thecakeisalime's recent activity
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Comment on Follow up on the username thread: What Tildes users do you recognize when browsing and, without being rude or inflammatory, what is your impression of them? in ~tildes
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Comment on eBooks cost too much in ~books
thecakeisalime Link ParentI disagree. A similar scenario happened in music publishing when The Beatles founded Apple Records. Did all the big bands (at least those who had the option) make their own record label? No. It's...He's the nightmare for Trads. They know, sooner or later, Sanderson will be joined by other Big Names
I disagree.
A similar scenario happened in music publishing when The Beatles founded Apple Records. Did all the big bands (at least those who had the option) make their own record label? No. It's expensive, it's a lot of work, and the big names have a lot of negotiating power that smaller names don't (something Brandon Sanderson has explicitly said he doesn't want, except to get better deals for everyone). Taylor Swift didn't even create her own record label to separate herself from her old masters (double entendre intended). She just re-recorded the songs and negotiated a good deal with an existing company. Even today, when recording and releasing an album can be done from your basement, it's really difficult to "make it big" without going through a record label. There's the occasional YouTube sensation who can probably negotiate a good deal with a label, but most people need the marketing push from "Big Music".
Brandon Sanderson created Dragonsteel Books because he enjoys it and that's just who he is. And that's great for him. He might (this is my own speculation, not based on anything he's said) eventually start publishing for other authors at some point (as Apple Records published other, non-Beatles, artists). But other big names aren't going to have the same drive and passion as Sanderson to split away from the traditional publishers. The big names will just take their highly-favourable deals, and move on with their lives while not caring about the up-and-comers. The up-and-comers will take the exploitative deals, because they already tried self-publishing an ebook, and no one bought it.
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Comment on AI is killing remote work in ~tech
thecakeisalime Link ParentI started using Copilot about a month ago. It's definitely helpful, but mostly for replacing routine and repetitive tasks. It's also nice for creating lambda functions. It might just be a me...I started using Copilot about a month ago. It's definitely helpful, but mostly for replacing routine and repetitive tasks. It's also nice for creating lambda functions. It might just be a me thing, but I'm significantly better at understanding lambda functions than I am at writing them in the first place, which is ideal for reviewing AI generated code.
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Comment on What the hell is a Typescript or: Creation ideas above my skill level in ~tech
thecakeisalime Link ParentI agree with this completely. I was a backend developer for over a decade, and then I got a job as a full stack developer about 18 months ago. The first year of this job was strictly backend work,...I agree with this completely. I was a backend developer for over a decade, and then I got a job as a full stack developer about 18 months ago. The first year of this job was strictly backend work, so no problem there, but recently, I've been going nuts learning Typescript and React.
It's tough. Everything feels so messy, and there's no organizational conventions or necessities. I'm not doing anything too outrageous right now, so it's manageable, and I can make everything functional, but I still don't like it.
I don't like this shift towards full stack development. It's probably just that companies are trying to save money, but the technologies are so different, and if everything is designed properly it shouldn't matter who sticks the front end and UI on the backend changes. I don't think this saves money. I'm definitely slower than someone with more experience, and I'm not doing other backend work when I'm working on the frontend.
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Comment on Star Trek: Section 31 | Teaser trailer in ~movies
thecakeisalime Link ParentIt's the only Star Trek show that actually has a main character, and I think that's the problem. You could argue that each of the captains are the main characters, but they have a supporting cast...It's the only Star Trek show that actually has a main character, and I think that's the problem. You could argue that each of the captains are the main characters, but they have a supporting cast each with nearly as much screen time and often more importance.
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Comment on US Department of Justice indicates it’s considering Google breakup following monopoly ruling in ~tech
thecakeisalime Link ParentNot Gmail directly, but with the integration of everything into Google Workspace, there have been a few instances recently where Google started causing trouble for GSuite legacy users. After a lot...Not Gmail directly, but with the integration of everything into Google Workspace, there have been a few instances recently where Google started causing trouble for GSuite legacy users. After a lot of pushback, Google changed course, and GSuite legacy users could continue using it for free, but I'm sure in another decade they'll try again.
Since then, I've basically stopped using my custom domain for Google services, other than email, so that if I need to, I can migrate away. But that was much easier for me than for other people, because I've been using a regular gmail address for services like Google Play. Since I'm the only user for my domain, it probably wouldn't be a big deal to pay for it, but it felt like a shakedown.
I'm also affiliated with a non-profit that uses Google Workspace for free. This was going to cost them a lot of money, since we have about 15 users. They have since created a separate (free) category for nonprofits, but that wasn't the case when they announced the migration from GSuite.
I get that we're all just using this product for free, but when everything is bundled together through Workspace, it makes it very hard to leave - and that's why their monopoly is a problem. It's not any one individual product (though some are definitely worse than others), it's that it's a tightly bound ecosystem that makes it really hard to leave without losing something.
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Comment on USA: Kyle Rittenhouse's texts pledging to ‘murder’ shoplifters disillusion his ex-spokesperson in ~society
thecakeisalime Link ParentIt's hard to say whether it's just internet tough guy or an actual hopeful attitude, but the sentiment of "I wish someone would invade my house/tresspass/look at me funny so I have an excuse to...Normal people aren't wishing to have their home invaded
It's hard to say whether it's just internet tough guy or an actual hopeful attitude, but the sentiment of "I wish someone would invade my house/tresspass/look at me funny so I have an excuse to shoot them" shows up frighteningly often whenever people talk about guns and why they own them. Ostensibly, it's for self defence, but they're very nonchalant about wanting to take someone's life.
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Comment on Satisfactory is the best automation game ever made and I seriously can't recommend it enough in ~games
thecakeisalime Link ParentThey wouldn't build it from the sky, but they'd certainly design it that way. We don't draw blueprints for buildings by standing on the open site and drawing the next floor as each floor is...would a pioneer on an alien planet really build a factory from a static eye-in-the-sky viewpoint
They wouldn't build it from the sky, but they'd certainly design it that way.
We don't draw blueprints for buildings by standing on the open site and drawing the next floor as each floor is constructed. We take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Same when designing cities (when the option is available), or laying out public transit routes. Obviously the construction has to take place in first-person, but the design is almost always eye-in-the-sky.
I haven't tried 1.0 yet, but Satisfactory was just not my cup of tea, largely due to the first-person view. I can play Factorio for hours without stopping, but I just kept getting frustrated at building placements and lining up components properly in Satisfactory (others have mentioned some QOL improvements have been implemented to deal with some of this). I think it comes down to whether you want to be a designer, a builder, or both. Factorio has a huge emphasis on the design of the factory, which is the whole reason I play the game, and the first-person view of Satisfactory just makes it harder without providing any benefit (to me).
That said, even in EA, it was a decently polished game, and I think it's still a good game; it's just not a good game for me.
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Comment on NHTSA proposes new vehicle safety standard to better protect pedestrians in ~transport
thecakeisalime Link ParentIn theory, such a system could just check to see if you're holding a phone (or anything) in your hand, whether or not you're looking at it. That would cover about 95% of distracted drivers today...I'd not trust the car to be able to actually see where I'm looking, in sunglasses, in my regular glasses, or for folks with different skin tones or eye shapes, historically we're not great at this.
In theory, such a system could just check to see if you're holding a phone (or anything) in your hand, whether or not you're looking at it. That would cover about 95% of distracted drivers today and it's simpler and less error-prone than eye-tracking.
If we go this route, out a breathalyzer lock on every car too. No driving if you have any alcohol in your system.
That's actually already in the works - mandatory in every new car starting in 2026.
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Comment on NHTSA proposes new vehicle safety standard to better protect pedestrians in ~transport
thecakeisalime Link ParentIf actual infrastructure is being developed and installed to solve these problems, then they can just skip directly to self-driving cars. Better yet, use that money for improved public transit and...Or perhaps a mandatory-stop function when crosswalks are active. I very much like that one....all crosswalks emit a powerful signal when active, and if the car detects that signal at a ~10ft range engages emergency braking.
If actual infrastructure is being developed and installed to solve these problems, then they can just skip directly to self-driving cars. Better yet, use that money for improved public transit and intercity HSR.
One of the best rules we could get to trend vehicle size downward rapidly is increasing licensing difficulty depending on fully-laden GVW. Split off consumer vehicles into more classes, with more stringent road testing to be permitted to drive larger vehicles
I do like this suggestion. It's kind of insane that I took my driving test in a subcompact car and now I can legally drive a motorhome towing that same car, or drive a gigantic pickup truck with a 5th wheel hookup and tow a 30 foot RV trailer.
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Comment on NHTSA proposes new vehicle safety standard to better protect pedestrians in ~transport
thecakeisalime Link ParentThat's a reasonable position, but there's a good chance that in the near future our cars are going to spy on us anyway. Might as well put that to good use.That's a reasonable position, but there's a good chance that in the near future our cars are going to spy on us anyway. Might as well put that to good use.
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Comment on NHTSA proposes new vehicle safety standard to better protect pedestrians in ~transport
thecakeisalime LinkWhile I'm all for reducing pedestrian deaths, this seems underwhelming. Based on their own numbers, this could save 67 lives a year. In 2022, there were 7522 deaths, up from a low in 2009 of 4109...While I'm all for reducing pedestrian deaths, this seems underwhelming.
Based on their own numbers, this could save 67 lives a year. In 2022, there were 7522 deaths, up from a low in 2009 of 4109 deaths (source). Is there no other change that they could propose that would reduce fatalities by more than 1%? Given the ever increasing number of pedestrian deaths each year, will a 1% change even show up in the data?
Pedestrian deaths are largely due to a combination of infrastructure, distracted driving, and increased vehicle sizes. The NHTSA has the power to force the industry to change significantly. Make vehicles smaller. Make vehicles spy on us to make sure we're not looking at your phone. Do something.
If this were anything other than the auto industry, people would be angry about it. 7522 deaths per year is a lot of bodies. And that pile is only getting larger.
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Comment on When electric vehicle startups shut down, will their cars still work? in ~transport
thecakeisalime Link ParentThere are fixed costs (R&D, tooling), which won't be covered by the combination of low volume and low margin. I don't know where you're going to find these investors who care more about the next...Simple and low-volume sounds like the perfect way to get started so long as you’ve got the funds to support yourself or have investors that value long term stability over short term profit.
There are fixed costs (R&D, tooling), which won't be covered by the combination of low volume and low margin.
I don't know where you're going to find these investors who care more about the next decade than the next quarter, but I do hope they exist. Rivian and Lucid might be the closest to this model, given their respective investments from Amazon and Saudi Arabia, but the shares trading on the open market are still definitely focused on the short term without a care for what might come later. Even then, it seems like Amazon's support has waned recently, and no one's sure when the Saudis might pull out or what their end goal is.
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Comment on When electric vehicle startups shut down, will their cars still work? in ~transport
thecakeisalime Link ParentThe actual difference between a high end and a low end EV is almost entirely down to materials and finish. Companies start with the high margin models because it's easier to start small than to...The actual difference between a high end and a low end EV is almost entirely down to materials and finish. Companies start with the high margin models because it's easier to start small than to start with a need to sell half a million cars just to break even.
Sure, some car parts are actually better and more expensive, like the suspension, but the major expenses like R&D, the batteries, and the motor(s) are all basically the same whether you're building a high end or a basic car.
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Comment on My experience buying a used low-range EV a year later in ~transport
thecakeisalime Link ParentI don't park in my garage. I have a 120V outlet inside the garage, and run the charging cable under the garage door to my car. The length of the charging cable limits how far away from my garage...I don't park in my garage.
I have a 120V outlet inside the garage, and run the charging cable under the garage door to my car. The length of the charging cable limits how far away from my garage door I can park, but otherwise, I have had no problems in the 5 years and two houses I've lived in while I've owned my EV.
If you need to use an extension cord (as I did at my old property), use a high gauge (at least 12 gauge) extension cord.
If you're actually getting a charger installed, it can be installed outside. I sure I will do that someday, but I really haven't had the need for faster charging speeds.
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Comment on The lights don’t just go out: A lifelong fainter on how fiction gets fainting all wrong in ~health
thecakeisalime LinkI've only fainted once (due to micturition syncope), and there was a warning sign, but I would still say that the lights just went out. I had just been sitting awkwardly on the couch with my feet...I've only fainted once (due to micturition syncope), and there was a warning sign, but I would still say that the lights just went out.
I had just been sitting awkwardly on the couch with my feet elevated, and ran upstairs to use the toilet. I was urinating (standing up) and was already a little lightheaded from sitting on the couch and my sprint upstairs. I started to get more lightheaded. I remember thinking "oh, this doesn't feel right", but that might be post-incident revisionism. In any case, I collapsed, ripping the towel rack and the toilet paper holder out of the wall, and woke up on the floor.
According to my wife, she nearly immediately shouted "are you alright", and I responded "no", so I wasn't out for very long at all. However, I was extremely disoriented. It felt like it took a long time to get reoriented, but I was mostly fine before my wife got to the bathroom to help me, so it probably didn't take that long either. Luckily, I was pretty much done urinating by the time I fainted, so I didn't spray it everywhere.
That was nearly four years ago. I still get a little lightheaded when I urinate, but as long as I don't add to it by standing up quickly or running up stairs, I don't think it's a problem.
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Comment on Disney seeking dismissal of Raglan Road death lawsuit because victim was Disney+ subscriber in ~misc
thecakeisalime Link ParentThey don't even need to allow you to opt out. The "opt out" option is to just not dine there. And many restaurants already have a TOS (they don't call it that), but with much clearer terms such as...They don't even need to allow you to opt out. The "opt out" option is to just not dine there.
And many restaurants already have a TOS (they don't call it that), but with much clearer terms such as "Parties of 6+ will be automatically charged a 18% gratuity" or "Maximum 2 hours seating time".
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Comment on It’s official: These thirteen books are now banned from all public schools in Utah in ~books
thecakeisalime Link ParentYou can restrict access to books without banning them. I don't think something like Mein Kampf belongs in an elementary school library, and I hope school librarians agree with me, but if they...You can restrict access to books without banning them. I don't think something like Mein Kampf belongs in an elementary school library, and I hope school librarians agree with me, but if they don't, then it's their prerogative as the authority on the subject to include it in their collection.
If the school library system gets taken over by pedophiles/robots/O&G as you suggest, I'm not sure how a book ban would actually stop them. Who is implementing this ban, and what is going to compel the gas-powered robotic pedophiles to follow the rules? And if such a ban were possible, wouldn't it be a better idea to ban pedophiles, robots, and large corporations from replacing librarians in the first place?
There's an infinite number of hypotheticals that sound bad, but a book ban isn't actually the solution to any of them. Banning a bunch of bad books isn't going to fix anything, because the books aren't the problem, they're simply a very small symptom of the larger systemic issues that caused you to want those bans in the first place.
Note that the previous sentence holds true even if we look at it from the perspective of the people who want to ban LGBTQ+ books. They can try to ban as many books as they want, but that won't actually change the overall system which is trending towards accepting LGBTQ+ people as people. They can ban all the books they want, and while it may slow down the systemic transition towards acceptance, it won't stop it.
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Comment on It’s official: These thirteen books are now banned from all public schools in Utah in ~books
thecakeisalime Link ParentIt's certainly possible I misunderstood you. It seems like Chocobean is against this specific book ban but still okay with a book ban given those caveats. I'm happy for the first part, but still...It's certainly possible I misunderstood you.
It seems like Chocobean is against this specific book ban but still okay with a book ban given those caveats. I'm happy for the first part, but still disagree with bans, even given your caveats. I think banning books is bad, full stop.
This actually has a lot of parallels with the "debate" on abortion. Is "abortion is banned but with some caveats/exceptions" ever a good idea? If we ask the legislators in Texas, yes. If we ask all the doctors in Texas, no. Or should we leave it to the professionals (e.g. librarians and doctors) to decide what is appropriate given the circumstances and environment?
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Comment on It’s official: These thirteen books are now banned from all public schools in Utah in ~books
thecakeisalime Link ParentIf a library has qualified librarians, there should be no need to ban books. One of the (many) duties of a librarian is to curate the library's collection to its audience. If these books are...(2) The libraries are otherwise very well stocked, and staffed with qualified librarians. And the schools otherwise are filled with qualified teachers who encourage reading as much, and as in depth, as possible.
If a library has qualified librarians, there should be no need to ban books. One of the (many) duties of a librarian is to curate the library's collection to its audience. If these books are inappropriate for the school, then the librarian will come to that conclusion on their own. If the books need a content warning and/or an adult to explain some concepts to them before they start reading, the librarian can require a teacher or parent's permission (e.g. a note saying that the adult has already explained these concepts to the child) before the student can check out the book.
For a school assignment to read a book of my choice, I read A Clockwork Orange (a book that has been banned in many places over the years) in grade 9. It wasn't available at my school library (for good reason), but it wasn't banned. My teacher did ask for a note from my parents saying that they understood the content and that I could read it, and everything was fine.
Leave slippery slope counter arguments out please.
I don't think you can have a conversation about banning books without talking about the slippery slope. What subjects are okay to ban, and how do you define them sufficiently narrowly? I don't think it's possible, and that's exactly where the slippery slope comes in. But if you can, please give an example of a well-defined rule for banning a book per caveat 4 (you don't have to agree with the rule) and we'll see how many well-intentioned books are caught in the crossfire.
I actually think this one of the great things about Tildes. It doesn't matter who you are or who I am, except in the context of a back-and-forth discussion in a specific thread. Judge a comment not by the user who posted it, but by its content. Is it a good argument? Is it well-sourced? Does it provide value? Is it written in good faith? Tildes has managed to self-select for mostly good comments all around. On other sites, username recognition is sometimes important because comments are so often just incorrect and/or made in bad-faith. Here, it doesn't even matter who posted a comment. It's almost always worth reading if you're interested in the larger topic at hand.