stewedrabbit's recent activity

  1. Comment on James Webb Space Telescope finds stunning evidence for alternate theory of gravity in ~space

    stewedrabbit
    Link Parent
    It is :) As anything in this debate, holding back on your judgement on any side for the coming decades will probably be the wisest option.

    It is :)
    As anything in this debate, holding back on your judgement on any side for the coming decades will probably be the wisest option.

    2 votes

  2. Comment on James Webb Space Telescope finds stunning evidence for alternate theory of gravity in ~space

    stewedrabbit
    Link Parent
    The bullet cluster is the smoking gun for an acceleration discrepancy, not for (particle) dark matter. In fact, modified gravity can explain a bullet cluster easier than ΛCDM. See...

    The bullet cluster is the smoking gun for an acceleration discrepancy, not for (particle) dark matter. In fact, modified gravity can explain a bullet cluster easier than ΛCDM. See https://backreaction.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-bullet-cluster-as-evidence-against.html?m=1 for more background on the topic.

    5 votes

  3. Comment on Europe train timetable app in ~travel

    stewedrabbit
    Link Parent
    I usually use the Interrail app, combined with the app of the local operator. I use Interrail to look up the trajectory: I find it gives consistently the best connections, and outperforms e.g....

    I usually use the Interrail app, combined with the app of the local operator. I use Interrail to look up the trajectory: I find it gives consistently the best connections, and outperforms e.g. Rome2Rio. When I've found an itinerary, I use the app of the operator to check delays and cancellations, and to buy the ticket. I don't have any bad experiences with the several operators I have used.
    For France that would be SNCF.
    And tangentially related: a wealth of information on train travel in Europe (and worldwide) can be found on https://www.seat61.com/

    1 vote

  4. Comment on How do I win at Agricola? in ~games.tabletop

    stewedrabbit
    Link Parent
    For a while we had a house rule that completely broke the game: every two animals produce one extra, without cap. After reading the rules again, we found out our error. Less fun, but more balanced...

    For a while we had a house rule that completely broke the game: every two animals produce one extra, without cap. After reading the rules again, we found out our error. Less fun, but more balanced :)

    And as said before: go for big families asap, even it means going hungry (but only if you have a clear path towards a good food engine). The gamble is often worth it.

    4 votes

  5. Comment on French power slumps as surging renewables push out atomic plants in ~enviro

    stewedrabbit
    Link Parent
    Another factor to take into account is maintenance: a lot of nuclear reactors have a planned shutdown in summer for maintenance. I wouldn't be surprised that these shutdowns are planned, except...

    Another factor to take into account is maintenance: a lot of nuclear reactors have a planned shutdown in summer for maintenance. I wouldn't be surprised that these shutdowns are planned, except for the precise timing depending on weather and export markets.

    4 votes

  6. Comment on Parisians vote in favour of tripling parking costs for SUVs in ~transport

    stewedrabbit
    Link Parent
    From a public policy perspective there is another take on 'rental scooters are bad': you want as many people as possible on mass transit, and if not, then on foot, and finally on a bike. Cars...

    From a public policy perspective there is another take on 'rental scooters are bad': you want as many people as possible on mass transit, and if not, then on foot, and finally on a bike. Cars don't enter the equation, except for edge cases, such as for people with reduced mobility.
    If you add the rental scooters in the mix, they will siphon travellers away from mass transit or pedestrian, but not other modes of transport. From the perspective of the city, this is not desirable. Should it be car travellers switching to scooters, there would be an incentive for a city to organise it better. Now allowing scooters is facilitating a mode of transport that cannibalizes your preferred alternative, mass transit.

    2 votes

  7. Comment on Oh my days! 3.5yr old got his big boy bed. in ~talk

    stewedrabbit
    Link
    God, the flashbacks! I remember putting the youngest in her crib, one hand on her belly, one on her head, ear caps on, and then to start counting. Regularly went past 500... Hang in there, it gets...

    God, the flashbacks! I remember putting the youngest in her crib, one hand on her belly, one on her head, ear caps on, and then to start counting. Regularly went past 500...
    Hang in there, it gets a little bit better every day, until the next crisis that is.

    2 votes

  8. Comment on Tildes Gaming Club, February 2024: Legacy in ~games

    stewedrabbit
    Link
    Loosely off topic probably: if you have younger kids, you really should try Zombie Kids Evolution. It isn't a legacy, but evolution game. The way the game starts with simple rules, but after a...

    Loosely off topic probably: if you have younger kids, you really should try Zombie Kids Evolution. It isn't a legacy, but evolution game. The way the game starts with simple rules, but after a couple of envelopes ends up with complex gameplay accessible for kids is just genius. This was the very first game the kids started playing on theirselves, without an adult participating (age 7 and 4). If there is one minor point, it would be that they simply raced through the evolutions. So after three months they had won about every trophy. But those were three months of happy, silent kids!

    3 votes

  9. Comment on Fighting climate change via personal banking in ~finance

    stewedrabbit
    Link Parent
    There is some progress though, check out the global alliance on banking on values. There are a lot of small to mid-sized banks out there that are showing the way. It pretty much boils down to not...

    There is some progress though, check out the global alliance on banking on values. There are a lot of small to mid-sized banks out there that are showing the way. It pretty much boils down to not only saying what you are going to do, but also showing it, be it by external auditing, transparency on the loan book, or certification. Their growth compared to the market is pretty high, just not the big bang we came to expect from the IT world (and their return on equity is lower). But they're out there, and there is plenty of opportunity as a customer to guide the world to a better place by our choices.

    3 votes

  10. Comment on Facebook does not let me delete my account in ~tech

    stewedrabbit
    Link
    I feel for you, I've been there - even trying to invoke my right to be forgotten. I had the option to delete my account (this is about ten years ago), only to receive a message a while later that...

    I feel for you, I've been there - even trying to invoke my right to be forgotten. I had the option to delete my account (this is about ten years ago), only to receive a message a while later that it wasn't deleted and I had to do it over. Also, logging into Facebook in any way (including via the invisible pixel) was deemed to be an action to reactivate the account. Discovering that my profile still existed, I tried the legalese way to be forgotten. That's also about the time when I gave up. Recently I got a recovery code from Facebook, so I guess my account is still there, and someone inadvertently tried logging in. So if you find out how to really really delete your account, I'm all ears. But now, I'm past caring.

    10 votes

  11. Comment on Why banks are suddenly closing down customer accounts in ~finance

  12. Comment on Why banks are suddenly closing down customer accounts in ~finance

    stewedrabbit
    Link
    I work in the financial sector, albeit on a different continent, but the pattern is there too. The one thing that really rubs the wrong way, is that this is really a government responsibility that...

    I work in the financial sector, albeit on a different continent, but the pattern is there too. The one thing that really rubs the wrong way, is that this is really a government responsibility that is being outsourced to banks. Through regulation, government imposes these anti-money laundering and other checks, with often disproportionate consequences for the bank if they do not comply. Off course will the bank start to off-board massively: they have a huge risk for one bad apple, and little to gain from most mass retail consumer. The additional checks on those consumers make an unprofitable customer even more so.

    On the other hand, we have had some centuries ago several revolutions to finally get an independent judiciary system that offers the best assurances when it comes to criminal behaviour. Yes, it costs money, but it is the price we pay for the freedom we have. As de-risking demonstrates, it cannot be outsourced.

    Add to this that financial services is becoming more and more a basic human right to be able to live decently in a modern society.

    I don't know what kind of upheaval will be necessary to change the system. Currently I mostly see patchwork, such as basic banking services. We'll see what the future brings. Anyway, to me, financial inclusion is the next big thing to make sure we have an ethical banking system.

    32 votes

  13. Comment on Anyone who knows where to find games as on the German ICE trains? in ~games

    stewedrabbit
    Link Parent
    I already know about that one, and enjoy it a lot! As everyone is saying: highly recommended.

    I already know about that one, and enjoy it a lot! As everyone is saying: highly recommended.

    3 votes

  14. Anyone who knows where to find games as on the German ICE trains?

    ~games Ask (advice)
    When traveling on the German high speed ICE trains, you have access to the ICEportal website with a.o. information on your journey and newspapers. The portal also gives you some stuff to waste...

    When traveling on the German high speed ICE trains, you have access to the ICEportal website with a.o. information on your journey and newspapers. The portal also gives you some stuff to waste time on, which includes games. What I love about it, its a collection of simple classics, such as a bubble shooter, a 2048 style puzzle, an arcade motorbike game, and all without the typical freemium advertising or grinding.
    Does anyone know about similar offerings? I really don't mind paying, I do mind the advertising or grinding which seems to have become standard. Or even better, if anyone knows how to have the ICEportal games without being on the wifi of the train? What are your thoughts?

    9 votes

  15. Comment on <deleted topic> in ~travel

    stewedrabbit
    Link
    Plus points for anyone can also recommend stuff to do with a 5 and 7 year old. We will be visiting Vienna in a couple of days! ♥️

    Plus points for anyone can also recommend stuff to do with a 5 and 7 year old. We will be visiting Vienna in a couple of days! ♥️

    1 vote

  16. Comment on Anyone daily driving a jailbroken iPhone? in ~tech

    stewedrabbit
    Link
    I used to run a rooted android phone couple of years ago (I'm guessing up until 2018). However, I really use banking apps a lot, and the cat and mouse game of tricking your banking app in...

    I used to run a rooted android phone couple of years ago (I'm guessing up until 2018). However, I really use banking apps a lot, and the cat and mouse game of tricking your banking app in believing the device is not rooted got me finally moving away from rooting. So I'm really interested in knowing if things got better or worse since then (I'm guessing worse), and if anyone found a solution particularly for banking apps? The question is pretty much regardless the OS, just interested to know the lay of the land currently.

  17. Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life

    stewedrabbit
    Link
    I prefer barefoot at all times, and only wear shoes outside because of the risk of injury and simply the dirt on the pavement. I even go regularly barefoot at work, and I notice it inspires mostly...

    I prefer barefoot at all times, and only wear shoes outside because of the risk of injury and simply the dirt on the pavement. I even go regularly barefoot at work, and I notice it inspires mostly the younger colleagues - however they go only as far as the socks.

    As far as customs go, some houses prefer shoes off, also for visitors, some don't care (mostly as a courtesy to the visitor). Mostly you see the hosts without shoes, in socks or slippers.

    1 vote

  18. Comment on Lego - what do you do with it afterwards? in ~hobbies

    stewedrabbit
    Link
    The sets for the kids go in zip lockers with the manual up front, until they barely play with them - then they go in the big "everything together" box for their own projects. Then there is some...

    The sets for the kids go in zip lockers with the manual up front, until they barely play with them - then they go in the big "everything together" box for their own projects. Then there is some very old Technics that go in a separate box. And then there are my sets, that the kids are allowed from time to time to rebuild - so surprisingly those sets go a long way in being on display. I find it easier to give them a quick rinse when rebuilding than cleaning in any other way.

    4 votes

  19. Comment on What are some of your favourite, lesser-known mobile apps? in ~tech

    stewedrabbit
    Link Parent
    Personally, I couldn't live without Keepass2Android -> https://github.com/PhilippC/keepass2android. It manages syncing, and has a decent integration via a dedicated keyboard.

    Personally, I couldn't live without Keepass2Android -> https://github.com/PhilippC/keepass2android. It manages syncing, and has a decent integration via a dedicated keyboard.

    1 vote