sron's recent activity
-
Comment on Looking for an Android keyboard app in ~tech
-
Comment on DuckDuckGo seems like a significantly worse search engine than Google despite SEO bloat, and I think community discussions mislead people by omitting that in ~tech
sron LinkI've actually moved away from DDG lately, to Brave. There was a period a few weeks ago where I just wasn't getting the results I expected to and after a quick comparison, Brave seemed better. The...I've actually moved away from DDG lately, to Brave. There was a period a few weeks ago where I just wasn't getting the results I expected to and after a quick comparison, Brave seemed better. The Discussions feature is nice and it's good to still be able to use !bangs. I know some people will say it's just the same as browser search shortcuts/aliases but these don't need configuration!
That said, I'm not sure on the AI features (at least you can turn them off) and I don't trust them as much (I'd never use the browser). I'd never go back to Google though - it looks horrible to use now, to an extent actively dangerous, and I haven't used it on my own devices except by mistake for probably 7 years now.
-
Comment on More exposure to artificial, bright, outdoor night-time light linked to higher stroke risk in ~science
sron Link ParentYeah, it sounds like it would be difficult to isolate specifically the light variable, especially when they are using satellite images to define the levels of light pollution. More light means...Yeah, it sounds like it would be difficult to isolate specifically the light variable, especially when they are using satellite images to define the levels of light pollution. More light means more urban generally, and a lot of other things change when you make that transition, including noise and air pollution.
Noise specifically seems important to me. As described in this video on the issue of noise pollution, it too can disrupt sleep and therefore lead to a range of health problems including hypertension. I don't doubt that light does as well, but I'm not sure it's the biggest problem, and it's more easily solved (with blackout curtains for example) than noise is.
It's one piece of a bigger puzzle and there are lots more things to fix in the urban environment than light.
-
Comment on SSD Cloning: Burned by Macrium Reflect, looking for options (Data drives to SSD) in ~comp
sron Link ParentClonezilla works well, I used it the other week to clone a Windows install. You'll need to use the expert menu option to select the t1 flag to clone the Windows bootloader, as this tutorial shows....Clonezilla works well, I used it the other week to clone a Windows install. You'll need to use the expert menu option to select the
t1flag to clone the Windows bootloader, as this tutorial shows.Here is the live USB documentation, you won't need the To RAM boot option like it says if you're booting from a separate USB drive rather than your target that you're cloning to.
I'm sure if you're familiar with
ddit might be easier but it certainly made the process easier for me. -
Comment on F1 and Sky extend broadcast deals across the UK and Ireland, Italy and Germany in ~sports.motorsports
sron LinkThe existing deal in the UK & Ireland, expiring at the end of 2024, has been extended until the end of 2029. Existing deals in Italy and Germany, due to expire this year, have been extended in...- The existing deal in the UK & Ireland, expiring at the end of 2024, has been extended until the end of 2029.
- Existing deals in Italy and Germany, due to expire this year, have been extended in scope and will run until the end of 2027.
- The deals include F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup. Free-to-air coverage will be restricted to the home race live, and highlights of other races.
- In the UK, Channel 4 have nothing to announce about extending their highlights deal with Sky beyond this year. In 2019, the announcement extending their agreement was made in September.
This is... a bit disappointing. I was almost expecting Liberty to move the other way when the UK deal expired, given it was singed in the Bernie era, but the agreements made by them in Germany (closing F1 TV Pro to new subscribers) was the writing on the wall.
In a way, I prefer highlights as it's only a 2.5 hour commitment on race days instead of 5 hours or more (and Channel 4 do a great job of their coverage), but it's a shame not to have the option. The amount Sky charge for their sports package is ridiculous and it would be nice to have a cheaper option like F1 TV Pro.
I guess it mirrors moves to Middle Eastern races that can pay more to host, and hiking the ticket prices elsewhere, particularly Silverstone. It's all about money, and you'll need a fair bit of it to watch live for at least the next seven years.
There are other motorsports about, but I'm just not as driven to watch them. Formula E is probably my favourite, while I haven't been bothered to watch WRC most of this year and BTCC is a big time commitment (even though I'm not doing much else with my Sundays!)
Any thoughts?
-
F1 and Sky extend broadcast deals across the UK and Ireland, Italy and Germany
4 votes -
Comment on What is a good "eternal" Linux distribution? in ~tech
sron LinkI use Pop!_OS on my PC and have been doing since the middle of last year. Since then I've upgraded from 21.04 to 21.10 and then 22.04 LTS, all without having to reinstall. They're skipping Ubuntu...I use Pop!_OS on my PC and have been doing since the middle of last year. Since then I've upgraded from 21.04 to 21.10 and then 22.04 LTS, all without having to reinstall.
They're skipping Ubuntu 22.10 to focus on development of their GNOME alternative but as it's an LTS it'll still be supported for a few years.
-
Comment on Are critics and audiences starting to sour on Marvel movies? in ~movies
sron Link ParentIt's the same for me. If I watch an MCU film I'll enjoy it for what it is, and look at the plot on its own rather than as part of a wider story, because it's just too complicated and sprawling for...It's the same for me. If I watch an MCU film I'll enjoy it for what it is, and look at the plot on its own rather than as part of a wider story, because it's just too complicated and sprawling for me.
Admittedly I find the films themselves very enjoyable to watch, but that might just be because ambitious, high-budget films like these are what I've become used to watching.
-
Comment on A letter to Discord for not supporting the Linux desktop in ~tech
sron Link ParentI wonder if their Linux user share is only 0.1% precisely because it's a bad experience? I'm pretty sure the share of Linux users in desktops and laptops more widely is a little higher than that,...I wonder if their Linux user share is only 0.1% precisely because it's a bad experience? I'm pretty sure the share of Linux users in desktops and laptops more widely is a little higher than that, and I would've thought your average Linux user would be more likely to use Discord than your average Windows user.
As someone interested in urban design, this is the exact same excuse often used against bike lanes. No-one uses bike infrastructure because it's inconsistent and unsafe, so no effort is put into improving it because no-one uses it and it's worthless, even though many more people would choose to use it if it were better.
Personally, I just use it in the web, even on mobile. I don't trust their apps and don't need notifications, so just check in every now and then.
-
The BBC's Welsh crime drama Hidden is back for its third-and-final series this week
I thought I'd take the time to post about a series I've been looking forward to for over a year now. Hidden is a fantastic crime drama set in Wales, and a third series was announced early last...
I thought I'd take the time to post about a series I've been looking forward to for over a year now.
Hidden is a fantastic crime drama set in Wales, and a third series was announced early last year. The Welsh version, Craith, aired late last year. This week, the bi-lingual version airs on BBC One Wales and BBC Four. In my opinion it's the perfect crime drama: set in the mountains of North Wales, with a great soundtrack and unconventional storyline. Some shows focus only on the investigation and the victim, who probably just admits to the crime at the end. Not so here.
Sian Reese-Willams, who plays DCI Cadi John, explained what the series is about back in 2018:
It’s not a classic detective drama in that it deals with the whodunit and the police catching the bad man. It’s much more of a personal drama. It takes time to delve into the lives of everybody that gets caught up in the crime - the detectives, the victims, the family of the victims and even the bad guy. You’re trying to understand him.
It really plays with the idea of nature versus nature and almost tries to twist you into sympathising against your better judgement; it’s exciting and thought provoking. The characters are really interesting and it covers a lot of human emotion.
Here's another interview ahead of the second series.
Series two picks up around nine months after series one ends. We find Cadi trying to deal with the grief of losing her father, while trying to keep her head in her work.
It’s a difficult time for her - just as one begins to come through the initial shock of losing someone and start to try and deal with it, that’s the time that everyone around you starts to forget and move on. She’s also faced with dealing with the estranged daughter of the victim of the case, and the parallels she sees between the two of them are difficult for her to navigate professionally.
The first two series are on iPlayer now, and if you speak Welsh (or like subtitles) the third series is already on S4C Clic under the title Craith. Hidden is on BBC One Wales this Wednesday at 9pm, and BBC Four this Saturday at the same time.
2 votes -
Comment on Megathread for news/updates/discussion of Russian invasion of Ukraine - February 26-27 in ~news
sron LinkI don’t have much to add except posting a link to this article by The Intercept, covering Zelensky’s defiant response to the conflict and embeds his key speeches and videos, some of them with...I don’t have much to add except posting a link to this article by The Intercept, covering Zelensky’s defiant response to the conflict and embeds his key speeches and videos, some of them with English subtitles or translations, and Putin’s attempt at justifying the invasion too. https://theintercept.com/2022/02/25/putin-floods-airwaves-lies-zelensky-punctures-social-media/
As a Brit, I admit I had never heard of him before Thursday. But his refusal to hide or flee shows who he is. Someone far more courageous than me.
-
Comment on Megathread for news/updates/discussion of Russian invasion of Ukraine - February 26-27 in ~news
sron Link ParentI was reading this Twitter thread by a Politico writer born in Ukraine that someone posted on yesterday’s thread. She says that, like Chernobyl raised doubt in the Soviet leadership, this war may...I was reading this Twitter thread by a Politico writer born in Ukraine that someone posted on yesterday’s thread. She says that, like Chernobyl raised doubt in the Soviet leadership, this war may do the same for Putin’s regime, and Russians might question what he says a bit more than the state-run news would like them to. I hope she is right, and I hope your family and everyone else over there stays safe.
I know hope and wishes mean little right now, but looking at this from afar it is the least I can do. Stay well.
-
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
sron Link ParentMany devices let you set multiple DNS servers. I presume they have set their PiHole as the first entry and NextDNS as the second. That's why Cloudflare, for example, has both 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1...Many devices let you set multiple DNS servers. I presume they have set their PiHole as the first entry and NextDNS as the second.
That's why Cloudflare, for example, has both
1.1.1.1and1.0.0.1as their DNS IPs: one primary, one backup. -
Comment on Help needed: slow external hard drive in ~tech
sron Link ParentDid a SMART report, it says that there are no reallocated sectors or any sectors that need reallocation (so in theory none of the sectors have failed) but there are some read errors, so I'll keep...Did a SMART report, it says that there are no reallocated sectors or any sectors that need reallocation (so in theory none of the sectors have failed) but there are some read errors, so I'll keep an eye on it... I've also made sure my backups are actually working which I probably should have done a while ago!
-
Comment on Help needed: slow external hard drive in ~tech
sron Link ParentThanks for reading all that, I ran the scan and check for errors tool in Windows (right click drive > Proporties > Tools > Check). It took a while (scan didn't work, I needed to use scan and...Thanks for reading all that, I ran the scan and check for errors tool in Windows (right click drive > Proporties > Tools > Check). It took a while (scan didn't work, I needed to use scan and repair) but the logs show it deleted some corrupt attribute records. Since then the performance and active time have been back to normal. That gives me chance to check if the drive itself is actually okay and run a few more checks, at least.
Lots of this:
Unable to locate attribute with instance tag 0x0 and segment reference 0x1000000007fa3. The expected attribute type is 0x80. Deleting corrupt attribute record (0x80, "") from file record segment 0x7FA3.I didn't have the thought it might be a physical problem since it's only a year old. Obviously it still could be, at least this fix will let me check it a bit easier.
-
Help needed: slow external hard drive
I've got a 2TB Toshiba drive (formatted as NTFS) that has become very slow and I was wondering if anyone here as any ideas what the problem could be and how I could fix it. All the data I'd need...
I've got a 2TB Toshiba drive (formatted as NTFS) that has become very slow and I was wondering if anyone here as any ideas what the problem could be and how I could fix it. All the data I'd need off the drive is backed up, but I would at least like a drive to put it back on to!
In short, it became slow after I had to force power-off the system it was connected to (Pop OS installed on another external drive which I unplugged by mistake) and I haven't bothered to try to fix it in the six months since.
I've tested it on Pop and it takes about 10-20 minutes to mount, and 2 minutes to unmount and safely remove. The data itself seems fine but performance is slow, accessing a 20MB image takes several seconds and selecting the drive in GNOME Disks caused it to freeze.
The drive sounded louder than normal, especially after plugging in.
On Windows, the drive was recognised and browsable immediately, but browsing through folders was very slow - opening some folders causes Windows Explorer to freeze for a while. Some of my double-clicks were mis-recognised as click-to-rename, which took several seconds to activate and during which time Task Manager reported the average response time between 5000 and 11000 ms.
Attempting to load an audio file resulted in lots of buffering. Task Manager reports an active time of 100% (even when not loading files or folders) and the activity never exceeded 100 KB/s (and doesn't sustain it for more than a second). Ejecting the drive takes forever - after ejecting it using the tray icon, the tray icon is not removed (even though there are no other drives connected or listed) and the active time is still 100% with the indicator LED blinking non-stop. The system did not enter sleep right away after me asking it to either.
All of that to say, does anyone know what the issue could be, or how I could find and fix it? Thanks!
Edit: fixed and normal functionality restored (at least so I can check the drive a bit easier) using Scan & Repair in Windows (see my comment).
4 votes -
Comment on The Tildes' Make Something Month (Timasomo) 2021 Showcase Thread in ~creative
sron Link ParentDespite how you see the grades piece, I think it's written really well and does a great job at illustrating the problem in question. I will ask though, is American education really this... odd? Do...Despite how you see the grades piece, I think it's written really well and does a great job at illustrating the problem in question.
I will ask though, is American education really this... odd? Do schools really have such an influence over a student's results? Do all students study the same topics at the same level of complexity at the same time, regardless of their ability and knowledge?
In the UK, "maths" is one topic and it's normal for there to be multiple classes at a particular year (grade) set at different skill levels. Each would cover different topics at different times, pitching them at different levels. Then, in year 11 (age 16) there are two maths exams of three papers each: one lower level paper (simpler, but with a capped maximum grade) and one higher level (uncapped but complex). They cover all the topics, not just one.
It just seems like having exams at every year would distract from learning and remembering the topics in question (some topics you'd ignore for so long you'd forget them, even while still studying a mathematical topic).
Am I right here? It probably seems normal to you but for me it seems unnecessarily complex and test-driven. That's not to say the British system works any better though - there are still massive social disparities.
-
Comment on Jailed for fifty-one weeks for protesting? Britain is becoming a police state by stealth in ~society
sron (edited )Link18 pages have been added to the UK's new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that would make many tools and techniques of protest illegal, carrying a prison sentence up to 51 weeks, in a way...18 pages have been added to the UK's new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that would make many tools and techniques of protest illegal, carrying a prison sentence up to 51 weeks, in a way that evades the Parliamentary scrutiny bills should face. You can read the bill as-amended here - new additions are marked with a star and start on page 68.
This is an opinion piece - so there are a few calls-to-action - but many other media outlets are not covering this, for example there is no mention on the BBC's Politics News page.
-
Jailed for fifty-one weeks for protesting? Britain is becoming a police state by stealth
18 votes -
Comment on Facebook changes name to Meta: Mark Zuckerberg announces company rebrand as it moves to the metaverse in ~tech
sron Link ParentI'm not so sure. People don't think of Alphabet when they use Google, so I don't see why it would be any different here. Unless they put the Meta brand on all their services, some people might...Now every time it gets used in a conversation it's going to provide natural topic diversion point to talk about Facebook et al.
I'm not so sure. People don't think of Alphabet when they use Google, so I don't see why it would be any different here. Unless they put the Meta brand on all their services, some people might just never hear of it until another scandal arises. Facebook will continue to be Facebook for the majority of its users.
In the FlorisBoard app, press Keyboard then Utility Key Action, and change it to something else.
Its a nice keyboard but without text prediction/correction for now I think, although the roadmap on their GitHub does say development is getting moving again now after stopping for a bit.