turmacar's recent activity
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Comment on "twitter.com" is now officially dead in ~tech
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Comment on Cryptocurrency mining as a novel virtual energy storage system in islanded and grid-connected microgrids in ~enviro
turmacar Link ParentThis seems to be an extremely roundabout way of saying "we use 'excess' energy to earn money, to pay for energy when the renewables aren't producing." Presumably those data centers spinning down...This seems to be an extremely roundabout way of saying "we use 'excess' energy to earn money, to pay for energy when the renewables aren't producing." Presumably those data centers spinning down would be bad.
It's "virtual energy storage", which is to say it's not storing energy at all.
If the goal of the 'microgrid' is to earn money without impacting a country's electrical grid, I guess this is a way to do it. If the goal of the 'microgrid' is to produce and store energy, more traditional methods that actually store energy are needed.
Honestly the name sounds more like a scam than anything.
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Comment on Students invent quieter leaf blower in ~engineering
turmacar LinkNew leaf blowers having it is neat, having either an adapter or 3d printer files to make one would be neater.New leaf blowers having it is neat, having either an adapter or 3d printer files to make one would be neater.
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Comment on I am a witch. Well, a well witcher... in ~talk
turmacar Link ParentMy parents are caretakers of a small old family graveyard. Guy came by to find unmarked graves, ended up being a dowser. Somehow my mom is convinced that not only did he find several, but he could...My parents are caretakers of a small old family graveyard. Guy came by to find unmarked graves, ended up being a dowser. Somehow my mom is convinced that not only did he find several, but he could tell the sex and relative age.
When you dig a well you're making a new local low point for water to collect and seep out of the surrounding ground. That's about it. You're not tapping into a secret underground river. You can put a well just about anywhere on your property you want if you're willing to dig deep enough. The part that's going to differ is how the area surrounding the well drains toward the nearest river. A shallow well on top of a hill ain't going to collect much other than rainwater.
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Comment on This YouTuber has been uploading Half-Life 3 ‘updates’ every day for over six years in ~games
turmacar Link ParentKind of? The games go: Half Life 1 (and a few expansions, but they're more side stories taking place at the same time as the main game) Half Life 2 Half Life 2: Episode 1 & 2 (nominally expansions...Kind of?
The games go:
Half Life 1 (and a few expansions, but they're more side stories taking place at the same time as the main game)
Half Life 2
Half Life 2: Episode 1 & 2 (nominally expansions continuing the story of the main protagonist of the first 2 games, they end in a cliffhanger (Ep2 was released in 2007))
Half Life Alyx (most of the game is a prequel to HL2, the end is either an epilogue to HL2:E2 or a prologue to HL3)
The original plan with the "Episodes" was to have more regular releases instead of years between a game. Them failing to do that was a big part in starting the "Valve can't count to 3" meme. (all their other series also go: 1, 2, [verb/name])
Portal 1 & 2 are also connected to Half Life, but it's generally unclear when/where they are or would be if they are ever connected to the main games.
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Comment on E-bikes: Seeking advice on a commuter bike that meets disability needs in ~transport
turmacar Link ParentTotally understandable. I do really appreciate the sleekness of the manufacturer built ones too. Making them a more marketable 'vehicle' instead of 'athletic equipment' is probably a good...Totally understandable. I do really appreciate the sleekness of the manufacturer built ones too. Making them a more marketable 'vehicle' instead of 'athletic equipment' is probably a good direction for them to be moving.
It does feel weird going from the more 'athletic' posture at first, but in general I think it's nicer. More airflow, less sweaty (even without electrification), more situational awareness.
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Comment on E-bikes: Seeking advice on a commuter bike that meets disability needs in ~transport
turmacar LinkJust to further complicate your options... :) These guys are a good resource for electric conversion kits for any bike. Find the bike that you like most and make it electric. A Dutch style...Just to further complicate your options... :)
These guys are a good resource for electric conversion kits for any bike. Find the bike that you like most and make it electric. A Dutch style "upright bike' sounds like what you're aiming for but especially electrified they're unusual on this side of the Atlantic. Personally I think it's a very doable option, but that of course heavily depends on how willing and able you or your friends/family/local bike shop are to go more DIY though.
There's a lot you can upgrade as you go too. A "more upright" seat would be a very easy swap for any bike, curved handlebars should also be something any bike shop could help with. If you feel you need a different phone holder a few months down the line, or different/more lights or what-have-you, those are relatively painless to just add to most bikes.
For commuting I think fenders/chain guard should be a high priority, either included with the bike or third party ones soon after. The rest of the accessories you're looking at I'd lean toward third party add-ons as well unless the whole package is really tempting. Bikes in general tend significantly more toward aftermarket customization and what fits your needs / physicality / taste than modern cars do.
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Comment on Florida man worries about his ruined reputation after pulling gun on Uber driver dropping the man's daughter off at their house in ~transport
turmacar Link ParentI mean even his "reasoning" is nonsense. Does he think "child traffickers" often drop the kids back off at home?I mean even his "reasoning" is nonsense.
Does he think "child traffickers" often drop the kids back off at home?
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Comment on Bike brands start to adopt C-V2X to warn cyclists about cars in ~transport
turmacar Link ParentAs cool as I think matrix headlights are in theory, and they're options on at least some Chinese EVs as well, they don't work perfectly. I think you're right in that we, or at least most...As cool as I think matrix headlights are in theory, and they're options on at least some Chinese EVs as well, they don't work perfectly.
I think you're right in that we, or at least most corporations/media/governments, are stuck in the loop that we can make the individual devices better instead of refining the system. The second is harder but better and cheaper in the long term.
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Comment on Is Nebula worth it? in ~tech
turmacar LinkI've had it for a few years now and like having it. Supporting the channels is a big part of that. Some do more than others with having extra/longer videos, but ad free without paying Google for a...I've had it for a few years now and like having it. Supporting the channels is a big part of that. Some do more than others with having extra/longer videos, but ad free without paying Google for a service that keeps getting worse isn't nothing. I don't think the UX is bad necessarily but it's not built for stumbling upon new things as much as YouTube. It works fine for following YouTubers you already know about, but I get that that's not ideal for them as a 'separate'/competing platform.
I do think the "Enhancer for Nebula" browser extension is nice. Among other things puts a link on YouTube videos with Nebula counterparts and optionally can automagically open them on Nebula instead.
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Comment on Remnants of a legendary typeface have been rescued from the River Thames in ~design
turmacar Link ParentI love the casual mention of a permitted society dedicated to scavenging from the river, some of whom do so at night with headlamps to hide 'their' patches. It feels like something from a Gaiman...I love the casual mention of a permitted society dedicated to scavenging from the river, some of whom do so at night with headlamps to hide 'their' patches. It feels like something from a Gaiman novel.
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Comment on The FAA investigates after Boeing says workers in South Carolina falsified 787 inspection records in ~transport
turmacar (edited )Link ParentThe entirety of the reason that commercial aviation is as safe as it is, is that they killed this mentality. Boeing trying to bring this general attitude from the rest of corporate America will do...even if it may not be company's fault
The entirety of the reason that commercial aviation is as safe as it is, is that they killed this mentality.
Boeing trying to bring this general attitude from the rest of corporate America will do nothing but cost lives.
Aviation accident investigations specifically do not provide civil or criminal blame so that the root of the problem can be found, and the system fixed, so less lives are lost or damaged in the future. If the system was so full of holes that it relied on a single individual never having a lapse of attention or judgement, the system is at fault.
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Comment on The world owes Spider-Man 3 an apology in ~movies
turmacar Link ParentOn one of the DVD/Blu-ray releases there's a behind the scenes where you see Lucas coaching Christensen through the "I killed them all" scene. It's crazy because every take is worse, more stilted...On one of the DVD/Blu-ray releases there's a behind the scenes where you see Lucas coaching Christensen through the "I killed them all" scene.
It's crazy because every take is worse, more stilted and awkward like the version that got put in the movie, and Lucas pushes further that direction every time.
IIRC Lucas also has some quote about the scene in Phantom where the child is leaving his slave mother behind forever to join an order of warrior monks who shun all attachment, about how they had to do several takes because all the actors were "trying to be too emotional."
I just don't think he's great at coaching actors or reading/capturing emotion on film.
The prequels have gotten a lot of redemption since because of all the Expanded Universe shows/comics/books that have fleshed out the characters. They have decent 'bones', it's just the execution is odd in a lot of places.
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Comment on Project Zomboid - What compares for gameplay? in ~games
turmacar Link ParentProbably just a personal taste thing, but found Oxygen Not Included to be a bit one note comparatively. Liked the setting, nicely polished, etc. Just there always felt like there was only a single...Probably just a personal taste thing, but found Oxygen Not Included to be a bit one note comparatively.
Liked the setting, nicely polished, etc. Just there always felt like there was only a single 'upgrade path' of next thing to do compared to the other two. I know I was playing it in Early Access so that might no longer be true.
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Comment on "No CGI" is really just invisible CGI in ~movies
turmacar Link ParentThe Corridor Crew channel is kind of the spiritual successor to Rocket Jump and has a regular series with VFX artists talking about / reacting to CGI that's usually interesting.The Corridor Crew channel is kind of the spiritual successor to Rocket Jump and has a regular series with VFX artists talking about / reacting to CGI that's usually interesting.
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
turmacar Link ParentYou plop a simple web server on your computer and visit it's index.html page at http://127.0.0.1. Visit the local IP from any device on your network and you get that website. Spin up a local DNS...You plop a simple web server on your computer and visit it's index.html page at http://127.0.0.1. Visit the local IP from any device on your network and you get that website. Spin up a local DNS server and like magic you can visit http://myfancysite.myfancydomain. Etc., etc. A lot of people and organizations have a lot of uses for intranets, connected to the Internet or not.
DCMA takedowns don't block sites, they're a legal proceeding. And don't matter when you are the host any more than any other cease and desist. They are (unfortunately) an agreement you're obligated not to break to be connected to the Internet. They're also generally toothless unless you get several thousand of them, which is why public sites remove content.
Source poisoning isn't something blockchains are immune to either, but HTML and related tech have been stable for decades at this point. You also have millions of eyes on it, as demonstrated by the "almost" ssh backdoor. Traffic shaping is a concern about the agreement between you and your ISP, not your webserver. Packet injection is only a concern if you're not encrypting anything.
The point was there's no such thing as a "self-hosted" blockchain.
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
turmacar Link ParentThe chain is the 3rd party. You have to pick a chain to centralize on, and trust them to do the relevant validation or whatever services they offer. You have to accept that a majority/plurality of...The chain is the 3rd party.
You have to pick a chain to centralize on, and trust them to do the relevant validation or whatever services they offer. You have to accept that a majority/plurality of users on the chain can overrule your transactions, for better or worse.
A chain being run by one person is a database that generates more heat.
A web server serving files from your PC requires no trust or validation from anyone.
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Comment on For those involved / interested in Web3, what do you make of the near and long term future for it? in ~tech
turmacar Link ParentThis is what all blockchain solutions tend to boil down to. They are, internally, a trustless system. You can validate within the blockchain that everything is above board. If no one has enough...At a minimum you need a trustworthy organization to run the system.
This is what all blockchain solutions tend to boil down to. They are, internally, a trustless system. You can validate within the blockchain that everything is above board. If no one has enough control over the particular blockchain you're using to not gain control of validation.
The instant they need to interact with things outside the blockchain, that falls apart. It's why the original whitepaper is solely about currency. Nothing is going in or out. You're simply moving pieces around and the value comes from effectively barter with the "outside" world. Whether that's for currency or services or whatever.
If you're trading information with the "outside" world you are now trusting existing institutions to validate ownership. There is no benefit to using a blockchain for that.
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Comment on I just switched to an iPhone, what should I do to make the most of this change? in ~tech
turmacar Link ParentHave had a smart watch since the original Pebble. Very much agree with your notification stance. Everything is disabled by default, basically only thing I let go to the watch is text messages...Have had a smart watch since the original Pebble. Very much agree with your notification stance.
Everything is disabled by default, basically only thing I let go to the watch is text messages (because smart) and calendar reminders (because watch).
I've also become mildly addicted to fitness tracking, but that's traveling to the phone and doesn't cause more stuff to go to the watch.
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Comment on There used to be a people’s bank at the US Post Office in ~finance
turmacar Link ParentWith the push to cashless it makes even more sense. I completely understand why businesses want to go that way. Don't have to worry about counting drawers, incorrect amounts, bank drops, or even...With the push to cashless it makes even more sense.
I completely understand why businesses want to go that way. Don't have to worry about counting drawers, incorrect amounts, bank drops, or even theft if there's no cash on hand. But it's also a huge impediment to the same people the paper talks about.
From context they're probably referring to Sun Microsystems, which really illustrates the point that there were two large companies operating at the same time but in different contexts with their own trademarks, and no one confused either for talking about astronomy.