NullPrefix (u/NullPrefix)

NullPrefix commented on Interviewing a software engineer who prepared with AI kapwing.com/blog/what-its... · Posted by u/justswim

Aurornis · 5 months ago

Because it's a nonsensical reduction and false equivalence.

It's like if you saw a headline that some grocery stores were price fixing, so you decide it's only fair if you steal from your local grocery store. One bad behavior does not justify another in a different context. Both are wrong. It's also nonsensical to try to punish your local grocery store for perceived wrongs of other grocery stores.

That's why it's such a ridiculous claim: Two wrongs don't make a right and you don't even know if the people you're interviewing with are the same as the people doing the thing you don't like.

NullPrefix · 5 months ago

>It's like if you saw a headline that some grocery stores were price fixing, so you decide it's only fair if you steal from your local grocery store.

That's a false equivalence on your part. Real equivalence would be to find out that the store decided to keep zero tills manned and forced you to do the work yourself and go the self checkout. You go do the self checkout and keep a few items extra as a form of payment for the work you did. This would be the real equivalence

NullPrefix commented on Interviewing a software engineer who prepared with AI kapwing.com/blog/what-its... · Posted by u/justswim

Aurornis · 5 months ago

> The thing is, none of these things really changed with AI

I agree that lying was possible before AI, but something about AI has emboldened a lot more people to try to lie.

Something about having the machine fabricate the lie for you seems to lessen the guilt of lying.

There's also a growing sentiment online that using AI to cheat/lie is "fair" because they think companies are using AI to screen candidates. It's not logically consistent, but it appeals to people who approach these problems as class warfare.

NullPrefix · 5 months ago

>There's also a growing sentiment online that using AI to cheat/lie is "fair" because they think companies are using AI to screen candidates. It's not logically consistent

How is it not logically consistent?

NullPrefix commented on I maintain a 17 year old ThinkPad pilledtexts.com/why-i-use... · Posted by u/Fred34

globular-toast · 5 months ago

You can do absolutely anything to things you own, including cars. That's kinda the point of ownership. Cut it in half if you want. Smash it to pieces. It's all good.

I guess what you're really referring to is whether it's still legal to drive on the public highway. As far as I know you can still do anything as long as it still passes the MOT test for roadworthiness. People do engine swaps. You do have to consider insurance, though, which is also a legal requirement for use on the public highway. General insurers typically won't insure modified cars, but there are specialist insurers that will.

As I understand the US is far more lax in its vehicle testing than other places, but this isn't really related to ownership and being able to modify things you own.

NullPrefix · 5 months ago

>General insurers typically won't insure modified cars, but there are specialist insurers that will.

It's illegal to drive without insurance. This effectively means that engine swaps are illegal, unless you are rich enough to afford some special insurance

NullPrefix commented on I maintain a 17 year old ThinkPad pilledtexts.com/why-i-use... · Posted by u/Fred34

globular-toast · 5 months ago

Really? Where? In the UK it's legal as long as it still passes MOT, but it should be declared to your insurer.

NullPrefix · 5 months ago

Really? When you're talking about car mods, are you talking about adding chrome door handles or are you talking about LS swapping the engine?

NullPrefix commented on I maintain a 17 year old ThinkPad pilledtexts.com/why-i-use... · Posted by u/Fred34

trompetenaccoun · 5 months ago

>The older they are, the better they are

Everyone agrees the build quality used to be better (my grandpa already said this about appliances from his youth). But one thing I almost never see discussed is the power consumption of these old devices. Older CPUs often double as room heaters. Modern ones, especially the Apple M-series, have become a lot more efficient. So while I agree that modern laptops suck in many ways, I would do the math to see if it's actually cheaper to buy and use an older computer. Maybe not if you're in Qatar or Russia but some countries have extremely high electricity costs.

NullPrefix · 5 months ago

ThinkPads use 20V chargers. USB-C supports 20V power delivery. What's the efficiency of power adapters back then compared to current gen USB-C chargers?

NullPrefix commented on I maintain a 17 year old ThinkPad pilledtexts.com/why-i-use... · Posted by u/Fred34

globular-toast · 5 months ago

Sad but true. Most people don't do much with the things they own, even if they can. Cars get serviced when they are told to, by someone else. No modifications are done. It's a weird thing to me because you get the downsides of ownership (liability for servicing and repairs) but none of the upsides.

I wish more people took direct control over their lives. But many are just happy to not think and put up with whatever they get.

NullPrefix · 5 months ago

>Cars [...] No modifications are done

In a lot of places that is highly illegal

NullPrefix commented on How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack krebsonsecurity.com/2025/... · Posted by u/todsacerdoti

NullPrefix · 5 months ago

Trump is elected and everybody suddenly start caring about civil rights

NullPrefix commented on What happens to DNA data of millions as 23andMe files bankruptcy? pbs.org/newshour/show/wha... · Posted by u/ajdude

NullPrefix · 5 months ago

What kind of questions is this? It will be sold to the highest bidder to cover debts of 23andMe

NullPrefix commented on Abundance isn't going to happen unless politicians are scared of the status quo inpractice.yimbyaction.or... · Posted by u/viajante1882

legitster · 5 months ago

I've grown a little bit more skeptical of what can realistically be achieved by the passive nature of YIMBY-ism.

In Portland, they passed some radical new zoning laws a few years ago that allowed anyone, anywhere the ability to zone ADUs on their property. And the cost to get permits is almost nothing.

I have lots of friends and family in the area with property. But not a single one has added an ADU. It seems like it should be a no-brainer, so I'll bring up and ask why not? And there are basically two reasons:

- There's a general fear of being a landlord. Tenants have a lot of legal rights, and the risk of inviting someone onto your property who could start squatting or doing drugs and not being able to evict them is beyond the pale for most families.

- They don't need the money. If you can afford a home in the area, you're already pretty well off. Even though adding a rental could be pretty lucrative, there's just not enough motivation to go through with it.

To me it has little to do with incumbent politicians and everything to do with the incumbent middle class. I'm all for removing red tape and restrictions, but we also need to come up with incentives to light a fire under the butts of individual actors in our economy to actually go out and make things.

NullPrefix · 5 months ago

what are ADUs?

NullPrefix commented on Understanding Solar Energy construction-physics.com/... · Posted by u/chmaynard

dzhiurgis · 5 months ago

New cylinder - 1.5k NZD + half day of labour (so another $500). My current one stores about 6-8 kWh.

15kWh battery - 5.5k NZD + and hour of DIY.

So technically battery is more expensive but more useful.

Also easiest with water heater would be cranking up the temperature, but I really hate dealing with scolding water coming from taps (especially with small kids around).

Another thing with battery I can charge with whatever solar excess I have, but with hot water my only option is 16A.

Either way I do not care ATM - I export using spot price which has been 2x of what I actually pay for power - https://www.emi.ea.govt.nz/Wholesale/Reports/W_P_C?DateFrom=...

NullPrefix · 5 months ago

>Also easiest with water heater would be cranking up the temperature, but I really hate dealing with scolding water coming from taps (especially with small kids around).

Your water heater temperature isn't exactly my business but please look into sanitary norms on minimum safe temperature. Water heaters have standing water and bacteria might start living there if the temperature isn't sufficient. I think legionnaires' disease is one of the most prevalent dangers.