The Golden Fleecer of the Year: Boeing
November 29, 2024
When I was working in Washington, DC, I had the opportunity to be an “advisor” to the head of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. I recall a comment by Craig Hosmer (R. California) and retired rear admiral saying, “Those Air Force guys overpay.” The admiral was correct, but I think that other branches of the US Department of Defense have been snookered a time or two.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Senator William Proxmire (D. Wisconsin) had one of his staff keep an eye of reports about wild and crazy government expenditures. Every year, the Senator reminded people of a chivalric award dating allegedly from the 1400s. Yep, the Middle Ages in DC.
The Order of the Golden Fleece in old timey days of yore meant the recipient received a snazzy chivalric order intended to promote Christian values and the good neighbor policy of Spain and Austria. A person with the fleece was important, a bit like a celebrity arriving at a Hollywood Oscar event. (Yawn)
Thanks, Wikipedia. Allegedly an example of a chivalric Golden Fleece. Yes, that is a sheep, possibly dead or getting ready to be dipped. Thanks,
Reuters, the trusted outfit which tells me it is trusted each time I read one of its “real” news stories, published “Boeing Overcharged Air Force Nearly 8,000% for Soap Dispensers, Watchdog Alleges.” The write up stated in late October 2024:
Boeing overcharged the U.S. Air Force for spare parts for C-17 transport planes, including marking up the price on soap dispensers by 7,943%, according to a report by a Pentagon watchdog. The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General said on Tuesday the Air Force overpaid nearly $1 million for a dozen spare parts, including $149,072 for an undisclosed number of lavatory soap dispensers from the U.S. plane maker and defense contractor.
I have heard that the Department of Defense has not been able to monitor some of its administrative activities or complete an audit of what it does with its allocated funds.
According to the trusted write up:
The Pentagon’s budget is huge, breaking $900 billion last year, making overcharges by defense contractors a regular headache for internal watchdogs, but one that is difficult to detect. The Inspector General also noted it could not determine if the Air Force paid a fair price on $22 million of spare parts because the service did not keep a database of historical prices, obtain supplier quotes or identify commercially similar parts.
My view is that one of the elected officials in Washington, DC, should consider reviving the Proxmire Golden Fleece Award. Boeing may qualify, but there may be other contenders for the award as well.
I quite like the idea of scope changes and engineering change orders for some US government projects. But I have to admit that Senator Proxmire’s identification of a $600 hammer sold to the US Department of Defense is not interesting.
That 8,000 percent mark up is pretty nifty. Oh, on Amazon soap dispensers cost between $20 and $100. Should the Reuters’ story have mentioned:
- Procurement reform
- Poor financial controls
- Lack of common sense?
Of course not! The trust outfit does not get mired in silly technicalities. And Boeing? That outfit is doing a bang up job.
Stephen E Arnold, November 29, 2024
Directories Have Value
November 29, 2024
Why would one build an online directory—to create a helpful reference? Or for self aggrandizement? Maybe both. HackerNoon shares a post by developer Alexander Isora, “Here’s Why Owning a Directory = Owning a Free Infinite Marketing Channel.”
First, he explains why users are drawn to a quality directory on a particular topic: because humans are better than Google’s algorithm at determining relevant content. No argument here. He uses his own directory of Stripe alternatives as an example:
“Why my directory is better than any of the top pages from Google? Because in the SERP [Search Engine Results Page], you will only see articles written by SEO experts. They have no idea about billing systems. They never managed a SaaS. Their set of links is 15 random items from Crunchbase or Product Hunt. Their article has near 0 value for the reader because the only purpose of the article is to bring traffic to the company’s blog. What about mine? I tried a bunch of Stripe alternatives myself. Not just signed up, but earned thousands of real cash through them. I also read 100s of tweets about the experiences of others. I’m an expert now. I can even recognize good ones without trying them. The set of items I published is WAY better than any of the SEO-optimized articles you will ever find on Google. That is the value of a directory.”
Okay, so that is why others would want a subject-matter expert to create a directory. But what is in it for the creator? Why, traffic, of course! A good directory draws eyeballs to one’s own products and services, the post asserts, or one can sell ads for a passive income. One could even sell a directory (to whom?) or turn it into its own SaaS if it is truly popular.
Perhaps ironically, Isora’s next step is to optimize his directories for search engines. Sounds like a plan.
Cynthia Murrell, November 29, 2024
AI In Group Communications: The Good and the Bad
November 29, 2024
In theory, AI that can synthesize many voices into one concise, actionable statement is very helpful. In practice, it is complicated. The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon announces, “New Paper Co-Authored by Tepper School Researchers Articulates How Large Language Models are Changing Collective Intelligence Forever.” Researchers from Tepper and other institutions worked together on the paper, which was published in Nature Human Behavior. We learn:
“[Professor Anita Williams] Woolley and her co-authors considered how LLMs process and create text, particularly their impact on collective intelligence. For example, LLMs can make it easier for people from different backgrounds and languages to communicate, which means groups can collaborate more effectively. This technology helps share ideas and information smoothly, leading to more inclusive and productive online interactions. While LLMs offer many benefits, they also present challenges, such as ensuring that all voices are heard equally.”
Indeed. The write-up continues:
“‘Because LLMs learn from available online information, they can sometimes overlook minority perspectives or emphasize the most common opinions, which can create a false sense of agreement,’ said Jason Burton, an assistant professor at Copenhagen Business School. Another issue is that LLMs can spread incorrect information if not properly managed because they learn from the vast and varied content available online, which often includes false or misleading data. Without careful oversight and regular updates to ensure data accuracy, LLMs can perpetuate and even amplify misinformation, making it crucial to manage these tools responsibly to avoid misleading outcomes in collective decision-making processes.”
In order to do so, the paper suggests, we must further explore LLMs’ ethical and practical implications. Only then can we craft effective guidelines for responsible AI summarization. Such standards are especially needed, the authors note, for any use of LLMs in policymaking and public discussions.
But not to worry. The big AI firms are all about due diligence, right?
Cynthia Murrell, November 29, 2024
Creeping Crypto: Regulators Adapt to What People Have Been Doing
November 28, 2024
This write up is the work of a humanoid who admits he is a dinobaby; that is, deadwood too old to employ. By the way, the “dinobaby” lingo allegedly emerged from IBM during its housecleaning event years ago. The art, however, is from MidJourney and definitely AI fakery.
I don’t want to make a big deal of the “real” news in “Apple Pay, Cash App, and Other Digital Wallets Will Be Regulated More Like Banks Now.” The write up reports:
Major digital payment providers will soon be subject to bank-like supervision from the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). On Thursday, the CFPB issued a final rule that will regulate digital payment apps that process over 50 million transactions each year, covering services like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, PayPal, Cash App, and others. The new rule is meant to ensure digital payment providers adhere to the same laws as credit unions and large banks. It will give the CFPB the authority to oversee their compliance with federal laws surrounding privacy, fraud, and other rules through “proactive examinations.”
Some governments move slowly and others not at all. This “adjustment” reminds me that the world of digital payments, particularly the use of crypto currency, is moving a bit faster than the regulators mentioned in the Verge’s story. (Wow, that log strikes me as weird.)
I want to point out that in the last few days, Telegram turned on its Messenger app’s linkage to the CryptoCasino operation. Here’s a snapshot of what Telegram is engineering. (I drafted the following text for a couple of the law enforcement professionals who pay some attention to my research team’s work related to Telegram, the The Open Network Foundation, and TON Social. (If there are goods in the following summary, let me know. I feel like the Lone Ranger when I try to figure out what the Russia-flavored online messaging outfit is up to.)
Here’s the snapshot I provided as background information:
CryptoCasino.com went live earlier this week. Telegram provides access to the service owned by Armchair Online BV is an experienced online gaming firm based in Willemstad, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Information about the “organization” is sparse.
A Telegram user can access more than 5,000 games via the Telegram Messenger application. No additional registration is required. Plus Telegram’s platform provides the integration of the multiple steps required to engage in online gambling. This service illustrates the “new” Telegram which shifts from messaging functionality to programmatic services running on the distributed Telegram platform.
The gambling games range from poker to crypto horse racing. Live dealer sessions are available to VIP members who pay for additional privileges. The system uses a new $CASINO coin. This coin is available at a low rate and includes the same “bet on this coin’s value” functions as other Telegram “click to earn” games.
Why would Telegram offer a comprehensive online gambling services? The answer is, in the opinion of the Arnold research group is, “Revenue.” Telegram had previously agreed to team up with Ku Group, an organization indicted in the US for money laundering.Organizations identified by Telegram as being involved in this new initiative are:
- Altcoin Edge
- AvatarUX
- Betby
- Coinbase
- Covey
- Decubate
- Evolution Gaming
- Fast Track
- Fireblocks
- Hacksaw
- MetaMask
- MyAffiliates
- Oddin.ggg
- Pragmatic Play
- Push Gaming
- Spribe
- Trust Wallet
- Wallet Connect
- Zealy
Users the Telegram or CryptoCasino.com Web site are blocked from accessing the site from the US for most users. The work around is to use a VPN (virtual private network) which provides service from Malta, Spain, or a similar nation state. Telegram continues with its effort to engage in high-profit activities and building out the Telegram platform as an application programming interface for an unregulated financial system. Telegram is, intentionally or unintentionally, furthering the effort to reduce or shift global financial markets from the US dollar to crypto currency.
The reason I mention this Telegram development is three fold:
First, it illustrates what I call the “high frequency” deals Telegram is doing even though its founder is in France under the supervision of French authorities. Services which could facilitate money laundering are examples of a CEO with a healthy sense of disdain for laws designed to regulate mere mortals. (Telegram’s founder has allegedly sired more than 100 children. He is offering free in vitro fertilization for those qualified to extend his genetic superbness.)
Second, the purpose of the CryptoCasino in Telegram is to make it really easy for about one billion people to engage in activities which are at present somewhat challenging for investigators to track in real time. Telegram games like the more than 5,000 in the CryptoCasino deal include VIP (very important person) memberships, speculative bets on $Casino coins, and options for moving crypto through multiple wallets. Tracking transactions in one wallet can be done. But multiple wallets activated in short time cycles can make the time and resources budget dwindle quickly.
Third, regulators are likely to struggle to develop rules, regulations, and guidelines able to deal with the array of crypto-ized traditional financial services Telegram explained at its November 2024 Gateway Conference. Other than Group I-B what security centric firm attended the event in Dubai?
So, the Verge’s article provides some information about regulatory velocity. Now the more significant and difficult regulatory work has to be accelerated. In a race between the tortoise and the hare? If you want to bet on the winner, head to the Telegram CryptoCasino service, become a VIP, and interact with one of the 24×7 customer support staff. It is probable that the tortoise and the hare bet can be accommodated.
Stephen E Arnold, November 28, 2024
Group Work Can Be Problematic Even on Video
November 28, 2024
Group work is an unavoidable part of school and everyone hates it. Unfortunately group work continues into adulthood except it’s called a job, teamwork, and synergy. Intelligent leaders realize that poor collaboration hurts profits, so the Zoom Blog (everyone’s favorite digital workplace) did the following: “New Report Uncovers What Bad Collaboration Can Cost Your Organization — And How You Can Help Fix It.”
Poor collaboration takes many forms. It’s more than one team member not carrying their weight, it’s also calendars not syncing or misunderstanding a colleague’s intent. Zoom conducted a Global Connection In The Workplace report based on a Morning Consult survey of over 8000 workers in 16 countries. The survey learned how much repairing bad coloration costs, common collaboration challenges, and how people prefer to work with each other.
The wasted costs are astounding : $874,000 annually per 1000 employee or $16491 per manage. Remote leaders spent the majority of their time collaborating with their co-workers, spending an average of 2-3 hours everyday on email and virtual meetings. Leaders spent more time than their associates resolving bad collaboration and refocusing between tasks. Leaders and workers both agreed that chatting/instant messaging was their favorite way of communicating. The survey also revealed that there were shifting preferences based on generational differences. Baby Boomers prefer in-person meetings while Gen Z like using project management software.
IT workers shared their collaboration struggles. The study discovered that IT workers are pummeled with requests for new tools and apps. IT workers also use a variety of apps to solve problems. If they use more than ten apps for their job, then continuity between all collaboration platforms doesn’t mesh:
“IT leaders are constantly bombarded with sales pitches and employee requests for new apps and tools. Individually, each one promises to solve a problem, but the report shows that too many apps were actually associated with greater collaboration challenges. Those who reported using more than 10 apps for work were more likely to struggle with issues like misunderstandings in communication, lack of engagement from colleagues, and lack of alignment than those who reported using fewer than five apps.”
Understandably coloration is a big problem for all companies and needs improvement. Zoom asserts that video collaboration is a solution to many of these issues. Doesn’t that make sense for Zoom to make those claims? We believe everything a funded research report presents as factual.
Whitney Grace, November 28, 2024
AI Invents Itself: Good News?
November 28, 2024
Everyone from technology leaders to conspiracy theorists are fearful of a robot apocalypse. Functional robots are still years away from practicality, but AI in filling in that antagonist role nicely. Forbes shares how AI is on its way to creating itself: “AI That Can Invent AI Is Coming. Buckle Up.” AI is learning how to automate more tasks and will soon replace a human at a job.
In order for AI to become fully self-sufficient then it only needs to learn the job of an AI researcher. With a simple feedback loop, AI can develop superior architecture and improve on that as they advance their “research.” It might sound farfetched, but an AI developer role is simple: read about AI, invent new questions to ask, and implement experiments to test and answer those questions. It might sound too simple but algorithms are designed to automate and figure out knowledge:
For one thing, research on core AI algorithms and methods can be carried out digitally. Contrast this with research in fields like biology or materials science, which (at least today) require the ability to navigate and manipulate the physical world via complex laboratory setups. Dealing with the real world is a far gnarlier challenge for AI and introduces significant constraints on the rate of learning and progress. Tasks that can be completed entirely in the realm of “bits, not atoms” are more achievable to automate. A colorable argument could be made that AI will sooner learn to automate the job of an AI researcher than to automate the job of a plumber.
Consider, too, that the people developing cutting-edge AI systems are precisely those people who most intimately understand how AI research is done. Because they are deeply familiar with their own jobs, they are particularly well positioned to build systems to automate those activities.”
In the future, AI will develop and reinvent itself but the current AI still can’t basic facts about the Constitution or living humans correct. AI is frankly still very dumb. Humans haven’t made themselves obsolete yet, but we’re on way to doing that. Celebrate!
Whitney Grace, November 28, 2024
Another Google AI PR Push from a British Googler
November 27, 2024
This write up is the work of a humanoid who admits he is a dinobaby; that is, deadwood too old to employ. By the way, the “dinobaby” lingo allegedly emerged from IBM during its housecleaning event years ago. The art, however, is from MidJourney and definitely AI fakery.
With the US Department of Justice suggesting a haircut for the Google, the company is ramping up its AI PR. As you may recall, a Googler suggested that Google should not be constrained because Google has to be Google to do Google AI. With AI a wonderful benefit to customer service cost reductions and delivering advertising to those who use Google search, Google wants to get the word out.
The “art” was output by OpenAI, and I am not sure if it is quantumly supreme. The reason, “OpenAI is not Google.”
Examples include:
- “Demis Hassabis, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry: We Will Need a Handful of Breakthroughs Before We Reach Artificial General Intelligence” in El Pais
- Fast Company’s “The Future According to Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis”
- “Google DeepMind AI Can Expertly Fix Errors in Quantum Computers” in New Scientist
The articles share several themes:
- Google’s AI is great and the company is working hard to make it greater
- Google’s research is pretty darn close to making AI smarter
- Google is doing good and wants to do more to make life even gooder.
From the razzmatazz world quantum computers to the practical applications for Bill and Betty Average, Google is the driving force for smart software.
It has the transformer expertise. It has a Nobel prize winner. It has a building in London’s Knowledge Quarter.
What the write ups do not talk about is the suggestion that the Google needs a haircut, specifically, its Chrome browser has to chopped off. The PR push has another goal in my opinion. Google must be seen as a prime mover in the technology that everyone absolutely must have: Googley AI.
With investors wondering if the money pumped into smart software will pay off, Google is doing what it can from what some might call its monopoly position to advance the agenda of Google’s technology. Microsoft, Amazon, and some Chinese outfits are spending billions to make sure they are part of the next big thing. Meta is chugging along with its open source approach. Apple is letting its AI fruit ripen which takes time.
Copyright hassles, electric power demands, and the alleged diminishing returns from high flier OpenAI mean that someone has to stand up and say, “AI is wonderful. Google is more wonderful.”
What’s interesting is that in each of the cited stories, notes of skepticism are evident; to wit:
El Pais says, “The CEO of Google DeepMind cools expectations about the progress of AGI…” Okay. Not exactly a rah rah statement.
Fast Company says, “That Google has had to apologize for glitches discovered by users underlines the urgency with which it’s been shipping features in the post-ChatGPT age.” Translation: Ooops.
New Scientist says, “That Google has had to apologize for glitches discovered by users underlines the urgency with which it’s been shipping features in the post-ChatGPT age.” Okay. Six percent. One method produces 100 error fixes. Google can fix 106 errors. Progress? Yep. Revolutionary? To some, sure. To others, not so much.
Each of these AI PR waves are little more than marketing. What’s interesting is that Google may be able to prevent significant changes to its operations if it can make Google the pivot point for the next big thing. I wonder if those involved in prosecuting the different cases about Google’s business behavior are convinced.
That chatter about selling Google’s browser is the background radiation against which these PR emissions are output. Will they be heard?
Stephen E Arnold, November 27, 2024
A New Frankie Bursts on the Music Scene
November 27, 2024
So here is a minor but unfortunate thing that just happened to our culture: As the BBC reports, “Zuckerberg Records ‘Romantic’ Cover of Explicit Rap Hit.” Let me advise you, dear reader, to avoid hearing even a portion of this track if you possibly can. That goes double if you are a fan of the original. I wish I could unhear it. Writer Paul Glynn tells us:
“Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has recorded his own version of rap track Get Low alongside US star T-Pain, in tribute to his wife Priscilla Chan for their ‘dating anniversary.’ Zuckerberg sings with the help of Auto-Tune on an acoustic guitar reworking of the filthy floor-filler, which was originally a hit for Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz in 2003. ‘Get Low was playing when I first met Priscilla at a college party, so every year we listen to it on our dating anniversary,’ the Meta boss explained on his own platform Instagram.”
How sweet. Would that Zuckerberg (or “Z-Pain,” as he has styled himself for this stunt) had left it at that. His “lyrical” treatment renders the raunchy lines surreal, and not in a good way. Fortunately for him, his wife welcomed the gesture as “so romantic.” But why subject the rest of us to this acoustic, Auto-Tuned abomination? Shouting one’s love from the rooftops is one thing. This is quite another.
For the morbidly curious, here is a link to Zuckerberg’s (not safe for work) creation. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. For comparison and/or a palate cleanser, here is the original (even less safe for work) Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz video on YouTube. What a time to be alive! A new Frank Sinatra is upon us.
Cynthia Murrell, November 27, 2024
Modern Library Patrons Present Challenging Risky Business Situations
November 27, 2024
Librarians have one of the most stressful jobs in the world. Why? They do much more than assist people locating books or reading to children. They also are therapists, community resource managers, IT support, babysitter, elderly care specialist, referee, tutor, teacher, police officer, and more. Public librarians handle more situations than their job description entails and Public Library Quarterly published: “The Hidden Toll: Exploring the Impact of Challenging Patron Behaviors On Australian Public Library Staff.”
It’s not an industry secret that librarians face more than can handle, but their experiences are often demeaned. Their resources and stamina are stretched to the limits. There have been studies about how librarians have dealt with more than they can handle for years, but this study researched the trauma they face:
“As a public-facing profession, public library workers are often exposed to challenging behaviors that raise concern for their safety. To understand these concerns, this study explores these staff safety issues in Australian public libraries through semi-structured interviews with 59 staff members from six library services. Findings reveal that library workers frequently encounter challenging and sometimes violent behaviors from patrons. These incidents impact staff wellbeing, causing stress, anxiety, and potential long-term psychological effects. Many workers receive insufficient workplace support following traumatic incidents, leading to internalization of the trauma the experiences cause. The study highlights the need for improved institutional support and better safety measures.”It also recognizes the tension created by libraries’ open-door policies, which may expose workers to potential harm. The study acknowledges that there has ben zero to little research about the mental and physical health of library workers. There is a lot of literature written about patron satisfaction with services and staff, but very little about aggressive, problem patrons. Many studies also focus on the trauma-related services patrons need but not the library staff.
There has been some studies related to the impact of problem patrons on staff, but nothing in depth. The Australian participants in the shared stories of their time in the trenches and it’s not pretty. Librarians around the world have similar or worse stories. Librarians need assistance for themselves and their patrons, but I doubt it’ll come through. At least the writers agree with me:
“The findings of this study paint a concerning picture of the working conditions in Australian public libraries. The prevalence of unsafe incidents, coupled with their significant psychological impact on staff, calls for action from library management, policymakers, and local government councils responsible for public libraries. While public libraries play a crucial role in providing open access to spaces, information, and services for all members of society, this should not come at the cost of staff safety and wellbeing. Addressing these issues will require a multifaceted approach, involving enhanced training, improved support systems, policy changes, and potentially a broader societal discussion about the role and resources of public libraries.”
Whitney Grace, November 27, 2024
FOGINT: Telegram Shifts from Pretending to Promoting Its Casino Play
November 26, 2024
An online service named “EuropeanGaming.eu” published an interesting story about Telegram. As you may know, the founder of VKontakte.ru and Telegram Messenger has been detained by French authorities. Coincident with this restriction on Pavel Durov’s travel, the organizations with which he has been associated have been doing fast-cycle innovation.
The story “CryptoCasino.com Launch to Disrupt iGaming with Groundbreaking Telegram Casino” reports that Telegram has launched:
an innovative Telegram casino that is set to drive player acquisition in the rapidly growing blockchain betting space.
The features of the Telegram casino include — obviously — crypto currency and blockchain as well as:
- 6,000 online slots and table games
- A live dealer casino
- An extra fee sports betting service
- Support for a number of crypto currencies.
The CryptoCasino will feature a new “token” called $CASINO. After the US Securities & Exchange Commission put pressure on Telegram’s fund raising for its GRAM coin, Mr. Durov rejiggled the Telegram operation to accommodate a non-profit operation focused on free speech, building support for broader financial services based on crypto, and a nominal owner of the TON coin. (TON coin is the GRAM crypto renamed and donated to the Open Network Foundation.)
This “casino play” adds to Telegram’s revenue stream opportunities. The write up points out:
CryptoCasino is catering to the over one billion unique Telegram users by building a Telegram Casino integration that allows anybody to immediately join and begin playing with just one click.
The commissions and other fees are one potentially lucrative revenue stream for Telegram.
A second revenue opportunity is the introduction of “VIP” services or “very important person” services. The United Nations’ 2024 UNODC reports in January and October do a very good job of explaining the “value” of casino activities and revenue. You can locate the United Nations’ reports at https://www.unodc.org/.
To get this “casino play” off the ground, the European Gaming report says:
the CryptoCasino .com team understands that the key to rapid growth comes from partnerships with trusted names in the online gaming business. That is why CryptoCasino has partnered with several major names in betting and blockchain including Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, Betby, Oddin. gg, Decubate, Covey, Fireblocks, and others. Certified through CertiK and as a fully licensed platform under Curacao and Anjouan gaming authorities, the platform will provide the highest level of player safety and security, complying with all regulatory statutes for the best crypto betting experience possible.
Will this initiative succeed? Will the French authorities pursue an inquiry into this facet of Mr. Durov’s business interests? How will the Telegram CryptoCasino.com “player” move currency from one wallet to another in Telegram’s crypto environment? Will Telegram extend its cooperation with law enforcement to the new CryptoCasino.com “play”?
Several observations are warranted:
- Telegram is pushing the boundaries of its cooperation and compliance with some regulatory authorities
- The push into overt casino activities complements the effort to move from traditional financial regulatory restrictions to less regulated and controllable gambling activities
- The companion services for the new CryptoCasino.com “play” will have some appeal to those who seek to obfuscate certain types of financial activities.
Net net: Telegram may be responding to the government efforts to get Telegram to cooperate more enthusiastically with investigators by saying, “Okay, you want user names and mobile numbers, check out our encrypted blockchain based crypto play.”
Stephen E Arnold, November 26, 2024