Skip to content

Off Key - General Discussion

3.9k Topics 27.4k Posts

A place to talk about whatever you want

  • How do LLMs work?

    2
    2 Posts
    54 Views
    AxtremusA
    Not sure there's a "science" behind this. There's mathematics, sure. We know the exact mathematical operations performed to train the LLMs and to make use of the LLMs (perform inferences). But I hesitate to say there is "science" behind it because the mathematical operations performed do not attempt to simulate or approximate any physical system. It's like you execute a series of mathematical operations and plot the output of each step onto a canvas using some coordinate system, then you step back and notice some "interesting patterns." Doesn't mean there is a "science" behind your series of mathematical operations, the output just happen to resemble something you deem interesting when mapped using a certain coordinate system.
  • An invitation for the pianists of WTF

    46
    46 Posts
    2k Views
    A
    @Bernard said: @AndyD Yes, that's the one. But I don't like that recording of it. Well she was only 21 years old at the time. It's well beyond my abilities.
  • The Post-Classical Piano Repository

    1
    1 Posts
    28 Views
    No one has replied
  • D&D meets politics

    2
    2 Posts
    51 Views
    dolmansaxlilD
    These are my people!
  • Guess I'm doomed

    10
    10 Posts
    186 Views
    RontunerR
    Yes, many times! It's right on the way to the member lounge - small bar and lots of tables in the old restaraunt space. Sometimes we just go straight there for a break during a city walk. We'd be happy to take you up there when you are in town if you haven't visited there with Susan!
  • For the bourbon drinkers

    2
    2 Posts
    49 Views
    R
    Sigh, I am just not a bourbon fan. Now, I am interested in American attempts at Scotch-style whisky, but haven’t tasted any yet.
  • Blanche confirmation

    4
    4 Posts
    97 Views
    J
    I wonder if Collins is a no vote given a tough election in a bluish state?
  • $18.50 an hour

    4
    4 Posts
    82 Views
    DougGD
    I worked as a lifeguard in about 1975-1977. I made $2.50 an hour which would be about 15 bucks today. I got the job because of my brilliant swimming skills and stunning physique, Certainly not because my college basketball coach ran the summer swimming program at the pool..
  • So about those midterm elections...

    2
    2 Posts
    38 Views
    wtgW
    Immigration and tariffs affecting the Senate race in Texas. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/12/trumps-deportation-drive-tests-gop-gains-in-texas-00993955
  • Garden Walk Buffalo

    4
    1
    4 Posts
    89 Views
    wtgW
    There’s an arrow on the right side of the photo that lets you scroll through all the pics, though they are displayed one at a time. I just tried it on my iPad and it let me see maybe four photos before the login screen comes up. On my Windows PC, I could scroll thru all of them. FB is weird
  • How not to win in 2028

    3
    3 Posts
    69 Views
    MikM
    Barely west of Ann Arbor. More like a suburb.
  • Ossoff was so good in grilling Clayton

    1
    1 Posts
    24 Views
    No one has replied
  • Northwestern's transplant program

    5
    5 Posts
    89 Views
    J
    From my assistant Claude. Stage IV NSCLC is normally defined by distant metastasis. But one specific subtype — M1a — covers cases where cancer has spread within the thoracic cavity but not to distant organs: things like malignant pleural or pericardial effusion, or nodules in the opposite lung. That still counts as Stage IV because the disease has crossed outside the primary tumor site and lymph nodes, but it hasn’t gone systemic.
  • There is no gold but it has a gold-like finish ...

    1
    1 Posts
    19 Views
    No one has replied
  • Locking your mobile number - PSA

    2
    2 Posts
    47 Views
    ShiroKuroS
    @wtg Thanks for this! My mother is with Xfinity, I'll let her know! ATT has a PIN and also requires the account holder to get a special transfer pin that comes with an expiration date, so anyone with ATT should be ok.
  • Maintenance Announcement - 2026-07-15

    4
    4 Posts
    52 Views
    AxtremusA
    Because I made an extra server-level backup ("snapshot") before attempting this fix (just as an extra precaution), in the near future (after we're fairly certain everything works well), I will need to get rid of the old "snapshot" that will require server downtime. Will try to do something like this in the wee hours when people are sleeping so hopefully no one will notice. UPDATE: All done around 1:33 AM Eastern Time.
  • Secret Hitler game

    5
    5 Posts
    99 Views
    MikM
    I like it! It's just a game. Pretty clever, actually.
  • Bones the Killer Cat

    3
    3 Posts
    57 Views
    R
    What a cat!
  • Happy Bastille Day!

    5
    5 Posts
    73 Views
    AdagioMA
    Allons enfants de la patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé! And I love La Vie en Rose. I always sing it as “tu” rather than “il”. More personal!
  • Anthropeum

    4
    4 Posts
    83 Views
    J
    Anthropeum.com · Jul 14 2026 🟨🟩🟥🟥🟥🟩🟨🟩🟩🟦 52,147 · top 90% of players today! Didn’t use any of the hints. Probably should have.