My little Samsung Sens X10 laptop died today. Almost 20 years old. RIP, loyal machine. You will be fondly remembered.
science, technology
Meanderings about science, technology, computers, networking, space, energy … anything techno (except techno music).
new toaster, printer, job
A couple of days ago a few things happened – I bought a new toaster, I found a printer on sale and bought it, and I got an offer for a job and accepted.
First things first – I am now a Drafting Technologist for ISP. I applied last week, had the first interview earlier this week, a phone call to come in for a second interview on Thursday, and was offered a position during that interview. I start Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 and will be reviewed after 3 months.
I also got an email from ASET congratulating me on being a Technologist in Training. Now I must work for two out of the next three and a half years go obtain my C. Tech / C.E.T. designation.
I bought a toaster. Thanks to Walmart’s Rollback price, I got a Black & Decker toaster for $18.88. Pretty cheap. It even has a bagel button.
And, finally, a printer. I thought I’d drop by the printer / scanner area to try to replace my dead machine. I was looking at a printer, and a Walmart guy came around and asked, “You’re looking for the one on sale?” “Uh … yah, I am.” Eh? I found a pile of Canon PIXMA MX492 boxes. I wasn’t expecting to pay $34 though. I’d be an idiot to not buy it.
algorithm accountability legislation, or beware of the AI monster within ourselves
An acquaintance down south is trying to get this ball rolling. Software engineers, in AI for example, create algorithms for every application needed. Yet, who knows what these algorithms are doing – how they’re gathering, using data?
Here’s an interesting article that says a lot on the subject. We Need an FDA for Algorithms
radio transceiver antenna mount
Like my radio transceiver antenna mount? It took me about one hour to create it. Good or bad? Well, it’s pretty exact in specs. “Pretty exact”? Within reason I mean. It will go on the teardrop trailer and connect to the Stryker SR-955HP 10 Meter Amateur Mobile Transceiver. Eh? Here’s a Revit drawing of one and a photo of the other.
Uniden PC-122
I won an auction for a Uniden PC-122 CB/SSB radio. This is the same radio as the Radio Shack TRC-465. It’s a solid little radio. I am thinking that MV can use it when we travel together. We’re always fighting with battery power and range with some 2-way radios that we have.
For those who don’t know, SSB (Super Side Band, or just Sideband) radio is a type of radio signal that has no carrier wave but sends a signal through pure modulation. Eh? Read up if you want. These radios operate on the same frequencies as regular CB radios, either just above (Upper Side Band) or just below (Lower Side Band). The upside of SSB is increased range. The downside is that the receiver cannot lock on to any carrier wave but must adjust their receiving modulation up or down to hone in on the signal.
privacy policy needed, apparently
I was about to put another entry onto the ongoing letter. I got a message from WordPress, the software that runs my ongoing letter, saying that I should probably have a ‘privacy policy’.
Personal Data and Privacy
Personal Data Export and Erasure
New Tools have been added to help you with personal data export and erasure requests.
Privacy Policy
Create or select your site’s privacy policy page under Settings > Privacy to keep your users informed and aware.
Bloody hell. I clicked to view the next page.
driverless cars – seriously?
I saw an article by BBC on autonomous taxis.
Why you have (probably) already bought your last car
I wrote on Twitter in response:
Allan 알렌 @allansplace 17 seconds ago
How about RV drivers who take their rigs camping? Driving 14 hours from Calgary to Vancouver on mountain highways, dead of winter, 3 feet of snow? How about family trips, stopping at a roadside historic information sign? Not all travel is commute. This utopia does not compute.
I pile camping crap into my car and head off into the hills. How would that work with an all-electric, self-driving car? I go off-road in my little Kia, climbing up a mud and gravel hill on a logging road for excitement. The Kia performs well. Could an autonomous electric taxi replace my car? Don’t think so. I’m accident free since 1987, driving in large cities, on long highways, through blizzard conditions, daytime and at night. Long time. Loooong time. No way in hell an autonomous car will take my license away.
Now if you’re talking about a car that can drive by itself, with the driver taking over at any point he / she wishes to, I’d be into that. Sure, why not? But, in a city the size of Lethbridge, I really can’t see how it could be useful. Downtown Seoul? Sure.
later
Just curious – Google (advocates of self-driving cars) collects a lot of data from lots of people, like our travel habits. Does it know how much travel I do that isn’t part of my daily work commute?
Google Console and searches
It occurred to me a while back that my websites were not searchable in Google, Ask.com, Yahoo!, Duckduckgo, or anything else. Why? Didn’t people search for seaweed soup or ESL classes? Weren’t people interested? I was hurt! Not really, but it was weird nonetheless. Back in the day, when static HTML pages ruled and students logged in, my website was searched for many times.
speaking of ‘way back’
Do we need a way back to using paper? Do we need to abandon technology?
Digital Devices in the Classroom: A Learning Aid or Toxic Distraction for Kids?
The article talks about whether it is beneficial or not for kids to use technology in the classroom.
Way Back Machine
Has anyone heard of the Way Back Machine? It’s a set of archives from websites. Mine is in there. If you ever want to go way back in time, this is a way back to what my website used to look like.
You can even go back to how it started as allaninkorea.net.
It takes a few moments to get the archives to come up as this is … well … archived. Interesting nonetheless.