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YSK that using Q-Tips in your ears acts like a musket-loader, packing wax tightly against your eardrum **Why YSK:** Using Q-tips actually acts like a musket-loader, packing wax tightly against your eardrum. This video breaks down the biology of why this damages your ears and the weird neurological reason we are so addicted to doing it anyway. [https://youtu.be/rs7Ze3\_l-fE](https://youtu.be/rs7Ze3_l-fE) @you_pfff

LPT: When someone you love is struggling, stop asking “what can I do” and start doing one specific small thing without waiting for an answer @you_pfff

YSK- How Anthropic's (Claude) new AI watermarking system works, it's not a watermark embedded in a response, rather it's a watermark on the AI's choices. Edit: grammar Why YSK: In compliance with the EU's new AI regulations Anthropic has integrated a watermarking system. It is not just a pseudo-physical digital tell like the "metadata" that would be removed if you just replicated the response text in a different environment. (i.e re-typed a paragraph on a google doc) This applies to essentially all responses from Claude AI models from now on, and worldwide not just in the EU. For example, if you asked Claude to generate a """painting""" of it's ten favourite fruits the choices of fruits, the order of the fruits that appear on the image, the positions of the fruits on the """painting""", the colours of the fruits, the sizes of the fruits depicted etc. All of these choices are influenced by the watermarking process. So while yes, you could just screenshot the AI's response and essentially scrub the signed provenance metadata, you can't remove the actual watermarks. Just to give you a super rough estimate, likelihood of 2 different entities having an identical list of fruits, order of fruits and depictions of said fruits is around \~1 in a hundred million to even several hundreds of billions. While not the exact system implemented, you can read about a comparable system known as "SYNTH-ID" here: [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08025-4#Abs1](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08025-4#Abs1) You can read about how Claude specifically does it here: [https://support.claude.com/en/articles/16266773-how-claude-marks-ai-generated-content](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/16266773-how-claude-marks-ai-generated-content) @you_pfff

LPT: Sometimes the way we see other people is also a mirror. One thing that helped me understand myself better is noticing the things I criticize in other people a little too quickly. Sometimes when someone calls another person lazy, dramatic, attention-seeking, arrogant, fake, or too sensitive, it says more about what they are uncomfortable with in themselves than about the other person. Not always, of course. Some people are genuinely rude or harmful. But if you find yourself getting unusually irritated by the same type of person again and again, it might be worth asking: why does this bother me so much? Do I secretly fear being like that? Was I taught that this behavior was unacceptable? Am I jealous that they allow themselves to do something I don’t? This doesn’t mean all judgment is wrong. It just means your strongest reactions can be useful information. Sometimes the way we see other people is also a mirror. @you_pfff

YSK: New Mexico makes so much money from oil and natural gas revenues they can afford free universal child care, free school meals and free college for residents! Thanks to surplus tax revenues from oil and natural gas production in the Permian Basin, New Mexico has created a comprehensive state funded social net for education and early childhood care: **Why YSK:** If you live in New Mexico you can access thousands of dollars in free early childhood care, free college tuition and fees and free school breakfast and lunches **WITHOUT** strict income caps. Additionally it serves as a prominent real world example of how states can structure natural resource wealth into permanent educational trust funds. * [New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship (Free College)](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/opportunity-scholarship/) * [Early Childhood Education & Care Department (Free Daycare)](https://www.nmececd.org/) * [Public Education Department (Universal School Meals)](https://web.ped.nm.gov/bureaus/student-success-wellness/school-meals/) @you_pfff

'Upgrade Your Comfort: DIY Ceiling Fan Speed Switch Installation https://bestdiyguides.com/post/upgrade-your-comfort-diy-ceiling-fan-speed-switch-installation?ref=t

'Stop the Shedding! Practical Steps to Manage Your Dog's Loose Hair https://floofguide.com/post/stop-the-shedding-practical-steps-to-manage-your-dogs-loose-hair?ref=t

YSK- you should know you don’t have to place your contact lens directly over your pupil when inserting them. Why YSK- it is painful and a little scary to put them right on top of your pupil! The best way to do it is to look to the side, place the contact on the large white area (your sclera), blink, and your contact will be magically centered and you’re good to go! I’ve seen a lot of people put it directly on the pupil and there’s no need. Putting it directly on your pupil is a little scary because, you know, something is coming right at your eye, and it’s very sensitive and can be uncomfortable or downright painful! @you_pfff

LPT: Bypass questions from an automated assistant when calling businesses by adding “I will not give you anymore information” after you have said what department you are trying to reach. ETA: TLDR This eliminates follow up questions. I’ve done this when calling a few different large businesses like Verizon wireless and smaller companies. When the system asks how they can help, I say “customer service. I will not give you any more information.” Then it says “Okay” and connects me. I’ve tried different variations and they’ve resulted in a follow up question. When I answer the follow up question with “I will not give you any more information”, I get connected to customer service. My test pool isn’t huge, but it hasn’t failed me yet. Edit: grammar @you_pfff

YSK that the FDA created a new category for hearing aids Why YSK: In August 2022, the FDA issued a final rule establishing a new over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid category. The rule took effect on October 17, 2022, with the goal of making hearing aids more accessible to adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. In practical terms, adults age 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss can buy qualifying air-conduction hearing aids in stores or online without a medical exam, prescription, or fitting by an audiologist. This gives consumers another way to access hearing aids, but they may need to handle more of the comparison, setup, and follow-up themselves. Professional help is still available when needed. An OTC hearing aid is an FDA-regulated medical device intended to compensate for impaired hearing. A personal sound amplification product (PSAP) is different. PSAPs are consumer electronics intended to make environmental sounds louder for people with normal hearing, such as during birdwatching or hunting. They are not alternatives to hearing aids. Examples marketed as OTC hearing aids include the Sony CRE-C10 and ELEHEAR Beyond. Some OTC models offer basic volume controls and preset programs, while self-fitting models may use hearing tests, apps, or software for more customization. Being in the OTC category does not mean that every model will suit every user or that the FDA guarantees a particular product's results. OTC hearing aids are not intended for anyone under 18 or for severe or profound hearing loss. See a doctor, preferably an ENT, if you have ear pain, blood or fluid from the ear, a lot of earwax or a possible object in the ear, marked dizziness, a sudden or fluctuating hearing change, worse hearing in one ear, or ringing in only one ear. Professional help is also appropriate if you cannot hear speech in a quiet room or do not hear loud sounds well. Before choosing a device, check that the package clearly says "OTC" and "hearing aid," confirm that the intended age and hearing-loss range apply to you, and read the warnings and return policy. If the cause or severity of the hearing problem is unclear, get advice from a licensed hearing professional before deciding. FDA source: [https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/hearing-aids/otc-hearing-aids-what-you-should-know](https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/hearing-aids/otc-hearing-aids-what-you-should-know) [https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/hearing-aids-and-personal-sound-amplification-products-what-know](https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/hearing-aids-and-personal-sound-amplification-products-what-know) @you_pfff

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YSK about saddle thrombosis and Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as a cat owner Edit: the condition is called saddle thrombus, I spelled it incorrectly in my title. I've only just now noticed my error but google still brings it up even if you type thrombosis. I apologize for the oversight, I kept misreading how it's said. HCM is the most common heart condition in cats and it frequently goes unnoticed until it's too late as there are no symptoms unless specifically examined by the vet. It can lead to sudden complications like saddle thrombosis which is incredibly fatal. They can become paralyzed in their hind legs from a blood clot, which then causes fluid build up in their lungs. It's a very painful death that I don't wish any cat owner to experience. There is treatment but it's very unlikely they will survive for much longer and usually it's more humane to have them put down. Why YSK: If left undiagnosed, the cat will be at risk for a very traumatic death. If caught early enough, it can be treated with lifestyle changes and medicine. It cannot be cured but it can be managed and they can live a longer life. My seemingly very healthy, happy strong 3-4 year old cat suddenly died from this 2 days ago and there was nothing we could do. It was harrowing experience. Please have your cats checked if you can. Sources: https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/cardiovascular/feline-hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy-hcm-cats https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/cardiovascular/saddle-thrombus-cats-causes-symptoms-and-how-help-your-cat @you_pfff

LPT: enjoy the taste of freshly baked bread and bagels anytime I learned this trick from a bread baker years ago. I was at the farmers market buying from my favorite bakery and was lamenting how the bread goes stale faster than I can eat it. The baker recommended that I slice up half the loaf as soon as I get home, and wrap the slices (2 at a time) in foil and throw them in the freezer. When I want to reheat, just stick the foil packet into the toaster oven and run the toast cycle on the darkest setting (or in the regular oven at 375 for 10 min or so). This mimics a steam oven and the bread steams itself back to life while the crust remains crunchy. Works like a charm! I discovered this works even better for bagels! I go to my local bagel shop and get bagels as fresh as I can, and immediately come home and wrap each one individually and freeze (unsliced). Then, reheat in the same way. What I’ll normally do is then is unwrap and toast the entire bagel (still unsliced) and then slice after toasting (cursing my burning fingers). The result is a beautifully crisp bagel on the outside, warm, steamy and soft on the inside. If you like the inside toasted, feel free to slice after unwrapping before toasting. ETA: this advice centers around using a **toaster OVEN**, not a pop up toaster. You can also use a normal oven. Don’t put foil in a pop up toaster please. @you_pfff

YSK: Your credit score comes from just 5 inputs, and two of them are 65% of the score Why YSK: A lot of people treat their credit score like a mystery number the bank assigns. It's actually a formula with five known inputs, and you can move it deliberately. Payment history is 35%. One thing matters: never 30+ days late. Autopay the minimum on everything, even if you pay the rest manually. This single habit protects the biggest slice. Utilization is 30%. It's your balances divided by your limits, and it has no memory. High utilization this month hurts this month, but drops off the moment you pay down. Two tricks: pay before the statement date (not the due date) so a lower balance gets reported, and ask for limit increases on cards you don't carry balances on. The last three are length of history (15%), new credit (10%), and mix (10%). Mostly these reward doing nothing: keep old cards open, don't apply for five things in a month. The part nobody told me: closing an old card can hurt you twice, shorter history and less total limit, so utilization jumps. Cut it up if you must, but let it stay open. What's the credit myth you believed the longest? Mine was that carrying a small balance "builds credit." It doesn't. It just pays them interest. @you_pfff

'Prevent Flooding: Sump Pump Backup Power Options Explained https://bestdiyguides.com/post/prevent-flooding-sump-pump-backup-power-options-explained?ref=t

'Can Cats Eat Duck Eggs? A Pet Owner's Guide to Safe Feeding https://floofguide.com/post/can-cats-eat-duck-eggs-a-pet-owners-guide-to-safe-feeding?ref=t

YSK: Most people dramatically overestimate how much other people notice them Psychologists call this the “Spotlight Effect.” When you make an embarrassing mistake, wear an unusual outfit, or say something awkward, it feels like everyone notices. In reality, most people are too busy thinking about themselves to pay much attention. **WHY YSK:** This can help reduce social anxiety and make it easier to try new things without worrying so much about being judged. @you_pfff

LPT: If you forget your glasses or contacts, the pinhole effect allows you to form a small hole with your hand to look through which will allow you to look at something with clear vision. Yes you might look like an idiot holding your hand up to your eyes, but it’s helpful in certain situations. @you_pfff

YSK: America’s largest newspaper chain, USA Today, just partnered with Palantir to analyze audience data. Why YSK: In its Q2 earnings call Thursday morning, USA Today Co. chairman and CEO Mike Reed told investors he expects the partnership to “**strengthen how we collect, connect and activate audience data to drive more effective and faster monetization across our platform.**” “**Every visit, every session, and every moment of attention creates a signal,**” Reed said. “When we connect those signals, they become actionable intelligence that allows us to engage users more effectively and monetize those relationships faster and at much greater value. The work our team is doing with Palantir is a direct extension of this strategy. We are applying Palantir’s AI-powered platform to one of the largest opportunities in front of us, converting the sheer scale of our audience into known, orchestrated first-party relationships, because that is what turns our reach into sustainable, higher value revenue.” **By using any USA Today websites, you'll be directly contributing to Palantir's mass surveillance network.** Source: [Here](https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/08/americas-largest-newspaper-chain-usa-today-co-partners-with-palantir-to-analyze-audience-data/) @you_pfff