nukeman's recent activity
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Comment on Question for those in colder climates: Pellet HVAC/boilers? in ~life.home_improvement
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Comment on Question for those in colder climates: Pellet HVAC/boilers? in ~life.home_improvement
nukeman (edited )LinkMy dad's home that he bought for retirement only had an old-fashioned woodstove (at one point it had an oil furnace, but that had been removed). He’s since installed a mini-split (heat pump) that...My dad's home that he bought for retirement only had an old-fashioned woodstove (at one point it had an oil furnace, but that had been removed). He’s since installed a mini-split (heat pump) that can provide some heat during the colder parts of spring and fall (and for when he’s away). The newer heat pumps can function down into the teens (Fahrenheit). He isn’t planning on getting anything oil or gas-fired. There’s a very real advantage of not being reliant on a fossil-fuel supply chain (or price fluctuations!). You may want to look at models that can accept both logs and pellets. Buy pellets for economy/efficiency, but you can still have a few cords of firewood out back in case you are snowed in for a month.
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Comment on Rooftop solar panels are flooding California’s grid. That’s a problem. in ~enviro
nukeman Link ParentBatteries are expensive, and complicate installing rooftop solar. Some of the most popular systems are battery-less grid-tied ones.Batteries are expensive, and complicate installing rooftop solar. Some of the most popular systems are battery-less grid-tied ones.
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Comment on US Congress approves bill banning TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance sells platform in ~tech
nukeman Link ParentI suspect the biggest impact would be precedent. The U.S. banning it would encourage other western countries to ban it.I suspect the biggest impact would be precedent. The U.S. banning it would encourage other western countries to ban it.
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Comment on Rooftop solar panels are flooding California’s grid. That’s a problem. in ~enviro
nukeman Link ParentThe grid can only handle so much electricity at any given moment (especially since it was designed historically for one-way flow: generation -> transmission -> distribution -> consumption)....The grid can only handle so much electricity at any given moment (especially since it was designed historically for one-way flow: generation -> transmission -> distribution -> consumption). Additionally, you’d need to increase it to higher voltages (and possibly different currents) to prevent excessive transmission losses. For example, the Pacific AC Intertie that runs from Oregon to Southern California is at 500 kV. The power lines that deliver electricity to the transformer, and ultimately your home (at least in NA) are at around 12.5 kV.
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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
nukeman Link ParentDo you oppose a carbon tax categorically, or the particular Canadian implementation? A carbon tax is probably the most efficient way of pricing the negative externality of GHG emissions, and you...Do you oppose a carbon tax categorically, or the particular Canadian implementation? A carbon tax is probably the most efficient way of pricing the negative externality of GHG emissions, and you have to control them in somehow (whether through taxes, subsidies, bans, or a combination).
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Comment on Is Tildes failing to thrive? in ~tildes
nukeman Link ParentSidebar, if the site ever moved out of alpha/invite-only, what would be used to help control the influx of new users? My first thought would be a quick quiz (read the docs, answer a few questions...Sidebar, if the site ever moved out of alpha/invite-only, what would be used to help control the influx of new users? My first thought would be a quick quiz (read the docs, answer a few questions about the site/site values), but I’m wondering if ChatGPT would make that too easy to bypass.
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Comment on Is there a documentary from a reputable source that documents the relationship between the Jews and Israel/Palestine? in ~misc
nukeman Link ParentI hadn’t hear about Brazil, any details?I hadn’t hear about Brazil, any details?
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Comment on Have you had a life-altering change in who you are? in ~talk
nukeman Link ParentMy new commute takes me past chicken farms, and frequently see the trucks driving too and from the slaughterhouse. They are in open crates, packed very tightly, and they look incredibly unhealthy....My new commute takes me past chicken farms, and frequently see the trucks driving too and from the slaughterhouse. They are in open crates, packed very tightly, and they look incredibly unhealthy. I can take comfort in knowing I’m not contributing to their suffering (I’m vegan), but the situation is still immensely saddening.
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Comment on Is there a documentary from a reputable source that documents the relationship between the Jews and Israel/Palestine? in ~misc
nukeman LinkTwo points on “Why Palestine/The Holy Land”: A continuous Jewish presence in the area for millennia. Related to (1), virtually all of the holy artifacts and sites related to Judaism and the Jewish...Two points on “Why Palestine/The Holy Land”:
- A continuous Jewish presence in the area for millennia.
- Related to (1), virtually all of the holy artifacts and sites related to Judaism and the Jewish people are in the Holy Land. The biggest drawback of Northern Australia, Uganda, or Alaska (all places considered for large-scale Jewish settlement) is that there isn’t a strong cultural connection, whereas “the land of Israel is the land of our forefathers”, which is a pretty strong argument.
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Comment on Is there a documentary from a reputable source that documents the relationship between the Jews and Israel/Palestine? in ~misc
nukeman Link ParentPiggybacking off this, I would also add History of the Jews and Judaism in the Land of Israel to your reading list @b3_k1nd_rw1nd.Piggybacking off this, I would also add History of the Jews and Judaism in the Land of Israel to your reading list @b3_k1nd_rw1nd.
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Comment on Kroger’s panopticon: Making criminals of grocery shoppers in ~tech
nukeman LinkI’ll be honest, I’ve never experienced any of what’s discussed in the article at any of the Krogers I’ve been to (Georgia and South Carolina). The closest was one time when I skipped bagging a few...I’ll be honest, I’ve never experienced any of what’s discussed in the article at any of the Krogers I’ve been to (Georgia and South Carolina). The closest was one time when I skipped bagging a few items and declined the option for a receipt at self-checkout, but even that was a case of “nobody realized you could completely decline a receipt.” But all our toiletries are in the same part of the store, I don’t think I’ve ever seen security, etc. I wonder where the author lives?
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Comment on NPR suspends veteran editor as it grapples with his public criticism in ~news
nukeman Link ParentThere is a diversity in viewpoint from the reporters’ unique experiences; but just not a political/partisan diversity. Partly, I think it’s due to the GOP going off the rails in recent years and...There is a diversity in viewpoint from the reporters’ unique experiences; but just not a political/partisan diversity. Partly, I think it’s due to the GOP going off the rails in recent years and partly to self-selecting listenership (your average GOP voter is listening to conservative talk radio, not NPR; plus the bulk of NPR’s funding comes from grants and donations from more liberal-leaning folks and orgs). I do think that NPR could do better at getting perspectives from Trump-supporters (they do okay with guest-speakers like David French and Jonah Goldberg, but those are more pre-2010 GOP folks), but ultimately they will be subjected to criticism if they start spouting bullshit.
Honestly my biggest issue is that I don’t get a lot of breadth in content. I learn more about what’s going on in the world in the five minute snippets at the top of the hour than in the rest of the program.
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Comment on Two years to save the planet, says UN climate chief in ~enviro
nukeman Link ParentThere’s still hundreds of millions of Chinese who are poor and could be useful in the economy/fighting wars. Plus, the advent of networked warfare means one PLA soldier can project power far more...There’s still hundreds of millions of Chinese who are poor and could be useful in the economy/fighting wars. Plus, the advent of networked warfare means one PLA soldier can project power far more than one in 1949.
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Comment on As I get older, I get more and more disillusioned with "activism", and I'm fine with this in ~talk
nukeman (edited )LinkIronically, activism may be most meaningful in your country versus the US, Europe, etc. But I do understand your POV. A lot of modern activism can be performative and ineffectual. Activism can...Ironically, activism may be most meaningful in your country versus the US, Europe, etc.
But I do understand your POV. A lot of modern activism can be performative and ineffectual. Activism can work, but it requires a focus and specific goals that aren’t always there. The decentralization of it can make things less useful (controversial Q: have decentralized movements actually resulted in effective change?) Worse case scenario, it’s done for social credibility rather than achieving political change.
There’s a theory floating around (mostly on Reddit, forums, and other internet spaces; I don’t know if formal studies have been done) that the relative lack of political and economic power of millennials/zoomers, combined with higher rates of tertiary education and the rise of social media, led to a significant increase in activism that is ineffective, and/or that is an expression of power (for its own sake), rather than as a goal-oriented strategy. Additionally, less of these folks worked in formal political settings to learn tactics, instead learning them through universities. While old-school political activism has its downsides, it can be an incredibly effective tool for mobilizing social change.
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Comment on I’ve been at NPR for twenty-five years. Here’s how we lost America’s trust. in ~news
nukeman Link ParentI think Fae is differentiating between viewpoint diversity and political diversity, and I suspect many folks who talk about the former really are interested in the latter instead.I think Fae is differentiating between viewpoint diversity and political diversity, and I suspect many folks who talk about the former really are interested in the latter instead.
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Comment on I’ve been at NPR for twenty-five years. Here’s how we lost America’s trust. in ~news
nukeman LinkI have my issues with the article, especially Berliner’s characterization of the Trump-Russia scandal. However, I do think that NPR has swung to the left a bit in recent years. What he...I have my issues with the article, especially Berliner’s characterization of the Trump-Russia scandal. However, I do think that NPR has swung to the left a bit in recent years. What he (annoyingly) doesn’t talk about is the reliance on donations/sponsorships for revenue (versus government funding) and how that leads to a feedback loop in terms of content (similar to the New York Times with subscriptions versus advertising).
I also find that their radio news isn’t as broad as I’d want. I learn more about what’s happening today in the five minute snippets at the top of the hour versus the remaining 55 minutes of the program.
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Comment on In-flight canoodling: is it ever acceptable to spoon at 40,000ft? in ~travel
nukeman Link ParentLook up air charters in general, or for companies at your local airports, including smaller non-commercial ones. Warning, they start out very expensive (as in thousands for a short-haul,...Look up air charters in general, or for companies at your local airports, including smaller non-commercial ones. Warning, they start out very expensive (as in thousands for a short-haul, single-engine prop plane that seats four).
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Comment on Hilary Cass: Weak evidence letting down children over gender care in ~lgbt
nukeman Link ParentOn blinding a study, one of the issues is that if the results are so obvious even before unblinding (e.g., starting puberty), you’ll have patients going out and obtaining blockers on their own,...On blinding a study, one of the issues is that if the results are so obvious even before unblinding (e.g., starting puberty), you’ll have patients going out and obtaining blockers on their own, outside of the study, thus negating the study. There’s also ethics issues with respect to mental health.
Many/most trans folks tend to view the British media as being near-uniformly hostile to trans issues, at best “concern-trolling”. Dan can probably give a better rundown.
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Comment on I am moving to New Jersey! Anything I should know? in ~life
nukeman Link ParentYou might want to email Dr. Alex Wellerstein (of Nukemap fame). He grew up in California before moving east for grad school. He’s a professor at Stevens in Hoboken, so he might have more insight...You might want to email Dr. Alex Wellerstein (of Nukemap fame). He grew up in California before moving east for grad school. He’s a professor at Stevens in Hoboken, so he might have more insight on moving and culture shock.
As far as things to do, my main recommendation would be to visit Cape May, specifically for fall bird migration. Tons of interesting birds fly through there, including species that are hard to look for otherwise.
Assuming you are in North America, most (all?) firewood/pellets will be grown on the same continent, so you should have less fluctuations on transport costs.