Saw this a few weeks ago and wondered if the Fedi photographers might like this in grayscale.
Do you have cameras that only shoot in monochrome, have cameras with a monochrome setting, or use software afterward?
Also tons of D batteries and copper wire spools (some lacquered, some not).
This is from cleaning out the office today, but at home in general, we've a ton of teaching/electronics/triangle supplies who aren't being used, due to the world being as it is. More than 100 microcontrollers for example, only 5 of them an Arduino kind.
Not offering all of it, but if anyone can do good with a kit or something, please reach out. Meeting people from Fedi is nice.
Anyone around #CambridgeMA, #Boston, NYC, etc., who would make good use of calculators, protractors, or multimeters?
Currently:
39 of Casio fx-300ES,
13 of Casio fx-260solar,
50ish protractors, and
7 of the multimeters (supposedly true-RMS)
Any or all. I'll be around #MIT for a bit today and can meet elsewhere later, would just take more time.
#DuckDuckFedi Opinions on wood cutting boards?
I made one from oak. I thought it was nice, but a friend tells me its pores make bacteria thrive, and I'd need a food-safe wax or shellac coat.
Another friend tells me wood has some antibacterial properties, and oil is better than a wax coat as it penetrates the board.
Another said to use mineral oil, since others soon oxidize, yet another said they've used olive oil for years and the only quirk is it can make food taste different.
I started this project because scraping compelled me to take down web sites that I cherish and want to keep open for real users.
I called it "block some" because a temporary name became a permanent one, and it's organized by defense: "block some user agents"... "block some subnets"... I hope the progression is easy to follow.
It's not a project I can work on full time... 🐌 but it's in a good enough state to pass around now. Tarpits/"poisoning" is what I'll be looking into next.
I keep hearing friends on/off Fedi worry about aggressive AI/web scrapers or mention them hitting their servers.
I've been experimenting with different defenses for the last few months and want to share this setup, even if helps just one other person directly or indirectly. It has reduced the load on our servers usually by 80% by CPU as well as log entries.
I've been testing scraper blocking strategies on different servers -- a couple personal servers, a curriculum website, and an API dev server for teaching.
I will write some notes/tutorial of what I've learned soon... I'm too busy today, sorry
But a quick defense that works pretty well in our cases is to block parasites from @JulianOliver's Science is Poetry project, plus heavy rate limiting on #GAYINT's naughty list
Oh, I searched "app controlled spoon", expecting not to find anything, and now I think I need to cry
My go-to example is a "smart" mug that keeps the temperature of coffee.
It sounds neat if it worked, but it also sounds like the frivolous kind of idea someone might have from staying up late, drinking too much cold coffee, and trying to think of the next big idea for their company...
Apparently this brand in the image bricked their mugs after an app upgrade. 😬
Anyone have ridiculous #InternetOfShit examples you're really fond of?
Toasters, coffee machines, or microwaves that don't work without Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Vacuum, TV, or toothbrush botnets. Preferably something you have a picture of, from first hand experience.
I teach an #EmbeddedSystems class, and it's good to show examples of what *not* to do, in case they pursue the industry. (Boost for reach appreciated)
@elduvelle @brembs
I've found that clearing browser cache makes the Copilot setting remain off as it should... until 10 min of inactivity passes, then it goes back to re-enabling.
This frustration was enough to make me set up Thunderbird, and I set up a VPN so my emails are sent from the workplace, to reduce the chance of them getting caught in the quarantine.
AI really is incredible... When it's so intrusive & unhelpful that it forces me to solve interesting problems I don't have time for 🙃
Uh, what's worse is that I closed the tab a few minutes ago, and just opened it again, and it has already re-enabled the Copilot setting again. I tested this for my other inbox (different VM), and same thing. 😬
#Microslop has turned #Copilot back on in my settings for both of my work emails. No means no.
Is this game they play even legal? Google & Firefox have done this to me before, too. Like a "useless machine" gimmick.
If a company re-enables something I've had to opt out for, even if it takes me five minutes to switch it back off, then are they copying as much of my data as they can, for uses I explicitly do not consent to? A lot of data can be transferred or processed in five minutes.
Great... They were hanging around Central Square PD a couple weeks ago.
Stay safe, share awareness.
From @universalhub https://mastodon.online/@universalhub/116019450328227506
(I resonate with @OctaviaConAmore here, so quoting her post so I can pin it)
In just a few more months, I might be ready for Halloween
Today I saw four "NOT IN SERVICE" buses and one "OUT OF SERVICE" bus. I'm curious what the differences are and what each means?
It was obvious to me over someone's shoulder, but I know it's going to trick *a lot* of people before we collectively pay closer attention.
AI is being used—has for a long time been used—for worse, too, ex: https://mastodon.mit.edu/@almonds/114786825847698466
I could give more examples if asked. These videos are being tested on us, to see which ones go viral, which ones trick enough people, and so on.
2/3
Today, someone on the bus stopped scrolling through their #TikTok onto this #AI video of an MRI machine mishap. (Probably want to mute, the sound is distressing.) First time I'm seeing it.
I knew it was AI-generated, because of the sudden slow motion, like stock B roll tends to be, plus how *stereotyped* everything was: woman nurse, helpless, and a white guy doctor with a stethoscope comes to the rescue. 🤢
Put another way, it felt sterile in more ways than just the sterile setting.
1/3
It feels like a betrayal, but I can tell they're trying to protect their patients -- Fenway Health just needs some support from #Boston residents and our reps to protect against federal threats
It would mean a lot if allies can read about the situation and call Governor Healey's office (617-725-4005) and Attorney General Campbell's (617-727-2200) to make a difference