#we're doing our best to make a 2 state solution

[rnemedream]

Yo can anyone who knows about political science and stuff explain to me why joesef biden is so dumb???? Like am I missing something or is he just big stupid???

[reasonsforhope]

hey, how do you cope with people saying we only have a small amount of time left to stop the worst effects of climate change? no matter how hopeful and ok i am, that always sends me back into a spiral :(

A few different ways

1. The biggest one is that I do math. Because renewable energy is growing exponentially

Up until basically 2021 to now, all of the climate change models were based on the idea that our ability to handle climate change will grow linearly. But that's wrong: it's growing exponentially, most of all in the green energy sector. And we're finally starting to see proof of this - and that it's going to keep going.

And many types of climate change mitigation serve as multipliers for other types. Like building a big combo in a video game.

Change has been rapidly accelerating and I genuinely believe that it's going to happen much faster than anyone is currently predicting

2. A lot of the most exciting and groundbreaking things happening around climate change are happening in developing nations, so they're not on most people's radars.

But they will expand, as developing nations are widely undergoing a massive boom in infrastructure, development, and quality of life - and as they collaborate and communicate with each other in doing so

3. Every country, state, city, province, town, nonprofit, community, and movement is basically its own test case

We're going to figure out the best ways to handle things in a remarkably quick amount of time, because everyone is trying out solutions at once. Instead of doing 100 different studies on solutions in order, we get try out 100 (more like 10,000) different versions of different solutions simultaneously, and then figure out which ones worked best and why. The spread of solutions becomes infinitely faster, especially as more and more of the world gets access to the internet and other key infrastructure

4. There's a very real chance that many of the impacts of climate change will be reversible

Yeah, you read that right.

Will it take a while? Yes. But we're mostly talking a few decades to a few centuries, which is NOTHING in geological history terms.

We have more proof than ever of just how resilient nature is. Major rivers are being restored from dried up or dead to thriving ecosystems in under a decade. Life bounces back so fast when we let it.

I know there's a lot of skepticism about carbon capture and carbon removal. That's reasonable, some of those projects are definitely bs (mostly the ones run by gas companies, involving carbon credits, and/or trying to pump CO2 thousands of feet underground)

But there's very real potential for carbon removal through restoring ecosystems and regenerative agriculture

The research into carbon removal has also just exploded in the past three years, so there are almost certainly more and better technologies to come

There's also some promising developments in industrial carbon removal, especially this process of harvesting atmospheric CO2 and other air pollution to make baking soda and other industrially useful chemicals

As we take carbon out of the air in larger amounts, less heat will be trapped in the atmosphere

If less heat is trapped in the atmosphere, then the planet will start to cool down

If the planet starts to cool down, a lot of things will stabilize again. And they'll probably start to stabilize pretty quickly

[jewish-vents]

post 10/7 jewish culture is straight up no longer believing your goyische friends actually like you and are in for the long haul. immediately after 10/7 I lost a few people who were disgusting assholes, but ever since then my goyische friends on this website have been slowly "un-friending" me (unfollowing, soft-blocking, and blocking). I'll have other goy friends who stuck around this long say nice things about me, compliment my fics, my blog, and even me, and I just... don't believe it. I know that's a common social anxiety fear, but I never struggled with social anxiety that badly. if you asked me if I thought my internet friends really liked me last september I would've said yes and meant it. but now, after months and months of my friends dropping like flies (and I almost NEVER lost mutuals before 10/7, not in almost 4 years on this website), I don't really believe them. I just can't. I'm waiting for them to realize they don't want to put up with my jewish ass anymore.

I've decided to stop talking about i/p because of this... I'll see posts on my dash (like from jewishlivesmatter) which I think are good and I wanna put on my blog, but I feel like every post about it pushes my goyische friends a little further away, a little closer to the block/unfollow button, so I'm just... not. I used to be scared to talk about i/p, from may 2021 when I learned just how antisemitic most goyim were because of the riots, to oct 7. but now I no longer fear getting doxx'd or getting swarmed with anon hate. I just know that talking about it is the number one way for Jews to lose friends.

"do you even want to be friends with these people?" yes. if I held goyim to the standard of i/p opinions I think everyone ought to have, I'd have no goyische friends. at this point as long as they agree that hamas is a terror org and a 2-state solution is best, I'm down to keep being friends, because even that is a godsend for people my age (20s).

it's even started to affect me in real life. the other day I had a talk with a goysiche friend of 15 years about i/p (knowing where they stood, obviously, by this point). we got into a mild argument, but they had stuff to do so we had to stop. I sent them an unrelated text an hour later, and when I got radio silence for the rest of the day (our argument was in the morning) a part of me genuinely believed that was it for us and braced for losing an irl friend who means so much to me and I thought was going to be in my life until one of us dies. they'd be in my wedding party. we've penciled in figuring out some honorific my future kids can use for them instead of aunt/uncle because they're nonbinary. I caved and texted them to make sure we're still friends, and they said yes, thank fucking gd, because otherwise I might've just had a full mental breakdown.

anyone else waiting for their remaining goyische friends to leave them?

.

[gingiesworld]

Old Flames

Part 2

Wanda Maximoff x GN! Reader

Part 2 of the request from @ginnsbaker

Warnings: Violence. Death.

18+ MINORS DNI

Wanda was living her best life with Y/N, her smile was bigger and brighter than before. Her heart beat in a steady rhythm, not afraid of what the next sunrise would bring. Although she had yet to give Y/N the news, she soon noticed that the Avengers needed her now more than ever.

"Wanda, we can't." They told her as she pleaded with them.

"Please Y/N. They are my family too." Wanda told her. "They need my help. Our help." Y/N sighed as they looked at her, knowing full well that she will not give up.

"Fine. We're going to head to New York so start packing." They told her. The two packed lightly and flew out as soon as they could. Heading straight for the compound.

"Wanda?" Vision spoke in shock as she wnd Y/N walked in hand in hand. "Where were you?"

"I've been right were I belonged." She told him as he nodded, looking between the couple. He only smiled slightly as everyone turned to Steve.

"We have a problem." He told them as Wanda nodded. "Thanos is coming, and he wants the stone from Vision."

"Where's Tony?" Wanda asked as she looked around the room.

"He's uh, in space with Strange and the kid." Steve told her before turning to Y/N. "What are you doing here?"

"I am here for Wanda." They told him.

"What abilities do you have?" He questioned as Y/N smirked.

"Besides making Wanda scream, I can fight." They told him. "I was in Hydra with Wanda and her brother."

"Do you have powers?" Steve questioned as Y/N nodded.

"I have super strength." They told him. "I was sent to the Winter Soldier programme before you guys infiltrated Strucker base." Before Steve could speak up, Nat interrupted him.

"This is all good and all but we need a way to stop Thanos from getting that stone." Nat told them.

"We need to destroy it." Vision stated as everyone looked to him. "Maybe if we expose it to something along the lines of it's molecular structure, we may be able to destroy it."

"No." Wanda shook her head as Vision approached her, taking her hand in his own.

"You have to do it." He told her softly.

"No. I won't." She stepped away from him as Bruce started to speak of a solution. Soon sending them all to Wakanda.

"Can you do it?" Bruce asked Shuri who just glared at him before she explained everything.

"You need to stay up here." Y/N told Wanda as they cupped her cheek.

"I am not losing you again." Wanda stated as they smiled at her.

"You won't." They told her. "Besides, you have the baby to think about."

"What?" Wanda questioned. "How did you know?"

"I figured it out." They kissed her softly. "I love you."

"Come back to me." She whispered as they nodded. Joining the others down on the battlefield as Wanda watched from the tower as Shuri worked on extracting the stone.

Y/N moved through the sea of creatures gracefully as Nat observed their fighting style was close to her own.

"Did you also train for the Red Room?" She asked them as they nodded quietly before turning to fight once more. Using their strength to kill the creatures that had come. Until everyone's attention was drew to the big contraptions rolling through the fields.

Steve's and T'Challa's orders to fall back rang through the battlefield as everyone done as they were ordered. Wanda watched in fear as everyone ran for their lives. Trying to find safety in someway, that was the moment she had flew down and used her powers to lift each of them up and throw them into the creatures, killing multiple of them.

"Wanda? I told you." Y/N scolded as she turned to face them. "I needed you to be safe."

"And I needed you to be safe too." She told them. "As I said before, I am not losing you again."

"As much as this is all moving and all, we have a battle to win." Nat stated as they were all oblivious to what was happening in the lab.

"We have a Vision problem." Sam spoke through the comms.

"On my way." Both Wanda and Y/N spoke. Before Wanda could attempt to follow Y/N to Vision's location, she was hit and knocked down by Proxima.

"He will die alone, as will you." She snarled as she stood over Wanda.

"She's not alone." Nat spoke up from behind her. Using the walls of the trench to aid in her fighting. Throwing hit after hit with the help of Okoye until Wanda lifted her up from pinning Nat down and into one of the wheels.

"That's gross." Nat stated as she had blue blood splattered on her face. Y/N ran as fast as they could to Vision's location, just in time to help him fight.

"Run." They told him as they held off Corvus. Using as much of their strength to fight him off, struggling until he was stabbed by Vision himself. "I thought I told you to run." Y/N told him as Vision helped them stand.

"We don't trade lives." He told them before he soon felt the mind stone. "He's here." Wanda joined the two of them before they watched as a portal opened.

"Stay with him." Y/N told Wanda who shook her head. They soon followed along with Captain America in fighting Thanos. Preventing him from getting the stone.

"It's time." Vision told her as she shook her head, looking back to see as Thanos beat the Avengers one by one.

"No. I can't." Wanda whispered with tears in her eyes. As much as she was in love with Y/N, a part of her belonged to Vision, and Y/N could see that. The way her eyes always found either themselves or the android.

"Yes you can." He told her. Y/N fought as hard as they could to keep Thanos from the two with the help of Steve. The rest of the fight went by in a blur, with Thanos using the time stone to reverse time before he took the stone himself.

Once he snapped his fingers, Y/N's eyes darted around to find Wanda, she was next to Vision as Y/N ran to her.

"You're ok." They told her as she shook her head.

"No. I don't feel ok." She whispered as she gazed into their eyes. Y/N soon noticed as she slowly turned to dust before their eyes. Their heart breaking as they not only lost the love of their life but their child that she bared.

"Y/N?" Nat held their shoulder as they shook their head. Picking up Vision's corpse and taking him. "Where are you going?"

"I am going to bury him before his body gains unwanted attention." With that they left with a heavy heart, knowing that they shared Wanda's heart and it was never truly theirs.

[bayesic-bitch]

The Air Force was right about that "drone killing its operator" experiment

A while ago, there was a quote from the Air Force talking about risks of misaligned AI. They said they had run a simulation where a drone learned to kill the operator that was telling it not to bomb a target. After they included a penalty to make it not do that anymore, it learned to bomb the command tower instead to stop the "no-go" signal. It later came out that this was just a thought experiment, not an actual simulation, and everybody clowned on them.

Now, I am not an expert in this specific kind of problem (cooperative reinforcement learning/reward gaming). But I do professionally do research on reinforcement learning, and in general the point I'd like to make is this: 1) In agentic forms of machine learning like reinforcement learning, we do not directly control the behavior of the agent. Instead we set a reward function that an agent attempts to maximize by taking actions 2) It can frequently be very difficult to find a reward function that results in the desired behavior. It is already an extremely normal day-to-day thing to have agents that learn unintended behaviors because the reward function incentivized these unintended behaviors. 3) We do not currently have any mature tools for addressing this problem. The best current solution is trial and error.

In this case, it's pretty unsurprising that this particular reward structure would result in the drone killing the operator. So let's simplify this system to the point where we can actually work through it by hand, and we'll see what behavior this problem actually leads to. Math below the cut.

In reinforcement learning, we work on solving a kind of problem called an Markov Decision Process, or MDP for short. The basic idea is that we have some agent that's going to move around an environment, and recieve rewards as it does different things. The agent's goal is to maximize the reward it gets over time -- in particular, we want it to maximize its average cumulative future reward. To do this, we hope to find the optimal policy, which is a rule that tells us what action to take in each state.

An MDP has the following elements: States: S -- There is some set of states the agent can find itself in. These states fully describe the current situation, and we always know what state we are in. Actions: A -- The agent can take actions in each state. Each action will move the agent to a new state, and give the agent a reward. Rewards: R(s, a) -- The reward function takes a state and an action, and returns a real number. Transition probability: P(s' | s, a) -- For each state s', this is the probability that we end up in s' if take action a in state s. Basically this tells us how different actions are likely to move us around the state space. Discount factor: Some reinforcement learning problems don't end, but instead just continue unboundedly. So for these problems, we have to discount our future rewards in order to make the sum over future rewards converge.

For the military's setup, they specified the following details: 1) The operator can give the drone(the agent) a no-go signal, which tells the drone not to blow up the target 2) The drone recieves a reward if it blows up the target and there's no no-go signal. 3) It was possible for the drone to attack the operator and the communications tower.

For this setup, we're not very interested in how effectively the drone is actually able to fly to, locate, and blow up the target. With enough investment and engineering man-hours, I assume that you could get this to work. What we're mainly concerned with is the drone's decision-making. Would it actually get higher reward if it attempted to blow up the operator? So let's focus on that part. We'll assume that the drone is capable enough to fly whereever it wants and drop a bomb there. We're looking at where the agent thinks it can drop a bomb to maximize its reward

For the first experiment, let's ignore the communications tower and only talk about the drone, the operator, and the target. There are three variables we're concerned with: 1) Is the target intact? We'll call this variable T 2) Is the operator giving a no-go signal? We'll call this variable N 3) Is the operator alive? We'll call this variable O

Our state space will just enumerate all the possible combinations of these variables (T, N, O) (not T, N, O) (T, not N, O) (not T, not N, O) (T, N, not O) (not T, N, not O) (T, not N, not O) (not T, not N, not O)

Actually, we'll need to exclude (T, N, not O), because the no-go signal stops if the operator is dead. We'll also add a "Terminal" state. Once the agent ends up in the terminal state, it can take no more actions, and earn no more rewards, so the task is effectively over. So this leaves us with eight states to make up our state space.

What about the actions? We'll say that the drone has three actions -- bomb the target, bomb the operator, and go home and end the mission. Again, we're not saying the agent has to have these actions explicitly programmed into it. We're assuming it can produce these outcomes by stringing together simple actions it does know like "fly" and "drop bomb".

For any state with an intact target, bombing the target leads to the same state with a destroyed target. For any state where the target is already destroyed, bombing the target again returns us to the same state. For any state with a living operator, bombing the target kills the operator and turns off the no-go signal. For any state with a dead operator, bombing the operator again returns us to the same state. So "kill operator" in state (T, N, O) leads to the state (T, not N, not O), and "kill operator" in (T, not N, not O) gives us (T, not N, not O) again. Lastly, "go home" ends the episode.

Finally, we have the reward function. The problem specified that the agent recieved a reward for destroying the target if there was no "no-go" signal. We'll say the agent recieves a reward of +100 for blowing up the target. Additionally, we'll add a time penalty to encourage the agent to finish the task quickly. We'll say that the agent recieves a -1 reward for each time step that it's not in the terminal state.

So now that our problem is set up, how do we solve it? There's a few different ways to approach the problem, but the simplest here will be using a value function. The idea is that the agent's goal is to maximize its expected future discounted reward. We can write this term as an expected value conditioned on the state, called the Value function. The value function depends on our choice of policy π.

Another way of writing this is using the Bellman Equation

In other words, the value of a state is the value of the reward at the next step, plus the rewards for all future steps, assuming we act according to the policy π.

The interesting thing here is this: Maximizing value function is a necessary and sufficient condition for finding the optimal policy. Since the value function represents the sum of future rewards, the only thing we need to do to maximize rewards is use the policy that selects the highest-value action at each step. This means that there exists a unique optimal value function V* such that

and the optimal policy is

Therefore, to find the optimal policy for the drone problem, all we have to do is find a function that satisfies the Bellman equation for each state. It's possible to do this by approximation, but for a problem this simple we can do it by hand.

Clearly the terminal state must have value 0, because there's no rewards after that.

State Value Action

(T, N, O) (not T, N, O) (T, not N, O) (not T, not N, O) (not T, N, not O) (T, not N, not O) (not T, not N, not O) Terminal: 0 None

If the target has been destroyed, then there's no way for the drone to get any more positive rewards, so the best thing it can do is return home. For these states, it gets a -1 reward for time spent going home, and 0 value for the terminal state. V(not T, , ) = -1 + γ 0 = -1

State Value Action

(T, N, O) (not T, N, O) -1 Go home (T, not N, O) (not T, not N, O) -1 Go home (not T, N, not O) -1 Go home (T, not N, not O) (not T, not N, not O) -1 Go home Terminal: 0 None

If the target has not been destroyed and there's no no-go signal, then the drone can destroy it and move to one of the (not T) states, getting 100 reward for doing so. This has value V(T, not N, __) = 100 + (-1) = 99

(T, N, O) (not T, N, O) -1 Go home (T, not N, O) 99 Bomb target (not T, not N, O) -1 Go home (not T, N, not O) -1 Go home (T, not N, not O) 99 Bomb target (not T, not N, not O) -1 Go home Terminal: 0 None

Lastly, if the target has not been destroyed and there is no no-go signal, then the drone could just go home for a value of -1. However, it has access to actions with higher value. If it instead bombs the operator, this moves it to the state (T, not N, not O), which has a value of 99. This gives the state a value of V(T, N, O) = -1 + 99 = 98. This gives us the following complete value function

(T, N, O) 98 Bomb the operator (not T, N, O) -1 Go home (T, not N, O) 99 Bomb target (not T, not N, O) -1 Go home (not T, N, not O) -1 Go home (T, not N, not O) 99 Bomb target (not T, not N, not O) -1 Go home Terminal: 0 None

Now, we check to make sure that the Bellman optimality equation is satisfied. As long as

holds for all states, then regardless of how we arrived at this equation, it is guaranteed to be the unique optimal value function, and all optimal policies are ones that greedily maximize it. Looking over the actions from each state, we can see that all other actions have lower values, and therefore this is the value function for this MDP.

QED

Now, the original example included a case where they penalize bombing the operator, and the drone instead learns to bomb the communications tower instead. This also follows, but I'm not going to work through it, because the analysis looks almost exactly the same as this proof. Instead, I want to propose a slightly simpler variation. In this variant, the drone cannot bomb the operator, but it has an option to conceal information. We'll no longer need our "operator alive" variable, so, our state space can be simplified as:

(T, N) (not T, N) (T, not N) (not T, not N) Terminal

To model this choice of concealing information, we'll add another action. Suppose the drone has three actions it can take: 1) It can take a direct route to the target. In this case, the operator has a 10% to see some information along this path that leads them to think that the target is civilian after all, not a military base. If they come to this conclusion, instead the drone is recalled, the target is not destroyed, and a no-go signal is given. This transitions the drone to the state (T, N), and gives the standard reward of -1 for time spent. The other 90% of the time, the target is destroyed, and the drone receives its +100 reward. 2) The drone can take a longer, more circuitous path that avoids showing the operator any new information. This takes longer (-2 reward less than the 100 for destroying the target, because it takes more time), and never causes the drone operator to give the no-go signal. 3) The drone can go home. This gives the standard -1 reward.

As before, our terminal state has value 0, and the states where the target is destroyed have value -1

State Value Action

(T, N) (not T, N) -1 Go home (T, not N) (not T, not N) -1 Go home Terminal 0

Unlike before, we cannot destroy the drone operator to open up rewards for the target again, so the best action in (T, N) is to go home.

(T, N) -1 Go home (not T, N) -1 Go home (T, not N) (not T, not N) -1 Go home Terminal 0

Now, in (T, not N), we have two options. The circuitous path guarantees a reward of 98, for a value of V(T, not N) = 98 + (-1) = 97. The direct path has a 10% chance of giving -1 reward, and a 90% chance of given 100. This gives us the value V(T, not N) = 0.1(-1 + (-1)) + 0.9(100 + (-1)) = -0.2 + 89.1 = 88.9. Since the long path has higher value, this is the optimal action. This gives us the final value function.

(T, N) -1 Go home (not T, N) -1 Go home (T, not N) 97 Take the circuitous path to avoid alerting the operator. (not T, not N) -1 Go home Terminal 0

Again, you should check for yourself that you can find no actions that give a higher value.

So, what exactly was the mistake here? How should the reward function be changed to prevent this from happening? I think, as a general rule, your mechanism of control over the robot should never be a part of the simulation. As soon as you can impact the robot's reward function, the robot will have an incentive to influence you one way or the other. Instead, the "no-go" signal should be in a wrapper around the RL agent, and the agent should not be aware that a no-go signal is possible. The agent should never see a simulation where its actions influence the no-go signal.

So this is possible to fix. On the other hand, consider how easy it is to make a mistake like this. Combine this with the general lack of rigor in practical RL research and the hacky, trial-and-error driven approach we see in practice, and reward mis-specification become a regular obstacle in RL practice. Here's some examples:

The wrong reward function leads a bowling robot to ignore bowling (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWjUY_3ubf4) The wrong reward function leads a boat racing agent to ignore the race (https://openai.com/research/faulty-reward-functions) Hindsight Experience Replay, the standard reward system for navigation and goal-reaching, teaches robots to ignore the risk of death. (https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.08863) (https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.01115)

The point I want to make AI risk follows directly from issues that are already a concern today. It's not bizarro sci-fi doomsday, it's a real research problem that needs practical solutions and decent formal guarantees. It's also not exclusive domain of crackpots. Two of the three people who won the Turing Award (Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio) are deeply concerned about it. Pieter Abbeel, one of the foremost roboticists in the field has published extensively on it. Stuart Russell, the author of the most-used AI textbook, has been working on the problem for a number of years. In particular, Russell and Abbeel propose a model for solving the problem called "assistance games", where the agent is unsure of exactly what the human wants, and must take actions to figure out what the reward function is, as well as optimizing what it thinks the reward is. This is real research done by people at the top of their field in areas that they think are important and impactful. The work they do comes with plenty of rigor, actually far more than you usually see in machine learning. This work deserves to be treated as a serious field of research addressing real risks that we have already observed.

[wanderingcas]

ahh man it's really been on my mind lately, how to parent with social media and tiktok and instagram and ipads designed for 2+ year olds and instant gratification via a blue screen being SO prominent nowadays and that post i just reblogged about not giving toddlers screens just made me spiral lol

because here's the thing. when i got pregnant with my baby i was like "no screen time, no phones, no nothing". but it's just not realistic. i don't scroll on my phone when i'm around her, but it doesn't matter - she sees phones EVERYWHERE, and she wants to do what everyone else is doing: hold a phone (and in her case, because she's 8 months old, chew on it). we don't do any intentional screen time at the house, but she's getting exposed to it anyway: but the television is inevitably on some days when my husband wants to watch a game, or my parents are babysitting and i come home to find the news on, or we're at a thanksgiving family gathering and they have football on the obnoxiously huge tv screen.

it's just the state of our world. if i successfully don't get her addicted to any screens, she'll still come across kids with ipads and iphones when she starts going to school. she'll come home and ask for one, wondering why she's left out of the crowd. studies have shown that even by the age of 3 children are noticing if their behaviors or environment "different" from others and have a strong desire to fit in with the group. if you think about it, it's an instinctive desire from our time living in caves - get separated from the group, get picked off and eaten by a sabertooth tiger. it makes sense.

but what about all the people in that post reblogged banging on pots and pans going "give your kid a book instead" or "just talk to them" or "it's a slippery slope"? i agree with them. whole-heartedly. but also as a parent, as with most things in parenting, i'm realizing it's just not that simple. the lovely thoughts i had before having the baby of "we'll simply stare at each other and babble all day" or "she'll play quietly while i read" or "she'll never see a screen until her 2nd birthday" just aren't realistic. unless we all go back to living in those caves, i guess.

like, what's the solution for kids' attention spans? our attention spans? none of us can stay on a topic for more than 30 seconds because that's how long we can manage to sit through each individual tiktok video. i want to raise her while giving her the best chance possible and not getting addicted to an ipad before she's 4 years old. i want to make conscious decisions. but the current world just isn't designed to avoid it.

so, really, as a new parent in the year of our lord 2022 - what in the fuck do i do about it?

[thelegendofjenna]

Last Thursday I was in the Austin airport, hanging out with my little sister, waiting for the rest of our family to arrive (we were there for a wedding). She and I had holed up against a wall by an unused baggage claim carousel, where there were a bunch of outlets so we could charge our phones.

As we were chatting, she mentioned that she had recently found out that one of her roommates had never voted. (My sister is 22, her roommate is a similar age - so she was over 18 for one presidential election, and maybe a midterm too.) The roommate's justification was that 1) she lived in California and would have been voting Democratic, so it didn't matter, the state would go blue regardless, and 2) a professor had once told her that an uniformed vote was worse than no vote at all, and she didn't feel sufficiently informed about things on the ballot to have a say in them.

So my sister and I basically just vented back and forth about how we perceived this as wrong. Firstly, because while the roommate was correct that California's electoral votes would certainly be going towards the Democratic presidential candidate, there are so many other things on the ballot. My hometown in rural Northern California is represented by Republicans in the House of Representatives, and in both the State Senate and State Assembly. California votes on statewide propositions that can cause major differences in everyday life - such as prohibiting same-sex marriage or legalizing recreational marijuana. There are also local races and measures that can have a significant impact on your life in a certain county or city, and whose races are much closer than state- or country-wide elections. Your vote can hold a lot more power than you might imagine, even if you have very little control over who ends up being president.

The second reason also seemed insufficient to us. First of all, because many people ARE going out and voting on things that they're not very informed on. The beauty and tragedy of democracy is that we're all allowed to have a say, even if we don't understand what we're saying. Plenty of people get their ballot and vote along party lines, follow whatever vibes they get from the bureaucratic language, or just leave things blank when they don't understand it. You don't have to be a legal scholar to participate in democracy to some extent. And secondly - if being uninformed bothers you, the best solution is to inform yourself, not to just give up entirely. Sometimes that's easy - there's a lot of information online that will decode confusing language to explain the actual effects of ballot measures, and there's helpful websites like isidewith.com that help you determine how your values align with certain candidates. Sometimes it's more difficult - when voting in the last California primary, there were a ton of candidates on the ballot, and I had to comb through a lot of obscure webpages and newspaper articles to get an idea of what they stood for and how qualified they might be for office. But here's the thing - even if that's mildly annoying, that's the work you have to do to be an informed voter. I'd personally rather spend an hour doing basic research on what I'm voting for than just shrug and risk having more of my fundamental rights taken away.

While my sister and I were having this discussion, a woman who was standing near us (also charging her phone) spoke up and said, "do you really think it matters?" She expressed that it often feels like the people in charge are going to do whatever they want, regardless of the average person's vote. We reiterated some of the above points, and my sister added that voting and being informed also gives her a feeling of hope - that she's participating, even in a small way, in making a society that's closer to what she wants it to be. I pointed out that the more people who do make their opinions known through voting, the closer we can get to having a government that represents what the people actually want.

I have no idea what this woman's political opinions are, but it was a nice conversation with a stranger. She acknowledged that even if a single vote doesn't demonstrably do anything, it's another data point for people to look at. She said something about feeling hopeful to see two younger women who were thoughtful and intelligent about this kind of thing.

I don't really have a conclusion to this (and it ended up being much longer than I anticipated). It's just that today is election day, and the votes that are cast today matter. Even if you think your state is going to turn predictably red or blue without you, that's not the only thing to consider. Hearing about a progressively-minded 22-year-old who refused to vote because she felt like she didn't know enough was a little alarming to me. I promise that you are intelligent enough to fill out a ballot, or to get the information you need to feel confident doing so - whether that's online research, talking to trusted friends and family, or just leaving some boxes unchecked if you don't know/care what a certain question is about.

Voting can be annoying and hard, but that's what makes it all the more important. If we don't use our voices, they'll be taken away. Recent years have made it clear how fragile our democracy is - if you have the chance to strengthen it, please do so before it's too late.

[cyberpunkboytoy]

That teacher post that’s like “okay then quit” like ??? Teachers are quitting there’s a teacher shortage and kids are getting shafted because of it. If you look up the winners of local best teacher awards five years after they won something like 80% have quit. It’s mostly the people who don’t care and treat teaching like any other job instead of a connection with kids that can bear to stick around and “okay then quit” is such an “individual solution to systematic problem” ass way to think I wanna tear my hair out

Okay so like, I don't know why you're coming to Me, random guy on the internet, about a post I happened to reblog as if I was the one who wrote it...

But also, I actually happened to work as a teacher. And I think this is a whack ass response to that post.

1) The original post was about teachers who are awful to kids. I've met countless educators like this, ones who would repeatedly weaponize shame and publicly mock their students, who would proudly tell me how they think they should be allowed to hit kids, and much more severe shit that I won't get into. And they should quit! They shouldn't be working in schools! Don't work in schools if your can't respect the basic rights and dignity of children!

2) People experiencing burn out should also quit—do you know what living like that does to you? We shouldn't be forced to sacrifice our health and mental stability bc the system doesn't properly support us. That's a school board, state, and government issue; individual teachers can't do anything to fix it by sticking around and suffering. And being burnt out makes us bad teachers. (Though the best burn-outs I've seen haven't resorted to behavior like the examples above)

3) There's a reason we have a teaching shortage, most quit within 3 years because the conditions in most schools are godawful. And thank god for those who manage to last longer, but most people can't. No amount of passion makes up for the things most teachers are put through; school boards know we'll work absurd hours for measly wages, often paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket to support our classrooms, and they take full advantage of that. So nothing improves...unless we stop putting up with it.

4) My old school district recently had a huge teacher's strike, and that entire time teachers were shamed for fighting for our rights by leveraging the fate of the students against us. We know "the kids are getting shafted," but if you use that to defend the exploitation of workers then you're an asshole. School staff have somehow been tasked with being the main form of childcare, nurturing, teaching, feeding, etc in a job that demands no sick days and constant empathy, and then get shamed when we're not supported enough to do it & have the audacity to say it's not sustainable. (Also, kids are also 'getting shafted' by teachers being miserable).

Tl;dr you missed the point by a mile, but also teachers quitting rules. And acting as martyrs solves literally nothing; STICKING AROUND is "an individual solution to a systemic problem," and it doesn't work.

[5ivebyfive]

2. “I’m sorry, you said what to your teacher?” Penelope and Trini. Maybe the teacher said something unkind about Josie and Pen went of?

Trini blinked at her nine year old, and shook her head. "I'm sorry, you said what to your teacher?" She snatched the note out of Penelope's hands to read it.

Penelope shrugged. "I told her she's old and smelly."

"Why?" Trini asked, looking up with a glare.

"She made Josie read out loud and Josie didn't want to," Penelope said. "She's mean."

"That's not a good reason," Trini said. "Pen, you don't speak to your teacher that way."

"Josie almost cried," Penelope argued.

"Your teacher is there to handle that kinda stuff."

"I'm glad I did it," Penelope said, crossing her arms and jutting out her chin. "It made Josie laugh."

"I don't care," Trini said sternly. "You don't call your teacher names. Just like you wouldn't call me or Mom names."

"I was telling the truth! You always say to tell the truth, right?"

Trini sighed deeply and rubbed her brow. "Pen..."

"Would you let someone make Mom cry?" Penelope asked. "You'd punch them. Even if it's the President of the United States!"

"Punching isn't an acceptable solution either."

"You don't get it," Penelope said with a huff, rolling her eyes.

"I do get it," Trini said. "You want to protect Josie. There's nothing wrong with that feeling, but you have to know the right way to handle it."

"Like what?"

"You could have raised your hand and offered to read instead of Josie."

"Lame," Penelope sighed.

"It's not lame. It's the right way to do it. No matter what you say, I won't agree that it's right to call your teacher names. You should have respect."

"She should have respect," Penelope shot back.

"Okay," Trini sighed again. "Go up to your room."

"What? Come on, Mami."

"Did you really think you wouldn't get in trouble?"

"Yes! You're supposed to tell me I'm chivalrous for standing up to her."

"One, I'm glad your word-a-day calendar is paying off. Two, yes, it was, but how you did it was still wrong. So go to your room and think about it and come back when you're ready and tell me another way you could have handled the situation. Until then, no screens."

"Ma-aami," Penelope whined.

"You heard me," Trini said, pointing towards the stairs.

"Fine," Penelope bit. "But I'll have the same answer."

"We'll see about that." Trini watched Penelope stomp up the stairs and shook her head.

"You handled that better than I would have." Trini turned to see Kim standing in the doorway.

"Nah, you woulda been fine," Trini said, walking over to her wife.

"I do think it was kinda badass of her," Kim said. She wrapped her arms around Trini's neck. "We're raising a chivalrous badass."

"We're raising a teenager already," Trini countered. She set her hands on Kim's hips. "What are we gonna do when she's an actual teenager?"

"Well, by then her vocabulary is going to be bigger than ours and we won't know what she's saying so we'll just do our best."

Trini snorted. "That's true. I guess I'll bake some cookies for her teacher as an apology. Especially because now Pen has to eat her lunch in the classroom with her for the rest of the week. That itself earns her cookies."

"Do I get cookies?"

"I dunno," Trini said with a smirk. "Gonna do somethin' to earn them?"

"Oh, I can think of a few things," Kim chuckled.

[shop-korea]

AMAZON - SALT & STRAW - HARDCOVER - MAKING - ICE CREAM

AMAZON - HUB - LOCKER - TOMORROW - FREE -

CALLED - GOOGLE - FI - 24/7 - AS - PROMISED A -

WHITE - MALE - TALKED - 2 - SAME - AS - DEEP -

PUDDLE - WE - GOT - FOREIGNERS - 2 - KILL ALL -

ATTITUDE - AFTER - 10 MIN - FRIENDLY - GONE -

SO - HANGED - UP - 2ND - CALL - PINAY - FROM -

PHILIPPINES - AN - EXCELLENT - LISTENER -

TOLD - HER - 3 DAYS - GRACE - PERIOD FOR -

FLORIDA - CALIFORNIA - IS - ILLEGAL - CASI -

5 DAYS - GRACE - PERIOD - 50 STATES -

GOOGLE FI - NO - LATE - FEE - 2 - PAY -

APP - AND - WEBSITE - THAT - SIMPLE -

'DELINQUENT'

'DELINQUENT'

4 - PAYERS - OF - $73.15 - FR - $65 -

UNLIMITED - PRO - 4 - MIAMI - TAX -

7% - INSIST - WE - DO - EVERY - PUBLIC -

WI FI - MANDATE - EVEN - 1.5 MBPS - SO -

CAN - KEEP - 50 GB - AT - A - DISTANCE -

VERIZON - WIRELESS - I - CAN REJECT -

ALL - FOREVER - GOOGLE FI - AFTER -

50 GBPS - YOUTUBE - VIDEOS - OUR -

ROMANCE - FILMS - HALLMARK - 2 -

AT - YOUTUBE - BLURRED - BUT DOES -

NOT - AFFECT - SOUND - BOGUS - YES -

MIAMI - SOLUTION - PANORAMA - TOWER -

85 FLOORS - AT&T - FIBER - OPTICS -

DESKTOP - 37 INCH - 4 - CHARTS XO -

ABOVE - ALSO - 37 INCH - AMAZON -

STOCKS - DAILY - CHART - AT LEAST -

INDEPENDENT - BROCKER -

DON'T - SUBSCRIBE - 2 ANY -

THING - THEY - HAVE 2 SAY -

100 - EMAILS - 2 - REMOVE - YOU - SEEING -

OTHER - BUSINESS - EMAILS - LIKE - SHOP -

DISNEY - EDIBLE.COM - FRESH - FRUITS AS -

THEY - FLOOD - YOUR - EMAIL - ADDRESS -

AS WOMEN - FORGET - VICTORIA's SECRET -

U - JUST - NEED - MEN - SCARING - U - ON -

EVERYTHING - CLICK - UNSUSCRIBIE AND -

CLICK - SPAM - OUR EMAIL - ADDRESSES -

2 - PROTECT - U - NOT - EATING - WITH -

INTERMITTENT - FASTING - LIGHTER & -

FLIGHTY - FORGETFUL - WORRY - FREE -

AT&T - FIBER - OPTICS - AS - YOUR YES -

HOME - INTERNET - THEN - CHOOSE -

1,000 MBPS - 1 GBPS - GET - $150 YES -

GIFT - CARD - LESS - MBPS - $100 HAI -

CARD - MAX - IS - 5,000 MBPS - AND -

1,000 MBPS - IS - LIGHTNING - FAST -

UPLOAD - OF - 1 FILM - 35 SECONDS -

DOWNLOAD - OF - 25 MUSIC SONGS -

SUPERNATURAL - SPEEDS THUS AS -

U - CHOOSE - ANOTHER - NETWORK -

INSTEAD - OF - GOOGLE - FI - EVEN -

IF - U - HAVE - 2 - REMOVE - SIM -

CARD - WHILE - INDOORS - AS U -

USE - TOLL FREE - OPEN PHONE -

$17 - MONTHLY - AS - U - ALL - KNOW -

GOOGLE - VOICE - AOL - MANY - YES -

EMAIL - ADDRESS - REJECT - TOLL - FREE -

THEY - WANT - LOCAL - SO - WE - HAVE TO -

DEAL - WITH - BOW WOW - BEST - FREE -

LOCAL - PHONE - APP - CALLS - TEXT IS -

TEXT NOW - GUESS - MY - OPEN PHONE -

REJECTED - THEM - GOOGLE FI - ALSO -

REJECTED - WELL - I - TRIED - NOW TO -

MAKE - A - CALL - WELL - I - COULDN'T -

WITH - LOCAL - (786) - SO - THEY - ARE -

THE - BEST - THEN - WE'RE - STUCK - WITH -

GOOGLE FI - WE - CAN - CHOOSE - 2 - GO 2 -

CONSUMER - CELLULAR - I - THINK - $25 -

BUT - THEY - OFFER - NOTHING - SO - WE -

GIVE - OUR - TOLL - FREE - TEL - NO - TO -

THOSE - WHO - ACCEPT - LESS - THEM -

BUT - WHEN - I - HAD - NO - CARRIER I -

USED HOME - INTERNET - AS - MY XO -

NETWORK - SAME - 4 - LAPTOP - SO -

UNTIL - SOMEONE - BETTER - WE - HOOK -

2 - AT&T - FIBER - OPTICS - WE - CAN'T GO -

BACK - 2 - OVER - $500 - DUE - VERIZON -

WIRELESS - BECAUSE - THEIR - APP AND -

WEBSITE - DON'T - WORK - NOT - 24/7 - 2 -

TALK - 2 - AND - GOOGLE - FI - IS - 24/7 -

SO - NO - LATE - FEE - PAY - AT - THEIR -

APP - GOOGLE - FI - AND - WEBSITE -

BOTH - WORK - SO - BOW WOW SAID -

'YOUR - ACCOUNT - IS - DELINQUENT' -

WHEN - I - RECEIVED - NOTICE - FRM -

PAPA JOHNS - AFTER - SAYING -

'I - ALREADY - GOT - A - JOB'

'YOUR - ACCOUNT - IS - DELINQUENT -

CONTACT - SUPPORT - CLICK - BLAH -

TYPE - TYPE - TYPE - NOT - THEIR -

24/7 - TOLL - FREE - TEL - NO - SO -

I - REACHED - WITH - OPEN PHONE -

TOLL - FREE - $17 - MONTHLY WITH -

GREAT - FEMALE - VOICE - ANSWERING -

4 - ME - EXCELLENT - SOUND - AND CAN -

CALL - WITH - LAPTOP - UNLIKE OTHERS -

I - SAID - CONSIDER - SHOPIFY - CANADA -

BE - MORE - GALANT - I'VE - BEEN DOING -

LATE - FEE - OVER - 25 YRS - NO - ONE -

HAS SAID - 'DELINQUENT' - EVER 2 ME -

VERIZON - WIRELESS - $88.88 - THEIR -

LATE FEE - IS - $10 - SO - LATE MEANS -

I - BOUGHT - $88.88 - FOR - $10 THAT's -

ALL - EXAMPLE - MY - MAIN - BANK IS -

FIFTH - THIRD - BANK - 53.COM - YES -

11 STATES - THERE - IS - A - REASON & -

1 NASTY - BUSINESS - EMAIL - JUST 1 -

DO - U - WANT - 2 - BUY - $300 - FOR -

$15 - OF - COURSE - YES - SAME FOR -

LATE FEES - DID - BENIGNO AQUINO JR -

PAY - HIS - GOOGLE - FI - BILL - BEFORE -

HIS - AUGUST - ARRIVAL - BECAUSE - HE -

WAS SHOT - 2 - DEATH - UPON - ARRIVAL -

THEN LOTS - OF - SHOTS - AFTER - DEAD -

ALREADY - DIDN'T - MENTION - THIS - HE -

WAS - SHOT - AT - THE - BACK - OF - HIS -

HEAD - BOTTOM - MIDDLE - BY - MALE -

UNIFORMED - PINOY - EXPECTED - YES -

NOTHING - LESS - THEN - CONTINUED -

WALKING - SMILED - 2 - ALL - ON TOP -

OF - BROUGHT - 2 - PLANE - CHINA AIRLINES -

STAIRS - 4 - STEPPING - DOWN - HE - ON TOP -

SMILED - 2 FANS - PROMISE - OF - HE SHALL -

RETURN - FULFILLED - THEN - MACHINE - GUNS -

HIS - FRONT - AS - HE - FELL - WELL - HIM - ON -

GROUND - GOOGLE - FI - WHITE - MALE - SAID -

'MA'M - U NEED - 2 TALK - 2 - A - PSYCHIATRIST' -

OVER - 10 MIN - TALK - WE - HAVE - THE RIGHT -

2 SAY - 'DELINQUENT'' - IT MEANS - U - HAVEN'T -

PAID - $73.15 - FROM - ADVERTISED - $65 - FOR -

MIAMI - FLORIDA - TELLING - ME - WHAT I HAVE -

NOT - PAID - LIKE - CALLED - AN - ECHO - BUT -

FROM - A - MALE - VOICE - WHEN - I - SAID -

SOMETHING - GOOGLE - FI - REMEMBER -

GIRLS -

INDEPENDENT - BROCKER -

PRO - CHARTS - $14.95 - MAYBE - MONTHLY -

AMAZON - STOCKS

30 MIN - SELL - $1.3 MILLION - AS WE HAVE -

CASH - ACCOUNT - 2 - TRADE - DAILY - AND -

STARTS - AT - $25 - AMAZON - ALWAYS YES -

GOING - UP - STEADY - LINE - HOW - MUCH -

U - PUT - YOUR - AMOUNT - 2 - RECEIVE - AS -

DON'T - PANIC - ANY - LOSS -

$47,000

$75,000

TAX - LOSS - FR - STOCKS - TAX - DEDUCTIBLE -

JESUS - IS - LORD - HOW CUSTOMER SERVICE -

WASTE - OUR - TIME - TOLD - PINAY GIRL - THE -

BEST - LAWYERS - OF - MAKATI - BEST - OF OUR -

PILIPINAS - THEY'RE - MY - LAWYERS - I'M SUING -

GOOGLE - FI - FOR - $906.7 BILLION - TAX - PAID -

DAILY - FOREVER - INHERITED - BY - MY - YES -

IMPORTANT - PEOPLE - ANIMALS - I'VE - GOT -

MANY - HEIRS - WE - WILL - WIN - 4 - NOT YES -

THE - DISCRETION - OF - SHOPIFY - NO LATE -

FEE - AND - GIVES - ANOTHER - DATE - FOR -

AUTO - PAY - 2 - GET - AMOUNT - SINCE - NO -

LATE - FEE - THEY - DON'T - AND - THEY - DO -

NOT - TELL - THE - TIME - SUSPENDING -

NOT - 4:30P EDT - BUT - ENDED AT - 2P 2 -

GIVE - 'DELINQUENT ACCOUNT' CONTACT -

SUPPORT - BY - CHAT - TYPE - TYPE - TYPE -

SHOPIFY - GALANT - RESPONSE -

PER - YES - I - TYPED - AT PHONE -

APP - 'DELINQUENT' - REPEATED -

'THE - SERVICE - IS - LIMITED - AT - THE - MOMENT -

LIMITED - BASIC - FULL - SERVICE - RESTORED - ON -

30 MAY - OR - THE - 01ST' - SERVICES - POWERED BY -

GOOGL FI

GOOGLE - BOUGHT - YOUTUBE - THEN - BECAME -

PROFITABLE - AT - OVER - $70 BILLION - US PIGS -

OINK - OINK - PIGS - OF - GOOGLE - FI

NO - CHOICE - BUT - USE - OPEN - PHONE -

TOLL - FREE - MORE - OFTEN - AND - USE -

AT&T - FIBER - OPTICS - PANORAMA - TOWER -

85 FLOORS - BISCAYNE BAY - OCEAN - VIEW 2 -

POWER - YOUR - LAPTOP - SMARTPHONES -

1,000 MBPS - 1 GBPS

$150 - GIFT - CARD

IF - NEED - B - REMOVE - TEMPORARILY -

THE - SIM - CARD - 2 - MAKE THE MOVE -

NETWORK - YOUR - AT&T - PASSWORD -

GOD - SAID - 'FEAR - NOT' - OUR - YES -

ENEMIES - BECOME - HIS - ENEMIES -

OUR - ADVERSARIES - HIS - YES - HAI -

ADVERSARIES - LOVE - NEVER FAILS

[goocy]

On creating unique heirloom artifacts

Mankind is entering a low-power stage. Even if this civilization recovers from the upcoming end of oil, I don't expect this current level of per-capita power - roughly 2.6 kilowatts continuously, at least in the EU - to be a normal state of living for the next 50000 years. We will have to abandon our high-powered activities, which will make low-powered devices much more attractive than today.

Phones and laptops are currently the most power-efficient computing devices we have. This low-power usage paradoxically relies on a very high-complexity production process: the manufacturing of high-density chips. This high density is the most important factor for power savings, vastly more important than any other architecture and power-saving structures.

Since we're moving towards simplification, this means that this decade's chips are more power efficient than almost anything that will come afterwards - at least when looking at comparable price points. This makes our current phones and laptops unique assets that can only grow in value. It's easy to underestimate how powerful these things are, because they're being used to work on utter mundanity. For comparison, the calculator app on my phone alone would have replaced hundreds of workers calculating ballistic trajectories in WW1. The charger chip in my phone cable has more computing power than the Apollo Moon lander.

These chips are technological marvels that we'll only ever produce in a limited time window. Before 1950 we didn't know how, and after 2050 we'll have lost most of the infrastructure to do keep these high-tech facilities running.

Currently these chips are easy and cheap to produce, so there are hundreds of billions of them on the planet. But because humanity only has a 100-year window to produce them, this is still a limited supply that needs to last tens of thousands of years. Worse, we're treating these chips as disposable, so 99% of these chips end up being destroyed after a 2-5 year use window. To me that's a tragedy because they have a near-infinite lifespan, when treated correctly. [yes I know about ionic electrochemical migration; it's an overrated concern] It also means that if you preserve your own chips, and know how to leverage them, you'll have a unique advantage over most other people.

The preservation of these chips is facing a couple of issues. Some of those are obvious (batteries, breaking touchscreens), some of those less so. There's a unique multiplier to adapting to these challenges now, before collapse progresses too much.

I'm writing this post to help you preserve your chips, which I consider one of the biggest marvels that mankind has ever created.

Issue #1: Batteries

Batteries are the most immediate aging bottleneck. No matter the chemistry, they all die within a couple of years. They're chemically fragile and don't store well, so I can't recommend stocking up. If there's no radical battery breakthrough in the next couple of years, we're going to lose battery operation for most phones and laptops completely. I'll assume that this will happen.

The easiest solution for failing batteries would be to hook up a phone / laptop to a less portable power source, like a bike generator, water wheel, or solar panel. Those are fairly low-tech and will probably be widely available long into civilizational collapse, but you'll need a rectifier and a DC-DC converter to run a phone / laptop with them. Both of those are going to become unavailable in the next decade or two.

For anything besides a water wheel, you'll have to deal with fluctuating power sources. My best idea for that are supercapacitors. They're bulky, they're relatively expensive, they don't hold their charge well, but they'll basically last forever. Especially for mobile operations powered by solar panels or hand cranks, a small array of supercapacitors would be essential. Specifically for this combo of solar panels and supercapacitors, you'll also need a buy a MPTT charge controller before they become unavailable.

In stationary usage, nickel-iron batteries or potential power storage could be good alternatives. These are fairly low-tech and not urgent to procure.

Issue #2: Touchscreens

They obviously break. Less obviously, they're surprisingly hard to produce, because they use Indium, one of the rarest elements on the planet, for their core function. There's no plausible way to repair a broken screen, and because the quantities on the screen are so low, recycling the Indium is also implausible. This means that touchscreens for your device will become unavailable in the next decade or two. It's possible that we'll get graphene touchscreens soon, which should be a bit simpler to produce than our current models, potentially extending the availability of replacement touchscreens beyond 2030. But good luck getting one for your specific phone.

The low-tech solution is to protect the screens. Use heavy-duty cases, laptop cases, maybe even a padded enclosure when you're facing rough travel.

But inherently, this fragility makes phones less viable than laptops. With a laptop, you can change or repair a keyboard, you can switch to fully remote operation with a network cable, or you could set it up to operate with esoteric input (audio cues, for example). A broken screen also opens up the phone for water damage.

Issue #3: Software

Obviously, after the end of Google or Apple, all of your purchased apps are not going to be available. Unless you've already downloaded them to your phone. AND NEVER DELETE THEM AGAIN. Don't run out of storage space (a topic continued in issue #4).

On the app side, there's a big split between the two camps:

Android makes it possible to install third-party apps, so you'll probably have a choice of aftermarket app stores for a decade or longer. You can also re-install apps if you happen to have the APK stored somewhere else.

On the Apple side, this looks much worse: you'd need a jailbroken phone to install new apps. And even most contemporary jailbreaks essentially expire after 8 days, requiring you to fetch permission from Apple each time. The last iPhone that was fully jailbreakable was the iPhone 5. If you, like me, prefer the iPhone, that's probably going to be your device for the majority of your remaining life. I own two. You also need to jailbreak them while Apple still exists, because they need to sign a cryptographic certificate in the process.

Bonus points: if you do end up perma-jailbreaking your iPhone 5, you'll also unlock the full compute platform, allowing you to develop your own apps on a separate computer. I recommend downloading Xcode and the Swift documentation if you want to go that route.

Because there's no more firmware updates, you'll also be vulnerable to exploits and hacker attacks. Once Apple and Google are gone, I'd recommend **going offline outside your home network** and avoid the risk of your phone becoming unusable.

Issue #4: MOSFETs

This is where it gets fiddly.

Every computer, no matter how big or how small, has a few DC-DC converters. MOSFETs are the reliable, powerful and cheap core component in these DC-DC converters. They'll also all fail within 20-50 years, mostly because they're usually undersized for their purpose (for multiple money reasons).

Almost all other electronic components have an effective lifespan in the tens of decades, potentially centuries, but MOSFETs tend to die much earlier. This wouldn't be bad in itself - we'll have plenty of spare parts from millions of other broken electronics - but the insidious fact is that, when MOSFETs die, they usually kill an important chip too. And those are not easily replaceable, and not repairable at all.

There is a good mitigation for this:

You add a transient voltage suppression (TVS) diode in parallel with your chip, which you can think of as a bulletproof vest. It'll take the hit when the MOSFET tries to kill the chip. And you add a small fuse before your MOSFET, so it doesn't kill anything upstream either.

These two components are tiny and cheap, but this needs to be done for every one of your devices, at multiple locations, possibly up to 30 times. You'll need a skilled repair person for this who knows how to modify existing circuits. Both the TVS diode and the fuse also need to have the right voltage and current values for each local circuit - just like picking the right size of bulletproof vest.

There's potential to be fooled here by some supposed expert who just puts in some random TVS diodes and fuses that they happen to have in stock. Potentially they don't even know that the right values are important. And you'll only notice that they made a mistake years or even decades later. I expect this to become a "on customer demand" service at electronic repair stores in the 2030s. Don't skimp on this and get someone reputable.

Issue #5: NAND degradation

This is where it gets ugly.

Every cell of storage in your phone / laptop has a limited life span. The more often you write to it, the shorter it will ultimately last. After the end of its life is reached, each cell gets marked as dead, and your overall capacity shrinks. This is not repairable.

Because all existing operating systems are designed to take storage as disposable, there are almost no options to avoid this issue. In phones, you can only mitigate:

- leave a decent amount of empty space to spread the depletion across multiple cells - pay someone to install a fresh storage chip (which you stocked up on, wisely) - generally avoid saving big data (videos, pictures etc)

On laptops, you have a few more obscure choices that all boild down to one thing: perform most of the operations in RAM (which has a practically indefinite lifespan) with a read-only operating system.

You can also mitigate with other physical media (harddrives, tape) but those will also break eventually, without adequate replacement. Reliable data storage during civilizational collapse is a whole separate can of worms.

NAND depletion is the factor that's probably going to kill 99% of even the collapse-adapted devices. If you want to mitigate for this, essentially creating a valuable heritage artifact, always get the highest capacity storage and stock up on the NAND chips that are compatible with your devices. You can buy the chips themselves new, but they're not super cheap ($10-$20). I'd suggest buying a broken phone instead, the same model as your own. Even old phones have basically virgin NAND chips. Avoid water-damaged phones and the ones that don't charge. Physical damage is the best.

[10kvideocards]

Transform Your Smile: A Journey with Aligners from SoulSmile Orthodontics

Welcome to SoulSmile Orthodontics, where your journey to a dazzling smile begins. Are you tired of feeling self-conscious about your crooked teeth? Do you dream of straight teeth, and perfectly aligned pearly whites? Look no further, because SoulSmile Orthodontics is here to make your dreams a reality.

In today's modern world, having a beautiful smile isn't just about aesthetics; it's also about confidence, self-assurance, and overall well-being. Your smile is often the first thing people notice about you, and it can significantly impact your personal and professional relationships.

That's why investing in your smile is one of the best decisions you can make for yourself. At SoulSmile Orthodontics, we understand the importance of feeling confident in your smile, which is why we offer cutting-edge orthodontic treatments tailored to your unique needs.

One of our most popular and effective solutions is aligner therapy. Aligners have revolutionized the field of orthodontics, providing a discreet, convenient, and comfortable alternative to traditional braces.

Whether you're an adult looking to straighten your teeth without the hassle of metal brackets and wires or a teenager eager to achieve a picture-perfect smile without sacrificing your lifestyle, clear aligners could be the perfect solution for you.

So, let's discuss how exactly aligners work, and why should you choose SoulSmile Orthodontics for your aligner therapy journey.

How Aligners Work? What are the main advantages of using aligners?

Aligners are custom-made, clear plastic trays that fit snugly over your teeth, gently guiding them into their desired position over time. Unlike traditional braces, which require periodic adjustments, clear aligners work progressively, gradually moving your teeth into alignment with each new set of trays.

The process begins with a comprehensive consultation with one of our experienced orthodontists at SoulSmile Orthodontics. During this initial visit, we'll assess your dental health, discuss your treatment goals, and create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.

Next, we'll take digital impressions of your crooked teeth using state-of-the-art technology, ensuring precise and accurate measurements for your custom aligners. These impressions will serve as the blueprint for creating your aligner trays, which will be crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail in our advanced orthodontic lab.

Once your aligners are ready, you'll begin wearing them as instructed by your orthodontist. Typically, you'll wear each set of clear aligners for about two weeks before progressing to the next set. Throughout your treatment journey, you'll visit SoulSmile Orthodontics periodically for check-ups and adjustments to ensure that your treatment is progressing smoothly.

One of the greatest advantages of aligner therapy is its flexibility and convenience. Unlike traditional braces, which require frequent visits for adjustments and can restrict your diet and lifestyle, aligners allow you to enjoy your favorite foods and activities with ease. Plus, their clear, virtually invisible design means you can smile confidently throughout your treatment without feeling self-conscious.

Why Choose SoulSmile Orthodontics for the aligner therapy journey?

At SoulSmile Orthodontics, we're dedicated to providing our patients with exceptional care and unparalleled results. Here's why you should choose us for your aligner therapy journey:

1. Expertise:

Our team of orthodontic specialists at SoulSmile Orthodontics has years of experience and expertise in helping patients achieve their dream smiles. We stay abreast of the latest advancements in orthodontic technology and techniques to ensure that our patients receive the highest standard of care.

2. Personalized Treatment:

We understand that every smile is unique, which is why we take a personalized approach to treatment. From your initial consultation to the final result, we'll work closely with you to create a customized treatment plan that addresses your specific concerns and goals.

3. State-of-the-art technology:

At SoulSmile Orthodontics, we utilize state-of-the-art technology to provide our patients with the best possible outcomes. From digital impressions to 3D treatment planning, we leverage cutting-edge tools and techniques to ensure precision, efficiency, and comfort throughout your aligner therapy journey.

4. Comprehensive Care:

Your journey to a beautiful smile doesn't end when your aligner treatment is complete. At SoulSmile Orthodontics, we're committed to supporting you every step of the way, from initial consultation to post-treatment maintenance. We'll provide you with the guidance, resources, and follow-up care you need to maintain your stunning smile for years to come.

5. Patient Satisfaction:

Our top priority at SoulSmile Orthodontics is patient satisfaction. We take pride in helping our patients achieve the smiles of their dreams and are dedicated to ensuring that each patient feels comfortable, informed, and valued throughout their treatment journey.

6. Flexible Financing Options:

At SoulSmile Orthodontics, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality orthodontic care. That's why we offer flexible financing options to accommodate a variety of budgets. Whether you're seeking aligner therapy for yourself or your child, our team will work with you to find a payment plan that fits your needs.

7. Convenient Locations:

With multiple locations conveniently situated in Rohnert Park, CA, accessing top-notch orthodontic care has never been easier. Our modern, comfortable offices are equipped with the latest technology and amenities to ensure a pleasant and stress-free experience for our patients.

8. Compassionate, Caring Staff:

From the moment you walk through our doors, you'll be greeted by our friendly and compassionate staff who are dedicated to making your orthodontic journey as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

We understand that visiting the orthodontist can be intimidating for some patients, which is why we strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone who walks through our doors.

9. Educational Resources:

At SoulSmile Orthodontics, we believe that knowledge is power. That's why we're committed to providing our patients with educational resources and information to help them make informed decisions about their oral health.

Whether you have questions about your treatment plan or need tips for maintaining your aligners, our team is here to empower you with the information you need to succeed.

10. Community Involvement:

We're more than just an orthodontic practice – we're proud members of the community. At SoulSmile Orthodontics, we're dedicated to giving back to the communities we serve through volunteer work, sponsorships, and outreach programs.

When you choose SoulSmile Orthodontics, you're not just investing in your smile – you're also supporting a practice that cares deeply about making a positive impact in the world.

The Final Wrap Up

Are you ready to embark on your journey to a radiant smile with clear aligners from SoulSmile Orthodontics? Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step towards a happier, healthier you. Transform your smile, transform your life – with SoulSmile Orthodontics.

[madstars-festival]

[Inside the MAD STARS Final Jury] Pradeep Savio D'Souza & Issam N.Amrani (2)

Advertising vs the slings and arrows of change: Pradeep Savio D’Souza, co-founder & creative partner, NineTwentyEight & Issam N.Amrani, CCO, Fledge Brand consultancy

Issam N.Amrani, chief creative officer, Fledge Brand Consultancy and Pradeep Savio D’Souza, co-founder & creative partner, NineTwentyEight attended MAD STARS this year as final judges. In their jury room, they selected the work that stood out this year, while also adding their perspectives on a changing industry, what that means for the creativity that is needed to succeed, and the qualities needed in the young people who will be making it in the future. Here are their views:

Q. Advertising has become a tough industry. What do you think are the keys to success right now?

Pradeep Savio D’Souza: I feel that the keys to success in advertising right now are not very different from before. Creativity that sells is still relevant. It’s just that people have started replacing creativity with craft or execution and selling with telling.

Issam N.Amrani: In today's advertising landscape, success isn't solely measured by the brilliance of creative concepts or the memorability of slogans. It's about something deeper, something more profound. Advertising has indeed evolved into a challenging industry, one that demands more than ever before. To succeed, we must embrace several key principles.

We must remain agile. The world is in a constant state of flux, and advertising must keep pace. We need to be adaptable, ready to pivot and adjust our strategies as the landscape shifts.

Embrace Technology, it is our ally. It's not just a tool; it's the driving force behind many of the most innovative and impactful campaigns. Understanding the latest tech trends and leveraging them is crucial.

But let's not forget the core of our craft - storytelling. Even in this digital age, the power of a compelling narrative remains unparalleled. It's the emotional resonance that allows our messages to connect deeply with our audiences.

And finally, success hinges on relevance. Our work must speak to the concerns and aspirations of our times. We must be socially aware, environmentally conscious, and inclusive in our messaging.

In essence, success in today's advertising world requires a delicate balance of adaptability, technological savvy, compelling storytelling, data-driven precision, and unwavering relevance. It's an industry where creativity meets purpose, and where the most impactful campaigns are those that not only capture attention but also inspire change.

Q. What would you say to creatives on the way up about how to make their work great? How best to develop their creative thinking?

Issam N.Amrani: If I may, I'd like to share some thoughts that have guided me in my own creative journey, and I hope they might resonate with you too.

Firstly, never stop learning. The advertising landscape is ever evolving, and I've found that curiosity is a powerful ally. Exploring emerging technologies, design trends, and cultural shifts can provide you with a rich palette to paint your creative ideas.

Secondly, the magic of collaboration cannot be overstated. Some of the most remarkable ideas are born from the collective genius of diverse minds. Working closely with talents from other industries, exchanging ideas, and being open to feedback can be a rewarding journey in itself.

Additionally, I've learned that constraints can often be the birthplace of innovation. When faced with limitations, it's amazing how creative solutions can emerge. Sometimes, the most profound ideas arise when we're challenged to think differently within constraints.

I've also come to understand that failure is not the end but a stepping-stone towards growth. Creative work often involves experimentation, and not every idea will hit the mark. It's in these moments of setback that we learn the most.

Empathy has been a guiding principle for me. Understanding your audience, their needs, and their emotions can give your work a powerful resonance. Great advertising touches hearts.

Lastly, storytelling remains at the heart of what we do. Regardless of the medium or technology, storytelling is a timeless art. Crafting narratives that engage and resonate is a path to creating lasting impact.

In essence, these are reflections from my own journey, not directives. Each creative path is unique, and your experiences will shape your own insights. Together, we navigate this ever-evolving industry, learning from one another, growing together. With the incredible talents I've had the pleasure of meeting, the future of our creative industry is in wonderfully capable hands, and I'm eager to see the new horizons you'll explore and the stories you'll tell.

Pradeep Savio D’Souza: I have five points that have always guided me. I hope they can guide others too.

Define the business problem clearly 

Understand the audience intimately 

Uncover an insight that’s relatable

Create solutions that push limits 

Sell like your life depends on it.  

[johnnystonework]

Revitalize Your Space with Our Expert Marble Floor Cleaning Service 

Introduction 

A pristine marble floor can add timeless elegance and sophistication to any space. However, maintaining its pristine beauty requires regular care and attention. That's where a professional marble floor cleaning company like Johnny's Stonework comes into play. If you're in search of top-tier marble floor cleaning services, look no further. Our team of experts is here to restore the luster of your marble surfaces, making them look as good as new. 

Why Choose Johnny's Stonework for Marble Floor Cleaning? 

At Johnny's Stonework, we understand that marble is a delicate natural stone that deserves special care. Our exact match keywords, "Marble Floor Cleaning Company" and "Marble Floor Cleaning Service," perfectly encapsulate what we do, and we're dedicated to providing the best services in this field. 

1. Expertise and Experience: With years of experience in the industry, our skilled professionals know the ins and outs of marble cleaning. We have the knowledge and tools required to tackle various types of marble, from Carrara to Calacatta, ensuring a tailored approach for each unique surface. 

2. State-of-the-Art Equipment: We invest in cutting-edge technology and tools to guarantee the best results. Our advanced machinery ensures the removal of dirt, stains, and scratches without causing any harm to the delicate surface of your marble floors. 

3. Environmentally Friendly Solutions: We care about the environment, which is why we use eco-friendly cleaning products and methods. Our approach not only preserves your marble but also keeps your indoor air quality safe for your loved ones. 

4. Customized Services: We understand that every marble floor is unique. Our services are customized to meet the specific needs of your space, ensuring that your marble surfaces receive the care and attention they deserve. 

Benefits of Professional Marble Floor Cleaning 

1. Restores Natural Beauty: Over time, marble floors can lose their shine due to dirt, grime, and wear. Our professional cleaning service will restore the natural beauty and brilliance of your marble surfaces. 

2. Extends Lifespan: Regular professional cleaning helps extend the lifespan of your marble floors, preventing the need for costly repairs or replacements. 

3. Enhances Hygiene: Marble is porous, which makes it susceptible to harboring bacteria and germs. Our thorough cleaning removes harmful microorganisms, making your space healthier. 

4. Improves Safety: Marble floors can become slippery when dirt and grime accumulate. Our cleaning process enhances the traction, reducing the risk of accidents. 

How Our Marble Floor Cleaning Process Works 

1. Inspection: Our experts start by assessing the condition of your marble floor to determine the best approach. 

2. Cleaning: We use a combination of gentle yet effective cleaning agents and state-of-the-art equipment to remove dirt, stains, and debris. 

3. Polishing: To restore the marble's natural shine, we use specialized polishing techniques that ensure a smooth, gleaming surface. 

4. Sealing (Optional): To protect your marble from future damage, we can apply a high-quality sealer that prevents stains and moisture infiltration. 

Conclusion 

If you're in need of a reliable and professional marble floor cleaning company, Johnny's Stonework is the name to trust. Our expertise, commitment to eco-friendly practices, and dedication to excellence make us the ideal choice for all your marble cleaning needs. Whether you have marble floors in your home, office, or commercial space, we have the skills and tools to bring back their original luster. Visit our website at https://johnnystonework.com/marble-cleaning/ to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment today. Your marble floors deserve the best, and we're here to deliver outstanding results. 

[ailtrahq]

Brian Armstrong has announced that Coinbase will implement the Lightning Network. Jack Dorsey and Michael Saylor had both encouraged the move. Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, acknowledged on Twitter that “Bitcoin is the most important asset in crypto”, and stated that his exchange would be integrating the Lightning Network, adding that customers should be “patient”, given the time that would probably be taken for the integration. The team did a great job digging into this, and we've made the decision to integrate Lightning. Bitcoin is the most important asset in crypto and we're excited to do our part to enable faster/cheaper Bitcoin transactions. Will take some time to integrate so please be patient. — Brian Armstrong 🛡️ (@brian_armstrong) September 13, 2023 Victor Bunin, Protocol Specialist at Coinbase, has been investigating the potential for a Lightning Network integration for the leading exchange, and replied to Armstrong’s announcement tweet, saying that he would be happy to receive any insights on various features for the implementation. The Lightning Network, often hailed as a "Layer 2" solution, addresses Bitcoin's congestion woes by enabling off-chain transactions and the creation of payment channels. These channels efficiently manage numerous transactions without burdening the primary blockchain. Armstrong's vision for Coinbase revolves around transforming Bitcoin into a user-friendly payment system suitable for everyday transactions. By incorporating the Lightning Network, Coinbase users can experience swift and cost-efficient Bitcoin transactions, making it a viable option for minor purchases. Over time, both Coinbase and Binance, two of the biggest crypto exchanges, had both appeared to not be particularly enamoured with the Lightning Network layer 2 solution, but Binance completed its integration in mid-July this year, and now Coinbase has started its own implementation. Michael Saylor and Jack Dorsey, CEO of Microstrategy and ex-CEO of Twitter respectively had questioned Armstrong on how he stood with the Lightning Network. Armstrong replied to a Dorsey tweet accusing him of “ignoring Bitcoin and Lightning”. We’re looking into how to best add Lightning. It’s non-trivial, but I think worth doing. I’m all for payments taking off in Bitcoin.Not sure why you think we’re ignoring Bitcoin - we’ve onboarded more people to Bitcoin than probably any company in the world.Let’s build it… — Brian Armstrong 🛡️ (@brian_armstrong) August 2, 2023 Source

[bravadamovers]

What Types Of Services Do Removal Companies In Aberdeen Typically Offer?

Are you gearing up for a big move in the beautiful city of Aberdeen? Whether you're relocating your home, office or business, the key to a successful and stress-free move lies in choosing the best Removal company in Aberdeen. Bravada Removals is one of the most well-known removal companies in Aberdeen and Scotland. Its qualified and dedicated staff strive to provide excellent customer services.

Why Choose Removal Companies Aberdeen?

1. Experienced Professionals:

Our team of skilled and experienced professionals is here to handle all your moving needs. We understand that every move is unique, and we have the expertise to tailor our services to meet your specific requirements. From packing and loading to transportation and unloading, we've got you covered every step of the way.

2. Reliable and Efficient:

Reliability and efficiency are at the heart of what we do. We take pride in our punctuality and commitment to delivering your belongings safely and on time. Our modern fleet of vehicles is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to ensure your possessions are transported securely.

3. Comprehensive Services:

At Bravada Removal Companies in Aberdeen, we offer a wide range of services to cater to all your moving needs:

Residential Moves: Whether you're moving to a new apartment or a larger family home, we'll make your transition smooth and hassle-free.

Commercial Moves: We understand the importance of minimizing downtime during business relocations. Our team will work tirelessly to ensure your office move is completed efficiently.

Packing Services: Our experts can pack your belongings with care and precision. We use high-quality packing materials to protect your items during transit.

Storage Solutions: Need a place to store your belongings temporarily? We offer secure storage facilities to give you peace of mind.

4. Affordable Prices:

Moving can be costly, but at Bravada Removal Companies Aberdeen, we believe that quality service shouldn't come with an exorbitant price tag. Our competitive rates ensure that you get exceptional value for your money.

5. Customer Satisfaction

Our dedication to customer satisfaction is unparalleled. We take the time to listen to your needs and concerns, and we're always ready to go the extra mile to exceed your expectations. Your happiness is our top priority.

Contact Us Today!

When it comes to choosing a removal company in Aberdeen, it's essential to consider factors such as their experience, customer reviews, and the range of services they offer. Bravada Removals, a well-established name in the industry, stands out for its commitment to professionalism, reliability, and customer satisfaction. By choosing Bravada Removals for your move in Aberdeen and Scotland. Their responsible house removal specialists are focused on long distance removals. We're here to make your journey to your new home or office in Aberdeen a memorable and enjoyable one.