yarr

joined 2 years ago
[–] yarr@feddit.nl 6 points 1 week ago

I'm ahead of the game -- I've been alarmed and depressed for months now.

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 16 points 1 week ago (4 children)

This is one of the reason that the USA being heavy handed with Chinese is going to bite us in the ass. While in the USA, we bury our heads in the sand and GM, Tesla and etc. all crank out $95,000 giant trucks/SUVs, some companies in China are making very, very affordable vehicles. These aren't necessarily garbage either -- there's models available for almost any price point.

What WOULD be really smart and forward thinking is if in the USA, the domestic brands also make some affordable models to get EV more popular. However, they are addicted to fat profit margins, and thanks to all the protectionism, they don't need to worry about offshore models being "better".

While other nations either develop and/or import affordable EVs, we're effectively banning them. This is all going to end up with a giant wake up call for American auto-manufacturers when the protections/tariffs are ultimately lifted and they HAVE to compete.

I think it would be great if the tariffs came with huge incentives for domestic manufacturers and motivated them to be competitive. Instead, it's just letting them segment the market for a few years and make a killing. Who loses? The people...

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 5 points 2 weeks ago

Let me clarify: I am not advocating to join the right. I am furnishing an explanation why SOME men join the right. Like I said in my earlier post, it's very sickening to be painted with such a broad brush. Some of us are moralistic and considerate and it's annoying to just be treated as a monolithic entity. "You are a man, therefore you are evil" reeks of original sin. I prefer to be judged by my own deeds instead of the deeds of those I share a gender with.

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 18 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

You can't have a post like this and then wonder "Why do so many men go to the right?"

Maybe men are sick of being painted with a broad brush. We all have our own thoughts, beliefs and feelings.

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 1 points 3 weeks ago

Oh, I forgot that every joke in the universe is supposed to be used just once.

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 2 points 3 weeks ago

"Well if they are so dumb why do they have so much money???"

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 9 points 3 weeks ago

CEOs are rich enough to live in their own delusional bubble. They are very out of touch with the average person, or their own workforce. This is nothing new.

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 14 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

That reminds me of my favorite rock that prevents tiger attacks. I've had it with me for years and it works perfectly. Yet, whenever I bring it up, people make fun of me.

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 11 points 1 month ago (2 children)

"It" is the state of the outdoors

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

JP is an atheist

He won't readily admit to that either. He somehow sits in the void between atheists and theists.

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 12 points 1 month ago

I think that's a really accurate characterization. He has mastered the art of speaking without communicating.

[–] yarr@feddit.nl 3 points 1 month ago

This post shows the difference between school and education. The school system is there to get a child to be able to regurgitate whatever the lesson says they should. Education is to develop knowledge as a whole.

It is sad that the teacher was not even able to consider the flawed nature of the question, because they are trained to just see if the student's answer matches the answer key for the test.

In many cases, the public education system no longer exists to deliver educated graduates. It exists to feed itself -- to obtain funding for itself the next year and to support a gradually expanding set of "administrators" that add little to the process.

Look at the effects of "No Child Left Behind". NCLB pushed test scores above all else. What did we get? A bunch of students that were very good at passing standardized tests. That does not necessarily translate to a better educational outcome. The value in the skill of passing standardized tests plummets rapidly once one joins the workforce.

 

In today's political landscape, it's hard not to notice the growing divide and the erosion of informed discourse. As we navigate these turbulent times, I can't help but wonder: Have we reached a tipping point where ignorance has become the norm? Are we so far down the road that the public is ill-equipped to counter the latest governmental abuses?

It seems like the powers that be have successfully convinced many that losing is winning. The erosion of trust in institutions and the rise of misinformation can leave one questioning if we're collectively stuck in a cycle of intellectual stagnation.

Let's unpack this a bit:

  • Media Influence: The media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception. However, with the rise of clickbait and sensationalism, the quality of information available has deteriorated. This makes it harder for individuals to discern credible sources from those pushing agendas.
  • Historical Context: Looking back, periods of significant change have often been met with resistance and misinformation. The current era isn't unique in this aspect, but the speed at which information spreads today amplifies these challenges.
  • Public Engagement: The shift towards more polarized debates can stifle open dialogue. When discussion becomes a battleground of talking points rather than fact-based exploration, it's harder to foster understanding.
  • Intellectual curiosity: Encouraging critical thinking is essential. Without it, individuals risk being swayed by narratives that don't hold up under scrutiny.

So, while the situation seems dire, there's still room for hope. The challenge lies in recognizing our role as participants in shaping the narrative. We can choose to engage thoughtfully, seek out diverse perspectives, and remain curious.

Let's not lose sight of the power we hold in our collective intellect. By fostering critical thinking and a commitment to understanding, we can navigate these challenges and find our way back to a more informed public discourse.

 

In news that surprises absolutely no one, the makers of the infamous Humane AI Pin—a device that was overpriced, underwhelming, and widely returned—have been acquired by HP.

As expected, this acquisition effectively bricks existing AI Pins. According to the press release, some features will still work, such as checking the battery level. Incredible.

The real kicker? The people behind this spectacular failure are getting a massive payday from HP. Meanwhile, customers who dropped $700+ (plus a monthly fee!) on this glorified paperweight are left in the dust.

HP has a long history of acquiring pointless companies, so this doesn’t redeem the AI Pin in any way. If anything, it just reinforces that the product was as worthless as everyone suspected.

I was hoping this saga would end in Humane going bankrupt—not them cashing out. But here we are.

 

IT'S OFFICIAL, FOLKS! Trump thinks he can just slap tariffs on our friends abroad and watch us 'compete' again? Newsflash: this only hurts the little guy (and the planet). Just got word from Acer CEO that those tariffs have already led to a 10% price hike for laptops in the US. That's right, we're paying more for the very devices that are supposed to help us succeed in an era of 'American greatness'. Meanwhile, Trump is too busy coddling his corporate pals to care about the real American people. Wake up, sheeple! It's time to stop voting for politicians who only look out for their buddies on Wall Street.

 

I'm baffled by this whole Crisco/shortening candle-in-contraptions meme circulating around. You've got folks shoving these things in everything from copper pots to elaborate sand enclosures, claiming superior heat output and somehow making a case for off-grid energy.

Let's unpack the physics, because frankly, it doesn't add up:

Combustion 101: A candle (or our Crisco-fied iteration) works by burning the fuel source (fat in this case), releasing heat and light through a chemical reaction with oxygen. The material surrounding it doesn't inherently influence this combustion process. Copper, terracotta, or sand won't magically accelerate the burning rate or somehow trap more heat.

Radiation & Conduction: Sure, these materials might hold and radiate a BIT more heat absorbed from the flame compared to open air. But the difference is negligible. Convection (hot air rising) is the primary heat transfer mechanism, and the enclosure doesn't significantly enhance it.

Scaling Up Fallacy: If this contraption truly held the key to efficient off-grid heating, wouldn't we be ditching fuel oil and natural gas entirely? Imagine a skyscraper-sized Crisco candle in a cosmic copper pot - it wouldn't magically solve our energy needs. The heat output wouldn't scale proportionally due to limitations in combustion itself.

In short -- why are people so fascinated with this? A simple test will show that it is not more effective than a simple candle, yet people seem to be continually fascinated by it.

 

President Biden's hypocrisy on full display: Pardons his own son after making a point about 'independent' justice"

In a move that's being hailed as a "full and unconditional" pardon, President Joe Biden has announced that he's granting his son Hunter Biden a free pass for all federal charges related to his time between 2014-2024. Just 50 days before leaving office, Biden had previously declared that he wouldn't be making the move, stating he'd abide by the jury's decision. But now, it seems he was just playing a different tune.

TL;DR

President Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, who was facing up to 25 years in prison for lying on a federal form about his drug addiction. This comes after months of saying he wouldn't make the move, and is being met with criticism from politicians and others who called him out on his earlier stance. A case of "my family is more important than I am" - how about keeping your promises for once?

 

Greetings, fellow space explorers! As we continue our journey through the vast expanse of the cosmos, let us take a moment to reflect on the various governments depicted in the Star Trek franchise. From the classic monarchy system of TOS, to the anarchist government of TAS, these series serve as powerful metaphors for the diverse systems of government that exist across the galaxy. However, it is also worth noting that these metaphors are not without their limitations, as they often present a highly idealized view of how these systems function in reality. Nonetheless, they remain a valuable tool for stimulating critical thinking and discussion on the complex issues surrounding governance and political organization. Join us as we delve deeper into this fascinating topic, and discover the many insights that these iconic series have to offer. With that said, let's boldly go forth into the final frontier and explore the intricacies of intergalactic politics and societal structures!

  1. "Star Trek: The Original Series" (TOS) - This is like a classic monarchy system with a king or queen at the helm, making decisions for their people based on their wisdom and experience.

  2. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (TNG) - This is like a democratic republic, where the crew works together to make decisions for the greater good of the ship and its mission.

  3. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (DS9) - This is like a communist state, where resources are shared among the crew and everyone works towards a common goal.

  4. "Star Trek: Voyager" (VOY) - This is like a capitalistic society, where individuals are encouraged to pursue their own goals and ambitions while working together towards a shared objective.

  5. "Star Trek: Enterprise" (ENT) - This is like a military dictatorship, where the crew follows strict rules and protocols under the leadership of a commanding officer.

  6. "Star Trek: Discovery" (DIS) - This is like a dystopian society, where authority figures have absolute power over the citizens and rules are enforced through fear and intimidation.

  7. "Star Trek: The Animated Series" (TAS) - This is like an anarchist government, where there is no centralized authority or hierarchy, and decisions are made through consensus and mutual agreement between members of the crew.

view more: ‹ prev next ›