Author: Matthew Exon

Technology

New Phone

My initial thoughts after using the FLX1s Linux phone from FuriLabs for a couple of days. The conclusion so far is that this needs work before it can replace my iPhone, mostly from my side. It’s disappointing on a few dimensions, but so far I haven’t seen anything that can’t be fixed or worked around.

Politics, Society

Believe

The word “believe” does not mean what you probably believe it means, at least not to everyone. I argue that untangling different meanings of this word can help avoid some confusion. Probably can’t help avoid conflict, but hey, I can’t fix everything.

Technology

Scam

A shaggy dog story about how carefully Air France’s emails are contrived to perfectly resemble a scam.

Technology

Generation

The question was raised, are generation ships ethical? The first answer is, that’s a silly question. So is the second answer. But the third answer may surprise you.

Society

Debate

I tried out a research project that uses LLMs to persuade conspiracy theorists that their theories are unlikely. This was my longest yet interaction with an LLM, and it was somewhat instructive. But mostly this reminds me why online debate is a waste of time.

Society

Suits

Why do computer programmers wear suits to interviews? I find it’s impossible to answer that question without spending a lot of time thinking about gay anal sex dildos.

Politics

German

I get triggered by a speech given by Ronald Reagan in 1989, of all things. This blog never shies away from commenting on current affairs.

Politics

Toddlers

If you want to secure your own right to vote, you should favour expanding the franchise to its ultimate extreme. Most people do not, in fact, want their right to vote to be secure.

Politics, Technology

Andor

The Star Wars universe can only hold reactionary stories. Andor attempts to do something else, but it only works if you don’t think too hard about what it’s all for.

Society

Woman

The UK supreme court has ruled that “women” are defined by “biological sex”. This is a terrible decision. It can’t last.