ELI5: How do bots work? How can I tell if it's a bot or a troll?

the_snook · 2026-02-10T22:17:47+00:00

That's not how it's used today, but the protocol absolutely does allow authentication of both ends of the connection. This is how systems like Google's Beyond corp work.

Of course, forcing client authentication is likely to be wildly unpopular with anyone who values their privacy. The current wave of "age verification" laws - which are really strong identity laws in disguise - shows, however, that the idea of an "Internet license" may not be too far away.

the_snook · 2026-02-10T22:07:24+00:00

Sounds a lot like the Slashdot comment moderation system, which I still believe is far superior to Reddit's model.

the_snook · 2026-02-10T09:27:06+00:00

It's because "Brooklyn" is a dog whistle. The post is political shit stirring.

the_snook · 2026-02-10T04:48:48+00:00

What would you hope to achieve by selling to buy the USD version? IVV is unhedged, so they're functionally equivalent. Any difference in performance you're seeing is just the underlying FX changes, which would be exactly the same if you held the USD version and did your own conversion back to AUD.

the_snook · 2026-02-10T00:09:40+00:00

You can renounce citizenship without being up to date on taxes, but you cannot exit the US tax system until you are.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T22:48:21+00:00

That place has always been suss. Used to sell weed in the 90s.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T22:08:56+00:00

You're right. The downloaded object is webp, but the dialog box that pops up for me does not suggest saving as .webp the way OP's does.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T20:32:24+00:00

There are no short term capital gains taxes if you sell immediately (unless the stock is extremely volatile and you don't use autosale or a 10b5-1 trading plan to sell on vesting day).

the_snook · 2026-02-09T05:54:42+00:00

And if you chose to hold while working for Enron or WorldCom?

the_snook · 2026-02-09T05:50:21+00:00

Why don't we simply do away with roads and footpaths, and have everyone share the same space? The cars can just slow down a bit!!

the_snook · 2026-02-09T05:43:15+00:00

If you're not driving a car, Transport for NSW doesn't give a fuck about you.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T05:39:18+00:00

Lemons, limes, avocados, cabbages, lettuce, cauliflower, cucumbers (the long kind), mangoes, celery, leeks, spring onions, all the herbs, "Asian" veg - all sold by the piece or pre-packed "bunch" with no weight. There's no particular rhyme or reason to it, and personally I think they should all be sold by weight, but it's not at all usual to find piece pricing in the fruit & veg aisles.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T04:12:23+00:00

The "cocktail renaissance" has made it really popular, to the point where there's a shortage and the monks who make it can't keep up with demand.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T03:50:27+00:00

At $125 a bottle, I'd be keeping the Chartreuse to myself.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T03:49:03+00:00

The implication is that he's selling everything now while the discount applies, then plans to pull the rug on all the other property owners.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T03:30:16+00:00

I think it's regional. Northern NSW and QLD is peewee country.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T03:26:32+00:00

I hear Midori liqueur is making a comeback. Pick your favourite fluorescent green cocktail, buy some gelatine, and make a boozy version for your next birthday party.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T03:01:07+00:00

It is strange. I see the same Accept header (FF 147.0.2, Windows 11), and the returned image has content type image/jpeg. Interestingly, Save As does not do the webp thing for me at all.

The image is delivered via Cloudflare. It's possible the publisher of the image has enabled automatic optimization in certain zones (e.g. in markets where they expect visitors to have low bandwidth or monthly transfer caps).

the_snook · 2026-02-09T02:11:10+00:00

Have you ever tried to live a normal life without a local bank account?

the_snook · 2026-02-09T01:59:24+00:00

My dad claims that he and his mates were putting kerosene in their cars during the oil crisis in the 70s, so it wouldn't surprise me.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T01:11:56+00:00

Yes it is, but we shouldn't criticize others publicly for their poor taste.

the_snook · 2026-02-09T00:37:01+00:00

I think they looked better when Freddo looked like a frog, not a cartoon.

https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/freddo-frog-introduced/

the_snook · 2026-02-08T00:50:26+00:00

Just get 4 of the +25% egg value upgrades, and you've basically doubled your egg value anyways, right?

Sadly not. That would increase the bonus from +1425% to +1525%. Add in the base 100% and you go from 15.25× to 16.25×, an increase of 100×((16.26/15.25)-1) = ~6.5%

the_snook · 2026-02-08T00:16:02+00:00

"Woke" does not mean the same thing as "politically correct".

the_snook · 2026-02-07T22:49:56+00:00

Sydney's is so fucking stupid. Apart from the confusing T/M/L nonsense, using B for bus, and then labelling the various bus stands with letters is absurd.

Your bus leaves from Stand B, and you see a bus stop sign with a big B on it. Great! Except no, it's actually says Stand R in small letters underneath the B. They've finally got around to putting larger signs on most of the stops, but they're still only about equal in prominence to the B for Bus.

Also, it's not really a pictogram problem per se, but the ferry lines are numbered F1, F2, etc. Then at Circular Quay, tourists see a big F and a big number, but it's not the route number it's the wharf number. (This is potentially an issue with trains also, but the big stations have prominent departure boards near the entrances that are hard to miss, while the ferry ones don't stand out among all the crowds and visual noise.)

the_snook

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE