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Comment Re:That is rather limited point of view (Score 1) 312

I think this is the main cause. People who are poor have kids in the hopes for economic benefit: There is no where to go but up, so you have kids, and hope they'll be better off than you. The reward outweighs the risk. Thus poor countries and lower income people have more kids (and also: maybe less access to birth control/opportunities to distract themselves with other costly activities)

If you're *already* middle or upper-middle class tho, you might choose to have kids to maintain your wealth, or maybe build some, but there is the risk that the opposite happens (kids are expensive, they might end up doing drugs/fall in with the wrong crowd, "ruin the family" etc). And, if there's that risk, or a not likely chance that your kid's going to be better off than you, well, might as well just enjoy what you have. The risks outweigh the rewards (for many).

Submission + - 17-year-old student builds 3D-printed drone in garage, interests DoD and MIT (thinkstewartville.com)

Agnapot writes: While many teenagers devote their free time to social media or gaming, 17-year-old Taylor built a 3D-printed drone in his garage, and has already received an award from the Department of Defense, and is set to join MIT.

The journey began with a simple observation. When Taylor’s younger sister received a consumer drone that delivered only 30 minutes of flight time, the tech-savvy teenager saw room for improvement. Instead of accepting existing limitations, he immersed himself in VTOL mechanics – aircraft capable of helicopter-like takeoffs followed by airplane-style forward flight.

The 17-year-old American prodigy has engineered what experts are calling a game-changing drone innovation. This teenage genius developed a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone that operates more efficiently than commercial models while costing significantly less. His groundbreaking creation has captured the attention of the Pentagon, resulting in $23,000 in awards from the Department of Defense.

Submission + - Israel Launches Multiple Strikes in Iran (axios.com)

An anonymous reader writes: The U.S. previously told Israel it would not be directly participating in any strikes against Iran's nuclear program. However, the U.S. privately warned allies to prepare for a scenario where talks between the U.S. and Iran might collapse, and where Israel would strike Iran. Reports seem to confirm that this scenario has come to pass.

Submission + - Engineer Creates First Custom Motherboard For 1990s PlayStation Console (arstechnica.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Last week, electronics engineer Lorentio Brodesco announced the completion of a mock-up for nsOne, reportedly the first custom PlayStation 1 motherboard created outside of Sony in the console's 30-year history. The fully functional board accepts original PlayStation 1 chips and fits directly into the original console case, marking a milestone in reverse-engineering for the classic console released in 1994. Brodesco's motherboard isn't an emulator or FPGA-based re-creation—it's a genuine circuit board designed to work with authentic PlayStation 1 components, including the CPU, GPU, SPU, RAM, oscillators, and voltage regulators. The board represents over a year of reverse-engineering work that began in March 2024 when Brodesco discovered incomplete documentation while repairing a PlayStation 1.

"This isn't an emulator. It's not an FPGA. It's not a modern replica," Brodesco wrote in a Reddit post about the project. "It's a real motherboard, compatible with the original PS1 chips." It's a desirable project for some PS1 enthusiasts because a custom motherboard could allow owners of broken consoles to revive their systems by transplanting original chips from damaged boards onto new, functional ones. With original PS1 motherboards becoming increasingly prone to failure after three decades, replacement boards could extend the lifespan of these classic consoles without resorting to emulation.

The nsOne project—short for "Not Sony's One"—uses a hybrid design based on the PU-23 series motherboards found in SCPH-900X PlayStation models but reintroduces the parallel port that Sony had removed from later revisions. Brodesco upgraded the original two-layer PCB design to a four-layer board while maintaining the same form factor. [...] As Brodesco noted on Kickstarter, his project's goal is to "create comprehensive documentation, design files, and production-ready blueprints for manufacturing fully functional motherboards." Beyond repairs, the documentation and design files Brodesco is creating would preserve the PlayStation 1's hardware architecture for future generations: "It's a tribute to the PS1, to retro hardware, and to the belief that one person really can build the impossible."

Submission + - Nintendo Switch 2 Sells Record-Breaking 3.5 Million Units In 4 Days (polygon.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Nintendo Switch 2 is off to a roaring start. Early on Wednesday, Nintendo announced that it had sold 3.5 million units of its new console in just four days, making it Nintendo’s fastest-selling console ever. In fact, this is likely the biggest console launch of all time — by quite some margin. For comparison, PlayStation 5 shipped 4.5 million units in its first seven weeks, PlayStation 4 sold 2.1 million in a little over two weeks, and Nintendo Switch sold 2.74 million in its first month. [...]

Nintendo has predicted it will sell 15 million Switch 2s during its current financial year. It’s well on the way to that figure already, although Nintendo still faces the challenges of maintaining stock availability and extending this expensive console’s reach past the first wave of early adopters. If Switch 2 hits its first-year target, it will join Nintendo’s other fasters sellers over the first year on sale: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 3DS, and the original Switch.

Comment Umm, Whut? The Study Says it Works... (Score 1) 94

Right there in TFS it says

"However, the research did find a link between more time on phones and social media, and worse mental wellbeing and mental health, less physical activity, poorer sleep, lower grades and more disruptive classroom behavior. "

I mean... so, if MORE time on phones leads to WORSE outcomes, then... less time on phones leads to better outcomes? Isn't that how it works?

Anyway, I don't give an [explative] what this study says, let me tell you about my experience in the ONE MONTH that our school has been implementing a cell phone ban (enforced with Yonder pouches). It's been incredible. I feel like a weight has lifted off my shoulders when EVERY DAY I would battle the students and their phones EVERY SINGLE CLASS. And now I can focus more on TEACHING and ENGAGEMENT like these yahoos want instead of policing some G.D. cellphone usage like a grandma trying to get you to sit up straight. It's fantastic. Do the kids still eff around and find out? Yes they do, they're kids (high school, still idiots) but when there is not anything else for them to use to check out of class they are GOING to engage more, and I have SEEN this every day myself. More work, more notes, more attention, more questions, more engagement, and this will 100% lead to better grades in my class, no question.

So, I don't know what this person who did this study was expecting, and as has been mentioned here discipline and phone usage and academics START AT HOME, so I can't solve that, but for my classroom? It's been the best, and I don't ever want to go back.

P.S. The Yonder pouch was a game changer. You can tell students to put their phones away all day long, but they will not, and then you will spend all day long telling students to put their phones away and NOT BE TEACHING. The pouches enforce this in a way their own little half-formed frontal lobes cannot. And when we catch them (And I have caught a few because they are dumb kids and it's entirely obvious what they are doing with their arms two feet deep into their backpacks staring into it like some cave spelunker) then its taken for the day, and if its a repeat offense they must get their PARENTS to come get the phone. So, hopefully that sends the message HOME a little bit more.

Comment Re:Really? Climate? (Score 3, Informative) 203

They didn't fill the resovoirs

This is false. One of the areas that burned, The Palisades, has three giant water tanks that supply the water to the area. All three were completely full at the start of the day, as they always are, and are refilled throughout the night. Water was pumping into them 24/7. Due to the fire they were used 4x faster than normal, and so were drained. Then refilled. Then drained again. Then refilled. Etc etc. Now, if you want to ask "Why aren't the hydrants plugged into the wider city water so they don't need refilling?" Then that's a legit question, and the answer probably is "Well, they were made this way 50 years ago, and we haven't had the time/money/need to change that." It would probably take billions, cause a lot of delay, be for a purpose that would be extremely unlikely anyway, and upset a lot of very wealthy and loud NIMBY people, so they didn't.

The cut $17 million from the fire budget

True, but probably not the terrible thing you're obviously trying to make it out to be. First, the fire department came in UNDER BUDGET last year, by that exact amount, so they reduced it by that amount, which by the way, is 2% of the fire department budget. Second, the fire department (and, by the way, there are like 16 different fire departments, probably more, working on this fire. So, "the fire department" is not one entity.) spent $50 million more than their budget last year. "Wait, I thought you said they went under budget!" Yes, both can be true, can I explain how? When there is a disaster like this the fire department (all of them) does everything it can to fight these fires. They bring out all the big guns, all the equipment, spend untold hours of overtime, etc, and when it's an unprecedented disaster like this, state and federal funds often are used to reimburse the costs (As they are everywhere in the country). So, the fire departments do what they have to, and get paid for it. This "reduction" in their budget meant that maybe a couple fire trucks weren't repainted this year and will have to wait until next year. Nothing with fighting the fire.

They fired firefighters and are understaffed

This I can't speak to, but again, there is not one "fire department" on this event, there are firefighters from other states coming in, all over. So there are people, and resources aplenty.

The didn't comply with brush clearing

*Who* didn't comply with *what* brush clearing? You mean they didn't clear-cut the wilderness where all the animals live? Or do you mean the well-manicured lawns of the thousands of houses in the middle of cities had a couple decorative tree branches that were too close to their garage? You don't know what you're talking about and don't know the area.

The halted prescribed burns

We don't do those here. Because there are animals in the wilderness. And we like them and don't want to kill them. And the terrain is too complex. And probably 50 other reasons that you were not paying attention to.

The let storm water wash out to sea

What the hell does this even mean? When it rains we're supposed to prevent every drop from channeling through the thousands of streams and creeks and city drains to the sea? Where it has gone for literally hundreds of thousands of years? How? Also: where would we put all that water? My back yard has flooded 5 times since I've lived here. Am I supposed to build an underground reservoir in my backyard to stop it going to the street? There are places we store water, and they are FAR AWAY from the city. And they do collect everything they can. I don't know what you're thinking here, but it makes no sense.

Yeah... All climate change. Totally nothing we could have done.

Well, when you've had the driest start of winter in 60 years, and strongest winds in living memory, caused by a whole lot of extra energy being stored in the atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect of a bunch of extra carbon dioxide that wasn't there before, and you have a warmer ocean than you should have, and a bunch of other large-scale climatological situations, then... yea, partly it's climate change. And, "nothing we could have done"? I don't know about that, but the things we COULD do you don't seem interested in doing, like cutting carbon dioxide, investing in green energy, creating sustainable systems in infrastructure... so, I dono what you expect, but if you're upset that "nothing was done" maybe you should start by looking in the mirror and asking what YOU can do, eh?

From: A life-long LA resident who has dealt with fires and disasters my whole life.

Comment WAY Less Useful Now (Score 1) 108

Math teacher here.

I didn't notice this change when I updated until I saw it here, but I feel like this change is less useful.

Before, one was able to press = repeatedly to repeat the previous operation, for example, powers of 2.

You press 2 then x then = and it would give you 2^2
Then you press = again and it gives you 2^3
and so on. Helpful for a demonstration of recursion in sequences and series. Worked with +, / and - too.

Now this is impossible. And I'm not sure what this change adds to the functionality? I guess it makes it less confusing for students (or, people I guess) who look at a division problem, like 12/8 and put in the 8 first then the 12, so it will give them a visual of what they're doing wrong, and they can now enter a whole equation and be less confused about PEMDAS... not terrible, but will create other confusion. (I can't TELL you the number of times I've told students they have to press EQUALS before they press DIVIDE when doing an average!)

I will say tho, I like the ability to do a portrait scientific calculator now. But this "Math Notes" business is still way too confusing.

Comment Re:technical solution (Score 1) 116

Off topic, but I have been searching for that joke form template that listed things like "You are proposing a [technical] solution to a [social] problem. This will not work because..." and then listed a bunch of check boxes and reasons. Your post reminded me that I haven't found it yet! I know I have seen it here on Slashdot years ago. If you (or anyone else!) knows where to find it I'd appreciate it!

Comment Re:The same stuff people have been asking for (Score 1) 407

  • Improve Speed:Firefox has definitely gotten faster but I hate the fact that when I have to resort to Chrome for something , it feels so much faster.

This part, just briefly mentioned in passing, is 100% the main issue. The best thing they can do to get everyone using Firefox is to make it work everywhere .

If you have to "resort" to another browser for something, then why would you EVER use the other browser? It's clearly unreliable and may not work the *next* time either, when there is apparently a perfectly serviceable alternative that *does* work everywhere! This is the part I struggle with any why I can't use Firefox, because it breaks when I need it. Maybe on a bank website, maybe on my work website, maybe on a shopping website, wherever, but when it does break, I just have to throw it in the garbage and I am drawn inexorably closer to just using Chrome exclusively, because why bother.

Fix that, and the rest is just window dressing.

Comment Re:Edicts from the Ministry Of Truth (Score 1) 451

Basically there are four categories of what you're talking about:
1) Things we know are true and have evidence that they are true. (These are called Facts)
2) Things we suspect are true but have no evidence that they are true. (This is called "common sense")
3) Things we suspect are false but have no evidence that they are false. (This is where FUD comes from)
4) Things we know are false and have evidence that they are false. (These are called Lies)

It's the last one that you're all up in arms about being "fact-checked" and the only one on the list that gets removed (well, aside from hate speech, but I guess that gets lumped in with 4 too in a way). for 3) that's where those "We're not sure about this..." warnings are used, which is the responsible thing to do when many many experts disagree with an assertion but there is no "evidence" about it one way or another, and sometimes this happens for 2) as well. 1) is what you link to when you are debunking 3) or 4).

Overall this is not a difficult concept, but people have such *emotional* reactions to their pet idea that it's hard to see past that and look *broader*. Everyone is always so into *THEMSELVES* and misses that there are *OTHER PEOPLE* who read/know things/need information that aren't inside your conspiracy-soaked brain.

Lastly, I will say, science should not be done for *your* benefit, but for the benefit of society. Benefits that you may never reap the rewards for. When you study things with an aim, you're not "studying" something, you're *advocating* for something, and that's not good science.

Comment Re:Get rid of anonymity (Score 1) 385

as long as there are no illegal acts the preventative measures against future illegal acts should be kept to a minimum.

Can you be a little more specific about what "minimum" looks like? A couple social media companies would like to know...

Also you say certain information is "not illegal" a lot, but that's not really the issue here, is it? A company can do whatever it wants with its private property (ala Twitter and it's infrastructure) and a company is not the one that decides what is "illegal" and what is not. Legality is the domain of governments, and is not the bar that these places set for their moderation rules.

Comment Re: Maybe just related to the timing (Score 1) 265

Meanwhile in the real world everyone from Alexei Navalny to Angela Merkel and the ACLU are so horrified at your bullshit that they're openly calling it a threat to democracy, and the President of Mexico is leading an international coalition to break up or otherwise reign in the tech oligopoly.

Yes, but you're misinterpreting their horror. They're not worried about the effect on free speech, they're worried about not having Government Control of that speech. They look at this as a problem of *not enough government*, not as a problem of *not enough freedom*.

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