[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 1 points 3 days ago

The epilogue is actually pretty damn good. Highly recommended.

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 1 points 3 days ago

I've been playing Soulmask and enjoying it, but I need a break as the building in that game leaves a lot to be desired. So I'm returning to Baldur's Gate 3. I can never bring myself to play Durge or evil aligned characters, but I'm going to try a class and character I've never considered and see how it goes.

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submitted 1 month ago by its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org to c/foss@beehaw.org

I was very excited to learn about this project...only to discover it's neither free nor open source. Does anyone know of any true open source and accessible tools for Syllabus sharing/curating/researching?

46

I'm new to the field of large language models (LLMs) and I'm really interested in learning how to train and use my own models for qualitative analysis. However, I'm not sure where to start or what resources would be most helpful for a complete beginner. Could anyone provide some guidance and advice on the best way to get started with LLM training and usage? Specifically, I'd appreciate insights on learning resources or tutorials, tips on preparing datasets, common pitfalls or challenges, and any other general advice or words of wisdom for someone just embarking on this journey.

Thanks!

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 13 points 4 months ago

501 is not that easy. Sure, getting nonprofit recognition can be fast. But you are now buried in reporting requirements that put a heavy admin burden on you.

Very broad and simple but: You must register in a state and abide by their rules. Then apply for tax exempt status in that state. Then ask the IRS for your 501c3. Boom. Now what?

You need to setup systems to maintain a balance sheet to complete your 990 or 990ez, keep minutes on record, have a board, board manual, whistle lower and harassment policies....it gets paper heavy fast.

Why? States and the Feds trust you to provide a public service or good, and thus determine you shouldn't pay taxes in exchange. They will absolutely bury you if they find you are violating that trust.

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 23 points 4 months ago

I actually trust you all (like everyone here) to do the right thing and find a solution. My two cents:

-Find another fiscal sponsor as a stop gap to more stable roots. -501c3 can be faster than you expect. But you get complicated with your board governance, required reporting and records keeping, etc. -There are many types 501c orgs (c4, c6, c3) maybe this fits in a 3 or somewhere else. -Incorporation, in any sense, can lead to governance, legal, and fiscal issues that may be beyond volunteer capacity to deal with. -Shit happens, thanks for being transparent.

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 19 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Ok folks telling me to just get a Linux Distro.

PC Gaming - Enshrouded, Valheim, BG3, Dragon Age: Origins, and No Man's Sky, generally Steam platform. Classics like Caesar III, TIE Fighter.

Work - Data Analysis, Lots of word documents, spreadsheets

Internet - Light browsing, podcast listening, music streaming

What distro and why?

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 13 points 5 months ago

Woke up. Got out of bed. Dragged a comb across my head...saw water damage in a room. Had a cup, noting I'd be late chugga chug chug Saw a pipe spraying water out my wall.

So I got that going for me, which is nice.

Otherwise, not too shabby. Thanks for sharing everyone and hope you have a good week this week. Remember, even when shit hits the fan there are still people that care about you. Even digital strangers with water shooting out of places water should not shoot from.

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 28 points 5 months ago

"How much ya gunna pay for what you used to get for free..." Tom Petty, Last DJ. Underrated tune about the demise of free and independent radio and radio DJs.

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 26 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

No Man's Sky is still, in my opinion, trying to make up for what it was on release. It's a great game now. Not my jam as I find it far too expansive for my tastes, but I can't knock it for what it is today. I think it's a work of art and the seamless planet travel is pretty damn cool.

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 23 points 5 months ago

Not going to lie, that title took me a hot minute. It's brilliant on so many levels.

That aside, I'm not surprised at the outcome but also terrified at how insane it is. I want to give into conjecture and vent, but it won't help anyone. It's all just so surreal.

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 14 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I highly recommend you watch Netflix's Downfall: The Case Against Boeing. The hostile takeover by McDonnell-Douglas trashed that company. I try to avoid flying in anything post-takeover that carries a Boeing name.

My administrative law professor, eons ago, worked as a supreme court clerk. Very smart person, very kind, and very neutral on anything political so no one could call him a hack when he shared his professional opinion. He halted class one day when the Max situation came up. He spent 3 hours devoted to his experiences with the FAA Regulatory apparatus, Airbus, and Boeing. He remarked about the redesign of the aircraft, engine placement, stalls, and how generational aircraft are inspected and approved. He went on to explain how Boeing had been, for years (since the hostile take over) been trying to push the boundaries of what was, and was not, an acceptable submission to the FAA for a speedy review as an updated generational aircraft, and was getting away with it. The documentary pretty much lays this out but profit margin, competition with Airbus, and hubris = QA/QC shortcuts as well as cost-savings shortcuts in design.

After all the reports came out, which that documentary I linked does an excellent job of detailing, I look back on that class and thank my lucky stars for the time I spent learning from that man. The 737 Max should have been an entirely new aircraft, with more rigorous scrutiny by regulators. But since it was just an "upgrade" it get away with major structural, software, and hydraulics changes without so much as a glance.

I try not to fly on anything from the post-takeover Boeing, and try to get on an Airbus whenever possible. An extra couple of bucks or a few extra layovers is worth it compared to being an example of why Boeing sucks.

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 15 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. If at the state level, do you mean the State Level Senator or Rep? As it reads, your congressman (i.e., your Federal Rep in DC) wouldn't have much legislative authority in Texas, even if they represent Texas.

Texas at a state level won't do anything, it's gerrymandered into Banana Republic territory. So you can fix gerrymandering (not likely) or bring the federal justice hammer down on the assholes empowering this crap (also not likely).

This is an issue akin to, but not a mirror of, the Jim Crow South, and I mean that administratively. Texas and other states have created three classes of citizen, divided by their ability to give birth (m or f by Texas interpretation) and, unlike Jim Crow, divided again by if they are pregnant or not. This, like Jim Crow, is effecting lives of course, but also commerce, travel, and other systems in ways I can't fathom. Let alone the mental health and health tolls on anyone carrying a baby, as you're immediately guilty until you give a healthy birth or proven innocent if anything happened to go wrong.

Jim Crow suffered blows from federal power via the federal government pursuing commerce clause arguments. Wait. What? Really? Yes, see Heart of Atlanta Motel Inc. v. United States and Katzenbach v. McClung.

That's what it'll take to stop this insanity. But, I fear, the current political climate is not there yet. So much needs to get fixed to get us back to the point where a supreme Court won't cite a pre-USA constitution legal argument as grounds to intervene in a woman's personal health. Crazy people out of politics, gerrymandering addressed, hate and anti democratic speech reinterpreted under the 1st amendment, etc.

It's a long battle but Jim Crow's ultimate destruction, and even Roe v Wades success while it lasted, proves we can do it but we need to learn from the shortcomings and solidify basic human rights in our national identity moving forward.

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submitted 6 months ago by its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org to c/foss@beehaw.org

Forgive my ignorance, but I've got a question concerning OCR tools. Until now, I have utilized a paid service to upload, scan, convert them to searchable documents, and store my handwritten Uni notes. Handwritten because, frankly, my brain seems to engage with the content "better" than by digital note-taking.

It worked fine for what I needed, so I have never investigated open-source or had actual ownership/control over my uploaded notes before. As my work expands and the database of notes grows, maintaining data privacy is a huge concern, and I do not want to use the same system for interviews and such. My Uni has been, well, unhelpful sadly.

Are there any recommendations for having a similar system that puts more control and privacy in my hands?

[-] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 23 points 6 months ago

Coffee? CHECK. Baked bread? CHECK. Not dead? CHECK.

Off to a good start.

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its_me_xiphos

joined 6 months ago