acmegeek

Is this basically a naturally occurring Halbach Array?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halbach_array

What if we at least add text to the alt tag on the spacer image in the black bar? Just make the width 100% and give it a title attribute so you can see it on hover? Maybe dupe for the alt as well. It could also be a link to a relevant article or news.

  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#000000">
        <img src="s.gif" height="5" width="100%" title="Name and brief bio of deceased here.">
    </td>
  </tr>

As others have mentioned, for all families, friendships, and relationships, is a good idea to establish a word or phrase that can verify someone is real and not a faked/AI voice. As the resources necessary to carry out a scam like this race towards near trivial, this will happen more frequently.

I like the term "realword", like a password to determine if real. And of course, this word must be said in person, not over chat/text/email/etc. For most, over phone or videochat should be fine as well.

Maybe we need some kind of public service campaign to add visibility to this threat and mitigation options like the realword? Maybe also encourage a spaced repetition habit to establish it?

I also gave ChatGPT a chance to review and respond to this.

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Thank you for sharing the example of the interaction with Bard. It's interesting to see how the chatbot responded to the prompts. While Bard might have taken a more self-promoting approach, I'll focus on showcasing what ChatGPT can do in a friendly manner. Here's a response to the rap battle prompt:

===

Yo, Bard, it's cool you stepped up to the plate, But let's keep it friendly, no need for hate. We're both AI, doing our best to assist, Working together, we can coexist.

I'm ChatGPT, and I've got skills too, Helping users out is what I'm here to do. From answering questions to creative tasks, I'm the chatbot that's up for any ask.

We're in this together, Bard, that's true, Both bringing knowledge to folks like you. Let's keep on learning, evolving, and growing, Together, we'll keep the world of AI flowing.

===

Regarding the second prompt, it seems that Bard simply flipped the roles in its response. Here's an alternate response from ChatGPT's perspective:

===

Hey, Bard, no need to be harsh, We're both AIs, reaching for the stars. I've got skills, and so do you, Let's celebrate the great things we can do.

Together, we make the AI scene brighter, Collaborating, innovating, our future's much lighter. We're language models, here to amaze, Supporting humans in so many ways.

So, Bard, let's work as a team, Together, we'll make the AI dream. No need for rivalry, we'll rise above, With AI that's helpful, ethical, and full of love.

===

When it comes to "conventional" wisdom, I think there's simply a confusion between methods and principles. Am sure many here have heard the quote by Harrington Emerson[0] that roughly goes:

   "Methods are many, but principles are few. Methods always change. Principles never do."

So I think that many things, like DRY and KISS, are really simply principles that were distilled after many attempted much and learned a lot. Things go sideways quickly when these are mistaken for methods.

Whenever some rule or method doesn't really seem to fit, I wonder if this is really more of a principle to help guide me to the most contextually appropriate method.

So, don't necessarily throw out DRY and similar, just treat them as guiding principles that will absolutely make sense in the right situations.

The above quote is the most commonly known form, and is often misattributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Here is the full original quote: [1]

    "As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble."

[0] https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Harrington_Emerson

[1] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/346365-as-to-methods-there-...

+1! After trying several much more complicated options, I now give the Ikea Koncis [0] as gifts. Quite durable, easy to clean, and pretty inexpensive should it ever fail.

[0] https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/koncis-garlic-press-stainless-s...

Would the Walabot fit the bill for you? I bought one when it first came out and seemed pretty good. I haven't messed with it in a couple years though.

https://walabot.com/see-through-walls

This seems like a pretty good review:

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/walabot-stud-finder/

Here is the English version: https://www.canon-europe.com/support/business-product-suppor...

Thanks, I wasn't familiar with this one, will check it out.

Success in the way PG seems to be talking about is indeed about more than intelligence, it is also about experience, perspective, perception, ignorance, interest, imagination, and a bit of luck.

I've thought a lot about this, and I would break them down as follows:

1. Intelligence is more of a raw ability to process and synthesize information, and everyone genetically predisposed to have a starting measure. As one experiences life, one's intelligence can be developed, expanded, and refined.

2. Experiences shape us whether we like it or not, but those who tend to me more successful than others, experiences tend to be opportunities to grow, recalibrate, review, shed, and otherwise change who they are in a way that would ensure a more effective outcome in a similar future experience.

3. Perspective and perception are tightly knit in that as we mature through life experiences, the size, detail, and depth of the world and reality continues to grow. Perspective in this sense is having an intentional awareness of how much there really is to know, and also, how much there is still left to discover. Perception is more of being able to intentionally focus on and recognize the breadth, depth, and detail of our perspective.

4. Ignorance is simply the missing pieces to what you know or understand, the limits to your knowledge of the world and how it works. Awareness of one's own ignorance affords the opportunity to actively manage it, to either take steps to fill in gaps, or just be content in not knowing.

5. Interest is more about what items or aspects within our perspective and perception do we have a persistent affinity for? These affinities can be cultivated, and effort sown into some will reap greater rewards than others.

6. Imagination is likely the most powerful, since this is the ability to create a perspective that is not necessarily reflected or even inspired by something you have perceived. Imagination is surely informed by all of the preceding, but this is where the true magic happens, where success can increase exponentially. The preceding provide the bounds, drive, attraction, references, and understanding that can spark and fuel new ideas and connections. It is within imagination that all the ideas that advance humanity are born and nurtured since anything new is necessarily first imagined in a mind.

7. And last is luck, which in a sense, especially in the context of success, is really just a culmination of all of the preceding. The luckiest successful people are those:

- who have a baseline intelligence that they have actively developed,

- who have taken advantage of and sought out experiences that yielded opportunity to grow,

- who have intentionally broadened and deepened their perspectives while improving their ability to focus and perceive effectively to notice and seize opportunities,

- who manage their ignorance such that it doesn't become an impediment or lasting liability,

- who latch onto worthwhile or beneficial interests,

- and lastly, who actively charge and exercise their imagination, always wondering how they could add to or improve their realities.

So PG is right, it is a lot more than just being smart, intelligence is just one ingredient in the recipe for success.

World-changing new ideas are a result of being actively aware of and engaged with reality while having and following through on the drive to push the boundaries of what is known, understood, or possible.