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Comment Can we be clearer about what we mean by AI? (Score 1) 38

The real problem with AI, and the AI discussion is how muddy it is. Are we talking about llm's diffusion models, or classification systems? Do we mean to say that we're talking about transformers or the underlying architecture? Are we discussing huge data centers or device based AI? Nascent, active, or dormant compute? And the same is true for the ethics, legal, and data governance conversation.

Every single one of these things is a different discussion.

AI is not a monolith.

Comment usb-a more robust? (Score 1) 243

Based on my personal experience, my impression is that full-sized USB-A connectors are more robust than the others. If, for example, you've got an external device connected to your laptop and you, another person, or the dog may knock the device off the couch or walk into the cable, the cable is less likely to pull out and the connector and port are less likely to be damaged.

Comment Re:In other news (Score 2) 18

Bad analogy. Using drones to seed clouds will have a very small impact on the jobs of pilots - there aren't many pilots who do this kind of work. And it won't have any impact on airline pilots, who are the people who fly airliners, not the small planes that do cloud seeding. Their concern, as the article says, is with drones flying in the same airspace as airliners and with the debris (like "space junk" but at a lower altitude) that the cloud seeding flares generate.

Comment Re:They can hide anything in the SEC reports, now (Score 1) 46

Indeed, I fully agree. The funny thing is, monthly numbers would help us move away from the distortions of the quarterly cycle. If key data reporting becomes frequent enough, you can't get into a cycle of "do adverse-numbers stuff early in the quarter and then cram positive-numbers stuff into the end of the quarter". You have to - *gasp* - just run your business normally.

Some businesses could still manage to switch to a monthly cycle, but anyone who deals significantly in transoceanic feedstocks/parts/goods shipments won't be able to.

Comment Re:It's difficult to believe (Score 2) 144

BLS numbers aren't some sort of dark art. They're literally just the compiled numbers reported by companies. Numbers are what they are. To fight against jobs numbers is to fight against reality.

People get confused by the existence of revisions. The problem is that not all data gets reported in a timely manner. When late data comes in, it causes revisions to the earlier reported numbers, either up or down.

Firing the head of the BLS because you don't like what numbers US companies reported is just insane Banana Republic-level nonsense.

Comment Re:It's difficult to believe (Score 4, Informative) 144

Yes, he fired the same person who was ultimately responsible for putting out crap numbers.

US reporting has always been the gold standard. Nobody has accused the BLS of "crap numbers" until Trump decided he didn't like them. It's is so way outside the norms it doesn't even resemble something that could conceivably happen in the US; this is banana republic-level stuff.

Comment Re: Can be paired with other energy sources (Re:He (Score 1) 82

Integrated thermal stores with nuclear is more difficult (limited temperatures and limited dT on storage = big storage needed with lots of heat exchange surface area), but if they can make it economical, it could be a game changer for nuclear's problematic economics. The ability of nuclear to switch from baseload (not matching the demand curve, let alone the curve of really-cheap renewables) to load-following and even peaking could make the mean sale value of its electricity much higher, and make it much more useful as a compliment to renewables.

Comment Re:Use in warmer climates (Score 1) 82

The mean July maximum temperature in Helsinki is 27,1C (80,8F), and the record is 33,2C (91,8F). Combine this with the fact that the interiors of large buildings accumulate internal heat. Cooling is of utility. Let alone for industry (most industry is fine with cooling with ambient water temperatures, but some needs cooling beyond that).

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