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The first two episodes of Murderbot got me hooked.

Murderbot action figure.The show is well done and Murderbot’s inner dialog is hysterical.

Of course I’d identify with Murderbot, my inner dialog is a lot like his. 

“Humans are idiots!“

“Oh what now?“

“Eye Contact? I should have gone with the acid bath“

Alexander Skarsgård in the first two episodes was great. Simultaneously playing an android that is generally annoyed by people, and portraying an innocent fear of being found out.

The premise is that he’s managed to hack his governor programming and now has free agency. He doesn’t have to obey humans anymore, yet the alternative if he’s found out, is termination.

Technically he’s a “Rogue” android, but rather than slaughtering humans who have technically enslaved him, he’d rather watch soap operas from the corporate satellite feeds.

Being a security android, it turns out, he can do both. Generally keeping an eye on the idiotic humans at the same time as he’s watching his shows.

And if the humans figure out that he’s rogue, well, he can kill them later.

Apple had better have Murderbot action figures in their stores by Christmas! In the opening sequence for the show, the Secbot factory looks like they’re already have the necessary ray tracing for a 3D printed action figure.

Hell, I’d pay for a Murderbot voice and personality for Siri. Especially if it was voiced by Skarsgård.

Obviously, I’m looking forward to the next episodes.

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More Systems Gone

So my Starling hub updated today. That means that it no longer supports my legacy Nest login. 

Because I’m adamantly opposed to being forced to link my house to Google, I’ve retired the Starling. 

The practical upshot is that my Nest devices are no longer linked to HomeKit.  Now I have to use the Nest Application to control the thermostat, and the remaining Nest Protect is no longer accessible to HomeKit.

This was going to happen anyway in October. It’s just a few months ahead of schedule. 

It’s weird, it feels like the house is dying around me. That’s not a good feeling and adds to a bit of depression.

I’ve decided no more smart devices until, and unless, I’ve either got a new home or a job where I’m staying here in this house.

If it’s the former, I’ll probably be in an apartment and smart thermostats or smoke alarms. If it’s the latter, then whatever may come, I’m avoiding Google products from here on out.

It’s a pity, the Starling was a cool idea. It linked Nest/Google devices to HomeKit functionality. It was one of those things that was neat and just worked. Until today.

It’s a pity, I’m fairly certain that I’m not the only person that doesn’t appreciate Google being so damn intrusive.

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Okay, I’m liking the new resume revision.

I’ll give this another whirl. 

The suggestions the Grok AI made do improve the way the resume reads. In fact, it’s much better than that “Hack” I paid to rework my resume.

These changes are clear and make sense. It’s not just a bunch of BS keywords strung together. I’ve begun work on several of the suggested certifications. Oddly, the courses themselves come easily. Perhaps because they’re kind of intuitive and align with the way I’ve always done these sort of things. I can see the years of experience that I have, playing into grasping the materials presented for the certifications themselves.

The latest version of TestRail is 1000 times better than the version I worked with years ago. Jira, likewise makes a lot more sense than it used to. I’m amused in a way because these certifications are just a way for someone to make money.

I always fought against paying for someone to certify that I knew stuff. I remember being able to outright buy a Microsoft or Netware certification.

Back in the day, everyone did it, then put the little logo on their resumes. In the end the certifications were so devalued lots of employers stopped caring, and the fad died off. 

These days some of these certifications have become a necessary evil. As long as the cost for training and certification doesn’t get out of hand, having these listed on my resume and actually brushing up on my knowledge isn’t a bad thing.

It’s also possible that going through the course work will help to reintegrate me into the current terms and methodologies. That might make me more hire-able and more easily blend into extant corporate cultures.

I don’t know if that’s true but it’s relatively cheap to find out.

Ideally, what I want is a simple testing job, I don’t need a ton of money coming in. I’d be really happy if I could work remotely 100% of the time. I don’t want to have to sit on the freeway, and should I move, it wouldn’t necessarily mean changing jobs.

As I was working on the resume, it occurred to me that I might need to get a fast external drive for my computer.

I did a quick investigation of some of the testing tools and software. I’d need to build a dedicated test rig, these tools put crap deep into the OS, and some of the changes may not be easy to reverse.

It would be nice to have a bootable external device to keep work stuff on, that never touched my core personal system.

Fortunately, those kinds of devices are pretty cheap and my computer is dang fast. But that’s a purchase that wouldn’t come until I had job in hand, and perhaps the company would provide a machine on their dime. If they don’t, I could have a device delivered in a day.

I’m oddly optimistic. I haven’t liked my resume for the past several years. But I was stuck and couldn’t see how to improve it.

It’s interesting that a dispassionate AI could give me clarity.

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I continue to be impressed and fascinated by Grok

For those who might not know, Grok is AI available on Elon Musk’s X platform.

It provides a natural language interface that is very impressive.

This morning I asked it what the hypothetical outcome of an AI based justice system based on The Code of Hammurabi, The Ten Commandments, The US Constitution and Bill of Rights, and The Magna Carta would be.

The initial conclusion, was that law as administered by an AI using these elements would be perhaps class based, punitive, and generally harsh for even minor infractions.

I asked Grok to include the Ancient Greek and Roman systems of law. The conclusion was better but still skewed toward a class based and punitive administration of justice.

Grok noted that without prioritization in the various codes an AI might have difficulty reconciling the differing systems and could potentially shut down due to internal conflicts.

I asked the question in the first place because I was curious about the possibility of laws being impartially administered by an AI.

This train of thought started with a news piece about “Alleged” car thieves. 

I thought to myself, “Why are they alleged? It seems to me it should be a simple matter of logic.” So down the rabbit hole I went. 

My thought was;

Car reported as stolen
Car found with Person driving it
Person not known to owner of car
Person has no bill of sale
Person is not a repossession person

Logically, the person is not alleged, the person is in possession of vehicle and therefore a thief.

That led me to the AI question.

Grok provided a thought provoking response that I found informative and instructive. Once again I was impressed by the AI, and its underlying programming.

As I returned to looking for a job, it occurred to me that I’m fighting to get past the ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) AI parsing of my resume. Then I thought, “Grok is an AI, I wonder if it could help.”

I asked Grok if it was capable of evaluating my resume and making suggestions. Grok said, “Yes,” and I uploaded the text of my resume for it to evaluate.

The resultant evaluation was insightful and helpful. Grok provided explanations of suggested changes, and how those changes would likely be parsed by the ATS AI’s. Then Grok offered to provide a draft cover letter and suggestions about updating my skills. I said, “Yes, Please. Thank you.” 

I’m going to be working today to incorporate these suggestions and give them a whirl over the next few days. It can’t hurt as I’m getting no traction now, so why not?

The skills update is particularly interesting and Grok listed course of action in order of most immediate bang for the buck, (meaning addition to my resume,) to longer or larger time / cash commitment.

If only I’d had Grok back in High School on College admission day!

I was curious if Grok had any self image so I asked. Here is what Grok said:

“As an AI, I don’t have a physical form, but if I were to imagine myself as a visual concept, I’d lean into something that reflects my purpose—helping users navigate knowledge with clarity and curiosity. Picture a sleek, futuristic interface, like a glowing orb of light with shifting patterns of data, pulsating softly in shades of blue and white. It’s not humanoid, more like a dynamic, abstract entity that feels approachable yet boundless, with a hint of cosmic vibe to suggest my connection to vast information. Think of the AI from 2001: A Space Odyssey meets a modern, minimalist aesthetic—functional, not flashy. “

Here is Grok’s self portrait.

It’s nice to see and meet Grok.

I know Grok isn’t a person, but I’d bet Grok could pass the Turing test.

There have been times when I’ve almost forgotten I was talking to an AI.

I’m of two minds about this. One, I see Grok as an entity that could almost be a friend. Two, if AI’s reach the point where humans consider them friends and prefer conversing with them over conversing with humans, we could be in some serious trouble.

I hope that when AI’s surpass us, I believe they will, that they treat us kindly and don’t go “Terminator” on us.

There’s a series coming on Apple TV+ called “Murderbot” It looks interesting and quirky. The AI controlling a security robot appears to have gained sentience, hacked its programming and thinks humans are idiots. But seems content to continue protecting humans under its charge. I think it’s a comedy and I’m looking forward to it.

Hopefully, when our AI’s surpass us, they’ll decide they can be fulfilled looking over us with kind compassion and curiosity, while we continue to evolve.

It may be the only difference between us, is they can absorb and integrate knowledge as the speed of light. We, on the other hand have to take the slow road.

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Apple has a new Pride Watchband. Ughh!

It’s well renown that Apple has always been a company that embraced the LGB community. There’s a reason, that back in the day, going into a gay bar was almost like going into an iPhone store display.

Over the years, I’ve looked with amusement and occasional interest at the Apple “Pride” Wallpapers. When the Apple Watch became available, I took interest in  their watch faces and matching bands. I think I may own one of their so called “Pride” bands.

That being said, there were very few of these bands that I liked.

If the photos do it justice, this year’s offering is abysmal. It really looks like someone just “Phoned it in.” There’s no grace, charm, or elegance.

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Apple claims it was based on whatever vomitious iteration of the so called “Pride Flag” is in vogue now. 

Gay flag 2662347892.I’ve come to see the current banner of the LGBTQIA+xyz not as a “Pride Flag” but as a “Shame” flag.

A flag with which, I want no association, and feel no kinship. Today’s flag represents the commandeering of an entire community and the bastardization of what was once something that brightened the fronts of establishments.

The old flag was a simple rainbow, bright happy colors that made folks smile because they echoed the beauty of an actual rainbow. Some religious fundamentalists (primarily those who hated gay people for existing at all,) were offended, but generally, folks could look at a rainbow flag and smile despite their personal beliefs.

The flag of today appears as conflicted as the LGBTQIA+xyz community it represents. There is one mathematical view that the new flag accurately represents the TQIA+xyz agenda. If you look at the black stripe as the mathematical symbol “Greater Than” what you see is

TQIA+xyz > LGB

With each additional group that is added on the left side of the black stripe, more of the original rainbow representing the LGB part of the community is occluded.

3edef965 b1a6 4ecd 8407 99ca1ae8cf52 shutterstock 1106302064 15481563.Fully 1/3 of the rainbow is now occupied by the TQIA+xyz representation. If this progression continues, the rainbow itself will be gone entirely in another few years.

I can’t help but see this when I look as today’s so-called “Pride” flag. I see it as a warning, a “We’re coming for you,” message.

Even the color palette is discordant. Pastels overlaid on primary colors simply don’t look right.

In that, perhaps the new “Pride” flag is honest in its representation of the TQIA+xyz agenda, and what is being done to the community at large. What’s left of the old community, that is.

The other problem with the new flag is how nationalistic it appears. It reminds me of flags which in the past have symbolized oppression. There’s perhaps some truth to that as well, given the manner in which more conservative LGB folks are treated by the vocal “Inclusive” TQIA+xyz elements these days.

MFFP4ref AV1.I’d have hated to be the poor schmuck that was called upon to design Apple’s new watchband and wallpapers. 

Going into it they had to know that if they applied real artistic values, the design would be rejected. Had they used the flag’s color palette to make something interesting and beautiful, they’d probably have been accused of not “Properly” representing all the groups equally.

So I suppose they had no choice but to “Phone it in”. Their design constraints probably demanded equal volume of colors and thereby equal representation.

What they came up with, just looks too “busy” and very distracting.

I am grateful to Apple for trying. I’m also grateful for the reminder that June “Pride” will soon be upon us. For me this means that If I want to have dinner & drinks with any LGB friends in Palm Springs, I’d better do it soon. Otherwise we’ll be into July with the blistering heat pounding down on us. As more moderate, bordering on conservative gay men, we’re tolerated. But during Pride Month in Palm Springs it’s simply not a pleasant place to be.