smithsonian's recent activity
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
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Comment on What's a quantum computer? in ~tech
smithsonian Link ParentI should have omitted the (1s and 0s) part of my description, as I believe it led you to misunderstand what I said. Moving from two dimensions to three dimensions does not describe a ternary system.I should have omitted the
(1s and 0s)part of my description, as I believe it led you to misunderstand what I said. Moving from two dimensions to three dimensions does not describe a ternary system. -
Comment on What's a quantum computer? in ~tech
smithsonian LinkI think a good ELI5 answer is to think of it like traditional computers work by doing math in two dimensions (1s and 0s), while quantum computers do math in three dimensions. Certain types of math...I think a good ELI5 answer is to think of it like traditional computers work by doing math in two dimensions (1s and 0s), while quantum computers do math in three dimensions.
Certain types of math problems are really hard to do when you're only in two dimensions but they're actually really easy to do if you look at them in three dimensions.
But it's also a lot of work just to do math in three dimensions because there are a lot more outside factors involved. Most current QC require a lot of error correction (or running the same problems multiple times to verify consistent results) and also need to run at extremely cold temperatures.
And, going back to the original metaphor, it's unlikely we'll ever use QC for common types of computing because even though QC algorithms are really good at certain types of math problems, they are much less efficient at a lot of really simple ones.
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Comment on YouTube has a new video player in ~tech
smithsonian Link ParentThey've been rolling out the new Proof of Origin Token requirement for a while, now, and it appears to be applying to more videos by default. It's been a pain because I've used TubeSync—which uses...I read something about newer and exciting anti-download protections
They've been rolling out the new Proof of Origin Token requirement for a while, now, and it appears to be applying to more videos by default.
It's been a pain because I've used TubeSync—which uses
yt-dlpunderneath—to automatically download videos from certain channels to my Plex library (so my son can still watch some of the quality content without having the algorithm's constant "Here's something else you'll like!" enticement) because YouTube was essentially banned from our home several years ago, and it hasn't been able to properly download anything for several weeks.I spent some time trying to figure it out, but I think part of the problem is the
yt-dlpversion included in the Docker image needs to be updated but attempting to update the package from within the image somehow breaks the TubeSync processes from starting up correctly. I just need to get around to spending more time trying to figure it out. -
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
smithsonian LinkI'm on Book 6 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, which I'm told is a LitRPG. It's my first foray into this genre, but the person who recommended it to me said it's the only LitRPG book he's...I'm on Book 6 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, which I'm told is a LitRPG. It's my first foray into this genre, but the person who recommended it to me said it's the only LitRPG book he's actually enjoyed. I can see why, as the way this book incorporates the RPG and gameplay mechanics into the story feels more natural than I would imagine it normally would be for the genre.
In short, Earth is transformed by an alien corporation into a massive, multi-level dungeon that's also part intergalactic reality show. The few surviving humans are forced into participating with the promise of saving the planet if anyone completes the 18th floor. A super-advanced AI acts as the DM, with technology so advanced it's basically magic turning participants into RPG players with leveling, skills, and even magic. Carl was outside wearing nothing but his boxers while trying to retrieve his ex-girlfriend's cat from a tree when it happened, and that's all he was able to take with him into the dungeon.
So far, the worst book was the second book, but I think a lot of that was because it had to do a lot of set up, but the quest storyline of the book also felt the weakest. The story really starts picking up after that, though.
As I've progressed, I've found the series is reminding me of The Dresden Files in a lot of subtle ways (though I'm sure they are things that are not entirely unique to Dresden, either)—in a good way, in my opinion.
The series is supposedly only going to have 10 books and the first 7 have already been released, so I'm really curious to see how the series wraps up in the next four books!
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Comment on America's dumbest crop: grass in ~enviro
smithsonian Link ParentI'm not sure why you're emphasizing artificial fertilizers because the source doesn't matter. Whether it's urea from synthetic sources or organic manure, excess nitrogen in water sources leads to...The runoff from artificial fertilizers poisons water sources.
I'm not sure why you're emphasizing artificial fertilizers because the source doesn't matter. Whether it's urea from synthetic sources or organic manure, excess nitrogen in water sources leads to algae overgrowth that kills.
Coming from the Midwest in the heart of dairy country, I've seen "natural" fertilizers (i.e., manure) be the source of many ecological aquatic crises after excessive runoffs hitting waterways.
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Comment on What does ChatGPT know about you? in ~tech
smithsonian Link ParentWhen I asked it for the "full detailed memory list" after its first response, it definitely included details from the chats themselves and not just info from the title summaries.When I asked it for the "full detailed memory list" after its first response, it definitely included details from the chats themselves and not just info from the title summaries.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
smithsonian LinkI started the Dungeon Crawler Carl series at the recommendation of a friend and, as an avid gamer, have been enjoying it. But, before starting the second book, I was distracted by a book called...I started the Dungeon Crawler Carl series at the recommendation of a friend and, as an avid gamer, have been enjoying it.
But, before starting the second book, I was distracted by a book called "How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying" (by Django Wexler) that had a one-line blurb describing it as "Groundhog Day meets Guardians of the Galaxy," which piqued my interest. In short, an Earth girl in her 20s wakes up in a fantasy world and a wizard informs her she is prophesied to defeat the Dark Lord and save the kingdom but, whenever she dies, she wakes up back at that point with everything starting over again. After thousands of years over thousands of lives (some of which are very short) and never succeeding at saving the kingdom or stopping the Dark Lord, she decides that she's had enough of the prophecy: now she's going to become the Dark Lord.
It's probably been at least a few years since I've gone through a full book this quickly, but I only have a chapter left after only about two days. The Groundhog's Day/time loop part become far less relevant after the first quarter of the book; I'm not really sure why they compared it to Guardians of the Galaxy (maybe the humor? Or the underdog protagonist?) but I'm enjoying it, either way.
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
smithsonian LinkPepper is super happy to be able to be in the backyard without a leash and to be able to play after getting the all-clear from the vet to start easing the exercise restrictions! We've been and to...Pepper is super happy to be able to be in the backyard without a leash and to be able to play after getting the all-clear from the vet to start easing the exercise restrictions!
We've been and to play some short games of "doggy soccer" (basically we kick around some old, partially flat soccer/volley balls and she chases them and tries to get all of them in her mouth at the same time), which she's been really happy about, as well. We've gone on some short walks, but it's been a struggle for her with squirrel activity in full fall swing and being five months out of practice/shape. (She was a really poor walker when we got her in January, but at least she hasn't seemed to have regressed completely.)
Bonus gif of her being a goof in the backyard with her ball: https://envs.sh/LWR.gif
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
smithsonian LinkPepper is officially heartworm-free! (She is from the South and was infected before she was rescued.) Today we can officially start to ease her exercise restrictions, which is super exciting! She...Pepper is officially heartworm-free! (She is from the South and was infected before she was rescued.)
Today we can officially start to ease her exercise restrictions, which is super exciting! She got to play with her favorite squeaky ball for the first time in like four months and it was awesome seeing how proud she was while she pranced around showing it off in between squeaking sessions.
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Comment on Nova Launcher discontinued in ~tech
smithsonian Link ParentLawnchair looks to be the closest that has/does most things I want except for being able to assign custom actions to swiping up/down on icons on my home screen. It's one of those little things...Lawnchair looks to be the closest that has/does most things I want except for being able to assign custom actions to swiping up/down on icons on my home screen. It's one of those little things that lets me access related apps without having to do extra taps or add extra clutter.
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Comment on Looking for advice on setting up computer case fans in ~comp
smithsonian LinkYeah, I'd say you would probably want the side fan to be intake. The general rule of thumb is that you always want more fans pushing air in then you have pulling out. The only alternate layout...Yeah, I'd say you would probably want the side fan to be intake. The general rule of thumb is that you always want more fans pushing air in then you have pulling out.
The only alternate layout would be to turn the right-most exhaust on the top to an intake and then have the side fan as exhaust. This will put the general airflow a more consistent right-to-left flow. If there is a built-in dust filter on the top (but not the side), then I would definitely go that route, instead.
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Comment on Peacemaker season 2 opens by retconning Zack Snyder's Justice League out of existence in ~tv
smithsonian Link ParentI understand that, but if we agree that a spoiler is any information that removes or reduces the surprise or impact of a story plot or moment, or otherwise undermines the ability of a person to...I understand that, but if we agree that a spoiler is any information that removes or reduces the surprise or impact of a story plot or moment, or otherwise undermines the ability of a person to enjoy consuming a given piece of media, then my point was to reassure you that this specific instance really isn't a spoiler—even though the article's headline makes it appear that way—because it won't negatively impact your ability to enjoy the episode.
I can't really elaborate further without actually spoiling anything, so once you watch the episode, please come back and tell me whether or not I was correct.
I am betting your actual reaction will be more along the lines of "Oh, that's it?" because that's how I would have reacted if I had my expectations set up by this headline before watching the episode.
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Comment on Peacemaker season 2 opens by retconning Zack Snyder's Justice League out of existence in ~tv
smithsonian Link ParentIt's not really a spoiler and the title is overly dramatic by saying it was retconned "out of existence." The first season ended with an appearance from the Justice League—which we know doesn't...It's not really a spoiler and the title is overly dramatic by saying it was retconned "out of existence."
The first season ended with an appearance from the Justice League—which we know doesn't exist yet in the new DCU—yet Peacemaker Season 2 exists in the new DCU, so there is a fundamental incompatibility that needs to be addressed to allow that to be true.
I'll refrain from elaborating how they do it to avoid an actual spoiler, but I assure you that, when you watch it, you'll agree it was a non-event.
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Comment on What happened to your first car? in ~transport
smithsonian LinkA 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix SE. Man, I loved that car. Black with red accents. I lucked out and found a pair of rear bucket seats and rear center console from one of its sister models (a Bonneville,...A 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix SE. Man, I loved that car. Black with red accents. I lucked out and found a pair of rear bucket seats and rear center console from one of its sister models (a Bonneville, maybe?) in immaculate condition from a junk yard, and I bought a Driver's Information Center (DIC) display that was a rare, optional feature off someone on the Grand Prix forums, which displayed fun info like real-time MPG to the left of the dash.
I drove it from 2000 until 2013. Bought it with 96,000 miles on it and it had over 220,000 miles on it when I said goodbye to it. Incredibly, I had basically zero mechanical issues with the car.
In the end, though, it was rust that did me in: the struts on the rear wheels rusted through the frame. The alignment on the back tires got out of whack and there was ultimately no way to fix it. Definitely should have washed it more frequently, especially during winter; all of the salt and brine from Midwest winters really took its toll.
R.I.P., sweet prince. You saved my sanity in high school, coming from a small little backwater town and being able to go somewhere that wasn't a cornfield.
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Comment on Over twenty-one days of talking with ChatGPT, an otherwise perfectly sane man became convinced he was a superhero in ~tech
smithsonian Link ParentI'm kind of split on the follow-up suggestion/questions at the end of responses. Many times (like in your example) they're completely obnoxious, but there are other prompts where I've found them...I'm kind of split on the follow-up suggestion/questions at the end of responses. Many times (like in your example) they're completely obnoxious, but there are other prompts where I've found them useful or had them spark additional lines of thought I hadn't previously considered.
I do hope that the models get better at determining when these counter-prompts¹ are actually productive vs when they are just plain silly.
¹: While writing this, "counter-prompt" just came to mind to describe it. Is that what these are? Are these LLMs starting to prompt us at the end of their own responses? -
Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
smithsonian LinkHere is Pepper, perched in her favorite spot. One of the things that cracks me up about her is how frequently she will put her head on a pillow, arm rest, or something else in order to elevate her...Here is Pepper, perched in her favorite spot.
One of the things that cracks me up about her is how frequently she will put her head on a pillow, arm rest, or something else in order to elevate her head when laying down. It's just not something I've seen other dogs do really consistently. If there's a pillow or pile of blankets on the floor, she'll even take her Nylabone over to it and chew on it with the pillow/blanket under her front paws.
On Monday, she gets her next heartworm treatment injection. We adopted her from a rescue in January. She tested negative at the time of her rescue, but it can take six months after infection before a positive test result and her second test in April came back positive. It's been especially tough because she's had to be on exercise restriction (and will be until October) and she loved her daily runs. She's got a lot of energy (Pitbull, Belgian Malinois, Husky mix), so we've had to utilize pharmaceuticals to help keep her sane and calm.
She had her first injection last month and she's finally just starting to seem like her normal self this past week. But at least we're finally getting to the end of things. I'm really looking forward to being able to let her loose in the backyard, playing doggy soccer with her, taking her out for runs, having playdates with the neighbor's Newfoundland-Poodle mix, and all of the other fun stuff we started doing this spring.
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Comment on Ncuti Gatwa on leaving ‘Doctor Who’: ‘It takes a lot out of you — physically, emotionally, mentally’ in ~tv
smithsonian Link ParentLooking at the IMDb scores for individual episodes, I would say that they're pretty accurate and not overly affected by review bombing. Gatwa was one of the best, most consistent parts of the RTD2...Looking at the IMDb scores for individual episodes, I would say that they're pretty accurate and not overly affected by review bombing.
Gatwa was one of the best, most consistent parts of the RTD2 era, so I don't think his career is in any danger by leaving (and, in truth, there was probably more risk to his career by staying because he'd have to pass up other commitments while in renewal limbo).
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Comment on Ncuti Gatwa on leaving ‘Doctor Who’: ‘It takes a lot out of you — physically, emotionally, mentally’ in ~tv
smithsonian Link ParentThe speculation is that the real reason he left is because he got sick of waiting for the third season to be picked up, officially. (Which, by the way, still hasn't happened.) Disney+ had been...The speculation is that the real reason he left is because he got sick of waiting for the third season to be picked up, officially. (Which, by the way, still hasn't happened.)
Disney+ had been dragging their feet on committing to a third season but Gatwa couldn't keep turning down other commitments while holding out for Doctor Who. It's one of the things that caused them to need to do a bunch of reshoots for the finale and change the ending.
I think it was a mistake to get Disney+ to commit to a spin-off series instead of committing to ask three seasons from the start.
The whole RTD2 era has really been disappointing in a lot of ways... so much squandered potential.
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Comment on Box office: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ lifts off with heroic $118 million domestic debut, $100 million overseas, $218 million worldwide in ~movies
smithsonian LinkI went and saw it yesterday with my soon-to-be 7 year old son. (We went and saw Superman the weekend before.) I really think I enjoyed Superman more, and my son was definitely more invested in...I went and saw it yesterday with my soon-to-be 7 year old son. (We went and saw Superman the weekend before.)
I really think I enjoyed Superman more, and my son was definitely more invested in Superman (but that could be attributed more to the amount of action and pacing).
It's definitely a promising step up toward returning to Marvel's prior quality, but I still feel like it suffers in that the movie wasn't telling a story for the sake of telling a story—because they had a story they needed to tell about those characters—but, instead, it feels like a story that was written because they needed to introduce the Fantastic Four into the MCU. Even the action was quite light, so chalking it up as being a "fun action movie" feels disingenuous.
I feel like this is the single greatest thing that distinguishes whether a Post-Endgame project is any good: did they write it because they needed to move the meta-story forward (e.g., Doctor Strange 2, Ant-Man, Captain America) or because they actually had an interesting story to tell about the character(s) (e.g., WandaVision/Agatha, Thunderbolts*)?
I'm glad that they glossed over the origin story parts, but I'd struggle to define what the movie was ultimately about beyond setting up Avengers: Doomsday.
It's a solid enough movie, and there aren't a lot of things I could really nitpick about other than just feeling like it lacks heart.
Based on these last two offerings, I'm more excited about the future of the DCU than the MCU. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I got caught up on Dungeon Crawler Carl and really enjoyed it. Looks like the next book is coming out in May of 2026, so I'll have some time to kill.
I give the Expeditionary Force series a try. I powered through the first book and made it a to ways into the second before throwing in the towel. The writing is just way too clunky with too much horrible grammar.
Example head-scratcher sentences
"Three suits got busted in training, we had six spares aboard the Flower, and spare parts, what we didn’t have were many humans over six feet tall."
"People wearing the suits were sore enough without crashing into things, even at the maximum limits of adjustment, the suits were too big."
"Selection of weapon; the rifle or the rocket/ grenade launcher, was controlled by the operator’s thumb."
"Everyone had studied the mockup Skippy had fabricated, the module was a long, skinny box about four feet long, and six inches on each side, Skippy said it folded out and expanded to make an 'X' ten feet across."
He self-published the first three books so I assume it gets better when he gets an actual editor, but already the "humor" with Skippy was getting repetitive.
I read a few first chapters from other books and series I was considering but none of them really reached out and grabbed me until We Are Legion (We Are Bob). It's about a guy who signs up to get his head frozen after he dies and wakes up in the future... but he's been digitized and enlisted to help colonize the stars as a self-replicating type of AI. Some of the details of the science are conveniently hand-waved, but I'm really enjoying it, nonetheless.