gallant
@gallant.bsky.social
Pinned
gallant
@gallant.bsky.social
· Jun 20
Education is enough. That is, education is a wonderful thing - and deserves institutions to be devoted to it, and for those institutions to be treasured.
It's rather odd that JavaScript - a (quick hack of a) programming language, on the top of a stack of *many* other technologies - is nonetheless positioned to be a (relative) defender of such lofty notions as "independence" and "decentralization".
February 15, 2026 at 1:46 AM
It's rather odd that JavaScript - a (quick hack of a) programming language, on the top of a stack of *many* other technologies - is nonetheless positioned to be a (relative) defender of such lofty notions as "independence" and "decentralization".
Meta-prediction - in the next month, at least two executives from major tech companies will make bold predictions about the near-term future for "AI" and related technology.
Those predictions will be wrong.
Those predictions will be wrong.
February 11, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Meta-prediction - in the next month, at least two executives from major tech companies will make bold predictions about the near-term future for "AI" and related technology.
Those predictions will be wrong.
Those predictions will be wrong.
My cat doesn't like having his claws trimmed - yet, when he gets them snagged on something, looks at me accusatorily as if I am responsible for and must remedy this situation.
February 6, 2026 at 3:59 AM
My cat doesn't like having his claws trimmed - yet, when he gets them snagged on something, looks at me accusatorily as if I am responsible for and must remedy this situation.
It's hard to overstate the value of clean, breathable air.
February 2, 2026 at 1:23 AM
It's hard to overstate the value of clean, breathable air.
A laundry machine on delicate and a cat doing "science" sound remarkably similar.
January 17, 2026 at 7:55 PM
A laundry machine on delicate and a cat doing "science" sound remarkably similar.
There's something uncanny about listening to a Beatles cover that adds nothing musical - i.e. is either just a straightforward reproduction of the original, or is simply uninspired and generic.
Beatles music is influential and part of a canon worth celebrating - but we have *them* doing it.
Beatles music is influential and part of a canon worth celebrating - but we have *them* doing it.
January 10, 2026 at 11:20 PM
There's something uncanny about listening to a Beatles cover that adds nothing musical - i.e. is either just a straightforward reproduction of the original, or is simply uninspired and generic.
Beatles music is influential and part of a canon worth celebrating - but we have *them* doing it.
Beatles music is influential and part of a canon worth celebrating - but we have *them* doing it.
I'm not sure if this is a failure of technology or of people not understanding that "lyrics" aren't a universal feature of music.
(Seen at: archive.org/details/78_n...)
(Seen at: archive.org/details/78_n...)
December 18, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I'm not sure if this is a failure of technology or of people not understanding that "lyrics" aren't a universal feature of music.
(Seen at: archive.org/details/78_n...)
(Seen at: archive.org/details/78_n...)
We don’t know Beethoven’s birthday.
We know it was a few days ago - but not the precise date.
One of the greatest composers, alive less than two hundred years ago - and we don’t know his birthday.
Whereas now, such sundry details (and many more) are well-documented for everyone, for good or ill.
We know it was a few days ago - but not the precise date.
One of the greatest composers, alive less than two hundred years ago - and we don’t know his birthday.
Whereas now, such sundry details (and many more) are well-documented for everyone, for good or ill.
December 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
We don’t know Beethoven’s birthday.
We know it was a few days ago - but not the precise date.
One of the greatest composers, alive less than two hundred years ago - and we don’t know his birthday.
Whereas now, such sundry details (and many more) are well-documented for everyone, for good or ill.
We know it was a few days ago - but not the precise date.
One of the greatest composers, alive less than two hundred years ago - and we don’t know his birthday.
Whereas now, such sundry details (and many more) are well-documented for everyone, for good or ill.
One thing I'm assured of - in a post-apocalyptic situation, I will at least have a readily-available supply of many varied board games.
December 16, 2025 at 2:09 AM
One thing I'm assured of - in a post-apocalyptic situation, I will at least have a readily-available supply of many varied board games.
The only paper more dissatisfying than receipt paper is wet receipt paper.
December 5, 2025 at 2:12 AM
The only paper more dissatisfying than receipt paper is wet receipt paper.
I've ordered more than a few musical shakers. I wonder what the delivery people think...
December 2, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I've ordered more than a few musical shakers. I wonder what the delivery people think...
Playing No Man's Sky is like being an indoor cat that got out.
November 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Playing No Man's Sky is like being an indoor cat that got out.
I've successfully defrosted my freezer. I'm not sure if I did it the best way, but I'm convinced I didn't do it the worst way.
November 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
I've successfully defrosted my freezer. I'm not sure if I did it the best way, but I'm convinced I didn't do it the worst way.
Finally, my interest in verse has practical value - www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/...
Poets are now cybersecurity threats: Researchers used 'adversarial poetry' to trick AI into ignoring its safety guard rails and it worked 62% of the time
Hacking the planet with florid verse.
www.pcgamer.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Finally, my interest in verse has practical value - www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/...
Pro-tip to smartwatch/fitness tracker wearers - buy a shaker (percussion instrument) and try to get as good at it as this guy www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VZF...
Your device will most definitely mistake practice for athletic achievement.
Your device will most definitely mistake practice for athletic achievement.
Axel Fagerberg - Shaker Virtuosity
YouTube video by dogspercussion
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Pro-tip to smartwatch/fitness tracker wearers - buy a shaker (percussion instrument) and try to get as good at it as this guy www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VZF...
Your device will most definitely mistake practice for athletic achievement.
Your device will most definitely mistake practice for athletic achievement.
I've achieved manhood - today, I worked on my car.
...
OK, I just changed a license plate light. Still, for me - an achievement!
...
OK, I just changed a license plate light. Still, for me - an achievement!
November 14, 2025 at 10:13 PM
I've achieved manhood - today, I worked on my car.
...
OK, I just changed a license plate light. Still, for me - an achievement!
...
OK, I just changed a license plate light. Still, for me - an achievement!
The caller's collar was colored collard.
November 13, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The caller's collar was colored collard.
Thoughts on language (models) and intelligence - the "pro" argument is that LLMs exhibit intelligent behavior as an "emergent phenomenon" of their statistical mastery of language.
But - in life, intelligence didn't emerge from language. Rather, language developed from intelligence.
But - in life, intelligence didn't emerge from language. Rather, language developed from intelligence.
November 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Thoughts on language (models) and intelligence - the "pro" argument is that LLMs exhibit intelligent behavior as an "emergent phenomenon" of their statistical mastery of language.
But - in life, intelligence didn't emerge from language. Rather, language developed from intelligence.
But - in life, intelligence didn't emerge from language. Rather, language developed from intelligence.
I don't know what I know - but I know I need to know what I know.
November 1, 2025 at 6:34 PM
I don't know what I know - but I know I need to know what I know.
The mechanic of ARPGs where damage zones are indicated on the ground (so you dodge in and out of areas) is essentially an epic version of the Hokey Pokey.
October 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
The mechanic of ARPGs where damage zones are indicated on the ground (so you dodge in and out of areas) is essentially an epic version of the Hokey Pokey.
It’s easy, and often sympathetic, to say you don’t like change. But that a thing changes is how you know it lives.
October 19, 2025 at 2:20 AM
It’s easy, and often sympathetic, to say you don’t like change. But that a thing changes is how you know it lives.
People who put spaces in filenames have caused misery beyond their ken.
October 14, 2025 at 5:41 PM
People who put spaces in filenames have caused misery beyond their ken.
You are what you read.
(At least, in many ways.)
I often find myself reflecting on questions asked and facts learned from books I've read. Years later, half-forgotten, these topics can resurface and reassert themselves.
(At least, in many ways.)
I often find myself reflecting on questions asked and facts learned from books I've read. Years later, half-forgotten, these topics can resurface and reassert themselves.
October 12, 2025 at 6:31 PM
You are what you read.
(At least, in many ways.)
I often find myself reflecting on questions asked and facts learned from books I've read. Years later, half-forgotten, these topics can resurface and reassert themselves.
(At least, in many ways.)
I often find myself reflecting on questions asked and facts learned from books I've read. Years later, half-forgotten, these topics can resurface and reassert themselves.
A new habit of my cat - (1) squeeze between the comforter and sheets, (2) want to be petted while fully covered, (3) purr furiously, (4) stay there for hours.
October 2, 2025 at 12:05 AM
A new habit of my cat - (1) squeeze between the comforter and sheets, (2) want to be petted while fully covered, (3) purr furiously, (4) stay there for hours.
"On the Sunny Side of the Street" has a different implication in light of climate change.
September 18, 2025 at 11:15 PM
"On the Sunny Side of the Street" has a different implication in light of climate change.