Monday, February 26, 2024

Free tools to help keep you safe online


Make sure that Windows Defender is running and updated.

Use 'max' setting for ConfigureDefender - https://github.com/AndyFul/ConfigureDefender

Block lists - Encrypted DNS (on desktop and mobile) - https://www.quad9.net/

uBlock Origin (browser extension) - https://ublockorigin.com/

This video provides details: https://iv.nboeck.de/watch?v=dfABQ8pIuFQ

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

2nd scam interview that I have experienced

In the interview and about 3/4 the way thru I realized it was a scam - and did a reddit search.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/1akpvcw/this_is_odd/
https://www.reddit.com/r/jobs/comments/1aj2lex/success_and_disappointment_megathread_for_the_week/

The big tell is that the website is a .org and not a .com. - and the website is unfinished.
*I should have checked this first before wasting my time interviewing.

Here are some of the questions:
After carefully reviewing your application during the first screening process for the position of UI/UX Designer,
We will conduct a screening test verification and interview with you.
In order for us to proceed with the selection process, kindly respond to this email to confirm your screening interview:
The window for this screening test/interview is:
Wednesday  Feb 14, 2024  08 AM - 8:15 PM.
Thursday     Feb 15, 2024  08 AM - 8:15 PM.
Time of interview: Currently / Later
Team Interview duration time: 20-30 mins
Now that I'm online, let's get started with the interview. Online Q&A If you are ready, you will be sent a link to the interview.

Jennifer McNally <hires@browardmotorsports.org>
The interview is via Microsoft Teams.
You will receive a payment (check) this payment (check) will be used to set up your mini office by purchasing the office equipment and software so that you can start your training immediately.
NOTE: All materials are to be purchased from the company accredited vendor, I will provide you with the vendor's information when you receive the check.

Monday, January 22, 2024

Google’s NotebookLM Aims to Be the Ultimate Writing Assistant

On humans synthesizing with AI: Our future will be characterized by a tension between copilot (AI as a collaborator) and autopilot (humans as sidekick to AI). The latter is more efficient and cheaper in a narrow labor economics sense but troublesome in all sorts of ways. Author Steven Johnson helped Google create an app that can analyze a writer’s research material and help them extract and explore the key themes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGHXhS45CSE

Google’s NotebookLM Aims to Be the Ultimate Writing Assistant
https://www.wired.com/story/googles-notebooklm-ai-ultimate-writing-assistant/

early access - https://notebooklm.google.com
(*personal account only, *20 source limit that you can workaround by combining sources)

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Testing AI for a recommendation on my mothers medications?

 

Wednesday, May 03, 2023

Is war/fighting a disregard for humanity?

Warning: Disturbing and graphic content. Watching or listening to this will affect you mentally and physically - for who knows how long.

Exposing the Russian Military Unit Behind a Massacre in Bucha | Visual Investigations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrGZ66uKcl0


Is this a Russian-soldier only issue? No, I do not think so.

Iraq War Veterans, 20 Years Later: ‘I Don’t Know How to Explain the War to Myself’ | Op-Docs
https://youtu.be/RIWfH3iEgXU

Personal experience from a US Marine during the Vietnam War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tixOyiR8B-8


Discussions of De-dollarization make me think that the Ukraine situation may be a much bigger issue. 

The War in Ukraine Could Change Everything | Yuval Noah Harari | TED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQqthbvYE8M

De-Dollarization Is Happening at a ‘Stunning’ Pace
https://archive.ph/C8Qd3

Since Bitcoin appears to be the largest accepted global currency, is it the safest for the public to hold or invest in? If not, what is?

Related: How many big banks have to fail before it is a bigger problem? Where is the line drawn? How close are we to it? How can we measure the health of the American economic system? There seems a lot of shuffling of money to resolve issues as they appear. When does this stop? Or is this the new norm until something more serious occurs? What reassurances do we have?

Would a BRICS Common Currency Work?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHZnVdBZJfA

US could face economic turmoil if another bank faces collapse, money bosses warn - BBC News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYFZIFkTz-U


Is having pride in your nation an old way of thinking? Ego related and wrong? Should we instead consider humanity as a whole?

America used to be known for its freedom(s). Where does it rank now?

How I view China after 12 years Living Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpkQ0_yHab4

Does politics, as we supposedly know it - make sense? Should we rethink how our governments are structured, laws are made, and our relationships with other countries?

Friday, April 28, 2023

Do not do financing these days. The interest rates are too high. Find a better solution.

@~3:20mins someone mentions them extending the amount of months to drop the monthly payment cost. This has been mentioned in real estate housing as well. This bypasses the issue (short term), but what is the long term result overall? People need to be smarter (do more research, think more deeply about the problem, and think long term) about how they are using their money.


Friday, April 14, 2023

A.I. becoming more accessible?

One of my coworkers is leaving our team, and the company I work for - for other things. It was a surprise, abrupt, and also curious - about where he is going and what it will be, but also if AI can help me craft a farewell messsage. Or atleast a great start at one - for me to edit and make my own - in a very short amount of time...

I noticed a free tool this morning in my news feed and I thought this may be an opportunity to try it out. I have tried a couple of other tools and they worked good. But this tool offered a different approach (AutoGPT). I had read about it before - and seen similar previous offerings as well. But not in an easy to use UI like this...



After editing, my final email was: As you prepare to leave our team, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for all that you've done for us. Your contributions and your guidance to the team have been invaluable in our success. I will always remember how friendly, supportive, knowledgeable, and positive about our products. You have truly been an asset to the team, and I will miss your expertise and leadership. While I am are sad to see you go, I are also excited for you as you embark on your new journey – and curious as well. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors, and I have no doubt that you will continue to excel in whatever you do. Please reach out touch and let me know how you're doing. I would love to hear about your new adventures and successes. Thank you again for everything, and best of luck in your next chapter. 

I am trying to keep an eye on tools that will help me be more efficient, while still maintaining quality. 


Other AI that I have yet to test out:
https://open-assistant.io/chat
https://eugeneyan.com/writing/llm-experiments/
https://twitter.com/_Lonis_/status/1646641412182536196
http://godmode.space/
https://www.debate-devil.com/en
https://github.com/Torantulino/Auto-GPT
https://github.com/varunshenoy/GraphGPT
https://cointelegraph.com/news/chatgpt-like-personal-ai-can-now-be-run-locally-musk-warns-singularity-is-near
https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-bedrock-aws-ai-chatgpt-dall-e-competitor-2023-4