cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/10937558

This group of Americans is less likely to have a license than its older counterparts at the same age. McKinsey points out that in 1997, 43 percent of 16-year-olds and 62 percent of 17-year-olds held a license. But those numbers have dropped substantially, and by 2020, only 25 percent of 16-year-olds and 45 percent of 17-year-olds have a driver's license, the consulting firm said citing data from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.

Rare Gen Z W (as a Gen Z).

I thought this was mainly an European movement, but looking at this it appears that the USA too, despite being a mostly car oriented country, is following suit. Nice.

The article also mentions how having a car might have become too expensive for many, which isn't something to party about, but I am mostly concerned with young people no longer rushing to grab a licence the second they turn 18 (or earlier, depending on local country laws). Hopefully this will help shaping urban planning in a more sensible and humane direction.

I found this concept of "1D games" interesting, originally linked from Hackaday

An example (randomly procedurally generated?) maze game: https://mashpoe.github.io/1D-Game/

So, a lot of us here are probably more focused on the problem of there not being enough "decentralization" today, but do you ever feel in some areas we have the opposite problem, of not enough (good) centralization?

For example, all the random linux distro flavors (or for those unaware of "linux distros", it's like a lot of similar computer programming projects that are scattered instead of all working together as one project). I don't necessarily think of this as a big problem, but it seems to duplicate unnecessary programming efforts instead of centralize coding labor in to creating "one" bigger and better distro.

Maybe there is some happy medium between centralization and decentralization for some things? The problem with too much centralization, is, say there is one "main" project, a lot of people might disagree with something about it and want to "fork off" and create a competing project. So now you have two projects. But then within those groups some people may disagree and want to go in a different, "better" direction (as they see it), so they might "fork off" as well, leaving us with four projects.

With large corporations, you see this, there may be multiple "big" stores that are similar but different, and then lots of small business competitors. I guess if there is "too much" decentralization, it can lead to feelings of fragmentation and a lack of unity maybe? Maybe this is a post to reflect on the problems of decentralization?

Do you think decentralization is causing some problems today, or that there isn't enough "good centralization" in some areas, or is the problem just too much "centralization"?

This topic could have follow up posts

One major site about memory / memorization: https://artofmemory.com/wiki/Main_Page/

Anyone working on memory or memorization projects?

Examples:

Creating "memory palaces" to memorize lots of things

Memorizing common things like phone numbers or ID #s

Memorizing vocabulary words to learn new languages

https://infogalactic.com/info/Epiphany_(holiday)

Epiphany (Koine Greek: Ἐπιφάνεια, Epiphaneia, "Manifestation", "striking appearance")[1] or Theophany[2] (Ancient Greek: (ἡ) Θεοφάνεια, Τheophaneia meaning "Vision of God"),[3] also known as Three Kings' Day,[4] is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God in his Son as human in Jesus Christ. In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ child, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to the Gentiles.[5][6] Moreover, the feast of the Epiphany ... also initiates the liturgical season of Epiphanytide.[7][8] Eastern Christians, on the other hand, commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.[9]

The traditional date for the feast is January 6.

In many Western Christian Churches, the eve of the feast is celebrated as Twelfth Night.[12][13] The Monday after Epiphany is known as Plough Monday.[14]

https://infogalactic.com/info/Plough_Monday

https://infogalactic.com/info/Twelfth_Night_(holiday)

Catholic encyclopedia on the topic of "Epiphany": https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05504c.htm

The Irish also call today "Little Christmas": https://infogalactic.com/info/Little_Christmas

Chalking tradition:

On the Feast of the Epiphany in some parts of central Europe the priest, wearing white vestments, blesses Epiphany water, frankincense, gold, and chalk. The chalk is used to write the initials of the three magi over the doors of churches and homes. The letters stand for the initials of the Magi (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar), and also the phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, which translates as "may Christ bless the house".

Chalking the door is one of the Christian Epiphanytide traditions used to bless one's home.[1]

Either on Twelfth Night (5 January), the twelfth day of Christmastide and eve of the feast of the Epiphany, or on Epiphany Day (6 January) itself, many Christians ... write on their doors or lintels with chalk in a pattern such as "20 ✝ C ✝ M ✝ B ✝ 23". The numbers in this example refer to the calendar year 2023 and the crosses to Christ. The letters C, M, and B stand for the traditional names of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar), or alternatively for the Latin blessing Christus mansionem benedicat ('May Christ bless this house').[2] Another form, for Three Kings day, is to mark the door with "IIIK" (the Roman numeral three followed by "K" for "Kings").

Chalking the door is done most commonly on Epiphany Day itself. However, it can be done on any day of the Epiphany season.[3] In some localities, the chalk used to write the Epiphanytide pattern is blessed by a Christian priest ... on Epiphany Day, then taken home to write the pattern.[4]

The Christian custom of chalking the door has a biblical precedent as the Israelites in the Old Testament marked their doors in order to be saved from death ... Families also perform this act to represent the hospitality of the Holy Family to the Magi (and all Gentiles); it thus serves as a house blessing to invite the presence of God in one's home.[6][a]

via Wiki

The Epiphany season extends from January 6 to Septuagesima Sunday

So, there's an octave of the Epiphany that lasts for 8 days, then there's the time after Epiphany up until Septuagesima Sunday, which is "70 days before Easter" (but not literally 70 days):

Septuagesima is the ninth Sunday before Easter, the third before Lent known among the Greeks as "Sunday of the Prodigal" from the Gospel, Luke 15, which they read on this day, called also Dominica Circumdederunt by the Latins, from the first word of the Introit of the Mass. In liturgical literature the name "Septuagesima" occurs for the first time in the Gelasian Sacramentary. Why the day (or the week, or the period) has the name Septuagesima, and the next Sunday Sexagesima, etc., is a matter of dispute among writers. It is certainly not the seventieth day before Easter, still less is the next Sunday the sixtieth, fiftieth, etc.

via Catholic encyclopedia on "Septuagesima": https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13721b.htm

May have some further info: https://infogalactic.com/info/Epiphany_season

https://trackingai.org/

a repost of sorts

https://infogalactic.com/info/Christmastide

In medieval era Christendom, Christmastide "lasted from the Nativity to the Purification."[note: February 2][33][34] To this day, the "Christian cultures in Western Europe and Latin America extend the season to forty days, ending on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of Mary on 2 February, a feast also known as Candlemas because of the blessing of candles on this day, inspired by the Song of Simeon, which proclaims Jesus as 'a light for revelation to the nations'."[35] Many Churches refer to the period after the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas and up to Candlemas, as Epiphanytide, also called the Epiphany season.[8][36]

The contemporary or ancient shorter season:

Christmastide begins very early on 25 December. Historically, the ending of Christmastide was 5 January.

Similarly there is a post-Easter celebration called "Eastertide":

Eastertide is the period of fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.[2]

https://infogalactic.com/info/Eastertide

I've seen this frugal concept before and I think it's worth repeating, about "regifting" yourself stuff you already have that maybe you aren't utilizing fully, or of giving that "gift" of a reminder about this to others.

Maybe you have a musical instrument that hasn't been played in a while, or someone else does and a reminder to them might get them playing it again.

In seeking for "new" things we maybe forget about things we already have access to that we own or other people own.

Have you tried this idea, like of making out a list, and regifted stuff to yourself or others, and how did it turn out or how do you think it would turn out?

It's interesting how the people from Meta are away of the trust deficit they're bringing to the Fediverse while still not being prepared to answer questions like, “All the openness with Threads, namely integration with the Fediverse, supporting account migration out from Threads etc, is the opposite of what Facebook/Meta has done over its history. What has fundamentally changed so that you now believe openness is the better strategy?” And: “In the past Facebook was a far more open system than it is today, you gradually locked it down. What guarantee is there that your bosses won’t follow the same playbook this time, even if you think they won’t?”

I don't see threads.net being very influential in our forum-like slice of the Fediverse, seeing it is a Twitter-like competitor, but who's to say Reddit doesn't open up to federation in the future as a fresh and fun way to embrace and extinguish this little thorn in its side?

Additionally, the concept of shared blacklists and some centralized moderation database for instances to subscribe too is ridiculous to consider. Though I have no negative opinion on blacklists in general, and thing sharing them between friendly instances makes sense, petitioning for some kind of global moderation is fighting for the very things so many of us made our instances to avoid.

What're your thoughts?

https://infogalactic.com/info/Documentation

Any tips for documenting software or other things in life?

Examples of good or bad docs?

It seems like an overlooked but important topic in software and other things in life (like creating user manuals, etc.)

Thoughts on documentation in general?

For the past week or so I haven't been able to use the lemmy.basedcount.com instance. I didn't see any announcements about it so I was wondering if it was just me.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.basedcount.com/post/718734

Note: I don't necessarily agree with the author's writings, but I find the "low technology" approach fascinating and indeed practical in certain circumstances, and certainly worth discussion.

Link About Book (and then individual links are to a good chunk of the contents): https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2023/10/thematic-book-series-how-to-downsize-a-transport-network/

How to Downsize a Transport Network: the Chinese Wheelbarrow https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/12/how-to-downsize-a-transport-network-the-chinese-wheelbarrow/

The Citroën 2CV: Cleantech from the 1940s https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2008/06/the-citroen-2cv-cleantech-from-the-1940s/

The Status Quo of Electric Cars: Better Batteries, Same Range https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2010/05/the-status-quo-of-electric-cars-better-batteries-same-range

Electric Velomobiles: as Fast and Comfortable as Automobiles, but 80 times more Efficient https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2012/10/electric-velomobiles-as-fast-and-comfortable-as-automobiles-but-80-times-more-efficient/

Get Wired again: Trolleybuses and Trolleytrucks https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2009/07/get-wired-again-trolleybuses-and-trolleytrucks/

High Speed Trains are Killing the European Railway Network https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2013/12/high-speed-trains-are-killing-the-european-railway-network

Life Without Airplanes: from London to New York in 3 Days and 12 Hours https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2008/06/life-without-airplanes-from-london-to-new-york-in-3-days-and-12-hours/

How to Design a Sailing Ship for the 21st Century? https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2021/05/how-to-design-a-sailing-ship-for-the-21st-century

Page 46 of the poll, 63% of respondents believe that it was indeed correct that Israel cut off power, water and food until its hostages were returned, whilst 70% of respondents believe that Israel should continue until they eliminate Hamas 30% believe they should stop now. 79% of respondents believed that the destruction of the Hamas government by Israel is justified 21% not. 62% say that USA should enter the fight against Hamas on Israel's side, 8% say the USA should side with Hamas, 31% say USA should not be involved.

Note: No undecided option is shown unless otherwise stated. Among 2116 registered voters, Margin of Error +/- 2% As a representative online sample, it does not report a probability confidence interval.

Pretty interesting all up but it's odd that people are so in favour of Israel and it's continued war in this poll when there are others that state that they believe that Israel should be encouraged to stop the war and USA definitely shouldn't get involved. see: https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2023/10/19/voters-agree-the-us-should-call-for-a-ceasefire-and-de-escalation-of-violence-in-gaza

I'm still quite confused about why exactly he decided to start with Revolutionary France rather than America or any of the other places that defined themselves by a unique place and a unique nation. Especially with the fact that he goes into German stuff which honestly feels like a better starting point.

This stuff that came out with the this is so weird to me... I mean even with only the limited stuff that we got it really seems like it was a massive setup and he lost so much from it and the settlement of the case and everything. It's just wow. If the stuff was withheld by the legal team I hope those guys are punished in some way that's ridiculous. It's a shame how much his career was damaged. https://youtu.be/IBW5K9PDVzU?si=dttiGI3YsP0aSbT6&t=824 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nhOcSY60Ko

The Stringbike is a bicycle that uses a rope and pulley drive system instead of a traditional bicycle chain and sprockets.[1][2][3][4] It uses two Dyneema ropes attached to pulleys attached to swinging lever and cam mechanisms, one on each side of the bike. These mechanisms replace the round sprockets found on chain-driven bikes. Unlike some traditional 10-speed gears using a derailleur, there is no slippage when changing gear ratios.[5] The Stringbike uses a 19 gear ratio system with no duplicates and a total gear range of 3.5 to 1. The transmission ratio can be changed with a shifting knob located on the right-side handle grip. Gear ratios can be changed even when the bicycle is almost stationary.[6]

Hungarian designers from the manufacturing company Schwinn Csepel Zrt, unveiled the bicycle in 2010 in Padova, Italy.[7]

It never caught on so possibly isn't better than a chain design, but maybe it simply lacks popularity or the idea might be made use of for some other application

This is a video of a tiny home community built by a national builder in America.

Hear ye hear ye, Based Count folks, the @AutoMod bot developed by yours truly is now active on the instance!

Before you ask: no, it has no bullshit rules to discriminate users based on their account age, karma or anything like that. This bot moderates content, not people. While it has multiple features, the main one is the automated removal of posts and comments according to custom rules set by community moderators.

If you're a user this doesn't really affect you, I just wanted to put a PSA out there. If you're a mod in one of our communities and want me to add the AutoMod to yours, feel free to ask.

Here are the repository and documentation for the nerds out there that do care about this.

And of course if you are not a moderator but would like to create a community on our instance you can head over to our pinned thread in the [email protected] community and submit your proposal.

I think this is pretty cool.

Im smoking some ribs today. This video is the recipe for awesome ribs.

So today I watched probably about 5 hours of youtube content and I think I only ran into about 2 ads during the entire experience I really don't experience that many ads on youtube anymore and I have turned off my ad blockers and such explicitly for Youtube since I wanted to give at least a little bit of ad revenue to the content creators that I watched at the time that I turned it off. Yet I continuously hear that people have been having problems with too many ads and that ads are ruining the experience on youtube. How many ads do people who watch without ad blocker get on a video such that it's seemingly ruining the experience?