preposterous's recent activity
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Comment on eBook management for Kobo in ~books
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Comment on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson finally explains his decision to bid $3.2B for parking meters before walking away in ~transport
preposterous Link ParentCan the city sue these idiots who approved the deal? Oh wait they can’t a judge already ruled and said a dumb deal is still a deal. It’s beyond ridiculousCan the city sue these idiots who approved the deal? Oh wait they can’t a judge already ruled and said a dumb deal is still a deal. It’s beyond ridiculous
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Comment on Does anyone here own a Humane Ai Pin they’d be willing to part with? in ~tech
preposterous Link ParentThat was entertaining, thanksThat was entertaining, thanks
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Comment on European Parliament achieves upgrade to air passenger rights in ~transport
preposterous Link ParentHow is it not? Would you say flying has become more dignified and pleasant since easy jet and Ryanair came about? Every other airline (including national carriers) have taken notice and have been...We are talking about a specific legislation in EU, where we can look at reality and notice that this is not at all, and not even close to reality.
How is it not? Would you say flying has become more dignified and pleasant since easy jet and Ryanair came about? Every other airline (including national carriers) have taken notice and have been nickel and diming flyers since. “Oh you can charge people for taking luggage? And for the food? And for sitting next to one another?? Well let’s!” And now every airline (low-cost or not) is doing it.
Setting the floor of what is acceptable by law is a net win.
I could probably pay less rent by accepting to sleep in shifts with 4 other people in a one bedroom appartment. I’d be free not to if I didn’t like it, and I’d save a bunch of money (probably) by doing it. Yet that’s illegal and for good reason. I’d argue this is similar: you’re also setting a limit on what is acceptable for saving money, and sleeping in 4, 6h shifts isn’t acceptable (as far as human decency goes) no matter how much less it’d make the rent.
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Comment on European Parliament achieves upgrade to air passenger rights in ~transport
preposterous Link ParentWell I’m of the opinion that it’s better to trade ultra low prices for fairer business practices. Ryanair will still be a shitty airline to fly (miserable process throughout, everything is paid,...Well I’m of the opinion that it’s better to trade ultra low prices for fairer business practices. Ryanair will still be a shitty airline to fly (miserable process throughout, everything is paid, faraway airports with transfer costs) but there will be a little more decency involved in their business practices.
And I also think that setting a floor for how low and demeaning businesses can go profits everyone because other airlines won’t be tempted to drop to that level.
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Comment on I tried to help a goldfinch - but there wasn't enough help in ~enviro
preposterous Link ParentIn case you didn’t consider it, you can buy UV stickers that make it obvious to birds there is a window and prevents bird strikes. They don’t always survive an impact. For example:...In case you didn’t consider it, you can buy UV stickers that make it obvious to birds there is a window and prevents bird strikes. They don’t always survive an impact.
For example: https://windowalert.com/ and you can get a cheap UV light on eBay or AliExpress to test them and make sure they’re not too faded.
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Comment on European Parliament achieves upgrade to air passenger rights in ~transport
preposterous Link ParentThey’d charge you for the air you breathe on the plane and the floor you walk on in the airport if they could get away with it.They’d charge you for the air you breathe on the plane and the floor you walk on in the airport if they could get away with it.
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Comment on European Parliament achieves upgrade to air passenger rights in ~transport
preposterous Link ParentI can’t understand why you’re so eager to force people using apps? There is already a standard to display boarding pass without extra apps. Why is it such a big deal to force airlines (since they...I can’t understand why you’re so eager to force people using apps? There is already a standard to display boarding pass without extra apps. Why is it such a big deal to force airlines (since they won’t do it themselves) to use it?
Prefer their app? Great you can still use it. Don’t want to? Well awesome there is also that option.
I really don’t get how more options and less vendor lockin is such a bad thing to revolt against.
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Comment on European Parliament achieves upgrade to air passenger rights in ~transport
preposterous Link ParentIt doesn’t matter. Keeping things open is what matters. What everyone’s use case is or isn’t will be debated to death and it isn’t what’s important. Besides “you’re free to choose another...It doesn’t matter. Keeping things open is what matters. What everyone’s use case is or isn’t will be debated to death and it isn’t what’s important.
Besides “you’re free to choose another airline”’is disingenuous because if nothing prevents them all from doing the same it’s just a race to the bottom and you don’t really have a choice.
Same as people saying “you’re free to work elsewhere” in response to how appalling working conditions are at company X. No you’re not, rent won’t pay itself and switching jobs isn’t something you do snapping your fingers. No regulation also leads to a race to the bottom here.
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Comment on Stellantis to sell small Fiat Topolino electric vehicle for $13,995 in US in ~transport
preposterous Link ParentOh I don’t know, I think some would pay for the cute factor, the fact that it’s enclosed unlike a golf cart and the “it’s European” flair. Maybe it’ll be like the Prius where it kinda became a...Oh I don’t know, I think some would pay for the cute factor, the fact that it’s enclosed unlike a golf cart and the “it’s European” flair. Maybe it’ll be like the Prius where it kinda became a status symbol?
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Comment on Discord bans (then unbans) around 8400 accounts because of a CSAM neural hash collision in ~tech
preposterous Link ParentAs you said, google paved the way. Others took notice, saw it has no impact to the short term bottom line, and ran with it.human review
As you said, google paved the way. Others took notice, saw it has no impact to the short term bottom line, and ran with it.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
preposterous Link ParentThat could be a US perspective. I live in Europe and museums are (at least partially) funded with public money which is diverted from other more worthy (imho) public causes.That could be a US perspective. I live in Europe and museums are (at least partially) funded with public money which is diverted from other more worthy (imho) public causes.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
preposterous Link ParentReading the answers in this thread, I think where I draw the line (heh) is whether a layman can get something out of the art piece without extensive knowledge in art or history or any of that...Reading the answers in this thread, I think where I draw the line (heh) is whether a layman can get something out of the art piece without extensive knowledge in art or history or any of that particular piece’s context.
A Van Gogh painting is “self explanatory” on some level: even if you don’t know about where he lived or who he was, you can still appreciate the compositions and understand/describe what he was painting.
Unlike, for an extreme example, a monochrome. Unless you have 15 minutes worth of explanations you’re unable to tell even what it is supposed to be. And even then, it seems completely arbitrary and made up (to me)
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
preposterous Link ParentThat does make sense. And I don’t get most memes either for the same reason. I have no interest in learning the history of the memes just to understand them though because they’re overall not very...That does make sense. And I don’t get most memes either for the same reason. I have no interest in learning the history of the memes just to understand them though because they’re overall not very appealing to me.
It could be the same for the art: because I don’t feel anything looking at it without a PhD in “how we got there”, I’m not interested in learning about all the previous layers to get this one.
Unlike a more classical painting: even without knowing the artist, the historical context, the techniques you can still get what it represents and appreciate the little details in it. Of course you’d get even more out of it once you know all about these extra pieces of information but you don’t need them to get something out of the piece. I suppose that’s what I mean when I talk about elitism/snobbism.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
preposterous Link ParentYes. I think that’s insulting. Like it’s obvious and you’re an idiot for not getting the obvious. Whether you like the art piece itself is orthogonal to feeling insulted by the way it’s presented.Yes. I think that’s insulting. Like it’s obvious and you’re an idiot for not getting the obvious.
Whether you like the art piece itself is orthogonal to feeling insulted by the way it’s presented.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
preposterous Link ParentThanks for the link. When I looked at the art, I didn’t get it. Even reading the explanation didn’t connect the artifact with the explanation. But then I saw that it was made with a belt and it...Thanks for the link. When I looked at the art, I didn’t get it. Even reading the explanation didn’t connect the artifact with the explanation. But then I saw that it was made with a belt and it made more sense!
I won’t lie, I don’t find it very interesting. I appreciate the connection between love, the physical violence and the connection with beating up one’s own children “out of love”. It feels that if I paid to see it I’d be disappointed. Maybe the theme doesn’t speak to me?
This makes me realize though that my feelings about abstract modern art might actually not be about the amount of skill involved (I had the classical paintings in mind, that took a great deal of mastery to make). I’m thinking now that it’s more about being able to connect the artifact with what it represents. In your example, I get the connection. It doesn’t speak to me for whatever reason but I don’t feel insulted because I can understand the connection with the artifact. Unlike a monochrome or paint splatters where there is (to me) zero possible connection between the artifact and any explanation for it.
That’s actually helpful, thanks!
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
preposterous Link ParentI understand this is a mostly US-centric audience. I don’t live in the US. Never have, never will. I didn’t start this discussion with any US political angle or debate.I understand this is a mostly US-centric audience. I don’t live in the US. Never have, never will. I didn’t start this discussion with any US political angle or debate.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
preposterous Link ParentInteresting questions. I’d say as long as I can remember it annoyed me that we’d consider this art. But anger feelings are more recent. Personally, I draw the line based on how tenuous the...Interesting questions. I’d say as long as I can remember it annoyed me that we’d consider this art. But anger feelings are more recent.
Personally, I draw the line based on how tenuous the relationship is between the artifact and its explanation, along with the amount of work and craftsmanship required to produce it. Of course this very loose “definition” can be stretched and bent to the absurd to demonstrate that it’s invalid, I’d argue it’s more of a heuristic I use.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
preposterous Link ParentMy opinion has nothing to do with race, or a particular country’s art being superior to all others, nor am I calling for censorship (or worse). The only common theme here seems to be modern art.it might be worth reading up about this other group of people who infamously didn't like modern art and seeing why you're drawing similar conclusions to them.
My opinion has nothing to do with race, or a particular country’s art being superior to all others, nor am I calling for censorship (or worse). The only common theme here seems to be modern art.
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Modern, abstract art makes me angry
I wanted to share something I’ve experienced most of my adult life but never quite realized: modern abstract art makes me angry. There is something about it that makes me unable to even tolerate...
I wanted to share something I’ve experienced most of my adult life but never quite realized: modern abstract art makes me angry.
There is something about it that makes me unable to even tolerate it. When I go visit the modern art section of a museum, I get annoyed. No problem with the other sections, there is classical art that I like, some that I don’t, but it doesn’t make me angry the way modern abstract art does.
Thinking about it, I wonder if it’s not the fact that it feels like massive waste and absolute snobbism. Thinking that a museum spent hundreds of thousands or even millions on a bunch of material that has no depth or meaning beyond the BS the artist (scammer?) came up with, when that money could have been better spent on virtually anything else (classical art, poverty, climate change…) really gets me.
Or the ridiculous “explanations” about the piece that pretend to be way deeper and smarter than it really is. Chill, it’s just some paint splatters on a surface, it doesn’t mean anything and there is no depth or layers to it.
Or monochromes. Come on. That’s just plain lazy and disrespectful to even call this art and put it on the same level as the masters’ classical paintings.
I’m not only talking about paintings, but also sculptures or installations. I was standing in front of broken glass recently and that was “art.“
I’m sharing this here to discuss, see what others think and feel on that matter.
40 votes
Koreader does take a bit of setup but it’s well worth it in my opinion. And after years of using it I discovered the BookShelf plugin which gives you a Home Screen very similar to the stock kobo screen (nickel).
For wireless book syncing you can have calibre running a server and use PDS (I think?) to browse from your koreader and download the books this way. Very similar to how the kobo store works except with your own books.