Doing Some Good

This is what happened during the week of August 26 to September 1, 2024.

Apropos of nothing, the Nespresso Vertuo pods have been restocked. Just thought you should know.

New Blog + More Time

I added a new amateur radio blog to my portfolio this week. It’s something I’d been meaning to do for a while so I could separate out all my ham radio content. My common template approach seems to be working pretty well across four blogs now, so I’m pretty happy with that.

⏳ Thanks to a generous promotional discount, I also added time to my other omg.lol address, and helped to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the process.

Most importantly, this is all part of the

Annual robb × omg.lol St Jude fundraiser

Thank you, Robb and Adam, for supporting the cause!

Paris Paralympic Games Begin

🔥 I watched the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympic Games. I don’t know how many people were watching, but I’m guessing it’s a lot fewer than then number who tuned in for the Olympic opening ceremony last month. If so, a lot of people missed out on something really beautiful.

🏅 Of particular interest is local athlete Blake Haxton, who will compete in the men’s va’a single 200m event.

🚣 In case you’re wondering (as I was) what a va’a is, it is an outrigger canoe that is used with a single-blade paddle.

Cool and Useful Stuff

◾️ The QArt Coder makes QR code art! I made several fun QR codes for my blogs. Not sure how of if I’ll use them, but I like having them. Coincidentally, I also came across a very nice, configurable and ad-free QR code generator by Julian Fietkau.

🔋 These 3rd party batteries for Fujifilm cameras have built-in USB-C charging ports. BRILLIANT!

📼 Tapedeck is a virtual library of audio cassette tape images that you can filter by manufacturer, running time, type, and color. Go on, take a walk down Memorex Lane.

🧑‍💻 Doth mine eyes deceive me? CSS finally adds vertical centering!

🗾 Type in your name to see it spelled out in Landsat imagery of Earth!

Reading

Not too long ago Nolen—aka eieio—created the one million checkboxes website. What happened next was pretty interesting.
Writing for Tech Policy Press, Eryk Salvaggio challenges the myths surrounding generative AI by pointing out some very important distinctions that are often conflated. Although I’ve said this many times, I cannot stress it enough: AI models do not and cannot know anything. LLM responses are based merely statistical likelihoods and do not represent any analysis, knowledge, or insight.

Listening

A new album by Tycho Infinite Health came out. I wasn’t wowed.
Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast: Lo-Fi Girl

Friday Night Double Feature

🦾 The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a so-so movie with some funny parts. Worth watching, but probably not worth watching again.

🏈 The Underdoggs on the other hand is very funny. This movie has a lot going for it—humor, football, swearing kids, fried chicken—but not a particularly original story. Good fun nonetheless.

That is all from this end. Monday is bank holiday here in the States. Enjoy!