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Joined 2 years ago
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Cake day: June 17th, 2023

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  • It’s interesting to look at what is actually required to be a technological species (assuming they develop it themselves).

    • Dextrus Manipulators.

    To make technology, you need something to manipulate the world reliably. Hands are the most obvious method, but not the only ones. Octopus tenticles could also likely fill the roll.

    • Social groups and communication.

    Developments are useless, if they can’t be passed on to the next generation, or shared around. Technology requires building on the work of others.

    • Brain development.

    There needs to be something to drive early brain development. With humans, it was likely sexual preferences. It could otherwise become a chicken and the egg type problem.

    • Generalist.

    A specialist species will tend to lean into their strengths. There’s far less need for intelligence when you have big claws, or heavy armour already. This also applies to size. Too big, or too small tends to specialise in a why the precludes other developments.

    There are several species on earth that hit some of these points, but not all. E.g. Dolphins hit all but the manipulator issue. Octopus are completely solitary. Many mammals hit all but brain development, and crabs overspecialise.

    I could easily see a small tweak leading to a radically non human technological intelligence. That is also based only on what has already developed and stabilised in the earth’s biome. The cambrian explosion showed that far more body forms are at least viable.


  • It depends on your vehicle.

    I personally drive a van, most of the time. Checking over my shoulder is a waste of time. What I do need is situational awareness. I’m aware of where my blind spots are, both absolute (e.g. directly behind my back bumper) and partial (e.g. the spot down my side).

    I try and keep an awareness of everything entering and leaving my blind spots. I also do 2 checks of all spots that could have problems when manoeuvring. It’s alarming how often a small car or bike can slip through blind spots, when you’re doing your checks.

    Basically, know your vehicle, and do what’s appropriate to keep everyone safe.


  • Room is too well insulated and sealed. Once the bedroom door is closed, the air exchange is too low. I’m planning to fit a heat exchanging fan system next year to permanently fix it.

    Opening a window isn’t as bad as it first seems. Most of the heat in a home (at least a brick one) is in the structure. Change the air, close the window, and it will rapidly warm up again. It’s only leaving it open for longer periods that cool it down.


  • If you’ve not got one, I would highly recommend getting an air quality meter.

    I had this issue last night, awake randomly at 2-3am. When I checked, the air quality was terrible. (It’s bespoke scale put it at 10 out of 100) after opening a window and letting it improve, I happily drifted back off.

    It turned out I didn’t wake up randomly, I was dragged awake from a light sleep due to the air quality plummeting. It won’t apply to everyone, but it’s worth checking if it’s a common problem.

    (For reference, 10% air was CO2 of 2360ppm, and VOCs at 5000ppm with 80% humidity. Fresh air is CO2<500, VOCs<100)