pienix's recent activity
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (May 2024) in ~health.mental
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (May 2024) in ~health.mental
pienix Link ParentFor now, just time off work. Take away all other things that cause stress, to get my stress level back to normal. It was not easy to let go. Especially because there are some things I literally...For now, just time off work. Take away all other things that cause stress, to get my stress level back to normal. It was not easy to let go. Especially because there are some things I literally cannot not do, so I can't completely cut off work.
Luckily, sleep has been improving, but if it wouldn't, a sleep program or something similar would have been the next step. I also have some appointments with a therapist.
After this month, we reevaluate with the doctor. It's no use going back too early; I would simply fall back into the same patterns. So it might be extended, we'll see.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (May 2024) in ~health.mental
pienix LinkUps and downs, but generally better, I'd say. Since the beginning of this year, I've been dealing with stress and sleep issues. When I get stressed, if affects my sleep. But I can get stressed...Ups and downs, but generally better, I'd say.
Since the beginning of this year, I've been dealing with stress and sleep issues. When I get stressed, if affects my sleep. But I can get stressed when I don't sleep well. Sometimes I get stuck in this vicious cycle of stress, no sleep, more stress, worse sleep, ...
This time I really couldn't take it and longer, went to the doctor, who put me at rest for a month. In my second week now, just realizing how exhausted I was. Sleep is better, but still some way to go. Still quite sensitive to stress, though. So very glad that I don't have to deal with work for another couple of weeks.
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Comment on What books helped you deal with the anxiety of life's uncertainties? in ~books
pienix LinkI see a lot of more serious literature, but when you're dealing with anxiety and stress, you might not look forward to picking up a mountain of a book. So I'll suggest an alternative: The Cat Who...I see a lot of more serious literature, but when you're dealing with anxiety and stress, you might not look forward to picking up a mountain of a book. So I'll suggest an alternative: The Cat Who Taught Zen, by James Norbury.
It's about a cat, looking for inner peace, meeting different animals on its journey, with tiny stories and leaving tidbits of wisdom. It's beautifully illustrated. If you want, you can read it in half an hour. But I see it as something that needs to be savored, experienced at a slow pace. Read a couple of pages, enjoy the illustrations, and leave the rest for another day.
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Comment on E-ink tablets for note-taking in ~tech
pienix Link ParentI also have a Remarkable 2, but with a totally different experience. I have to preface with saying that I got the Remarkable very early (so quite cheap), and because of that I also have a free...I also have a Remarkable 2, but with a totally different experience.
I have to preface with saying that I got the Remarkable very early (so quite cheap), and because of that I also have a free lifetime subscription for the plugins like Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.
I use it exclusively for work. I prefer taking written notes during meetings. I used to have a traditional notebook for that, but I have a lot of meetings for a lot of different projects. Keeping things organized in a simple notebook was not possible. On my remarkable i have folders for each project and I store my notes there, which makes it very easy to look up previous notes. I have to say I honestly would not want to not have a Remarkable (or similar) anymore. I review papers, theses, phd dissertations, and take notes directly in the pdf. I use it to sign digital forms. I use it daily. (I also have a script that allows me to use it as a graphic tablet, so i could write notes on slides when teaching online)
For me, it does what it needs to do. Note taking is natural, and I don't need too much bells and whistles. I don't actually use the syncing features, I use the usb port to move files, although perhaps I should for a more secure and regular backup.
That being said, if my remarkable starts to fail, I don't know if I would buy another. There are lots of options and indeed, the 'nickle-and-diming' at remarkable is obvious and annoying. I would definitely buy something (it's become part of my working process), but I'll have to check alternatives as well (apart from Supernote, Onyx looks interesting as well)
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Comment on Game recommendations, specifically in ~games
pienix Link ParentIt's quite well known, but you haven't mentioned it, nor anyone in their replies to you, so assuming you haven't heard of it: The Witness. There isn't much of a story to it, it's just a bunch of...It's quite well known, but you haven't mentioned it, nor anyone in their replies to you, so assuming you haven't heard of it: The Witness. There isn't much of a story to it, it's just a bunch of puzzles. No explanations are given, however; you learn as you go. Some sections are 'closed' as in 'locked behind a puzzle you haven't learned to solve yet'.
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Comment on Just passed my PhD defense :) in ~talk
pienix Link ParentOh, man. I'm in applied sciences myself, so you could say I'm 'scientifically inclined', but that topic goes way over my head. The main thing I got from the abstract was that is seems like a lot...Oh, man. I'm in applied sciences myself, so you could say I'm 'scientifically inclined', but that topic goes way over my head. The main thing I got from the abstract was that is seems like a lot of work!
'Overseas' is obviously depending of your point of view, but I assume you're in the US. So do you have any specific countries (or universities) in mind you would like to end up in? Who knows, we might be colleagues some day.
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Comment on Just passed my PhD defense :) in ~talk
pienix LinkCongratulations! What was the topic about? I finished my PhD a while ago (almost 13 years, now), but I remember the struggles. The moment I submitted my PhD (didn't even defend it yet) I went on a...Congratulations! What was the topic about?
I finished my PhD a while ago (almost 13 years, now), but I remember the struggles. The moment I submitted my PhD (didn't even defend it yet) I went on a three-week roadtrip in the USA.
Afterwards I also went to some job interviews but I couldn't quite leave academics behind. I'm a professor now, so I'm in it for the long haul.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
pienix LinkWayward Pines trilogy of Blake Crouch. I read some of his other works that I found really interesting. Interesting concepts and but more interesting consequences of those concepts (Dark Matter,...Wayward Pines trilogy of Blake Crouch. I read some of his other works that I found really interesting. Interesting concepts and but more interesting consequences of those concepts (Dark Matter, Recursion, and to a lesser extent Upgrade).
They are all quite light books, and read very fast. Wayward Pines is ... ok. I enjoy reading it, but it's nothing special. -
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
pienix Link ParentI'm finishing up the last installment of Tchaikovsky's Final Architecture series. Although I'm really enjoying it, I preferred the Children series. Children of Memory is different than the other...I'm finishing up the last installment of Tchaikovsky's Final Architecture series. Although I'm really enjoying it, I preferred the Children series.
Children of Memory is different than the other two. It's a lot warmer and more emotional that the others, that take more the cold science approach. Definitely worth a read!
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
pienix Link ParentI enjoyed reading A House of Leaves. Now that I think about it, the story isn't all that great. Can't say I remember much about it. But the reading itself is an amazing experience.I enjoyed reading A House of Leaves. Now that I think about it, the story isn't all that great. Can't say I remember much about it. But the reading itself is an amazing experience.
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Comment on Made with vanilla sponge, meringue, almonds, custard and whipped cream – Norwegians love this cake so much they nicknamed it "the world's best cake" in ~food
pienix LinkOh, my. Looks delicious! Saved it with my other recipes-that-i-really-want-to-try-sometime-when-i-have-time-but-probably-will-never-get-to.Oh, my. Looks delicious! Saved it with my other recipes-that-i-really-want-to-try-sometime-when-i-have-time-but-probably-will-never-get-to.
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Comment on Emily Blunt is 'so ready' for an Edge of Tomorrow sequel in ~movies
pienix Link ParentNo, not necessary. But sometimes, the problem with pure prequels (IMO) is that there is nothing at stake, because you know it's going to play out. I mean, you basically always know the good guys...No, not necessary. But sometimes, the problem with pure prequels (IMO) is that there is nothing at stake, because you know it's going to play out.
I mean, you basically always know the good guys will win. But still.
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Comment on Language is a poor heuristic for intelligence in ~comp
pienix Link ParentInteresting read, and most of it agreeable. An LLM is a language model, and people should treat it as such. However, properly applied, it might produce useful information (eg summarizing,...Interesting read, and most of it agreeable. An LLM is a language model, and people should treat it as such. However, properly applied, it might produce useful information (eg summarizing, translating, etc). Useful, but not necessarily errorless.
I do have some thoughts with the article, though. One of them is the fact that the author conflates LLM with AI in general.
"As a society, we’re going to have to radically rethink when and how and even if it makes sense to trust any information that either originates from, or is mediated by, any kind of machine-learning algorithm — which, if you think about it, currently encompasses nearly All The Things."
There is a difference between trusting information from a trained LLM, and an AI specifically designed and trained for a specific task (eg pattern recognition in complex data, recognizing tumors in a scan). These are things that are difficult to do accurately in traditional data analysis, and where AI outperforms traditional software and even experienced humans.
Another point, not specifically aimed at the author, but at the discussion of a AI 'conscience' in general. People might overestimate the 'understanding' of an AI, but I would say we also overestimate our own 'understanding' and 'consciousness'. Whatever these concepts are, they are (complex) processes in our brain, which can be reduced to basic physical processes. Processes that are not that different from species where we don't assume 'understanding' and 'consciousness'. So I see it merely as an emergent property, and not something inherent, not something you can measure or detect. In fact, you can only be sure you yourself are conscious and can understand something. Everybody else could be an advanced LLM. But if you cannot know the difference, is there a difference?
I think it is difficult to say whether or not an AI might have a consciousness (in the future, obviously we're not there yet) if we aren't able to clearly define what a consciousness is.
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Comment on Emily Blunt is 'so ready' for an Edge of Tomorrow sequel in ~movies
pienix Link ParentOr perhaps a prequel/sequel, where Cruise (somehow) goes back in time to the battle at Verdun, and basically tell the story of the Angel of Verdun. They (now its Cruise guiding Blunt) have to make...Or perhaps a prequel/sequel, where Cruise (somehow) goes back in time to the battle at Verdun, and basically tell the story of the Angel of Verdun.
They (now its Cruise guiding Blunt) have to make sure the battle ends in the same way as before, so the events of the first film can still happen. -
Comment on Are you currently learning a new language? Are there any languages that are on your wishlist to learn? in ~humanities.languages
pienix LinkMy native language is Dutch (Flemish), I've studied French, German, and English in school. Of those I have decent passive knowledge of the former two (can follow news/movies without much trouble,...My native language is Dutch (Flemish), I've studied French, German, and English in school. Of those I have decent passive knowledge of the former two (can follow news/movies without much trouble, but speaking/writing is difficult). English on the other hand is practically fluent (standard language at work, academics).
I've followed classes for 9 years for Mandarin, although I'd need a lot more to consider myself fluent. I can take care of myself in China, though.
I also did a couple of years of Spanish. Enough to learn the basics.
Now I'm learning Japanese by myself with Duolingo. It's more relaxed than following classes. Duolingo doesn't really explain grammar, so I supplement it with some actual textbooks, or look things up when they are not clear. -
Comment on Where do you stand on climate change? in ~talk
pienix LinkI'm going to be very short in this: it's not a matter of belief. By now it is basically a hard proven fact (yes, I know, nothing is ever 100% proven in science). Whatever some layman's opinion or...- Exemplary
I'm going to be very short in this: it's not a matter of belief. By now it is basically a hard proven fact (yes, I know, nothing is ever 100% proven in science).
Whatever some layman's opinion or belief on the matter is, is irrelevant. Obviously, their belief is relevant if you want them to act on it, so we cannot simply dismiss it.
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Comment on Bank transfers as a payment method (2021) in ~finance
pienix Link ParentAs a 40 year old Western European, I've never used a check in my life (No, that's not true. I used a check once, when I was in the US. I received a student grant of 500 dollars on a conference. I...As a 40 year old Western European, I've never used a check in my life (No, that's not true. I used a check once, when I was in the US. I received a student grant of 500 dollars on a conference. I have never been more on my edge as I was walking from the bank to the hotel with 500 dollars cash in my pocket.) Everything I do is payed through bank-to-bank transfer. In shops/bars, obviously, but also just settlement between friends. Rents, wages, (tax) reimbursements, ... just wired directly to (or from) your bank account. I've never known it differently.
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Comment on Two authors file a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT unlawfully ‘ingested’ their books in ~tech
pienix Link ParentThanks, if that is indeed the case, then a) they definitely might have a case, and b) very stupid from the part of Openai. PS: Flowers for Algernon is a great novel ;-)Thanks, if that is indeed the case, then a) they definitely might have a case, and b) very stupid from the part of Openai.
PS: Flowers for Algernon is a great novel ;-)
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Comment on Two authors file a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT unlawfully ‘ingested’ their books in ~tech
pienix (edited )Link ParentWhy do you assume that? I would think a company is not going to burn itself by illegally downloading a bunch of books, especially when there is more than enough data freely available. And if they...These sets likely contain all manner of copyrighted, licensed, and personal information in forms that are not substantially different from their originals
Why do you assume that? I would think a company is not going to burn itself by illegally downloading a bunch of books, especially when there is more than enough data freely available. And if they bought the books or license to read, I don't really an issue, as the model isn't actually copying anything.
Edit: @Algernon_Asimov posted this. It might very well be that a lot of illegal copies where used for training.
I don't know if I can say something to make you feel better, but hang in there, bud.
Are you in therapy now?