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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: June 30th, 2023

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  • Yeah, reviewing is about making sure the methods are sound and the conclusions are supported by the data. Whether or not the data are correct is largely something that the reviewer cannot determine.

    If a machine spits out a reading of 5.3, but the paper says 6.2, the reviewer can’t catch that. If numbers are too perfect, you might be suspicious of it, but it’s really not your job to go all forensic accountant on the data.


  • Hyperloops business model is to scoop up funds meant to develop technology to combat climate change. It’s Teslas business model, too. It definitely makes me skeptical right off the bat. It’s just a matter of if the airships are like electric vehicles (oversold climate harm reduction, but likely still a harm reduction), or if they are like hyperloops (complete scams that can be defeated with high school level math).





  • They try really hard not to explain how the system works. It doesn’t mention it at all in this news story, or anywhere easy to find on their site. I crunched some numbers, and it seems like this device has about double the heat capacity for the mass than just plain water would have. That means it probably has to be a phase change material. All of the “smarts” and app control is nice, but at its core, it’s really simple concept. I think this kind of thing would sell better if instead of trying to make it sound high-tech, they just admitted it was a low tech solution that they’ve made user friendly.

    I did find this mention in the site q and a:

    Q: What is the storage medium made of?

    A: Proprietary mix of high-density, inert, non-toxic and low impact materials




  • Here’s some thoughts off the top of my head.

    There are loads of wiring in a car, that can all be reused.

    Depending on the vehicle, the wheels/suspension could be converted to like a trailer or something.

    The seats can be pulled out as chairs.

    Various pumps can be used for moving fluids (though you’d probably want to be careful with that, hazmat-wise).

    The transmission could be rigged up to a wind/water mill to adjust rotational velocity of a sawmill or some other industrial application.

    Windows are tricky cause the shapes are weird, but they could be set in clay or concrete or something.

    Alternators are definitely useful.

    Headlights for spotlights.


  • That lance Hedrick video had a lot of good relevant info.

    I’ll add that the definition of “light” changes as much as the definition of women’s pants sizes do. Its essentially “vanity sizing”, but for flavor. Most consumers, at the end of the day, want their coffee to taste exactly how they are used to, but they paradoxically also want to be having something “different” or “unique”. It’s why Hawaii is full of roasters selling $70 bags of coffee that taste the same as $8 grocery store bags.

    Roasters have to weigh whether to give accurate info that will appeal to us nerds, or whether to aim for the general populace. There are probably many roasters who legitimately don’t know better, but I’d reckon many roasters are just making the economical choice.




  • I’m sure I read it somewhere, but I just checked one of my books, and it doesn’t say that, and reading online, I can’t find anything with evidence either way. Seems like the main risk is of you don’t clean them very well and get a lot of plant matter encased in it. Doesn’t take much yew to make you sick.

    Either way, though, thanks for calling me out! I don’t live near any yews, so it’s not something I’ve ever had to think about.