lackofaname's recent activity
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Comment on What radicalized you? in ~talk
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Comment on What radicalized you? in ~talk
lackofaname LinkThe mass rto mandates, not only by large corporations but also our governments, over the past couple years. It hasn't changed where my political leanings lie or anything like that, but I would say...The mass rto mandates, not only by large corporations but also our governments, over the past couple years.
It hasn't changed where my political leanings lie or anything like that, but I would say it's made me feel a lot less optimistic about.. society and the people with/in power, I guess. Ripped bare where alignments lie, and it's not with workers just generally trying to balance life, parents trying to juggle childcare and careers, or the environment and reducing roadway emissions.
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Comment on Researchers in Copenhagen are actively monitoring bat activity and traffic conditions along a road to evaluate how red-spectrum LEDs from street lights affect local wildlife in ~enviro
lackofaname LinkI hope this study is successful on the basis of protecting wildlife. Since the study is looking only at wildlife impacts, and not effects on human safety, I imagine a next step would be, if...I hope this study is successful on the basis of protecting wildlife. Since the study is looking only at wildlife impacts, and not effects on human safety, I imagine a next step would be, if successful, to expand the test area and study visibility and safety for people.
On a personal note, I miss the old orange streetlights, and i guess red would be a pretty bold colour, but it might be gentler than the glaring white street lights we have now.
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Comment on Would anyone be interested in an online gardening club? in ~hobbies
lackofaname LinkI'd be into that! Though, I'm possibly going to step back from taking on as many gardening projects as I tried the last couple years, because I kept finding myself with too much going on and...I'd be into that! Though, I'm possibly going to step back from taking on as many gardening projects as I tried the last couple years, because I kept finding myself with too much going on and neglecting certain things.
I haven't even though about starting veggie seeds yet, so that may get axed in favour of growing a few herbs, and then continuing to clean up current garden beds before thinking about more. Mayyyybe do a little hardscaping related to home maintenance.
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Comment on This iceberg was once the biggest in the world. Now it has just weeks left. in ~enviro
lackofaname Link ParentI felt the same reading about that! The article took us across the journey of its life, then it's just let go! But realistically, at some point it must get difficult-impossible to visualise and track.I felt the same reading about that! The article took us across the journey of its life, then it's just let go! But realistically, at some point it must get difficult-impossible to visualise and track.
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Comment on This iceberg was once the biggest in the world. Now it has just weeks left. in ~enviro
lackofaname Link ParentOh, gotcha! Thanks for the explanation, I didn't realise that was a thing. I saw some different tags and the move from science to enviro (which, fair, I waffled between which place to post it),...Oh, gotcha! Thanks for the explanation, I didn't realise that was a thing. I saw some different tags and the move from science to enviro (which, fair, I waffled between which place to post it), and just assumed.
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Comment on This iceberg was once the biggest in the world. Now it has just weeks left. in ~enviro
lackofaname (edited )LinkThis is a cool article about iceberg tracking and the life of the largest iceberg ever tracked, as it has migrated from Antarctica northward through warmer waters during the southern summer. ......This is a cool article about iceberg tracking and the life of the largest iceberg ever tracked, as it has migrated from Antarctica northward through warmer waters during the southern summer.
The iceberg, known as A23a, was once the largest on Earth, covering an area more than twice the size of Greater London.
But after a path full of twists and turns, A23a has melted, fractured and spectacularly disintegrated over the past year....
While other icebergs have travelled further in the past, A23a is the furthest north of any Antarctic iceberg being tracked by scientists today. It’s closer to the equator than London.
Edit: I'd respectfully disagree with the person who changed 'climate change' to the first tag, as it seems disingenuous to why the iceburg melted (though, the title doesn't help). It's obviously relevant, as the data were collected with the intention of understanding the potential future reponses of climate change, but even the article itself states that "is a natural phenomenon and not necessarily the result of climate change".
I think it's important nuance that this is data collection about natural processes foremost.
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This iceberg was once the biggest in the world. Now it has just weeks left.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
lackofaname Link ParentThere was a book club discussion about it a while ago, if you'd like to see others' opinions and maybe share your thoughts:...There was a book club discussion about it a while ago, if you'd like to see others' opinions and maybe share your thoughts:
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
lackofaname LinkAs of recently, coffee. It started where my morning coffee was fine, but the smell in the afternoon became unappealing so I switched to afternoon tea. I enjoyed this, and found my self choosing...As of recently, coffee. It started where my morning coffee was fine, but the smell in the afternoon became unappealing so I switched to afternoon tea. I enjoyed this, and found my self choosing tea more often in the morning, too. Then, for unrelated reasons I started cutting down caffeine overall (not unusual, something I do now and then), so right now I'm drink little to no tea, aside from herbal.
But even though I've cut out caffeine before, this is the first time I've ever not enjoyed coffee. Quite possibly I just need a break, and will like it again later.
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Comment on What would you do with a video game style inventory? in ~talk
lackofaname Link ParentStatis / cryo was oje of the directions my mind was going, though I appreciate your dedication going the extra step of figuring out how to clandestinely find clientele.Statis / cryo was oje of the directions my mind was going, though I appreciate your dedication going the extra step of figuring out how to clandestinely find clientele.
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Comment on Device that can extract 1,000 liters of clean water a day from desert air revealed by 2025 Nobel Prize winner in ~enviro
lackofaname Link ParentI did a little napkin math, because I was also trying to picture the scale of water extraction vs. The potential that's talked about for these machines. The average per capita residential water...I did a little napkin math, because I was also trying to picture the scale of water extraction vs. The potential that's talked about for these machines.
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The average per capita residential water use in Canada is 200 L/day (source, statcan website). I think it'd be safe to round down to 100 L for someone trying to conserve water more, plus it's a simple number.
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At 20% relative humidity and, say a balmy 30°C, the air holds 6 g/m³ water (source, noaa calculator)
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So each day, 1 person would need all of the moisture from 17,000 m³ of air.
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But, that's really not a lot of air. At its lower point, the troposphere is about 9 km high at mid-latitudes (source, noaa). So, 2 m² would contain more than that one person needs (well, ignoring the all the complexity of the lower density, and different temperatures, etc. at higher altitudes)
This was really handwavy and simple, but it at least helped me picture what 1000 L could mean in terms of drawing water from the air vs. the scale of the atmosphere. Also, sorry, I closed the sources and didn't save the links before writing this :)
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Comment on A rant about how devices handle users with language backgrounds other than English in ~tech
lackofaname Link ParentOh cool, on my phone I do watch youtube in firefox, not in the app. I didn't think of looking for an extension. I'll try it out next time it becomes a problem for me, thanks!Oh cool, on my phone I do watch youtube in firefox, not in the app. I didn't think of looking for an extension. I'll try it out next time it becomes a problem for me, thanks!
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Comment on AI’s memorization crisis in ~tech
lackofaname Link ParentCould you entertain my ignorance, and explain what 'jailbroken' means in the context of ai. Or, rather, how it's achieved? (Roughly, just trying to vaguely understand) I assume it means getting...Could you entertain my ignorance, and explain what 'jailbroken' means in the context of ai. Or, rather, how it's achieved? (Roughly, just trying to vaguely understand)
I assume it means getting around a chatbot's built-in guardrails to get the output you want. But is that just through persistent clever prompting, or something else?
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Comment on Anyone get into caffeine (coffee/tea) as an adult? in ~food
lackofaname Link ParentOne of my favourite establishments is half café, half bar. I wish more places would embrace this mixed personality (both ways: either cafés that remained open to serve evening alcoholic beverages,...One of my favourite establishments is half café, half bar. I wish more places would embrace this mixed personality (both ways: either cafés that remained open to serve evening alcoholic beverages, and bars that embraced a more café culture). (Edit, I'm in Canada, I don't know if this is common elsewhere but it's not here)
I like going out, but can really only have one, mayyyybe two drinks. So it's nice to start the evening with a nice coffee/tea, before switching to something with alcohol, whereas friends are free to order the drinks they like.
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Comment on Podcast: The internet is dying. The internet is dead. in ~tech
lackofaname (edited )LinkOh, it's cool Doctorow brings up interoperability here. The first time I heard of him was at a digital conference a few years ago. Most of the conference frankly sucked (I think it was around the...Oh, it's cool Doctorow brings up interoperability here.
The first time I heard of him was at a digital conference a few years ago. Most of the conference frankly sucked (I think it was around the time of nft hype, and most of the speakers felt compelled to talk about them), and then at the end Doctorow presented a talk on interoperability. I hadn't heard this term before, and it was such a breath of fresh air to listen to and feel like I was learning something useful. I have no real point to this other than this podcast reminded me of this experience.
But, to contribute to the discussion a little, it's good to see a platform like CBC hosting him, where he'll hopefully get a wider platform of people less in a tech-adjacent bubble. I know he's canadian, and this is a Canadian platform, but Ialso appreciate that he's really referencing the Canadian context and policy here.
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Comment on A rant about how devices handle users with language backgrounds other than English in ~tech
lackofaname LinkFor me, I dared try to have 2 languages on my phone. I live in a bilingual country and it's helpful for my job sometimes if I can check what's in its mobile app in both languages. So, of course I...For me, I dared try to have 2 languages on my phone. I live in a bilingual country and it's helpful for my job sometimes if I can check what's in its mobile app in both languages. So, of course I can't change the app setting, I have to change my entire phone's language to change the app language.
Fine, I found this kind of fun, since I'm fluent in English but weaker in French, so switching to French offered a little immersion. This switching confused some websites, and sometimes I'd get a page loaded in the opposite of my current setting. Whatever not a big deal, I can read either language well enough.
Until Youtube decided to start auto-dubbing English videos into French, with no way to toggle it off! It didn't matter if I set English as my main language in my phone, still the dubs. Eventually I had to remove French entirely from my phone to solve the issue.
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Comment on Leaked email suggests Ring plans to expand ‘search party’ surveillance beyond dogs in ~tech
lackofaname Link ParentNot the person you were replying to, but I was robbed a few years back, and a neighbour's camera footage was one of the keys in helping identify and charge the thief. Take that as you will, but I...Not the person you were replying to, but I was robbed a few years back, and a neighbour's camera footage was one of the keys in helping identify and charge the thief. Take that as you will, but I suppose there's some use on occasion.
We have cameras now, and they've really only been helpful for us in identifying the type of activity to watch out for (eg, strangers testing car doors to see if they're unlocked, looking for packages, etc.). Nothing groundbreaking but it's a good reminder for us to keep our stuff locked up and gives a few dollars discount on insurance.
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Comment on Communities, relationships, and navigating the enshittification of absolutely everything in ~talk
lackofaname LinkThis is a bit tangential/specific to social media use.. I feel the same, but am less technologically knowledgeable than you, so have the inertia of having to learn new skills/info before I can...This is a bit tangential/specific to social media use..
I feel the same, but am less technologically knowledgeable than you, so have the inertia of having to learn new skills/info before I can implement new strategies to block annoyances. It's been easy enough to stop using Facebook regularly as ive just never logged into it on my phone (though i keep my acct so i can check messenges on my computer; like you, i don't want to lose my connections), and i never got into other social platforms.
Reddit, though, has been impossible to kick. After migrating over to Tildes, I've found myself going back to mindlessly browse more and more, even though I can see how trashy it is.
This post finally gave me the push to figure out how to block r/all. I didn't want to block all of reddit, as it's honestly still useful to search for info (case in point, i found my solution on reddit!), and I appreciate a couple subreddits.
I already have ublock installed on firefox, so figured there might be a way to create my own filter, and after a bit of searching it's worked! Hopefully it's just enough of a nudge to help me disengage more.
For anyone else interested, here's what worked as a custom filter (reddit wrapper loads, but feed is empty):
reddit.com##:matches-path(r/all) shreddit-feed
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Comment on What are you working through? in ~life
lackofaname Link ParentThis whole thread really speaks to where I'm at and working through, too. I wasn't exactly which comment to attach my thoughts to - both op and papasquat's perspectives align somewhat with my...This whole thread really speaks to where I'm at and working through, too. I wasn't exactly which comment to attach my thoughts to - both op and papasquat's perspectives align somewhat with my current experience, and it's comforting to know I'm not alone.
But, I wanted thank you for sharing that article on locus of control. I'm trying to hang on to my job for a little while longer for financial reasons, and it's a really good reminder that this is my decision to do so; I've already been trying to find strength, and hope I can also find some peace, in that choice being mine.
That's a good question. In retrospect, the answer i gave probably doesn't even fit the definition of 'radicalised' so much as 'crystalised' or 'solidified'.
Though, if any of my beliefs are radical, I don't think there ever was a defining moment so much as a slow accumulation of experiences over life, and that's not an easy answer to uncover myself let alone share in a relative short answer here.