zipf_slaw's recent activity

  1. Comment on Asteroid discovered only two days ago will fly by Earth closer than the moon today in ~space

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    I would think comets would be easier to detect than asteroids, as comets generally emit a couple tails as they enter the inner solar system, increasing the overall reflectance of the object....

    I would think comets would be easier to detect than asteroids, as comets generally emit a couple tails as they enter the inner solar system, increasing the overall reflectance of the object. Asteroids, on the other hand, can sneak up on you as some have pretty low albedo and don't generate comas/tails. Infrared is really the only wavelengths you can use to fine them.

    6 votes
  2. Comment on Can we bury enough wood to slow climate change? in ~enviro

    zipf_slaw
    Link
    On the smaller scale, hugelkultur is a fine way to grow a garden in drier climates. You bury wood in trenches, cover it with dirt to form a berm, plant all over the berm, and the wood acts as a...

    On the smaller scale, hugelkultur is a fine way to grow a garden in drier climates. You bury wood in trenches, cover it with dirt to form a berm, plant all over the berm, and the wood acts as a sponge over the winter/spring and holds the water into summer meaning less watering.

    11 votes
  3. Comment on Some protein powders and shakes may contain high levels of lead in ~health

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    This is likely because most breakfast cereals (and many flour-based products) are fortified with elemental iron (literally, food grade iron filings). Run a few pounds of any generic baking flour...

    he tried cornflakes made without salt, and how it tasted metallic;

    This is likely because most breakfast cereals (and many flour-based products) are fortified with elemental iron (literally, food grade iron filings). Run a few pounds of any generic baking flour across a rare earth magnet and you see it accumulate; a cornflake floating in water will behave kind of like a weak compass needle. If they weren't fortified like that they probably wouldn't taste metallic. You'd still need some sodium for balancing the taste/flavor, but it likely wouldn't need near as much.

    7 votes
  4. Comment on Prospect of life on Saturn’s moons rises after discovery of organic substances in ~space

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    The Anthropic Principal says "not so fast". Our existence is a selection effect. We can only observe from a planet where life exists, so the fact that life exists here is not evidence that life is...

    The fact that we know life exists in the universe should already lead you to conclude that life is relatively common in the universe.

    The Anthropic Principal says "not so fast".

    Our existence is a selection effect. We can only observe from a planet where life exists, so the fact that life exists here is not evidence that life is common elsewhere — it’s just necessary for us to be here to notice. That observation is like saying ‘I won the lottery’ and concluding the lottery must sell lots of tickets: you don’t get information about the ticket-sales from the fact that the winner exists.

    SpaceTime just did a great video about all this.

    10 votes
  5. Comment on White House in a bind as soybean sales to China plummet to zero in ~society

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    But I think that is only because we don't know the last person who flattered or paid him at any given moment. If we knew that, his behavior becomes extremely predictable.

    , but that doesn't mean everything was predictable in detail.

    But I think that is only because we don't know the last person who flattered or paid him at any given moment. If we knew that, his behavior becomes extremely predictable.

    7 votes
  6. Comment on What are some of your personal misheard lyrics? in ~music

    zipf_slaw
    Link
    Broken Bells - The Mall & Misery Line: The dead mouths it costs to be... [alive] I hear as Deadmau5 accosted me...

    Broken Bells - The Mall & Misery

    Line: The dead mouths it costs to be... [alive]

    I hear as Deadmau5 accosted me...

    1 vote
  7. Comment on Grape glut: Too much wine across the world leaves tons of US grapes rotting this crush season in ~food

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    You can ferment them into surface disinfectants. This has been done for awhile.

    You can ferment them into surface disinfectants. This has been done for awhile.

    2 votes
  8. Comment on The Mandalorian and Grogu | Official trailer in ~movies

    zipf_slaw
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Agreed, across the board. The low points for me was when Grogu was already doing jedi master shit with no training. The series just completely fucked over Yoda's "specialness"; turns out he wasn't...

    Agreed, across the board. The low points for me was when Grogu was already doing jedi master shit with no training. The series just completely fucked over Yoda's "specialness"; turns out he wasn't all that special, just lucky he was born into the right species. (I know about Yaddle, but that just supports the notion that that race is "jedi right out of the box")

    4 votes
  9. Comment on The Mandalorian and Grogu | Official trailer in ~movies

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    For me, Grogu destroyed anything about The Mandolorian that I enjoyed, then Skywalker's appearance shat all over the wreckage. Waaaay too much leaning on nostalgia for me.

    For me, Grogu destroyed anything about The Mandolorian that I enjoyed, then Skywalker's appearance shat all over the wreckage. Waaaay too much leaning on nostalgia for me.

    6 votes
  10. Comment on What "one-hit wonder" do you think has a discography worth exploring? in ~music

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    The Girl You Want, Secret Agent Man, Jocko Homo, Mongoloid, Through Being Cool - these are my faves. Their 50th anniversary album is a frequent spin for me. I recently met a close friend of one of...

    Devo

    The Girl You Want, Secret Agent Man, Jocko Homo, Mongoloid, Through Being Cool - these are my faves. Their 50th anniversary album is a frequent spin for me.

    I recently met a close friend of one of the members (Casale) and he implied he may invite me to a dinner party with him at some point, but I'm not holding my breath.

    9 votes
  11. Comment on AI content warning label in ~creative

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    Not trying to undermine your point at all, but perhaps a slightly more apt comparison instead of Organic certification may be "Non-GMO Project Certified" since it speaks directly to the nature of...

    Not trying to undermine your point at all, but perhaps a slightly more apt comparison instead of Organic certification may be "Non-GMO Project Certified" since it speaks directly to the nature of the inputs rather than just how they were handled or what they were exposed to during growth and processing. But it's perhaps an unnecessary comment.

    5 votes
  12. Comment on How Honeycrisp apples went from marvel to mediocre in ~food

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    The main selling point Cosmic Crisp has over Honey Crisp is that it's had the polyphenol oxidase enzyme bred out of it, which means it doesn't really brown when cells are damaged, so you can...

    The main selling point Cosmic Crisp has over Honey Crisp is that it's had the polyphenol oxidase enzyme bred out of it, which means it doesn't really brown when cells are damaged, so you can prepare cut fruit and have it last a significantly longer time before it's unappealing. A game-changer in apple quality and shelf-life.

    25 votes
  13. Comment on Wireless earphones: a belated review in ~tech

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    thank you for the clarification!

    thank you for the clarification!

    1 vote
  14. Comment on The US school shooting industry is worth billions — and it keeps growing in ~society

    zipf_slaw
    Link
    I want to get off Mr. Glock's Wild Ride.

    I want to get off Mr. Glock's Wild Ride.

    5 votes
  15. Comment on Wireless earphones: a belated review in ~tech

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought "monitor" in this context means the audio has not been 'colored' by any EQ (that sometimes happens within headphones) and that the sound is as...

    Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought "monitor" in this context means the audio has not been 'colored' by any EQ (that sometimes happens within headphones) and that the sound is as "authentic" as possible...

  16. Comment on Charlie Kirk shooting: US President Donald Trump says suspect in custody in ~society

    zipf_slaw
    Link Parent
    This is exactly what happens in all culture war issues right now. One side uses a few internet posts as way to broad-brush the ideas to an entire half of the political spectrum. We're boned.

    This is exactly what happens in all culture war issues right now. One side uses a few internet posts as way to broad-brush the ideas to an entire half of the political spectrum. We're boned.

    6 votes
  17. Comment on Throwback Thursday: Let's talk old flash and memes! in ~talk

    zipf_slaw
    Link
    How is babby formed? Q: How girl get pragnent?? A: They need to do way instain mother who kill thier babbys.

    How is babby formed?

    Q: How girl get pragnent??

    A: They need to do way instain mother who kill thier babbys.

    9 votes
  18. Comment on IRC - The Serial Port's love letter to Internet Relay Chat in ~tech

    zipf_slaw
    Link
    Fond memories of IRC back when I was a youngin', both HS and in college (in the 90's).

    Fond memories of IRC back when I was a youngin', both HS and in college (in the 90's).

    5 votes
  19. Comment on Looking for some video game suggestions based off some specific parameters in ~games

    zipf_slaw
    Link
    If you like X-Com and Balatro, may I introduce you to Fights in Tight Spaces? Turn based strategy deck building game where each level/room is a puzzle to solve by beating the crap out of a variety...

    If you like X-Com and Balatro, may I introduce you to Fights in Tight Spaces? Turn based strategy deck building game where each level/room is a puzzle to solve by beating the crap out of a variety of enemies with special moves. Just started playing it a couple days ago (75% off on Steam) and it's enjoyable.

    4 votes
  20. Comment on Vintage cabaret cover of Europe’s “The Final Countdown” by Gunhild Carling (2018) in ~music