Saturday, October 30, 2021
Friday, October 29, 2021
Digital Protocol and end of the keyboard's dominance
An Update to a 37-Year-Old Digital Protocol Could Profoundly Change the Way Music Sounds
MIDI 2.0 is live, and it could mean the end of the keyboard's dominance over popular music.
Quartz- Dan Kopf
Quotes from the above article
"... A lot of big things happened in music in 1983.... MIDI 1.0 was released. MIDI stands for “Musical Instrument Digital Interface” and, after 37 years, it has finally received a major update. MIDI 2.0 is live, and it could mean the end of the keyboard’s dominance over popular music.
.... There are a few major changes in the new version. The biggest development is the expansion from 7-bit values to 32-bit values. Mike Kent, one of the technical leaders in creating MIDI 2.0, says this is like going from the resolution of a 1980s television to the high-def televisions of today. It means that instead of 128 steps for features like volume, there will now be billions.
.....
Also, with more memory, there are simply many more possible features that MIDI 2.0 can try to emulate.
...........But I believe because of MIDI 2.0 synthesizers and other electronic instruments will become more expressive. We will have more individual control over each note.”
....nother major advancement is that MIDI 2.0 is that it allows for bi-directional communication between devices.
.............. The recent MIDI update could allow people to build musical worlds we can’t yet imagine
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Get organized
How To Declutter Your Life in 15 Steps
Start with digital devices, backing up what you need and deleting the rest. Then approach your home and life in the same way.
Apartment Therapy- Ashley Abramson
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
How do you store your precious analog photos and videos?
The More You Know
Everything You Need to Know Before Renting a Storage Unit
More space, fewer problems
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Microsoft alternatives - google docs tips
Updated information on July 6, 2022
Google docs:
Step up your Google Docs game with these hacks. If you regularly use Google Docs, features like translating your entire document or creating custom shortcuts can help optimize your experience. See the 11 Google Docs features that will make your life easier.
quotes from above article
- You might think you know Google Docs well, but there are a lot of lesser-known but useful features.
- Not only can you voice dictate to Google Docs and display a real-time word count, you can create comparisons between similar docs.
- Here are 11 of the most useful lesser-known features in Google Docs.
Dictate with your voice
Voice dictation isn't yet 100% accurate, but it's still a convenient way to create a document using just your voice. Google Docs supports voice dictation. To do it, just choose Tools, then Voice typing. You might need to give Google Docs permission to use your microphone, but after that a Click to speak button will appear on screen (you can drag it around if it's in the way). Click, dictate, and click again when you are done.
- Crop and edit images in a document
(note: I do use this feature often)
- Translate your document to another language (note: this is totally unexpected amazing feature - got to look into it)
for info check out in detail at:
How to change the language in Google Docs to translate a document or type in a different language
Dec 18, 2019,
-
- Turn on an automatic word count display (note: I don't need this feature, but it's good to know for those who need it) - how to: you can enable an automatic word counter if you need it. To turn it on, click Tools, then Word count. In the Word count pop-up, click the checkbox for Display word count while typing and then click OK.
-
Bookmark sections of your document
You can bookmark sections within a Google Doc and then link to them from elsewhere in the doc. It's handy for setting up an interactive table of contents, for example, or just linking to another part of the document as a reference.
To do that, select the text you want to bookmark and then choose Insert, followed by Bookmark. Then select the text that you want to hyperlink to the bookmark. Click Insert link in the toolbar and click Headings and bookmarks. Find the bookmark you just created and select it.
(note: I might need this in my notes - it's good to know!)
- Templates are hiding in plain sight
It's easy to ignore on the Google Docs home page, but the top of the screen has a row of handy templates in Google's Template gallery. You can click Template gallery
(note: I should look into this, as I use google docs so often!)
- Compare two documents (note - not sure if I need this)
-Paste without formatting (note: sure if I need this feature)
- Quickly add a header or a footer
You can add headers and footers to your Google Doc files, and even create a different header and footer on the first page of the document.
To create a header, double click at the top of a page. You'll see the header region appear, and you can simply start typing to create your header. For more customization, click Options and choose the setting you want to change. For footers, do the same thing at the bottom of the page.
(NOTE: not sure if I need this feature)
==================================
Move over, Microsoft Word: The race to reinvent document editing
As ambitious apps such as Notion and Coda think beyond word processing in its classic form, even Microsoft and Google are taking notice.
Here are some quotes from the above article:
"Modern editors such as Notion and Coda don’t mimic the printed page. Rather, using them feels more like browsing the web. Their writing spaces flow freely without page breaks, and they can branch into subpages that link among themselves. Those pages are also interactive by nature, with checkboxes, charts, Trello-like kanban boards, and tie-ins to outside data sources."
"Google Docs added interactive checklists and simpler linking to other documents earlier this year. A future update to Box’s Box Notes will add anchor links, callout boxes, and overhauled tables. The project management tool Monday launched a document editor in August with clear nods to Notion’s drag-and-drop content blocks. Microsoft itself is working on a modular Office editing system called Fluid Framework. Meanwhile, smaller upstarts Skiff and Craft are putting their own spin on the formula, with respective focuses on privacy and writing."
Conclusion:
"...All-in-one document editors like Notion and Coda could potentially be
the holy grail for this kind of work, which explains why so many other
companies are rushing to adapt. Google is trying to fit product planning
into its document editor, while Monday is trying to fit document
editing into its product planner. It wouldn’t be entirely surprising if
Airtable or Trello were to expand beyond their core spreadsheet and
kanban board interfaces to include word processing-like documents as
well."
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Variety of information and resources
The Covid-19 years have shaken up many industries and businesses. People are changing drastically and it's no more business as usual. Here is an interesting article:
The Great Resignation Is Accelerating
A lasting effect of this pandemic will be a revolution in worker expectations.
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Miami and Bitcoin
October 2021
Miami's mayor says the city is moving toward paying public employees in bitcoin. The move is part of Mayor Francis Suarez's ongoing push to make Miami a major hub for digital assets. Here's what else Suarez has planned for his city.
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Social Media news and updates
Updated August 18. 2022
Social media is polluting society. Moderation alone won’t fix the problem
Companies already have the systems in place that are needed to evaluate their deeper impacts on the social fabric.
=========================
Updated information Aug 1, 2022
Jul 25, 2022 - Technology
Sunset of the social network
- That's how TikTok sorts the videos it shows users, and that's largely how Facebook will now organize its home screen.
- The dominant player in social media is transforming itself into a kind of digital mass media, in which the reactions of hordes of anonymous users, processed by machine learning, drive the selection of your content.
- .........
- Meta owns a big chunk of that market, too, thanks to Facebook Messenger and its ownership of WhatsApp.
- At the other end of the media spectrum, the "discovery engines" run by TikTok and Meta will duke it out with streaming services to capture billions of eyeballs around the globe and sell that attention to advertisers.
All this leaves a vacuum in the middle — the space of forums, ad-hoc group formation and small communities that first drove excitement around internet adoption in the pre-Facebook era.
- Facebook's sunseting of its own social network could open a new space for innovation on this turf, where relative newcomers like Discord are already beginning to thrive.
=============================
Twitter now lets you soft-block followers
Now you can remove someone from your followers list without blocking them entirely.
Firefox issues - websites blocked
It turns out Firefox is blocking wordpress websites:
Here is some information what to do about it:
https://wpglorify.com/cookies-blocked-error-wordpress-admin/
Sunday, September 12, 2021
The companies that were tenants at WTC - World Trace Center - Twin Towers
List of companies that occupied the WTC - World Trade Center, Twin Towers https://tbtf.com/unblinking/arc/2001-09a.htm
==================
==================
World Trade Center (1973–2001)
==================
Companies in the Twin Towers: Before and after
Here are the major businesses in the World Trade Center towers during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Almost a decade later Fortune tracked where the companies or divisions relocated-and how many employees now work at those offices.
Graphic by Nicolas Rapp===============
List of tenants in One World Trade Center
| One World Trade Center | |
|---|---|
 The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, pictured at night in July 2001. One World Trade Center is on the left, with its antenna clearly visible. | |
 | |
| Alternative names |
|
| General information | |
| Status | Destroyed |
| Location | West Street, New York, New York, United States |
| Construction started | August 6, 1968 |
| Topped-out | December 23, 1970 |
| Completed | 1972 |
| Opened | December 15, 1970 |
| Inaugurated | April 4, 1973 |
| Destroyed | September 11, 2001, 10:28 AM ET |
| Owner | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |
| Management | Silverstein Properties |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 1,728 ft (527 m) |
| Roof | 1,368 ft (417 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 110 |
| Floor area | 4,300,000 sq ft (400,000 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 99 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | |
| Structural engineer | Leslie E. Robertson (Worthington, Skilling, Helle, and Jackson) |
| References | |
| [1][2] | |
The original One World Trade Center (also known as the North Tower, Tower 1, Building One, or 1 WTC) was one of the Twin Towers of the original World Trade Center in New York City. It was completed in 1972, stood at a height of 417 metres (1,368 ft), and was the tallest building in the world until 1973, when surpassed by the Sears Tower in Chicago.
It was distinguishable from its twin, the original Two World Trade Center, also known as the South Tower, by the 110.3-metre (362 ft) telecommunications antenna on its roof. Including the antenna, the building stood at a total height of 1,728 feet (527 m). Other things that made the North Tower distinguishable from its twin was that there was a canopy connected to the North Tower's west facade on street level and there was two small pedestrian walkways that extended from the west and south promenades of Three and Six World Trade Center to the North Tower's north and south facades on plaza level, while the South Tower lacked any of those. The building's address was One World Trade Center, and the WTC complex had its own ZIP code (10048) due to its large size.
History: Biography: Father of Hong Kong
Source:
https://armedia.am/eng/news/97820/sir-khachik-paul-chater-father-of-hong-kong.html
Sir Khachik Paul Chater, Father of Hong Kong
The most famous Armenian of all times who lived in China was Khachik Pogose Astwachatoor, known as Paul Chater. Ha worked as Senior Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong, was a member of the Governor’s executive and legislative councils, owner of many companies, as well Hong Kong General Governor first adviser for 40 years.
Khachik Astvatsaryan was born in Calcutta (India), on September 8, 1846, into a large family of Armenian traders, in which there were 14 children. He was baptized in the Armenian church of Holy Nazareth. His father was a member of the Indian civil service, and his mother was a house wife busy with upbringing the 14 children. Life seemed to flow but at the age of seven Khachik lost his father, and 2 years after that his mother.
The children were taken to orphanage. Paul gained entry into the La Martiniere College in Calcutta on a scholarship. At the age of 18 he moved to Hong Kong to earn money and bring his brothers and sisters together again. 
In the early days in Hong Kong, he was an assistant at the Bank of Hindustan, China and Japan. Later, with the aid of the Jewish Sassoon family, he set up business as an exchange broker, resigned from the bank, and traded gold bullion and land on his own account.
Due to his diligence, exceptional business skills Paul soon became very rich. An owner of major banks, land, fleet, he soon became one of the richest and most influential figures in Asia and Hong Kong. Due to him Hong Kong nowadays has its unique place in the world economy.
In 1886, he helped Patrick Manson establish the first Dairy Farm in Hong Kong (nowadays known as ”Dairy Farm International Holdings”). The same year he entered the Legislative Council. Through his connections he acquired an old graveyard in Wan Chai, where he built one of the earliest power stations in the world in 1890. He supported the construction of Hong Kong university, many schools, hospitals, blocks of flats, as well as the Hong Kong Fleet.
In 1889, he established Hongkong Land with James Johnstone Keswick. Hong Kong Land commenced the land reclamation project under the Praya Reclamation Scheme, under which the sea shore was made into land at Victoria city and more than one thousand houses were built for thousands of people.
In 1897 he was awarded Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George by the British government and in 1902 he was knighted and called Sir Paul Chater.
“This young Armenian from Calcutta filled all of Hong Kong. He is everywhere, nothing is done without his knowledge and participation. He is the father of Hong Kong,” historical documents read.
Chater was enthusiastic in two sports: He played for the Hong Kong Cricket Club 1st XI, and was a thoroughbred horse racing enthusiast. He reportedly never missed the weekly races at the Happy Valley Racecourse in 60 years. In 1872 he set up the Chater Stable in Hong Kong that won many races at Happy Valley. In 1955 The Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup, the Group One third leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown, was named in his honour.
Chater was a major philanthropist to world wide Armenians. Throughout his life he donated huge amounts of money to Hong Kong, Calcutta, London, Paris and Beijing Armenian social, religious and educational causes. He also supported the Armenian churches in India, orphans with Armenia descent, built a home for the Armenian elderly in Calcutta, named The Sir Catchick Paul Chater Home. To help the Armenian Genocide survivors he founded “Armenian migrants’ charity foundation” in Britain.
Paul Chater Chater died in 1926 and was interred in the Hong Kong cemetery. Because of not having children a part of his estate went to the Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth in Calcutta and other churches in south-east Asia, the remaining part went to the college where he studied. As a response the college made a decision to accompany the morning hymn with such lines, “We are grateful to our benefactor, honorable Paul Chater,” recited in front of Chater’s picture. The Armenian church in Calcutta named the auxiliary building at the church after “Sir Paul Chater”.
Nowadays there are a number of buildings, streets, parks, metro stations after Chater’s name in Hong Kong.
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Asset protection zoom meeting link
I recently attended the Asset protection zoom meeting and it was well worth the two hours that I spent listening to Elder Law Lawyer, namely Ann-Margaret Carrozza Esq
Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Esq. provides tips on protecting your assets and long term care expenses with the newly changed NYS Asset Protection Laws. Visit MyElderLawAttorney.com for more information.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwO_F72dBjc&t=818s
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Artificial Intelligence latest news and updates
Update information
September 6, 2022
What does GPT-3 “know” about me?
Large language models are trained on troves of personal data hoovered from the internet. So I wanted to know: What does it have on me?
Quotes from the above article: "... OpenAI has provided limited access to its famous large language model, GPT-3, and Meta lets people play around with its model OPT-175B though a publicly available chatbot called BlenderBot 3. ..."
AND
"...
Large language models (LLMs), such as OpenAI’s GPT-3, Google’s LaMDA, and Meta’s OPT-175B, are red hot in AI research, and they are becoming an increasingly integral part of the internet’s plumbing. LLMs are being used to power chatbots that help with customer service, to create more powerful online search, and to help software developers write code.
If you’ve posted anything even remotely personal in English on the internet, chances are your data might be part of some of the world’s most popular LLMs. ..."
And
"... It’s not just personal data. The data sets are likely to include data that is copyrighted, such as source code and books, Tramèr says. Some models have been trained on data from GitHub, a website where software developers keep track of their work. ..."
AND
" .... Google uses human raters to rate personally identifiable information as unsafe, which helps train the company’s LLM LaMDA to avoid regurgitating it, says Tulsee Doshi, head of product for responsible AI at Google. ... "
Inside a radical new project to democratize AI
A group of over 1,000 AI researchers has created a multilingual large language model bigger than GPT-3—and they’re giving it out for free.
==============================
here is update on September 6, 2021
| Apple delays plan to scan iPhones for child abuse images |
| The company announces that the controversial CSAM feature, which scans your Apple devices for images and messages, will be delayed for a few more months. =========================== |
From social media posts: Twitter: date: August 5, 2021
Source:
Observe together how world events unfold in the grand theater of our time.
buymeacoffee.com/disclosetv
The bellow message is in reference to the latest from Apple iPhone:
Apple Reportedly Working on Problematic iOS Tool to Scan for Child Abuse Photos on iPhones
Here is some of the comments to the above post:
NEW - Billionaire George Soros is funding an initiative to "dismantle" and replace the Minneapolis Police Department, campaign finance records show (Fox)
Security researchers warn: Once such a system is implemented the artificial intelligence could be trained to detect any kind of unwanted content.
Guarantee this will have a high error rate and end up getting a bunch of people investigated for having normal pictures of their own kids on their phone
Beat me to it. My wife and I send funny pictures of our kids back and forth, at times the kids might be taking a bath or something. This is going to get very strange.
They found a way to search everyone’s phone. Just like YouTube’s policy change in 2017. Told it was to combat ISIS videos, really used to ban Alex jones and the like.
They will scan your whole phone and will be able to repurpose it to detect "offensive" memes/texts or anything that criticizes the government.
All security is gone now. They’ll have passwords, access to bank accounts, crypto, data, protect your privacy before it’s too late. $JUP #Metis
This is past the line. What if me takes photo of my kids injury and sends to spouse or family, this stupid software going to flag as abuse? What about photos of my kids in tub as infants? They going to flag that and label child porn? This shit is way to invasive.
We’re only looking for terrorism says the NSA. We’re only looking for CP says Apple. ETC. Privacy be damned
Solution... don't buy an Apple device.
In the not too distant future it will be illegal to NOT carry a smart phone
Which means they’re looking at every photo and video stored on your phone.
How many people do they think have child abuse imagery on their phones? So we all have to give up our privacy for what’s surely less than 1% of 1% of iPhone users? And since they announced this obviously they’ll just use different phones. Stupid
Definitely just a ploy to get away with spying on us
In simple words- apple will be snooping on your private data
That will be the end of IPhones. I’m not having Apple go through my family album
Sounds good on the service but this raises so many questions about how private Apple really are
What is the data set for this? For now it's only if you have iCloud backup. They said it can be used to gather your political affiliation also! 
gizmodo.com/apple-reported
gizmodo.com/apple-reportedThis should be illegal, Apple shouldn't be going through your data at all without your consent. Worse than the NSA who at least pretends they need a warrant.
think about the error rate. So if you are falsely accused they will come and get you. And you'll never get rid of the rumor. Or they just upload such photos to your phone and then blame you. And boom all conspiracy theorists in jail.
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