@wcbdata@vis.social avatar

wcbdata

@wcbdata@vis.social

Data, privacy, ethics, old houses, and food
And some other things
RN
Entropy repairman
Fendersmith

Nothing I post or do is licensed to Facebook/Meta or its assigns in any way for any purpose, including caching or storage.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. For a complete list of posts, browse on the original instance.

albnelson , to bookstodon group
@albnelson@lor.sh avatar

Besides Shakespeare, were you assigned more than one book by the same author in school? K-12, not college. @bookstodon

wcbdata ,
@wcbdata@vis.social avatar

@albnelson @bookstodon Yes,

  • Carson McCullers (yuck)
  • Caro Sandburg (local hero)
  • Kurt Vonnegut (life-changing)
wcbdata ,
@wcbdata@vis.social avatar

@albnelson @BaconSmith @bookstodon This is precisely the lesson we were supposed to take from studying mythology. That, and something about dating horses.

GottaLaff , to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

#WompWomp

Yet another #recall

“#Tesla is recalling its futuristic new Cybertruck pickup for the fourth time in the U.S. to fix problems with trim pieces that can come loose and front windshield wipers that can fail.

The new recalls, announced in documents posted Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each affect more than 11,000 trucks.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/teslas-cybertruck-recalled-fourth-time-parts-issues-rcna158764

wcbdata ,
@wcbdata@vis.social avatar

@GottaLaff I cannot imagine how that janky-ass, two-generic-wipers-glued-together-yeah-it-still-has-two-separate-blades hack of a wiper assembly could possibly fail!

ZLabe , to random
@ZLabe@fediscience.org avatar

Well now I can finally share - I just started my first day as a federal scientist at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.

I'll be continuing research on improving our understanding of climate prediction and projection, especially with data-driven approaches for high-impact extremes.

wcbdata ,
@wcbdata@vis.social avatar

@ZLabe Woohoo!

SDF , to random
@SDF@mastodon.sdf.org avatar

Here is Tom Knight at the console of an AIrtist's interpolation of an MIT CADR Lisp Machine.

What a space cadet!

wcbdata ,
@wcbdata@vis.social avatar

@SDF Not an artist. Generative nonsense. Please don't pollute the timeline with this crap.

futurebird , to random
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

The time genie will bring back one (1) extinct animal from any time in all of earth's history. The animal will be integrated into an ecosystem seamlessly with no major negative consequences. You get to pick the creature.

Do you feel obligated to pick something like a sauropod just so people can experience the awe?

Do you bring back something more recent to correct the crimes of mankind?

Or are you selfish and you ask for hell ants so you can finally see how their mandibles work?

wcbdata ,
@wcbdata@vis.social avatar

@futurebird Giant ground sloth:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/get-lost-in-mega-tunnels-dug-by-south-american-megafauna

alice , to random
@alice@lgbtqia.space avatar

[Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

    •
    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @alice @rora_borealis
    Literally every software company executive I have worked with the last two years. It's deeply weird, and not in a good way.

    elan , to random
    @elan@publicsquare.global avatar

    I am loving this wholesale attack on Musk's X by continuing to call it Twitter.

    I've been sucked into listening to cable news all day every day as background noise for the past 10 weeks.

    Well, very rarely do people call it X.

    This breakdown feels right about what people call it:

    97% Twitter
    2% X, the company formerly known as Twitter
    1% X

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @Npars01 @elan Always have, always will.

    futurebird , to random
    @futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

    Why is it that the worst tasks: the ones I want to do the least are things that take like 17min tops to complete— but I think about how I haven’t done them — oh no no just can’t bear to do them for 30min a day for two weeks?

    For me, at least, a task is odious if it may cause me to find out bad news that produces more tasks, if it involves forms, if it involves talking to people on the phone, especially someone I don’t know (what if they are mean to me? 😫)

    It’s not THAT bad. Is it?

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @futurebird This sounds exactly like dealing with United Healthcare (UHC/Optum)

    18+ futurebird , (edited ) to random
    @futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

    There are all kinds of people in the world who see things in all kinds of different ways.

    (US pol/ Trump tw)

    A "truth" from Lara "Women For Trump" on Truth Social. Trump2024 Our very last chance to save our Country. (praying hands, US Flag) An AI image of Trump and Melania Holding hands, as they never have in life, as they look at a candle together. They both look sad and pensive as they have never looked in life. "Re-electing Trump is no longer a political choice it's a survival choice."
    ALT
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    • wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @futurebird Those are some messed UP fingers.

    futurebird , (edited ) to random
    @futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

    It’s such a privilege to share my home with living breathing royalty. I check on her in the morning since she’s least likely to be disturbed. They are nocturnal and she’s been up all night laying eggs and being fussed over by her daughters. At this time of day she’s sleeping deeply enough that she won’t stir if I remove the light cover. Sleeping Beauty!

    I never settled on a name for her. She’s just “the queen” —

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @futurebird @bovaz Words! 🤓

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @futurebird Human anatomy has some great ones, too. The Old Dead Men just said "that little flat space on the other side from the bendy part of your elbow, y;know?" and then translated it into latin to make it sound all fancy. 😆

    futurebird , to random
    @futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

    Riches and Wonders is a song by The Mountain Goats that's secretly about being in ant in an colony.


    my fav cover:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gdLDLlFc3M

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @futurebird I don't think I've ever empathized so much with a beetle.

    leemeade , to random
    @leemeade@mastodonapp.uk avatar

    Cigna’s nopeinator. When computer says no, doctors are the… | by Cory Doctorow @pluralistic | Apr, 2024 | Medium
    https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/29/what-part-of-no/#dont-you-understand

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @leemeade @pluralistic Cigna is just getting started. UHC is really a leader in this field:

    AI to deny coverage
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/unitedhealth-lawsuit-ai-deny-claims-medicare-advantage-health-insurance-denials/

    Paying docs to deny coverage as fast as they can
    https://www.propublica.org/article/unitedhealth-healthcare-insurance-denial-ulcerative-colitis

    loren , to random
    @loren@flipping.rocks avatar

    okay but nine inch snails would be some pretty big snails i would like to see those in person

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @loren @the_gayest_goat_in_town They're all over Florida - it's horrifying.

    futurebird , to random
    @futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

    I haven't really kept up with DARPA. I remember they used to lurk around my college when I was in undergrad trying to get young CS/engineers. Everyone was sort of creeped out by them, "You're going to be making weapons of war, they are totally DOD funded. That's the dark side."

    They had gaming nights and stuff to try to convince us otherwise.

    But... have they made any truly heinous weapons yet? Or did they pull the best move ever and take all the DOD money and make cool if ominous robots?

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @futurebird @Wolven In general, you don't hear about anything DARPA does until it's 25 years out of date.

    breadandcircuses , (edited ) to random
    @breadandcircuses@climatejustice.social avatar

    I’m back.

    I actually arrived home more than 24 hours ago, but was so exhausted from traveling (and so sleep-deprived) that I wasn’t prepared to post anything yet on Mastodon. Anyway, I caught up on my rest, took care of a mountain of laundry (after wearing the same clothes multiple times on the trip), went shopping to replenish the pantry and refrigerator, and now I’m ready to say a few words…

    My journey was to Mexico, specifically to Mazatlán, in order to witness the recent total solar eclipse. I’d never seen one before in my life and figured this might be my last chance. I also chose to take a train trip through Mexico’s extraordinary las Barrancas del Cobre — aka Copper Canyon — with multiple overnight stops and hikes along the way.

    Although I’ll admit to feeling some guilt about commercial air travel, given the obvious conflict with my passionate stance in favor of the climate and environment, I consoled myself with the knowledge that this was only the second time in six years I have flown anywhere. And while I was in Mexico, I deliberately took buses or trains whenever possible, avoiding extra flights.

    Anyway, it was a wonderful trip.

    The eclipse itself was nearly indescribable, since it is like nothing evolution has prepared us to see. I mean, the experience is completely outside the range of normal human expectations. To look up at the sky in midday and see the sun obliterated, blacked out by a disc in front of it… stunning. Shocking. Breathtaking. Spectacular. Unforgettable.

    And Copper Canyon is also a wonder, a marvel. Of course in good conscience I can’t recommend leisure travel, but if you ever have legitimate reasons to be in Mexico and can fit that in as a side tour, it’s absolutely worth the time and the cost.

    I’ll have much more to say on my usual topics over the next few days and weeks. Still catching up on everything that’s been going on in the world after being mostly out of touch for the last little while. That was quite a refreshing change, I must say. Soon, though, it’s back to work!

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @breadandcircuses That sounds fantastic - I was disappointed to have to cancel our trip to Torreón for the eclipse, but it sounds like most of the path through MX had a phenomenal experience...

    christophertrottier , to random
    @christophertrottier@akkomane.social avatar

    gets a lot of blowback for making federation opt-in on their service.

    But from an admin perspective, thank God they're doing that because if 120 million accounts suddenly joined the , this could kill many servers.

    Meta might have the resources to send messages from that many accounts, but many Fediverse servers don't have the resources to receive all of them.

    This is why resource efficiency is such an important concern for the Fediverse at large. Hence why I'm interested in building a community of enthusiasts.

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @christophertrottier Since about half my feed is already recycled Tumblr posts from a decade ago, I think it'll be alright. 🤪

    GottaLaff , to random
    @GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

    Starting a new thread 🧵 1/...

    Via Inner City Press (I call him Press):

    Trump's lawyer Blanche: There are a number of the jurors that we have social media posts for very much contrary to what they said. We don't want to confront them openly

    Judge: They were not told it is an anonymous jury.
    Trump's lawyer Blanche: Juror number 1 has a series of extraordinarily hostile Facebook posts-
    Judge: Can I see them?... Was I handed the right thing? The sheet has 2 screen grabs

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @GottaLaff @steter If they voluntarily watch Fox as a news source, they're already MAGA. No question.

    wcbdata , to random
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @futurebird - Did you see that the Annals of Improbable Research has a special issue about this month?

    🤯

    https://improbable.com/annals-of-improbable-research-march-april-2024-vol-30-number-2/

    lowqualityfacts , to random
    @lowqualityfacts@mstdn.social avatar

    That's so interesting.
    https://patreon.com/lowqualityfacts

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @lowqualityfacts Same, sheep, same.

    rms , to random
    @rms@mastodon.xyz avatar

    https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/the-man-who-married-a-hologram-in-japan-can-no-longer/426715

    The man who married a hologram in Japan can no longer communicate with his virtual wife. The software that allowed the interaction is no longer supported… If a computational activity is truly important to you, never depend on being able to continue it by means of nonfree software controlled by someone else! That is asking to lose.

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @rms What could possibly go wrong?

    lowqualityfacts , to random
    @lowqualityfacts@mstdn.social avatar

    That explains a lot.
    https://patreon.com/lowqualityfacts

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @lowqualityfacts This is insulting to clowns. 😉

    GottaLaff , to random
    @GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

    Need some good news? Me too.

    “Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill that can be purchased without a prescription, will be available later this month online and in pharmacies for $19.99 a month, $49.99 for a three-month supply or $89.99 for a six-month supply”

    https://trib.al/YAXpbwX

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @GottaLaff
    Just a quick reminder here for folks in the US that birth control is covered with no copay under ACA-compliant health insurance. That is to say, the out-of-pocket cost should be zero for almost anyone in the US already.

    (e g., https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/07/28/hhs-dol-treasury-issue-guidance-regarding-birth-control-coverage.html )

    futurebird , (edited ) to random
    @futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

    Did you have "sex ed" (sometimes called "health class") in school? Did it help you in any way? Hurt?

    Which of the following apply (check more than one if needed, so if you had a multiple classes at different ages check both)

    If I could change one thing about the education we had it would be to have more focus on the reality of rape and the nature of consent. These topics weren't addressed much beyond a cartoon version of bogey men jumping out of bushes and I think it left many unprepared.

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @futurebird Did not have sex ed. I switched from parochial to public schools for middle school (6th grade). The parochial schools taught it in 6th, and the public schools taught it in fifth, so I missed it completely. As a result, I have no idea what sex is or where my children came from. 🤷

    lowqualityfacts , to random
    @lowqualityfacts@mstdn.social avatar

    Wow, I never knew this.
    https://patreon.com/lowqualityfacts

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @lowqualityfacts Yes, they really like 'em.

    breadandcircuses , to random
    @breadandcircuses@climatejustice.social avatar

    In the news...

    More than 100 Palestinians have been killed and some 700 others wounded after Israeli troops opened fire on hundreds waiting for food aid southwest of Gaza City, health officials say, as the besieged enclave faces an unprecedented hunger crisis.

    The Gaza Ministry of Health said on Thursday said at least 112 people were killed and more than 750 wounded, with the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemning what it said was a cold-blooded “massacre.”

    But don’t worry, everything’s fine. It’s not a genocide. Joe Biden said so.

    FULL STORY -- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/29/dozens-killed-injured-by-israeli-fire-in-gaza-while-collecting-food-aid

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @breadandcircuses Ah. I was reading them as somewhere between righteous indignation and the dark humor brought on to cope with crushing disappointment.

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @breadandcircuses 😄

    drj , to random
    @drj@typo.social avatar

    Do you like Pixel Art and Classic Macs and Exploded Technical Drawings?

    Check out this exploded view of the Mac SE/30 from the HyperCard Service Manual of the time.

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @futurebird @drj Remember Quickbase?

    futurebird , (edited ) to random
    @futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

    Retired old people who aren't just ... busy being sick and dying give back to their communities in HUGE ways. We had someone's grandpa come to our robotics competition to cheer the team on. The old people in my building do all the serious political organizing and man the polls. I'm too busy working being in my 40s and all that.

    Raising retirement ages takes away more than just "retirement" ... it makes everything harder.

    Far as I'm concerned it should be 59.

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @futurebird I think retirement age should be the age past which employers don't want to hire folks for roles for which they're perfectly qualified. So right now, about 48.

    anatole , to Climate - truthful information about climate, related activism and politics.
    @anatole@mapstodon.space avatar

    Climatic analogs for some US urban areas in the late 21st century:
    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-08540-3 @climate

    #climateChange #climate #projections #dataViz #map #analog #classification

    A map of USA. Climatic analogs for some North American urban areas in the late 21st century. For each of the six example cities, colored triangles and circles indicate the location of the best contemporary climatic analog to 2080’s climate for the 27 future climate scenarios for RCP8.5. Triangles indicate representative contemporary analogs (<2σ) and circle size indicates increasingly poor analogs. Colored diamonds and bold lines indicate contemporary climatic analogs for the ensemble mean across the 27 individual projections.
    ALT
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    • wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @anatole
    Wow - every visual in this is excellent... And the narrative formed for the reader is specific and compelling.
    @climate

    wcbdata ,
    @wcbdata@vis.social avatar

    @anatole
    What I find really interesting here is what happens when you trace the future climate of areas that currently produce most of the food for the US. Where they end up, climate-wise, the climate seems best suited for growing chickens and cattle (neither of which can be sustained without the grain from the breadbasket), sweet potatoes, peanuts, cotton, and, well, kudzu.
    @climate

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