locations of specific US citizens Before this bill was passed out of committee the Biden administration provided a classified briefing that was...There have been reports that TikTok is tracking the locations of specific US citizens
Before this bill was passed out of committee the Biden administration provided a classified briefing that was concerning enough that it passed 50-0.
Obviously we can’t know what was actually in that briefing but it seems like it was enough to make lawmakers think this is an urgent issue. Republicans passed this bill in opposition to Trump’s new pro-TikTok position, which given how quickly they killed the bipartisan border deal after his opposition they must feel strongly about this. But that’s all my own reading of the tea leaves given the limited public information we have.
It never ceases to amaze me that Boeing managed to get almost twice the amount of $ compared to SpaceX for their commercial crew contract because they were considered the “safe” option. And yet here we are a decade later where SpaceX’s crew dragon has had to be flying double duty for years because Boeing can’t build anything that works reliably anymore.
At least the contract isn’t cost plus, so Boeing is on the hook for the billion+ dollars in delays here but there needs to be a serious shake up in Boeing’s culture. Being slow and expensive with excellent results can be fine if everyone knows that going in but slow, expensive, and subpar is just disaster.