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moriarty's recent activity
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Comment on UnitedHealthcare tried to deny coverage to a chronically ill patient. He fought back, exposing the insurer’s inner workings. in ~health
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UnitedHealthcare tried to deny coverage to a chronically ill patient. He fought back, exposing the insurer’s inner workings.
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Comment on If you speak another language other than English, what are some interesting differences with English in its vocabulary? in ~talk
moriarty Link ParentYeah, English is so unwieldy when it comes to this. Those are such common terms to not have words for. In Hebrew we have מחרתיים (tomorrow x 2) and שלשום (today x 3 as in the third day before...Yeah, English is so unwieldy when it comes to this. Those are such common terms to not have words for. In Hebrew we have מחרתיים (tomorrow x 2) and שלשום (today x 3 as in the third day before today, counting today as 1, representing the day before yesterday).
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Comment on If you speak another language other than English, what are some interesting differences with English in its vocabulary? in ~talk
moriarty Link ParentYeah, that drove me up the walls when trying to learn French. My native language does have gendered nouns but they're completely different! For instance, Sun is feminine and Light is masculine so...Yeah, that drove me up the walls when trying to learn French. My native language does have gendered nouns but they're completely different! For instance, Sun is feminine and Light is masculine so I kept misgendering everything. And the French are not known for their patience with people bastardizing their language.
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Comment on If you speak another language other than English, what are some interesting differences with English in its vocabulary? in ~talk
moriarty LinkHebrew is somewhat unique to other languages in the way words (especially verbs) are formed. It's very mathematical in that you have lists of pre-existing patterns which represent the tenses and...Hebrew is somewhat unique to other languages in the way words (especially verbs) are formed. It's very mathematical in that you have lists of pre-existing patterns which represent the tenses and fitting a root (three-letter combination) into the pattern is how you create verb conjugation.
e.g.- [][]ו[] pattern represents first person present. fitting the root כ,ת,ב (k,t,v) which represents writing makes it כותב (kotev) - he is writing
fitting the root א,ה,ב (a, h, v) which represents love makes it אוהב (ohev) - he loves - [][][]הת - represents a mutual action two people do with each other - so fitting those roots makes
התאהב (hit'ahev) - he fell in love with someone
התכתב (hit'katev) - he was writing (corresponding) with someone
So you can always guess at the meaning of the word if you recognize the root, or grasp at the meaning of the action if your recognize the pattern without knowing the root. It makes for an easily and rapidly evolving slang as some English words are being broken to their "root" and new words are made.
התקמפל (hit'kampel) - is a modern term for "having been compiled" (as in code compilation) which was created by turning the word compile into a root - k, m, p, l (ק,מ,פ,ל).Oh, also it's written right-to-left.
- [][]ו[] pattern represents first person present. fitting the root כ,ת,ב (k,t,v) which represents writing makes it כותב (kotev) - he is writing
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
moriarty (edited )LinkBeen reading The Three Body Problem for a while now. [WARNING: SPOILERS] For those not familiar with the book, it is a hard scifi book written by a pretty successful Chinese author, focusing on...Been reading The Three Body Problem for a while now. [WARNING: SPOILERS]
For those not familiar with the book, it is a hard scifi book written by a pretty successful Chinese author, focusing on how China (and the world) would handle first contact with an alien species. It is written very differently from other western scifi books, so certainly an interesting experience for me. I must admit I didn't much care for the beginning - it was much too slow and confusing. But the book evolved really well towards the middle, when the stories start coming together. It's also interesting to see the (not so hidden) criticism of the Chinese government and society coming through. The take the author has on the nature of science and particle physics in general is a bit amateurish to me. As a former particle physicist, I found it pretty hard to suspend my disbelief faced with some pretty blatant errors in the author's understanding. His sophons are just not how physics works - he could've used much simpler tools to accomplish his desired plot. Other than that, I found his alien race very mind-provoking and interesting. His "human computer" idea initially sounded silly, but was later well-explained and generated more interest. Their inability to lie and how their thoughts can be openly read felt to me like a take on the the Chinese government's desire to monitor and control their people. And the way their society evolved as a response to living on a planet in a chaotic solar system was well laid out and developed. Overall I think it's a pretty good book. Definitely recommended. -
Comment on Switzerland has 'systemic' racism issues, UN experts say in ~news
moriarty (edited )Link ParentIf memory serves, I think the minaret ban (poster #2) and the "against mass immigration" initiative (poster #1,#3), which legalizes expulsion of foreigners who commit two offenses within a 10-year...If memory serves, I think the minaret ban (poster #2) and the "against mass immigration" initiative (poster #1,#3), which legalizes expulsion of foreigners who commit two offenses within a 10-year period without a trial or appeal, were passed.
But regardless, the feeling I got was that the swiss really do hate their foreigners. Apart from having some of the most extreme naturalization laws (12 years), immigration and asylum quotas in Europe, as a foreigner who had lived there for a long while, they had consistently made it a point to remind me of it and make me feel unwelcome. I was even refused the right to get married there (they said it was because of some nonsense bureaucracy of Geneva's etat civil, but really they had changed their tone very abruptly as soon as they learned I was jewish). And this isn't unique to me - most of my expat friends from various countries reported the same experience - all of whom have since left the country.Now, don't get me wrong, the country itself is amazing and I absolutely loved my time there. As someone who's lived in many countries throughout my life, if there's one country in the world I could pick to live in, it would be Switzerland. It's just not thanks of the swiss. :)
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Comment on Switzerland has 'systemic' racism issues, UN experts say in ~news
moriarty (edited )LinkAs someone who's lived in Switzerland for a decade and loves Switzerland very much, it definitely has a massive racism/xenophobia issue, and has had it for centuries. Here are a few of the posters...As someone who's lived in Switzerland for a decade and loves Switzerland very much, it definitely has a massive racism/xenophobia issue, and has had it for centuries.
Here are a few of the posters I remember from public referendums they were voting on in the time I lived there.http://media.talkingbeautifulstuff.com/2014/10/Swiss-Political-Posters-4.jpg
https://media.talkingbeautifulstuff.com/2014/10/Swiss-Political-Posters-3.jpg
https://static.euronews.com/articles/307901/580x363_swiss-birds.jpg
https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/Swastika-800x450.jpg -
Comment on What's an underrated, cancelled, or largely forgotten show that you really love? in ~tv
moriarty Link ParentHaha, I remember thinking that as a kid watching my parents' TV shows and wondering if I would ever find non cartoon shows interesting 😂Haha, I remember thinking that as a kid watching my parents' TV shows and wondering if I would ever find non cartoon shows interesting 😂
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Comment on What's an underrated, cancelled, or largely forgotten show that you really love? in ~tv
moriarty (edited )LinkAt the risk of dating myself, the one hugely underrated show I remember growing up was My So Called Life, the show that introduced Claire Danes to the world. I was about the same age as the kids...At the risk of dating myself, the one hugely underrated show I remember growing up was My So Called Life, the show that introduced Claire Danes to the world. I was about the same age as the kids on the show and the topics they brought up and discussed rang very similar to what we were going through ourselves.
More recently I found Run very adorable, if only because of the neurotic/delightful chemistry between Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleeson.
I'm also going to add The West Wing because despite of it being fairly well-known (to the point of being a trope), I don't think it can ever be overrated. -
Comment on What's an underrated, cancelled, or largely forgotten show that you really love? in ~tv
moriarty Link ParentYes! I loved Rubicon, I thought the main character was really very intriguing and I was looking forward to seeing how it develops. So disappointed it was discontinued. Terriers was also very cute....Yes! I loved Rubicon, I thought the main character was really very intriguing and I was looking forward to seeing how it develops. So disappointed it was discontinued.
Terriers was also very cute. I loved the main actors and how lighthearted the show felt even when it was dealing with some pretty dark stuff.
Going to give your other suggestions a look. -
Comment on What's an underrated, cancelled, or largely forgotten show that you really love? in ~tv
moriarty Link ParentJericho premise was certainly very good and I was looking forward to seeing where they're taking it. Sadly I felt they kinda lost momentum building up the plot and focusing on too many sub...Jericho premise was certainly very good and I was looking forward to seeing where they're taking it. Sadly I felt they kinda lost momentum building up the plot and focusing on too many sub mysteries without tying them together. Kinda like what Lost did.
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Comment on How are things in your country right now? in ~talk
moriarty Link ParentThis is pretty dire. Though I'm not sure I share your optimism about the state of the US. It seems pretty inevitable that some states are setting up the groundwork for voter suppression of...This is pretty dire. Though I'm not sure I share your optimism about the state of the US. It seems pretty inevitable that some states are setting up the groundwork for voter suppression of unprecedented proportion. With state legislatures having a blank check to draw their own partisan districts, passing laws limiting voting rights of urban (democratic) centers and minorities, and with the now backing of an extremist supreme court, I wouldn't be surprised if Biden is the last Democrat (and democratic) president we see in our lifetime.
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Comment on How are things in your country right now? in ~talk
moriarty Link ParentThanks for this analysis. It's very interesting that the government is practically giving away citizenships for investment and does put into context my own journey. We were looking for a plan B to...Thanks for this analysis. It's very interesting that the government is practically giving away citizenships for investment and does put into context my own journey. We were looking for a plan B to escaping the rapidly forming theocratic kingdom of the US and Portugal seemed like a reasonable destination. Apparently the Portuguese government has followed Spain in offering citizenships to jewish people whose ancestors were exiled or forced to convert in the 15th century. Which I thought was bizarre, but it makes sense in this context. You paint a pretty grim picture though... how do you generally like living there?
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Comment on Armed man tried to breach FBI building in Cincinnati, authorities say in ~news
moriarty (edited )Link ParentOh, they absolutely stopped him, but not before he carried out his attack. We were lucky that he wasn't the most competent terrorist. They didn't stop him in Highland Park. The whole justification...Oh, they absolutely stopped him, but not before he carried out his attack. We were lucky that he wasn't the most competent terrorist. They didn't stop him in Highland Park. The whole justification for the Patriot Act and relinquishing our civil liberties is that it would catch and stop these attacks before they happen.
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Comment on Armed man tried to breach FBI building in Cincinnati, authorities say in ~news
moriarty LinkJust another demonstration of the uselessness of the Patriot Act and the surveillance state it had created when you can't stop terrorists like this posting their intentions in the openJust another demonstration of the uselessness of the Patriot Act and the surveillance state it had created when you can't stop terrorists like this posting their intentions in the open
"I'm having trouble getting information, but Viva Frei said patriots are heading to Palm Beach (where Mar A Lago is). I recommend going, and being Florida, I think the feds won't break it up. IF they do, kill them."
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Comment on America’s self-obsession is killing its democracy in ~humanities
moriarty LinkVery interesting article by a political science professor at UCL talking about the similarities between the current political situation in the US and the collapse of democracy in other countries....Very interesting article by a political science professor at UCL talking about the similarities between the current political situation in the US and the collapse of democracy in other countries. Well worth the read.
When democracies start to die, they usually don’t recover. Instead, they end up as authoritarian states with zombified democratic institutions: rigged elections in place of legitimate ones, corrupt courts rather than independent judges, and propagandists replacing the press.
Sounds familiar?
The wish list from several democracy experts I spoke with is long, and includes passing the Electoral Count Act, creating a constitutional right to vote, reforming districting so more elections are competitive, establishing a nonpartisan national election-management body, electing the president via popular vote, reducing the gap in representation between states like California and Wyoming, introducing some level of proportional representation or multimember districts, aggressively regulating campaign spending and the role of money in politics, and enforcing an upper age limit for Supreme Court justices. But virtually all of those ideas are currently political fantasies.
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America’s self-obsession is killing its democracy
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Comment on Another step toward climate apocalypse in ~enviro
moriarty LinkPaul Krugman talking about the pollicization of Supreme Court and the impact it has on setting a climate agenda - an impact that is not limited to the US alone.Paul Krugman talking about the pollicization of Supreme Court and the impact it has on setting a climate agenda - an impact that is not limited to the US alone.
Truly terrifying and amazing article. Once I started I couldn't lay it down.
It is astounding how callous and destructive a company can be when its decision makers can hide behind and twist medical recommendations by doctors who they themselves pay and who haven't practiced in 2 decades.