Plutonic Rainbows

Recent breakthroughs in AI have not only increased demand for AI products, they've also lowered the barriers to entry for those who want to build AI products. The model-as-a-service approach has transformed AI from an esoteric discipline into a powerful development tool that anyone can use. Everyone, including those with minimal or no prior AI experience, can now leverage AI models to build applications. In this book, author Chip Huyen discusses AI engineering: the process of building applications with readily available foundation models.

The book starts with an overview of AI engineering, explaining how it differs from traditional ML engineering and discussing the new AI stack. The more AI is used, the more opportunities there are for catastrophic failures, and therefore, the more important evaluation becomes. This book discusses different approaches to evaluating open-ended models, including the rapidly growing AI-as-a-judge approach.

AI application developers will discover how to navigate the AI landscape, including models, datasets, evaluation benchmarks, and the seemingly infinite number of use cases and application patterns. You'll learn a framework for developing an AI application, starting with simple techniques and progressing toward more sophisticated methods, and discover how to efficiently deploy these applications.

Enjoying this excellent book, written back in 1995. So much of it now seems almost like a series of premonitions.

Sagan argues that science is not just a body of knowledge but a way of thinking that can protect us from deception, encourage curiosity, and illuminate the darkest corners of ignorance. He reminds readers that embracing the scientific method does not diminish the mystery and beauty of the world but enhances our ability to appreciate it.

I worry that, especially as the Millennium edges near, pseudoscience and superstition will seem year by year more tempting, the siren song of unreason more sonorous and attractive. Where have we heard it before? Whenever our ethnic or national prejudices are aroused, in times of scarcity, during challenges to self-esteem or nerve, when we agonize about our diminished cosmic place and purpose, or when fanaticism is bubbling up around us — then, habits of thought familiar from ages past reach for the controls. The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Darkness gathers. The demons begin to stir.

The book is both a cautionary tale and a hopeful call to action, urging readers to embrace reason, critical inquiry, and a sense of wonder. It is a timeless work that continues to inspire those committed to promoting rational thought in an often irrational world.

I’m deeply sorry to hear about his passing. He was a visionary director whose films left a profound impact on me during the 1980s and 1990s. His impressive body of work was both fantastic and, at times, haunting. Twin Peaks (which first aired in 1990) revolutionised television, paving the way for the landscape of modern TV shows we see today. It was truly a groundbreaking series. Personally, my favourite film of his was The Elephant Man.

I suppose this is the precursor to agents. It is in beta and very buggy. My tasks don't seem to trigger, or when they do, they're sent at the wrong time. Definitely needs some serious work.

Today, I’m wearing Musc Ravageur, the last fragrance I own from Frédéric Malle. I’m fairly certain it was the first one I ever purchased. It’s still a great scent — perhaps no longer groundbreaking, but it retains its unique allure. Back in the day, this was the fragrance everyone in the community was talking about.

The last of the christmas lights have been put away in the attic. I’m now preparing some Patagonia garments to send off for repair.

I find myself admiring Roja Parfums’ Lost In Paris once again. It currently comes with a 10% discount and includes a complimentary 10ml travel spray. While it’s not quite as enticing as last year’s Black Friday offer of 20% off, it’s still tempting, and I’m considering it carefully.

I’m also revisiting Christian Dior’s Oud Ispahan Esprit De Parfum. It’s undeniably pricey, but its performance is impressive. My hesitation lies in its uniqueness — it’s essentially another rose and oud combination. However, pairing it with a body cream could enhance its effect.

Found some beautiful images of Lisa Graham on Bellazon.

I revised the résumé once again. In the evening, I am watching a new 4K transfer of Brian De Palma's Dressed to Kill.

I really need to stop purchasing all these small fragrance samples just to try them out. They’re becoming expensive, and most of them have been quite disappointing lately. I live far away from most big cities so this is my only option to avoid expensive mistakes. I have probably bought about ten or twelve in the last month alone. The most recent one, Frédéric Malle's The Moon, turned out to be yet another rose and oud combination — something I’ve encountered countless times before.

After browsing various blogs and Twitter posts, it seems highly likely that o3 will be released soon. I’m curious about how long it will take before OpenAI begins rolling out agents. There’s certainly a lot of discussion surrounding this, so I suspect it might happen in the near future.

I’ve downgraded to the Plus account as the Pro tier didn’t seem to offer good value for money. Additionally, a significant VAT has been added to an already costly subscription. I’m still uncertain about the financial viability and value of the Pro tier, so I’ll wait for further updates before reconsidering.

A decade is a long pause… how the world has changed since…

There's a shock in the opening moments of 'Aurora Terminalis', when we're blasted with saturated, reverb-soused synth arpeggios - the sort of cloud-punching neo-cosmic gear you'd expect to find on the tail end of a Caterina Barbieri LP. But in a matter of minutes, old friends Basinski and Chartier isolate the decaying notes and extend them into melancholy, echoing whines that move slower than a Scandinavian sunrise. Going by the title alone, this one's a sequel to the duo's beloved second album, 2013's 'Aurora Liminalis', but there are few aesthetic similarities. Where that record sounded like tracers against a night sky, all gaseous, barely active textures and ASMR churr, this new LP has a mistier, more wistful presence that feels sober and humanistic. The illusory elements that surround the gentle pads are particularly striking: faint, processed insect sounds (the murmur of crickets, the distant croak of frogs) are formed into frothing waves that barely crack through the netting ferric hiss that's draped across the entire recording. And it's these cryptic asides that help focus our attention on the movement, as Basinski and Chartier animate their elegiac soundscape with fluttering delays that, in time, envelope the track completely.

And the second half of 'Aurora Terminalis' is significantly shifted. Here, the sublime harmonies are submerged underneath tottering, blanched rattles that loom in the half-light. It's Chartier's expertise that's placed under the microscope now, with almost undetectable high-frequency microsounds that dance gracefully with Basinski's omnipresent saturations. More formally structured than their previous releases, but packed with so much fine detail that you'll need repeat listens to illuminate all the filigree cracks, this is advanced minimalism from two of the scene's towering figures.

The Moon by Julien Rasquinet has been generating significant buzz within the fragrance community for the past few years. It's part of Frédéric Malle's desert gems collection, which certainly piqued my curiosity. While I'm generally wary of overly hyped perfumes, the consistent praise for this particular scent made me wonder if it might actually live up to the expectations. I've decided to proceed cautiously, though, and start with a small 2ml sample before making any commitments. I'm eager to see if it truly resonates with me or if it falls short of the considerable hype.

In the Middle East, the pace of life is marked by the moon. Veiled, unveiled: its clear halo signals the beginning and end of all festivities. The Arabic language also calls on the moon to speak of love. There's no sweeter, more subtle way to declare your love, to talk about the beauty of your beloved and to confess your eternal devotion. A sumptuous, warm and refined blend of rose, oud and incense, The Moon can still bring a surprise — a profusion of blackberry and redcurrant. The magic of these red berries, with their soft and colourful fragrances, evokes the fruity scents of hookahs and the sweetness of eastern nights.

Frédéric Malle's description is richly evocative, bordering on the excessive. It romanticises Middle Eastern culture and the moon's symbolism, while emphasising the luxurious and exotic aspects of the scent.