vagueallusion's recent activity

  1. Comment on What's good in modern flashlights/headlamps? in ~hobbies

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    Fellow lumen nerd! I also bought the Pro Max but find the temperature to be way too green. Unfortunately even with the extra lumens I prefer the nichia emitter.

    Fellow lumen nerd! I also bought the Pro Max but find the temperature to be way too green. Unfortunately even with the extra lumens I prefer the nichia emitter.

    1 vote
  2. Comment on What's good in modern flashlights/headlamps? in ~hobbies

    vagueallusion
    Link
    OooOO flashlights! I dug deep into the surprisingly helpful subreddit and was astounded at the lengths some people would go for enthusiast flashlights. Some of these people are even going so far...

    OooOO flashlights!
    I dug deep into the surprisingly helpful subreddit and was astounded at the lengths some people would go for enthusiast flashlights. Some of these people are even going so far as to re-solder diodes for a better temperature emitter! (Warmer is generally better)

    I stand by the right angle 18650 included Armytech Wizard pro c2 nichia with a warm emitter.
    https://armytek.com/flashlights/models/wizard/armytek-wizard-c2-pro-nichia-pcb-warm/

    I use it both for camping or home utility. I find the light temperature to be very satisfying. The button placement on the right angle can take some getting used to but once you realize that you always know which direction the light is pointing when your finger is on the button it becomes second nature.

    It does use an 18650 battery which has enough power by itself to lasting multiple days however I also hike with a power pack.

    Bonus luminosity: For a handheld torch I love the Sofirn sp36 pro (I always go for the warmest AKA lowest temp emitter I can get. This has three 18650s in a fairly compact well machined aluminum form.

    It will smash any body else's flashlight and the Anduril interface is both customizable and intuitive. (Double press for turbo!)

    https://www.sofirnlight.com/products/sofirn-sp36pro-rechargeable-flashlight

    Cheers!
    ( Don't get me started on novelty level flashlights. " Tame the Sun" level gear.)

    1 vote
  3. Comment on What is a business/org that's so terrible no one should use if possible? in ~life

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    Yep has my business hours as open 24/7 and I get angry customers who think our physical store should be open at whenever time they show up. Of course our website, Google, fb, automated attendant...

    Yep has my business hours as open 24/7 and I get angry customers who think our physical store should be open at whenever time they show up.

    Of course our website, Google, fb, automated attendant all state the correct times.

    Of course Yelp requires a paid account to make changes to info they made up.

    10 votes
  4. Comment on What is a business/org that's so terrible no one should use if possible? in ~life

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    It really blows me away that so many of my activist friends and acquaintance still use it and shrug it all off. It makes me quite angry if I'm being honest

    It really blows me away that so many of my activist friends and acquaintance still use it and shrug it all off.
    It makes me quite angry if I'm being honest

    4 votes
  5. Comment on What is a business/org that's so terrible no one should use if possible? in ~life

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    It depends on the market. I pay $40 for 200/40.

    It depends on the market. I pay $40 for 200/40.

    2 votes
  6. Comment on Perplexity’s Comet browser invites in ~tech

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    But it even says right on the chat window that my data won't be used for training! /S (It does on the paid version at least but I hold no illusions.)

    But it even says right on the chat window that my data won't be used for training! /S

    (It does on the paid version at least but I hold no illusions.)

  7. Comment on Could a space traveler accelerate at 1g forever? in ~space

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    {genie twinkle} YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND! {Discordant noise} YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED ONE MORE HOUR OF TRAFFIC PER DAY

    {genie twinkle}
    YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND!
    {Discordant noise}
    YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED ONE MORE HOUR OF TRAFFIC PER DAY

  8. Comment on Could a space traveler accelerate at 1g forever? in ~space

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    Are you sure about that? I'm not a math major but I've followed along with the math before. (Totally cheating on this math) a = 1G =9.80665 m/e^2 1year = 365.25 * 25 * 3600s = 31,557,600 s...

    Are you sure about that? I'm not a math major but I've followed along with the math before.
    (Totally cheating on this math)

    a = 1G =9.80665 m/e^2
    1year = 365.25 * 25 * 3600s = 31,557,600 s

    Distance = 1/2Acceleration Time^2
    d= .05 * 9.80665 * (31,557,600)^2
    d= 4.89
    10^15m
    d = .52 light years

    Even this miniscule example has us accelerating past the speed of light. So with relativity in mind it's even less than .52 light years.

    Can you elaborate on your calculations?

    Edit: sorry I'm on mobile and my formatting is going wild.

  9. Comment on Could a space traveler accelerate at 1g forever? in ~space

    vagueallusion
    Link
    I just want to add that you could only accelerate at 1G for approximately 3.68 years (ship time) to reach .9999 c. Ignoring technical issues the idea would be to accelerate at 1G for 50% of the...

    I just want to add that you could only accelerate at 1G for approximately 3.68 years (ship time) to reach .9999 c.

    Ignoring technical issues the idea would be to accelerate at 1G for 50% of the journey then flip around and decelerate at 1G for the second half of the journey. Also this would only be 41 ish lightyears of distance which is relatively (zing!) nothing on the cosmic scale.

    The books/TV show The Expanse does a really good job of demonstrating this. The concept does rely on impossible fuel efficiency. But that's what makes it science fiction (or extrapolative fiction if you prefer.)

    8 votes
  10. Comment on US will begin charging some tourists a $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ in ~travel

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    It seems like it may be additional and also apply to more categories of Visas. I'm looking at an article that states "For example, Student visa applicants already must pay $185 application fee and...

    It seems like it may be additional and also apply to more categories of Visas.
    I'm looking at an article that states "For example, Student visa applicants already must pay $185 application fee and a $350 fee for the student exchange visitor program. The additional $250 fee will bring their total cost to $785."

    Many countries are covered under the Visa Waiver Program. Which includes many European and South American countries.
    www.dsh.gov/visa-waiver-progra

    Apparently my home country was removed from the program in 2002.

    I am not clear if members of the waiver program countries will be required to pay the new Integrity Fee.

    3 votes
  11. Comment on US will begin charging some tourists a $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ in ~travel

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    Sure, but its already a thing. My family has to pay for a Visa fee of about $185 (nonimmigrant class B visitor visa) to visit me from South America. Likewise my wife had to pay they reciprocal fee...

    Sure, but its already a thing. My family has to pay for a Visa fee of about $185 (nonimmigrant class B visitor visa) to visit me from South America. Likewise my wife had to pay they reciprocal fee to visit my family in South America.

    https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html

    11 votes
  12. Comment on US will begin charging some tourists a $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ in ~travel

    vagueallusion
    Link
    Prepare yourself for reciprocal fees if you plan on traveling anywhere.

    Prepare yourself for reciprocal fees if you plan on traveling anywhere.

    14 votes
  13. Comment on Studios decry cinemas’ ad-filled preshows as AMC warns of “25-30 extra minutes”: Here are the consequences for movie biz in ~movies

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    For me, yes ads bother the crap out of me. More importantly though, watching ads is a form of payment, and I already paid a lot to go to the cinema.

    For me, yes ads bother the crap out of me.
    More importantly though, watching ads is a form of payment, and I already paid a lot to go to the cinema.

    8 votes
  14. Comment on Studios decry cinemas’ ad-filled preshows as AMC warns of “25-30 extra minutes”: Here are the consequences for movie biz in ~movies

    vagueallusion
    Link
    If I can't block, skip, it pay to remove ads I will not use the service/event. I already paid to watch the movie paying twice is bullshit. I'm going to have to start seeking candy in the parking...

    If I can't block, skip, it pay to remove ads I will not use the service/event.
    I already paid to watch the movie paying twice is bullshit.

    I'm going to have to start seeking candy in the parking lot to even the score! Joking not joking.

    10 votes
  15. Comment on How did you ruin a game for yourself? in ~games

  16. Comment on That dropped call with customer service? It was on purpose. in ~life

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    My recommendation would be to try social media first, I don't use Facebook but sometimes their teams have more leeway than phone and email customer service. I find it best to have tried all...

    My recommendation would be to try social media first, I don't use Facebook but sometimes their teams have more leeway than phone and email customer service.
    I find it best to have tried all avenues before pulling out the big guns.
    If you do go through with the EECB, explain your journey in brief, and what you are asking for as politely as possible.

    Good luck!

    4 votes
  17. Comment on That dropped call with customer service? It was on purpose. in ~life

    vagueallusion
    Link
    I am surprised that there were no mentions of two powerful tools against the sludge: EECB ( Executive Email Carpet Bomb):Identify how a company emails are formatted (first name and last initial,...

    I am surprised that there were no mentions of two powerful tools against the sludge: EECB ( Executive Email Carpet Bomb):Identify how a company emails are formatted (first name and last initial, or last name dot first name, etc) then look up the corporate officers and high level management and blast your problem to the decision makers that just want the issue to go away.
    This can work well for small and mid-level businesses but large companies are harder.

    Also don't forget about the Attorney General for your state. This should be your last resource but can be the ONLY thing massive companies fear.

    My list for dealing with customer service in chronological order: regular customer service, manager, corporate, social media, EECB, lastly State or Federal agencies.

    15 votes
  18. Comment on That dropped call with customer service? It was on purpose. in ~life

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    Take a look at my explanation of an EECB (executive email carpet bomb) above your comment. It is much more effective than blasting to the level contacts.

    Take a look at my explanation of an EECB (executive email carpet bomb) above your comment. It is much more effective than blasting to the level contacts.

    5 votes
  19. Comment on That dropped call with customer service? It was on purpose. in ~life

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    Better than emailing addresses you can easily find try my favorite tool against the sludge: EECB (Executive Email Carpet Bomb). Basically you identify how a company emails are formatted (first...

    Better than emailing addresses you can easily find try my favorite tool against the sludge: EECB (Executive Email Carpet Bomb). Basically you identify how a company emails are formatted (first name and last initial, or last name dot first name, etc) then look up the corporate officers and high level management and blast your problem to the decision makers that just want the issue to go away.
    @BeardyHat

    13 votes
  20. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    vagueallusion
    Link Parent
    That's the tiny tiniest spoiler I've ever read. :) The battle gameplay keeps on adding mechanics. You'll feel like a guitar hero rockstar in later battles!

    That's the tiny tiniest spoiler I've ever read. :)

    The battle gameplay keeps on adding mechanics. You'll feel like a guitar hero rockstar in later battles!