KeithDevlin

KeithDevlin, 9 months ago to random

The new "Devlin's Angle" that went live yesterday was upstaged by the political news from D.C. 🥴https://mathvalues.squarespace.com/masterblog/california-passes-its-new-k-12-mathematics-framework

peterrowlett, 9 months ago to random

How about a game of ‘where in the world is Peter?’ Here’s clue 1 - more in the thread to follow later.

If you know and want to reply saying so, use a CW “spoiler”.

KeithDevlin, 9 months ago to random

New #DevlinsAngle post for the #MAA. Brief account of the recent acceptance of the new Mathematics (Education) Framework by the State of California https://mathvalues.squarespace.com/masterblog/category/Devlin%27s+Angle

phonner, 9 months ago to math

Nice write-up from Ole Peters about ergodicity and the "infamous" coin toss. I've been sharing these basic ideas in my math classes for the past few years, and I think it really introduces students to new and important ways of thinking.

#math #statistics #economics #probability #MathEd

futurebird, 9 months ago to random

Kids can detect what you really think of them. What is says about them that their school has a "discipline center" not a library. What that says about what the adults in their life expect from them. What the education system has to offer for them.

They see it all. Adapt to meet your expectations.

Build a discipline center have discipline problems. Dutifully the children will not want it to go to waste.

And they will remember "libraries aren't for kids like us." for the rest of their lives.

KeithDevlin, 10 months ago to random

https://mathvalues.squarespace.com/masterblog/chatgpt-for-mathematicians-a-tool-in-search-of-good-applications

lauren, 10 months ago to random

And starting yesterday, just as if a switch was thrown, my corner of L.A. suddenly changed from a very abnormally (possibly historically) cool May/June to over 100F, as the Hot season arrives late, but with a big stick. You'll be seeing me complaining about this for months.

KeithDevlin, 10 months ago to random

Basically, #SCOTUS has assumed the office of President, exerting the power to make any & all key decision as to how the nation operates. We're back where we were before the Revolution, controlled by an small unelected body: 4 rich white guys plus two token minorities, all corrupt

KeithDevlin, 11 months ago to random

For all us boomers and near boomers, watch this and weep https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWRCooFKk3c

Sheril, 11 months ago to science

As a scientist who studies #science policy & risk communication, as a science journalist who has been writing in popular outlets about #ClimateChange & #scicomm for 20 years, & as a former congressional staffer focused on #climate & #energy policy in the early 2000s… This article is frustrating.

“Scientific communication failures linked to faster-rising seas”

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4057045-catch-22-scientific-communication-failures-linked-to-faster-rising-seas/

rbreich, 11 months ago to random

Why has the GOP targeted transgender people? There’s not a shred of evidence that trans people are threats to anyone. All they want is to live peacefully as their true selves.

But targeting trans people is a way to stir up the base, stoking fear and hatred. It's that simple.

ColinTheMathmo, 11 months ago (edited 11 months ago) to random

Question from a recent TV quiz show:

Which of the following words belongs in this group: Tiny, Small, Little?

jeffmoore, 1 year ago to edutooters

How would #school be different in America if the #secondamendmemt read like this? “A well regulated Mind, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to access a free and empowering education, shall not be infringed.” #guns #schoolshootings @edutooter @edutooters #education #teaching

mastodonmigration, 1 year ago (edited 1 year ago) to random

Find and Follow Academics on Mastodon

OK, this is wonderful. Sociologist Mark Igra @markigra made this amazing tool for finding and following academics:

Find Academics on Mastodon >>> https://find-masto-folks.vercel.app/

This awesome resource takes data from the authoritative repository:

Academics on Mastodon >>> https://nathanlesage.github.io/academics-on-mastodon/ .

To be listed, use this link to find your discipline >>> https://nathanlesage.github.io/academics-on-mastodon/#curated-account-lists , and fill out the form or contact the list curator.

1/

#twittermigration #academics

ct_bergstrom, 1 year ago to random

One of the decisive moments in my understanding of #LLMs and their limitations was when, last autumn, @emilymbender walked me through her Thai Library thought experiment.

She's now written it up as a Medium post, and you can read it here. The value comes from really pondering the question she poses, so take the time to think about it. What would YOU do in the situation she outlines?

https://medium.com/@emilymenonbender/thought-experiment-in-the-national-library-of-thailand-f2bf761a8a83

lauren, 1 year ago to random

***** A Proposal for “Enhanced Recovery Services” for Locked Out #Google Accounts *****

https://lauren.vortex.com/2023/05/24/google-locked-out-accounts-enhanced-recovery

This post could get very long very quickly, so instead I'm going to endeavor to keep this introductory discussion brief, with an array of crucial details to come later.

In my recent posts:

An Example of a Very Sad Google Account Recovery Failure — and How It Affects Real People

https://lauren.vortex.com/2023/05/17/google-account-recovery-failure-sad

and:

Potentially Serious Issues with Google’s Announced Inactive Accounts Deletion Policy

https://lauren.vortex.com/2023/05/16/google-inactive-accounts-deletion

(and frankly, in many related postings over many years in this blog and other venues), I discussed the continuing problems of honest Google users being locked out of their Google accounts, often with a total and permanent loss of all their data (Gmail, photos, Drive files, etc.) that they entrusted to Google.

These lockouts can occur for an array of reasons -- problems with login credentials, third-party hacking of accounts including (but not limited to) malware, Google believing that violations of its Terms of Service have occurred, and many other events.

Each of these is an entire complex topic area that I won't detail in this post.

But the bottom line is that many Google users who feel that they have done nothing wrong find themselves locked out of their accounts -- and crucially -- their data at Google, and are unable to successfully navigate the existing largely automated account recovery procedures that Google currently provides.

Generally speaking, once a user who has been locked out of a Google account reaches this point, they are, to use the vernacular, SOL -- there's no way to proceed. Usually their data, no matter how important and precious to their lives, is lost to them forever.

To be sure, sometimes the failure to recover a Google account is rooted in the failure of users to provide or keep up to date the recovery information that Google requests for the very purpose of easing account recovery paths.

But the reality is that many users forget about keeping these current, or are reluctant to provide phone numbers and/or alternative email addresses (if they even have them) in the first place. That's just the way it is.

And ultimately, even at Google's enormous scale of users who use its services for free, there is something inherently wrong about honest users who lose so much of their lives -- that Google has encouraged them to entrust to Google -- when an unrecovered account lockout occurs.

Over and over again -- in a manner reminiscent of the film "Groundhog Day" -- desperate Google users who have been locked out have asked me if there was someone they could pay to help them? Isn't there some way, they ask, for Google to do a deeper dive into the circumstances of their lockouts, the users' official government IDs for proof, and other methods to authenticate them back into their Google accounts -- as can be done at virtually all financial institutions and most other firms.

Right now the answer is no.

But the answer should be and could be yes, if Google made the decision -- by no means a trivial one! -- to provide the means for such "enhanced recovery services" for Google Accounts, which in some cases (e.g., when a user is indeed at fault as the root cause of the lockout) could be chargeable (that is, paid) services as a means to help defray the additional costs involved.

This is a very complicated area with an array of trade-offs and nuances. It's likely to be highly controversial.

But as far as I'm concerned, the status quo of how Google account recoveries work (or fail) is no longer acceptable, especially in the current regulatory and political environment.

In future discussions, I will detail my thinking of how "enhanced recovery" for Google accounts could be accomplished in practice, and how it would benefit Google's users, Google itself, and the wider global community that depends upon Google.

Take care, all.

--Lauren--

KeithDevlin, 1 year ago to random

Today's #GOP is basically an unruly gang of ignorant yobos, intent on destroying civil society and installing a fascist dictator. We've seen this movie before; it doesn't end well https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/18/clarence-thomas-kennedy-lee-wolf/

macrumors, 1 year ago to random

Check Signed by Steve Jobs Sells for Over $100k at Auction https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/11/steve-jobs-check-100k-auction/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

KeithDevlin, 1 year ago to random

With today's #Republicans, there's no role left for #TheOnion

juddlegum, 1 year ago to random

Just a reminder that Trump is on tape saying that famous people can get away with sexual assault.

lauren, 1 year ago to random

Since postwar rationing was still in force there in 1953, UK residents were allotted an extra pound of sugar and four ounces of margarine in celebration of Elizabeth's coronation.

KeithDevlin, 1 year ago to random

The birdsite seems to be down; bigly down.

KeithDevlin, 1 year ago to random

One of my goals in using sites like this is to "spread the word" as widely as possible of the role, relevance, and utility of mathematics in modern (and older) society, and convey some of its beauty. I also believe it's important to society for mathematicians to be part of the national and global conversation. (Not all mathematicians agree with this.) I want to interact with others, not just about math. Malicious bots and trolls spoil that for everyone else. I report and block them immediately.