bluGill
bluGill avatar

bluGill

@bluGill@kbin.social

A programmer with an interest in transit, making music, and building things of all types.

I have dysgraphia which makes writing difficult for me. I hope you can figure out what I mean despite my issues.

ghalfacree, to random
@ghalfacree@mastodon.social avatar

Google, following the industry trend to AI-all-the-things, has released Magika - a machine learning model which can identify file types. It claims it can outperform traditional methods by 20 per cent.

I pitted it against BSD File on something I figured Google hadn't included in its million-file-strong corpus: CU Amiga's Mega CD-ROM coverdisc from November 1995.

Magika identified... one file correctly, a plain-text document. File? File got 'em all, and quicker too.

(An unfair test, I know!)

A screenshot of a terminal session in which BSD File, a tool for identifying file types without machine learning, is run against the root directory of a CU Amiga coverdisc. Every single file is correctly identified.

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

@lhp

@ghalfacree people have been using ai innappropriatly for decades. Expert systems once got abused the same way.

GottaLaff, to newhampshire
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

As Angry Staffer noted:

This is why many of us have been yelling about the dangers of unregulated AI for years.

Via Kyle Griffin:

The #NewHampshire attorney general's office says it's investigating what appears to be an "unlawful attempt" at voter suppression after NBC News reported on a robocall impersonating President #Biden telling recipients not to vote in the presidential primary.

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

AI is easier to do though. An impersonator may ethically refuse to do this. Even if you find one who will, he can only make a few phone calls so you are looking at $5/call to pull this off. And you probably cannot even find enough Biden impersonators to make enough calls to be noticeable.

AI scales in that you can just buy more computers, and they can do each call for pennies each. Thus it is cost effective to attempt to call a large enough group to make a difference.

_L1vY_, to random
@_L1vY_@mstdn.social avatar

I've been seeing discussions lately around the YouTube fascism algorithm [not directed at me] implying that if you get those suggestions it's because that's material you have sought out.
Not true.

It's been studied and repeatedly shown--like a vehicle w/poor alignment--suggestions will drift to the right pretty quickly.
To "never" get them, you must
a) be outside targeted demographics AND
b) not look at DIY, repair, survivalism, building, cooking, sewing, politics, animal husbandry, automotive

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

@_L1vY_ I don't let youtube track my watch history - they don't recommend anything to me. So far nobody has given me any downside to this.

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

kbin doesn't accept contributions. It is a one person project despit appearing to be community driven.

I don't know what is true but that is a concerning accusation.

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

One day is annoying, but bearable. much longer and I won't have a choice but switch. I like kbin, but the mbin team says some things that I find concerning about kbin - I wish the two could patch up their differences.

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Y'all I guess I should start getting my questions from Quora!

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

@RickiTarr things that can never happen. Doing such an act makes you not a christian.

randahl, to random
@randahl@mastodon.social avatar

"Dear Mr. Biden

We have been leveling cities, torturing, raping, killing, plundering and abducting children for so long, my army seriously needs a break, before all those western weapons arrive, and we lose the war.

Therefore, I think western countries should give us a breather, so I can replenish my troops and get back to full blown genocide in about 6-12 months.

From Russia with love ♥️

Vladimir Putin"

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

@nicholas_saunders

@randahl @eva_chaos

what is wrong with the 1994 peace deal we have https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum

arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

Ford rethinks EV strategy, is working on a smaller, cheaper EV platform

Ford now says mass-adoption needs EVs that cost the same as combustion cars.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/02/ford-rethinks-ev-strategy-is-working-on-a-smaller-cheaper-ev-platform/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

Get involved with your local bike lobby - nearly every city has one - and demand changes to your city. Likewise, get involved with the local transit lobby (this might not exist even though it should) and demand better transit. Long term cars are expensive and deadly, we already know better options but they need help to become useful.

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

If you allow Russia to take over that buffer zone then you won't have a buffer zone. So you better ensure it surives

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

kbin needs to do a lot here. I'm not sure what is the state of the art now, but kbin isn't following the basics.

Finnish plant to hike ammunition production fivefold due to Russia's war in Ukraine (kyivindependent.com)

The "increase in production at the factory in southwestern Finland’s city of Sastamala, which manufactures artillery shell casings, is related to the war in Ukraine, as artillery shells play a key role in Finland's aid to Ukraine.”

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

Every country needs to evaluate the potential for war and how they would fight it, then ensure that they have enough of everything they need. It has long be stated that every military school in the world will be doing significant units of study on this war as it is the closest to modern WWIII we get (most military action is more Iraq type things, but we also need to be ready for WWIII should that happen)

NATO mostly has not focused on Artillery, which this war is proving is questionable - but the real question isn't should NATO focus more an artillery, but why can't NATO supply plenty of air defense systems - this war proves air defense is going to be a major issue in all future wars. Countries should also ask why they don't have plenty of gen5 jets to give away - as in we turn up the assembly lines and give Ukraine 1000 of them per year (gen5 fighters are too new to expect to have many nearing end of life). Drones are a surprise in this war, and so I'll forgive NATO for not having a plan for them, but they are something NATO needs to account for fast.

Anibyl, to transit
@Anibyl@social.coop avatar

Yeah Montreal, let's train AI to detect suicide attempts rather than install platform screen doors.

“AI can correctly recognize one out of four people who will attempt suicide.”

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/artificial-intelligence-suicide-montreal-metro-1.7111793

#PublicTransport #transit #metro #AI

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

@Anibyl AI is probably useful for crime - 25% of pickpockets filmed with enough evidence to convict would be a big improvement. Detecting assault (rape) attempts (hopefully in time to get the police there, but at minimum with enough detail to convict) would help people (women in particular) feel safer when they must take transit at night. However the above is something I propose only because I don't know of any way to 100% stop the above crimes.

I design dangerous equipment (lawn mowers and the like). Our lawyers keep telling us in required yearly meetings, that if there is a danger you first design it out. If you cannot design the danger out only then are you allowed to put in guards. If despite the above two there is still danger only then are we allowed to put up warnings. I'm not sure where AI fits in there, but is seems clear that AI should not be used unless despite platforms screen doors there is still suicide - I can't imagine how that is possible, but if there is some scenario where platform screen doors cannot prevent suicide then AI is a good approach. However if you miss one suicide that platform screen doors would have prevented you are still liable in court for not preventing suicide.

Alon, to random
@Alon@mastodon.social avatar

Pedestrian Observations: Trains on the Moon https://pedestrianobservations.com/2024/03/20/trains-on-the-moon/ cc @nyrath

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

@nyrath

right, but why the moon. Mars is almost at good and easier for humans to like on

bluGill,
bluGill avatar

@benlk

@nyrath @Alon The moon is a hyperloop by default. Since moon dust is really nasty this make sense - you don't need to worry about leaks so the tube can be simpler and cheaper to design. No airlocks to get in/out. several thousand km/h speeds.

Of course the elephant in the room is this - no matter what the "this" is - will be expensive to build. I don't see the moon ever getting populated enough to be worth the costs to build anything other than off road vehicles. There just isn't enough to do there for more then a few scientific outposts. We will never teraform it to the point where a colony can be self sustaining. (Mars is the most likely planet to terrraform - and we are not sure. Maybe Venus could be done as well, but it is much harder)

grivettcarnac, to Ottawa
@grivettcarnac@mstdn.social avatar

deleted_by_author

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    bluGill,
    bluGill avatar

    @grivettcarnac Anyone who says they are hard to use needs to have their license revoked. If you cannot figure out how to use a roundabout then you are not qualified to drive at all. I expect the DOT to do some usability study before they bring out a new intersection/road type, but on the other hand there is a minimum qualification needed to drive and that needs to include figuring out how to use the roads. The DOT is also allowed to introduce something that can only be used with extensive training, if they give everyone one year warning to get that training before opening it.

    Fewer people in the US plan to buy EVs this year, study shows (www.reuters.com)

    The number of buyers in the U.S. considering an electric vehicle purchase in 2024 has fallen from a year ago due to a shortage of affordable cars, inadequate charging infrastructure and ignorance about EV benefits, a study by J.D. Power, opens new tab has shown....

    bluGill,
    bluGill avatar

    I've wanted one for many years - but so far there is still no EV minivan for sale, and that is what my family needs right now.

    grivettcarnac, to Canada
    @grivettcarnac@mstdn.social avatar

    deleted_by_author

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    bluGill,
    bluGill avatar

    @grivettcarnac Most people looking at a cheap new car look around and see the used market has 3 year old cars with a lot of nice luxury features for a similar price as the basic new car. Of course this is now failing as there are not enough used cars in the 15k range. I'll take a 15k 3 year old truck over a new one, but last I checked $15k trucks are about 15 years old. For cars $15k generally means an 8 year old car - a new car is really interesting now as at 8 years old the car will need work more than basic maintenance and it is likely some of those luxury features are not working and not worth fixing.

    enobacon, to random
    @enobacon@urbanists.social avatar

    Navigate a maze of to get your car out of the parking lot of a bar or any business that sells alcohol challenge.

    bluGill,
    bluGill avatar

    @enobacon If you serve alcohol you shouldn't be allowed to have a parking lot.

    freemo, to random
    @freemo@qoto.org avatar

    2020 the age of designer disorders...

    On the one hand I can say I do like the fact that mental disorders have more acceptance and less stigma, but my god did the pendulum swing too far. Now its a point of pride to the point that people just make up (or even get frivolously diagnosed) just to be cool or accepted. Autism and ADHD seem to be the designer disorders of the day and I am completely convinced the overwhelming majority of people who claim to have autism, or were even diagnosed, at least the high-functioning ones, dont.

    bluGill,
    bluGill avatar

    @freemo it is more they discovered autism treatments help some almost normal people too

    bluGill,
    bluGill avatar

    All humans act in what they think is there self-interest. Nothing to do with any political leaning.

    bluGill,
    bluGill avatar

    Yes you can. Banks do loans for this kind of thing all the time. They prefer experience though, and so if you don't have that you will need to prove you have enough on the line that you will lose if you don't complete the deal.

    Many condos are built by small companies. They build a few every month and it is enough to pay their employees and make a nice living. It is hard to break into this as the banks want to see experience, but it can be done.

    bluGill,
    bluGill avatar

    Bikes need a level of precision manufacturing that means cars and airplanes are just around the corner no matter what alternative history you come up with. If you sent a modern machinist back to 10BC they could maybe make a bike by hand (if they are lucky enough to get a rich sponsor - making a Gingery style lathe by hand is something a modern machinist would be able to figure out it takes a lot of time an materials that are were not cheap), but the cost would be such that the only people who could afford it already have slaves to carry them everywhere. There might be demand for a handful as a novelty for their young sons (sexist world, girls need not apply) but it will soon disappear as those slaves are cheaper than the bike. (it takes a lot of slaves to mine and refine the ore needed to make the bike)

    stevenbodzin, to transit
    @stevenbodzin@thepit.social avatar

    For many of us #bike advocates, the idea hasn't been that bikes in themselves are great for cities & suburbs. Rather, they are a way to wean car-dependent people and places off of cars and into a non-fossil-fuel, more sociable, more appropriate way to get around.

    The very innocence, peacefulness, joy and harmlessness of bikes was their selling point to potential riders, to public servants designing streets, and to the drivers who might scare us off the road.

    1/

    bluGill,
    bluGill avatar

    @shekinahcancook

    @stevenbodzin While the idea is sound, every attempt I've seen at doing that has missed important details. Those retail blocks need to be on the entrance of the subdivision - not stuck way back where it is impossible to get to them. Retail depends on plenty of traffic to the stores and single family neighborhoods alone are not enough to support them. Thus the cafe needs to be a place for the neighborhood to meet - but also get people who just want to try something different (the neighborhood will not always eat there). That means it needs to be easy to get to from outside the neighborhood to have any chance of success.

    Litzz11, to random
    @Litzz11@mastodon.world avatar

    I think I told y'all that my friend somehow got on the Trump campaign's email list and she's been getting upwards of 20 emails a day. She's sent me a few. They are hilarious.

    This came in today. I knew Trump loved this photo of himself, I'm sure he thinks it makes him look tough. To me he just looks fake.

    bluGill,
    bluGill avatar

    @Litzz11 what is confusing is yelling drill drill drill to a state with no oil and mostly wind power for electric . Not to mention borders when the nearest border is more than 500 miles, and that is to Canada. I don't see how anyone would think those are my issues.

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