#Thread I had asked people to share 3 good things that they did/happened to them in #2020 on @Facebook @Twitter and @instagram. Totally more than a 1000 people replied, of different ages, different professions, different regions. The comments were full of insights for me.

time to get back to "repairing" old computers

The funny thing about making the 8-bit-guy into a meme about "repairing" computers with powertools is that the obvious heightening joke would, like, the "8 rounds guy", who fixes computers with firearms

but that would also be him, given that he's also a big gun enthusiast.

so it's inherently hard to satirize the repairing-computers-with-dremels guy, since they're also the guns-guy.

you'd have to go up to like a mythbusters level of overkill.

"this hard drive from 1986 won't spin up. We tried freezing it, tapping it with a rubber hammer, and opening the case to lower the friction... there's only one option left: GET OUT THE C4 EXPLOSIVES!"

Chess may be a good analogy for explaining the difference between a descriptive model of reality and a generative model of reality.

A descriptive model of chess will describe the rules (i.e. initial setup, allowed moves, points per piece, objectives). This tells you how a chessboard might evolve and also narrows the combinations of realistic chess positions.

In contrast, a generative model involves the actual gameplay between competing players that follow the rules. It generates new styles and patterns. It establishes new strategies and tactics. It generates new openings, middle gameplay, and end game tactics.

A generative model is an evolutionary model that leads to emergent behavior. As a consequence, a master of chess is able to recall the layout of chess positions in a real game in an instant, yet is unable to remember pieces placed in random positions.

That is because causality is present in the movements of pieces in a chessboard. An intuitive system like the human mind is able to capture that causality as a means to understanding and recall.

Facebook is a newstand. But no one can see which news Facebook is pushing to the top.

So we built an app for that called #CitizenBrowser. Our first finding: the sharp impact of Facebook’s political ad ban reversal in the Georgia Senate elections.
https://t.co/GZNdwZOlHW /1

This is the first report from our #CitizenBrowser project. There will be many more to come. But first, I want to tell you a bit about how we did it because it’s the most ambitious thing we’ve ever done @themarkup – and we do a lot of ambitious projects. /2

#CitizenBrowser grew out of conversations @suryamattu and I had about how to audit Facebook. We had both worked on browser extensions to collect data from Facebook, but FB always threatened to shut those down, just like their recent threats against the NYU AdObservatory. /3

But the bigger problem is that browser extensions don’t capture most FB activity. Most people use FB on mobile and browser extensions only work on desktop or laptop computers.

So one night, late at the WeWork, @suryamattu said to me: “We’ll have to build our own browser.” /4

“No way,” I said. “That’s insane.” But slowly, I came around. Here’s why: browsers are good at running in the background. Users could log into FB once through the browser and never use it again.

Then we wouldn’t be monitoring users. We would only be monitoring their feed. /5

@AWS hit @parler_app where it really hurts: in their backend.

This thread is to those claiming that this is a violation of the 1st Amendment and platforms shouldn't be taken down.

Free Speech has limits and it definitely ends with thousands of open calls for violence:
1/

I'll touch upon few different types of cyber frauds and few possible ways in which we can avoid ourselves to be duped of money, time & energy.

Will also attach few real registered FIRs showing that most of the times such crimes happen with educated & learned people.

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Cyber Fraud type 1 - Facebook/Instagram

Profile cloning -Fraudster will make exact same profile like yours - using pictures from your own profile. They will then message to your contacts asking for money immediately for the surgery of mother or similar emotional lie

2/16

Always verify before sending money.
Don't verify by calling that person, instead, call a common friend or family member of that person. Don't think you can't be fooled - I know at least 20 people working in Top IT MNCs becoming victim of this fraud. Lock your FB/Insta.

3/16

Cyber Fraud type 2 -OLX/Quikr
This generally happens while selling something on OLX/Quikr & similar platforms. In such cases, people will fraud in the name of paying money by asking to scan the QR code or click a link.
NEVER scan the QR code to receive money, give your UPI

4/16

Cyber Fraud type 3 - Fake SMS & Call from unknown numbers
Fraudster will send fake SMS showing amount credited to the account - with correct account number in SMS. Then they will call from unknown numbers asking for money.

ALWAYS check your bank account first via bank app.

5/16