From Pine View Farm

Geek Stuff category archive

It’s All about the Algorithm 0

Shorter Cameron Smith: Paul Simon was prescient.

Share

Performance Art 0

Uncle Sam holding a cell phone with the TikTok logo on the screen in a cemetary of

Via Job’s Anger.

Aside:

As far as I can tell, the only argument against TikTok is that it is owned by a company based in China and that China may somehow be benefiting therefrom. There seems to be no evidence beyond that suspicion that it is any more–or less–vile than any other internet corporate surveillance “social” media outfit.

I wonder what America’s reaction would be if China were to move to ban Facebook and Twitte–er–X and other platforms because they are based in the U. S.?

Share

Tech Wreck 0

He believed the hype.

A Tesla owner has been charged with vehicular homicide after his car–traveling in autopilot mode–slammed into a motorcyclist when he got distracted looking at his cellphone, according to Washington court records.

Much more at the link.

Share

The Disinformation Superhighway 0

At Psychology Today Blogs, Stacey Woods offers some tips to avoid being taken in by scams on “social” media.

It’s required reading, because, as has been so often demonstrated, “social” media isn’t.

Share

Devolution 0

Lemont:  Let me get this straight:  Someone cheated in her job interview at your advertising firm by having an AI answer your questions.  Susan: Correct.  Lemont:  And you hired her anyway?  Susan:  She did it shamelessly.  It showed she really had her finger on the pulse of modern America.  Lemont:  That's . . . I'm not sure how to argue with you.  Susan:  Ask and Ai to help you with that.

Click to view the original image.

Share

The Search for the Scream 0

Yesterday, I climbed my stairs and heard a high-pitched screaming sound that came from I knew not where, but it seemed to be coming from my room.

I entered my room, but could not locate its source. It seemed to come from everywhere.

I went to the breaker box and opened the breaker for my room and the sound went away, proving it came from my room.

I closed the breaker and the sound came back, still seeming to come from everywhere.

Read more »

Share

Twits Own Twitter X Offenders 0

Above the Law reports that Elon Musk seems ill-deposed.

Share

Quality Construction at a Price that Frights 0

Emma and the crew discuss some issues encountered by persons who have purchased Tesla Cybertrucks and later discovered that they were well and truly trucked.

Also, too . . . .

Aside:

I happen to know someone who owns a Tesla.

I asked him about Tesla’s “autopilot.” He told me it was like an enhanced cruise control that could, for example, sense when cars ahead were slowing down and react accordingly.

I asked him if he ever read a book while he was on “autopilot.”

He said, “No.”

No doubt because he’s sane.

Share

Twits Own Twitter X Offenders 0

Elon Must styles himself as a “free speech absolutist” (unless, of course, someone tweets–or is it now Xcretes?–something with which he disagrees).

Au contraire, says the editorial staff of the Las Vegas Sun, which argues forcefully that Musk does not even understand what “freedom of speech” means.

Share

Geeking Out 0

One of my computers died after long and faithful service, so I’ve been having fun tweaking my new one, which I ordered with the Debian Linux OS and the Plasma desktop environment. In a few more days, I’ll have it set up to my satisfaction. In the meantime, I’ve others to use, as the Going Linux guys say, to get stuff done.

I must say, I was somewhat taken aback. I ordered it Sunday night and it arrived, configured to my specifications, on Wednesday, much earlier than I expected.

Read more »

Share

Facebook Frolics 0

All the news you can lose.

Share

It’s Okay If I Do It 0

Copyrights and copywrongs.

Share

Geek Stuff 0

Mageia v. 9 with the Fluxbox window manager. The wallpaper is from my collection.

Screenshot

Share

The Crypto Con 0

Yes, indeedy-do, it seems that there’s an app for that.

Share

The Disinformation Superhighway 0

Shining sun labeled

Click for the original image.

Share

Driven to Destruction 0

Couple in car headed down the highway to Hell as Satan looks on.  Driver says,

Click for the original image.

The other day, I had a very scary experience.

I was behind a Tesla with a little bumper sticker that said, “I’m probably on autopilot.”

I’m just glad I wasn’t in front of it.

Share

Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0

AI CTO goes all “I don’t know” when asked what data was used to “train” her company’s software. Emma and the crew discuss the potential licensing and copyright issues. (Warning: Mild language.)

Share

It’s All about the Algorithm 0

At Psychology Today Blogs, Christine Louise Hohlbaum discusses David Donnelly’s documentary, The Cost of Convenience, which explores the extent to which corporate digital surveillance has been woven into our society and economy. Here’s an excerpt:

The truth is that every move we make is being recorded, online and off. Through our excessive smartphone usage, so-called digital versions of ourselves are being tracked. Algorithms learn our preferences and keep feeding us more of the same in an endless feedback loop. It has created a deep rift in society, polarizing us to the point of paralysis. In essence, this film is an exploration of how far down the rabbit hole we are. It is about maximizing profits, not optimizing people’s lives.

She ends the article with some suggestions as to how to fight back.

Me, I’m going to keep an eye out for the film.

Share

Twits Own Twitter X Offenders 0

San Francisco judge dismisses Elon Musk’s empty suit.

Some of the judge’s comments, as quoted in the news story, delight the soul.

Share

Much Ado about Not Much of Anything:
What Drives Drivel on the Disinformation Superhighway
0

I found the recent recent who-shot-john about Princess Kate to be–er, what’s the word I’m looking for?–stupid. Here’s a person who’s in the public eye only because of whom she’s married to, and who she’s married to is in the public eye only because he’s descended from folks who use to rich, influential, and powerful, persons who are now rich and not very influential (and, to the extent they are influential, they choose not to exercise influence, for fear the hollowness thereof will be exposed). Yet, persons spent a week or more speculating, questioning, and conspiracy theorizing on “social” media because she had not been seen in public for a couple of months.

At Psychology Today Blogs, Susan Albers takes a look at the the dynamics that powered this spectacular waste of time and energy, concluding that

Tuckman’s theory of group dynamics may help us understand the social media discussion about Princess Kate.

Methinks her article is worth a read, as it sheds some light on how and why falsehood, irrelevance, and just plain stupid jams up the disinformation superhighway.

Share
From Pine View Farm
Privacy Policy

This website does not track you.

It contains no private information. It does not drop persistent cookies, does not collect data other than incoming ip addresses and page views (the internet is a public place), and certainly does not collect and sell your information to others.

Some sites that I link to may try to track you, but that's between you and them, not you and me.

I do collect statistics, but I use a simple stand-alone Wordpress plugin, not third-party services such as Google Analitics over which I have no control.

Finally, this is website is a hobby. It's a hobby in which I am deeply invested, about which I care deeply, and which has enabled me to learn a lot about computers and computing, but it is still ultimately an avocation, not a vocation; it is certainly not a money-making enterprise (unless you click the "Donate" button--go ahead, you can be the first!).

I appreciate your visiting this site, and I desire not to violate your trust.