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  • We just got vertical align last month. There's so many things they should be working on but are too busy trying to add more ads or monetization features.

    I think the web is just too long in the tooth at this point but there's nothing we can do.

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    #StopKillingGames Update: Germany becomes 4th county to hit threshold
  • The software to run a server for a game is different from the client software. I have to buy Minecraft to be able to download and use the client, but the server is freely available for anyone to host their own server.

    Developers almost always release their server software for free if they offer it. The user is providing a service to the developer by offering another server for the community to use without the developer having to pay for it. There's no reason to charge for it.

    You can even password protect your server and put it behind a patreon or other exclusive membership, but it's hard to compete with free servers. You have to offer some kind of special experience.

    Everything you're complaining about has been common practice in the PC space for decades.

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    What are your favorite open-source games?
  • NodeCore is another great Minetest game. I haven't been able to find a game that matches the feeling of discovery it provides as you learn about the rules of the world.

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    Major IT outage affecting banks, airlines, media outlets across the world
  • This isn't really a Windows vs Linux issue as far as I'm aware. It was a bad driver update made by a third party. I don't see why Linux couldn't suffer from the same kind of issue.

    We should dunk on Windows for Windows specific flaws. Like how Windows won't let me reinstall a corrupted Windows Store library file because admins can't be trusted to manage Microsoft components on their own machine.

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    xkcd #2948: Electric vs Gas
  • All EVs come with Level 1 chargers that plug in to your standard house outlet, NEMA 5-15R. If there's an outlet nearby you can charge your car.

    That can still be difficult for apartment renters, but there's no need to modify your house.

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    House Republicans Want to Ban Universal Free School Lunches
  • I see a big problem with the opt-out being abusive parents could pocket the money without feeding the child.

    Money isn't the only barrier to food security.

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    We love Amtrak
  • Amtrak is a federally chartered corporation, operated and managed as a for-profit company, but with the U.S. government as its controlling shareholder. The Amtrak Board of Directors are appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. https://www.amtrak.com/stakeholder-faqs

    I'd consider it state capitalism. A private for-profit company owns the means of production/capital but that company is government owned.

    That being said though, I don't think its fair to blame Amtrak being a private company as the reason Amtrak has high prices. Amtrak is at the mercy of freight rail as Amtrak only owns 3% of the rails they operate on. They pretty much have to pay whatever the freight companies say and freight is given preference over passenger trains. Amtrak has never made a profit since its creation.

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    We love Amtrak
  • Not 100%. Amtrak's FY2022 fact sheet says that 72.6% of miles driven was on tracks owned by other railroads. That doesn't tell us how much rail they own, but they do own some of their own rail.

    Not only does it mean higher prices, but worse service because they have to rely on freight companies to maintain their rails properly and preference is given to freight leading to passenger delays.

    Edit: Found a better source.

    Ninety-seven percent of the route-miles traveled by Amtrak trains are on tracks owned by other railroads.

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    We love Amtrak
  • I would guess because Amtrak isn't being subsidized enough. A lot of government money is spent on building and maintaining roads. If the consumer had to pay for that directly in the form of toll roads instead of through taxes then Amtrak would be much more competitive.

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    This is a major Life Pro Tip
  • Am I the only one who lays a towel out on the floor in front of the shower? This thread has me thinking what I thought was standard practice might not be.

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