Running large language models locally has been a fascinating journey, especially for those of us who’ve been tinkering with these systems on consumer-grade hardware. Recently, I’ve discovered something quite remarkable about tensor offloading that’s completely changed how I approach running these models on my setup.

The traditional approach of offloading entire layers to manage VRAM constraints turns out to be rather inefficient. Instead, selectively offloading specific tensors - particularly the larger FFN (Feed Forward Network) tensors - to the CPU while keeping the attention mechanisms on the GPU can dramatically improve performance. We’re talking about potential speed improvements of 200% or more in some cases.

Today’s lunchtime discussion in the office turned into an unexpected lesson about workplace behavior and its consequences. The story making rounds involves a thoughtless comment during a casual chat about banh mi that led to an immediate dismissal.

The incident reflects a broader shift in workplace culture that I’ve noticed over my decades in tech. Gone are the days when crude jokes and innuendos were brushed off as “just banter.” Modern workplaces are finally taking decisive action against inappropriate behavior, and rightfully so.

The latest story making rounds in our online communities has struck a particularly painful chord. It’s about a young family who did everything by the book - saved diligently for a deposit, chose a regional area, lived within their means, and even managed to boost their household income. Now, they’re facing an insurmountable barrier to creating their dream home.

Their modest plan to convert a two-bedroom cottage into a three-bedroom home with a deck has come back with quotes around $400,000 - the same amount they paid for the entire house. Just two years ago, the same work would have cost $250-300,000. This stark reality check hits particularly hard because it represents a broader issue plaguing our housing market.

The recent comments from Fiverr’s CEO about AI coming for everyone’s jobs hit particularly close to home. Sitting here in my home office, surrounded by multiple monitors displaying various development environments and chat windows, I’ve been watching the rapid progression of AI capabilities with a mix of fascination and unease.

Let’s be real - telling workers to “just be better” in the face of AI automation is like suggesting someone outrun a Ferrari. It’s not just unhelpful; it’s fundamentally missing the point. This isn’t about individual performance anymore. We’re witnessing a seismic shift in how work itself functions.

The tech industry’s latest campaign to make computer science and AI mandatory subjects in US schools has sparked quite a debate online. While sitting here in my home office, watching the morning traffic crawl along Hoddle Street, I’ve been pondering this push and its implications for our own education system.

Reading through various online discussions about this initiative, I’m struck by a recurring theme: we’re putting the cart before the horse. Sure, understanding AI and computer science is crucial for the future, but what about the fundamentals? Many educators are reporting that students are struggling with basic literacy and numeracy skills, let alone typing proficiency.

The tech world is buzzing about o3’s supposedly superhuman abilities in geographical location identification, with some claiming it represents our first glimpse of superintelligence. But let’s pump the brakes for a minute and examine what’s really happening here.

Working in DevOps, I’ve seen firsthand how easy it is to get caught up in the hype of new technologies. The excitement around o3’s performance in identifying locations from photographs, particularly that viral case of the Nepalese rock formation, reminds me of the early days of facial recognition when everyone thought their phone was somehow magically intelligent.

Reading through various online discussions about diabetic grocery shopping really struck a chord with me today. The frustration of walking down those “health food” aisles and seeing astronomically priced “sugar-free” alternatives is something that hits close to home, especially with current cost-of-living pressures here in Australia.

Let’s be honest - the markup on diabetic-friendly products is nothing short of highway robbery. Why should people managing their blood sugar levels pay triple the price for a fifth of the quantity? It’s a predatory practice that takes advantage of people’s health conditions, and it makes my blood boil.

Tonight marked the end of an era in Australian democracy. Watching Antony Green’s final election coverage brought a lump to my throat, especially seeing him awkwardly clutching those flowers and admitting he didn’t own a vase. It was a perfect encapsulation of the man who has been the steady hand guiding us through election nights for over three decades.

Most viewers only see the polished presenter explaining complex electoral data with his trademark touchscreen and calm demeanor. But behind that familiar face lies an extraordinary legacy of innovation and dedication. When Green started in 1989, election counting involved rooms full of people manually tallying votes via telephone. He revolutionized the process by developing software systems that transformed Australian electoral coverage into the efficient, transparent process we know today.

Looking down at my hardwood floors while sipping my morning batch brew, I found myself drawn into an interesting online discussion about carpet cleaning that brought back memories of my rental property days. The topic sparked quite a debate about what constitutes “clean” when it comes to carpets, and whether property managers are actually delivering on their promises of professional cleaning.

The discussion centered around a tenant who moved into a supposedly freshly cleaned apartment, only to discover some confronting results when they did their own cleaning four months later. What fascinated me most wasn’t the dirt itself, but the varying perspectives on what constitutes “normal” carpet buildup.

The internet never fails to make me smile with its witty observations about everyday life. Today, I spotted a brilliant perspective about public buses being essentially $600k limousines at your service. The thought genuinely made me chuckle because it’s absolutely spot-on.

Last week, catching the 246 from Elsternwick during off-peak hours, I found myself alone in this massive vehicle, gliding through the streets with my personal chauffeur up front. The luxury of stretching out, choosing any seat I fancy, and enjoying a peaceful journey through the suburbs felt surprisingly indulgent. Sure, it might not have the champagne service or leather seats of a traditional limo, but the freedom to stand up and walk around? Try doing that in a Rolls Royce!