stewedrabbit's recent activity
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Comment on Today is Overshoot Day in ~enviro
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Comment on How The New York Times is (still) getting gamed by the right in ~society
stewedrabbit LinkRecently an article of the NY Times on autism appeared in one feed or other that I follow. On the one hand I was perfectly aware that this is an opinion by a guest writer. On the other hand I was...Recently an article of the NY Times on autism appeared in one feed or other that I follow. On the one hand I was perfectly aware that this is an opinion by a guest writer. On the other hand I was disturbed by the message it conveyed. As someone currently self-diagnosed (waiting lists are looong), I really felt left out. I could have understood the debate how to decide on the support necessary for auti-people, and the diversity in support needs within that community. I cannot understand the message that we should modify the diagnosis criteria of ASD in function of the support needs. That's the world inverted. After some mulling around, my take away was that I should read this NY Times article in a different context: an exclusively US based context written with the far-right wing leaning political centre currently in the US, and dismiss this article entirely. This further reinforces my feeling.
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Comment on Explain Linux controversies to me in ~tech
stewedrabbit Link ParentI have been gravitating back to Debian for years, until a couple of years I tried out Arch, and now it displaced Debian as the distro I keep returning to. Talking purely from a personal, perhaps...I have been gravitating back to Debian for years, until a couple of years I tried out Arch, and now it displaced Debian as the distro I keep returning to. Talking purely from a personal, perhaps emotional experience, I ascribe it to the IKEA effect:
The IKEA effect is a cognitive bias in which consumers place a disproportionately high value on products they partially created. The name refers to Swedish manufacturer and furniture retailer IKEA, which sells many items of furniture that require assembly.
A 2011 study found that subjects were willing to pay 63% more for furniture they had assembled themselves than for equivalent pre-assembled items.
The tinkering with Arch makes you place a disproportionately high value in the worth of the distribution :)
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Comment on France: Marine Le Pen found guilty in embezzlement trial in ~society
stewedrabbit Link ParentThat's one possibility, but he's still very young for a presidential candidate. Politics always find white rabbits in my experience, so who knows?That's one possibility, but he's still very young for a presidential candidate. Politics always find white rabbits in my experience, so who knows?
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Comment on France: Marine Le Pen found guilty in embezzlement trial in ~society
stewedrabbit LinkNow I'm getting concerned - not for the rule of law, I'm happy to see it survive in some parts of the world, but because of whomever stepping in the vacuum of Le Pen and playing their cards right,...Now I'm getting concerned - not for the rule of law, I'm happy to see it survive in some parts of the world, but because of whomever stepping in the vacuum of Le Pen and playing their cards right, could lead to a massive win for Rassemblement National. Here's hoping I'm wrong.
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Comment on What quotes inspire you? in ~talk
stewedrabbit LinkVáclav Havel, slightly edited by me.Each of us is given to discover that by changing themselves they can contribute to changing something in the world. This is a mysterious commandment, for it contains the fantastic idea that everyone can set the world in motion. But it is a logical commandment, because if I and you and they and everyone else do not decide to take that path, the world in which we live, which we help shape and for which we are responsible will never be able to move either. Each of us must begin with ourselves!
Václav Havel, slightly edited by me.
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Comment on The world Donald Trump wants: American power in the new age of nationalism in ~society
stewedrabbit LinkThanks for sharing. Clash of Civilisations always rubbed me the wrong way. This article helps me in understanding why.Thanks for sharing. Clash of Civilisations always rubbed me the wrong way. This article helps me in understanding why.
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Comment on HP ditches mandatory fifteen-minute wait time policy due to 'feedback' in ~tech
stewedrabbit Link ParentAnother hack I'm wondering about if it could be efficient: usually investor relations is better staffed than customer services, and it pays to have just one share of the company to receive better...Another hack I'm wondering about if it could be efficient: usually investor relations is better staffed than customer services, and it pays to have just one share of the company to receive better service. Is there anyone who has experience with this in tech? It is definitely true for banking.
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Comment on Stablecoins are non-fungible, bank deposits are fungible in ~finance
stewedrabbit Link ParentNot really: you have a claim on Chase to give you those US dollars back - or if it is a payment provider, to execute a payment on your behalf. It just so happens that Chase keeps that as bits in a...Not really: you have a claim on Chase to give you those US dollars back - or if it is a payment provider, to execute a payment on your behalf. It just so happens that Chase keeps that as bits in a database, but it could just have been pen and paper. But the legal basis is a claim, not bits in the database of Chase (speaking from experience, you don't want to know how often that database is not correct, and that you need a legal system to correct it - and this is not due to defficiencies in the technical solution, this is entirely due to "life happens" situations).
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Comment on Stablecoins are non-fungible, bank deposits are fungible in ~finance
stewedrabbit LinkThis really makes no sense. A dollar is a Federal Reserve dollar, not a JP Morgan dollar (or whatever bank in the world). That's what makes it a currency. I have a hard time just understanding the...This really makes no sense. A dollar is a Federal Reserve dollar, not a JP Morgan dollar (or whatever bank in the world). That's what makes it a currency.
I have a hard time just understanding the argument. Someone who has better luck? -
Comment on Cherry MX 10.0N mechanical keyboard - A non-enthusiast's thoughts after one month in ~tech
stewedrabbit LinkI would like to share my experience. I am also heavily in favour of slim keyboards - and even then the strain can be a lot. To satisfy the slimness constraint, I had to compromise on lay-out. I...I would like to share my experience. I am also heavily in favour of slim keyboards - and even then the strain can be a lot. To satisfy the slimness constraint, I had to compromise on lay-out. I learned typing on a BE-AZERTY layout, but offerings are slim. So I finally moved to a US international with dead keys lay-out on a Keychron K3. This is not ideal for French, but good enough for Dutch. I still notice a hit in typing speed for French. Overall I'm happy with the keyboard, but it reminds me constantly the good reason why there are so many lay-outs out there. Let us know what you settle for!
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Comment on Looking for board game suggestions for non-gamers in ~games.tabletop
stewedrabbit LinkThere are already a lot of excellent suggestions. Here are some that work with my family or when I play with non-gamers: Concept: essential to make it work is to relax the rules. No points,...There are already a lot of excellent suggestions. Here are some that work with my family or when I play with non-gamers:
Concept: essential to make it work is to relax the rules. No points, talking allowed, and let people come and go as they please (no fixed teams);
Dorfromantik or the sequel Sakura: relaxed cooperative puzzling (add the excellent soundtrack of the computer game);
Timeline: find a theme that clicks with the group. Competitive, but in a everyone wants to find the correct answer kind of way;
Zombie Kidz: an absolute hit if there are kids in the party, and sufficiently challenging for the adults (if they are allowed to play, that is);
And as runner up, Railroad Ink: competitive, challenges spatial reasoning, and everyone plays at the same time.
I'm sure you'll find the game that sticks :) -
Comment on Automatic braking systems save lives. Now they’ll need to work at 62 MPH. in ~transport
stewedrabbit Link ParentIf I recall correctly, 80% of all drivers consider themselves a better than average driver...If I recall correctly, 80% of all drivers consider themselves a better than average driver...
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Comment on James Webb Space Telescope finds stunning evidence for alternate theory of gravity in ~space
stewedrabbit Link ParentIt 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. -
Comment on James Webb Space Telescope finds stunning evidence for alternate theory of gravity in ~space
stewedrabbit Link ParentThe 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.
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Comment on Europe train timetable app in ~travel
stewedrabbit Link ParentI 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/ -
Comment on How do I win at Agricola? in ~games.tabletop
stewedrabbit Link ParentFor 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.
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Comment on French power slumps as surging renewables push out atomic plants in ~enviro
stewedrabbit Link ParentAnother 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.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~transport
stewedrabbit Link ParentFrom 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. -
Comment on Oh my days! 3.5yr old got his big boy bed. in ~talk
stewedrabbit LinkGod, 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.
I'm more optimistic: if it's slowing down, then at some point it will, all other things being equal, come to a halt and start moving further and further away. At some point we'll even start restoring.
It hurts me that our kids will live in a different world, and this for generations to come. But then again, so did I. I remember the scare in the 80's that the oil reserves will be used up. As fucked up that seems now, it was a genuine scare then. And so our kids will probably feel the same about us now.