stu2b50's recent activity
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Comment on Cato Institute - The US Government unconstitutionally labels Immigration and Customs Enforcement observers as domestic terrorists in ~society
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Comment on Leave the phone, take a camera in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentFor things like shutter speed or iso sure. But aperture is not something where there is a correct number. F2 vs f8 isn’t something where auto can figure out, because it’s just artistically...For things like shutter speed or iso sure. But aperture is not something where there is a correct number. F2 vs f8 isn’t something where auto can figure out, because it’s just artistically different.
Aperture priority with min SS does a pretty good job of letting you only change the aperture and nothing else.
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Comment on Chile’s new far-right head is latest Latin American leader to ride hardline wave to power in ~society
stu2b50 Link ParentThe stereotypical politician is very mealy mouthed and careful and uses complicated phrasing and implication to avoid offending or making strong statements. The stereotypical politician is also...The stereotypical politician is very mealy mouthed and careful and uses complicated phrasing and implication to avoid offending or making strong statements.
The stereotypical politician is also not thought of very highly. So when you have people like Trump or this guy say crazy stuff and it feels like a breath of fresh air to people.
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Comment on Statement from Mozilla's new CEO in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentA modern browser is second only to an OS in complexity, because it is, essentially, an OS. An OS where security is extra important, because you use it to both interface with things like banks AND...A modern browser is second only to an OS in complexity, because it is, essentially, an OS. An OS where security is extra important, because you use it to both interface with things like banks AND it goes through the mess of entropy that is the internet.
Of course, there is Linux. But the reality of Linux is that most development comes from paid engineers from companies. Per the Linux Foundation, around 70% of commits are from corporate engineers.
Chromium is technically open source, as well.
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Comment on Proposed amendments to Denmark's laws on copyright and broadcasting would see VPNs limited for common uses under changes to combat access to illegal streaming services in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentThe current status quo, where undoubtably more crimes occur because of it, but it do be what it is. I’m ok with more crimes occurring for this slice of civil liberties. Maybe you’re not, but...Again, what's the workable alternative in real life? Why can no-one ever present this alternative if there is one? (hint: there isn't one, even in theory).
The current status quo, where undoubtably more crimes occur because of it, but it do be what it is. I’m ok with more crimes occurring for this slice of civil liberties.
Maybe you’re not, but saying that the view is “wrong” seems hilariously absolutist.
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Comment on Statement from Mozilla's new CEO in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentThe difference is that there’s no alternative to Wikipedia and the engineering effort to maintain a modern browser is much higher. For Firefox, people can simply use one of the many chromium browsers.The difference is that there’s no alternative to Wikipedia and the engineering effort to maintain a modern browser is much higher. For Firefox, people can simply use one of the many chromium browsers.
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Comment on Proposed amendments to Denmark's laws on copyright and broadcasting would see VPNs limited for common uses under changes to combat access to illegal streaming services in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentNot OP, but I think the police should continue to use their current set of tools. These tools are worse than if they unfettered ability to track users on the internet, and it means many people...Not OP, but I think the police should continue to use their current set of tools. These tools are worse than if they unfettered ability to track users on the internet, and it means many people will be murdered, children raped, yadayada, with no recourse.
Is what it is, though. I’d take the crimes over the surveillance.
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Comment on Why Canada really lost its measles elimination status in ~health
stu2b50 Link ParentAs someone from a minority group, I think it’s fair to expect minority groups to be able to communicate in at least English or French.As someone from a minority group, I think it’s fair to expect minority groups to be able to communicate in at least English or French.
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Comment on JustHTML is a fascinating example of vibe engineering in action in ~comp
stu2b50 Link ParentWriting tests is something that LLMs are a good fit for as well. Tests tend to be easy to verify by reading them - the hard part is the boilerplate in setting up the scenario. In general, as you...Writing tests is something that LLMs are a good fit for as well. Tests tend to be easy to verify by reading them - the hard part is the boilerplate in setting up the scenario.
In general, as you go up the ladder the less actual coding you do as a software engineer. The joke is that you transition from writing code in VSCode to Google Docs. So in that sense that doesn’t really change. Writing unit tests in this case is more akin to finding the product requirements, which is definitely a major if not most of your job.
It reminds me a bit of linear programming, where you defined the constraints and a convex optimizer finds the solution.
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Comment on I don't care much for symbolism in ~creative
stu2b50 LinkIn painting, there is the concept of edge control. There are generally three buckets of edges: a hard edge, a soft edge, and a lost edge. In traditional painting, hard edges are used sparingly....In painting, there is the concept of edge control. There are generally three buckets of edges: a hard edge, a soft edge, and a lost edge. In traditional painting, hard edges are used sparingly. Hard edges have no guesswork for the mind - they are definite, they give all the solutions. Useful for subjects, but exhausting when too present. Soft edges describe the gradations of form. Lost edges are what tell the story of the painting - the implication of an edge, without ever defining an edge. They are important because it allows an artist the grace to represent a world too complex to mark down on paper, for the artist to imply detail and have the audiences mind fill in the rest from their own visual bank. It’s the tree that’s actually speckles of light and dark green, that represents a vast forest no painter has the time to individually draw.
Metaphorical storytelling is a way to have soft and lost edges in a narrative. When the plot simply states something, there’s no wiggle room, no space for the uncertainty of real life. When it is implied through metaphor, now the final result is colored by experiences of the reader, and there’s space for the reader to use their own experiences to fill in gap. It’s a way to allow readers to have experiences they otherwise would not be able to have, because no author is omnipotent.
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Comment on Amazon to allow EPUB and PDF downloads of DRM-free Kindle titles in ~books
stu2b50 Link ParentApplying it retroactively would be kind of wild. Ultimately, this should be up the authors. I wouldn’t want Amazon removing DRM without my consent.Applying it retroactively would be kind of wild. Ultimately, this should be up the authors. I wouldn’t want Amazon removing DRM without my consent.
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Comment on The iconic ‘Home Alone’ house is being renovated by its new owner (The interior is being restored to match its appearance in the original 1990 film) in ~movies
stu2b50 Link ParentI don't think it's really a fair comparison. The shots of the renovated house is from the retailer, who renovated it and is selling it. As in, it looks like no one lives there, because no one...I don't think it's really a fair comparison. The shots of the renovated house is from the retailer, who renovated it and is selling it. As in, it looks like no one lives there, because no one lives there yet. Whoever moved in would add some of their own furniture, some pictures, and I think that's plenty of decisions to make the place look homely but aesthetically pleasing.
Personally, just the wallpaper from the Home Alone time makes me want to gag. And that's only slightly an exaggeration. It actually hurts my eyes. I'd hate to have to live and stare at its horrific ugliness.
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Comment on UK and Denmark are demanding overhaul of European immigration laws – Keir Starmer and Mette Frederiksen argue populists will continue to gain ground if something isn't done soon in ~society
stu2b50 Link ParentI feel like you're talking about something orthogonal. Kier Starmer isn't worried because TikTok has more far right content. Starmer is worried because they're getting blasted in elections. And...I feel like you're talking about something orthogonal. Kier Starmer isn't worried because TikTok has more far right content. Starmer is worried because they're getting blasted in elections. And that's what matters, in the end, in a democracy.
Furthermore, the order that you approach things in a democracy needs to be correct. If you want people to be more open to immigration, you have to convince them of that first, then try to implement it. Doing it in the reverse is just a one way ticket to electoral irrelevance. Is what it is. If it were some kind of monarchial or dictatorial system, then you could "lead the plebs" ala Lee Kuan Yew but that's not how most of Europe operates.
There are a lot of bigots out there but are we really overrun with them?
I mean, yeah. Not even half a century ago Black people weren't able to vote in the US and everyone was fine with that. Most of human social evolution in the last 10,000 years or so is memes, not genes, and so unlike genetic changes, memetic changes are far less stable. In a different environment, all of us could be bigoted racists.
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Comment on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 becomes first indie game to win Game of the Year at The Game Awards in ~games
stu2b50 Link ParentSomething interesting to think about is that out of all the games that received any nominations, the one that likely has the largest budget is Genshin Impact, which reportedly has cost over $700m...Something interesting to think about is that out of all the games that received any nominations, the one that likely has the largest budget is Genshin Impact, which reportedly has cost over $700m to develop.
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Comment on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 becomes first indie game to win Game of the Year at The Game Awards in ~games
stu2b50 Link ParentI don't think that analogy makes sense. It would be more like when Michael Phelps won like 10 gold metals at the same olympics in various swimming categories. Which did happen, and was fine? Not...I don't think that analogy makes sense. It would be more like when Michael Phelps won like 10 gold metals at the same olympics in various swimming categories. Which did happen, and was fine?
Not all GOTY titles are multifaceted like this time. Astro Bot won last year; it definitely did NOT win in Best Narrative.
In general, I feel like people get a bit too worked up about TGA. It's not that serious, in the end.
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Comment on The iconic ‘Home Alone’ house is being renovated by its new owner (The interior is being restored to match its appearance in the original 1990 film) in ~movies
stu2b50 (edited )Link ParentPersonally I much prefer the ikea white room look. Idk, the OG home alone style of McMansion just feels garish and too visually cluttered and busy to me. I hate how it looks. AMAPersonally I much prefer the ikea white room look. Idk, the OG home alone style of McMansion just feels garish and too visually cluttered and busy to me. I hate how it looks.
AMA
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Comment on UK and Denmark are demanding overhaul of European immigration laws – Keir Starmer and Mette Frederiksen argue populists will continue to gain ground if something isn't done soon in ~society
stu2b50 Link ParentWhy do you think it’s “giving in” to the populists? At some point, it’s just democracy doing democracy things, parties having to adhere to the will of the people. The polices Starmer and are...Why do you think it’s “giving in” to the populists? At some point, it’s just democracy doing democracy things, parties having to adhere to the will of the people.
The polices Starmer and are proposing are also not exactly mirrors of what far right parties say and imply. They’re harsher than the current status quo, but again, that’s what the people want. Kinda is what it is at some point.
They’re far from “throw the browns in camps and turn on the gas” like some parties like to insinuate they want to do.
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Comment on Meet Pebble Index 01 - External memory for your brain in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentGiven the size of the lithium ion battery, I’d imagine the passive drain will knock it out in about a week with zero use. You’d most likely have to charge it every 3-5 days with normal use. It...Given the size of the lithium ion battery, I’d imagine the passive drain will knock it out in about a week with zero use. You’d most likely have to charge it every 3-5 days with normal use. It probably has an AirPod sized or smaller battery.
And in that case, honestly, yeah I’d rather have the disposable ring. If the cadence is a new every 2 years it’s pretty whatever.
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Comment on Meet Pebble Index 01 - External memory for your brain in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentEh, I don’t think it’ll extrapolate like that. Rechargeable batteries have much worse passive drain than non-rechargeable batteries. I see that every day with my now lithium ion powered mouse,...Eh, I don’t think it’ll extrapolate like that. Rechargeable batteries have much worse passive drain than non-rechargeable batteries. I see that every day with my now lithium ion powered mouse, which honestly performs much worse battery wise than my wireless mouse that used AAs.
Most lithium ions are going to passively drain out in a few weeks.
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Comment on The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI reach landmark agreement to bring over 200 characters from across Disney’s brands to Sora in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentSure, either way this isn’t something a company “hemorrhaging” money would do out of desperation for liquidity. An investment in equity means they’re taking cash, and converting into the...Sure, either way this isn’t something a company “hemorrhaging” money would do out of desperation for liquidity. An investment in equity means they’re taking cash, and converting into the opportunity for long term gains on investment. The opposite, essentially.
That's not really how it works logically. Just because you call yourself something doesn't mean you're a pure bastion of that ideal. North Korea is not a symbol of democracy because it calls itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Being against North Korea does not mean you are against Democratic Republics.