Nick @internic@social.cleverlibre.org
- Pronouns
- he/him/his
Theoretical physicist by training (PhD in quantum open systems/quantum information), University lecturer for a bit, and currently paying the bills as an engineer working in optical communication (implementation) and quantum communication (concepts), though still pursuing a little science on the side. I'm interested in physics and math, of course, but I enjoy learning about really any area of science, philosophy, and many other academic areas as well. My biggest other interest is hiking and generally being out in nature.
Joined Nov 2022
Nick
boosted
🏳️🌈🖖🏽
You know, Nixon called Watergate a witch-hunt, too.
Nick
boosted
In-N-Out finally released a statement about their discriminatory mask ban policy. They are doubling down on valuing "smiling" over the health and safety of their employees and their families. Shame.
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/in-n-out-finally-comments-on-anti-mask-policy-18252998.php
Nick
boosted
Several of the subreddits I have found vital over the years have capitulated to the corporate demands, which is regrettable. I was hoping they'd move to sites they controlled, but they understandably -- if unfortunately -- gave up the protest.
I'll miss them, but I'm actively seeking alternatives.
Nick
boosted
~one billion
~1,000,000,000
That's how many parking spaces there are in the USA. For every car? About 4 empty spaces... just sitting there, not absorbing the rain, making flooding worse, making cities hotter as they bake in the summer sun.
Our built environment and laws bend over backwards to make driving the only viable transportation option in nearly every imaginable context.
You need to pay for healthcare, but almost never parking.
(Pointing this out makes libertarian heads explode.)
@willaful @kristenhg @mikolaj Yeah, this seems like the most efficient way to make me stop using How Stuff Works. We know that LLMs are unreliable for this sort of thing.
Nick
boosted
Found a vulnerability in a large US health care companies menstrual tracking application (10million+ users) exposing a huge amount of private data, including the likes of reproductive health data, pregnancy information, personal children’s photos etc. The exposure is still live and the vulnerability is still exploitable.
I'm trying to responsibly disclose this to them, yet after a week still they haven't replied. I guess I am also having to think about how long should I wait before discussing the issue publicly.
Going to be blogging about my journey in a project I am calling RE:privacy on my website.
Nick
boosted
It is 22/7 ≈ π approximation day! Reminder it is also the last day for MEGA Grant applications. It’s a simple process; if you have a ridiculous public maths project please do get it in the mix. https://talkingmathsinpublic.uk/mega-grant/
Nick
boosted
One of the special things about this platform is #alttext ... I'm the first to put my hand up 👋 and say, I'll probably forget.
My strike rate is good.
It's not hard to do, folks. Some accounts just don't bother and yet I've learned how vital it is for many users.
Let's make #socialbetter #socialmedia #disability
Nick
boosted
Nick
boosted
Nick
boosted
A #FactCheck of the controversial US country music video by Jason Aldean who contended it contains only "real news footage” reveals that’s not true and many of the authentic clips show protests in other countries. https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2023/07/fact-check-some-video-clips-in-jason-aldeans-try-that-in-a-small-town-video-are-not-news-footage.html
Nick
boosted
@dalias @BeamsAndBows @gsderp Apple already shipped an equivalent with https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2022/10077/
Marketed as a way to get rid of CAPTCHAs but basically the same thing with some details being different
Nick
boosted
This is a credible proposal for DRM for websites in general. It would enable unbeatable adblock-blocking. It would prevent user customization for not just convenience but also accessibility.
I do not say this lightly: Enabling the forfeiture of control over the browsing experience is a fundamentally evil idea that must be rejected now, as it has been in the past, and we must remain vigilant against its reemergence in the future.
https://github.com/RupertBenWiser/Web-Environment-Integrity/blob/main/explainer.md
Nick
boosted
It is hard to believe that "Tony Bennett helped liberate a concentration camp in World War Two" is a real true statement, but it is:
@gvwilson @DrVeronikaCH @grimalkina I saw this thread and now I'm curious to know if you did end up posting on the CS arXiv.
@grimalkina Oh good, I'm not the only one who thinks it's weird (and comparatively vague, I feel).
“Extreme space weather isn’t sexy”
@carlysagan I know that when I was interested in studying quantum gravity my advisor warned me off it, basically because he knew it was a difficult area with paltry funding. I ended up doing my dissertation in quantum open systems/quantum information (which was and remains well funded). He didn't really make it an edict, but it was at least a very strong suggestion. I do think it's important for advisors to point out the practical implications of these choices, but once a student had their eyes open then I think the advisor should work to help them follow the path they wish (even if it's with a different advisor). There are, unfortunately, those who view their grad students as little more than cheap labor and will strong arm them into studying whatever will bring the most grant money into the group. In my own experience, though, those were by far the minority.
“Extreme space weather isn’t sexy”
@carlysagan For public funding I think it's a mix. Funding agencies do have some core areas of interest that they're always going to fund because they're useful, but there are also academic trends or fads that do seem to influence funding significantly (I'm speaking less from personal experience and more from what I've heard from other academics). Some people structure their careers around chasing whatever is trendy (which I think is a more descriptive term than "sexy") others don't pay much attention to the trends. The former is probably the easier path but may be less likely to result in significant, lasting contributions to the field.
Nick
boosted
Thank god for @mmasnick because I really really really didn't want to have to write an article about why #copyright is a shitty way to address the harms of #AI to creative workers and now he's done it and I can just point people to his article for the next two annoying years. https://www.techdirt.com/2023/07/19/stop-rushing-to-copyright-as-a-tool-to-solve-the-problems-of-ai/
- Pronouns
- he/him/his
Theoretical physicist by training (PhD in quantum open systems/quantum information), University lecturer for a bit, and currently paying the bills as an engineer working in optical communication (implementation) and quantum communication (concepts), though still pursuing a little science on the side. I'm interested in physics and math, of course, but I enjoy learning about really any area of science, philosophy, and many other academic areas as well. My biggest other interest is hiking and generally being out in nature.
Joined Nov 2022
