mat's recent activity
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Comment on US Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed in ~society
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Comment on US Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed in ~society
mat Link ParentI don't know much about guns but it seems to me that an experienced gunist could probably tell if they were firing blanks or not. There's some physics you can't get around on that one.I don't know much about guns but it seems to me that an experienced gunist could probably tell if they were firing blanks or not. There's some physics you can't get around on that one.
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Comment on The people holding up the internet in ~tech
mat LinkThis website uses some nice visualisation to illustrate just a fraction of how much our modern digital infrastructure is held up by one or two people working part-time for little or no money. Most...Four billion phones ask one text file what time it is. One lecturer keeps it up to date in his spare time
This website uses some nice visualisation to illustrate just a fraction of how much our modern digital infrastructure is held up by one or two people working part-time for little or no money.
Most FOSS people know this already but it's presented well here.
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The people holding up the internet
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Comment on Amazon uses its tracking data to guess whether shoppers have a flat butt and no friends in ~tech
mat Link ParentI don't like the "if you're not paying you are the product" because it's an over simplification to the point of being pretty much wrong. My 'data' isn't sold. That's extremely valuable...I don't like the "if you're not paying you are the product" because it's an over simplification to the point of being pretty much wrong. My 'data' isn't sold. That's extremely valuable information. Access to my eyeballs is what is for sale. In return I get to use a product which has significant operating costs at no monetary cost to me. It's a multidimensional transaction. Meta (and Google and the rest) talk about having two customers for different sides of their product, one who pays with money (advertisers) and the other who pay with attention (people who see adverts) and I think that's a much better description of what's actually going on.
When I worked in an advertising-adjacent job it was an open secret that that kind of targetted advertising was basically worthless. There's a reason you don't tend to see the big brands advertising on those sort of platforms and what you see instead is mostly junk to the point of being almost a scam.
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: Week 1 Updates in ~creative.timasomo
mat LinkI thought that a good idea would be to model my design in OnShape or SketchUp or something and get a good idea of what kind of material I need and at what sizes. I can make a solid construction...I thought that a good idea would be to model my design in OnShape or SketchUp or something and get a good idea of what kind of material I need and at what sizes. I can make a solid construction plan that way so I know exactly what I'm doing when I get into my actual workshop. This is a smart idea, I thought. I will definitely do this because it will make my life much easier and significantly reduce the chance of a visit from Mr FuckUp later on.
However this is what I actually did because this is what I always do. A stack of paper with some measurements and vague ideas on. Each of these pieces of paper is important for it details some aspect of the design not drawn elsewhere. Although there's also a lot of replication. And contradiction.
This is, however, enough for me to have generated a cutlist to take to the timber yard and in my head I have a sort of a plan for assembly. Plan is subject to revision during actual construction.
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Comment on Amazon uses its tracking data to guess whether shoppers have a flat butt and no friends in ~tech
mat Link ParentI have Prime. I buy shit on Amazon all the time and have done for over two decades. I watch their TV occasionally. I have a 20 year old Facebook account and IG and Threads and I likely use...I have Prime. I buy shit on Amazon all the time and have done for over two decades. I watch their TV occasionally. I have a 20 year old Facebook account and IG and Threads and I likely use Whatsapp more than any other app on my phone. I barely make any effort to block tracking cookies or sandbox things. I don't care about what you would probably call "privacy".
And yet these various companies still don't seem to know anything much about me. There's a few points on my Amazon profile that are about right but it's considerably more wrong than not. Meta's advertising profile for me is hilariously wrong from start to finish, except where I've manually edited it (I don't want to see ads for alcohol and they have largely allowed me to get rid of them).
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Comment on Protests spread across France, growing from school demonstrations (gifted link) in ~society
mat Link ParentI meant the guillotine rather than the entire revolution. We don't, yet, need to change everything but we do need to prune the top and if the top isn't prepared to do that without...I meant the guillotine rather than the entire revolution. We don't, yet, need to change everything but we do need to prune the top and if the top isn't prepared to do that without gravity-and-steel powered persuasion then so be it.
I do wonder how many billionaire heads we'd have to remove before the rest of them came around to the idea of paying some tax at a very reasonable rate of, let's say, 99% past the first $1bn. You can still be rich enough to live your entire remaining life in absolutely insane luxury, but you can't be a billionaire any more. I'm betting it's not many.
Only one way to find out!
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Comment on Protests spread across France, growing from school demonstrations (gifted link) in ~society
mat Link ParentThe French came up with a solution for that problem once already.The French came up with a solution for that problem once already.
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: Roll Call in ~creative.timasomo
mat LinkIn a fantastic start to this year's event, I have not managed to find time to even post here! I am going to be making some furniture. Kid is struggling with Bed at the moment, so I'm upgrading...In a fantastic start to this year's event, I have not managed to find time to even post here!
I am going to be making some furniture. Kid is struggling with Bed at the moment, so I'm upgrading their sleeping space with some smart lights and a nook and a comfortable leaning bit (and a secret compartment, because what kid doesn't love having a secret place!). I have a vague sense of how it will work, I need to do some measuring and get a proper cutlist drawn up so I can source the material and so on.
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Comment on Blue-collar effective altruism in ~society
mat LinkDefine "best" and "most deserving" Once you have done that then the rest is easy.Define "best" and "most deserving"
Once you have done that then the rest is easy.
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Comment on When do you know that you've found "the one"? in ~life
mat LinkThe question isn't right. There is no person you "should" marry, unless you're an 18th century European aristocrat or other player in a multi-generational Imperial politicking situation. You'll...The question isn't right. There is no person you "should" marry, unless you're an 18th century European aristocrat or other player in a multi-generational Imperial politicking situation.
You'll know if the person you're with is someone you want to marry because you'll feel like you want to marry them. If you don't think that then... don't marry them!
It's also important to remember that marriage is just a legal state. It doesn't really change anything about your relationship as human beings. You're still the same people the day after as you were the day before. So if you want to spend your life with a particular someone just.. do that. Maybe you'll both want to get married, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll spend 15 years together and then find out that actually one of you quite likes the idea and the other hadn't even thought of it so you get married then (happened to me). Maybe it'll be cheaper to get married than to draw up the relevant documents to ensure everyone has legal rights over the kids or shared property should one partner die (several friends of mine). Maybe you'll get married, spend 25 happy years together then get amicably divorced at 60 because your lives are going in different directions (another friend last month).
It doesn't matter.
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Comment on Announcing the eighth annual Tildes' Make Something Month (Timasomo)! in ~tildes
mat Link ParentI AM IN. Not sure what I'm doing. Have a few potentials. One of which is actually finishing the job that parts of made up my entry both last year and the year before...I AM IN.
Not sure what I'm doing. Have a few potentials. One of which is actually finishing the job that parts of made up my entry both last year and the year before...
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Comment on Men arrested on suspicion of explosives offences near US air base in Britain following "major incident" in ~news
mat Link Parentit's important to remember that Four Lions is essentially a documentary. If UK terrorists were remotely competent we'd have terror attacks every other weekend. I'm old enough to remember when...It'd make for an amazing Armando Iannucci movie
it's important to remember that Four Lions is essentially a documentary. If UK terrorists were remotely competent we'd have terror attacks every other weekend. I'm old enough to remember when there actually were somewhat competent terrorists around and the IRA was quite successfully setting off bombs several times a year. Our counter terror police are also good at their jobs, of course.
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Comment on Men arrested on suspicion of explosives offences near US air base in Britain following "major incident" in ~news
mat Link ParentI've seen a bunch of rumours now that they were just some random dudes out stealing diesel. Nothing from official sources yet, of course. It's almost as funny as dogging.I really hope it's dogging.
I've seen a bunch of rumours now that they were just some random dudes out stealing diesel. Nothing from official sources yet, of course.
It's almost as funny as dogging.
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Comment on Is there any place where I can find biking gloves that both cover the whole hand and are breathable? in ~hobbies
mat LinkI had some nice 100% gloves that I loved (mainly because bright pink) but this summer I grabbed some Fist gloves and they are excellent. I have the summer weight ones and while not be-holed on the...I had some nice 100% gloves that I loved (mainly because bright pink) but this summer I grabbed some Fist gloves and they are excellent. I have the summer weight ones and while not be-holed on the back, they are very breathable, but my kid has the standard ones and they managed perfectly well during the summer too. they're not the cheapest but they are super comfortable and have stood up to a decent amount of abuse already.
Medium fits me perfectly, if you'd like me to put a tape measure on my hands so you can compare, let me know.
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Comment on Irish, Scottish and Welsh leaders meet to plan break-up of United Kingdom in ~society
mat Link ParentPolls, and in one case an actual referendum, almost always show that the majority in those countries want their destinies to remain part of the UK. Especially so in Wales where independence has...I'm glad to see the people get the opportunity to determine their own destinies.
Polls, and in one case an actual referendum, almost always show that the majority in those countries want their destinies to remain part of the UK. Especially so in Wales where independence has very low support. In parliamentary elections lots of people vote Plaid/SNP/Sinn Fein for reasons other than independence - up to and including actual fascists elsewhere on the ballot - and FPTP requires tactical voting.
Northern Ireland is very close though, but if that particular situation was easily resolved with a simple vote then there wouldn't have been decades of unrest both political and physical. Northern Ireland is a mess and won't stop being one just because Sinn Fein signed a piece of paper. I'm not defending British colonialism, but there's a lot of people in Northern Ireland who are happy to be UK citizens and want to continue being such.
Let's hope they don't choose to leave for the wrong reasons...
I'm fairly sure none of them can choose to leave. They can ask Westminster for a referendum and Westminster will say no. This is just performative politicking from the leaders of three pro-independence parties, nothing more.
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Comment on Behind the scenes at the Blackwing pencil factory in ~creative
mat Link ParentMidori paper is the best, but it's fairly silly on price. Mnemosyne is also great, as is Rhodia, and I like Caran D'Ache as well. All just in my opinion, of course. What you get is smoothness. Oh,...Midori paper is the best, but it's fairly silly on price. Mnemosyne is also great, as is Rhodia, and I like Caran D'Ache as well. All just in my opinion, of course.
What you get is smoothness. Oh, so smooth. Your writing implement just glides so nicely. If you're using ink you will probably see less bleeding as well.
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Comment on Behind the scenes at the Blackwing pencil factory in ~creative
mat Link ParentNaaa, Tombow Mono 100s for life yo. Blackwings are somewhat overrated and definitely overpriced. Not that the Tombows are cheap though. I have a bit of a soft spot for Midori's pencils but they're...Naaa, Tombow Mono 100s for life yo. Blackwings are somewhat overrated and definitely overpriced. Not that the Tombows are cheap though. I have a bit of a soft spot for Midori's pencils but they're not quite as good as the Tombows to use, despite looking much prettier.
I hear a lot of good things about Mitsubishi's Hi-Uni but for some reason have never tried one. Next time I restock I should get a few.
Anyway it's just pencils. All the good ones are worth a few quid each. Although I do think it's a waste of money if you don't buy nice paper to use them on. Oh no more nice stationary I have to buy oh no.
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Comment on Small talk, ice breakers, lines in ~talk
mat Link ParentSoak some raisins in seasoned (salt and sugar) vinegar for a few hours or, better, overnight and you have pickled raisins. Little nuggets of sweet, acidic, salty deliciousness that you can just...Soak some raisins in seasoned (salt and sugar) vinegar for a few hours or, better, overnight and you have pickled raisins. Little nuggets of sweet, acidic, salty deliciousness that you can just scatter over things. Salads, stews, into sandwiches, with eggs, just eat them on their own. They're delicious and everyone should give them a go HEY, THIS CONVERSATION STARTER WORKS
There are many potential mechanisms more humane than firing squad, such as nitrogen hypoxia but if a society has decided that it's going all in on televised murder-tainment then possibly the best option is death by rollercoaster.