mastodon - Link to source

We really should talk more about why Nate Silver is not particularly liked by a lot of people who actually work with data.

"I would bet 60-40, 70-30 on lab leak probably"

This is just throwing random numbers on his hunches. He does this _all of the time_ and doesn't generally disclose (or even necessarily know to disclose) which pieces are his "hunches."

He mixes things that he puts into a model and fails to mention any validation beyond topline as well
hachyderm.io/@hrefna/113331563…

Hrefna (DHC) (@hrefna@hachyderm.io)

"Data journalism" equals traditional punditry except you put arbitrary numbers on everything.
Hachyderm.io

mastodon - Link to source
Spent some time today working on a little website to provide information about a bit of vintage computing history from my childhood, including a video demo (using emulation). I'm talking about Diversi-Tune, an early MIDI music program for the Apple IIGS, written by the late, great Bill Basham. divtune.com/ The website also briefly notes his later rewrite of Diversi-Tune for early-2000s Windows and web browsers, which he hosted at this domain. That version's harder to preserve.

Diversi-Tune

divtune.com

Matt Campbell reshared this.

in reply to Matt Campbell

mastodon - Link to source

Matt Campbell

I'm aware that, as I post this, the Internet Archive is still not fully back online, meaning that my link to the Apple IIGS version doesn't work. (I actually started working on the website a couple months ago.) I don't think the Apple IIGS disk image I happen to have is pristine. I could see if I can find a pristine disk image somewhere else and then host a copy. But hopefully the Internet Archive will be fully operational again soon.
in reply to Matt Campbell

mastodon - Link to source

Matt Campbell

I decided to self-host the video. I encoded it in both WebM and MP4 versions. (I did ask the Claude 3.5 Sonnet LLM to generate FFmpeg commands for me, but I reviewed and modified them.) Being low-resolution screen capture, the video compressed very well. I'd appreciate it if fully sighted folks can let me know if my encodings of the video have noticeable artifacts. I also uploaded a lossless version to YouTube. Of course, it's possible that YouTube's own encodings could add artifacts.
in reply to Matt Campbell

mastodon - Link to source

Matt Campbell

OK, now I've possibly spent too much time on this little side project. I decided to re-do the demo video. First, I decided I should emulate a ROM version 01 Apple IIGS rather than ROM version 3, since the former is what my family actually owned and what I used as a child. Then I decided to capture the video from MAME in its original aspect ratio, which looks wrong on modern displays because the Apple IIGS didn't have square pixels, and then scale it with FFmpeg.
in reply to Matt Campbell

mastodon - Link to source

Matt Campbell

And finally, about those FFmpeg commands, I decided to basically throw out the ones I had the Claude LLM generate for me, and instead try to build up my own by reading FFmpeg documentation. I originally justified using Claude on the grounds that FFmpeg has so many options that they're daunting for a non-expert. But in fact, FFmpeg has very good documentation, which I now reference on my detailed page about the video and how I made it: divtune.com/apple2gs_demo/

Diversi-Tune Apple IIGS demo video

divtune.com

Peter Vágner reshared this.

in reply to Matt Campbell

mastodon - Link to source

Matt Campbell

I suppose the whole process, and my own mind, is still contaminated because I initially used an LLM. I can think of the following things that remain from my usage of Claude:

- The use of FFV1 as a lossless video codec. Presumably I would have found that in the FFmpeg documentation if I had really looked.
- The pixel format conversion to yuv420p to fix compatibility problems. Claude gave me that one for the MP4 version, and then I also applied it to WebM.
- The use of 256 Kbps for AAC.

in reply to Matt Campbell

mastodon - Link to source

Matt Campbell

Now, I have to mention that this program wasn't and isn't accessible to fully blind people. The documentation for Textalker GS, the one screen reader I'm aware of for the Apple IIGS, specifically mentioned Diversi-Tune as a program that could not be made accessible with that screen reader. This was a downside of Diversi-Tune's focus on efficiency, accessing the hardware directly rather than using even the primitive GUI toolkit (literally called the Toolbox) that the Apple IIGS offered.

Matt Campbell reshared this.

mastodon - Link to source
Que porra é essa, caralho?! 😡 Estão removendo árvores para dar visibilidades aos anúncios outdoor
oglobo.globo.com/google/amp/ri…

Árvores estão sendo cortadas ou podadas para garantir maior visibilidade a painéis publicitários, denunciam moradores

Prefeitura diz que já abriu registros de ocorrências sobre o caso e que vai averiguar novas denúncias
Priscilla Litwak (O Globo)
This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to Sofia ☭🇧🇷☭

mastodon - Link to source

Sofia ☭🇧🇷☭

There's some sort of weird anti-tree conspiracy happening in Rio, and apparently at least part of it is to do with giving more visibility to advertising billboards. Although I swear I've seen trees removed in places without billboards...but then again, it's hard to tell, because sometimes street trees do have to be removed for legitimate reasons

mastodon - Link to source

Amos Miller of Glidance released a new amazing video showing the capability of Glide, the mobility tool that he has created. If you have not seen this new video, and by the way it is described, then I highly encourage you to check it out... youtube.com/watch?v=Xq8ofapGxX…

#Blind #Mobility #AmosMiller #Glidance #Glide #Accessible


Glide Demonstration Video #2: Stairs, Roads without Sidewalks, Paths, Overhead Obstacles & More.

In our second scenario video, we demonstrate Glide, the world's first intelligent guide for the blind and low vision community, in a variety of new situation...
YouTube
#accessible #blind #glide #mobility #amosmiller #glidance

mastodon - Link to source
It’s time for these leaders to actually lead, clearing a path that leads beyond X and towards social media environments like Bluesky and Mastodon — platforms that at least gesture in the direction of user safety and protection of the vulnerable.


Hell. YES.

inquirer.com/opinion/commentar…


It’s time to say goodbye to Elon Musk’s X. Changes to blocking online harassment will endanger users.

As announced to users Wednesday, X is planning to deprive its users of another vital tool for combating ever-escalating online stalking and harassment on the platform, writes Gwen Snyder.
Gwen Snyder (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

mastodon - Link to source
GrapheneOS and android 15 beta upgrade. Pixel8 on the big screen, unbeatable. I probably won't think about a linux phone, at least not for a while, because now I have a notebook in my pocket, without google and most FOSS apps. Tidal from the phone looks good on the big screen, all other apps work too. #GrapheneOS #pixel8 #bigscreen #nextlevel #degoogle
#grapheneos #degoogle #pixel8 #bigscreen #nextlevel
This entry was edited (1 year ago)

pleroma - Link to source
Создатель онлайн-библиотеки Flibusta Stiver: серверы оплачены, сайт поддерживается и работает в стабильном режиме habr.com/p/851838/
#flibusta #stiver

Создатель онлайн-библиотеки Flibusta Stiver: серверы оплачены, сайт поддерживается и работает в стабильном режиме

19 октября 2024 года создатель онлайн-библиотеки Flibusta Stiver сообщил, что серверы проекта оплачены, сайт поддерживается и работает в стабильном режиме.23 сен...
Денис (Habr)
#Flibusta #stiver

mastodon - Link to source
Comparison of Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 accessibleandroid.com/comparis…

Comparison of Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 - Accessible Android

I’ve had the opportunity to use both of the latest earbud offerings from Google and Samsung: the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. I've used each of
John Dyer (Accessible Android)

Khronos reshared this.

mastodon - Link to source

This morning we went to see an exhibition by the wonderful Margot from watercolorpatterns (watercolourpatterns.com/), and it's just insane the precision, dedication and just sheer amount of care and detail she puts into every single one of her watercolors.

And it's all just this wonderfully enthusiastic lady doing everything herself!

Give her a hand if you have the chance, she's wonderful

Picture of some wonderful watercolors

Watercolour Patterns

watercolourpatterns.com

mastodon - Link to source

VOTE EARLY THIS WEEKEND

Good morning. If you live in a state where you can vote early or vote by mail, why not vote this weekend?

Check your state: cbsnews.com/news/map-early-vot…

Voting early is the best thing you can do to help Harris. It establishes a winning narrative which undermines polling manipulation by biased GOP pollsters. It also motivates our team and demoralizes them. Right now, with more than 10 million votes already banked, Dems are up by >1.5 million votes.

VOTE!

@KamalaHarrisWin

Map shows which states offer early voting and mail-in ballots for the 2024 election

Weeks before the 2024 election, early voting by mail or in person will be available in most states — here's a map with more information about early voting options.
CBS News
@Kamala Harris News Group 2.0

mastodon - Link to source

Tim Walz is not "redefining masculinity." Tim Walz is redefining *white masculinity*.

Trump does not have a big lead with men voters. Trump has an *absolutely massive lead* with *white men voters*.

70% of the NFL is Black. 90% of those Black men vote Dem. More Black men than white women think the environment is important. Black men support masking to prevent the spread of Covid. Black men are more likely to support women's reproductive rights. Etc, etc.

usatoday.com/story/news/politi…

1/N


Football coach and cheerleader: How Tim Walz is defining masculinity in 2024

With gender central to the campaign, Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz is taking a different approach to masculinity compared to bro-ness and aggression.
, USA TODAY (USA TODAY)
in reply to David Njoku

mastodon - Link to source

Sablebadger

@davidnjoku it took me a while but entirely I finally clued into how media portrays black men. Once you start seeing it, it's perversive.

How they show a mug shot if one is available by default. White guy criminals get yearbook photos. words like thug get used a lot. White guys get discussions of their lost future, black guys get only discussions of the crime.

Someone benefits if we're all afraid of black men. It's bullshit. And a lot so called liberals buy into it too.

@David Njoku

mastodon - Link to source

Are you still using social media platforms? What's your reason?

For Google and Facebook users here's how you can better protect yourself!

Step 1: Stop Facebook collecting SO much data 👉 tuta.com/blog/what-does-facebo…

Step 2: Reduce how much Google knows about you 👉 tuta.com/blog/what-does-google…

Main reasons for using social media

All The Data Facebook Collects - And How To Stop This | Tuta

Want to know what data Facebook collects about you? In this guide we outline what data Facebook collects about its users and how they use it.
Tuta
in reply to Andre Louis

mastodon - Link to source

Zach Bennoui

I used to post tracks on an online jamming platform called Wikiloops. You upload a track, you playing piano for example, then someone downloads that and adds their parts, ETC. Was really fun and looking to get back on there again. wikiloops.com

wikiloops.com | Free Backing Tracks | Online Jamsession

The open wiki for Backing Track Collaboration since 2011. Easily find Jamtracks missing your Instrument and Play-Along. Join the international Musical Collaboration by sharing your own home-recorded Remixes.
wikiloops.com
This entry was edited (1 year ago)

mastodon - Link to source

KUnifiedPush: KDE's efficient way of delivering notifications to your apps

KUnifiedPush, KDE's client library for the UnifiedPush protocol, has reached version 1.0.0. KUnifiedPush provides a way to deliver notifications instantly to multiple apps on your devices even if the apps are not running.

Ideal for social media, weather and instant messaging apps, it will also contribute to improving the battery life on your mobile devices.

blogs.kde.org/2024/10/19/kunif…

@kde@lemmy.kde.social

A screenshot of Plasma's Settings showing the page where you can configure the notification server.

KUnifiedPush 1.0.0 is out!

KUnifiedPush provides push notifications for KDE applications. Push notifications are a mechanism to support applications that occasionally need to receive some kind of information from their server-side part, and where receiving in a timely manner m…
KUnifiedPush 1.0.0 is out!
@KDE
This entry was edited (1 year ago)

mastodon - Link to source

Oyes, ¿recordáis cuando medio internet daba la matraca sobre como "estar sentado es el nuevo fumar" y como nos vendían los "standing decks" como la gran revolución en el mundo de la salud laboral y casi una obligación si no querías morir de un infarto en tu silla de trabajo?

Pues acaba de salir un estudio al respecto y adivinad qué: no solo no reducen la mortalidad sino que aumentan el riesgo de varices y trombosis venosa profunda.

👉 academic.oup.com/ije/article/5…


Device-measured stationary behaviour and cardiovascular and orthostatic circulatory disease incidence

AbstractBackground. Previous studies have indicated that standing may be beneficially associated with surrogate metabolic markers, whereas more time spent
Ahmadi, Matthew N (Oxford University Press)
This entry was edited (1 year ago)

mastodon - Link to source

Speaking of #MyAdoredDaughter this morning... I don't know if I ever posted this photo.

This is ... my daughter? This is how she looks like, exactly - a beautiful, young person with long legs, and wonderful hair. And she keeps telling me "OMG, we look so alike, we could be twins..."

#Trans #Enby #NonBinary #TransJoy #EnbyJoy #NonBinaryJoy #Selfie

...

... but no, this is not a photo of her, this is a selfie of me reflected in a window. When I saw myself reflected in that window, I had to take a selfie and send it to her and she was absolutely amazed at how similar we look now, really, like twins, everything, the form, hair, posture, arms, legs, ... only her face is slightly different (and way younger, obviously 🥰

Window-Selfie of me, a non-binary person, on a sunny day. You can't really identify me clearly, but I am a slim, tall person with slim arms (they were always very "feminine"). I wear a spaghetti-string-strap black top and what looks like some black pair of pants. Since you can't make out the face very clearly, this could in fact 100% be my daughter.
#trans #nonbinary #transjoy #enby #selfie #myadoreddaughter #enbyjoy #nonbinaryjoy
in reply to Marco Zehe

mastodon - Link to source

i. celeste aurora [witchzard]

@Marco TBH, she resembles my wife more than her mother (my wife isn't her mom), but she looks more or less exactly like me. So the photo above could really be me or her, if I didn't tell you who that person is on the photo and you'd see us next to each other, you couldn't tell who that was.

But, and that's the fun part, whenever she is visiting us and we three, her, my wife and me, go out for a walk, people are 100% sure she is our daughter, because she has nearly nothing from her biological mom, but some really interesting similarities with my wife.

In my own case, I have half-half, i.e. about half of me resembles my father, and half my biological mother (as far as I can remember, and I have one single photo of her).

@Marco Zehe

mastodon - Link to source
Lets try that again. If you haven't tried it yet, the Google Notebook LLM is quite interesting. It can take any notes, documents, manuals, etc., and create an AI-generated podcast-style output. For example, I ran last month's AppleVis Newsletter for September through this service. It's pretty long to listen to, but I was amazed by what it produced. :)

mastodon - Link to source
The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please spread the word widely!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts Scholarship Application

The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. Up to four scholarships will be awarded: one in the amount of $3,000.00, 2 in the amount of $1,500.
Google Docs
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