• 0 Posts
  • 15 Comments
Joined 1 year ago
cake
Cake day: February 1st, 2024

help-circle

  • Yes. But why is there an absence of light?

    If there are infinite stars, then every direction you look would encounter a star. (Things stay the same brightness per subtended angle as they get far away. Space dust doesn’t matter, as it would thermalize and radiate.)

    So, the universe can’t have infinite luminous matter, be static and ageless, because if it were then the night sky would look like the surface of a sun.

    This may all seem obvious, but it’s neat that you can figure that out with the naked eye.



  • Widely regarded as the best Seinfeld episode is The Contest. It’s about who can go the longest without masturbating, but what makes it great is that they never say that explicitly — it’s just euphemisms and insinuation. And it’s hilarious IMHO.

    I believe they initially wanted to spell it out, but the networks wouldn’t let them (I could be wrong). Definitely for the better that they danced around the topic the way they did.

    (Yes I know, Jerry Seinfeld is a problematic person, I’m just trying to answer the question…)


  • I just wish we’d have neither inflation nor deflation.

    Some tech has followed this pattern. For example: entry level Mac laptop in ~2000 was the iBook, priced at $1599 ($3k+ in today’s dollars). The current entry level Mac laptop (M4 Air) starts at $999 — cheaper in absolute dollars, and way cheaper in relative dollars.

    (Macs are just an example since Apple doesn’t have a very extensive product list, so there’s only one “entry level” laptop to choose from. And yes it’s fair to ask if the relative specs have just gotten worse, but I think this is also the opposite — the iBook was iirc criticized as being underpowered, whereas the M4 Air is afaik well regarded.)



  • You mentioned ham radio — definitely fun! It’s a process to get into it though, as you need to study/pass an exam, and then you need a radio. Radios range from cheap ($25 or so) in the VHF/UHF (“walkie talkie”-style) to more expensive for an HF rig ($1000 range for 100W HF). If you want to get into low power (“QRP”) it can be much cheaper. You also need a fair amount of space for a good antenna setup…

    There are tons of different communication modes, some without a computer and, like you mentioned, some that use computers. wsjtx and fldigi are popular programs.

    Good luck!




  • We’re expecting a baby. Do people travel with a baby? Is it safe? Is it insane? I think we’re just gonna have to stay put for 3 years or so.

    If your baby isn’t super fussy, the transportation difficulty (in our experience) is more in the logistics getting to/from airport, and dealing with other ground transportation. We just flew 5+hrs (coast to coast, US) with a 2mo and a ~3yo, and it was a piece of cake (typing that, I’ve jinxed the return flight…).

    We haven’t done international travel with our kids yet, but we will eventually. When I was 2 my family went to Europe — some countries were meh with respect to kids, but Italy (from my folks’ retelling) was fantastic, as there is (or was) a big cultural love for young kids.

    YMMV of course, but it’s absolutely doable! Kids — even starting as babies — have personalities, and you’ll get a sense of what’s appropriate with yours. Good luck!




  • The bank doesn’t own the house, they just have a significant lien against it. Maybe a potato potato situation (how are you supposed to spell that phrase 🤔), but it is an important distinction.

    Landlords can get pissed if you paint the walls/change appliances/remodel/etc., but so long as the property is properly insured (and you make your loan payments on time) the bank probably isn’t going to bother you.

    Landlords can — and do — place restrictions on quiet hours, guest policy, who is allowed to live there, etc. Owning is definitely different.