lackofaname's recent activity
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Comment on How 3M covered up "forever chemicals" in ~enviro
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Comment on How 3M covered up "forever chemicals" in ~enviro
lackofaname Link ParentTook me a while, kept reading during work breaks, but also read the whole way through. That PFAS accumulate and are toxic isn't news to me. What really hurts (but doesn't really shock) about this...Took me a while, kept reading during work breaks, but also read the whole way through. That PFAS accumulate and are toxic isn't news to me. What really hurts (but doesn't really shock) about this article for me is the depth and longevity of the selfishness (to put it lightly) of 3M and its leaders.
On one level, simply unconscionable. I sometimes joke about wishing I had fewer morals so I could become rich; stories like this make that joke in bad taste.
On another, dumbfoundingly stupid in their shortsightedness. I have sympathy for Kris Hansen; yes, wilfully ignorant but also by all accounts used, ignored, and ostracized for her early efforts. Less sympathy for Johnson if only because he's painted as an asshole. It's the upper leadership/execs/owner who drive the corporate culture and decisions who are the source of my ire. They undoubtedly had families, lived in the area. Were they really so self-centered as to not care about their children's future? So self-assured as to think they and their families couldn't possibly be impacted?
There are so many more costs to the goods we use everyday than monetary. It's just a matter of when the bill comes due.
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Comment on Frozen human brain tissue was successfully revived for the first time in ~science
lackofaname Link ParentI have some experience with brain cell culturing (though, about a decade past, so I tried to read a couple more modern sources to make sure my info isn't completely ancient). Freezing cells (in...I have some experience with brain cell culturing (though, about a decade past, so I tried to read a couple more modern sources to make sure my info isn't completely ancient).
Freezing cells (in single-cell suspension) generally is long established. But, different types of cells can be more/less difficult to cryopreserve, and neurons are particularly tricky to work with. I can say from experience, at least with culturing, there's a huge degree of finesse and craft needed to be successful that's impossible to convey in the methods of a research paper. Take a look at this commercial description of Gibco-cryopreserved neurons (Gibco is a very common brand in cell culturing): They advertise that 50-80% of cells remaining alive after thawing is a huge success compared to competitors.. Also bear in mind, unlike other cell types, you only get the neurons that live, they don't replicate and make more in culture (assuming we're talking neurons, and not neural stem cells). Another consideration is, because mature neurons have incredibly complex, fragile shapes, they often need to be cultured from either extremely juvenile neural cells or from neural progenitor cells (i.e., stem cells that can be manipulated to turn into neurons).
In terms of cryopreserving three-dimensional clumps of different types of cells: Now you're trying not only to keep single cells alive but different types of cells while also preserving their structure. I don't have any first-hand experience here, but it's a rather recently advancing area (e.g., in this review most references are within last 7-8-ish years; PDF accessible via Google Scholar).
I think it's worth mentioning that most of the experiments in this study (it's open access) were conducted on organoids (single-suspension stem cells cultured into 3d clumps that then could differentiate into different cells types). In the one experiment on actual tissue, I felt like the authors obfuscated the results a little. They note "most neurons and astrocytes in MEDY-cryopreserved brain tissue were well preserved" [compared to normal, non-cryopreserved tissue]. What they don't mention, but clear in Fig. 6K and L, there was a 10-percentage point drop in mature neurons (NeuN-positive cells) from the non-cryopreserved tissue vs. the 'normal' tissue. I say this not to detract from the study, just to convey that result more realistically. A 10-percentage point drop in viable mature neurons (from 40% in normal to 30% MEDY-cryopreserved) may be fine for research purposes. Probably not so much if you want to thaw grandpa.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin in ~books
lackofaname Link ParentAlso wasn't alive at the time the book was written, but I felt similarly. One tidbit I came across that helped me contextualize this a little was that the US Equal Credit Opportunity Act (allowing...Also wasn't alive at the time the book was written, but I felt similarly. One tidbit I came across that helped me contextualize this a little was that the US Equal Credit Opportunity Act (allowing women to apply for credit cards in their own right) was passed in the same year this novel was written, 1974.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin in ~books
lackofaname Link ParentI tend not to take notes, but did jot down*: It's not that this quote felt revolutionary to me, it wasn't a bit a-ha moment in my own life. I don't think it's a whole lot different than than...I tend not to take notes, but did jot down*:
When you’re at the bottom, you have no choice but to fight from the bottom up.
It's not that this quote felt revolutionary to me, it wasn't a bit a-ha moment in my own life. I don't think it's a whole lot different than than saying "work with the tools you have".
Rather, I enjoyed its simplicity and honesty. It takes honesty to know where you stand versus what you're up against, and work within your limitations.
- I wasn't attempting to quote perfectly; might have mixed up a word here or there.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin in ~books
lackofaname Link ParentI have only a small observation about language, swearing in particular. I recall scene in which Shevek comments on the difficulty of swearing in his language. I can't remember exactly, but I think...I have only a small observation about language, swearing in particular.
I recall scene in which Shevek comments on the difficulty of swearing in his language. I can't remember exactly, but I think the rationale was because there is no taboo on Anarres around sex (and a different topic, region perhaps?).
Yet, throughout the story, "profiteer" is used pretty often By Shevek and I think other Anarrans as a pejorative. Essentially, it's a swear word.
If I've remembered these details correctly enough, it's it's an interesting little play on language/identity. Shevek defines his language based on his (society's) ideal, that is the lack of taboos, but he's ignorant of what is taboo in his society: capitalism.
Edit - I'm not going to change my phrasing because it's a pretty fine point to make, but after reading sparkbet's comment, I think culture would have been a better word than society.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin in ~books
lackofaname Link ParentA utopia? No, I don’t think so. Ambiguous? Certainly. Even early in the story, cracks in the social order are apparent. Shevek being, essentially, outcast from his class when he was a child due to...A utopia? No, I don’t think so.
Ambiguous? Certainly.
Even early in the story, cracks in the social order are apparent. Shevek being, essentially, outcast from his class when he was a child due to his different way of thinking stands out in my mind. This social power becomes more blatant later in terms of his treatment by his supervisor/colleague Oiie. Flip side, during the famine, Shevek taking on a supervisory job receives full rations while others starve and die. Does a supervisor (as assigned in what felt like an incredibly offhand manner) really perform work that much more deserving of more food than others?
Ultimately, to me, the point of the novel isn’t about portraying Anarres as a utopia but rather exploring what some might consider an ideal, and attempting to inject a sense of reality. To this end, sure, the inhabitants of Anarres hold their society as their ideal. The revolutionaries on Urras also seem to consider Anarres as an ideal, perhaps a utopia (from a distance). But it’s only really relative, comparing their ideas of ideal against the boogie-man of “profiteers”/capitalism on Urras/A-Io. I wonder, in absence of Urras, how would Anarrans feel about the state of their world?
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Comment on Thoughts on the current state of discoverability and search in ~tech
lackofaname Link ParentThanks for the tip! Ive used ngrams a bit in the past, but it's not always useful for my purposes. That said, I should have looked up an answer before complaining, because it is still possible to...Thanks for the tip! Ive used ngrams a bit in the past, but it's not always useful for my purposes.
That said, I should have looked up an answer before complaining, because it is still possible to access the results numbers by selecting "Tools" after each search, at least on desktop; credit where due, it seems like a good balance between what the average user needs vs. a more niche user.
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Comment on The woman who built up Edinburgh's army of street stitchers in ~life.style
lackofaname Link ParentDarning was one of my pandemic learns! I like nice wooly socks but am not a fan of the price of nice wooly socks, so I figured out how to fix them. Learning Swiss/duplicate darning has been...Darning was one of my pandemic learns! I like nice wooly socks but am not a fan of the price of nice wooly socks, so I figured out how to fix them.
Learning Swiss/duplicate darning has been incredibly satisfying (which is what I assume you're learning for jumpers?), but it's so time-consuming. Luckily for socks I can fall back on a simple weave for the sake of speed.
Maybe this isn't an issue for you, since you mention having good eye-sight, but I find I need to get so up close to the work I tend to block light. Wearing a headlamp make it so much easier for me to see what I'm doing.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
lackofaname LinkI've been trying to finish a re-read of The Dispossessed for the book club, but also have escaped into other books lately. Over the past few weeks I've listened to: -Translation State (Anne...I've been trying to finish a re-read of The Dispossessed for the book club, but also have escaped into other books lately.
Over the past few weeks I've listened to:
-Translation State (Anne Leckie): Enjoyable overall, but I felt like the ending could have been maybe a bit more solid. Fantastic narration by Adjoa Andoh, especially her take on various characters' accents.-Scanner Darkly (PK Dick): I saw the movie many years ago, and figured I'd give the book a whirl. What a trip. The narration style does a great job of pulling the reader into the main character's frame of mind, not just describing it. On top, Paul Giamatti's voicing of the audiobook was a real treat, and brought the characters alive.
-Storm Front (Jim Butcher): Easy and fun. Some of the descriptions are a little cheesy, but it's not meant to be high-brow literature. I've borrowed the second in the series and have been dipping in an out of it.
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Comment on Thoughts on the current state of discoverability and search in ~tech
lackofaname LinkI commiserate. I've recently noticed two changes that have severely impeded the way I work in ux / technical writing: Google seems to have gotten ride of the approx. number of search hits. I'm...I commiserate. I've recently noticed two changes that have severely impeded the way I work in ux / technical writing:
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Google seems to have gotten ride of the approx. number of search hits. I'm quietly seething over this one. Inexact as it may be, this has long been an handy way to compare between word/phrase variants and figure out the more common, when deciding on plain language or attempting to standardize language. Especially helpful for work when paired with site-specific search.
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May be a bug, but Google doesn't always seem to respect terms in "quotes" quite so strictly as it used to. I even experienced this in Google Scholar recently, where exact, jargony terms are a standard. Google search really seems to hate highly technical terms; with the amount of times it's decided I've gotten my search terms wrong and has 'fixed' them for me, quotes have been a lifesaver.
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Comment on Experimental real property tax basis-set rate based on usable area per person in ~finance
lackofaname Link ParentI think local/neighbourhood demand is an aspect that needs to be considered in any pro-densification strategy, otherwise a tax scheme like OP is suggesting (based solely on areas + inhabitants)...based on the demand in the neighborhood
I think local/neighbourhood demand is an aspect that needs to be considered in any pro-densification strategy, otherwise a tax scheme like OP is suggesting (based solely on areas + inhabitants) would penalize rural properties, where density per parcel (outside designated village centres) may be undesirable (from environmental, usability, and planning perspectives). No point in building dense apartments in the middle of nowhere.
Heck, I know of very rural municipalities near me that require special permission to sever parcels <10 acres iirc for sale, though possibly OP was envisioning applications to more ex/sub/urban type settings.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
lackofaname Link ParentThanks for sharing! What an interesting phenomenon. I hadn't heard of it before in relation to the skull, so it's great to have a new perspective to explore my experience from. Whenever I've tried...Thanks for sharing! What an interesting phenomenon. I hadn't heard of it before in relation to the skull, so it's great to have a new perspective to explore my experience from. Whenever I've tried searching my experience, I get results for tinnitus, but the descriptions don't quite seem to fit and I've been at a loss.
Interestingly, the first article you linked approaches the topic from the idea of influences on musical preference. I've encountered a lot of songs over the years I'd really enjoy (much like OPs songs) if it weren't for the pesky drumming sound in my ear.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - How is it going with The Dispossessed? in ~books
lackofaname LinkI read it about a year ago, so it's not totally gone from my memory. I got lucky with my library hold and am doing a re-read now (re-listen? Still not sure the right verb for audiobooks) because I...I read it about a year ago, so it's not totally gone from my memory.
I got lucky with my library hold and am doing a re-read now (re-listen? Still not sure the right verb for audiobooks) because I really enjoyed it and wanted a refresh. I'm about 1/3 of the through.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
lackofaname Link ParentHeh, this unlocked a memory of me seeing someone do exactly that. One guy driving (slowly, not that that made it perfectly safe...), another hanging out the back. Iirc, they actually managed to...I can't exactly put someone in the back of the van while I drive around to try to locate it either.
Heh, this unlocked a memory of me seeing someone do exactly that. One guy driving (slowly, not that that made it perfectly safe...), another hanging out the back. Iirc, they actually managed to isolate the problem; it may have been a matter of bashing a dinged piece of metal back into place.
Canvas tents are great for winter camping where I am, since you can drag them over snow, making weight a bit less of a factor. I have a friend who's sewed their own. I dont think it took a special sewing machine, just a LOT of time and effort. Their latest is a strategic combo of nylon panels to cut down on weight and cotton canvas for all its benefits.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
lackofaname Link ParentI assume part of the problem is actually finding the squeak, but I had a similar issue once and managed to tighten up the problem with a simple zip tie (it was something in the cab rubbing, so a...Every day this week I've done something to try to stop the squeak every time we go over a bump but so far no success. I will defeat it.
I assume part of the problem is actually finding the squeak, but I had a similar issue once and managed to tighten up the problem with a simple zip tie (it was something in the cab rubbing, so a more durable solution wasn't needed). Hope you find as simple a solution.
As much as your post is about the van, I popped by to GUSH about your tent. I genuinely wasn't prepared for that level of delight. Did you also make it? What's the material?
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
lackofaname Link ParentThese are really pleasant! Though, weird thing, certain sounds, even played really softly, cause my ears to make fluttery drummy sounds... a lot of the tones in these songs are triggering that....These are really pleasant!
Though, weird thing, certain sounds, even played really softly, cause my ears to make fluttery drummy sounds... a lot of the tones in these songs are triggering that.
Anyone else ever get this? My hearing's pretty good otherwise.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
lackofaname Link ParentIt's hardly bragging when you're simply stating the truth. That work looks stunning!It's hardly bragging when you're simply stating the truth. That work looks stunning!
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Comment on Expanding upon other peoples' thoughts in discussions in ~talk
lackofaname Link ParentAhh, gotcha. It really depends on the group of people, but for quieter groups, I've found it can certainly help for someone to step up and become the defacto leader if others are more reluctant to...Ahh, gotcha. It really depends on the group of people, but for quieter groups, I've found it can certainly help for someone to step up and become the defacto leader if others are more reluctant to get started. I'm happy to do it (as needed) to keep things flowing, but I'm also perfectly happy to sit back and let someone else take on that role.
This might mean piping up to kick off the group-discussion with introductions (if needed) or re-iterating the purpose. If the breakout session can be approached from multiple angles/approaches, you could ask how people want to start (or be ready to offer a suggestion). If a discussion has petered out, taking it back to the purpose and asking if there's a new angle. If people have nothing left to add and you've achieved (enough of) the goal and are waiting to re-join the main meeting, maybe simply give a sense of finality: "ok, it seems like we've got our ideas, shall we take back x minutes while we wait to rejoin the main meeting?" Essentially, helping to facilitate focus and flow throughout the session.
I don't want to pretend I'm great at any of this. I'm just good-enough and comfortable putting myself out there when no one else is to get the job done. I work with some people who are genuinely fantastic at driving discussions; in the meetings they host, I observe their approaches to try and take notes for myself to improve.
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Comment on Expanding upon other peoples' thoughts in discussions in ~talk
lackofaname LinkShort answer: Love when people build/expand on ideas, have no issue if people re-phrase to make sure they have the same understanding, and I agree that affirming others' contributions can be...Short answer:
Love when people build/expand on ideas, have no issue if people re-phrase to make sure they have the same understanding, and I agree that affirming others' contributions can be helpful. Where it can get annoying is when it feels like the speaker is trying to re-package the exact same point as their own with no real contribution.Longer answer:
I'll admit, I'm probably being narrow-minded to my own experience, but I'm having a hard time picturing a meeting, especially virtual, with overly long silences.Meetings should serve a purpose: Are there long silences because people are thinking through an idea/problem (perfectly valid), or have broken off to do solo work before reconvening the conversation (depending on the type of meeting)? Or, because people are sitting around without an organizer to keep on-focus and achieve the purpose of the meeting? Or, too shy to speak up? Or, because someone asked a question and literally no-one has an opinion (happens to me all the time, and I just motor along..)?
Especially in virtual meetings (especially-especially in an office that doesn't demand cameras-on), I find it helpful to re-create some of the non-verbal cues that help keep in-person discussions moving: saying "I agree" or "good point", verbalizing I'm thinking through the options, giving a thumbs-up emoji, etc.
Generally, I'd expect the meeting leader/organizer to keep things moving (or, lacking one, someone to step up into a leader role during the meeting): re-iterate the meeting's purpose, ask if there are other ideas, confirm resolutions/takeaways/next steps, end the meeting/reconvene later, whatever makes sense in-context.
Is there something in the work culture preventing people from speaking? I've found giving newer colleagues positive feedback, and explicitly asking about their opinion in their area of expertise, has helped them out of their shell (this worked on me when I was new!). Keeping things friendly and being supportive can help, too.
Not sure if the longer answer was really helpful to what you're asking about, but figured I'd add it to give a few broader ideas :)
This article only just reminded me of a project I did back in school, early '10s, related to waste management within a specific region. In part, I was trying to find data on potential historical and modern sources of point pollution, and in part looking to understand the existing public and private waste management practices, which led me to reach out to a 3M facility within the region.
They never responded. Not even some vague boilerplate nonsense about following the most rigorous ISO standards, or caring for the environment. Sure, I was young and tactless, and I'm sure I could have been much more strategic in my intro/questions. Still, it makes me look back on that in a different light. I'm not sure I even knew what the facility manufactured; now I'm curious!