Author: Josh
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Happy 2025: Language models will be funny later
It intrigues me that language models aren’t humorous. I keep trying. Perhaps they need to be fine-tuned / trained for humor? Just look at this attempt to generate humor, which attempts, and almost lands on a couple jokes. Writing humor is like trying to herd glitter-covered cats that moonlight as quantum physicists, death metal interpretive…
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Facts about: Doggerland
Doggerland, a now-submerged prehistoric landmass in the North Sea, experienced dramatic environmental and geological changes over thousands of years. These transformations, coupled with human activity and natural disasters, shaped the history of this once-thriving region. Through radiocarbon dating, sedimentary DNA (sedaDNA) analysis, and other modern methods, researchers have reconstructed the timeline of its development, habitation,…
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World-in-View: Romania
[[do note, this is AI-generated, so may not be accurate… consider it a useful study aide for myself.] Political disruption – a cancelled election Romania has recently been plunged into political turmoil following the cancellation of its presidential election in December 2024. This unprecedented decision, based on alleged Russian interference, has sparked widespread debate and…
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Philosophy: What does it mean to know?
The concept of “knowing” is central to many fields, from philosophy to everyday life. There are multiple senses in which we use the verb “to know,” and this distinction has been the subject of much philosophical reflection. Let’s focus on the “knowledge of facts” (sense 1), a topic that has generated intense discussion since the…
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AI: Job Displacement
Which job roles are likely to be replaced? 1. Writers and Content Creators 2. Customer Service Representatives 3. Telemarketers and Salespeople 4. Data Entry and Administrative Roles 5. Market Research Analysts 6. Translators and Interpreters 7. Proofreaders and Editors 8. Game Developers (for certain tasks) 9. Legal Assistants and Paralegals 10. Transportation and Delivery Workers…
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Philosophy: Can art be objectively critiqued?
The Argument for Yes Despite the allure of the idea that beauty is purely subjective, there are some very solid reasons to believe that aesthetic judgments are not merely the result of personal whims or cultural trends but are grounded in real, objective truths. Art is not just an exercise in individual taste; it is…
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Yule’s Dark Tide, part VIII
Yule Tide Eve Since Thomas had left without a word earlier that day, the atmosphere in the cottage had become thick with uncertainty. Martha couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing was right—an unease that had only grown stronger since the fire in the hearth had started glowing with that strange, unnatural light. The echoes of…
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World-in-View: Yemen
<<please note, this is AI-generated, and so subject to ‘hallucinations’ — i.e., it may not be an accurate representation>> Ali Abdullah Saleh was the president of North Yemen from 1978 and later of a unified Yemen from 1990 until 2012, rising to power through his own political and military efforts rather than external appointment. His…
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Yule’s Dark Tide, part VII
The Shadows The moon hung low in a sky still weaving the world with shadows. The earth lay cloaked in quiet. Every tree, every mountain, everything, stood as sentinels. Time stretched to hold its breath. All was still. Silent guardians of the dark began to surround every leaf, every branch, every part of the ground.…
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Yule’s Dark Tide, part VI
The Great Serpent From somewhere far off, the faintest sound pierced the silence. The arrow from Thomas’ bow was let loose, only to hit nothing but air. Thomas had heard a laugh. Deep and rich, full of mirth. A laugh that carried the weight of ages. Thomas froze. Thomas stood in the open field, his…