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Holy fuck, the GPT2 tokenizer, which is used by nearly all AI models which have anything to do with text or prompting, is really, really bad with non-english languages. In English, even uncommon words like “amplification” or infographic take up one token while words like “socialization” and “enterprising” take two, but in Polish, one token is usually two or three letters, there are common 6-letter words that take 4 tokens. This matters because more tokens means slower text generation, higher pricing and smaller supported prompt lengths.

—@miki

I’m clearly a master of SEO.

When I google for “cold dark place filled with sadness and despair” right now (with the quotes), google gives me exactly one result – my Linux kernel github repository.

I will call my new hobby “Reverse Emo Googlewhacking”.

You’re welcome.

—@torvalds

To the makers of Audacity’s Spectral Edit Multi-Tool,

I do not know how this thing works but the blood oath you signed with the nameless, extra-dimensional beings beyond our comprehension was worth it. #MusicProduction

—@psychictides

It’s almost as if #Meta declared that they’d federate #Threads as a way to get the “fediverse” crowd not to bitch about Meta/Facebook/Zuck’s horrific past abuses of privacy and other data abuses, and the fact that the Threads app has quite possibly the most invasive set of anti-privacy demands of any app in history. Almost like Meta thinks the fediverse gang are all suckers.

—@lauren

a stream of consciousness implies the existence of rivers, lakes, and oceans of consciousness

—@loren

It is really unfair that roosters are the only ones allowed to start the day by screaming.

—@halfwitamerican

My new social media app is called Grouse. You can only post criticism of the 3,000 other new social media apps.

Posts are called “Gripes.” No likes or reposts—just one button to “Commiserate.” If a Gripe receives enough Commiseration it’s elevated by the algorithm into a “Complaint.”

Also there’s an academic version called “Faculty Meeting.”

—@ryancordell

A lot of phone companies liked to upgrade their old polyphonic ringtones into audio. Here’s one example. Flashback. A sort of romantic, orchestral-style ringtone. It first appeared as an MMF on several LG phones in 2005, such as the SV900 and SB120. Then, in 2007, it got renamed from “Flashback” to “Like a Movie,” and was lengthened and upgraded quite considerably. Downloads:
Flashback (original MMF): http://onj3.andrelouis.com/phonetones/unzipped/LG/SB120/lovesong/Flashback.mmf
Like a Movie (original MP3): http://onj3.andrelouis.com/phonetones/unzipped/LG/GD900-Crystal/33%20Like%20A%20Movie.mp3

—@MutedTrampet

Classical music played by a model train. The train has hammers attached to it and passes glasses of water, tuned to the appropriate pitch. As far as I am aware off, they set a world record with this. https://youtu.be/aBNHmUT3GPg

—@tschapajew

@weirdwriter hello! I’ve worked as a content writer and I’ve written alt text before. I’d be happy to help out with alt text for anyone who needs it.

—@beemboibeemboi

Open-mindedness is measured by how often one’s mind is changed, not by one’s willingness to debate.

—@maxleibman

“To raise awareness of her native language, 16-year-old Emma Stevens sang a version of The Beatles’ 1968 classic “Blackbird” in the Mi’kmaq language, an Eastern Algonquian language spoken by nearly 11,000 in Canada and the United States.”

https://www.openculture.com/2023/07/hear-the-beatles-blackbird-sung-in-the-indigenous-mikmaq-language.html

—@roannaflowers

July 17 is #AltTextCoverDay, we all know how important alt text is here, but did you know most book covers, including audiobook covers, never have alt text? Next monday, July 17, post the alt text of your books / your favorite book covers!

Reply to this post if blind and low vision folks can DM you for help getting alt text of their fave book covers to post.

#AltTextCoverDay #DisabilityPrideMonth #Books #bookstodon #AmWriting

—@JessMahler

All I have to say is, the alt-text on #SilentSunday pics are a thing of beauty all on their own. Many of you describe beautifully. That’s so freakin sexy.

—@ThisPlaceAgain