@sdarlington@mas.to
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sdarlington

@sdarlington@mas.to

I solve business problems with technology. Startups, field engineering, fast/big data, Open Source, Apple, dad jokes and despair of British politics. He/him.

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sdarlington, to random
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This is such a Tory policy. People who can’t vote will be forced to do something that older people have fond memories of, even though they never had to do it themselves. Meanwhile, Labour is considering giving sixteen and seventeen year olds the vote. And they wonder why young people don’t vote Conservative. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/25/sunak-promises-to-bring-back-national-service-for-18-year-olds

sdarlington, to random
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

I wasn't able to make something wonderful, so I made this instead. https://www.zx81.org.uk/blog/make-something-wonderful.html

ianbetteridge, to random
@ianbetteridge@writing.exchange avatar

The funny thing about Microsoft's new Recall feature is how little actual "AI" it's doing. It's basically just making automatic screen captures, then running OCR and image recognition to create a semantic index you can search. Unless I'm missing something, there's no LLM (or small language model) used in it. Maybe in parsing queries?

sdarlington,
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@ianbetteridge Doing screen caps seems like a very inefficient way to do this when you literally control the underlying APIs used by the apps. Like, why would you need AI/OCR to read the text? But yeah, got to juice the company valuation by claiming AI everywhere.

akosma, to random
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Some ideas https://akos.ma/blog/running-programming-workshops/

sdarlington,
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@akosma The two biggest challenges I've had running workshops are people turning up unprepared (laptop not setup or capable of tasks) and a lack of engagement (their manager told them to go?).

sdarlington,
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@akosma Relatively recently I had someone turn up with a laptop with 4Gb of memory. Where can you even buy those any more?!

sdarlington,
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@panjkov @akosma Yeah, we don't run training often enough to make LODs worth it (but often enough for it to be frustrating!). I asked the 4Gb guy to help other people with the labs. He left and complained to his manager... who said he should have read the instructions I'd sent!

ianRobinson, to Weather
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There is nothing weak about having an umbrella over the Prime Minister when it’s chucking it down in London. 🤦🏻‍♂️

sdarlington,
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@ianRobinson Sunak is so tiny that the rain drops never hit him.

craiggrannell, to random
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Nice that Sunak led with furlough, which fucked over millions of self-employed people.

sdarlington,
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

@craiggrannell it's easy to give away someone else's money.

sdarlington, to UKpolitics
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"I'm resigning and we're bringing back Liz Truss as PM. Suckers! No election for you! See ya, I'm off to California."

ianRobinson, to random
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UK General Election!

Thursday the 4th of July according to Sky News.

sdarlington,
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@ianRobinson Our Independence Day. In a way.

ianRobinson, to random
@ianRobinson@mastodon.social avatar

Remember when free corporate swag at events was useful. Like good golf umbrellas with the company logo on it. Free advertising for them. Free umbrellas for us. Let’s start that again.

Yes, I do need to buy a new umbrella…

sdarlington,
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

@ianRobinson Socks seem to be this years "in" swag.

ianRobinson, to random
@ianRobinson@mastodon.social avatar

I need to do this.

“Apple’s iTunes – which allows users to download files they have bought – has a similar clause and says while the content is unlikely to become unavailable, people should “ensure your ability to continue enjoying content” by downloading all purchases to a device and backing up.” https://www.theguardian.com/media/article/2024/may/14/my-whole-library-is-wiped-out-what-it-means-to-own-movies-and-tv-in-the-age-of-streaming-services

sdarlington,
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

@ianRobinson Something that I need to do is make sure all my photos and videos have a local backup. It would be annoying to lose some music, but they can likely be replaced.

sdarlington,
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

@ianRobinson I fear I'm missing a reference? From ATP?

sdarlington, to random
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

In 2001, I went to Tromsø, Norway. Didn’t see the Northern Lights.

In 2006, I went to Iceland. Didn’t see the Northern Lights.

In February this year, I went to Iceland. Didn’t see the Northern Lights.

And last night, when they were visible from my neighbourhood, I slept through it.

Do the aurora hate me?

ianbetteridge, to random
@ianbetteridge@writing.exchange avatar

I see Dorsey is well into his “two croissants short of a breakfast basket” stage.

sdarlington,
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@ianbetteridge The more you think about it, the less it makes sense.

sdarlington, to random
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Forget iOS and Android, try the original ARM operating system. https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/02/rool_530_is_here/?td=rt-3a

sdarlington, to random
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

I've mostly solved my HomePod stereo pair problems by turning off Spatial Audio. I suspect it's not actually solved, just less obvious.

sdarlington, to random
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

Voted.

sdarlington,
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

No line to vote, I'd like to add. The huge queues you see on polling day in some countries is not a sign of civic pride and a strong democracy. It's a form of voter supression.

sdarlington, to random
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

From the department of shameless self-promotion, I'm doing a product demo webinar tomorrow. https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/20062/613275

sdarlington,
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I'll also be at the Gartner Data and Analytics conference in London in a couple of weeks time. Come say "hello" if you're around!

sdarlington,
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@SergKoren I mean, I live in London so it's just a tube ride... if it's anything like last year, it'll be interesting but hard work.

akosma, to random
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Unpopular opinion: the Internet Archive and Wikipedia should be part of UNESCO.

sdarlington,
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@akosma Did you see the story about Russia taking a copy of wikipedia, removing inconvenient truths, and then banning the official wikipedia?

ianRobinson, to random
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Discovered a downside of my decision not to get another car.

I stored my winter coat on the back seat.

sdarlington,
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@ianRobinson Wardrobes are cheaper than cars. Just saying.

ianRobinson, to random
@ianRobinson@mastodon.social avatar

My birthday two weeks ago must have triggered something in the NI NHS. I got a bowel cancer test to return.

Edit: I didn’t ask for the test, nor do I have any symptoms.

sdarlington,
@sdarlington@mas.to avatar

@ianRobinson Used to be for 60+, but I think they're increasing the number of eligible people. It's a fun* test.

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