🖋️ LongForm
Revenge Of The Nerds - Real Revenge
Back a few years ago - I raised the idea that 🖇️ ATS systems should just be banned.. Nothing changed.
Then I found this clip from The Monkees TV show that aired in the late 60s … 🖇️ The Monkees Predicting ATS software THIRTY YEARS before it appeared. Yes - 30 years is right - that’s when these things started to appear.
Of course in the intermediate time - they have just got better worse.
Even to the point of AI🖇️ Avatars Doing Job Interviews
You cannot make this stuff up!
A lot of my objections about so much of this tech is that it;
- ends up in corporate hands
- is misused
- is badly misused
- is extremely and badly abused
… and all the time never does anyone build a similar system for people. AND corporates don’t end up recruiting the best people for reasons like;
- the best people ‘don’t have time for that’
- the best people want to work with the best people - not bots
- the best people don’t tune their resumes to be Keyword and SEO compliant - necessary if you stand any chance of an ATS letting you through its gates
Until now. Brilliant …. The new story is from 404 Media. I haven’t checked but - does this tickle your fancy? It does mine …
The solution is sitting in Github - 🔗The solution is sitting in github so I am not qualified to comment on how well this works - but I have friends.
Of course corporate HR is going to declare ‘no fair’ because their systems are going to be swamped … too bad.
I presume that someone is going to fork the code and use it to apply for contracts .. and it wont be long before their AIs contact someone on Amazon Turk and convince them to register and sign on (on their behalf) for Job Boards and Recruiter sites - so we can do the same thing there. (Of course it won’t be long before the AIs can also do that.)
We know that the retaliation is going to happen - example case - someone inside the company uses their brains and writes code to get their 5 day job done in 2 to 4 hours - and then take a second job - repeat - and a third job - repeat … what do you think the corporate does when they find out? Promote them?
My prediction - they will work out how to block this access.
Let the battle begin.
🎥 Chief of Station, 2024 - ★★★
Not bad to begin with.. but kind of fell off into cliches .. and isn’t Aaron a bit old to be brawling and fighting in the field?
Chief of Station, 2024 - ★★★
Not bad to begin with.. but kind of fell off into cliches .. and isn’t Aaron a bit old to be brawling and fighting in the field?
🎥 The Union, 2024 - ★★★
I dunno .. Marky, Halle AND J.K. .. great cast .. so you expect a bit more than average? Don’t you? That said the choreography of chasing the case down the side of a building was well done. But if that’s the peak .. you wonder why I gave it 3 stars. Don’t you?
The Union, 2024 - ★★★
I dunno .. Marky, Halle AND J.K. .. great cast .. so you expect a bit more than average? Don’t you? That said the choreography of chasing the case down the side of a building was well done. But if that’s the peak .. you wonder why I gave it 3 stars. Don’t you?
🎥 Rebel Ridge, 2024 - ★★★★
Three and a half stars … rounding up to 4 .. just for the audacity to remake Rambo and not give Sky any credit. Seriously .. not bad at all.
Rebel Ridge, 2024 - ★★★★
Three and a half stars … rounding up to 4 .. just for the audacity to remake Rambo and not give Sky any credit. Seriously .. not bad at all.
We Don't Need No Edukashun - Actually - We Do.
A Posterity Post
I had cause to add a comment on a post that featured this image.
It is funny - but I think it is funny for all the reasons that the commenters were not seeing ….
A university is to educate .. not train. If you are wondering about the difference, ask yourself if you prefer your children to attend sex education classes or sex training classes.
Sadly most institutions have moved to thinking of themselves as trainers .. so they are ‘workplace ready’. Witness a presentation I sat in just last week where someone from an educational facility was telling us how they are currently revamping their syllabus so that their students could learn how best to work with Ai (sic) … see Stephen Fry’s latest missive.
I stood up and asked her which University she thought the people making Ai had taught them what they know.
(Apparently .. that’s different).
As for philosophy .. oh and let’s throw in ethics, humanities, liberal arts, critical thinking, hell, even english .. are (should be) all on the rise in education, because it is very clear that we need them …badly.
I get the picture .. funny.
But the humor doesn’t lie in the kid having it wrong and dreaming what might be .. it’s in the dad having it wrong and thinking the future is anything like the past.
🎥 The Instigators, 2024 - ★★★
Average score for an average movie. Casey? Never been overly bothered, but Matt is capable of so much more.
The Instigators, 2024 - ★★★
Average score for an average movie. Casey? Never been overly bothered, but Matt is capable of so much more.
🎥 Wolfs, 2024 - ★★★★
Wolfs … not Wolves. Not sure why. Need to look it up. Other than that .. all good. They have a good relationship IRL … it comes through in the movie.
Wolfs, 2024 - ★★★★ (contains spoilers)
This review may contain spoilers.
Wolfs … not Wolves. Not sure why. Need to look it up. Other than that .. all good. They have a good relationship IRL … it comes through in the movie.
The Crafting of Craft.
🖇️ Talking about knowing what you’re talking about - nobody who knows what they are talking about would confuse me with a real programmer.
That said, I just read 🔗 Going the Extra Mile — Beyond CSS, most of which is well above my technical pay grade - but still I was fascinated by the attention to detail around ‘crafting Craft’.
Consider - a whole post (well 75%) devoted to the process behind getting a check box ‘just right’ and the remaining 25% explaining ‘push away’, which I knew had to be coded in some way - but who knew there is a phrase for it?
Great read - even if you aren’t technical you get the idea of their focus on good design - Steve would have been proud of them
“When you’re a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you’re not going to use a piece of plywood on the back, even though it faces the wall and nobody will ever see it. You’ll know it’s there, so you’re going to use a beautiful piece of wood on the back. For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.”
💬 Steve Jobs
… which probably explains why they won app of the year and were name called (not once - but twice) in this year’s WWDC.
The article ends with …
All of this for what? Will all users see the difference? — Probably not. Was it worth it? — Absolutely. These are the minor details that often go unnoticed when present, but become conspicuous when missing. We strive for having as many of those details as possible, making the experience great but at the same time — seamless.
Kudos to Craft - a Great App and a serious tool for writing documents in the 21st Century.
Pageless Writing Apps
🔗 Lex raises $2.75M for its AI writing tool that helps writers get past blocks.
The AI stuff is cool, but there was one thing about this app that made me want to keep using it: It has no historical baggage. I find it odd that many modern word processors like Google Docs and Word retain a bias toward pagination — the UX is intended for printing documents onto letter-sized paper. Lex, in contrast, does away with all that.
💬 TechCrunch
Been exploring 🔗 Lex.page for a couple ‘ months. I even pay - but not yet used it enough to know whether I am going to continue to pay.
That said, the above quote is interesting and I agree with the ‘historical baggage thought - but they are hardly at the vanguard of that kind of thinking!
It as if the writer has never heard of;
- Craft
- Ulysses
- IAWriter
- Drafts, et al
Let alone, Obsidian, Roam and Notion
Side note - Craft. Most definitely a personal favorite. And I am increasingly using it to share thoughts, ideas, minutes, reports to specific audiences - most often under ‘loose’ password control.
Cant wait to get my hands on the new stuff they have in Beta - though even that still wont solve what I really really want!
Adding to which their own foray into AI support, I just want to tie apps like that into a single world - and not have different versions of different LLMs spread around various apps. ANNOYING.
People Don't Read Anymore - Except When They Do.
🔗 Raw data: Book and newspaper consumption - Kevin Drum
There is a mantra in the world that people ‘don’t read’ (anymore?).
And on top of that - if they do - (very) short form - definitely not books.
I have long thought this to be wrong.
They certainly might not read your stuff. Or my stuff, but they do read - BUT - they read what interests them , what engages them and definitely not limited to stuff that appears at the top of lists.
Kevin’s short analysis on the data says that today we are spending twice what we spent on physical books 40 (or so) years ago. As he says - buying is not reading (👋🏼 to the Unlibraries) .. but beyond physical books there are ebooks, blogs, newsletters … yup - we definitely aren’t reading any more - except when we do.
The Journey From ‘Word’ To ‘Catalyst’
Prompt:
Write a 5 paragraph article on the topic ‘word’
Response:
The Power of the Word: A Catalyst for Change
Words are more than mere strings of letters; they are the building blocks of communication, carrying the weight of meaning and emotion. From ancient oral traditions to modern digital communication, words have shaped human history and culture. They have the power to inspire, educate, and connect people across distances and generations. The impact of words is profound, making them a vital tool in expressing ideas, sharing knowledge, and fostering understanding.
Historically, words have been instrumental in shaping societies and movements. The speeches of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Winston Churchill rallied people to action, inspiring hope and perseverance. In literature, words have captured the complexities of human experience, from the existential musings in Dostoevsky’s novels to the poetic reflections in Maya Angelou’s works. These words not only entertain but also challenge societal norms and provoke critical thinking, demonstrating their power to influence thought and behavior.
In the realm of business and technology, words play a crucial role in branding and marketing. The right words can convey a company’s mission, attract customers, and differentiate products in a crowded market. In a world where digital presence is paramount, the words used in websites, social media, and advertisements are key to building a brand’s identity and connecting with the audience. The choice of words can evoke emotions, build trust, and foster loyalty, highlighting the strategic importance of language in commerce.
Words also have a significant impact on personal development and relationships. They can uplift and encourage, or they can wound and alienate. Positive affirmations and constructive feedback can boost confidence and foster growth, while harsh criticism and negative language can have the opposite effect. In relationships, words are the means through which love, empathy, and understanding are expressed. The way we communicate with others, the words we choose, and the tone we use can strengthen or strain connections, underscoring the importance of mindful communication.
In essence, words are a catalyst for change, capable of shaping our world in myriad ways. Whether in public discourse, personal interactions, or creative expression, the words we use carry immense power and responsibility. As we navigate an increasingly interconnected world, the careful and thoughtful use of words becomes ever more critical. By harnessing the power of words wisely, we can inspire positive change, foster deeper connections, and contribute to a more understanding and compassionate world.
Prompt:
Please distill this article to a single word … (pasting previous output into the prompt)
Response:
Catalyst
So there you have it.
‘Word’ is a ‘catalyst’.
‘Word’