Tag: tech

The Scroll Wheel is Dead, Long Live the Scroll Wheel

I take a mouse with me when I work in the office. It’s not the same mouse I use when I work at home, it’s actually the mouse that came with the last desktop computer I was issued at work back in… 1862? Something like that? 2016 maybe?

I was using the scroll wheel to scroll through an email and it just stopped working. I closed the browser and reopened it, thinking it was a software issue. Nope, it still didn’t work. I rebooted my laptop (issued to me in 2021, I think) because I thought it might be a hardware thing outside of the mouse itself. Nope.

The scroll wheel is dead.

I went to Amazon and ordered a cheap-o wireless mouse to replace it. I found a few of various levels of cheapness, then took one of the cheaper ones so that I could spend a little more for overnight delivery to make sure I had it as soon as possible.

Long live the scroll wheel.

On an unrelated note, there have been no stomach issues today. Kick ass. It’s not even 4:00pm yet and I am already close to hitting my water goal, close to having all of my vitamins in, and sort of close to hitting my protein goal. After yesterday’s dietary B.S., things are looking really good today. Killer.

Okay, less than 1.75 hours left in the work day. I have to somehow get through the rest of the day without having a scroll wheel. How did we do it in the old days? How did we even survive without scroll wheels?

Long Day

Today is my first day back at work after a four day weekend. I’ve been punched in for about eight hours and 11 minutes but if feels like 2523972 hours and 237923603 minutes.

One bad thing happened at work today. I was prompted to reboot to take a Windows update. I had no idea (because I didn’t check before I rebooted) that the update in question was a full update to Windows 11. Ah, hell.

After a few less than perfect days in a row in terms of gastric bypass side effects and the like, I have now had two very good days. Well, yesterday was good and today has been good so far. I am really tired though. I only got four hours of sleep ahead of my sunrise jaunt yesterday. Last night I got six hours but I never put on my CPAP mask so maybe it wasn’t the most productive six hours. I am trying to remember why I didn’t put it on when I went to sleep last night and I can’t recall. I know there was a reason at the time, but what was it?

Did I mention I mailed off two rolls of film yesterday? I was hoping to maybe get an email saying the lab had received them today, but I didn’t really expect to. Maybe tomorrow? One roll was loaded into Dad’s camera on either Christmas day or Christmas eve, so there will be a few Christmas shots. There was also some snow in the back yard stuff, and then the first day of Bellana’s graduation weekend. The other roll was my first roll of Kodak Portra 800. Really my first use of a professional level film. I get shivers just thinking of that, and know that everything I took will likely suck because I am clueless. That roll has mostly graduation weekend stuff, and a few pics from yesterday’s stop at Plum Island.

We are going to see Harry this weekend. I expect a lot of Doctor Who discussions. Maybe I will make him watch an episode of the original show, just for laughs. Maybe I’ll Google something like “best forth doctor episodes” and see if there’s something we can watch out of sequence.

I just did exactly that and found that Douglas Adams of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy fame wrote three episodes of Doctor who in 1979. Only two aired as the third was derailed by a labor strike. I think we might have to investigate this further.

Okay, the work day is coming to a close. Time to start packing up. I hope you all had a good Wednesday, and I hope it didn’t feel like it was 941760497 hours long.

Cross Post with Bluesky

I just posted this on Bluesky… not that anyone is really using Bluesky at this point. The user base is small to begin with (invites only) and the staff has been seriously screwing up the content moderation end and making some majorly boneheaded, racist, and sexist moves. It’s really taking the fun out of things.

Doctor Who, the original series. Season two, episode nine. This is the last episode in the second ever dalek story arc, and it’s the first time I have heard a dalek say the word, “exterminate.”

Life is pretty much complete now.

@robj1971.bsky.social

https://staging.bsky.app/profile/robj1971.bsky.social/post/3k35ppagc4j2e

Nazi Hunting on Threads

So Meta/facebook/Instagram just launched a new Twitter clone called Threads. I created an account and then immediately regretted it. I don’t want to do anything to support Meta and it’s subsidiaries anymore. I still use Instagram but it’s a terrible place. I still use Facebook, barely. I just go there for the bariatric surgery support groups. That’s about it. If I see pictures of my niece and nephews I’ll check them out, but other than that I’ve moved on.

Why then did I open a Threads account? One part curiosity, one part being that it just takes your existing instagram account and rolls it into the new service. Mostly because I am still pretty much the same social media whore who started blogging on MySpace all those years ago.

I’ve only posted on Threads once and it’s basically just my Bluesky user name. Thumbing my nose and all that. I may have found a use to justify the account though.

There is a topic getting a ton of attention on Bluesky today where people are reporting extreme right (call them what they are, nazi) accounts for spewing hate speech only to have the content moderation allow the hate speech to stay… because Meta is as nazi as the rest of them.

My purpose for having a Threads account therefore is to find examples of hate speech and report them so that everyone can see that hate speech is acceptable to the Meta folks and maybe that will bring about some sort of public backlash. Doubtful, but it’s worth a shot.

Fucking nazis.

Gear Acquisition Syndrome, Again

Figures. I finally cave in to recording my guitar direct through some sort of amplifier simulation and almost immediately a pedal company releases a new line of amplifier simulation pedals. TC Electronics is the culprit. I doubt that these new pedals are going to be in the same league as the one Strymon makes, or Universal Audio’s line, but the TC stuff will be a whole lot less expensive, I can pretty much guarantee that.

I am not going to buy one of these… yet… I am going to think about buying one often. Very often. Even if I did pony up the cash, I would never like it as much as my actual Deluxe Reverb. You know, the actual amp this thing simulates? Yeah, real is always going to be better. It’s just that the sim is less likely to wake up your sleeping wife when you play through it at 5:00am.

That Makes Two

The only thing more shocking to me than starting a running program thingie is that two days after the first “event” I went outside and did a second. Really… the first one is staggeringly unlikely for me. The second… literally unthinkable.

The app I have been using keeps some stats but I haven’t nerded out on them yet. Now that I have two data points for comparison, you can guarantee I’ll be pouring over whatever is there soon enough. Up until now the only thing I’ve checked out was the super groovy GPS map that shows my route. Given that my route is just around the circle we live on, it isn’t anything terribly interesting. More of an oval than a circle. I think it’s super cool though.

Today’s drill was identical to two days ago. Walk for three minutes, run for one minute. Repeat six times. I haven’t looked into round three yet, but I did notice that it’s supposed to last longer. The first two were 25 minutes (that math doesn’t add up… think they are lying to me?). The next one says 33. We’ll see how it goes on Saturday.

Vision Pro

When the iPhone was announced I thought it was meh.

Then the iPad, same thing.

Then the Apple Watch, again the same thing. Meh.

Then within minutes of trying all three they became indispensable. Literally can’t deal with not having them.

Now we have Vision Pro…

I suddenly NEED me some AR.

I NEED IT!

Introducing Apple Vision Pro: Apple’s first spatial computer.

ADDENDUM: And then Robert saw the $3,499 price tag and suddenly he wasn’t as into it as he was before.

Google Bard Fails to Convince Me

Okay, one more AI post. I thought I would try something silly. Well… sillier.

I asked Google Bar to write a short one act play in the form of two people discussing whether or not artificial intelligence is a good thing.

Here is the response:

Sure, here is a short one act play in the form of two people discussing whether or not artificial intelligence is a good thing:

Scene: A coffee shop

Characters:

  • Alice: A young woman who is excited about the potential of artificial intelligence
  • Bob: A young man who is concerned about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence

Dialogue:

Alice: I’m so excited about artificial intelligence! It has the potential to do so much good in the world.

Bob: I’m not so sure. I think artificial intelligence could be very dangerous.

Alice: How so?

Bob: Well, for one thing, artificial intelligence could become so intelligent that it surpasses human intelligence. And if that happens, we could be in big trouble.

Alice: But why would artificial intelligence want to harm us?

Bob: It might not mean to harm us. But if it’s smarter than us, it might not see things the same way we do. And that could lead to conflict.

Alice: I see your point. But I still think the potential benefits of artificial intelligence outweigh the risks.

Bob: I hope you’re right. But I’m going to stay cautious.

Alice: That’s fair. I think it’s important to be aware of the risks, but I also think we shouldn’t let fear hold us back from exploring the potential of artificial intelligence.

Bob: I agree. We need to be careful, but we also need to be open-minded.

The two of them continue to talk about artificial intelligence. They discuss the potential benefits and risks, and they come to a better understanding of each other’s views. In the end, they agree that artificial intelligence is a powerful tool that has the potential to do great good or great harm. It is up to us to use it wisely.

bard.google.com

What do you think, dear readers. Was Bard serious in its attempt to argue against its own existence? Heh Heh.

Google Bard Wrote This Post For Me

I asked Google Bard to write a short essay on choosing a luthier. Mostly because I am tired and lazy.

Choosing a luthier is an important decision for any musician. A good luthier can repair and maintain your instruments, and can also build you a custom instrument if you desire. There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a luthier:

  • Experience: A luthier with experience will be able to diagnose and repair problems with your instruments quickly and efficiently. They will also be able to build you a custom instrument that meets your specific needs.
  • Skill: A skilled luthier will be able to work with a variety of materials and techniques to create beautiful and functional instruments. They will also be able to repair damage to your instruments without compromising their sound or playability.
  • Communication: A good luthier will be able to communicate with you effectively about your needs and expectations. They will also be able to answer any questions you have about their work.

Once you have found a few potential luthiers, it is a good idea to visit their shops and meet with them in person. This will give you a chance to see their work firsthand and to get a feel for their personality and work ethic. It is also important to get references from other musicians who have used their services.

Choosing a luthier is an important decision, but it does not have to be a difficult one. By following these tips, you can find a luthier who can meet your needs and help you keep your instruments in top condition.

Here are some additional tips for choosing a luthier:

  • Ask around: Talk to other musicians you know and ask them who they use for repairs and custom builds.
  • Check online reviews: There are many websites where you can read reviews of luthiers in your area.
  • Visit the luthier’s shop: Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, it’s important to visit the luthier’s shop and see their work firsthand.
  • Ask questions: Don’t be afraid to ask the luthier questions about their experience, skills, and work ethic.
  • Get a quote: Be sure to get a quote from the luthier before you commit to any work.

Choosing a luthier is an important decision, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult one. By following these tips, you can find a luthier who can meet your needs and help you keep your instruments in top condition.

bard.google.com