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InitialsDiceBearhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearhttps://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/„Initials” (https://github.com/dicebear/dicebear) by „DiceBear”, licensed under „CC0 1.0” (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)TN
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What's a technology that was cooler in its older iterations?
  • Big hospitals still have them to send medications and random lightweight stuff around the complex. My wife has worked in two large hospitals that had pretty extensive tube systems, used especially with pharmacy.

  • To Americans: How far apart is everything in the US?
  • In the suburbs of a middle-sized city in Ohio, USA. So midwest, but a bit older, higher-density, and more northeastern suburban layout than, say, Iowa. Built up in the 1960s-70s. Almost all single-family suburban homes on large lots.

    (these are walking distances, not straight lines)

    • To the nearest convenience store: 1.6 km
    • To the nearest chain supermarket: 4.2 km
    • To the bus stop: 1.5 km
    • To the nearest park: 226 meters
    • To the nearest big supermarket: 2.1 km
    • To the nearest library: 2.6 km
    • To the nearest train station: Hahaha! (Ok, it's actually 78 km, but it's mostly worthless as a train station)

    Straight-line distance to Big Ben: 6297 km

  • Is the Video Download Helper companion app safe on Firefox?
  • I've used it off and on in KUbuntu for a couple of years without issue, installing the helper app from the .deb file directed to me by the plugin. I have scanned it for viruses and watched for strange behavior, and I haven't observed anything suspicious. It runs as the current user, no elevated privileges required.

  • If you have installed Linux on a Microsoft Surface Pro, what was your experience?
  • Watch for battery life when buying older Surface devices. Replacing batteries in the older Surface Pros is notoriously difficult, because apparently the whole assembly is glued together. Loss of battery life is what forced an early retirement of my 5th-gen (2015) Surface Pro, even though not was otherwise completely serviceable. Newer versions are apparently more repairable, but you'll have to investigate where that cut-off line of repairability is.

  • How did we switched from "Dinosaur are giant lizards" to "Dinosaur are giant birds"
  • I'm pretty sure Jurassic Park (the movie) coming out was when it became common knowledge to the general public. A few hardcore dinosaur nerds (and readers of the Jurassic Park novel) were generally aware beforehand, but it was the movie that pushed it into common knowledge. (Source: I was 14 when Jurassic Park (the movie) came out)

  • Ford asks suppliers for ideas to cut EV costs in an all-win-or-lose push for profitability
  • I could see how in Europe, where every little compact hatchback has a tow rating, this could be very frustrating. In the US, where mostly college kids drive compact cars, every household has at least two vehicles, and mom regularly hauls the kids around in their "family" 2 ton SUV (that has no hitch), somebody you know probably has a truck. Our tow vehicle standards (either official or customary) seem to be more stringent. That seems to leave leaked into the European-spec Mach-E. Would be nice to have a tow hitch, even if it was just for mounting a bicycle carrier.

  • Ford asks suppliers for ideas to cut EV costs in an all-win-or-lose push for profitability
  • The Mach-E is an extremely competent family hauler that mom and dad can enjoy driving. (It is a chubby Fusion with a lift gate.) How many people tow with their family SUVs? A very small minority. The car itself is excellent as-is, no need to pretend it's a towing vehicle.

  • Any good Linux Tablet recommendations?
  • I've done several repairs and battery replacements on various tablets, but as an amateur, I won't touch this one. I'm sure if you crack these things regularly you can get proficient at it, but given the complexity, I'm not sure it's worth the labor.

  • Any good Linux Tablet recommendations?
  • One caution on older Surface Pros: They are generally not serviceable, and when the batteries eventually go, you will have to replace the device. The 9th gen and later may be better. I am dealing with this right now in a 2017/5th gen Surface Pro. While it's nice hardware (as a user), apparently the battery is glued-in in such a way that you cannot replace it without destroying the tablet. I'm currently looking to replace it with either a Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable or a Dell Latitude 7320 detachable, both of which are similar but (purportedly) much more repairable.

  • What are you boycotting right now and why? Are there any Boycotts you've ended?
  • The state of Florida. They don't need my tourist dollars right now. When they can figure out state government again, I'll consider spending my money there. They have no shortage of tourists, but I know it's not my money propping up that insanity.

  • The short list of climate actions that will work
  • My comment was mostly tongue-in-cheek, but also the time-value of money on constructing a new nuclear plant is a very real problem. Yes, we should be using a massive, mature, and mostly-carbon-neutral energy source. However, due to economic factors, we can build a lot of renewables capacity before the site planning is even done on a new nuclear power plant. It's a lot easier to finance a new renewables facility that is generating revenue pretty quickly.