Favorites August 8th 2022

August 2022, Mountain View

Charlie Stross @cstross

To uncover a deepfake video call, ask the caller to turn sideways:

metaphysic.aiTo Uncover a Deepfake Video Call, Ask the Caller to Turn Sideways - Metaphysic.aiThere is an interesting vulnerability in video deepfakes that, to date, has been generally overlooked by the security research community, perhaps because ‘live’, real-time deepfakes in video calls have not been a major cause for concern until very recently.

This was an interesting article, apparently training data just doesn't generally have profile views, and even if it does, it's often hard to extract it. Having them hold their hand in front of their face also works well.

mle @_sadwaffle

Instead of tax credits for owning electric vehicles people should get a big tax credit for not owning a car at all

This would be a good idea, California should try it if the federal government won't, it's definitely the right thing to do from an economic standpoint.

Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins

The FBI executed a search warrant today at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, the former president confirms to CNN in a lengthy statement.

This is a pretty big deal, even according to people who are often very cautious about the possibility of charges against Trump. Pro-Trump forum posts have gotten very violent. Renato Mariotti's thread on implications was informative. Strangely the warrant is for mishandling classified documents, which generally doesn't get prosecuted in cases like this, without some other component. The DoJ wouldn't get a warrant like this that isn't expected to result in charges.

DarkTimesHat @Popehat

DeSantis right now

Later he quipped: "Anyway this will be fascinating to watch unless we collapse into violence and civil war and stuff". Enforcing rule of law is our only play here, the Republicans have already made it clear where they stand on the subject.

JesseJenkins @JesseJenkins

Subtle/under-appreciated detail of the new & used EV tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act: credits can now be transferred to the dealer at point of sale, which means you get $$ off the purchase price, instead of having to wait until you file taxes next April.

It also means that people who don't have enough income to take full advantage of a tax credit will be able to get the full rebate. It's essentially fully refundable (The seller needs a tax liability to cover with the tax break).

Interesting As Fuck @InterestingsAsF

Time lapse of Port Amsterdam.

Threads

• Long thread with details about how the various tax breaks in the Inflation Reduction Act work. (Like how there's going to be up to $840 in incentives for buying induction stoves)