Even more oddities spotted in the news

[robkelk]

Readers of texts created to use the styles of famous authors prefer works written by AI to human human-written imitations, but only after developers fine-tune AI models to understand an author’s output.

In other words, it appears legal types cannot now ignore the market impact of AI upon human-authored works when assessing whether AI's use of copyrighted content is fair.

The scholarly paper has not yet been published. Preprint copy: Readers Prefer Outputs of AI Trained on Copyrighted Books over Expert Human Writers

[MilkmanConspiracy]

"If you can’t afford a vacation, an AI app will sell you pictures of one" (The Verge)

[robkelk]

Podcast: Wazzup Witches! The Ottawans making a living off witchcraft

... including the owner of a shop in the Glebe where business is brooming ...

[robkelk]

I never date co-workers, because relationships always end and then you have to see each other at work the next day and that's just awkward... Somebody didn't realize that.

Arcade Fire's Régine Chassagne, Win Butler announce separation

The band isn't breaking up, just the couple.

[Norgarth]

Heart and Fleetwood Mac had similar issues over the years.

[robkelk]

The Register: You'll never guess what the most common passwords are. Oh, wait, yes you will

Which references Comparitech: The most-used passwords of 2025

[robkelk]

Starbucks cannot bear the demand for this Christmas's big collectible.

[robkelk]

Spacecraft designed to study the effect of solar storms delayed by a solar storm

[Bob Schroeck]

So somehow I missed this until now, but just a few days ago was the fiftieth anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

I remember hearing Gordon Lightfoot's song for the first time on a scatchy little AM radio, played by a local station, right when it came out and having no idea it was a true story.

And a few years ago, I had to write my own take on it, a tiny fix fic. It seem somehow appropriate link to it now.

[Bob Schroeck]

Bald eagle drops cat through car windshield. No, really.

[robkelk]

The grue are hungry.

Microsoft releases Zork source code under the MIT Licence

Just the original trilogy, none of the sequels.

[Bob Schroeck]

Apparent human skull found encased in concrete in South Boston:

[Bob Schroeck]

The guitar Michael J. Fox played in the original Back to the Future is missing, and Gibson is trying to find it:



And yes, that video is five months old as of the date I post this, but it's not been found yet. There's a YouTube channel where they're posting regular updates as well as fun little shorts related to the search, and the latest update (from late September) is that thanks to tips from viewers, they've tracked down the one he played in Back to the Future II, but they still haven't found the one from the first movie.

There's a website where there's more detail about the search, a place to submit any information you might have, and a little bit about a documentary Gibson's making about the loss (and hopefully the rediscovery) of the guitar.

[robkelk]

Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery

[robkelk]

Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery

Oh, wait -- Paramount wants to buy Warner Bros. Discovery

[robkelk]

iHeartRadio issues companywide ban on AI-generated music and synthetic on-air personalities

iHeartMedia’s stance reflects increasing concern from both musicians and audiences about the expanding presence of AI in entertainment. The company noted that its research indicates listeners continue to prefer human-created songs and live radio personalities who offer relatability, emotion, and imperfections — qualities audiences reportedly feel cannot be replicated by artificial systems.

[robkelk]

It's the most terrible ad of the year

McDonald's Netherlands pulls AI-generated ad over uncanny-valley complaints.