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A black and white photo shows several large cargo ships anchored in calm water under a sky filled with clouds. In the foreground, there are rooftops and structures, including a tall metal tower, along a shoreline.

Astoria, Oregon. 19th June, 2024.

A panoramic view of a river winding through a lush, forested landscape with mountains in the distance. The scene includes evergreen trees in the foreground, a river with surrounding marshlands, and a small settlement along the river’s edge. The sky is clear.

Looking south from the base of the Astoria Column. 18th June, 2024.

A modern naval ship docked by a river with a steel bridge and an urban skyline in the background. The ship is adorned with signal flags. Green trees are visible on the left side, and part of the image is blurred by an out-of-focus fence.

A river with a naval ship docked on the right side. The background features a bridge and an urban skyline with various buildings. The foreground shows railway tracks, graffiti-covered walls, and a paved pathway with people.

A military ship docked in a city harbor, with decorated flags adorning its deck. Urban buildings and a distinctive tall skyscraper are visible in the background. The water reflects the ship and buildings. The sky is partly cloudy.

USS Montgomery (LCS-8). Portland, Oregon. June, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Portra 160

and

iPhone 15 Pro

Update (30th July):

A military ship docked in a city harbor, with decorated flags adorning its deck. Urban buildings and a distinctive tall skyscraper are visible in the background. The water reflects the ship and buildings. The sky is partly cloudy.

📷 Voigtländer Bessa R2A
🎞️ Lomography Color 800 (Expired)

Language Models Are About People

Language Models Are About People

I like to tell people that everything an LLM says is actually a hallucination. Some of the hallucinations just happen to be true because of the statistics of language and the way we use language.

This is such an astute observation by Melanie Mitchell.

Large Language Models (LLMs) are a statistical model. So are models for the weather, or for star formation. But most laypersons, like myself are not enthralled by them because they are domain specific models requiring expertise to use.

The main reason large language models appeal to laypersons, such as myself is that they are a language model, and we’ve been utilizing languages all our lives. The way language influences thought, and thereby social interactions, makes these models so much more about people and society.

That’s incredibly more relevant, and deserves every bit more scrutiny, than a weather model telling me that I might see some clouds today if I even bother to look up.

A colorful Ferris wheel with bright red, green, and yellow supports is set up next to a river. There is a “FUNtastic” sign on the Ferris wheel and a matching trailer nearby. Trees and a grassy area are visible around it.

An urban riverside scene with a carnival in progress. The image showcases a Ferris wheel, various colorful tents, and carnival rides, partially obscured by large trees. A calm river runs in the foreground, with a concrete embankment, and a tall building in the background. The sky is mostly cloudy.

Portland, Oregon. 25th May, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Portra 160

A person sits on wooden steps next to a railing, facing a wooden deck and a body of water. A fishing rod is seen propped against the railing. The scene is lit by warm sunlight.

Astoria, Oregon. 18th June, 2024.

I didn’t discover the joys of peanut butter, and in fact I hardly ever ate it, until I was in my 40s. AMA.

Reflection of a roadway and a cloudy sky in calm water highlighted by the rising Sun.

Portland, Oregon. 9th June, 2024.

A woman wearing a baseball cap stands in the middle of a blooming field filled with pink peonies. There are trees in the background and a cloudy sky overhead.

A man stands in a field of vibrant red peonies. The sky above is cloudy, and there are trees in the background.

Salem, Oregon. 19th May, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Portra 160

A person is taking a self-portrait through a reflective window using a camera. They are wearing a light-colored hoodie and glasses, and a colorful, floral pattern is visible on the fabric behind them. The background shows a blurred outdoor scene with greenery.

Hi.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Portra 160