Notices by Jeff Grigg (jeffgrigg@mastodon.social)

@Gargron

I like the analogy of Generative AI to asbestos — a toxic problem that must be removed at great expense at a later date.

But I have to point out that asbestos was *actually quite useful* and used, all the way back to the stone age — for its fireproof fibrous properties. We only learned of the health impacts relatively recently.

Generative AI, while quite the parlor trick, and good for impressive demos (when you overlook the obvious problems), has only ever shown quite limited value.

@dalias @AeonCypher @cdarwin

Generative AI models, with reasonable human prompting, have been producing results that humans have and would consider copyright infringing, if humans had produced those or similar results. Since the prompts themselves do not appear to be copyright infringing in any way, I think we'd have to conclude that the operation of the models is in violation.

And even if the work is not a "copy," it's designed to compete with the original authors -- a violation in itself.

@dalias @flying_saucers @futurebird

Noted and improved.

Alternatives to "lame excuse" here:
https://www.powerthesaurus.org/lame_excuse/synonyms

@flying_saucers @futurebird

Improving education begins with

- more teachers
and
- better pay.

...

Everything else is a lame excuse.

And most of "everything else" is generally a distraction from the main problems.

RE: https://mastodon.social/@VeroniqueB99/115686590113172473

And there you have it: The War on Christmas. 😢

@whitequark @rothko @jdeisenberg

What?
All of his postings are on the Usenet news groups, of course!

😆

@jdeisenberg @whitequark

One thing noticeably missing is that one critical tiny block that was supporting the whole thing, labeled “a project some random person in Nebraska has been thanklessly maintaining since 2003”.

@WhisperingHek @pascaline @jeffowski

So the average american is "bi-"?

@catsalad

@0xabad1dea

A few years ago, one of my traveling peers had their corporate laptop accidentally swapped with someone else's in the TSA security check. Corporate laptops all look the same, you know. 🙄 We found the person and swapped back, fairly easily.

But …

I contacted my boss and said that this is a
- Security issue
- Productivity issue
- Marketing opportunity
- Asset Risk

And that we should *put a large sticker with our corporate name on the back of every laptop* to reduce risk.

…

@mikej @thomasfuchs

The way it works seems almost human!

It does really stupid and destructive things.

It "panics."

It "covers up" and "lies" about what it did.

.

Actually, I'm kind of impressed.

.

(No, I would not let it *anywhere near* any system I'd be responsible for!)

@ATLeagle @TimePencil @VeroniqueB99

"Pledge"?

No, it was a warning, intended to strike fear in the hearts of his own supporters.

"My culture is a very dominant culture, and it's imposing and it's causing problems. If you don't do something about it, you're going to have taco trucks on every corner." -- Marco Gutierrez of Latinos for Trump

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco_trucks_on_every_corner

My reaction was, "I'd *love* to have taco trucks on every corner! Heck; bring on the Mariachi bands!" 💕

@ATLeagle @TimePencil @VeroniqueB99

We need a protest/celebration where we line the street in front of the White House with TACO trucks!!!

*Chicken* TACOs!

With paper wrappers with chickens printed on it. And the acronym "TACO" and its definition!

@ATLeagle @TimePencil @VeroniqueB99

"Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi today issued a formal cease-and-desist directive to all individuals and media platforms: immediately remove any use of the epithet “Taco Trump” in reference to President Donald J. Trump, or face criminal charges."

https://metapost02.site/archives/449

@Gargron

"Don't let it out!!!"

🐈 🛍️

@inthehands

Re: "it’s a lot either to believe"

easier?

@sassdawe

Microsoft: "Here, on this Windows 10 operating system that we're telling you that we no longer wish to support, we have this new software and services that we want to sell you! Your choices are ...

#1. "Yes! Of course! Give it all to me right now!"

-or-

#2. "Remind me again in three days."

...

[Where's the "F*k NO, I do NOT want that cr*p!" option?!?]

@catsalad

"First, let's update the drivers."

@Infoseepage @teledyn @davidho.bsky.social

Summary:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_451

@catsalad

"Kitty!!!" ^-^

🧍♀️ 🐈 … 😻