I had used ezmp3.pro to download mp3s from YouTube video URLs onto my watch for runs, but this morning I came across the command-line tool yt-dlp. So far it has been easy to use and was able to download 96 separate mp3 files from a playlist URL with this command: yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 --audio-quality 0 -o "%(playlist_index)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s" "URL"
Today I explained to my daughter how a T-Rex grabs things with its mouth, because its arms are too small to put things in its mouth like we humans do.
She said the T-Rex should use a spoon.
Maybe if they had figured that out, they would still be around.
Zone 2 Feels Really Slow
I’ve started running. It has felt hard, but I want to get better at it. So I’ve been researching how to run correctly and how to train my cardiopulmonary system for sustained effort.
The main thing that keeps coming up in my research is the importance of Zone 2 training. Zone 2 is a heart rate range where you can keep up conversation fairly easily. It would be considered an “easy” effort level.
Today I discovered miniature-calendar.com
These miniature scenes with everyday objects are so fun to look at.
WCF + Reflection = WTF
My morning consisted of investigating legacy WCF service code that was using reflection-based pattern matching to apply custom validators.
I had to increase my coffee intake for that one 😅☕
It’s really easy to just ask an AI agent what the code is doing in these situations, but I like looking at it myself to make sure I really internalize and understand it. Also, agents can be very wrong and confident at the same time.
I’m concerned. The cleaning place with the AI voice agent called back. This time I asked if this is an AI voice agent. The voice chuckled and said “No, I’m not, I get that all the time”. But I know that was not a real person. Why set up these voice agents to lie about what they are? Spooky.
Today I discovered onthegomap.com for planning out running and walking routes. Free, simple, no-ads. It’s amazing!
I was calling cleaning services and just had my first AI voice call. It was eerie. I didn’t notice it was AI until maybe 20 seconds in. It sounded very real. The AI even stutters, makes mistakes, or says “um” like a real person would. But there was something off about the perfectly consistent vocal inflections and it said “okay” the exact same, very curt way after each of my responses. I’m guessing in 5 years I won’t be able to tell if I’m talking to a person or AI.
Went to Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park yesterday with some friends. I can’t believe I haven’t been before! It was a lot of fun and is a marvel of planning and construction. The space is MASSIVE in an old factory. I’m looking forward to going back! My phone died, so here’s a pic I found online. It’s hard to do it justice with one picture though, there are so many different rooms and narrow passageways to ride between.
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
A really inspiring mini-documentary (10 minutes) about a young man with cerebral palsy overcoming obstacles to complete a marathon.