Give us the cheat codes to your industry/place of work!

  • I’m a truck driver.

    • You are far safer behind me than in front of me. It can take me over two US football fields (200 yards or roughly 180 meters) to come to a full stop and it takes more distance if my trailer is empty. The average car can stop in half that distance. Most cars turn into tin cans when hit by a rig at 25 mph.
    • If you see a number of trucks all moving into the same lane, might consider getting in the same lane, behind us. Odds are pretty good we either saw something in the lane ahead or we heard about something over the CB.
    • I can see you playing on your phone while driving. Cops in some states have been known to hitch rides with truck drivers in order to catch distracted drivers.
    • Learn zipper merging!
      • Most of a tractor-trailer’s stopping power is split between the trailer brakes and the tractor’s drive tandems. If there is not enough weight on those axles, the tires can’t grip the pavement properly. If I apply too much power to the brakes the wheels can start bouncing or just lock up and start skidding if the ABS system is acting up.

        Most tractor-trailers you see on the road in the US are designed to weigh 60,000 to 80,000 lbs (~ 27,000 - 36,000 kg). For comparison, a Honda Civic weighs roughly 3,000 lbs (1360 kg). Every system on the truck is designed around moving that amount of mass safely. With an empty dry van trailer your looking at closer to 30,000 lbs (~ 13,000 kg). Makes a difference in performance. Ride is rougher, takes longer to stop.

        • @KISSmyOSFeddit@lemmy.world
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          411 days ago

          In the age of computer-controlled ABS and brake assistance systems, that just sounds like poor programming.
          There’s no reason why the computer shouldn’t be able to take current weight into account and deliver more braking power to the tractor when the trailer is empty.

        • @Mongostein@lemmy.ca
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          111 days ago

          Sounds like you’re talking about icy or wet roads. I’ve never had a trailer do that on dry pavement and I can definitely stop faster emptying than full.

          • I really wish that were entirely the case. The distances I quoted came from safety trainings I’ve had to take over the years. Given my personal experiences during that time, I think they were from before ABS was mandated. And I had a lot of ABS failures when I was OTR and few close calls as a result of those failures. That’s one of the reasons I chose to switch to running a yard truck 5 years ago. Far less stress.

            When ABS failed on dry pavement and I needed to stop in a hurry, the affected tandem would tend to lock up and bounce along the ground. Nerve racking and scary when there’s traffic in front of you, but not near as bad as on wet or icy roads. The sheer terror of feeling one of my axles start sliding under me.

            If I had one word of advice for drivers new to the industry, it would be to drive as if none of the safety systems on the truck and trailer exist because in my experience they will fail exactly when you need them.

            But when they do work they are f-ing magical.

      • Captain Aggravated
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        1712 days ago

        I would imagine it has to do with traction and ability to apply braking forces without skidding the wheels.

        Even in a pickup truck, it’s easy to skid the rear wheels (antilock brakes aside) with the bed empty because the brakes can easily overcome the traction of the tires. This is why pickups have height sensing proportioning valves.

    • @200ok@lemmy.world
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      1811 days ago

      ZIPPER MERGE, PEOPLE!!

      Additional hot take, merge near the end of the merge lane rather than slowly try to force yourself into traffic further back. Keep it moving and respect the zipper merge at the end.

    • @ValenThyme@reddthat.com
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      11 days ago

      I have driven many thousands of miles and my favorite place on the road is 100 yards behind a big rig that’s heading my way. i can zone out and safely follow and people rarely want the spot between you and the truck for long so you can just go hours keeping that square centered.

      It’s even better at night when the trucks lights give you a nice preview of exactly how curvy the road is.

      Eventually big guy takes an exit and i always send a grateful salute cuz following a big rig 100 yards back is better than cruise control imo.

    • @no_kill_i@lemmy.ca
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      11 days ago

      It takes more distance to stop with an empty trailer? I would have thought the opposite. How come?

      NM, saw your reply below. Thanks.

  • molave
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    9312 days ago

    IT - if you have an issue with an application, give us step by step instructions on how we can repeat your issue like we are five years old. We’ll get it fixed more quickly that way.

    • @RGB3x3@lemmy.world
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      3412 days ago

      I have great service with IT people because I do this by default. I’ll have already tried some steps myself, so I’ll give them info about what exactly works, doesn’t work, and things that I can or can’t do that might be related to the main issue.

      They really appreciate the detail.

      • @IzzyScissor@lemmy.world
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        711 days ago

        I feel bad that my old job’s IT department would never trust me when I listed this amount of detail, so I stopped putting in the extra effort.

        My ticket: I am not able to login using the standard portal. The error I recieve is X. I have already tried rebooting. I have confirmed that everything was fully plugged in and that I am on the correct network. I also already went through the normal recovery process which did not work. Here is the result, [X].

        The first response from IT: Why don’t you try rebooting and then let me know if it’s working. If not, go through the normal recovery process.

        Like, I get it, you’re being thorough and don’t want to just blindly trust the user, but I’m only talking to you because I already tried your quick fixes. Please understand.

        • @Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          911 days ago

          Reasoning: For everyone one You, we have a 1000 not-You. But the other 1000 say almost the same as you.
          Once you experience that you become jaded and assume they are either lying or tell or miss some details. But we know our usuals and if we notice the name we might assume you know x and y more than the usual.

          Please dont stop putting in the last mile :)

          • @IzzyScissor@lemmy.world
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            511 days ago

            Yeah, I get that. I think it’s partially to do with how rarely I’ll have an actual issue. Also with their turnover rate, I rarely interact with the same tech twice.

            I still do all the legwork to figure out if it’s something I can fix myself and always put specifics (Repro steps, Error Codes, etc.), but pulled back on listing every other step I’ve already tried.

    • @brygphilomena@lemmy.world
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      11 days ago

      As an IT director, I encourage my techs first action to be to connect to the clients machine and ask them to “show me what’s happening.” Then they aren’t to interrupt the user until they complete their explanation except to ask for clarification.

      You can see all the steps leading up to the error, the users workflow, typically the desired end result, and the error message.

      You also are building rapport with the user making them feel listened to. Far too often I see techs assume something else is the issue, “fix” that, call it done and the user gets frustrated.

      Even if you can’t fix it, like so many user issues, at the very least the support experience is a positive one for the end users. Sometimes it’s just that a specific preference isn’t in an applications options or they need to change a step in their workflow. But at least the end users was listened to and their experience and frustration was validated.

      If you have metrics or surveys, it’s always interesting to hear a user write in that the issue was not resolved, but they were extremely satisfied.

      • @BastingChemina@slrpnk.net
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        210 days ago

        I’m doing that and generally the next step after that is : “OK, can you do it again and this time DO NOT CLOSE THE ERROR POPUP so we can get information on what is happening”

    • @joshh@lemmy.world
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      110 days ago

      Also a restart really does fix a big chunk of problems. An app not working right? Force quit & reopen the app. Problem solved. Phone or computer bugging out? Reboot. Problem solved.

  • @Meltrax@lemmy.world
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    11 days ago

    Software Engineer:

    Make a junk email for junk signups and accounts, if you can. Don’t accept the cookies. If the product you’re using is free, the information you enter is what’s being sold to someone else.

    Ctrl+Shift+T reopens the tab you just accidentally closed.

    • @elvith@discuss.tchncs.de
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      2412 days ago

      If the product you’re using is free, the information you enter is what’s being sold to someone else.

      Even paid services can and usually will sell your information, so just assume that everything that you enter is considered public information from that moment on

    • @RGB3x3@lemmy.world
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      2312 days ago

      I just started using Proton mail’s aliases for that and love it. If I see a bunch of spam coming to one particular alias, I’ll just delete it and make a new one. So far, it’s been great

      • @governorkeagan@lemdro.id
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        111 days ago

        That’s how I started as well, I’m at 418 aliases now. 99.9% of my online account use an alias with my custom domain.

  • @Skyline969@lemmy.ca
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    8312 days ago

    I work in the magical world of ISPs. If you’re having an internet issue, reboot your router and/or modem before calling in. It may not seem like much to you, but many background processes happen when you do so. This can be useful to troubleshoot where the issue lies. There’s a reason why techs will make you do so when calling in. And yes, they can tell on their end if and when you do so. So don’t bullshit them by saying you already did it if you didn’t.

    • @Brown5500@sh.itjust.works
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      5212 days ago

      Yeah, but we all know that no matter how many times that I have already done, tech support won’t talk to me until we do it again together

      • @Skyline969@lemmy.ca
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        2712 days ago

        If I had a nickel for every time a full power cycle fixed it all, I’d be rich. However, if you did power cycle before and call in again, often it’s an issue that needs deeper investigation. In that case, the tech can likely watch the process of your equipment coming online in realtime to see where the issue is happening. Network entry, authentication, package application, DHCP, it can often be monitored as it’s happening. A reboot while on the phone starts the process right from the beginning so it can be monitored to determine what happens immediately and what happens after it sits for a while.

      • @stoy@lemmy.zip
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        1412 days ago

        IT guy here, it is fairly common to make a change in the system™, and need to reboot the device for the change to take effect.

      • @KISSmyOSFeddit@lemmy.world
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        411 days ago

        I work in tech support. An error I haven’t seen doesn’t exist. So yes, I’m going to re-trace the trouble-shooting steps with you.
        90% of the people who call in haven’t done it, but claim they did. Because they think I have a magic tech wand that can find and fix all problems, and that I just make them go through the motions because I’m lazy.

    • @OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml
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      1412 days ago

      I feel like some people “lie” about rebooting their modem simply because they don’t know how to reboot it

      • @Skyline969@lemmy.ca
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        2112 days ago
        1. Unplug the power
        2. Wait ~30 seconds, just to ensure it’s good and off
        3. Plug it back in

        Fortunately there are no commands to enter or buttons to click. They’re designed to handle losing power.

  • @Sequentialsilence@lemmy.world
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    6712 days ago

    Concerts, the rooms are always tuned visually and sonically for about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way back on the floor. If you care about audio or visuals this is where you go. If you can’t afford the floor, anywhere in the center will still be a good experience, avoid the sides unless you don’t care about visuals or audio. We literally call those the bone seats, because they have no substance to them.

    • @brygphilomena@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      If they’ve got a control booth in the middle of the venue, that’s usually where I want to hang out. Best audio/visuals right where the guy engineering it is listening to it

  • @Apytele@sh.itjust.works
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    12 days ago

    Nursing/Psychiatry: here’s what to pack for your friend in the psych hospital!

    • T-shirts, logos fine, avoid anything explicit/vulgar
    • stretchy pants, no drawstring or that can have the drawstring removed and don’t need a belt
    • a sweater without a hood or zipper
    • socks
    • slide on shoes (no laces)
    • a puzzle book with more than one type of puzzle
    • a book in a genre they like
    • a coloring book
    • a notebook to write in
    • crayons
    • a stress ball
    • one of those silicone bubble popper toys
    • snacks/food that are still sealed or that have one of those doordasher stickers fast food places use sometimes.

    DON’T bring:

    • anything with long strings or cords
    • anything sharp or pointy or made of glass or ceramic
    • plastic bags
    • bedding/pillows
    • anything valuable or sentimental other than maybe a smartphone, and ID
  • I'm back on my BS 🤪
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    5612 days ago

    Tertiary education: university professor.

    LPT: Talk to your professor and ask questions!!

    I have so many students that don’t perform well because they didn’t understand some material. I’m seriously getting paid to help you understand it, but I can’t present it in a way that works perfectly for every student since they all have their own learning styles. I also wont know if they aren’t getting it of no one speaks out.

    I want:

    • to help
    • everyone to learn the material
    • to talk about science because I’m a super nerd
    • what is and isn’t working for you in class
    • students to show up to office hours

    I don’t:

    • expect anyone to already know something they haven’t learned about
    • care if you ask me a million questions
    • want you to perform poorly
    • want you do go to the field unprepared
    • like it when students treat me like they are bothering me
    • grade papers that are ridiculously wrong because students didn’t try to ask me for help

    The vast majority of university professors are obsessed with what they teach, so much so, that they made a career out of talking about it. Asking then about it would make their day. If you go up to one that seems like they’re being bothered, then that’s the exception. Don’t let that one stop you from engaging with all of the others.

    Note: This is true for almost all courses. However, there are some courses in certain universities that are considered “weed out classes”. These classes, typically taken in the first 2 years, are informally designed to have lower performing students fail before they advance too far into the major and find out later that they don’t have what it takes to be successful in the field. The professors of those classes are more commonly not helpful at all. Don’t give me shit about it because I didn’t design this system nor do I teach those classes.

    • @dizzy@lemmy.ml
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      1111 days ago

      I was going to say I had the polar opposite experience until your last paragraph.

      Lecturers were very rarely excited about the material they taught, left as soon as they could and were far more concerned with their research than helping students.

      That was EE so probably a mix of weed-out and the fact that they were all socially awkward mega nerds.

    • @pingveno@lemmy.ml
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      711 days ago

      Tertiary education: IT (software developer)

      Same theme for my LPT, different area. Are you having a problem? Housing? Tuition? Health issue? Ask about it! Likely you’re one of many and we (support staff) have systems in place to point you in the right direction. If you’re the first to run into a problem, we need to know so we can fix it. Don’t worry about bothering us, that’s what we’re there for. Many students wait until they have no other choice but to get in contact when it would have been easier for everyone if they had brought it up sooner. I totally understand the impulse, I’ve been that kid.

    • @brygphilomena@lemmy.world
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      511 days ago

      I completely agree.

      Back when I was taking GEs I had an ancient history class that I just couldn’t get. One visit to the professors office hours and he basically guaranteed me a decent passing grade as long as I did the final essay.

      His job was to teach and help students pass. He knew his subject wasn’t everyone’s passion and was super chill about it.

      One caveat of this, is in my experience it was younger TAs running 100 level classes that were the strictest. They for whatever reason didn’t have the experience or self-awareness to know that their teaching method didn’t align with every student.

      • HobbitFoot
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        210 days ago

        You also have the viewpoint that some freshmen level classes were designed to specifically weed people out. If you aren’t able to have a way to pass those classes, then it was thought that teaching you further would be a waste.

        • @brygphilomena@lemmy.world
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          110 days ago

          Which is such a poor attitude. Just because someone is bad in one subject doesn’t apply to every subject. English, math, and history were all GEs. What use does having an English major be weeded out by their ability to do stats or calculus?

          Or a psych major because they have no particular interest in pre-silk road civilizations?

          • HobbitFoot
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            110 days ago

            Just because someone is bad in one subject doesn’t apply to every subject.

            No, but the freshman year is supposed to lay the groundwork for later classes and teach soft skills for use later.

            What use does having an English major be weeded out by their ability to do stats or calculus?

            I’ve found it rare that universities require English majors to take advanced math. However, even within that, calculus is just a different way of preparing logic proofs and statistics is commonly used and misused in developing arguments.

            Also, a four year degree isn’t meant to be a technical degree, but to help create a more well rounded leader. That means having more knowledge than just the subject. This is the reason why engineers have to take humanities classes.

    • @auzas_1337@lemmy.zip
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      411 days ago

      Thank you for putting all of this so succintly. I’m not into teaching, but I’ve done a few workshops and I always struggle to express the attitude you described to get the pupils engaged.

      I had this same attitude when I was a student. Even though my professors were older and more knowledgable, I always tried to approach them as peers and it worked out great. I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but because I talked, I could use my strengths better because I was more aware of the expectations and requirements than a portion of other students.

  • @Sanctus@lemmy.world
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    5512 days ago

    Corporate IT: I see nearly everything you do on your computer. I can see exactly how long what application is open. If I ask you to restart your computer, you don’t, and you somehow get me in front of it, restarting it better not fix it or your next ticket is gonna be low priority no matter what. If you want in with IT, always open a ticket and include as much info as you can clearly convey. Snacks and bribes won’t always work with those of us who are very antisocial.

    • slazer2au
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      2512 days ago

      Snacks and bribes won’t always work with those of us who are very antisocial.

      Always ask the person you are trying to bribe what they like to be bribed with.

    • @Xanis@lemmy.world
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      611 days ago

      I’ve dealt with my share of PC issues and apart from digging in and writing scripts, I’m an advanced end user. One time le tired IT guy needed to remote in for some issue I didn’t have appropriate access to deal with. He seemed rather startled when I opened notepad and said “Hi!”

      I also swear I began to get more difficult to recognize fake phishing attempts shortly after.

      Dave, if you’re reading this you never caught me with one! Gotta try harder!

      • @Sanctus@lemmy.world
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        211 days ago

        No and if I found a way I would file a report against any other IT agent who did. That’s invasion of privacy IMO. Microsoft can tho, remember the Kinect?

      • @tetris11@lemmy.ml
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        210 days ago

        Yes, of course. Though your camera light would alert you of the usage, unless of course, your IT guy ordered a camera that can deactivate the light via software (or simply opened the camera and yanked the light)

    • @KISSmyOSFeddit@lemmy.world
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      -711 days ago

      or your next ticket is gonna be low priority no matter what.

      That’s childish and won’t ever cause a change in their behavior.
      Bonus points if they show management the ticket that’s stalling a project from progressing and has been sitting on your desk for 2 weeks.

      • @Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        711 days ago

        I will prioritize nicer clients (assuming the issue is equal as fast to solve) if they are more pleasent to work with.

      • @Sanctus@lemmy.world
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        310 days ago

        Stalling a ticket here means a day, not two weeks. I have 72 hours to respond at a maximum before I get penalized. We are worked so fast here the skin flies off your bones.

      • @no_kill_i@lemmy.ca
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        311 days ago

        You say that like it’s the one “high priority” ticket that the one big project is waiting on. In a sea of backlogged high priority issues attached to critical projects, being an asshat means that yours will be at the bottom of the 100 other super-important, my job-is-special tickets.

  • @nikita@sh.itjust.works
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    5012 days ago

    Comstruction:

    If you want to build the best building you gotta know every detail about how it’s made, which you can only get close to by hiring competent consultants (i.e.: architects, engineers, etc) Because if you’re not specific about what you want, you can bet your ass you’re getting the cheapest version.

  • Maple Engineer
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    11 days ago

    I work in information security.

    Don’t use biometrics to secure your devices. Biometrics are a convenience feature to make it easier to access your device. Biometrics are NOT security. You can be compelled to unlock your device by having it pointed at your face or your finger forced onto the reader. Don’t do it.

    Use 2FA/MFA everywhere you can. If it’s an option, turn it on.

    Use a password manager that generates strong passwords and use a different password for every service you use.

    Update, update, update. Allow your devices, OSes, and software/applications to update automatically.

    Talk to your parents about safe surfing. Tell them that their bank won’t send them an email or text asking them to send personal information. Set a password with your family to identify them if they are in trouble and need help. Tell parents and grandparent not to send you bail money to get you out of jail in Morocco.

    Teach your kids that everything they post on the internet is public and permanent. Teach them that if they do something that they think will get them in trouble and someone is blackmailing them that it’s better to tell you and ask for help than to give in to the blackmailers.

    • @CoggyMcFee@lemmy.world
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      11 days ago

      Regarding biometrics, I’ve felt that one advantage is that if I’m in a public space, I don’t have to worry about someone watching me enter my password over my shoulder. If I got into a situation where someone is physically overpowering me to get my finger onto my device against my will, I’m probably going to give them whatever password they want so I don’t get a beat down.

      • Maple Engineer
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        10 days ago

        That’s a threat and risk assessment. You’ve decided you’re willing to accept the risk of anyone being able to unlock your phone. For me, I’m not really worried about someone in the street strong arming me. I’m more worried about a state actor, border guard, police officer, etc demanding that I unlock my phone. They can physically compel you to unlock your phone by pointing it at your face or putting your finger on the pad but they cannot compel you to give them your password.

        • @chasingtheflow@lemmy.world
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          10 days ago

          I’m probably preaching to the choir, but for those who don’t know, at least on an iPhone and I’m sure android has something similar, if you foresee the situation coming you can just hold the sleep/wake button for a few seconds (even while your phone is in your pocket) and it will require the passcode and not allow biometrics.

          Edit: my memory, it’s the sleep/wake button and volume down. Similar to android as per the below.

          • @MIDItheKID@lemmy.world
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            410 days ago

            For android it’s power+volume up to bring up the power options menu (shutdown, restart, etc) and there is a “lock down” option that disables biometric unlock.

            Wish I could do it with one hand, but good to know it’s there.

        • @CoggyMcFee@lemmy.world
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          411 days ago

          I definitely see your perspective, but mostly wanted to make sure I wasn’t overlooking some obvious downside in my risk assessment.

          I figure my chances are low that I will get into the situation where an authority demands access to my phone but I also don’t have the opportunity to lock out biometrics. Like if I get pulled over I just hold power and volume up buttons for three seconds and biometrics is off. That said, it certainly doesn’t eliminate my risk completely, and I wouldn’t consider anyone crazy for just opting out completely.

          • Maple Engineer
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            711 days ago

            The other problem with biometrics is you can’t change them. With the OPM breach a few years ago they lost 5.6 million finger prints. Those finger prints are now useless since they are in the wild and can’t be changed. Not a problem for your average phone user but in my world that’s a really big deal. In my world biometrics are a convenience and convenience is bad for security.

            As long as you’ve considered and accepted the risks you’re good.

              • Maple Engineer
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                110 days ago

                Can I use my dick head?

                “You want me to unlock my phone? I used the head of my erect penis. I’m not going to get it up myself. Knock yourself the fuck out.”

      • Maple Engineer
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        911 days ago

        Yup. Also having an agreement that an X from any family member means they are uncomfortable or in trouble and you should call them in one minute, tell them that there is an emergency, and you need to pick them up right now. Get them safe and don’t ask questions unless they want to talk.

    • morriscox
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      1011 days ago

      Allowing apps to update automatically often means that advertising and feature removal or nerfing, etc., can happen. Checking manually has saved me a lot of grief.

        • Zoot
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          011 days ago

          In this day and age where updating an app means losing half the functionality, no thanks. Would love a way around that though!

          • Maple Engineer
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            811 days ago

            You’re exposing yourself to unpatched vulnerabilities for convenience instead of updating or deleting the app. If you lose half the functionality because of an update it’s time to find a new app in my books.

              • Maple Engineer
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                111 days ago

                You’ve done a threat and risk assessment and decided that the inconvenience of uninstalling or disabling the app is with accepting the risk of your device being competing and your data stolen or ransomed, your banking or other credentials being stolen, your friends, family, and other contacts being targeted, and your employer being put at risk if you use your device for work. That’s an acceptable way of handling the situation. You can always accept the risk.

          • @brygphilomena@lemmy.world
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            211 days ago

            I’ve heard this sentiment for almost 20 years. “The app works fine, why update, it only breaks things.”

            Then they blame me when it starts being incompatible with the current OS or some other application. Even if the only fix is to update they still resist or refuse outright.

      • @CaptKoala@lemmy.ml
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        411 days ago

        I finally let my phone do some app updates the other week, my banking app now displays full screen ads for their credit cards, conveniently right as you go to click the transfer button.

        I don’t update shit anymore. I update my OS and apps on my desktop, but my phone is now being actively neglected in regards to app updates. Every single app update breaks something, removes a feature, or brings ads into the picture.

  • @arxdat@lemmy.ml
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    4311 days ago

    I’m a philosopher, nothing matters, so stop worrying about it and live your life the way you want to live it.

  • @QuarterSwede@lemmy.world
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    4112 days ago

    HVAC: Don’t shut your air vents to give you better heating or cooling in certain rooms/floors. You’re adding pressure to your system and reducing its life. If it’s AC then you’re turning it into a freezer. That’s why doing so freezes the coil, not enough air flow to move the cold air out and keep it from freezing. For heat it literally can overheat the control board frying it since the blower also helps cool the electronics. If you have hot and/or cold rooms (this is normal per floors) ask about adding dampers. Most of the time it’s not possible without major drywall rework and it isn’t cheap. Your builder sucks (basically). A lot of companies won’t quote the work because it can’t be guaranteed. You’re essentially stuck with the crappy design the builder got approved. One potential is minisplits. Again, not cheap per room and not pretty but they will fix your issue.

    • @electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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      912 days ago

      I looked up dampers, and I’m confused about how they are functionally different than closing/opening the vent? I’m sure I’m not understanding though. Is it just about the location?

      • @Crashumbc@lemmy.world
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        811 days ago

        They don’t operate differently. Also he is assuming your ducts are designed and balanced properly to begin with. Most in residential homes aren’t.

        While shutting off a lot of vents can cause problems. Shutting off an unused room isn’t going to hurt anything. Or partially closing a vent because a room gets too warm/cold. Because like I said they do fuck to balance systems in residential homes.

    • edric
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      312 days ago

      Thanks. I was thinking of shutting the vents of one room in the house that is empty and unused, but I figured just keeping the door closed would probably be better, right?

      • @QuarterSwede@lemmy.world
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        11 days ago

        I agree that shutting 1 vent isn’t going to kill your system. However, that one room isn’t insulated on interior walls. Best to leave it alone for overall comfort. You aren’t saving $ closing the vent. The system is going to run until the thermostat is satisfied no matter what.

        Also, best thing for the entire building is to run the fan constantly (I forgot to mention this in the original). Balances the building much better than just the entire system kicking on and off every 15 min or so.

      • @Crashumbc@lemmy.world
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        311 days ago

        Shut it off, it won’t hurt anything. It’s only an issue if you’re shutting off a lot of vents. Now how much good it’ll do energy saving wise, depends on where the room is in the house and how old your house is. Newer houses with better insulation will see much less improvement.

        • edric
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          111 days ago

          Won’t it potentially cause humidity issues? The room does not get direct sunlight (faces south). It’s a new house with pretty good insulation (as far as I’ve experienced so far).

          • @Crashumbc@lemmy.world
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            211 days ago

            Without being there, I couldn’t say for sure., but I doubt it Personally, I would just use common sense. Shut it off and and just check the room a couple times over the next week or two.

    • @logging_strict@lemmy.ml
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      312 days ago

      HVAC: mini splits

      black mold forms and causes breathing problems. Clean aircons (air conditioner) every 6 months - 1 year.

      If water is dripping from the outside unit, your aircon is lacking gas. Making it into a giant fan.

      A mini-split is chosen to meet the needs for one room. Some folks, and can’t be convinced otherwise, think an aircon can cover the entire universe. And to prove it, they leave all the doors open.

      This is proof we live in the matrix. It’s completely unsolvable issue without self closing doors

      • @psud@aussie.zone
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        1012 days ago

        If water is dripping from the outside unit, your aircon is lacking gas. Making it into a giant fan.

        Water dripping means the cold side coil is cold enough to condense water out of the air. In what way does that suggest it is not working?

        • @Crashumbc@lemmy.world
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          111 days ago

          Some, especially newer units are designed to evaporate most of the condensate (water). That being said many will still drip water depending on the humidity (high) outside and also inside. And it be perfectly normal.

          • @psud@aussie.zone
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            211 days ago

            Are you in the industry, 'cause that doesn’t ring true to me. Why would you spend the energy to evaporate water when it’s so cheap and easy to dump the water on the petunia patch?

            Refrigerators collect waste water in a tray on the assumption that the indoor climate will be dry enough for the water to ambient evaporate

            Air con is incredibly popular in the tropics where it’s dropping 100% RH to 30% and making a lot of water

            • @Crashumbc@lemmy.world
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              411 days ago

              Yes 15 years, because it saves energy by making the system more efficient.

              Window units design the fan to throw the water onto the condenser this evaporates the water AND cools the freon in the condenser coil. Commercial stand up refrigerators often run the condenser line through the condensate pan for the same reason.

              They don’t “spend” energy doing it, they save it.

              Split units and traditional A/C will just drain or pump the water somewhere.

        • @black0ut@pawb.social
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          -212 days ago

          Normally the cold is carried by the gas to your room. The less gas you have, the less efficient this transfer is, and the colder your outside unit will be.

          • @psud@aussie.zone
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            211 days ago

            When the cold side is for inside air, I think you’ll find that the water it condenses from the inside air is piped outside

  • ℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠
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    3712 days ago

    I’m a waitress. It never hurts to say it’s your birthday or better yet, anniversary. Birthdays get free dessert most places but anniversaries get free bubbles. It costs me nothing to give it to you.

    Just make sure to tip on the pre-discount amount and it’s all good.

    • @finestnothing@lemmy.world
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      612 days ago

      Even if my wife and I get our meal fully comped because the kitchen messed up or it took a long time (has happened a few times, college town. We never complain or get upset, the managers just come over and apologize then comp it), we qt least tip as if it wasn’t comped, if we liked our server and/or the food a lot (both, most of the time) then we tip the full amount of the comped meal. Without fail the servers have been surprised that we tip at all when that happens

  • @henfredemars@infosec.pub
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    12 days ago

    Brother, Pharmacist:

    Just because we called doesn’t mean your prescription is ready. Listen to the message

    Just because your doctor said they sent in your prescription… it means nothing. He or she probably asked an assistant to send it or put it in their inbox.

    Like 1 in 3 people drove here without a drivers license.

      • @henfredemars@infosec.pub
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        1812 days ago

        Correct! It’s a disturbingly large proportion. Some medications absolutely require one, and people who just drove up will tell you they didn’t bring any form of ID whatsoever.

        • @QuarterSwede@lemmy.world
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          1412 days ago

          In my state you aren’t required to have your license with you while driving. You just have to provide it within 24 hours of getting pulled over, etc.

            • @sping@lemmy.sdf.org
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              11 days ago

              I’m the UK England and Wales you can’t be required to carry ID at all.

              If the police ask you for them, you have 7 days to present them at a police station.

              (Edit: really not sure it extends to Scotland where such laws often vary, and pretty sure it doesn’t apply to NI, where they vary even more, especially on driving/licensing, so UK was inaccurate)

                • @sping@lemmy.sdf.org
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                  111 days ago

                  Really.

                  AFAIK the ID law is a consequence of a centuries-old right that you cannot be required to identify yourself if you’re doing nothing wrong, and then even if you did do something wrong, you still can’t be required to have brought ID with you since it’s likely you didn’t set out knowing you’d be doing that today.

                  But the surveillance/camera thing is recent, when rights of ordinary people apparently are less fashionable.

              • VaultBoyNewVegas
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                111 days ago

                Huh, I didn’t know that. I used to give my da shit because he never carried his license. Though we’re in NI and police checkpoints are a thing here.

            • @nikita@sh.itjust.works
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              512 days ago

              I read that in Alabama (or maybe Mississippi, I can’t recall) you can drink alcohol while driving. You just can’t be above the blood alcohol concentration limit.

              • Louisiana had famously (or infamously) lax liquor laws for decades, so maybe that‘s what you’re thinking of. Shit like drive-thru daiquiri stores, where as long as they don’t put the straw in the cup it’s not considered an “open” container. So they can just hand you a cup full of liquor, and the straw separately.

                It’s also a large part of why New Orleans developed a reputation as a party town; Louisiana kept their drinking age at 18 while every other state was at 21, so all the college freshmen/sophomores would go to Louisiana during spring break because they could drink.

        • @Pazuzu@midwest.social
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          111 days ago

          Ok random question: the Walgreens near me almost never asks for my ID when I pickup my Adderall, is it really not required for that? I thought it was a hard rule to check ID for any controlled substances

  • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
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    3312 days ago

    Software development here. Never, ever, connect your appliances to the internet, and check whether appliances you buy have an offline mode as some are now aggressively forcing users to connect in order to use them.

    • @dizzy@lemmy.ml
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      411 days ago

      What’s your reasoning for this?

      Anything better than using a vlan to separate these types of devices from the rest of the network?

      • @invertedspear@lemm.ee
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        1211 days ago

        They are programmed as cheaply as possible and manufactures don’t care once you buy a product so it’s just a matter of time before it becomes part of someone’s botnet, using your power and internet to harass some server somewhere.

      • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
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        511 days ago

        As the other reply mentions, aside from these devices representing a security vulnerability, there have been numerous cases where the devices themselves got hijacked. In some cases they can even get bricked via updates. There’s also a privacy concern with these companies collecting data on how you use the device.

        • Does this also apply when not using the official app? I recently bought a Phillips bulb (not Hue) and set up Home Assistant for it, along with the Matter bridge. This turned out to also connect it to the Wi-Fi, but I never installed a manufacturer app.

          Would blocking internet access via parental controls on the router be enough to mitigate such threats, or is its mere presence in an internet-connected network dangerous?

          • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
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            611 days ago

            The itself app isn’t typically the issue. It’s the remote server that the appliance and the app connect to that’s the problem. What happens is that the appliance uses your wifi to talk to the company server, and that server pushes updates to it, does tracking, and so on. As long as the appliance can’t connect to the internet there’s no danger from it. Typically, the best approach is to avoid configuring the connection in the first place.