Erik Przekop @IAmErik@qoto.org
Parent, programmer, amateur astronomer and terrible guitar player.
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Here is my introduction post:
Instead of defining myself by saying “I am a…”, here’s a collection of hashtags that interest me (in no particular order). #meditation (specifically #twim right now) #cigars #bicycling #photography #computerscience #physics #guitar #music .
I live in #Michigan (in #LakeOrion, which is 35+ miles north of #Detroit), and spend a lot of time around #RogersCity (I’ll bet that’s the first time that hashtag has been used on Mastodon). My kids are really bright and sometimes struggle with #ADHD, so I’ll probably talk about that at times as well. I have spent more than 3 decades of my life as a #programmer, and now I get to be the old man who leads really smart people in solving big problems with small amounts of #software.
Joined Nov 2022
Erik Przekop
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"Paul Dirac's remarks on God and religion (1927)
If we are honest — and scientists have to be — we must admit that religion is a jumble of false assertions, with no basis in reality. The very idea of God is a product of the human imagination. It is quite understandable why primitive people, who were so much more exposed to the overpowering forces of nature than we are today, should have personified these forces in fear and trembling. But nowadays, when we . . . "
Erik Przekop
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Erik Przekop
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The risks around artificial intelligence might be better understood by following the money not the technology....
This suggests we need to be regulating (better) the economic & market uses of AI, rather than focussing on its technical capabilities.
Indeed, states have a long history of regulating markets, and whatever some economists seem to think, regulation is what has most often saved capitalism from eating itself!
#artificialintelligence #technology #regulation
https://theconversation.com/to-understand-the-risks-posed-by-ai-follow-the-money-225872
Erik Przekop
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The sad and hilarious thing is that computer nerds already control the means of production they're just not doing anything with it other than what they're told.
A well-thought-out take on why liberals are losing to fascists in US politics.
And naturally the billionaires' response is, "Don't take money from me! Make poor people wait another 5 years before they can collect social security!"
The idea that such people create jobs is contrary to the evidence. They aren't the people who innovate - they are the people who restrict innovation by protecting their incumbent position.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/billionaires-are-raging-about-bidens-state-of-the-union-tax-proposals
Erik Przekop
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Erik Przekop
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The price of Huggies diapers went up 6% between April- June 2023.
Inflation, right? Wrong.
Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies, reported that the cost to make its products fell by $75 million.They took the money and ran, banking $168 million in operating profits in Q3 2023.
Now, new research shows that corporate profits drove 53% of inflation during the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2023. During the 40 years prior to the pandemic, profits drove just 11% of price growth.
Erik Przekop
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https://www.usluck.com/159382/trump-is-on-epsteins-pedo-list-biden-is-not/ Trump is on Epstein’s pedo list. Biden is not. #Humor #Political #PoliticalHumor
An excellent discussion of Meta's entry into the fediverse.
I just learned about this. It won't rival European rail, but it's a start. I think a big part of building a real rail network in the US will be changing public perception about it. It's a public service, not a for-profit enterprise. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/12/08/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-billions-to-deliver-world-class-high-speed-rail-and-launch-new-passenger-rail-corridors-across-the-country/
Erik Przekop
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I am glad to see big media starting to pay attention to the wacko faux philosophies guiding the nutter ideas of the AI boys. Here is Prof. @henryfarrell
in The Economist:
https://www.programmablemutter.com/p/the-singularity-is-nigh-republished
Erik Przekop
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"In your own words, how would you describe Libertarians?"
Erik Przekop
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Scientific American op-ed:
Tech Billionaires Need to Stop Trying to Make the Science Fiction They Grew Up on Real
Today’s Silicon Valley billionaires grew up reading classic American science fiction. Now they’re trying to make it come true, embodying a dangerous political outlook
(by me):
Erik Przekop
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Friends, today is a good day to stop using chrome :)
Download Firefox, reimport your bookmarks, set as default browser, replace chrome in all the places you launch it from muscle memory... I guarantee you wont miss anything from chrome, and in one step you take one step away from Google owning the web.
20 minutes, tops.
Erik Przekop
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How we beat back the corporate takeover of America:
1. Break up corporate monopolies
2. Continue building union power
3. End Citizens United and get big money out of politics
Let’s keep working to unrig the system.
Erik Przekop
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Once again I'm doing my #Top25Sunsets countdown as part of the #ArtAdventCalendar.
I didn't get out to see as many sunsets this year as I did during the height of the pandemic, but there was still plenty of sunset watching and photography in 2023. I ended up with 78 finalists for the Top 25 of 2023 countdown. We'll start with batches of four from the 48 honorable mentions, which are mixed up in more-or-less random order. Enjoy!
Erik Przekop
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This week's comic...
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ELON'S FUN PAGE!
An activity-packed page of pastimes for bored billionaires
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Brought to you by the Proud and Mighty Inner Hive, including longtime member David Alpert and new member "John Barron."
Parent, programmer, amateur astronomer and terrible guitar player.
----------------
Here is my introduction post:
Instead of defining myself by saying “I am a…”, here’s a collection of hashtags that interest me (in no particular order). #meditation (specifically #twim right now) #cigars #bicycling #photography #computerscience #physics #guitar #music .
I live in #Michigan (in #LakeOrion, which is 35+ miles north of #Detroit), and spend a lot of time around #RogersCity (I’ll bet that’s the first time that hashtag has been used on Mastodon). My kids are really bright and sometimes struggle with #ADHD, so I’ll probably talk about that at times as well. I have spent more than 3 decades of my life as a #programmer, and now I get to be the old man who leads really smart people in solving big problems with small amounts of #software.
Joined Nov 2022
