Doing Some Good
New Blog + More Time
I added a new amateur radio blog to my portfolio this week. It’s something I’d been meaning to do for a while so I could separate out all my ham radio content. My common template approach seems to be working pretty well across four blogs now, so I’m pretty happy with that.
⏳ Thanks to a generous promotional discount, I also added time to my other omg.lol address, and helped to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the process.
Most importantly, this is all part of the
Annual robb × omg.lol St Jude fundraiser
Thank you, Robb and Adam, for supporting the cause!
Paris Paralympic Games Begin
🔥 I watched the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympic Games. I don’t know how many people were watching, but I’m guessing it’s a lot fewer than then number who tuned in for the Olympic opening ceremony last month. If so, a lot of people missed out on something really beautiful.
🏅 Of particular interest is local athlete Blake Haxton, who will compete in the men’s va’a single 200m event.
🚣 In case you’re wondering (as I was) what a va’a is, it is an outrigger canoe that is used with a single-blade paddle.
Cool and Useful Stuff
◾️ The QArt Coder makes QR code art! I made several fun QR codes for my blogs. Not sure how of if I’ll use them, but I like having them. Coincidentally, I also came across a very nice, configurable and ad-free QR code generator by Julian Fietkau.
🔋 These 3rd party batteries for Fujifilm cameras have built-in USB-C charging ports. BRILLIANT!
📼 Tapedeck is a virtual library of audio cassette tape images that you can filter by manufacturer, running time, type, and color. Go on, take a walk down Memorex Lane.
🧑💻 Doth mine eyes deceive me? CSS finally adds vertical centering!
🗾 Type in your name to see it spelled out in Landsat imagery of Earth!
Reading
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Not too long ago Nolen—aka eieio—created the one million checkboxes website. What happened next was pretty interesting.
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Writing for Tech Policy Press, Eryk Salvaggio challenges the myths surrounding generative AI by pointing out some very important distinctions that are often conflated. Although I’ve said this many times, I cannot stress it enough: AI models do not and cannot know anything. LLM responses are based merely statistical likelihoods and do not represent any analysis, knowledge, or insight.
Listening
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A new album by Tycho Infinite Health came out. I wasn’t wowed.
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Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast: Lo-Fi Girl
Friday Night Double Feature
🦾 The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a so-so movie with some funny parts. Worth watching, but probably not worth watching again.
🏈 The Underdoggs on the other hand is very funny. This movie has a lot going for it—humor, football, swearing kids, fried chicken—but not a particularly original story. Good fun nonetheless.
That is all from this end. Monday is bank holiday here in the States. Enjoy!