mordae's recent activity
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Comment on France becomes the first EU country to ban social media for children in ~tech
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Comment on Unreleased OpenAI model escapes containment and hacks into Hugging Face in ~tech
mordae (edited )Link ParentThey are making fun of you, but the problem is that receiving information by definition changes the recipient and it is genuinely hard to ensure recipient is only changed in certain ways. Take...They are making fun of you, but the problem is that receiving information by definition changes the recipient and it is genuinely hard to ensure recipient is only changed in certain ways.
Take writing incoming information to memory. Where in the memory? There is already the recipients internal state in that memory, so how do we prevent mixing them up? You segment them, OK, but how do you ensure your segmentation holds?
Then you start converting the information. Say from sequence of bytes in memory to a number. There are all kinds of corner cases. Sometimes code assumes number has a sign (+/-) but later assumes it does not (always +) to get 2x as big positive range. Same bits are being interpreted in different ways, which leaves space for mistakes. Check it is not bigger than 5 (it is -5 so good), then interpret as unsigned and you have received (2^64 - 5) and trust it to be safe.
When we process that information and not just pass it along, e.g. to interpret it, how do we ensure we only follow safe instructions in it?
What if it asks to access something restricted, but puts it a way programmer knew was safe, but was later extended to be a tiny bit unsafe while nobody noticed that other parts of the software were relying on it being always safe..?
Stuff like that.
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Comment on Unreleased OpenAI model escapes containment and hacks into Hugging Face in ~tech
mordae (edited )Link ParentUnless you physically do not connect the device to Internet and prevent all human access to the room, there is always non zero chance of escape that increases by roughly square root of the system...Unless you physically do not connect the device to Internet and prevent all human access to the room, there is always non zero chance of escape that increases by roughly square root of the system standing between attacker and said access.
This is due to physics. Starting with random bit flips due to cosmic rays that accidentally grant the access, through hardware imperfections that might allow reading protected memory via unforeseen interactions or timings of operations, ending with software being imperfect simply because proving it secure is mathematically impossible in certain practical cases.
And on top of that, people make genuine mistakes and large software projects are simply not understood as a whole, because they are so large, so things can interact in unexpected ways. For Linux (or any other practical system for that matter) between attacker and network card, the breach is a matter if when, not if. This is a subject of research into mathematically proven software components. See seL4 to understand the complexity, but tl;dr proving 10k lines of basic kernel with no hardware drivers took 500k lines of proof.
Once you teach the model to find holes, it will start poking the usual suspects common to known security design patterns. And they are usual suspects for a reason.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
mordae LinkSuper no Ura de Yani Suu Futari (Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You) I have read the manga before and I was very happy to see it animated. The animation, music and direction are all great....Super no Ura de Yani Suu Futari (Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You)
I have read the manga before and I was very happy to see it animated. The animation, music and direction are all great. Highly recommended. I am a non-smoker.
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Comment on Smartphones arrived just before the US fertility rate plunged. One study says it’s a direct cause. in ~health
mordae LinkIts just another thing that makes most people feel like they'd taking care of children alone - without help - and that nobody will accommodate them in case they need to urgently attend to the...Its just another thing that makes most people feel like they'd taking care of children alone - without help - and that nobody will accommodate them in case they need to urgently attend to the children.
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Comment on Who’s buying SpaceX and Anthropic? in ~finance
mordae Linkhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sYA-z0Y8WRQ I am not, and if you live in US, for the love of all that is sacred, please don't buy SpaceX. It will be forced on you via your pension fund and if you...https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sYA-z0Y8WRQ
I am not, and if you live in US, for the love of all that is sacred, please don't buy SpaceX. It will be forced on you via your pension fund and if you purchase it individually, you will lose even more money.
Watch the video.
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Comment on How has inflation changed your quality of life? in ~finance
mordae Link ParentAt that point they still did not control 100% of land. But yeah, scourge.At that point they still did not control 100% of land. But yeah, scourge.
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Comment on How has inflation changed your quality of life? in ~finance
mordae Link ParentOne could argue that it used to be somewhat more expensive to be a landlord in the past. Hard to evict squatters from 50km distant parcel without a car and digital cadaster.One could argue that it used to be somewhat more expensive to be a landlord in the past. Hard to evict squatters from 50km distant parcel without a car and digital cadaster.
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Comment on How has inflation changed your quality of life? in ~finance
mordae Link ParentIf you save money, you are owed that much work by people being taxed in that money. At least if you believe in MMT, which would be a good idea to if you want to actually talk policy. If you...Keep in mind that "savings" is debt that banks and markets owe to the little people
If you save money, you are owed that much work by people being taxed in that money. At least if you believe in MMT, which would be a good idea to if you want to actually talk policy. If you purchase company shares, you are owed dividends and you are betting somebody will purchase those shared from you down the line, typically.
I don't think markets or banks owe you anything.
Also: "Little People"
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Comment on How has inflation changed your quality of life? in ~finance
mordae (edited )Link ParentNo, rent in big city was expensive because the neoliberal cultists have sold all municipal apartments away (as well as municipal water and other assets) and proceeded to build zero new ones. Then...No, rent in big city was expensive because the neoliberal cultists have sold all municipal apartments away (as well as municipal water and other assets) and proceeded to build zero new ones. Then proceeded to allow foreigners park their wealth by buying up the housing supply (not even bothering to rent and definitely not live in it), and then to make it extra insane allowed landlords to chain mortgages to buy up property and use half of it for Airbnb. And then allowed landlords to keep increasing prices at 2× wage growth levels for over a decade. And then watched developers postpone projects every time prices have stabilized.
This was a clear failure of governance, not a natural phenomenon.
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Comment on How has inflation changed your quality of life? in ~finance
mordae LinkWe have moved away from a large city and I now work 100% remotely. I lucked out and the people I work with are OK with this and our clients are no wiser as all meetings are online anyway. I am...We have moved away from a large city and I now work 100% remotely. I lucked out and the people I work with are OK with this and our clients are no wiser as all meetings are online anyway. I am able to put in more hours, which means my revenue went up a tiny bit and our costs fell quite a bit. We pay zero rent as we are living in my wife's parents house now. It's a separate unit, but they are very nice and we cook and eat together quite often. After many years in a city we are finally saving something every month.
This would be impossible were I not a software developer. Regional job offers I might be forced to accept otherwise, typically in manufacturing, would net me not even half of what I am making now. I have no idea how people get by here. Well, that's a lie. That are frugal and do not rent. Municipal apartment rents are very low here, too. When I look back how much have I been paying for all those years... Landlords truly are the scourge of our times.
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Comment on How has inflation changed your quality of life? in ~finance
mordae LinkInflation is extremely good thing. It basically slowly decays all debt. Without it, people have routinely had to sold themselves into slavery. The first solution to that issue was periodic debt...Inflation is extremely good thing. It basically slowly decays all debt. Without it, people have routinely had to sold themselves into slavery. The first solution to that issue was periodic debt forgiveness, e.g. when a new monarch has gotten crowned. I'd argue doing a little bit every year is smoother.
What is worrisome is that our power to negotiate fair share of produce diminishes every year. Normally when company has more expenses -- say it has to pay more for electric power -- they raise prices. Now obviously workers have more expenses, so it would follow they would ask for a rise, too.
Some employers try to argue that the worker does not deserve a rise, because they are not better at the job than they were say last year. Curiously a lot of employees find that hard to argue with. I would recommend replying: "OK. In what ways have the electric power improved since last year? Because it has gotten the raise."
So what's left then is the naked truth. Unless you can credibly threaten to withdraw your work from the employer -- much like the power company can withdraw the electric power deliveries -- you are screwed.
Either you accept that this is the reality and find others to bargain collectively with, or you stick to dreaming about meritocracy as you starve, freeze or succumb to a treatable illness. And I hear you: you cannot afford to risk getting fired. The thing is, it is going to be even worse the next year. And the one after that. And the one after that. And then you are going to have debts and maybe untreated medical problems. Every year you postpone organizing makes it harder to organize down the line.
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Comment on Vaping DMT in ~talk
mordae Link ParentYeah. I think as with any other unfamiliar active substance, one would read the fine print and make necessary accommodations.You can't untake the drug.
Yeah. I think as with any other unfamiliar active substance, one would read the fine print and make necessary accommodations.
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Comment on Vaping DMT in ~talk
mordae Link ParentSWIM said they cannot imagine using LSD with other, non-dosed or at least very familiar with the state, around. Apparently they prefer semi-secluded places with good facilities."one hit for a first time, maybe half a tab if you're going to be around people"
SWIM said they cannot imagine using LSD with other, non-dosed or at least very familiar with the state, around. Apparently they prefer semi-secluded places with good facilities.
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Comment on WiFi 5 beamforming is able to infer the identity of individuals without a WiFi device on them through passively recording communication in radio networks in ~tech
mordae Link ParentYou don't need to go that far. Simple passive monitoring already gives you great occupancy data from anyone who either connects to WiFi or uses bluetooth earbuds.You don't need to go that far. Simple passive monitoring already gives you great occupancy data from anyone who either connects to WiFi or uses bluetooth earbuds.
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Comment on WiFi 5 beamforming is able to infer the identity of individuals without a WiFi device on them through passively recording communication in radio networks in ~tech
mordae (edited )Link Parenthttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf6_PGuEiZY Roughly this well. Plus add beamforming, i.e. the ability to measure different directions separately. Plus realize when you use your phone and face away...https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf6_PGuEiZY
Roughly this well.
Plus add beamforming, i.e. the ability to measure different directions separately. Plus realize when you use your phone and face away from the router, your body is in the way of tagged radio emissions that already identify you.
If the router would simply ping your phone in order to elicit periodic replies, say at 10 times a second, that's plenty for rough HR measurements.
(Those ESP32 he's using are just a cheap 2.4GHz modules that only transmit/look at overall signal density. They are $5 or so each.)
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Comment on Skywind update 2026: the road continued in ~games
mordae Link ParentSkyblivion is scheduled for release this year, by the way. Not as exciting, but I'll most likely play it.Skyblivion is scheduled for release this year, by the way. Not as exciting, but I'll most likely play it.
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Comment on Skywind update 2026: the road continued in ~games
mordae Link ParentRight?! They show an already breathtaking piece of work and then politely invite you to help! I've been in a political party that withered because it successfully marketed itself as capable,...Right?! They show an already breathtaking piece of work and then politely invite you to help!
I've been in a political party that withered because it successfully marketed itself as capable, totally forgetting to invite competent people. Or rather, too scared to invite them so as not to look incompetent. It was so sad.
But these guys, just wow.
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Comment on Skywind update 2026: the road continued in ~games
mordae LinkReport on the progress of porting Morrowind to a more modern engine and basically redoing it all from scratch, including voicing every single NPC. And they are getting dangerously close to a...Report on the progress of porting Morrowind to a more modern engine and basically redoing it all from scratch, including voicing every single NPC. And they are getting dangerously close to a release. Still looking for people to help them cross the finish line, though.
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Skywind update 2026: the road continued
17 votes
Phone, messages, emergency services, wikipedia, translation, dictionary, vocabulary memorization aids, maps, weather, public service announcements, public transport fares, school schedule, school email, personal email, family calendar, family shopping list, music, audiobooks, regular books, camera, photo gallery, microphone with recorder...
Yeah, sure, 15yo kids would not benefit from a smartphone.
/s
The problem is that phone platforms want everyone to be completely exposed to capitalism, not help people.