dpiponi

dpiponi, 1 day ago to random

I thought of a use for LLMs but I don't see myself having time to code it up for a few weeks. A touch typing tutor. It should be easy to take llama.cpp and adapt it to generate the next token based on which letters and words I need most practice with. So you get to practice with plausible sentences that still train you where you need it.

dpiponi, 2 days ago to random

Given a random number generator that generates points uniformly in the unit interval [0,1] can you generate uniformly distributed points in the unit circle using only algebraic functions? In a finite number of steps - so no rejection sampling, loops, recursion. No "almost always" finite either.

Just wondering about sitiations where it seems you can't avoid trig functions.

dpiponi, 2 days ago to random

Despite Wildberger being a bit off the usual conventional paths in mathematics, he's influenced me to the point where every time I write a line of code using an angle I ask myself if I could use an alternative "rational" representation.

https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/professor-norman-j-wildberger

dpiponi, 4 days ago to random

It's a curious coincidence that before the idea of the warp drive there was this definition of warp:

"move (a ship) along by hauling on a rope attached to a stationary object on shore."

Suggests an alternative sci-fi idea for the meaning of "warp drive".

dpiponi, 5 days ago to random

One of my favorite visual effects from pre-CG days was the shield effect in 1984's Dune. Lots of work with an optical printer. Underrated, I think, as I've never heard anyone talk about it.

https://youtu.be/6XFYV2h5gAo?si=eVz-fVrtMJ8wBME0&t=24

glennf, 5 days ago to random

Saw a clip of the Agatha series actors bragging that the show has very little CG. The magic was all…practical. Who cares? What is this obsession? CG is only an issue for the director and creative people on the movie and accountants, and if it distracts by looking unreal while watching a TV show or movie. An unhealthy focus that feels anti-VFX worker, when there’s so much VFX in media that nobody realizes. This series captures the issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ttG90raCNo&t=937s

dpiponi, 5 days ago to random

It's not like I had any chance of resisting when one of my favourite books is published in a fancy new hardback edition

dpiponi, 7 days ago to random

Looked up speed of snails on Google to see if my USPS package "moving through network" from San Francisco is literally going at a snail's pace. Looks like snails would have to be 3 times faster to beat my package.