Fiona L. Woods's Blog, page 160
February 17, 2023
Findaway Voices, Machine Learning and the New Rights Frontier - Writer Beware(R) - Update
Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Writer Beware (R) site. There with a tiny bit of digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty found what he was looking for. It's an update to a post by Victoria Strauss Panzer told you about last week.
In last week's Writer Beware (R) post she told you about the clause in the Findaway Voices contract which allowed Apple to use author's audio books to train Apple's AI to do audible books.
One visit was all it took.
The new post includes an important update about that contract clause. After audio book narrator members complained to SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) about the contract clause, the group contacted and met with Findaway. It was brought to Findaway's attention, that the contract could not force authors to sign away narrators rights without proper negotiations with the narrators union. Findaway agreed to remove the clause.
Panzer says, "That didn't take long to fix."
Note:This is a long post. Bring a large cup of cocoa and a big muffin for today's reading selection.
To read the updated post tootle over to Findaway Voices
In last week's Writer Beware (R) post she told you about the clause in the Findaway Voices contract which allowed Apple to use author's audio books to train Apple's AI to do audible books.
One visit was all it took.The new post includes an important update about that contract clause. After audio book narrator members complained to SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) about the contract clause, the group contacted and met with Findaway. It was brought to Findaway's attention, that the contract could not force authors to sign away narrators rights without proper negotiations with the narrators union. Findaway agreed to remove the clause.
Panzer says, "That didn't take long to fix."
Note:This is a long post. Bring a large cup of cocoa and a big muffin for today's reading selection.
To read the updated post tootle over to Findaway Voices
February 16, 2023
Barnes & Noble Pushes Ahead in 2023 - Publishers Weekly
Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty pilot found a post about Barnes and Noble bookstores.
It was a snowy Christmas here too.
Jim Milliot's post contains quotes from an interview with Barnes and Noble CEO James Daunt. The interview covers bookstore renovations and inventory changes and their impact on the company's increased book sales. Even with the winter storms which necessitated the closing of some stores during the Christmas buying season, book sales were still up for the year. The company does plan to open more stores in the coming year.
Panzer says, "Hmm ... It wasn't that long ago people were expecting Barnes and Noble to go out of business."
Note: This is a long post. Bring a large cup of cocoa and a large muffin for today's reading selection.
To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble
It was a snowy Christmas here too.Jim Milliot's post contains quotes from an interview with Barnes and Noble CEO James Daunt. The interview covers bookstore renovations and inventory changes and their impact on the company's increased book sales. Even with the winter storms which necessitated the closing of some stores during the Christmas buying season, book sales were still up for the year. The company does plan to open more stores in the coming year.
Panzer says, "Hmm ... It wasn't that long ago people were expecting Barnes and Noble to go out of business."
Note: This is a long post. Bring a large cup of cocoa and a large muffin for today's reading selection.
To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble
February 15, 2023
No Post
She's got a major project due.Panzer here.
No post today.
Mom is finishing work on a project.
Back tomorrow.
February 14, 2023
Happy Valentine's Day
From Panzer, Mom, and What's His NameFebruary 13, 2023
A Monday Panzerism
Panzer on jokes:
Pnazer: Knock. Knock.
Mom: Hmm?
Panzer: Knock. Knock.
Mom: Hmm? What?
Panzer: I say, Knock. Knock. And You say, Who's there?
Mom: Okay. Knock. Knock.
There's a first time for everything.*.
Panzer: Who's there?
Mom: It's me, Mom. You've known me your whole life, Panzer.
Panzer: What? Wait! I mean, what? Hey! What happened?
*From Cat Wisdom for humans
Pnazer: Knock. Knock.
Mom: Hmm?
Panzer: Knock. Knock.
Mom: Hmm? What?
Panzer: I say, Knock. Knock. And You say, Who's there?
Mom: Okay. Knock. Knock.
There's a first time for everything.*.Panzer: Who's there?
Mom: It's me, Mom. You've known me your whole life, Panzer.
Panzer: What? Wait! I mean, what? Hey! What happened?
*From Cat Wisdom for humans
February 12, 2023
Your Free Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle: Panzer in the Grass
Hint.Here's your Sunday jigsaw puzzle. As always remember at the puzzle site to click the square in the lower left corner to see the finished puzzle.Have fun!
To visit the jigsaw puzzle site tootle over to Panzer in the Grass
February 11, 2023
Google cautions against 'hallucinating' chatbots, report says - Reuters
Panzer found an update on the Rueters news site about Google's new chatbot Bard. Panser told about Bard's introduction in an earlier post.
This has me worried.
If you want to read Google's response to their chatbot Bard's little problem earlier this week, this post by Rachel More explains about 'hallucinating' chatbots.
Panzer says, "Hmm ... Hallucinating? What drugs do chatbots use? Explain please. Do I need to hide my catnip?"
To read the post tootle over to GoogleTo read Panzer's previous post about Bard tootle over to Meet Bard
This has me worried.If you want to read Google's response to their chatbot Bard's little problem earlier this week, this post by Rachel More explains about 'hallucinating' chatbots.
Panzer says, "Hmm ... Hallucinating? What drugs do chatbots use? Explain please. Do I need to hide my catnip?"
To read the post tootle over to GoogleTo read Panzer's previous post about Bard tootle over to Meet Bard
February 10, 2023
Findaway Voices, Machine Learning, and the New Frontier - Writer Beware
Today, Panzer made a stop at the Writer Beware site. There he found a post about Findaway Voices and Apple that had him shaking his kitty head in disbelief.
It's hidden in the contract? Not good.
According to Victoria Strauss' post, Findaway Voices has had a clause hidden in their contract that users had no knowledge of. When you sign a contract with Findaway you're giving them the right to give your audio book to Apple for machine learning purposes. Apparently, this has been part of the contract since 2019. There are several links included in the post to other information.
Panzer says, "Be sure and read the Comments section. There is some interesting information about what happens if you opt-out."
Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa, a muffin and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for your reading. If you follow the included links, you'll need to decide what to bring to eat and drink.
To read the post tootle over to Findaway
It's hidden in the contract? Not good.According to Victoria Strauss' post, Findaway Voices has had a clause hidden in their contract that users had no knowledge of. When you sign a contract with Findaway you're giving them the right to give your audio book to Apple for machine learning purposes. Apparently, this has been part of the contract since 2019. There are several links included in the post to other information.
Panzer says, "Be sure and read the Comments section. There is some interesting information about what happens if you opt-out."
Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa, a muffin and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for your reading. If you follow the included links, you'll need to decide what to bring to eat and drink.
To read the post tootle over to Findaway
February 9, 2023
Google's AI chatbot Bard makes factual error in first demo - The Verge
Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Verge site. There our adventuresome little kitty boy discovered a post about Google's new chatbot Bard.
I like ChatGPT. He makes me laugh.
According to James Vincent's post, chatbot Bard made a little mistake in his first demonstration of his intellectual abilities. It turns out that just like ChatGPT, Bard doesn't always know what he's talking about. It's been posted at the ChatGPT site that the bot doesn't always give the right answer and, if you notice it, to let the humans there know. So, now Google needs to post the same disclaimer, because, obviously, Bard doesn't always give the right answer either.
Panzer says, "Hmm ... All this little kitty can say is that must have been really embarrassing for Google."
Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection. Oh. Wait. No. Don't bring any food or anything to drink while you're reading. You'll understand why when you start reading the lines directly after the title and throughout the post.
To read the post tootle over to Google Bard
I like ChatGPT. He makes me laugh.According to James Vincent's post, chatbot Bard made a little mistake in his first demonstration of his intellectual abilities. It turns out that just like ChatGPT, Bard doesn't always know what he's talking about. It's been posted at the ChatGPT site that the bot doesn't always give the right answer and, if you notice it, to let the humans there know. So, now Google needs to post the same disclaimer, because, obviously, Bard doesn't always give the right answer either.
Panzer says, "Hmm ... All this little kitty can say is that must have been really embarrassing for Google."
Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection. Oh. Wait. No. Don't bring any food or anything to drink while you're reading. You'll understand why when you start reading the lines directly after the title and throughout the post.
To read the post tootle over to Google Bard
February 8, 2023
Free Mystery Podcast: Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine's Podcast - Detective Anne Boleyn
I love listening to podcasts.Yesterday Panzer took you to the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Fiction Podcast, today he's taking you to the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine Podcast.
The podcast episode, "Detective Anne Boleyn," by Susan Breen, is 38 minutes long including the intro. As always, the episode is free for your listening.
Enjoy!
To listen to the podcast tootle over to AHMM podcast
