Notices by Sean Bala (seanbala@mas.to)

Solarpunk Magazine announced that they suspect two stories from their last issue were a) written by the same person and b) were done using AI. Reflecting on that issue, I felt like there was something off about the two stories. They felt like they lacked some spark. The stories felt too similar. Like they were solarpunk pastiches with just the right mix of elements to make it recognizable.

Additionally, I tried looking up one of the authors and I found almost no footprint anywhere online. An author with zero social media or online presence?! Possible in this sort of community but highly unlikely to have NOTHING.

Great that they magazine took accountability for it and I hope to read more wonderful, human created stories about the future.

https://solarpunkmagazine.com/we-unknowingly-published-ai-slop-and-were-taking-accountability/

#Solarpunk #Clifi #Bookstodon #Fiction #SolarpunkMagazine #AI #Writing #SciFi #ScienceFiction #SSF

@Techaltar I saved this a while ago but forgot to comment on it. This is really awesome! I hope it was interesting and I look forward to seeing the video. Thanks for all your work in general - I enjoy Tech Altar a lot!

@jennylam I went outside just two blocks to pick up a charger I left at a coffee shop and and I was winded on my way back. It reminds me of the worst times in when I lived in New Delhi. You stay safe, too.

@skinnylatte I think that one pops up and is popular at the McDonald’s HQ in Chicago. We keep waiting for the McAloo Tikki to come back….

@skinnylatte At least he has a house in SF 😂😂😂

RE: https://mastodon.social/@Edent/116918118433320151

When I first got my @frameworkcomputer, it was the first laptop I had that used USB-C for charging. The fact that my Samsung tablet, my laptop, and my wireless headphone could charge on the same cord was mind-blowing. But I want to add one other point - what about perfectly good tech that uses other chargers? I have Kobo Clara HD (Micro-USB), a wireless speaker (micro USB), and an iPhone 13 (lightning port). I still have to carry those cords around when I travel. It is annoying, but I also don't see a point in throwing away a prefectly good device so I need less cords. While I am glad for USB-C becoming more universal and I will never purchase a proprietary charger if I can help it, I think there is going to be this awkward transition as we retire older devices. I want to be environmentally conscious with my choices - and sometimes sticking with an older device until it breaks is better than getting something brand new.

#Sustainability #Technology #ClimateChange #Travel

"Everything dope comes from Chicago" - great video about a great American city!

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0nxx34f/watch

#Chicago #Illinois #BBC #America #America250 #Midwest #USA

@NormanDunbar @vicgrinberg

When I saw galactic archeology, I wondered if the supervisor is River Song….

@agnes Not on pdx.social (but would be if I was in Portland!) - question for curiosity - do the Flipboard federated accounts take up a substantial amount of server space?

@matt I think there are two types of users - one who have a Flipboard account and use it actively and those on the Fediverse who follow federated accounts. I do the second one not really the first.

I am generally positive in part because I think they have been good Fedi-citizens. They are really active here and went all-in on implementing activity pub. They have their own instance for Mastodon and they are trying to do some innovative things with Surf.

@dansup Honestly Dan, I thought you wrote Project Morbius. Then I thought you really went off the deep end. Gladly I am mistaken.

Nice work on this!

@susankayequinn if you had posted that quote without attribution, one of my three guesses would have been Ezra Klein.

RE: https://mastodon.social/@sundogplanets/116893541666491703

WTF is it with tech bros and Tolkien names? Earendil was the half eleven, half human sailor who saves Middle-earth by flying the last of the Silmarils into the night sky, thus creating the morning and evening star.

“Appropriate” name for stupid vanity flashlight death ray. They really have no imagination.

But seriously, the company’s plan is bonkers. This is the test satellite but the plan is to launch 50,000 (!!!!!) of these into the night sky so they can shine concentrated light on the earth whenever they want.

#LOTR #Tolkien #Silmarillion #Books #Bookstodon #Tech #Astrodon #Space

RE: https://mastodon.scot/@patrickhadfield/116883744550655356

@CountBinface is the hero we all need right now in our fight against the Far-Right!

#ukpol #ukpolitics #clacton #ClactononSea #farage

@CommonSparrow I LOVE Watership Down. Makes me so happy. Last year I picked up the authorized graphic novel version and I liked it.

Lately I also have been wanting to revisit old books from when I was younger. Amazing how it feels to relive something from your past. As I read I find myself remember where I was when I first read something.

Where are you now in the LOTR?

@eco_amandine

Thank you 🤗

I have always had an ambition to post my favorite podcast episodes each week but just have not found the time.

Do you have any particular shows you like? Always up for new recommendations!

@evan @318133

Thanks Evan - that means a lot 🤗

Going to work on getting some data together from a couple of seasons and then I might try to do this in August.

@elfbiter Yes! I am amazed at how he just does one thing at a time and is completely present each time.

@skyfaller No swearing but mine really like the Trolololol song….

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=32UGD0fV45g

@skyfaller I am a parent of a 21 month old and would be happy to chat. I sometimes post about parent life here but we are often careful about what we post. Big hug - being a new parent can be really lonely and overwhelming, but know you are not alone.