stu2b50's recent activity
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Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
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Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
stu2b50 Link ParentThat’s conflating “digital” with “electronic”. It is not a digital format. The audio waveform is directly imprinted onto the tape via an electromagnetic coil when recording, and that waveform is...That’s conflating “digital” with “electronic”. It is not a digital format. The audio waveform is directly imprinted onto the tape via an electromagnetic coil when recording, and that waveform is read back when playing.
For something to be digital, it means that the waveform is quantized - you split it into discrete values at specific times. The line y = x^2 can be quantized as the following pairs
(1, 1), (2, 4), (3, 9)
That is distinctly not what’s occurring with cassettes.
I don’t see how using electricity as part of the encoding and decoding mechanism would make it any less true. That seems like an extremely arbitrary criteria.
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Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
stu2b50 Link ParentWhat makes vinyl more “true” than cassettes? They’re both analog formats. The appeal is that vinyl is very cumbersome. Vinyl discs are huge and fragile. Cassettes are compact, in a protected form...What makes vinyl more “true” than cassettes? They’re both analog formats.
The appeal is that vinyl is very cumbersome. Vinyl discs are huge and fragile. Cassettes are compact, in a protected form factor, and survive more plays.
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Comment on Amazon's Prime Day deals could actually cost you more in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentIdk, I think dynamic pricing is good, especially for things like rideshare. I would definitely not want legislation to ban it. I think that would cause a lot of harm in terms of supply mismatching.Idk, I think dynamic pricing is good, especially for things like rideshare. I would definitely not want legislation to ban it. I think that would cause a lot of harm in terms of supply mismatching.
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Comment on Discord says 70,000 users may have had their government IDs leaked in breach in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentI mean, "we", in the abstract sense are making companies do the ID checks. Discord or pornhub or whatever doesn't want to hold onto your IDs or remove users below a certain age. Those are...I mean, "we", in the abstract sense are making companies do the ID checks. Discord or pornhub or whatever doesn't want to hold onto your IDs or remove users below a certain age. Those are customers. They would much prefer to simply have more customers.
The UK government passes OSA - does it provide any government-sponsored API or process for doing the age verification? Of course not. It just says to do it.
What are "we" expecting?
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Comment on Discord says 70,000 users may have had their government IDs leaked in breach in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentMainly due to legal regulations in countries where service providers must do ID-based age or identity verification checks.Mainly due to legal regulations in countries where service providers must do ID-based age or identity verification checks.
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Comment on The Oatmeal: A cartoonist's review of AI art in ~comics
stu2b50 Link ParentNot OP, but I would say based on their initial post the distinguishing factor is the degree to which a utilitarian purpose is the main objective of the piece. If the image primarily has a clear,...Not OP, but I would say based on their initial post the distinguishing factor is the degree to which a utilitarian purpose is the main objective of the piece. If the image primarily has a clear, utilitarian purpose, the main question is whether or not it can meet that purpose, and if it does, it doesn't really matter if it's made by man or machine.
The text you're reading now is cold and precise compared to some of the great calligraphers, being rendered mechanically by a computer, and indeed sometimes a hand-written letter gives meaning and depth that text can't meet, but y'know, we're on a random online forum, so it's fine. You can read it, and that's the purpose done.
squaring the circle of an artist so devaluing other artists' works.
This feels like a very uncharitable reading of OP? I wouldn't say they're purposefully trying to "devalue" anyone's work anymore than a biologist creates a species by writing about it.
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
stu2b50 Link ParentThat's really not the issue. The costs with video streaming scale with your product - that is, there are not many fixed costs. Sure, youtube's server bills are massive, but so are the views. If...It's so unfortunate that server costs are so high there can't exist a competitor to YouTube without massive funding.
That's really not the issue. The costs with video streaming scale with your product - that is, there are not many fixed costs. Sure, youtube's server bills are massive, but so are the views. If you are a startup, and have a fraction of youtube's throughput, you will have a fraction of their server costs.
The issue is that youtube is not video storage or video hosting. No one needs that anymore; video hosting is table stakes. What youtube is, is social media. And it's hard to be a new social media because you need to attract users. Social media has strong network effects - youtube is the place to be, because it has the people on it.
You can host video trivially, but the question is how you can get an audience. Youtube answers the latter, not the former.
And so there are youtube competitors - TikTok is the most foremost of them, but so is reels. These are video-centric social media platforms.
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Comment on ‘Predator: Badlands’ officially rated PG-13, meant to be “boundary-pushing” in ~movies
stu2b50 Link ParentI mean, can't lie, that's kinda true, MPAA or not. Like famous movie director Stalin said, "A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic." Watching one guy get tortured in gruesome...Violence is good if you sanitize and glorify it. Show the hero mowing down waves of generic people. Extra plus good if you have army guys doing the killing.
Violence is bad if you depict it realistically and with weight, especially in a context that humanizes the victims.
I mean, can't lie, that's kinda true, MPAA or not. Like famous movie director Stalin said, "A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic."
Watching one guy get tortured in gruesome detail can be far more disturbing than watching millions of people get mowed in a war or shot by the hero.
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
stu2b50 Link ParentIdk, that seems pretty fair considering how much the same amount of manga would cost. A lot of these authors are not exactly rolling in the dough either.On webtoons, it's usually around 3 coins (30 cents) a chapter. So if I ever wanted to binge a decently sized manhwa (~200 chapters), it'd cost around $50 dollars.
Idk, that seems pretty fair considering how much the same amount of manga would cost. A lot of these authors are not exactly rolling in the dough either.
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Comment on Indecision: Get a camera despite having a phone in ~tech
stu2b50 LinkIMO no, from your description. The Sony ZV-1F isn't really a photo camera anyway, it's meant for vlogging. I do carry around a camera, but I enjoy photography. I think that's the main question: do...IMO no, from your description. The Sony ZV-1F isn't really a photo camera anyway, it's meant for vlogging.
I do carry around a camera, but I enjoy photography. I think that's the main question: do you enjoy photography? If the answer is no, and you just want the utilitarian result of "having photographs of OK quality", then a phone will do you more good. They're pretty good at doing the boring job of capturing reality.
Where a dedicated camera plays into is for both the tactile, mechanical feel of using a camera, as well as opening the doors to more creative possibilities. A larger sensor will give you things to play with like real depth of field, better image quality, better inherent low light, and so forth.
And so, if you think you might want a camera, I'd suggest either any APSC Fujifilm or any APSC Sony. M34 is a dead mount, for all intents and purposes. Full frame is probably too expensive for beginners. Canon and Nikon don't really give a shit about their APSC lines. Used is fine.
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Comment on Travel essentials: eight items to pack for your next trip – and what to leave at home in ~travel
stu2b50 Link ParentThere's nothing about that Anker charger is that "meant for macs". It's a USB-PD charger that adheres to the USB-PD spec and will charge anything that accepts USB-PD (which, these days, ranges...There's nothing about that Anker charger is that "meant for macs". It's a USB-PD charger that adheres to the USB-PD spec and will charge anything that accepts USB-PD (which, these days, ranges from everything from pretty much every modern smartphone to every tablet to the Nintendo switch to many laptops).
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Comment on Travel essentials: eight items to pack for your next trip – and what to leave at home in ~travel
stu2b50 LinkIMO the #1 thing to bring is less things. Most of the items on the list I would recommend not bringing. Neck pillows, for example. They just take up an absurd amount of space. For things I would...IMO the #1 thing to bring is less things. Most of the items on the list I would recommend not bringing.
Neck pillows, for example. They just take up an absurd amount of space. For things I would recommend taking,
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Eye mask and eyeplugs. You can't know what your sleeping situations will be. Maybe your hotel happens to be next to a rave. Maybe there's construction. Maybe you're sleeping in an airport terminal.
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A way to pay. This depends where you are. A useful thing to have here is a debit card from a bank that waives FOREX fees as well as atm fees. Schwab's debit card is a common suggestion. This is the best way to get local currency.
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Mobile data. In most of the world, this can be done with an eSim on eSim supported phones, but for countries that aren't (mainland China, for instance), you can usually pick this up ahead of time on Amazon.
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Battery banks of varying sizes. Of note, "varying sizes". If you only have a giant battery bank, and it's inconvenient to carry and you then don't carry it, then it's kinda pointless. Anker has battery banks of all sizes, make sure there's something that works with every mode of travel (e.g, something that works for "I'm taking a backpack", something for "a casual meal with no bags").
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Plastic bags. Just normal plastic grocery bags. It's just always useful to have bags, and the lighter the better. You can put dirty laundry in it, or wet shoes, or whatever.
Things I don't think people should carry
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A water bottle. It's just so much wasted size. Foldable ones just suck for usability and durability. I just buy a normal plastic disposable bottle of water at the destination, and then reuse it with tap water until it's inconvenient and throw it away.
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Neck pillows and other overly specialized items. Too much wasted space, and only really useful on the plane.
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Laundry detergent. Just buy it there.
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Check-in sized toiletries. I think having carry-on sized toiletries is useful (<100mL), but once it needs a carry on, just buy it there.
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Too many clothes. Stock up on underwear and undershirts, but for layers I try to just have one of each layer.
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Books. Too large. Phone works. Also you're much more likely to get stopped by airport security, for some reason. Apparently books show up as giant voids?
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Snacks. Just buy it locally.
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Comment on Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish? in ~tech
stu2b50 LinkIdk in my experience Amazon has still been pretty good? The main things that Amazon does well is shipping time and ease of return, and those are still excellent. I’m generally willing to pay more...Idk in my experience Amazon has still been pretty good? The main things that Amazon does well is shipping time and ease of return, and those are still excellent. I’m generally willing to pay more for products to buy on Amazon if I’m going to buy it online for just how good their returns are.
I haven’t had much issue with counterfeits, and the search results seem fine? I generally have an intended product or brand I want to buy anyway.
Still quite happy paying for prime.
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Comment on Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle tops Superman as #1 comic book film of the year in ~movies
stu2b50 Link ParentI thought it was pretty bad. Arguably worse than the anime seasons, in some ways. The animation was top notch, but the pacing really showed the worst of shonen anime start-and-stop action. It was...I thought it was pretty bad. Arguably worse than the anime seasons, in some ways. The animation was top notch, but the pacing really showed the worst of shonen anime start-and-stop action. It was so egregious I don't even think Ufotable could do what they did in this movie in episodic form, it would be too absurd. In many ways, they were limited by what could be done simply because this is how the manga went, but regardless I don't think it did a good job at telling a story.
Spoilers
I really can't believe they not only committed the cardinal sin of "let's give our villain a sad backstory we never foreshadowed or elaborated on right before he dies" but they did in the form of a THIRTY MINUTE FLASHBACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIGHT. Thirty goddamn minutes. I actually couldn't believe my eyes when there was a second part. -
Comment on It begins: AI shows willingness to commit blackmail and murder to avoid shutdown in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentCars are sold on that, though. They’re advertised by horsepower and 0-60 time and top speed and, for SUVs, how many children you can run over and not notice. LLM chatbots are intended to be...Cars are sold on that, though. They’re advertised by horsepower and 0-60 time and top speed and, for SUVs, how many children you can run over and not notice.
LLM chatbots are intended to be facsimiles of humans, and humans are, as we all know, dangerous. Ergo, for them to be at peak potential is to be dangerous.
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Comment on Swedish startup Saveggy launches pilot scheme for edible, plastic-free packaging for cucumbers – innovative solution made from just two ingredients: rapeseed oil and gluten-free oat oil in ~food
stu2b50 Link ParentI buy cucumbers without wrapping and in my experience I have to remember to use them < 3 or 4 days before they start to become mush. I’m like a 10 minute walk away from a grocery store so I don’t...I buy cucumbers without wrapping and in my experience I have to remember to use them < 3 or 4 days before they start to become mush. I’m like a 10 minute walk away from a grocery store so I don’t really mind but I can see how wrapped cucumbers would be attractive if they last more than a week for infrequent shoppers.
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Comment on We’re seniors. It’s not our responsibility to fix the housing supply. in ~society
stu2b50 Link ParentThat’s true of just about anything. You’re allowed to advocate for the US to become a Christian theocracy or for the re-establishment of slavery. Being allowed to advocate for something is not...In a democratic republic ( for now ) people are allowed to advocate for the zoning laws that govern where they live.
That’s true of just about anything. You’re allowed to advocate for the US to become a Christian theocracy or for the re-establishment of slavery. Being allowed to advocate for something is not exactly a high bar.
Other people also have the right to clown on people for what they advocate, and NIMBYs deserve it.
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Comment on OpenAI’s H1 2025: $4.3b in income, $13.5b in loss in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentI’d imagine mostly stock based compensation.I’d imagine mostly stock based compensation.
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Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk
stu2b50 Link ParentRoman Carthage was not Carthaginian. After the Third Punic War the old city of Carthage was well and truly destroyed and its populace entirely shipped off as slaves or killed or fled as refugees....Roman Carthage was not Carthaginian. After the Third Punic War the old city of Carthage was well and truly destroyed and its populace entirely shipped off as slaves or killed or fled as refugees. Much later, Julius Caesar made a new Roman city kind of adjacent to where the old city was, and as a Roman city it was an important city in the region for commerce and government.
Post-rebuild, it was entirely of Roman design and settled by Romans. I don't think any tensions between Roman and Carthage mattered by then, it was many hundreds of years later, and had little to do with the ancient city.
Idk, what makes it not mechanical? Are magnets not things? Is a magnet not a mechanical device?
In a vinyl, the audio waveform is recorded as the amplitude of the grooves. Groove go up, waveform go up and so forth.
In a casette, the audio waveform is recorded as the strength of the magnetic field of the tape. Magnetic field stronger, waveform louder, and so on.
You can see the exact same effect used to play magnetic tape recordings when you drop a permanent magnet through a coil. The falling magnet induces a current in the coil, causing the magnet to seemingly magically slow down.
The magnetic tape is run past a coil, and the varying magnetic field strength induces the audio waveform into the coil as a current.
I don't see how one is more or less "mechanical" than the other. As far as I know, the electromagnetic field is still considered a mechanical action, and indeed, if you were to wear earrings in an MRI machine your earlobe would certainly feel some mechanical force applied to it.