granitegeek - Network

On the list of problems caused by LLM AI, I hadn't considered "it makes people think they are the...

On the list of problems caused by LLM AI, I hadn't considered "it makes people think they are the messiah"

https://slashdot.org/story/25/05/05/0234215/after-reddit-thread-on-chatgpt-induced-psychosis-openai-rolls-back-gpt4o-update

The economics of #coal power is so bad that Trump (probably) can't stop its decline, at least in New England. #solar #energy #PV...

The economics of #coal power is so bad that Trump (probably) can't stop its decline, at least in New England. #solar #energy #PV #solarPV

https://granitegeek.concordmonitor.com/2025/04/16/trump-exempts-coal-fired-plants-including-the-one-in-bow-from-emissions-rule/

There's science, and then there's SCIENCE!"We propose novel urinal designs that were generated by solving differential...

There's science, and then there's SCIENCE!

"We propose novel urinal designs that were generated by solving differential equations derived from the isogonal curve problem to ensure the urine stream impacts at or below this critical angle. Experiments validate that these designs can substantially reduce splashback."

https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/4/4/pgaf087/8098745

Fossil fuels accounting for 49.2% of #electricity generated in the United States in March - the first time the figure has fallen below...

Fossil fuels accounting for 49.2% of #electricity generated in the United States in March - the first time the figure has fallen below one-half. Spring is the very best time for #solar so this won't be repeated easily but it's still amazing. #renewables

https://electrek.co/2025/04/04/first-month-on-record-fossil-fuels-drop-below-50-of-us-power-mix/

It's impossible to be Chicken Little (American children's story about exaggerated fears of disaster) when it comes to the climate...

It's impossible to be Chicken Little (American children's story about exaggerated fears of disaster) when it comes to the climate emergency. The sky really is falling.
#climate #climatechange

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/03/climate-crisis-on-track-to-destroy-capitalism-warns-allianz-insurer

Snow on the ground makes it seem wet but the Northeast is in a real...

Snow on the ground makes it seem wet but the Northeast is in a real drought.

https://granitegeek.concordmonitor.com/2025/03/05/snow-on-the-ground-makes-things-seem-wet-but-were-in-a-real-drought/

The (free!) Granite Geek email newsletter goes out tomorrow, so there's still time to sign up and be ready to bury your nose in such...

The (free!) Granite Geek email newsletter goes out tomorrow, so there's still time to sign up and be ready to bury your nose in such tidbits as the relative gap between each state's geographic and population center. ("We're No. 4! We're No. 4!")

https://granitegeek.org/

In the opposite of "move fast, break things," biofabrication is thinking about ethical practices before the field even really...

In the opposite of "move fast, break things," biofabrication is thinking about ethical practices before the field even really exists.

https://www.concordmonitor.com/saint-anselm-biofabrication-armi-ethics-new-hampshire-59419817

TIL: During the famine in Ukraine and parts of Russia of 1932-33 ("holodomor") following collectivization of farms. Joseph Stalin...

TIL: During the famine in Ukraine and parts of Russia of 1932-33 ("holodomor") following collectivization of farms. Joseph Stalin forbid use of the word "famine" as at least 4 million starved to death.

Forbidding the use of words to describe a dire situation, as if that will solve it? Tyrant behavior.

The most #NewHampshire political debate this time of year is: What form of town meeting is best?Traditional is inconvenient but SB2 makes it...

The most #NewHampshire political debate this time of year is: What form of town meeting is best?

Traditional is inconvenient but SB2 makes it harder to get folks involved. Pick your poison.
#NH #NewEngland

https://www.concordmonitor.com/Pittsfield-Town-Meeting-2025-SB2-Deliberative-Session-town-warrant-advance-59175382

There are reasons to be leery of Bluesky because of ownership - it'll probably get enshittified eventually - but I for one am delighted...

There are reasons to be leery of Bluesky because of ownership - it'll probably get enshittified eventually - but I for one am delighted to see a resurrection of Science Twitter, which was the best part IMHO of twitter.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00177-1?linkId=12635521

One of the minor pleasures in life is volunteering to do an annoying thing to help a friend, then at the last minute they don't need the...

One of the minor pleasures in life is volunteering to do an annoying thing to help a friend, then at the last minute they don't need the help. Maximum brownie points with minimum effort!

I'm sure I have several age-related habits that stand out amid the mostly youthful newsroom, but I suspect that texting with one index...

I'm sure I have several age-related habits that stand out amid the mostly youthful newsroom, but I suspect that texting with one index finger seems the most ridiculous.

An AI startup will send you transcripts of local government meetings "to either save local journalism, expand local journalism or...

An AI startup will send you transcripts of local government meetings "to either save local journalism, expand local journalism or destroy local journalism, I can’t decide which."

https://www.concordmonitor.com/artifical-intelligence-local-news-58410686

My 20-month-old granddaughter just said her first complete sentence. She walked into the room I use for a home office, came back out, looked...

My 20-month-old granddaughter just said her first complete sentence. She walked into the room I use for a home office, came back out, looked at me and said, clear as day, "Clean up your mess."

For this I had children?

TIL that Texas - Texas! - has a mountain that's higher than our Mt. Washington.https://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=12004

TIL that Texas - Texas! - has a mountain that's higher than our Mt. Washington.
https://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=12004

The free, weekly Granite Geek e-mail newsletter goes out tomorrow (Thursday). Drop your address at this site if you want to get it....

The free, weekly Granite Geek e-mail newsletter goes out tomorrow (Thursday). Drop your address at this site if you want to get it. (We'll try to get you to subscribe to other free newsletters but it's easy to sidestep that.)
https://granitegeek.concordmonitor.com/

On the edge of my yard. Tomorrow's rain (ugh) will probably ruin it.

On the edge of my yard. Tomorrow's rain (ugh) will probably ruin it.

What's the over-under on "private equity" (as non-equitable as it gets) destroying this #Vermont institution? Private equity...

What's the over-under on "private equity" (as non-equitable as it gets) destroying this #Vermont institution?

Private equity firm acquires stake in Simon Pearce

https://www.vnews.com/Private-equity-firm-acquires-stake-in-Simon-Pearce-58284150

The "markets good, government bad" mindset will never pay for long-term studies that underpin our ability to understand and exist...

The "markets good, government bad" mindset will never pay for long-term studies that underpin our ability to understand and exist in the world, because they can't be monetized (ugh, what an ugly word).

https://www.concordmonitor.com/UNH-water-research-center-new-hampshire-57597174