futurebird

futurebird, 10 days ago to random

Someone said it's important say this publicly in the US: so I will. (And I think each of us should, online and to friends)

This November I will vote for Biden.

I would regard not voting for Biden, particularly in: PA, OH, MI, WI, IN, IL,VA, GA, FL, AZ, ME, NC, NH, etc. as a huge error. I'd be disappointed to find out anyone I knew didn't vote. It's one of a long list of things we need to do. We can't skip it.

And still? We deserve better choices, and in the future we shall have them.

futurebird, 20 days ago to random

“Fluent Python” is an excellent example of a “good programming language book” — it’s not cluttered with “enterprise examples” it’s focused on how python works and goes into detail on edge cases. This lets one write code with real confidence that you know everything it’s doing. It is also written with the aim to justify why python is the way that it is. Which I need or I get irritated.

If you like python you should probably have a pdf or buy a copy.

Now which book on Java is analogous?

futurebird, 2 days ago (edited 2 days ago) to random

The bald eagle could have easily gone extinct. But we did all sorts of "woke" things protecting it legally, ran conservation and study programs, banned DDT (that was good for other reasons too) and in 2007 they were removed from the endangered species list.

Likewise pine forests could be dead from acid rain.

The ozone could have a huge hole.

We CAN take care of nature when we want to. And the successes have been worth it.

I feel like we forget this, you know?

futurebird, 25 days ago to random

Trump has never said anything nasty about David Pecker, the National Enquirer publisher, and self-proclaimed practitioner of "checkbook journalism" (a pair of words that make my skin crawl)-- even as Pecker gives highly damaging testimony.

Pecker has not said anything mean about Trump. Just reported on his crimes. Is Trump just sensitive to those who tease & insult him?

Why is he silent? We know it ain't that gag order. (The only ones gagging are all the judges scared to jail him)

futurebird, 17 days ago to random

The overhead for the AI on a minecraft ant is so great that the mod creators limit the colonies to just 20 ants to prevent lag. Fine for gameplay 20 feels like a lot.

Interesting the kind of things they do: remember the location of their nest, find a path back, collect leaves etc. are so taxing.

In the real world a colony of 1000+ is typical. Some colonies have millions of ants. And real ants have much more to "process" Kind of gives you a sense of the scale of the intelligence of a colony.

futurebird, 25 days ago to random

More seriously, can someone steel-man the case for executive power being less effective if subject to future evaluations and constraints?

I don't think I've ever looked at any singular leader of any organization and thought "the problem is they can't do what they want easily enough"

When I was younger I might have said that the director of a film or play can do better work if they are an unquestioned dictator... but I've grown to even reject that idea.

futurebird, 28 days ago to random

If the supreme court jumps in and overturns the Jan. 6 convictions of 100s of people who attacked the capitol it will be one of the most politically charged actions taken by this court and in a politically charged environment.

There are many laws that might need revision, scrutiny, but they reached out through space and time to grab this hot potato.

It's a joke.

futurebird, 1 day ago to random

E-bikes are very cool and I'm glad they are getting popular.

However.

There is a big difference between a crash at 12mph and one at 20mph.

Your ebike can give you injuries normally only found in motorcycle accidents. And there isn't enough advice on what constitutes sufficient maintenance for ebikes.

If you don't get balding tires fixed on a regular bike you could fall off and bruise or break a leg.

At ebike speeds that same fall will shatter your leg in dozens of pieces.

BE CAREFUL

futurebird, 21 days ago to random

I think most people are writing the rabbit r1 by Teenage Engineering as "another AI no one asked for" that might be true... HOWEVER LAM "Large Action Model" sounds interesting. An assistant to be able to use apps, not use APIs... literally use the apps by clicking buttons & such. But, the reason it sounds interesting is that fleeting hope it might, at long last, help me to avoid the little UI bugs/failings that drive me nuts in many apps.

Which begs the question: why not just fix the UIs? 1/

futurebird, 6 days ago to random

If we have so much good AI tech why can't anyone make a spell check that I can't stump?

A few times a week I must go to the dictionary (like a cavewoman!) or search the web since I've mangled some word in such a way that there are no suggestions. It's just "wrong" what's wrong with it? Who knows!

Could it be a scientific name and just not in the dictionary? Maybe! Could it be an obscure word with a pretentious UK spelling? Probably! Could it be wrong? Also probably.

Do this first AI lords.

futurebird, 22 days ago to random

A single-board command-line computer using the esp32. Look at it! It's cute. Can't buy it yet the creator is starting some kind of online commune for single-board computer freaks. I bet some of you are around here, go say hi at his forum it only has like two posts and its making me sad.

https://a.singleboard.computer/

futurebird, 10 days ago to random

Currently sowing a tiny garden for my field ants. I've kept field ants before and they didn't really thrive. I'm hoping if I can arrange for them to tend a heard of aphids they will be happier.

They colony is about 15 strong, and the queen is lovely shiny and black. They are also very nervous and freak out at every new sound and vibration. Will a box of green plants calm them? We shall see!

futurebird, 27 days ago to random

I’m very fond of stories in a universe where some advanced, but long vanished, race of enigmatic aliens has left behind strange artifacts: like puzzle boxes or dungeons for our heroes to explore and nearly get killed in. If not aliens let it be a lost human civilization.

I also like to think about those ancient people who built the ‘Temple of Doom’— for all of those traps to work so well after thousands of years they must have been very clever. What was it like to set them up?

futurebird, 4 days ago (edited 4 days ago) to random

Trump has said FOUR times that he will withhold federal funding from schools that require vaccines. Not just COVID. ALL.

This is most schools. This is hitting me where I work. This will lead to children dead from measles. It's obvious, inevitable.

Someone on here said they just couldn't bear to vote for Biden to keep Trump from office since at least under Trump there were better masking rules.

I hope that person sees this.

Worse is worse.

edit: because I don't know measles from smallpox

futurebird, 3 days ago (edited 3 days ago) to random

I often brag on tumblr about how "on the fediverse I never have to ask people for image descriptions, why is tumblr so terrible at this?" etc.

But, I've made the mistake of re-sharing a few images without descriptions recently! I was lulled into thinking it was not a problem.

Just FYI I'm going to get strict again about not re-sharing undescribed images. (You should too, it keeps the feed readable.)

If you forget? If this is new? Don't feel bad, just stop doing that.

https://www.tumblr.com/aspirationatwork/750857131588304896

futurebird, 2 days ago to random

What is the best explanation you’ve heard for 1 not being a prime number? For me it’s “because it breaks everything in my programs since the loops won’t terminate” but that’s obtuse. “Because the God of math decrees it so!” is compelling, but shallow.

“it can only be divided by 1 distinct number” is contrived.

1 “feels” prime— it has the fewest factors. (Primeness being about NOT having factors) ruling it out for having too few? eh.

“it’s the zero of multiplication” is better… thoughts?

futurebird, 17 days ago to random

Simply putting colored paint on a few ants has let me discover that individual ants have certain spots they like best — Tulip likes to be on the highest point of this branch. If I don’t see her there I get worried. She’s a little camera (light) shy so documenting how often I see her in the same spot has been a challenge. She has preferred this spot for at least a whole month. Here are a few times I caught here there.

Tulip peers around the edge of the branch. She’s a good looking ant.
blurry tulip runs because so turned the light on.
Another shot that at least clearly shows it’s her since all you see is a blurry pink gaster.

futurebird, 10 days ago to random

I still say Trump won't pick a VP. From what I've seen he wouldn't need to pick one legally unless he is elected... I don't see anything about voters getting to know who it would be before the election... or am I misunderstanding these rules.

There is simply no benefit to picking a VP. Too many forces want Trump gone so having a named successor is dangerous for him.

When he dies the world ends as far as he cares, why would he plan for that?

futurebird, 10 days ago to random

You are trying to get out of a pit with your friends, the sides are slippery and there is a guy at the top who sometimes throws things at you and you know he's helping other people to make even more pits that are even deeper someplace else. There is a slim chance he could be replaced by another guy who will start filling all the pits in with a bulldozer. Do you keep the jerk or brave the dozer?

Hard choice. I guess?

futurebird, 12 days ago to random

Has anyone read any good math and science history nonfiction books recently? (pop nonfiction please) Are there any really good ones out?

futurebird, 11 days ago (edited 11 days ago) to random

Tulip, the ant says hi! #namedAnts

futurebird, 9 days ago to random

Friends. I don't get it.

I understand the idea of a loan: borrow money, pay it back over time plus a fee for the favor of having more money sooner.

I understand having a company and taking out a loan: borrow money to do something to help the company make more money and pay it off... but it's OK you made enough that it was a good idea.

But HOW can someone borrow money to BUY a company then say the cost of the loan should go on the companies books?

I don't get it. :(

futurebird, 24 days ago to random

When people talk about the days of mass media in the form of the evening news, Dan Rather, everyone "on the same page" with wistful longing... I get why. The current landscape is chaotic.

But, that period of more centralized media left a lot of people out. It made certain perspectives impossible to contemplate.

Like during the early days of the Gulf War: the antiwar movement was invisible.

futurebird, 10 days ago to random

You know the early humans who lived in Europe 25k years ago? The ones with stone tools who carved thicc portable woman statues?

How many do you think there were in all of Europe?

I'm shocked to learn the estimates are only 30,000 people! Hardly even a small town... and spread over so much space. Humans were rare animals. Our shift to numerous is more extreme than I think we realize.

It explains why technology changed so slowly. Not enough people!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTn5KdsxZ0E

futurebird, 4 days ago (edited 1 day ago) to random

Which best describes you?

("records" in this context are shellac, vinyl or resin etc. recorded sound discs played using needle)

If you have some records you can play and others you can't choose the third option.

If you have a player but it's broken choose the first option.

You "own" a player if one is in your home and you can use it when you want.

You "own" records if you are one of the people who must be asked if they were sold or thrown away.