David Watson
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fifthrocket.bsky.social
David Watson
@fifthrocket.bsky.social
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fifthrocket.bsky.social
@dieworkwear.bsky.social Dumb question: what about a collar gap without the jacket.
June 2, 2025 at 7:11 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
With Jamie Dimon out there lying about wage stagnation, I'm reminded of what @mattyglesias.bsky.social said about his message discipline: Dimon is never foolish enough to talk about the issue he actually cares about: lower taxes on the rich.
June 2, 2025 at 6:40 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
Oh yea, gotta try some movies
April 2, 2025 at 7:43 AM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
I tried a straight-on version of that photo, but I'm not sure I prefer it.
Sake barrels, Tokyo, 2018
March 19, 2025 at 4:57 AM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
Amazing end to the episode this week @matt-levine.bsky.social

Waited the whole episode to understand the title, but it was a satisfying answer.
February 3, 2025 at 5:15 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
What a great metaphor on the AI Summer podcast @deanwb.bsky.social is quoting Aidan McLaughlin, I have no idea if it’s accurate, but it got the point across.
January 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
Folks discussing this on Manifold think it won’t actually happen, apparently something about it being part of the “high seas”

manifold.markets/MaxwellTabar...
I bet NO here because what Google actually said is: we will make this change when the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) makes this change. The headlines make that sound like it's a done deal, but GNIS, which is maintained by USGS, is a database, not an agency, and it follows the guidance of the Foreign Names Committee of the US Board of Geographic Names. They have in no way signaled that they are going to support this change. In fact, opposite: There are major roadblocks to renaming the Gulf of Mexico, according to Leo Dillon, the former chair of the Foreign Names Committee. He said that the committee’s procedures allow only one name for high seas, and it usually reflects the most commonly used name. It's possible these folks will cave to political pressure, but keep in mind these are geographers, not politicians. They have a professional stake in making decisions like this rationally, not politically. Remember the last time around when Trump tangled with librarians? My bet is that unless these folks are truly circumvented, GNIS will not change.
January 28, 2025 at 6:57 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
Not that I approve of the guy, but Tom Cotton said that yesterday. I was honestly surprised he’d break with Trump so loudly.
January 18, 2025 at 8:36 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
You literally said “no mention” pre revolution. I’m not making an argument about Tea Party. If that’s what you’re arguing now…
Motte and Bailey with motte as “The Boston Tea Party didn't mention taxation without representation” The Bailey is “No mention of taxation without representation until after the revolution”
January 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
Look, I’m not going to argue that “taxation without representation” was definitely the true motivation. But saying the complaint didn’t exist pre revolution is flatly false. Here’s letter from a Pennsylvania Farmer VII, published in January 1768.
If the parliament have a right to lay a duty of four shillings and eight pence on a hundred weight of glass, or a ream of paper, they have a right to lay a duty of any other sum on either. They may raise the duty as the author before quoted says, has been done in some countries, till it "exceeds seventeen or eighteen times the value of the commodity." In short, if they have a right to levy a tax of one penny upon us, they have a right to levy a million upon us. For where does their right stop? At any given number of pence, shillings, or pounds? To attempt to limit their right, after granting it to exist at all, is as contrary to reason, as granting it to exist at all is contrary to justice. If they have any right to tax us, then, whether our own money shall continue in our own pockets, or not, depends no longer on us, but on them. "There is nothing which we can call our own", or to use the words of Mr. Locke, "What property have" we "in that, which another may, by right, take, when he pleases, to himself."[34] These duties, which will inevitably be levied upon us, and which are now levying upon us, are expressly laid for the sole purpose of taking money. This is the true definition[77] of taxes. They are therefore taxes. This money is to be taken from us. We are therefore taxed. Those who are taxed without their own consent, given by themselves, or their representatives, are slaves.[35] We are[78] taxed without our own consent given by ourselves, or our representatives. We are therefore——I speak it with grief——I speak it with indignation——we are slaves.
January 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
I was wondering about the source reporting, looks like it’s from FT: www.ft.com/content/9118...
Intelligencer has an excerpt, pictured
The Silicon Valley group is rolling out a range of AI products, including one that helps users create AI characters on Instagram and Facebook, as it battles with rival tech groups to attract and retain a younger audience. “We expect these AIs to actually, over time, exist on our platforms, kind of in the same way that accounts do,” said Connor Hayes, vice-president of product for generative AI at Meta. “They’ll have bios and profile pictures and be able to generate and share content powered by AI on the platform . . . that’s where we see all of this going,” he added.
January 3, 2025 at 2:05 AM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
I spent longer than I should have on this
Here come old laptop, he come Bootin' up slowly, he got Broken touchpad, he one Glitchy scroller, he need One more update, he got No space left on this PC One thing I can tell you, it’s got no warranty Come together, right now Overheat He wear old stickers, he got Cracked-up display, he got Battery swelling, he one Duct-taped corner, he got Fans howl like the sea Hold it on your lap, and it’ll burn your knees Come together, right now Overheat He bagged some malware, he got Jammed-up keyboard, he got Corrupt file system, he say “Tryin' load, stalled out at three” Got to keep it plugged, or it’s dead as can be Come together, right now Overheat
December 28, 2024 at 9:13 AM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
ok, fixed, thanks
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
December 16, 2024 at 10:18 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
Wait a minute, are journalists illegally colluding to suppress market rates for sources?
That would be a very funny lawsuit
April 5, 2024 at 12:06 AM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
Of course, this would not do anything about artists who are already creating completely artificial images as art and are now threatened by generative AI. That seems like a much harder problem.
Poster for a (completely made up) "Bolivar: Libertador" film staring Oscar Isaac A children's coloring book page of a unicorn in space.
December 29, 2023 at 6:31 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
The best I can think of is to count all modification systems the same, and actually have images contain metadata indicating which parts are from an underlying photo. Have the cameras cryptographically sign the original photo pixels somehow. (this is just replace color, no ai)
A bird sitting on top of a light. The front of the bird is impossibly pink. A bird sitting on top of a light. It has a brownish-orange front. (This is the original photo, taken by me)
December 29, 2023 at 5:46 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
My main use case for generative ai images has been as a really good clone tool. I wonder how to think about that for credit... As a percent of the image? I could have done this with clone tool, that was my process last year, but it's slower.
The Gondola ride at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Colorful gondolas, all empty. No numbers or riders present The Gondola ride at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Colorful gondolas, all empty. The gondolas are numbered and three riders are present (one is actually a statue)
December 29, 2023 at 5:28 PM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
Six months ago it didn't do nearly this well, I can at least see value if improvement continues.

chat.openai.com/share/7dd625...
The legality of wearing a shirt with the phrase "fuck the draft" in a U.S. court hinges on the balance between freedom of expression, as protected by the First Amendment, and the court's authority to maintain decorum in the courtroom. In the 1971 case Cohen v. California, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that wearing a jacket with the phrase "fuck the draft" in a courthouse was protected speech under the First Amendment. The Court emphasized that one man's vulgarity is another's lyric, acknowledging the emotive power of certain words and phrases. This landmark decision is often cited in discussions of free speech, especially regarding provocative or offensive language. However, the context of a courtroom might differ. Courts have a degree of authority to enforce rules ensuring proceedings are orderly and respectful. This could include dress codes or rules against disruptive behavior. Wearing such a shirt in a courtroom might be seen as contempt of court, particularly if it's deemed to di
December 28, 2023 at 5:21 AM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
I'm sure parts of this are wrong, but I also couldn't do any better without doing a bunch of research. Full text in the alt.

chat.openai.com/share/401296...
Ken White, a former federal prosecutor and now a defense attorney and legal commentator, often known online as "Popehat," has expressed his views on the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) in various forums, including his blog and podcasts. His perspective on RICO is grounded in both his legal experience and his critique of legal and media discourse. White's main arguments about RICO tend to center around a few key points: 1. **Misunderstanding and Misuse**: He has frequently noted that RICO is widely misunderstood and misused in both media and popular culture. RICO, designed to target organized crime, often gets casually invoked in circumstances where it doesn't apply. White has pointed out that it's a complex statute with specific requirements that are not often met in the cases where people suggest RICO might be applicable. 2. **Complexity**: White emphasizes the complexity of RICO cases. He notes that they are challenging to prosecute and defend due to the
December 28, 2023 at 5:17 AM
fifthrocket.bsky.social
It's good that the US has had such strong GDP growth and low unemployment despite the terrible economy.
December 25, 2023 at 1:15 AM