The unimportant news thread

Started by Lethevich, March 05, 2008, 07:14:50 AM

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LKB

Mit Flügeln, die ich mir errungen...

NumberSix

Quote from: LKB on September 22, 2024, 08:11:28 AMApparently, inspiration is where it finds you.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwylx3ndyw3o

That story makes me smile! The last bit about the curious and friendly penguins reminds me of the film MY PENGUIN FRIEND.

NumberSix

Quote from: Todd on September 22, 2024, 07:35:52 AMFrom CNN: Three Mile Island is reopening and selling its power to Microsoft

The timing of Gates' new PR TV series on Netflix was not in any way influenced by this development.

I am of two minds about this because (1) I am for the idea of our getting back into nuclear power, but (2) The idea of essentially privatizing the plant makes me uncomfortable. Should something happen, it won't be Microsoft who suffers the consequences.

Todd

Quote from: NumberSix on September 22, 2024, 08:20:15 AMI am of two minds about this because (1) I am for the idea of our getting back into nuclear power, but (2) The idea of essentially privatizing the plant makes me uncomfortable. Should something happen, it won't be Microsoft who suffers the consequences.

To be fair, the US still, by far, generates more electricity from nuclear power than any other country, and that only counts civilian power generation.  I am unabashedly pro-nuclear power, and I am unconcerned with a purely privatized nuclear sector because it will always be heavily regulated for multiple reasons, including national security.  I am, however, dissatisfied with the sloppy propaganda being used by Mr Gates and his PR people.  He needs to do better.
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

Todd

Obviously, I've not been a good enough consumer as of late, because I just noticed that Amazon's AI assistant is named, um, Rufus. 

I hope the meetings leading up to the name selection get made public at some point. 
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

NumberSix

Quote from: Todd on September 23, 2024, 07:34:53 AMObviously, I've not been a good enough consumer as of late, because I just noticed that Amazon's AI assistant is named, um, Rufus. 

I hope the meetings leading up to the name selection get made public at some point. 

First I have heard of it. Presumably it's reference to George Carlin's character in Bill & Ted. I like the name in this context.

Todd

Quote from: NumberSix on September 23, 2024, 08:11:15 AMFirst I have heard of it. Presumably it's reference to George Carlin's character in Bill & Ted. I like the name in this context.

Not wanting to be too critical of a corporate giant, since that would be rude, I decided to give a test drive.  So I asked it to show me all available sets of Beethoven's complete piano sonatas that Amazon sells.  The results:

1. Andras Schiff, ECM [OK]

2. Daniel Barenboim, DG [OK]

3. Rudolf Serkin: The Complete Beethoven Sonatas (sony Classical) Commentary included: This historic cycle from the 1950s-1970s features Serkin's authoritative and passionate performances [FAIL]

4. Wilhelm Kempff, DG [OK]

And those are the only items listed.  [EPIC FAIL] 

OK, OK, perhaps expecting Amazon's in-house AI to be able to retrieve esoteric classical music recordings from Amazon's databases is too much.  So then I got the idea to search for a product I purchased a few weeks ago, the Danco 10983 Sinktacular.  (It's a sink stopper.)  Twice.  The result from Rufus both times: Something went wrong. Please try again later. 

Hmmm.  Proper UAT iz hrad, so I kinda get it.

Of course, Gemini has returned blatantly wrong data on multiple basic searches I have performed on Google, including basic geography. 

In short, HBO needs to reboot Silicon Valley.

The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

NumberSix


NumberSix

I asked it, "What are the best blues albums since 2020?"

It gave a little blurb and then suggested recent albums by Samantha Fish, Larkin Poe, Kingfish, Eric Gales, and Buddy Guy. Not bad.

I do like that it then follows up the results with some suggested other questions that go beyond, "Recommend me product X".

Of course, ultimately this product is yet another way to gather user data and to target recommendations to individual accounts - since I am pretty much always logged into my amazon account when I search for something.

Todd

Quote from: NumberSix on September 23, 2024, 10:29:45 AMOf course, ultimately this product is yet another way to gather user data and to target recommendations to individual accounts

Sure, which makes its inability to instantly return a product I bought a few weeks ago an even bigger failure.  I purposely gave it a slam dunk and it failed.  This wasn't surprising because the only successful recommendations I have ever received from Amazon were products I'd already purchased. 
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

JBS

Quote from: Todd on September 23, 2024, 08:37:09 AMNot wanting to be too critical of a corporate giant, since that would be rude, I decided to give a test drive.  So I asked it to show me all available sets of Beethoven's complete piano sonatas that Amazon sells.  The results:

1. Andras Schiff, ECM [OK]

2. Daniel Barenboim, DG [OK]

3. Rudolf Serkin: The Complete Beethoven Sonatas (sony Classical) Commentary included: This historic cycle from the 1950s-1970s features Serkin's authoritative and passionate performances [FAIL]

4. Wilhelm Kempff, DG [OK]

And those are the only items listed.  [EPIC FAIL] 

OK, OK, perhaps expecting Amazon's in-house AI to be able to retrieve esoteric classical music recordings from Amazon's databases is too much.  So then I got the idea to search for a product I purchased a few weeks ago, the Danco 10983 Sinktacular.  (It's a sink stopper.)  Twice.  The result from Rufus both times: Something went wrong. Please try again later. 

Hmmm.  Proper UAT iz hrad, so I kinda get it.

Of course, Gemini has returned blatantly wrong data on multiple basic searches I have performed on Google, including basic geography. 

In short, HBO needs to reboot Silicon Valley.



But is that Beethoven list really a fail?
Rufus wasn't made for GMGers looking for their 20th set of the Sonatas. It was made for average customers who have perhaps one recording of the Moonlight Sonata. Presumably they would notice from the cover image of the Serkin set that there are a number of sonatas missing, and if they don't, at least they have the Concertos (and IIRC the Diabellis) to go with it.  Schiff, Barenboim, and Kempff certainly would not be bad as a starter pack (so to speak). Epic fail it's not.

Hollywood Beach Broadwalk

Brian

Quote from: JBS on September 23, 2024, 05:37:04 PMBut is that Beethoven list really a fail?
Rufus wasn't made for GMGers looking for their 20th set of the Sonatas. It was made for average customers who have perhaps one recording of the Moonlight Sonata. Presumably they would notice from the cover image of the Serkin set that there are a number of sonatas missing, and if they don't, at least they have the Concertos (and IIRC the Diabellis) to go with it.  Schiff, Barenboim, and Kempff certainly would not be bad as a starter pack (so to speak). Epic fail it's not.

Well, he did ask it to show "all"...

Todd

Quote from: JBS on September 23, 2024, 05:37:04 PMBut is that Beethoven list really a fail?

Yes.  An epic fail.  As mentioned.


Quote from: JBS on September 23, 2024, 05:37:04 PMRufus wasn't made for GMGers looking for their 20th set of the Sonatas.

How do you know what Rufus was designed to do?  Are you part of the Rufus project?  If not, you literally do not know and are making things up.  That's the GMG standard.

Also, you have purposely ignored the fact that it failed to return a sink stopper that I had ordered only a few weeks and that immediately returns if I post it in the regular Amazon search bar.  And you ignored the fact that Gemini routinely serves up inaccurate data.  You evidently missed the larger point.


Quote from: JBS on September 23, 2024, 05:37:04 PMEpic fail it's not.

Some GMGers are so far gone that they reflexively defend multinational corporations with $2 trillion market caps. 
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

Dry Brett Kavanaugh


SimonNZ

Quote from: Todd on September 24, 2024, 04:23:54 AMSome GMGers are so far gone that they reflexively defend multinational corporations with $2 trillion market caps.


You're describing your own unwavering and uncritical cult-like devotion to Elon Musk, there.

Pot: kettle.

Todd

Quote from: SimonNZ on September 24, 2024, 04:07:32 PMYou're describing your own unwavering and uncritical cult-like devotion to Elon Musk, there.

Incorrect.
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

71 dB

Quote from: Todd on September 23, 2024, 07:34:53 AMObviously, I've not been a good enough consumer as of late, because I just noticed that Amazon's AI assistant is named, um, Rufus. 

I hope the meetings leading up to the name selection get made public at some point. 

Amazon's AI assistant? I have never noticed anything like that.  ???
Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening.
Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural
and less tiresome in headphone listening.

My Sound Cloud page <-- NEW Jan. 2024 "Harpeggiator"

Todd

Quote from: 71 dB on September 25, 2024, 04:53:17 AMAmazon's AI assistant? I have never noticed anything like that.  ???

Rufus.JPG

It's garbage AI currently in Beta.  I do not know how Amazon selected the lucky people who get to try it out.  Perhaps US Prime customers get the first crack at it. 
The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

71 dB

Quote from: Todd on September 25, 2024, 04:59:45 AMRufus.JPG

It's garbage AI currently in Beta.  I do not know how Amazon selected the lucky people who get to try it out.  Perhaps US Prime customers get the first crack at it. 

Ah okay, it isn't out fully yet..
Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening.
Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural
and less tiresome in headphone listening.

My Sound Cloud page <-- NEW Jan. 2024 "Harpeggiator"

ritter

Quote from: Todd on September 25, 2024, 04:59:45 AMI do not know how Amazon selected the lucky people who get to try it out.  Perhaps US Prime customers get the first crack at it.
We prime customers in Spain seem to have been spared that ordeal...  :)