vord's recent activity
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Comment on How much power does US President Donald Trump have? in ~society
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Comment on NASA moves swiftly to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, ask US employees to “report” violations in ~space
vord LinkWhile the death of DEI is sad, there's a much more important news bit buried near the end of the article. Have a friend-of-a-friend that confirmed there is content filtering in place to prevent...While the death of DEI is sad, there's a much more important news bit buried near the end of the article.
As of Tuesday, all external communication from agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the NIH, Centers for Disease Control, and the Food and Drug Administration, were put on hold.
Have a friend-of-a-friend that confirmed there is content filtering in place to prevent information from escaping those listed orgs.
Say goodbye to public alerts for infectious disease. Like bird flu. Or salmonella outbreaks in your peanut butter.
Shoddy state of journalism.
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Comment on Bluesky advertises itself as an open network, they say people won't lose followers or their identity, they advertise themselves as a protocol ("atproto"). These three claims are false. in ~tech
vord Link ParentAnd you touch on the problem (and there are studies I don't have the time to dig up right now): You can take two neutral pictures, a cat or a dog. Have one showing 7000 likes and the other 10...And you touch on the problem (and there are studies I don't have the time to dig up right now):
You can take two neutral pictures, a cat or a dog. Have one showing 7000 likes and the other 10 likes.
The vast majority people you show the two posts to will prefer the one with more likes. Even if you swap the picture.
Showing likes and replies merely encourages hivethink.
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Comment on Bluesky advertises itself as an open network, they say people won't lose followers or their identity, they advertise themselves as a protocol ("atproto"). These three claims are false. in ~tech
vord Link ParentAnd the worst thing is, all it takes is like 3 companies like Valve to choose openness instead of secrets. You hear me, device makers? Come in real close. THERE IS NO COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE TO...And the worst thing is, all it takes is like 3 companies like Valve to choose openness instead of secrets.
You hear me, device makers? Come in real close.
THERE IS NO COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE TO CLOSED DRIVERS ANYMORE. ALL YOU DO IS MAKE ALL OF YOUR CUSTOMER'S LIVES HARDER.
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Comment on Bluesky advertises itself as an open network, they say people won't lose followers or their identity, they advertise themselves as a protocol ("atproto"). These three claims are false. in ~tech
vord Link ParentI have a question... What bearing does it have? The only answer that comes to mind is "So I can like what has already been liked."I have a question... What bearing does it have?
The only answer that comes to mind is "So I can like what has already been liked."
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Comment on Bluesky advertises itself as an open network, they say people won't lose followers or their identity, they advertise themselves as a protocol ("atproto"). These three claims are false. in ~tech
vord Link ParentHere's the answer: It's like email. You pick a server and you use it. You can still interact with people who chose different. Everything else is nuance that can be ignored until later....You must understand the "what's an instance and how do I choose"
Here's the answer: It's like email. You pick a server and you use it. You can still interact with people who chose different. Everything else is nuance that can be ignored until later.
Alternatively, don't bring up instances at all. Link them to one of the big ones and call it a day.
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Comment on Considerations on rent control in ~finance
vord Link ParentThat's actually a very good point I had not seen discussed before. If I can rent a 2BR for say $1,000 a month, that would drastically reduce the appeal of any comparable condo costing more than that.That's actually a very good point I had not seen discussed before.
If I can rent a 2BR for say $1,000 a month, that would drastically reduce the appeal of any comparable condo costing more than that.
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Comment on Supercentenarian and remarkable age records exhibit patterns indicative of clerical errors and pension fraud in ~health
vord Link ParentWell fuck, that guy is owed a refund on that curse.Well fuck, that guy is owed a refund on that curse.
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Comment on Live updates of day one executive orders / actions taken by US President Donald Trump in ~society
vord Link ParentYes. W Bush also was seriously contemplating starting Iraq war without congress. And ultimately it doesn't matter if there is any truth to the allegation. He just needs a plausible-enough...Yes. W Bush also was seriously contemplating starting Iraq war without congress.
And ultimately it doesn't matter if there is any truth to the allegation. He just needs a plausible-enough soundbite to rally base to justify war, regardless of reality so he can start pumping all the Hispanics into concentration camps.
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Comment on Live updates of day one executive orders / actions taken by US President Donald Trump in ~society
vord Link ParentThat's a really weird way of phrasing "corruption" and "oligarchy."The moment sharply illustrated the unusual partnership the billionaire tech titan, who has lucrative contracts with the federal government, has established with the incoming president.
That's a really weird way of phrasing "corruption" and "oligarchy."
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Comment on Live updates of day one executive orders / actions taken by US President Donald Trump in ~society
vord Link ParentAs I recall, harboring terrorist organizations qualifies your country to be declared an enemy of the state, which is in line with using the Alien Enemies act to deport all people of Mexican...As I recall, harboring terrorist organizations qualifies your country to be declared an enemy of the state, which is in line with using the Alien Enemies act to deport all people of Mexican descent.
Also unilaterally declaring war on Mexico without congressional approval.
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Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of January 20 in ~society
vord Link ParentOh I very much agree. I should definitely rewrite the entire last section. Honestly I lost the thread partway through, and at this point it's not even that important anymore. I do want to revisit...Oh I very much agree. I should definitely rewrite the entire last section. Honestly I lost the thread partway through, and at this point it's not even that important anymore.
I do want to revisit his more casual droning that happened afterward though.
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Comment on Elon Musk makes 'Nazi-style salute' at Donald Trump's inauguration parade in ~society
vord Link ParentTrolls are not nice people. You can take what they say at face value because they are saying it to your face. Whether they are "kidding" is irrelevant.We are what we pretend to be
- Kurt Vonnegut
Trolls are not nice people. You can take what they say at face value because they are saying it to your face.
Whether they are "kidding" is irrelevant.
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Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of January 20 in ~society
vord (edited )LinkAmerica completes its descent into fascism, as of about 1 hour ago at time of writing. I'm starting a full write-up on all the various obvious fascist signals from his inauguration speech, but in...America completes its descent into fascism, as of about 1 hour ago at time of writing. I'm starting a full write-up on all the various obvious fascist signals from his inauguration speech, but in short it was a disgusting display of nationalism and call to violence.
I am ashamed and fear for the future of our country and the world.
Edit: Here you are Tildes. My first blog post.
It's definitely not great, but honestly things are moving so fast now I haven't got time to do better. (@DefinitelyNotAFae and @Zorind if edits trigger pings)
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Comment on Considerations on rent control in ~finance
vord Link ParentThen why haven't housing developing companies lobbied incredibly hard to build dense housing in California?Then why haven't housing developing companies lobbied incredibly hard to build dense housing in California?
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Comment on Considerations on rent control in ~finance
vord (edited )Link ParentI was that guy who bounced between rentals annually. In the span of 7 years before I bought a house, I moved 6 times. Once between cities, and the rest within a mile of each other. My record was 3...I was that guy who bounced between rentals annually. In the span of 7 years before I bought a house, I moved 6 times. Once between cities, and the rest within a mile of each other. My record was 3 blocks.
After about the third move, you've abandoned all but your most prized possessions, especially if they are heavy or bulky.
Edit: Also, I wonder if lower rates of homeownership contribute to renter stability. If the average person stops renting in their 20s in 1988, but by today people are priced out until their 30s, that would slow the rate of rental churn if people who would otherwise buy want a stable home but can't afford it. Particularly if there are more kids in rentals and parents don't want to constantly uproot their children's lives.
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Comment on Considerations on rent control in ~finance
vord (edited )LinkI'm going to trot out on of my favorite economics essays on the topic (and its video counterpart). Discussing the supply/demand curve as Samuelson applies it to bread: While scarcity can raise...At that time, most economists took it for granted that raising the minimum wage would reduce employment. Textbooks said that it was simple supply and demand — if you raise the price of something, people will buy less of it.
I'm going to trot out on of my favorite economics essays on the topic (and its video counterpart). Discussing the supply/demand curve as Samuelson applies it to bread:
The claim that the rise in the price of bread will encourage more production is transparent apologetic nonsense. There can not be the smooth upward sloping supply curve that he shows when the harvest fails. If the harvest has failed, it has failed and no more wheat can be harvested for a year. So the rise in the price of bread will have no effect on production. The rising price of bread will be no more effective in bringing better weather next year than prayers to Ceres, the Goddess of wheat would have been.
While scarcity can raise prices, raised prices has little to no impact on production. We see this in numerous sectors across the board. And while raising prices does suppress people's abilities to afford things, it doesn't change the demand for them. Especially for essentials. We all need several hundred calories a day to survive, price merely affects how luxurious we eat. And that's why jacking up the price of insulin was such a solid moneymaker.
In the case of wages: Raising minimum wage doesn't reduce jobs because companies are already doing their best to function with the fewest staff they possibly can at the lowest rates they can get away with. If McDonalds could fire their workforce and make every customer cook their own fries they would.
The studies all found that rent behaves a lot like the discussed bread: Scarcity drives the prices up, but the price doesn't really impact the production in any tangible way.
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Comment on Fire at one of the world's largest battery plants forces evacuations in California in ~enviro
vord Link ParentConservatives do have this really weird habit of creating a crisis and then blaming everyone but themselves for the crisis. See also: The national debt crisis. All they had to do is not cut taxes...Conservatives do have this really weird habit of creating a crisis and then blaming everyone but themselves for the crisis.
See also: The national debt crisis. All they had to do is not cut taxes on the wealthy.
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Comment on Fire at one of the world's largest battery plants forces evacuations in California in ~enviro
vord Link ParentThat would honestly help a lot (though I get that conservatives would balk because "mental health is a personal failing"). They were getting funding and better programs in place with the MHSA in...Reopen the mental facilities that were closed in 1981?
That would honestly help a lot (though I get that conservatives would balk because "mental health is a personal failing"). They were getting funding and better programs in place with the MHSA in 1980 and then Reagan promptly pooped all over it in 1981.
Having a proper facility where inpatients are treated more like people and less like emergency care cases or prisoners would likely reduce the number of schizophrenics and other psychosis-adjacent patients roaming the streets.
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Comment on Kids at-home science experiments (of the less tame variety) in ~science
vord (edited )Link ParentIn that vein, exploding small hydrogen balloons can be great fun. Start very small and make sure to use a long stick. Hydrolysis is pretty easy. Use the hydrogen for small bomb and use the oxygen...In that vein, exploding small hydrogen balloons can be great fun. Start very small and make sure to use a long stick.
Hydrolysis is pretty easy. Use the hydrogen for small bomb and use the oxygen to boost flames on a candle.
I'm with ya there. W Bush and Obama bother really pushed the envelope and I screamed "slippery slope" every step of the way while the moderates on both sides more or less said its fine.
Well, now we see the end result.
Every single thing that's done should be asked 'would I be OK if the political opposition used this same tactic to implement something I don't like.'. Because it's inevitable that they will...especially Republicans, because Democrats love procedure and decorum too much.