01/10/2024
Ahoy Townspeople #002
Ahoy indeed.
Findings
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A platform where you can make long-term bets on the future. The stakes are high, and the outcomes are uncertain. The bets are made public, and the proceeds go to charity. Lovely.
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Upload an image, and it will convert it into a stencil. The tool is very effective, easy to use, but sadly not free for multi-color/multi-layer stencils. I was hoping to make a stencil for a shirt design, I’ll look for free alternatives.
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One library, many models. Makes switching between different language models a breeze.
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A tool to enforce a consistent format for your language model’s output. Think of
JSON modebut on steroids. -
A collection of easing functions.
You can cast bronze into a 3D printed mold
Check this out.
You can also “cast” paper pulp into a 3D printed mold. Here.
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A topology optimization tool. I’ve been playing around with it but haven’t had any success, yet. :^)
Norway’s father paternity leave
Norway has a paid father paternity leave of 480 days but first when it was introduced, a small percentage of fathers took it. So they made it mandatory. Now 90% of the fathers take it and the stigma is gone. Also:
If you are taking care of the child yourself, you are entitled to both the years.
Wonderful. Heard it here, a Rory Sutherland’s speech.
Miscaellanea
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Started watching Silo. It’s a TV show about a population living in a silo, and they are not allowed to go outside. Pretty interesting so far. Also, the porter’s legs must have been JACKED.
Homemade caviar with soy sauce and agar agar
Saw a recipe for homemade caviar with soy sauce and agar agar. I’m intrigued, and I’ll try it soon.
CAD, as in Cardboard Aided Design.
Fitness
Recently I started working out again. Nothing special, pull/push/legs split. One year ago I have made a spreadsheet to track my progress, exercises, and weights. Now I made a new one, to track my meals. We’ll see. :^) Also; Fuckarounditis
Grandpa Clock
Saw a design for a pendulum clock on the internet, got inspired and designed my own. We’ll see. :^)
Books
Didn’t read much this time.
How to Have Impossible Conversations
Started reading How to Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay. Pretty interesting so far.
“Shooting messengers” should only be a self-inflicted act: take aim at your own messenger.
Even when messages are not delivered across any sort of political or moral divide, they tend to be poorly received. In the 1940s, the psychologist Kurt Lewin and his students published a series of studies concerning an attempt to get housewives to incorporate sweetbreads (organ meats) into home-cooked meals to help with meat shortages during World War II.31 Some housewives were given a lecture about why incorporating sweetbreads was important for the war effort. Others were invited to self- generate reasons for their importance in group sessions similar to today’s focus groups. Lewin observed that 37 percent of the members of the groups who self-generated reasons followed through and incorporated sweetbreads, and in the lectured groups, only 3 percent did so.
Obvious Adams
Finished reading Obvious Adams by Robert R. Updegraff. A very short yet insightful book, I recommend it.