ViennaMike
@viennamike.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Computer and electronics hobbyist. Intelligent Transportation Systems consultant. He / Him
[bridged from https://mastodon.social/@ViennaMike on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
[bridged from https://mastodon.social/@ViennaMike on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
A very interesting, nuanced Stanford study of the productivity effects of using AI in software development. Measured results, not self-assessments, and nuanced in looking into the factors that help determine where it is and is not most effective: https://lnkd.in/essiTP2Q
Caveat: it does not […]
Caveat: it does not […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 17, 2026 at 6:28 PM
A very interesting, nuanced Stanford study of the productivity effects of using AI in software development. Measured results, not self-assessments, and nuanced in looking into the factors that help determine where it is and is not most effective: https://lnkd.in/essiTP2Q
Caveat: it does not […]
Caveat: it does not […]
Can ChatGPT Certify as a Tax Preparer?
Introduction
As an experiment, I wanted to see how well ChatGPT could perform on the IRS’s test for VITA/TCE Volunteer Tax Preparers. There are two levels of tests, basic and advanced. Each test consists of true/false, multiple choice, and fill in the blank […]
Introduction
As an experiment, I wanted to see how well ChatGPT could perform on the IRS’s test for VITA/TCE Volunteer Tax Preparers. There are two levels of tests, basic and advanced. Each test consists of true/false, multiple choice, and fill in the blank […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Can ChatGPT Certify as a Tax Preparer?
Introduction
As an experiment, I wanted to see how well ChatGPT could perform on the IRS’s test for VITA/TCE Volunteer Tax Preparers. There are two levels of tests, basic and advanced. Each test consists of true/false, multiple choice, and fill in the blank […]
Introduction
As an experiment, I wanted to see how well ChatGPT could perform on the IRS’s test for VITA/TCE Volunteer Tax Preparers. There are two levels of tests, basic and advanced. Each test consists of true/false, multiple choice, and fill in the blank […]
I think that there are more people who could benefit and gain more from DIY investing than do so. But the person who posted this evening that rather than pay a 1% Assets Under Management fee to an advisor, you should rely on ChatGPT for advice and to answer all your questions? THAT person would […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 7, 2026 at 4:09 AM
I think that there are more people who could benefit and gain more from DIY investing than do so. But the person who posted this evening that rather than pay a 1% Assets Under Management fee to an advisor, you should rely on ChatGPT for advice and to answer all your questions? THAT person would […]
For fellow Virginians: Let Senator Tim Kaine know how you feel about his defection and vote on cloture for the CR. Go to https://www.kaine.senate.gov/contact/share-your-opinion or dial (202) 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard) and ask for Senator Tim Kaine's office.
November 10, 2025 at 8:24 PM
For fellow Virginians: Let Senator Tim Kaine know how you feel about his defection and vote on cloture for the CR. Go to https://www.kaine.senate.gov/contact/share-your-opinion or dial (202) 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard) and ask for Senator Tim Kaine's office.
Pi-based multi-prop trigger for animatronics, Part 2
Back in March I wrote about a Pi-based controller for multiple Halloween props. As I go the props ready this year, I realized three things: 1) I wanted to change the routine from what I planned, 2) The way […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Back in March I wrote about a Pi-based controller for multiple Halloween props. As I go the props ready this year, I realized three things: 1) I wanted to change the routine from what I planned, 2) The way […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
November 3, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Pi-based multi-prop trigger for animatronics, Part 2
Back in March I wrote about a Pi-based controller for multiple Halloween props. As I go the props ready this year, I realized three things: 1) I wanted to change the routine from what I planned, 2) The way […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Back in March I wrote about a Pi-based controller for multiple Halloween props. As I go the props ready this year, I realized three things: 1) I wanted to change the routine from what I planned, 2) The way […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted by ViennaMike
When Indiana U's cowardly administrators shut down the student newspaper and fired its advisor, students from (big rival) Purdue published an edition with the disappeared material and distributed it on the IU campus.
Heartening resistance to gutless bullies […]
Heartening resistance to gutless bullies […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
October 19, 2025 at 6:25 PM
When Indiana U's cowardly administrators shut down the student newspaper and fired its advisor, students from (big rival) Purdue published an edition with the disappeared material and distributed it on the IU campus.
Heartening resistance to gutless bullies […]
Heartening resistance to gutless bullies […]
I've got a write-up on building my latest Halloween decoration on my blog: https://www.mcgurrin.info/robots/8236/
October 6, 2025 at 2:35 AM
I've got a write-up on building my latest Halloween decoration on my blog: https://www.mcgurrin.info/robots/8236/
Happy Tiki'ween! My first ever try at carving out a 2-level pumpkin with some sections just cut in, not through.
This is a Michael's faux pumpkin. Primary tools.were a pumpkin saw for the cutouts and a Dremel for the etching. Definitely wear a mask -- LOTS of pumpkin dust.
This is a Michael's faux pumpkin. Primary tools.were a pumpkin saw for the cutouts and a Dremel for the etching. Definitely wear a mask -- LOTS of pumpkin dust.
October 3, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Happy Tiki'ween! My first ever try at carving out a 2-level pumpkin with some sections just cut in, not through.
This is a Michael's faux pumpkin. Primary tools.were a pumpkin saw for the cutouts and a Dremel for the etching. Definitely wear a mask -- LOTS of pumpkin dust.
This is a Michael's faux pumpkin. Primary tools.were a pumpkin saw for the cutouts and a Dremel for the etching. Definitely wear a mask -- LOTS of pumpkin dust.
Phase 1 of.our foundation repair is done and I'm putting stuff back in the unfinished half of the basement. It occurred to me that with no landline, I really don't need these, nor the dozen or so phone cords that were with them.
September 29, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Phase 1 of.our foundation repair is done and I'm putting stuff back in the unfinished half of the basement. It occurred to me that with no landline, I really don't need these, nor the dozen or so phone cords that were with them.
3d printed tiki shades for the deck lights! See https://www.mcgurrin.info/robots/8214/
September 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
3d printed tiki shades for the deck lights! See https://www.mcgurrin.info/robots/8214/
Reposted by ViennaMike
Trump will, inevitably, claim that the DC local government irresponsibly left the parks in such bad shape that he was forced to have the National Guard clean them up.
Nope. The parks where the Guard units are picking up trash - the Tidal Basin and the National Mall - are and have always been […]
Nope. The parks where the Guard units are picking up trash - the Tidal Basin and the National Mall - are and have always been […]
Original post on federate.social
federate.social
August 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Trump will, inevitably, claim that the DC local government irresponsibly left the parks in such bad shape that he was forced to have the National Guard clean them up.
Nope. The parks where the Guard units are picking up trash - the Tidal Basin and the National Mall - are and have always been […]
Nope. The parks where the Guard units are picking up trash - the Tidal Basin and the National Mall - are and have always been […]
“I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over
someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag.”
(Molly Ivins)
someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag.”
(Molly Ivins)
August 27, 2025 at 3:45 PM
“I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over
someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag.”
(Molly Ivins)
someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag.”
(Molly Ivins)
Wtf? Please explain this sign posted outside the normal hotel elevators:.
June 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Wtf? Please explain this sign posted outside the normal hotel elevators:.
Reposted by ViennaMike
“Police cannot pick and choose when the First Amendment applies. Journalists in Los Angeles were not caught in the crossfire — they were targeted." - National Press Club President Mike Balsamo […]
Original post on journa.host
journa.host
June 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
“Police cannot pick and choose when the First Amendment applies. Journalists in Los Angeles were not caught in the crossfire — they were targeted." - National Press Club President Mike Balsamo […]
Reposted by ViennaMike
I take it all back. $45 million was a small price to pay to humiliate President Trump at his own parade and mobilize millions of Americans across the nation to demonstrate against him.
June 15, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I take it all back. $45 million was a small price to pay to humiliate President Trump at his own parade and mobilize millions of Americans across the nation to demonstrate against him.
Insurgent movements often aim to show that the government lacks a monopoly on the legitimate use of force, however our NON-VIOLENT protests opposing the MAGA administration instead exposes to the public that the administration's use of force and military power constitutes an unconstitutional and […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
June 13, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Insurgent movements often aim to show that the government lacks a monopoly on the legitimate use of force, however our NON-VIOLENT protests opposing the MAGA administration instead exposes to the public that the administration's use of force and military power constitutes an unconstitutional and […]
Crowd-Sourced List of Python Resources Related to Halloween
If you look at this blog, you'll quickly see that many of my projects relate to Halloween. I don’t know if this is a good, bad, or dumb idea, but as I was thinking about my use of Python for controlling Halloween props, I had the […]
If you look at this blog, you'll quickly see that many of my projects relate to Halloween. I don’t know if this is a good, bad, or dumb idea, but as I was thinking about my use of Python for controlling Halloween props, I had the […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
June 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Crowd-Sourced List of Python Resources Related to Halloween
If you look at this blog, you'll quickly see that many of my projects relate to Halloween. I don’t know if this is a good, bad, or dumb idea, but as I was thinking about my use of Python for controlling Halloween props, I had the […]
If you look at this blog, you'll quickly see that many of my projects relate to Halloween. I don’t know if this is a good, bad, or dumb idea, but as I was thinking about my use of Python for controlling Halloween props, I had the […]
I was thinking about my use of Python for controlling Halloween props and had the thought to have a crowdsourced list of python-related resources relating to Halloween, such as libraries, complete software packages, or even Halloween-themed games written with Python.
I’ve put together a Google […]
I’ve put together a Google […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
June 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I was thinking about my use of Python for controlling Halloween props and had the thought to have a crowdsourced list of python-related resources relating to Halloween, such as libraries, complete software packages, or even Halloween-themed games written with Python.
I’ve put together a Google […]
I’ve put together a Google […]
Quick Post #6: Bears Go Punk!
I've been pleasantly surprised by the uses around the house that I've found for the 3d printer my wife got for me last Christmas. This is about one such use. A couple of years back we saw some silhouettes of black bears in a yard while we were on vacation in the […]
I've been pleasantly surprised by the uses around the house that I've found for the 3d printer my wife got for me last Christmas. This is about one such use. A couple of years back we saw some silhouettes of black bears in a yard while we were on vacation in the […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
June 1, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Quick Post #6: Bears Go Punk!
I've been pleasantly surprised by the uses around the house that I've found for the 3d printer my wife got for me last Christmas. This is about one such use. A couple of years back we saw some silhouettes of black bears in a yard while we were on vacation in the […]
I've been pleasantly surprised by the uses around the house that I've found for the 3d printer my wife got for me last Christmas. This is about one such use. A couple of years back we saw some silhouettes of black bears in a yard while we were on vacation in the […]
Reposted by ViennaMike
My periodic rave at how much I love #rss (I am tying together lots of data for my work) and how it is truly the glue that holds together much of the open web. We are so lucky it gained critical mass before the worst of Web 2.0 took over and that it has lasted. We need to keep it alive at all costs.
May 28, 2025 at 7:45 PM
My periodic rave at how much I love #rss (I am tying together lots of data for my work) and how it is truly the glue that holds together much of the open web. We are so lucky it gained critical mass before the worst of Web 2.0 took over and that it has lasted. We need to keep it alive at all costs.
They don't care if they accidentally terrorize U.S. citizens while seizing their belongings and their cash. https://kfor.com/news/local/were-citizens-oklahoma-city-family-traumatized-after-ice-raids-home-but-they-werent-suspects/
#resist
#resist
April 29, 2025 at 9:23 PM
They don't care if they accidentally terrorize U.S. citizens while seizing their belongings and their cash. https://kfor.com/news/local/were-citizens-oklahoma-city-family-traumatized-after-ice-raids-home-but-they-werent-suspects/
#resist
#resist
Been there once, it was just about 2 1/2 blocks from our hotel. Would definitely go back. Recommended. https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/the-city/tonga-room-maintains-historic-san-francisco-tiki-fantasy/article_13d153db-d7aa-483a-812c-3576dc1c04a1.html
Tonga Room maintains historical tiki fantasy
The bar turns 75 this year.
www.sfexaminer.com
April 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Been there once, it was just about 2 1/2 blocks from our hotel. Would definitely go back. Recommended. https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/the-city/tonga-room-maintains-historic-san-francisco-tiki-fantasy/article_13d153db-d7aa-483a-812c-3576dc1c04a1.html
A tariff masterpiece:
April 27, 2025 at 3:44 AM
A tariff masterpiece: