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 . . . "
@Miro_Collas
Spoiler: the green light is emitted from clouds of gas, not directly from stars.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/webb-telescope-green-pea-galaxies-universe
Erik Przekop
boosted
Erik Przekop
boosted
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
boosted
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
@nadiaalbelushi@mastodon.social
I love Space Engine. I have just been exploring nearby stars whose names I could remember, and discovered that Castor (in Gemini) is a sextuple. Even better, they all orbit fast enough to see rapid movement with time speeded up to max.
Erik Przekop
boosted
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.
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
