2 Feb 2022 - "AI"

 "AI" stands for Artificial Intelligence, but has become more a marketing term than well defined.  The one thing it doesn't mean is Sentient; "Machine Learning" is the closer term but that's not as sexy as AI.

A recommended book from a member:   Toby Walsh's Machines that Think:  https://www.amazon.com/Machines-That-Think-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1633883752

Lots of links and videos for today:

• Don't believe the hype about StarScope:  https://www.thewidgetsmaster.com/starscopeg3/en/pre-7.html
• I bought a cheap version that probably just a good:  https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B094DJ7771
• Kraxy Ken did a take down of it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67350MLGXXQ  (Recommend taking a look at his other videos, he specializes in scams.)
• Do not download or use the "PC App Store"  No link here, it's malware!
• Jucha's "Silver Ships" saga https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Ships-S-H-Jucha-ebook/dp/B00TCV621O is a wonder Sci-Fi series in which "SADEs" (Self-Aware Digital Entities) are major characters.  
• CGP Grey's How Machines Learn is a great introduction:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9OHn5ZF4Uo
• Ask Leo's, "AI" is not "AI" https://askleo.com/when-ai-isnt-ai/
• The DALL-E 2 website: https://openai.com/dall-e-2/
• DALL-E 2 Explained:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTgPSKKjfVg
  
• "This is not Morgan Freeman" Deepfake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxXpB9pSETo
•  ChatGPT website:  https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/
• Using ChatGPT to help you with Excel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYtZ2zsdE_s  Amazing good.
• ReviewGeek:  AI Isn't Really Artificial Intelligence: https://www.reviewgeek.com/143948/ai-isnt-really-artificial-intelligence/
• The fun BMW superbowl ad with Arnie, Director's cut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNqlZ8z2WlU (I love "Peggy!")
• This years 2023 CES BMW Keynote.  The Livestream (1¼ hour) <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX50X6ZQs1c> or my edit of just the good parts <https://1drv.ms/v/s!AnjSwOmsFbmGtwGpls-tUahYDM58?e=1qTNc2>
  

12 Jan 2023 - Windows 11

Topics of the day

• Tax notes: For 2023 the Required Minimum Distribution age is now 73.  By default financial organizations should withhold 10% of distributions for income taxes, this can be changed if you ask.
• Bob really liked the History channel documentary "Breaking the Sound Barrier" which had lots of information he, and probably you, didn't know.  Example: the plane was the "XS-1" not X-1!.  Watch it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w07LG-WjKJ4
• Call 302-831-7218 or email ChaiResearchLab@udel.edu to participate in a UD study of "Does Eating Wild Blueberries Help Improve Memory and Cardiovascular Health?"  Sounds fun.
• To turn *off* Google tracking, login to your account, click the initial upper right, select 'Manage account.'  Click "Manage your data & privacy" and look through what Google saves and delete or turn off whatever you want.
• Rhetorical Question: Does it help to get mad at the computer?
• LassPass: what happened and what you can do.  There is a lot of information and mis-information floating around the Internet on this.  The best, most detailed is here:  https://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm  Look for #904, “Leaving LastPass” - Audio, Notes, & Transcript
• PC Health Check: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-use-the-pc-health-check-app-9c8abd9b-03ba-4e67-81ef-36f37caa7844
• Woody poses the question, https://www.askwoody.com/2022/is-it-time-to-move-to-windows-11/ ?  The answer: "It depends."
• Start11, a great replacement for the Windows 11 terrible start menu:  https://www.stardock.com/products/start11/  Brings back the better Windows 10 menu.
• The BMW "Zeus & Hera" ad from the 2022 Superbowl director's cut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JMalpza51M  This was a setup for ...
• ... The BMW Keynote at last week's CES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX10XBwpJ6M which was over an hour.  But, no worries, Bob's got a 'best of cut' coming up in his next presentation!

#301 - Jan 5, 2023

You guys must really like to hear me talk - kept me on-line till 3.  Thanks to all that listened to me ramble, I hope to see you in person when we resume hybrid presentations next week.  

Today's Topics:

• Recommend Bob Rankin's newsletter for tech topics: https://askbobrankin.com
• Intel announced their new 13th generation Core i CPUs, "Raptor Lake"
• To compare CPUs, check their Passmark: https://www.cpubenchmark.net 
• Scambusters is a good way to stay on top of the current threats, https://scambusters.org/ to subscribe to their newsletter to keep up.
• USB - cables connectors and protocols - can be confusing, we talk about them
• What is "Streaming?"  Like the "Cloud" there's less here than appears.
• Adwcleaner (Google "Adwcleaner Bleeping") is a great, quick way to check for malware.  It also detects pre-installed software, you're choice to keep or remove
• Should I replace my HDD with an SSD?  Short answer, Yes!  SSDs have gotten less expensive over the last year.  We talk about the process.
• Bob's daily driver, "Centurion" had a uh-oh!  (repeated blue screens)  We talked about how I recovered from it.
• Gene Barlow (who gave a presentation to us way back) has discounted Acronis products.  Acronis has gone to a subscription-only product list, so is less attractive, but Gene has good prices for those products.  https://ugr7.com
• Yes, the "3G" cell phone signals have been shut down.  Most vendors are giving you a free replacement if you have a 3G-only device.