Ted Herman @tedherman@social.cleverlibre.org

classic holiday tree ornament

When Mike Godwin formulated his law in 1990, could he have imagined social networks and politics of today? [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law]

I tuned in to a classical music show and heard the announcer say of a piece of music "conducted by me".

No comment is good comment. https://lite.cnn.com/2023/12/22/business/respected-chinese-economists-disappear-from-social-media-intl-hnk/index.html

recall that comment about many study conclusions -- "in mice" https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03954-y

“Buy nice or buy twice"

Textbook material for a data visualization course.

I could not remember the name of a music group, but could remember something about one song and some other facts about the group. I prompted Bard several times, but all the answers were incorrect. Then I tried a simple web search and got the name immediately. Returning to Bard, I dropped hint after hint to no avail. Finally I put the name in the prompt and Bard said something like "Oh yes! I knew that!".

You can also use it as an anchor. ⚓ https://electrek.co/2023/12/18/tesla-package-turns-cybertruck-into-boat/

What gift to give that aging punk friend?

An addition to my list annual charitable contributions: the local Bike Library. It's a great idea and wonderful resource! I wish every city had similar.

"LLM's are the Donald Trump of AI. They have sucked all the air out of the room and you shouldn't believe a single word that comes out of them. They too shall pass, but who knows how much damage they will do to scientific society along the way." -- Rodney Brooks

NPR headline:

Making oil is more profitable than saving the planet.

bad COP bad COP whatcha gonna do?

Political campaigns go way back to the Roman Empire (this via NYT story about Pompeii):

In another room — which contained the lararium, or household shrine — excavation earlier this year uncovered a series of political inscriptions, the ancient equivalent of today’s electoral manifestoes and posters. The inscriptions invite people to vote for Aulus Rustius Verus, a candidate for the position of aedile, an elected official during the Roman Republic.

Some things are better in German. Eg this holiday rendition: Schlittenfahrt by Lisa Wahlandt et al.

My assumption has been that ChatGPT does not possess AGI. But after reading this:

_ChatGPT being investigated over reports of 'laziness'_

Now I wonder.

It's important to remember that these are just tendencies, and not all Geminis will display all of these negative traits. Individual personalities are shaped by a complex interplay of factors beyond just astrological signs. However, understanding these potential challenges can help you better navigate relationships with Geminis and appreciate their unique strengths and weaknesses.

Struggle with Deep Emotions and Commitment: Although highly intelligent and articulate, Geminis can struggle to express and process deep emotions. This can make them appear emotionally distant and unwilling to commit to long-term relationships.

Critical and Judgmental: Their analytical mind can turn critical, leading them to judge others harshly based on their own standards. This can make them seem insensitive and dismissive of others' feelings.