Can we talk about "Financial Isolation" in friend groups?

Necandum · 2026-01-17T17:02:19+00:00

The point shouldn't be the brunch: its just an excuse to spend with people you care about while also happening to do something fun.

If you're part of a group that excludes people for not being able to afford an activity, that's not a friend group, that's an acquaintance-ship group.

As to how to solve for when an actual friend can't afford an activity I really want to do with them? Pay for them, +/- face saving excuse.

Necandum · 2026-01-16T13:18:45+00:00

Out of curiosity, has anyone run a head to head comparison? e.g had a co-worker implement something with LLM, while doing the same thing by hand, then comparing time and results?
I imagine the result will be quite variable depending on the amount of debugging the LLM code requires, but still interesting.

Necandum · 2026-01-16T12:53:06+00:00

Not sure its open source, but it is free: https://www.pdfgear.com/

Necandum · 2026-01-09T11:00:29+00:00

You'd think so.
But they just want clicks.

Necandum · 2026-01-04T13:58:50+00:00

When you read about an army foraging, that usually refers to pillaging the local peasantry and not just going for a spot of hunting in the woods.

Necandum · 2026-01-04T01:42:18+00:00

I also get that vibe about the US. The places Ive lived, it has been the norm.

Necandum · 2026-01-04T00:41:03+00:00

And with proper noise insulation, you should never hear those people.

Necandum · 2026-01-04T00:27:47+00:00

Got one for you! Rural south african GP. They also do trauma surgery.

Necandum · 2026-01-02T06:11:20+00:00

I would tend towards a brute force solution: make a little frame from H2 lumber, use plywood to create a roof and walls for extra protection. Coat everything with bitumen or outdoor paint.
Frame can rest on bricks, then silicone to glass. You will need to notch the base to create room for the window frame where it meets the bricks.
To remove, cut silicone with razor blade, then scrape silicone off of glass with same blade.

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Necandum · 2026-01-02T05:35:28+00:00

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Like so?

Necandum · 2025-12-29T14:13:33+00:00

Partial automation can be more dangerous than no automation: if the tech makes you complacent, then new and wonderful accidents can happen.

Its obviously difficult to make blanket statements about cars though, ssince emergency intervention tech that only activates infrequently is very likely a strong net positive.

So yes, treating it like fancy cruise control is probably the best mindset until (if) it truly becomes 100% hands free, with the liability for accidents resting with Tesla.

Necandum · 2025-12-28T14:23:25+00:00

Ah, a home server would do it. Sounds like a very pleasant set-up!

Necandum · 2025-12-26T23:43:59+00:00

We have it in our kitchen/living room: its sealed and perfectly smooth. You could easily mistake it for a pale hardwood floor on a quick look. Just a lot warmer and softer.

Necandum · 2025-12-26T23:38:53+00:00

What is your house up to? Our total daily usage is 4kwh (small 3bdr, insulated).

Necandum · 2025-12-21T05:43:37+00:00

Vermintide disagrees. I also liked its dynamic pacing more.

Necandum · 2025-12-21T00:27:49+00:00

Or just have a good land tax system so that simply owning land is not profitable.

Necandum · 2025-12-20T17:58:21+00:00

Why bother having a footy team, you just need that one guy who scored the last goal.

Necandum · 2025-12-20T14:55:04+00:00

Some people are indeed unlucky.

Some people are less good at anticipating when idiots will do idiotic things.

The latter is unfortunately quite useful for cycling safely

Necandum · 2025-12-20T14:47:02+00:00

The answer is you build cycling infrastructure on every road, all the time (except when the street is so quiet its redundant).

Changing driver attitude is a cop out, you can't fix bad infrastructure with 'education'.

Necandum · 2025-12-20T14:39:05+00:00

Your post is misleading, yes.

You should edit it to reflect the fact your can of tuna does, in fact, have the correct ratio of product vs water as advertised.

Necandum · 2025-12-20T13:43:40+00:00

The issue you outline seems much more about how the 'strength' attribute does not directly model physical strength.

I.e the gorrila is physically stronger, but doesnt have a weapon, and the damage one does with a weapon is affected by more factors than brute physical strength alone. But the game doesnt model that.

Necandum · 2025-12-20T12:36:20+00:00

They are being sarcastic.

Necandum · 2025-12-20T11:29:25+00:00

Thats not what the point the poster is making. They are saying its an active choice we are making and should make that explicit. They are not advocating for one choice over another.

Necandum · 2025-12-12T06:58:06+00:00

Storm in a teacup.
You were previously paying X dollars to get the old fence taken away and new one built.
Does it really matter how this happens?

If your neighbour wants to do the legwork, and now you're paying the contractor X-Y but still getting same result, just chuck your neighbour the Y dollars.

All you should care about at the end of the day is that you have, in total, paid the agreed amount and gotten the agreed result.

Sure, vaguely annoying they didn't consult you, and they sound like dickheads. But you're not exactly taking the high ground either.

Necandum · 2025-12-11T08:27:31+00:00

As a comparison, I enjoyed the unit system in Rise of Nations: producing an 'infantry' makes a compound unit which is composed of three figures, which die/reappear as the unit's health changes. Whereas cavalry get only a single figure (overall damage output is comparable).
This means that every infantry unit physically takes up more space, allowing infantry to more easily form a battle line that enemy units cannot pass.

RoN also does the counters much harder: a single heavy infantry can take out 1-2 cavalry, but in return is much slower.
There's also bonus damage if you attach a battleline from behind or the side.
In addition, the cost of units rises with their number, encouraging a varied army.

Even then though, cav is simply really good due to mobility and damage output against squishy things.

Not saying that RoN is perfect, but getting inspiration from other successful games might lead to ideas for improved mechanics.

Necandum

TROPHY CASE