mat's recent activity
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Comment on Hey parents, how many of you read vs. tell stories before bedtime for your kids? in ~life
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Comment on The death of simple racing games in ~games
mat Link ParentDid you watch the recent attempts to beat Deep Dip 2? Man that was so good. Proper "get up every morning and check what's happened overnight" stuff. There's a reasonable summary here. I tried it...Did you watch the recent attempts to beat Deep Dip 2? Man that was so good. Proper "get up every morning and check what's happened overnight" stuff. There's a reasonable summary here. I tried it and couldn't get past the first four jumps or so, despite spending about an hour on it.
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Comment on The death of simple racing games in ~games
mat LinkIt's kinda weird how this video doesn't seem to mention Trackmania (to be fair, I did not sit through the whole thing but I did skip around a bit) because that's exactly the thing they are...It's kinda weird how this video doesn't seem to mention Trackmania (to be fair, I did not sit through the whole thing but I did skip around a bit) because that's exactly the thing they are describing. It's so easy my five year old could play it and they can't even read. And yet hard enough to master that there is a thriving professional scene in both esports and streaming.
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Comment on Tips on attending a metal fest in Europe in ~travel
mat Link ParentI have the Alpine Musicsafe Pros which are 19/22dB reduction depending which bit you attach. The frequency response is supposed to be marginally better than the WorkSafe but I haven't tried both....I have the Alpine Musicsafe Pros which are 19/22dB reduction depending which bit you attach. The frequency response is supposed to be marginally better than the WorkSafe but I haven't tried both. They were £20 or so I think.
They're good. I'll usually wear them for most of a gig and only take them out for my favourite tracks. It had not occurred to me that wearing them longer works better but that makes a lot of sense. If I was at a festival I'd probably keep them in anyway!
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Comment on BYD unveils new super-charging EV tech, to build charging network in China in ~transport
mat Link ParentOK, so what I'm getting here is that you are concerned about access to your "data" as a general concept, which is fine if that's your thing - but that doesn't answer my question. What,...OK, so what I'm getting here is that you are concerned about access to your "data" as a general concept, which is fine if that's your thing - but that doesn't answer my question. What, specifically, do you think might happen with your car's data which is bad? You have said what you're worried about but I still don't know why.
I can't think of any reasons why having Skoda or BYD or anyone (including myself!) know how often I turn my demister on or that I tend to accelerate harder when the stereo is louder or whatever can, in any meaningful, real-world way, affect my life.
We are, of course, assuming that modern cars actually do phone home with these data. I have no idea if that is true. My car connects to my wifi when I get home so I guess it could. I'm not interested enough to sit and sniff packets to see if it does.
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Comment on BYD unveils new super-charging EV tech, to build charging network in China in ~transport
mat (edited )Link ParentGenuine question - what is your concern with a Chinese company having this "data"? As far as I know my Hyundai EV doesn't phone home with telemetry but I don't care if it does. I know for a fact...Genuine question - what is your concern with a Chinese company having this "data"?
As far as I know my Hyundai EV doesn't phone home with telemetry but I don't care if it does. I know for a fact that my previous dinosaur juice car (a 2014 Skoda) generated huge amounts of data because I have seen it doing it via an ODB reader so I'm not sure why you're singling out EVs specifically.
All modern cars are stuffed full of sensors and processing for the data they generate. I have no idea how that data being in the hands of China, or VW or anyone could harm me. It seems like that information is useful to improve the next generation of that company's cars, of course. It's useful for designers to know how their products are being used, but I don't see how that could turn into a problem.
edit: thought about this a bit more and I'm absolutely certain that an EV generates considerably less data than an ICE vehicle. Far fewer moving parts, far fewer sensors = less data.
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Comment on What's the oldest tech you use, and why do you still use it? in ~tech
mat Link ParentFire 2: Electric Boogaloo is pretty great but it doesn't work with all the sorts of shiny rock, and it can be expensive to run if you have to make lots of shiny rocks very hot or even, like I...Fire 2: Electric Boogaloo is pretty great but it doesn't work with all the sorts of shiny rock, and it can be expensive to run if you have to make lots of shiny rocks very hot or even, like I sometimes do, runny.
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Comment on What's the oldest tech you use, and why do you still use it? in ~tech
mat Link ParentThere is a reasonable chance that your refrigerator is not going strong at that age. It might be working in that it's still cold inside, but it's likely drawing way more power then it needs to....There is a reasonable chance that your refrigerator is not going strong at that age. It might be working in that it's still cold inside, but it's likely drawing way more power then it needs to. Try getting a power meter (not expensive, very useful for all sorts of things!) and seeing how much it's drawing compared to a modern fridge's power requirements.
I had a fridge which was a mere 15 years old that, while perfectly cold inside, turned out to be sucking so much electricity that replacing it paid for the replacement unit just in power savings in less than two years.
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Comment on What's the oldest tech you use, and why do you still use it? in ~tech
mat LinkPencil and paper. I mean sure, I have a 3D printer. I have CAD software and the ability to use it. But I still do most my design work - even for software, not just meatspace objects - using a...Pencil and paper. I mean sure, I have a 3D printer. I have CAD software and the ability to use it. But I still do most my design work - even for software, not just meatspace objects - using a pencil and a piece of paper.
More in the spirit of the question, we still have two Chromecast Audio dongles which get daily use. They were recently temporarily broken due to an issue with Google's certificates expiring and I really noticed. Nothing else really does what the CC audio devices do. We have a few nice sound quality, albeit fairly old, radios with aux inputs (DAB Radio is pretty old tech but I love radio and listen every day) and they're old enough to not have Bluetooth, let alone streaming capabilities - so the Chromecasts let us stream all sorts of things to those speakers.
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Comment on Mountain biking advice in ~hobbies
mat Link ParentI had a beach cruiser for a while, which is basically a Dutch bike with extra curves and while it was certainly extremely comfortable, it was relatively slow due to limited gearing (although hub...I had a beach cruiser for a while, which is basically a Dutch bike with extra curves and while it was certainly extremely comfortable, it was relatively slow due to limited gearing (although hub gears are ROCK solid), didn't like to turn and took quite a lot of effort because it was quite heavy compared to something optimised for a little more sportiness. You also couldn't really bunny hop up and down kerbs or take shortcuts through bumpy fields, so in the end I sold it.
Trail bikes are at almost the ideal position between comfort, speed and agility for urban/family riding, at least for me. My wife has a hybrid/commuter bike and she will pick up her trail bike almost every time for urban riding too. But of course everyone's needs/preferences are different, and it's great there are so many options.
I used to call Dutch bikes "granny bikes" ;-) although these days most of the grannies near me ride e-bikes these days and leave me in the dust!
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Comment on Mountain biking advice in ~hobbies
mat Link ParentNot the case in my experience. My trail bike is way more comfortable than my road bike. When I say "road bike" I mean a few wisps of carbon and aluminium on super skinny, high pressure tyres. I...Yes, but also no. A mountain bike has more resistance on pavement compared to bikes intended for them. Simply because the fatter tires at a relatively low pressure. They position you are in also isn't that comfortable compared to road bikes.
Not the case in my experience. My trail bike is way more comfortable than my road bike.
When I say "road bike" I mean a few wisps of carbon and aluminium on super skinny, high pressure tyres. I don't mean a Dutch style or commuter/hybrid bike. I don't ride drop bars because of a wrist issue but road bikes generally do have them.
If a trail bike isn't comfortable you might have a frame which doesn't fit, or isn't set up right. Road bikes tend to be less comfortable by design, in order to push you into a more aerodynamic position. Aero effects make a massive difference at higher speeds - something like 90% of your energy above 25mph is overcoming aerodynamic resistance!
My trail bike is certainly a bit slower around town, but that's not a big issue for me. It's more agile, which I find more useful/safer than raw speed most of the time. If I'm doing much on-road/cyclepath riding I just stick a bit more air in the tyres and that's plenty good enough. Also I don't need it to be fast when I'm riding with my family. The six year old is a heck of a good bike rider but we're not hitting 30mph on the roads (yet!).
99% of the time when I'm riding around town or out with the family I will grab my trail bike from the shed. Very rarely does the road bike come out unless I'm going on a "proper" ride out into the country to do serious distance.
They also do require a lot more maintaining compared to regular road bikes. Certainly when you compare them to bikes with enclosed chains. Simply because you need to clean your chain and oil it on a very regular basis, certainly in wet conditions.
Again, opposite experience here. My road bike is much twitchier, mechanically. The brakes on my trail bike take marginally more effort because hydraulics are slightly more involved than cable brakes, but having one fewer derailleurs to worry about simplifies the drivetrain a great deal. The more robust parts on my trail bike are considerably happier being muddy and dirty between washes, and modern lubricants really do limit the amount of "oil" needed (I haven't used actual oil on any of my bikes for a long, long time - apart from in the brake system).
In the winter I don't enjoy washing my bike so it mostly doesn't get cleaned until the weather improves and it manages just fine with daily riding in all conditions. I don't think my trail bike has been washed or particularly maintained since October and it's pretty grubby but mechanically it's still running nice and silent and smooth. Really need to get that job done soon though, it's nearly time to start doing some proper off-road riding again!
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Comment on Ghost – Satanized (2025) in ~music
mat Link ParentI'm a big fan of their version of Stay, which isn't something I ever thought I hear covered. Also It's a Sin is very on-brand for them and also a great version.I'm a big fan of their version of Stay, which isn't something I ever thought I hear covered. Also It's a Sin is very on-brand for them and also a great version.
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Comment on Ghost – Satanized (2025) in ~music
mat Link ParentSpillways and Call Me Little Sunshine were on their most recent album which only came out in 2022! Hardly "old" bangers, although definitely bangers. I'll wait and hear the new album before...Spillways and Call Me Little Sunshine were on their most recent album which only came out in 2022! Hardly "old" bangers, although definitely bangers. I'll wait and hear the new album before writing them off just yet.
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Comment on Ghost – Satanized (2025) in ~music
mat Link Parent"Ghost, putting the ABBA into Sabbath" For the record I think they're good fun and I enjoy their music very much (I like both ABBA and Sabbath as well). Ghost have done some really great covers as..."Ghost, putting the ABBA into Sabbath"
For the record I think they're good fun and I enjoy their music very much (I like both ABBA and Sabbath as well). Ghost have done some really great covers as well, Tobias definitely knows his music.
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Comment on A daily tea routine partially protects people from heavy metals, study finds in ~food
mat Link ParentMy tea cupboard currently mostly contains Moroccan mint (Chinese green tea with mint), Hojicha (Japanese roasted green tea), Masala chai (spiced black tea), and Kenyan black tea. The latter two I...My tea cupboard currently mostly contains Moroccan mint (Chinese green tea with mint), Hojicha (Japanese roasted green tea), Masala chai (spiced black tea), and Kenyan black tea. The latter two I usually drink with milk. I have plenty of others but those are what is currently in heavy rotation. I'd recommend all of them, but they might not be to your taste. If you can find somewhere which will let you order small amounts then just start buying stuff you like the sound of. There's plenty to try, and a huge variety of flavours out there.
As for infusers - pots are the best, but if you'd prefer to brew in a mug you want large volume with lots of mesh. the little ball things are pretty rubbish. Tea leaves like to move around, so bigger is better. Also they are easier to clean. I do have an infuser and it's basically the size of my mug. Pots are still better, but wait until you get into it before investing because some teas do better in specific types of pot.
Temperature does matter. You absolutely cannot pour boiling water on green or white teas, the resulting drink will be bitter and tannin-y and unpleasant. 70-80C is important. Black tea you can generally hit with boiling water and it'll be fine though.
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Comment on Firefox's new Terms of Use grants Mozilla complete data "processing" rights of all user interactions in ~tech
mat Link ParentWell, like I said, not a lawyer. But I'm inclined to trust Mozilla when they say this is a non-issue. The wording of the change in question looks very nothingy to me. It smells entirely of asses...Well, like I said, not a lawyer. But I'm inclined to trust Mozilla when they say this is a non-issue. The wording of the change in question looks very nothingy to me. It smells entirely of asses being covered due to twitchy lawyers but I dunno, maybe the Mozilla foundation are somehow out to get us or whatever it is people are worried is happening. I'm sure someone can dig through the source code and find out if that's going on, that's the nice thing about open source.
You have to also bear in mind I don't have the energy to care very much about any of this stuff. I want my browser to work. I really don't care if Mozilla (or anyone else) were selling my "data" (whatever that even means). Which I don't think is what's happening anyway. They're not complete idiots, they know who their userbase is.
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Comment on Firefox's new Terms of Use grants Mozilla complete data "processing" rights of all user interactions in ~tech
mat Link ParentSo just to pick one example: I use Firefox Sync a lot. I send tabs back and forth between various devices, both manually and automatically. This is a service Mozilla operates as part of Firefox....So just to pick one example: I use Firefox Sync a lot. I send tabs back and forth between various devices, both manually and automatically. This is a service Mozilla operates as part of Firefox. It requires they process data I have input into Firefox and requested they handle, and the lawyers will rightly insist that they need my agreement to do that legally. I could be wrong because IANAL, although I do have some experience of creating EULAs, but that's all this appears to be to me.
There are other internet-based services Mozilla provides as part of Firefox - a password manager, an email obfuscation tool, some VPN-like/sandboxing stuff (not sure if that's still there) and more. You are, of course, welcome to not use of any of these services, but they are still there. Maybe there's a fork with none of those things in, which in theory could have a different EULA (but in practice lawyers are expensive and it's probably not worth Mozilla's resources).
Look at this the other way around, would you rather Mozilla were handling user's data - however ethically and securely they might be doing that - without permission?
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Comment on Who are your favorite actors? in ~movies
mat Link ParentCumberbatch is a great actor but he's been in some pretty dire things. Mind you, I wouldn't be turning down Marvel money if I were him, and the Sherlock pilot probably looked good on paper. His...Cumberbatch is a great actor but he's been in some pretty dire things. Mind you, I wouldn't be turning down Marvel money if I were him, and the Sherlock pilot probably looked good on paper.
His best role was Captain Martin Crieff (Cabin Pressure is amazing and totally worth a listen)
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Comment on 'Consider Phlebas' series set at Amazon from Charles Yu and Chloé Zhao in ~tv
mat Link ParentThey are absolutely going to fuck this up.They are absolutely going to fuck this up.
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Comment on TRMNL - Open source e-ink "companion" device in ~tech
mat Link ParentAh, that's what it was. Should be fixed now. Thanks!Ah, that's what it was. Should be fixed now. Thanks!
My kid is 6.5 and still loves picture books. Heck, my wife is mumble mumble an age and she still buys picture books for her own collection. There's no age limit on picture books! (check out Shaun Tan's amazing work for example). We read chapter books too now with the kid, but that's only really been a thing for maybe the last year. Format is usually a chapter or so of whatever 'grown up' book we're reading - currently Harry Potter - then a picture book or two for sleep wind-down. Kid will force themselves to stay awake if we're reading something new so we have to fall back on something already known if we want them to actually sleep! Occasionally we'll do audio books too, which is costing me a fortune in Paddington...
But really, the only thing that matters is books. Doesn't matter what sort. Picture, audio, chapter, board, whatever. Books books books. At that age kids are learning how stories work so just expose them to loads of stories. You say they are forming their own narratives from reality right now and that's great - they are figuring out the structure of telling stories, the imaginative details will come later. I always feel like my job is to guide the kid into loving books because books now means reading of all sorts later, and reading is one of the most important habits there is. Maybe they'll never get into the imaginative stuff, maybe they'll just read non fiction for pleasure and that's perfectly cool too. What's not cool is no books :(
Perhaps outside of bedtime, when things can be a bit more interactive/involved, you might try some wordless books. My kid loved Journey at that age, you can tell the story together, ask questions about how some characters might be thinking or feeling, make up voices and dialogue and so on and it can be a bit different every time. Pippa Goodheart's You Choose books are still a favourite today for imaginative play.
Someone mentioned illustrated chapter books like Dahl or Walliams, Dahl is OK but pretty dated in his attitude but David Walliams is just bad. If he wasn't already famous there's no way he'd be published. Try Chris Riddell (esp Ottoline) or Andy Griffith's Treehouse books, and my kid loved the Billy and the Mini Monsters books too, but there's loads out there these days.
Finally I will never not recommend Idan Benbarak's The Very Hard Book for imaginative reading fun. It's not a story book but it will absolutely engage your kid's imagination! (and at age 3.5 they will beat you at the Stroop test every single time)
There are, I promise. Go to the library. Go to a bookshop. Take the kid, ask the staff, read some books while you're there. You'll find things. Kids books these days are so, so good and cover a huge spectrum of styles and genres. I love kids books.