ThrowdoBaggins's recent activity
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Comment on Could a space traveler accelerate at 1g forever? in ~space
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Comment on Could a space traveler accelerate at 1g forever? in ~space
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentIt’s been a long time since I was looking at relativity and the expansion of the universe, but if the rate of expansion is increasing, wouldn’t you automatically cross the effective “observable...I'm really not sure if you can ever truly leave the observable universe in the sense that eventually, no light from you will ever make it back to earth, but I feel like it should be possible?
It’s been a long time since I was looking at relativity and the expansion of the universe, but if the rate of expansion is increasing, wouldn’t you automatically cross the effective “observable universe boundary” (as defined by Earth’s perspective) just by being arbitrarily close to the boundary today with zero relative motion and waiting for the universe expansion to do its thing? I thought the definition of the “observable universe boundary” is the point where the space between Earth and that point expands faster than c and therefore light cannot reach us?
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Comment on Spotify is adding direct messaging to their music streaming app in ~tech
ThrowdoBaggins LinkThis is actually really frustrating if there isn’t a way to disable it behind a passcode or something. Without going into details, my younger brother is incredibly vulnerable to scams, and after...This is actually really frustrating if there isn’t a way to disable it behind a passcode or something.
Without going into details, my younger brother is incredibly vulnerable to scams, and after the most recent blowout, we’ve locked down his phone (with his support) to significantly reduce his exposure to contact with random people who may exploit him in future. Spotify is one of the few apps his phone can have at the moment, and it sounds like even this might need to be revisited in future if it allows anyone to message him.
I really wish companies would stay in their own lanes sometimes...
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Comment on How Tea’s founder convinced millions of women to spill their secrets, then exposed them to the world in ~tech
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentCommon sense from the customer doesn’t shield you from terrible security practices of companies though. I recently had to verify my identity for my phone provider by emailing my ID, and when I...People just generally need more common sense. It's one thing to upload your ID to your bank where they legally need it,
Common sense from the customer doesn’t shield you from terrible security practices of companies though. I recently had to verify my identity for my phone provider by emailing my ID, and when I pointed out that email isn’t a secure method of sending, they just responded “no need to worry, we delete IDs from our records within 48 hours” — also there was no other method to provide my ID to them
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Comment on AI is a mass-delusion event (gifted link) in ~tech
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentThat’s true for now, and that’s useful because the majority of those links are currently human-written and have at least some semblance of a reason to exist, but as more of the internet is created...That’s true for now, and that’s useful because the majority of those links are currently human-written and have at least some semblance of a reason to exist, but as more of the internet is created by AI summarising other pages which themselves are AI-written summaries... at some stage the percentage of the internet not written by AI will plummet and then you’ve got the same problem on a larger scale.
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Comment on What's a question you could ask to determine if someone is an expert in your line of work? in ~talk
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentFrom your link: Suddenly I’m imagining these incredibly technical roles as done by joyful woodland creatures, and that tickles my brain! Vast majority of everything else in that link is completely...From your link:
Two operations master roles are present at the forest level:
Suddenly I’m imagining these incredibly technical roles as done by joyful woodland creatures, and that tickles my brain!
Vast majority of everything else in that link is completely unfathomable to me, even as a relatively competent computer end-user.
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Comment on Do you share your location with your friends? in ~tech
ThrowdoBaggins LinkI’m in my mid-30s and have a friend similar age who always has location on and shared with a few close friends (the kinds of people you’d leave a copy of your house keys with, in case you lose...I’m in my mid-30s and have a friend similar age who always has location on and shared with a few close friends (the kinds of people you’d leave a copy of your house keys with, in case you lose yours or leave them somewhere), but I think explicitly not family.
They added me at some stage when we were trying to meet up and just left it on forever, so whenever we meet up for lunch in the city or whatever, I can see if they’re nearby or still on their way etc. They’re also the kind of person who might get distracted in the middle of typing out a reply to your text message, so location sharing helps their friends get an answer to “are you coming around for dinner” for when my friend forgets to reply.
I’ve occasionally turned on location sharing with them too, but because they use google maps for the sharing, and I’m not a fan of giving google more information about me than I have to, I turn off location permissions once we’ve parted ways again.
For their own friends, it’s convenient, and since they have weekly (or fortnightly?) roleplaying sessions together, they’re already super close and trusting, so the benefits of convenience and I guess also safety far outweigh their privacy concerns.
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Comment on I am new to Mac OS, give me your favorite or preferred settings/ tools! in ~tech
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentMy habits are way too chaotic and unpredictable for any clever algorithms to pick up on (actually, I think it would also be true even if my Mac could literally read my mind at all times — I don’t...My habits are way too chaotic and unpredictable for any clever algorithms to pick up on (actually, I think it would also be true even if my Mac could literally read my mind at all times — I don’t even know when I’m going to need it charged or not!)
Also, my M3 MacBook Air already has completely outshone my previous MacBook’s battery life. It was a 2008 MacBook and was still using the same battery, but attempting to run a modern OS on 2008 hardware meant maximum fans and about 15 minutes of battery life unplugged. By comparison, I was sick a few months after I bought the M3 Air, and I think I got basically a full day of streaming TV shows before the low battery indicator popped up. This tells me that I definitely don’t need the full 100% capacity range available to me.
So if it would help this laptop last as long as the last one (about 15 years) then yeah a little widget to force a lower battery cap is well worth it in my books.
Can’t say I recommend it for anyone else though, and I’m definitely an outlier when it comes to usage habits.
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Comment on Meta violated privacy law, jury says in menstrual data fight in ~health
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentSure, they never tell tampons.store that EgoEimi had their period recently, because selling the actual user data would destroy their whole advertising model. But they sure as heck will tell...Recorded and used it? Not directly. Facebook isn't being like, "this user had a period last week, target menstrual product ads at them!"
Sure, they never tell tampons.store that EgoEimi had their period recently, because selling the actual user data would destroy their whole advertising model.
But they sure as heck will tell tampons.store that “hey we know when users do or don’t have their periods so if you pay us to advertise, we’ll make sure we put the ads in front of someone who is having their period” and then they absolutely will add EgoEimi to their list of “people to advertise period products to” this week in their targeted advertising. And maybe neither of these things will happen as verbatim or obviously as I’ve described here, because plausible deniability is great at dodging lawsuits when actually you totally still did the thing, just abstracted it enough to make it seem like not the thing you did.
It’s still just as deliberate, and it’s still taking advantage of sensitive medical information that they shouldn’t even have, but certainly shouldn’t be using for advertising and profit!
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Comment on Meta violated privacy law, jury says in menstrual data fight in ~health
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentIm just curious here, but could I ask you to give me a link to the cigarette pack warnings you’ve got in mind? I know that different jurisdictions will have different levels of regulation about...I would like to see cigarette pack warnings on websites. If you profit off stolen user data you get a black bar affixed to the top of the page that says: "Here are all the ways we've abused your data in the last 12 months
Im just curious here, but could I ask you to give me a link to the cigarette pack warnings you’ve got in mind? I know that different jurisdictions will have different levels of regulation about that kind of thing, and I’m picturing Australia’s packaging laws which might be some of the strongest in the world, but I don’t think that’s quite what you’re suggesting.
For context: there’s zero branding allowed, package must be the most unpleasant vomit-yellow colour that the government could come up with, the name and variety of cigarettes (e.g. “Winfield Blue 20pk”) is printed in the exact same bland font and small size on every pack regardless of brand, and there’s always a big gross picture of some horrible disease caused by smoking, for example
examples hidden because they’re gross. Contents: simple descriptions and a link to an image which shows a handful of these cigarette packs including the gross pictures
a gangrenous foot with missing toes, or a cancer-riddled mouth, or a close-up of a tracheotomy
Here’s an example but be warned it’s not pretty
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentOh, that’s a terrifying thought! “Well, the first head came off, so that was a lie, so how can we really trust that the current human version is also legitimate? Better remove their head too, just...(Chuck E. was decapitated in the police car to reveal a human underneath, leaving this poster uncertain how deep the nesting doll goes)
Oh, that’s a terrifying thought! “Well, the first head came off, so that was a lie, so how can we really trust that the current human version is also legitimate? Better remove their head too, just in case”
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Comment on Dropbox Passwords being discontinued in ~tech
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentI probably should have too, but I’ll admit it took me until reading about the second breach to finally move away from them. Bitwarden seems to have a decent reputation and I’m satisfied with their...I dropped lastpass after the first breach/leak. I've lost count of how many they've had since
I probably should have too, but I’ll admit it took me until reading about the second breach to finally move away from them. Bitwarden seems to have a decent reputation and I’m satisfied with their free tier, so that’s where I’ve been for the last bunch of years.
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Comment on A mysterious LLC is using antique law to go after sports betting in Washington DC in ~sports
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentWhich was reviewed and updated in 1963 — so it’s not completely archaic. I suspect (with zero research, just vibes) that laws against murder generally predate this too, but that doesn’t mean it’s...despite relying on a 1700's common law.
Which was reviewed and updated in 1963 — so it’s not completely archaic. I suspect (with zero research, just vibes) that laws against murder generally predate this too, but that doesn’t mean it’s correct to categorise it as an entirely archaic law from centuries ago.
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Comment on What useful licenses or certifications are surprisingly cheap and easy to get? in ~talk
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentI got maybe not quite halfway through the PPL (that’s what it’s called in Australia, not sure if they’re global or if they differ between countries? Private Pilot Licence was the entry level of...I got maybe not quite halfway through the PPL (that’s what it’s called in Australia, not sure if they’re global or if they differ between countries? Private Pilot Licence was the entry level of the various licences) a bit over a decade ago, when my dad was happy to pay for it, but yeah at the time they were saying it’s skill-tested but that I should expect around 50 hours flight time before I would be certified, and each lesson was $200-300 for a bit under an hour.
And from there, it would probably be an additional 300-ish hours for a commercial licence (CPL)
Does that roughly line up with your experience/understanding too?
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Comment on What useful licenses or certifications are surprisingly cheap and easy to get? in ~talk
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentIt’s definitely a good idea, but if I ever regain consciousness with all my ribs broken because someone thought I needed CPR— Well I might still be in pain, but probably a lot less grumpy than the...Just check first whether there's a pulse I guess.
It’s definitely a good idea, but if I ever regain consciousness with all my ribs broken because someone thought I needed CPR—
Well I might still be in pain, but probably a lot less grumpy than the alternative, once I have a moment to think about it
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Comment on Tildes Minecraft Hardcore - Live at 20:00 UTC today in ~games
ThrowdoBaggins Link Parent@gravysleeve @taylorswiftspickles @creesch @isildursbane (I hope I’ve correctly tagged your names here) I’m going to start with the assumption that wanting players to be present for killing the...@gravysleeve @taylorswiftspickles @creesch @isildursbane
(I hope I’ve correctly tagged your names here)
I’m going to start with the assumption that wanting players to be present for killing the dragon is partly for the experience of killing the dragon (on smaller servers with friends, I’ve really enjoyed bringing the less combat-capable players to help defeat the dragon for the first time, and they’ve expressed that despite their initial hesitation, they really enjoyed being brought along so they could contribute in their own way) but also part of it is that defeating the dragon creates a portal and makes it much more possible to explore the End.
If I’m trying to solve for these two issues, then my suggestion is to reset the end dimension a few times per week (to allow for timezones and schedules) for the first two months of the new server? I could imagine a reset on a Wednesday and two resets on weekends, deliberately timed to give different timezones prime advantage of the fresh new End dimension.
This means that people could still plan ahead and join forces to defeat the dragon, and if anyone misses out or can’t make it in the first few days or the first week, there will still be opportunities.
There are a few possible drawbacks that I’ve thought of and possible ways to mitigate them. For example, the dragon gives an enormous amount of XP so an eager and successful dragon-slayer could farm the dragon for XP. However, given the speed of some modern (and even some older) XP farms, I don’t think this is a game-changing issue.
Or an elytra-hunter or shulker-collector could write down the coordinates of end cities and farm them. I think this could be an issue, partly to make elytra and shulkers much easier to get hold of in the first few weeks, but also because a potential bad actor could deliberately hoard all the closest elytra spawns for themselves by flying ahead of players much faster than the first-time hunter. In order to mitigate these risks, I propose that each reset of the End dimension also randomises the seed, so that writing down coordinates doesn’t carry across from one week to the next.
Another consideration (which I feel is a benefit to slowing down the server, but which might be controversial) is that this would mean any Ender Ender (Enderman-based XP farms) would be reset, and therefore make XP more difficult to come by for any players who aren’t directly slaying the dragon. My argument in favour of this is that overworld- or nether-based XP farms exist, and that after the agreed time (I suggested two months, but that’s not mandatory) the End stops being regularly reset, and Ender farms can then be established.
If there are any tweaks to my suggestion or significant drawbacks that I haven’t considered here, please feel free to comment — I’m eager to hear other ideas! I just figured I’d put my two cents out here to contribute to the discussion.
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Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentAnother possible point to explore — if you have issues with east/west, do you also have issues with north/south? So I guess is this a general issue with cardinality, or is it specifically only...Another possible point to explore — if you have issues with east/west, do you also have issues with north/south? So I guess is this a general issue with cardinality, or is it specifically only east/west that trips you up?
I suspect part of why I have trouble with east/west is that I’ve mentally tried to link them with left/right, but because left/right isn’t well anchored either, they all become unstuck.
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Comment on What were you right about? in ~talk
ThrowdoBaggins LinkI remember sitting at lunch with my siblings and their partners in late February 2020 as Covid was starting to hit the news. We’re Australian and were talking about whether it would be a big deal,...I remember sitting at lunch with my siblings and their partners in late February 2020 as Covid was starting to hit the news. We’re Australian and were talking about whether it would be a big deal, how it would transpire, and how long until it would impact things. A few months earlier (well before the retroactively declared first cases) we had booked flights to an event in New York City for around October/November 2020, and at lunch were discussing our plans around that trip.
International travel was already starting to be limited by some countries, and I was the only one at the table suggesting that things wouldn’t blow over before our trips, and we should get in touch with our booking agency to get refunds. I distinctly remember, when they pushed back on the idea that it would be that long, I said “it will be three years or more before international travel is back to where it was” and I think at least from the Australian perspective, I was just about right on the money for that timeline.
I wasn’t expecting the way lockdowns or stay-at-home orders would impact things, but my mental timeline of a year or two before we would get vaccines, and a year or two further before enough people were vaccinated for international travel to really open up again to 2019 levels seemed to be pretty accurate.
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Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ThrowdoBaggins LinkMy special talent is also whistling-related (it seemed to come up a few times in this thread!) but what I might lack in professional level skill, I make up for in variety. I can whistle: two...My special talent is also whistling-related (it seemed to come up a few times in this thread!) but what I might lack in professional level skill, I make up for in variety.
I can whistle:
- two different ways with my lips (as in, I can feel the resonance in a different air pocket)
- simultaneously either side of my tongue/over my molars (where each cheek is the resonant cavity) which means I can make two notes of slightly different pitch
- over the centre of my tongue when it’s rolled inside my mouth
- two different ways over my front teeth (these are fun because there’s zero involvement from my lips or cheeks, so my face doesn’t look like it’s whistling, so sometimes I can confuse people as to where the whistling sound is coming from or who is doing it)
- with my lips and with my tongue independently but at the same time (this one is fun because they’re usually significantly different pitch, though often at a harmonic interval to each other, I think a fourth or third interval apart, but my music theory is failing me here)
The last one with two notes that are harmonised are actually really difficult to sustain because I think if the ratio of resonance isn’t just right, the air pressure/turbulence/whatever from each of them interferes with the other, so they usually fight for which note is happening. Getting two at the same time this way is kinda rare.
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Comment on What is your silly or (kinda) useless talent? in ~talk
ThrowdoBaggins Link ParentOh yeah that’s one thing I know about whistling — there’s a lot of turbulence involved, and probably some pretty intense changes in pressure, and it’s basically controlled blowing, so you can’t...Edit: I just tried to record some of my whistling. Now I understand the need for processing….
Oh yeah that’s one thing I know about whistling — there’s a lot of turbulence involved, and probably some pretty intense changes in pressure, and it’s basically controlled blowing, so you can’t whistle directly onto/into a microphone from close by. I’ve had some success basically whistling past (or even pointing away from) a microphone in the past?
I think I see 25 hours per day, and given how much of my week is eaten by my commute, I would like to vote in favour of 25 hours per day please! Just to give me a bit more time in the week to get stuff done!