ajsadauskas

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27
And another one bites the dust — this time it's Rex. (aus.social)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by ajsadauskas@aus.social to c/australia@aussie.zone
3 comments fedilink
 

And another one bites the dust — this time it's Rex.

It's a real shame, because (at least from my experience) their staff were far friendlier and more accommodating. And their prices were reasonable.

(They also never seemed to sell all their business class seats, so a seat up the front could be yours for $50 extra if you wanted it.)

I wonder whether Qantas or Virgin will pick up the regional routes?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-30/rex-airlines-enters-voluntary-administration/104155898

#airlines #Rex @australia #business #auspol #airline #bankrupt

1
The new Alessia Cara single "Dead Man" is finally out today, and it officially slaps! (aus.social)
 

The new Alessia Cara single "Dead Man" is finally out today, and it officially slaps!

Also, I'm all for the return of a good brass solo breakdown in popular music!

https://youtu.be/IXjYdcYX7qk?si=xjXwAqJY_0BCZFUe

Full links to the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming apps here: https://alessiacara.lnk.to/DeadMan

#music #Top40 #pop #PopMusic #MusicVideo #NewRelease #news #Alessia #AlessiaCara #Spotify @popheads #musica #MusicSocial #NewMusic #Song

'Disgusting and disturbing': Why some female teachers are leaving the profession in c/australia@aussie.zone
[–] ajsadauskas@aus.social 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

@naught101 @lost_faith It predates the internet.

Back in 2000, a guy named Robert Putnam wrote a book based on his research into why there has been a breakdown in community in America: http://bowlingalone.com/

(If you ever hear someone use the phrase "social capital", they're alluding to his research.)

1
Looks like a new Alessia Cara album is finally on its way 🥳 (mediacdn.aus.social)
 

Looks like a new Alessia Cara album is finally on its way 🥳

Dead Man is coming 19 July 😸😸😸

Via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9QLlFSvQiu/?igsh=MWV2azZsdng0cDhleA==

#music #AlessiaCara #IndiePop #Pop #PopMusic #Canada #Spotify #Song #Album @popheads #Brampton #Toronto #Ontario

7
Adam Neely makes a really insightful point about the limitations of "generative AIs"/LLMs and music. (aus.social)
 

Adam Neely makes a really insightful point about the limitations of "generative AIs"/LLMs and music.

LLMs can mimic the output of music, but they can't handle the process of making music.

I think his insight applies to many other creative fields as well. LLMs mimic the output, but not the process:

https://youtu.be/N8NyEjB_XeA?si=sUgCV6aeITBqas5E

@music #LLM #music #GenAI #generativeAI #tech #technology #chatGPT

2
It's time to call a spade a spade. ChatGPT isn't just hallucinating. It's a bullshit machine. (aus.social)
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by ajsadauskas@aus.social to c/technology@lemmy.ml
9 comments fedilink
 

It's time to call a spade a spade. ChatGPT isn't just hallucinating. It's a bullshit machine.

From TFA (thanks @mxtiffanyleigh for sharing):

"Bullshit is 'any utterance produced where a speaker has indifference towards the truth of the utterance'. That explanation, in turn, is divided into two "species": hard bullshit, which occurs when there is an agenda to mislead, or soft bullshit, which is uttered without agenda.

"ChatGPT is at minimum a soft bullshitter or a bullshit machine, because if it is not an agent then it can neither hold any attitudes towards truth nor towards deceiving hearers about its (or, perhaps more properly, its users') agenda."

https://futurism.com/the-byte/researchers-ai-chatgpt-hallucinations-terminology

@technology #technology #chatGPT #LLM #LargeLanguageModels

1
Time for an ICQ for the Fediverse? (aus.social)
 

Time for an ICQ for the Fediverse?

Looks like ICQ is finally shutting down, just as interest in retro internet tools is growing.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/25/24164579/icq-shut-down-june

@fediverse #ICQ #Fediverse

1
A vital step forward for Parramatta as Sydney's second CBD. (aus.social)
 

A vital step forward for Parramatta as Sydney's second CBD.

The old Riverside Theatre is frankly starting to show its age.

Having a modern venue for theatre, concerts, and live music in Western Sydney is an important investment for the arts.

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/theatre/broadway-comes-to-parramatta-new-188-million-theatre-for-western-sydney-20240522-p5jfoh.html

@sydney #Parramatta #Art #concerts #theatre #nsw #nswpol #sydney

0
I'm thinking seriously about getting Google out of my life, and trying NextCloud. (aus.social)
 

I'm thinking seriously about getting Google out of my life, and trying NextCloud.

Looking to get a personal account through a managed provider.

Does anyone have any experience with it?

How does it compare to ownCloud?

Any hosts I should look at or avoid?

Any apps I should get for it, or avoid?

Any issues I should be aware of before I switch?

@asklemmy #NextCloud #OpenSource #Linux #Cloud

1
A huge congratulations to @philipthalis on his well-deserved award. (aus.social)
 

A huge congratulations to @philipthalis on his well-deserved award.

Philip is undeniably both one of Australia's most respected architects and a tireless advocate for good urban design.

More importantly, he's not afraid to speak up publicly against bad state government planning decisions, as he did with Barangaroo, even when there's a personal cost.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/architect-philip-thalis-paid-the-price-for-being-outspoken-now-he-s-won-the-profession-s-gold-medal-20240510-p5jcjb.html

@urbanism #Planning #UrbanPlanning #Cities #Urbanism #Buildings #Architecture #Transport #Architect #Walking #Walkability

2
So despite climate change, Australia's federal government has just committed an extra $3.25 billion into building a toll road and a 20-lane freeway widening. (aus.social)
 

So despite climate change, Australia's federal government has just committed an extra $3.25 billion into building a toll road and a 20-lane freeway widening.

For those who wonder why Aussies think toll roads are a scam (https://aus.social/@LesserAbe@lemmy.world/112405373613706682), here's a great example of why.

"Pouring an extra $3.25 billion worth of federal funds into Melbourne’s North East Link is a good use of taxpayer money, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has insisted, despite the project’s cost doubling just a few months ago.

...

"The North East Link – which includes 6½ kilometres of tunnels – will stretch from Bulleen to Greensborough. It will widen the Eastern Freeway by up to 20 lanes.

"Allan revealed in December that the 10-kilometre toll road had more than doubled in cost since it was first announced.

"The toll road was initially budgeted at $10 billion and reassessed in 2019 at $15 billion. But the government revealed last year that the updated cost estimate was $26 billion."

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/federal-funding-to-boost-victorian-road-link-by-3-25-billion-20240509-p5ii7b.html

@fuck_cars #Urbanism #Auspol #Vicpol #roads #UrbanPlanning #transport #cities #Melbourne #Naarm #Victoria #Australia

1
Hornsby is the fifth best place to live in Australia, apparently. (aus.social)
 

Hornsby is the fifth best place to live in Australia, apparently.

At least, according to a study SGS Economics and Planning:

"Sydney's Northern beaches ranks as the highest in the nation for wellbeing, with only one Queensland city making it to the top 10, the annual index revealed today.

"The Australian Capital Territory came in second due to its low gender wage gaps, climate change risks and the division of wealth."

The study assessed 518 local council areas on seven indicators:

* economy
* income and wealth
* employment, knowledge and skills
* housing
* health
* equality, community and work-life balance
* environment

The top 10 local government areas are:

  1. Northern Beaches (Greater Sydney)

  2. Australian Capital Territory

  3. North Sydney (Greater Sydney)

  4. Ku-ring-gai (Greater Sydney)

  5. Hornsby (Greater Sydney)

  6. Lane Cove (Greater Sydney)

  7. Mosman (Greater Sydney)

  8. Sutherland (Greater Sydney)

  9. Sydney (Greater Sydney)

  10. Brisbane (Greater Brisbane)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-08/sgs-cities-regions-wellbeing-index-wage-gaps-environment-health/103815302

#sydney @sydney #livability #nsw #planning #UrbanPlanning

1
The toll road scam: A government-made monopoly you pay for. (aus.social)
 

The toll road scam: A government-made monopoly you pay for.

Here's a funny-because-it's-true take on Transurban and the poor tax it imposes, from Punter's Politics:

https://youtu.be/FlKBakPAtiw?si=G39_0GcJzSB0SSA8

#cars #roads #fuckcars @fuck_cars #tolls #tollroads #memes #funny #urbanism #UrbanPlanning #auspol #vicpol #nswpol

Public Ownership of Rail Is on the Agenda. Here’s What It Could Look Like. in c/trains@lemmy.ml
[–] ajsadauskas@aus.social 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

@lntl @Rentlar Why is how the public ownership of railways could work a hypothetical in the US?

Many countries already do this right now.

Here's a link to the Australian Rail Track Corporation: https://www.artc.com.au/about/

It's owned by the Australian Federal Government, owns rail track infrastructure, but doesn't operate any freight or passenger services itself.

Here's a link to VicTrack: https://www.victrack.com.au/

It's owned by the Victorian state government, owns rail infrastructure in Victoria, but doesn't operate any freight or passenger services itself.

Reddit Advised to Target at Least $5 Billion Valuation in IPO in c/technology@lemmy.ml
[–] ajsadauskas@aus.social 0 points 6 months ago (1 children)

@pixxelkick @ardi60 Well, if anyone wants to buy it for that purpose, then I just hope they remember to screen out the more NSFW parts of Reddit.

Otherwise, their bots are going to start giving some rather unfortunate responses to customer questions...

Sleeper trains are making a comeback. Why are ours being axed? in c/australia@aussie.zone
[–] ajsadauskas@aus.social 0 points 9 months ago (2 children)

@naevaTheRat The author (Tim Richards) is a fairly regular Mastodon user. (Lemmy posts also appear on Mastodon.)

I thought I'd tag him in so he can see the discussion...

Sleeper trains are making a comeback. Why are ours being axed? in c/australia@aussie.zone
[–] ajsadauskas@aus.social 0 points 9 months ago (4 children)

@kowcop @naevaTheRat Heads up @timrichards, there's quite a discussion about your article over on Lemmy.

Case for gas as transition fuel falling apart on both economic and environmental costs in c/environment@aussie.zone
[–] ajsadauskas@aus.social 1 points 9 months ago

@vividspecter Here's the key details from the article: "The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) today released financial modelling that shows Australia’s LNG projects did not generate value for shareholders.

"The report, “Australia’s LNG growth wave – did it wash for shareholders?” analysed returns from Woodside’s Pluto project, Chevron’s Gorgon and Wheatstone projects, the three east coast LNG plants supplied by coal seam gas, Inpex’s Ichthys project and Shell’s Prelude.

"It found these projects collectively eroded $US19 billion of shareholder value by requiring extra investment for running 35 per cent over budget and behind schedule, according to data from Rystad."

https://reneweconomy.com.au/case-for-gas-as-transition-fuel-falling-apart-on-both-economic-and-environmental-costs/

#ClimateChange #Climate #Green #Business #AusPol #Aus #Politics #Environment #Gas

So, like a Bus, or Train? in c/fuck_cars@lemmy.ml
[–] ajsadauskas@aus.social 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

@nothacking @_finger_ Same deal for your cousins over the border in Lithuania.

Here's some extra details, so our American friends can compare the train services in a less wealthy EU country to Amtrak. (Keep in mind this is nowhere near the level of service you'll find in countries such as France or Germany.)

You can get a second class ticket on a modern LTGLink train from Vilnius to Kaunas for just €8. That gets you:

"Electrical outlets near some seats, space for bicycles, [on-board toilets], animal-friendly area, air conditioning, non-smoking area. Possibility to buy soft drinks and snacks on Kaunas and Klaipeda routes. When buying a ticket on the Klaipeda route, it is possible to choose a place and seating direction."

Or in first class (just €11.10 for Vilnius to Kaunas, roughly equivalent to US$12.17) you get this:

"Passengers have free coffee, soft drinks, and snacks. More spacious seating, wider tables, electrical sockets at the seats, fewer seats and passengers around, choice of seat and seat when buying a ticket, space for bicycles, [on-board toilets], air conditioning, silence area, luggage area, non-smoking area."

Here's the on-board menu: https://ltglink.lt/en/menu-on-vilnius-klaipeda-vilnius-route

Yes, you can order a hot or cold sandwich, a cappuccino, Belgian waffles, noodles, donuts, Oreos, chips, a Snickers bar, or whatever other snack you want. The train staff bring it to your seat.

The seats are comfortable, like a first-class plane seat but with more leg room. You can use free wi-fi, and charge your phone at your seat.

Services on the Vilnius–Kaunas line run roughly every hour from 4:55am to 9:25pm, and more frequently during peak times during the day.

There's a train station at Vilnius airport. Just about every trolleybus and bus in Vilnius runs to the main train station, stopping just metres from the front door, and there's also a coach terminal connecting to smaller towns and villages.

So you can catch a trolleybus from the national Parliament building, a coach from a small village, or a train from the airport, then easily transfer at the main train station to an intercity service to Kaunas or Klaipeda.

And I'd like to remind you that Lithuania's train system is considered *bad* by European standards.

#train #trains #transport #urbanism

@ajsadauskas in c/technology@lemmy.ml
[–] ajsadauskas@aus.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@kallekn @technology @pluralistic @samuel Google Photos is the default gallery app on Google Phones.

  1. If a photo is not taken with your phone, Google Photos allows you to manually enter a location.

  2. Google Photos also allows you to remove this location.

  3. If a photo is taken with your phone, the icon to edit or remove the location is greyed out.

  4. Tapping the information will produce an error message.

  5. The ability to edit the location data of photos you'd taken used to be there, but has been removed. I'm not the only person to notice this, there's a support thread about it on Google's own website: https://support.google.com/photos/thread/110092925/regression-location-no-longer-editable-if-the-camera-added-it?hl=en

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