goofus

joined 2 months ago
[–] goofus 7 points 3 days ago (2 children)

we're all moving to Truth Social.

[–] goofus 15 points 3 days ago

i guess there were too many recalls.

[–] goofus 2 points 3 days ago

Albania. In particular southern Albania near Greece. Most places are good, but if you like the beach, Saranda. If you like history, Gjirokaster.

[–] goofus 3 points 4 days ago
[–] goofus 1 points 1 week ago

Email from April 11:

BraX3 April Project Update

Hi everyone,

We’re back with an important update covering three key areas: how we’re adapting to the newly imposed U.S. tariffs, how that change can impact backers, and a short update on our beta program.

Let’s dive in. For U.S. Customers: Navigating the Tariff Challenge Together

We’ve always aimed to do things differently—with more transparency, fairness, and user-first thinking. This moment is no exception.

From the start, we made a conscious decision to ship BraX3 domestically within the U.S.—not from China like most crowdfunded projects. This was meant to save you money and avoid the hassle of customs clearance.

But the recent escalation in trade tensions has changed the landscape. The U.S. has now imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese electronics, making it financially impossible for us to import BraX3 as originally planned without significant losses.

Most companies either freeze deliveries or push 100% of the added cost onto customers. We won’t do that.

Instead, we’ve made a bold move: we’re shifting final assembly to the European Union. This change allows us to:

Regain control of our delivery timeline

Minimize the impact of unpredictable tariff complications

Maintain momentum and keep our promises

Of course, this change adds cost—logistics, disassembly, reassembly, and EU compliance. We’re absorbing the majority of it, but we are asking U.S. customers for a $30 contribution to help close the gap.

Here’s what to expect:

In the next 2 weeks, you’ll receive an email with a secure portal

Through that portal, you can:

    Pay the $30 surcharge

    Add accessories to your order

    Update your shipping information

Full refunds will be available if you decide not to proceed—no questions asked

We know this isn’t ideal, and we wouldn’t ask unless it was truly necessary. But we believe this approach keeps us aligned with the values that brought us all together.

A Note on Delivery Timeline Impact

With the shift to EU-based assembly, we’re also adjusting our estimated delivery timeline.

The logistics of transferring partially assembled units, reassembling them in the EU, and completing the necessary production steps will require an additional 20 days. This pushes our U.S. shipping window to approximately mid-end May 2025.

Additionally, to ensure the product’s EU origin is recognized for customs compliance, there’s a regulatory process we must follow. While we’re working hard to keep this smooth and timely, there’s still a chance it could introduce a few more days of delay—though we’re doing everything possible to avoid that.

We know this isn’t what anyone hoped for, but we also believe this approach gives us greater control, higher quality assurance, and the best path forward under the current global circumstances.

For Non-U.S. Customers: Optional Upgrade to EU Assembly

For our backers outside the U.S., your BraX3 is still set to ship with the original China-based assembly.

However, this shift has also opened up a new opportunity: we’re now offering an optional upgrade to the EU-assembled version of BraX3—bringing the same improvements we’re implementing for U.S. deliveries.

Why consider the upgrade?

Enhanced quality control and handling during final assembly

Compliance with European manufacturing and security standards

Alignment with the changes being made for U.S. units

In the coming weeks, all customers, regardless of location, will receive an email with a link to a dedicated order management portal. Through this portal, you’ll be able to:

Upgrade to the EU-assembled version for $30 (optional)

Add accessories to your existing order

Update your delivery details
Pay VAT as per our terms in the FAQ section (EU-based customers only)

We believe the EU-assembled version adds real value—but if you're happy with the original assembly plan, no action is needed. Your order will proceed as originally planned.

Beta Devices Are Out & Feedback is Rolling In

We’re also happy to report that the BraX3 beta devices have been shipped and received by most of the selected testers.

Feedback is already flowing in, and we’re addressing bugs with quick turnaround. It’s encouraging to see iodeOS progressing right on schedule, and we’re confident in our momentum toward a stable production release.

In Closing

We’re doing our best to handle real-world challenges with integrity, creativity, and community in mind. Whether you’re a U.S. customer facing a new decision, or a global backer looking to benefit from these improvements—we’re here to make sure the result is still something we can all be proud of.

Thank you for your continued support, trust, and patience.

Plamen

p.s. We recommend listening to the latest live stream on Rob's channel, where he addresses the challenges and shares our thought process in greater detail.

[–] goofus 4 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I am waiting for my Brax3 phone. I am thinking about requesting a refund. I have heard that a Pixel phone with Graphene is a much better choice.

[–] goofus 97 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Jared Golden, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Henry Cuellar, and Ed Case

[–] goofus 11 points 1 week ago

New York con man dump and pump

[–] goofus 1 points 3 weeks ago

I predict the US will invade Russia and take over Siberia as "New Alaska".

[–] goofus 13 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

The holy hand grenade of Antioch is one of the most powerful relics known to Christendom.

[–] goofus 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

How about air quality?

[–] goofus 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yes, they will try to devalue the dollar compared to other currencies.

 

By 2045, there will be virtually nothing a human can do that a machine cannot to better for a tiny fraction of the cost. A robot that has a lifetime cost of $10,000, works 22 hours per day, and lasts 5 years would have an hourly marginal cost of just 25 cents. And when robots are building all the robots, they will cost a lot less than $10,000.

The marginal cost of labor will plummet toward zero as adoption of humanoid robots powered by increasingly capable AI explodes across every virtually industry worldwide. Humans simply will not be able to compete.

Join Adam Dorr, RethinkX Director of Research as he relays his latest insight on the inevitable and painful truth of the coming disruption of the human labor engine by AI and humanoid robots...

Visit the RethinkX Website for more groundbreaking insights: https://www.rethinkx.com/

Learn more about the the Disruption of Labor: https://www.rethinkx.com/labor

 

Devaluing a currency is a well known strategy to boost exports. But it might also be useful to reduce imports and build up a local economy. I am wondering if anyone has heard of any discussion of plans to manipulate the future value of the $USD? Will the government print money to reduce the cost of its debt?

 

It’s every international thru-hiker’s worst nightmare: training for a long hike, saving enough money for the trip, and clearing your calendar, only to be stopped at the border and turned back before ever setting foot on US soil — let alone the trail.

Seasoned German thru-hiker and Trek blogger Annika “Ravenclaw” Ananias says that nightmare came true for her — and escalated to a horrifying degree when she attempted to enter the US to hike the Arizona Trail (AZT) last month.

Ananias had expected the journey to be routine, having previously come to the US on a B2 tourist visa in 2022 and 2024 to thru-hike the PCT and CDT, respectively. But upon reaching US passport control this time, she found herself detained, interrogated, and accused of intending to work illegally in the US.

Ananias says she was separated from her American boyfriend, shouted at and mocked by US border officials, and detained overnight in a cold, shared holding cell without access to medication. After 22 hours of incarceration, the hammer fell: despite having broken no laws and holding the same valid B2 visa under which she previously hiked the PCT and CDT, she was deported back to Germany and handed a five-year ban on re-entering the United States.

21
RSS and Privacy (self.privacy)
submitted 1 month ago by goofus to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
 

I am starting to use a RSS feed (Akregator). I intend to use it to follow youtube channels, and try to learn what else it can do. What kind of privacy issues should I be aware of? Are there settings I can use to improve privacy? I use a vpn, is there something else I should do?

 

Using Mullvad on Linux Mint, I see a number of settings and have no idea what they are for. DAITA, Multihop, Local Network Sharing, API Access. I would like to keep Mullvad VPN on all the time, but still be able to use Freetube and Grayjay. Also not break too many websites, although that seems to be more of a Librewolf setting issue. Can anyone recommend settings for Mullvad that I should be using?

 

The painful truth is that AI and robots will take our jobs. At the same time, the rise of AI and robots itself will create new jobs. But AI and robots will take those jobs too.

By 2045, there will be virtually nothing a human can do that a machine cannot do better for a tiny fraction of the cost. And this will still prove true (thank goodness) even if individual machines such as humanoid robots aren’t each empowered with fully sapient artificial general intelligence.

85
Does history repeat itself? (upload.wikimedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago by goofus to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
 

Anyone know if it is possible to browse Facebook Marketplace without a login account to Facebook? Are there sites that mirror Marketplace? I don't need to buy or sell, just want to browse what is out there.

 

Suggestion from across the river. The Detroit River.

  1. Canada should import goods from China without limits or taxes. Canada's cost of living will go down as the Americans learn how stupid tariffs are.
  2. If solar electric power is cheaper than other sources, buy as much cheap solar as the Chinese will send you. Try to reduce your electric costs. Export your hydro power to the US at high rates.
  3. There are cheap electric cars coming from China. Allow them in your market and benefit from low cost environmentally friendly transportation.
  4. If anyone threatens your sovereignty, put a warrant out for their arrest the minute they arrive in Canada, even if they are a government official. Its your sovereignty, gloves off.
 

Buy Nothing Challenge

I would like to reduce my ecological impact and disassociate from the consumerist mindset. I don't like the direction the US government is taking and I would like to decouple from the US economy.

My challenge is to buy nothing* for one month, and at the end of the month, see if I can continue for another month.

*I will continue to purchase items that I consider necessities.

Necessities that I will buy as required:

YES: Food

YES: Health and medication

YES: Daily necessities (toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.)

YES: Bills (phone, rent, insurance, taxes)

YES: Repairs (home, bicycle, vehicle)

YES: Gas/Transportation (walk or bike when you can)

YES: Receiving gifts, trades where no money is exchanged

YES: Camping, hiking, bicycle travel

YES: Giving charity

Items I will avoid purchasing during the challenge:

NO: Fast food, coffee shops, restaurants

NO: Entertainment devices, books, subscriptions

NO: New clothes or impulse purchases

NO: Hair services

NO: Amazon orders, streaming services

NO: Vehicles

NO: Acquisition of things for new hobbies

NO: Use of credit (credit cards or loans)

NO: Hotels, vehicle based travel

NO: Google, Meta, Reddit, X products

view more: next ›