People throw the word "algorithm" around when talking about user engagement with their social media content posts but I don't think they really know what that means from software engineering perspective. 

The word "algorithm" is often used casually when referring to the way social media platforms control what content users see in their feeds, but the actual underlying technology can be much more complex than a simple algorithm.

In essence, these platforms use a combination of algorithms and machine learning models to personalize each user's feed based on their past behavior, engagement, and preferences. The goal is to show users content that they are most likely to be interested in and engage with, while also balancing the interests of the platform itself (e.g., promoting content that keeps users on the platform for longer or generates more revenue).

Here is a high-level overview of how some of these platforms might determine what to show in a user's feed:

YouTube: YouTube uses a combination of algorithms to determine what videos to recommend to users. One algorithm considers a user's watching history, likes, and dislikes, while another algorithm considers the popularity of videos (e.g., how many views, comments, and likes a video has received). The platform also takes into account the relevance of a video to the user's search history, location, and other demographic information.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn uses a similar approach to YouTube, considering a user's past behavior (e.g., posts they have liked or shared), their network, and the popularity of content (e.g., how many views, likes, and comments it has received). The platform also uses natural language processing and machine learning models to understand the content of posts and recommend them to users based on their interests.

Instagram: Instagram uses a combination of algorithms to determine what content to show in a user's feed. One algorithm considers a user's past behavior (e.g., the accounts they follow and the posts they like or comment on), while another algorithm looks at the popularity of content (e.g., how many likes and comments a post has received). The platform also takes into account the timeliness of posts, as well as the relevance of a post's hashtags and location information.

Facebook: Facebook uses a similar approach to Instagram, considering a user's past behavior, the popularity of content, and the relevance of posts to the user. The platform also takes into account the type of content (e.g., whether it's a text post, photo, or video), as well as the user's network (e.g., posts from friends versus posts from pages they follow).

It's important to note that these algorithms and machine learning models are constantly evolving and being updated, so this is just a snapshot of how they might work at a given moment in time. Additionally, the specifics of how each platform determines what to show in a user's feed can be quite complex and proprietary, so this is just a general overview.

People throw the word "algorithm" around when talking about user engagement with their social media content posts but I don't think they really know what that means from software engineering perspective.

What's an Algorithm, Really?

Strapi is an open-source headless content management system (CMS) built on top of Node.js. It provides a flexible and extensible back-end for web applications, mobile apps, and other applications that need to manage and store content. With Strapi, you can create, manage, and deliver content to your clients or end-users, without having to worry about the back-end. It also provides a user-friendly interface for managing content, and you can easily customize it to meet your specific needs.

Strapi offers several benefits as a headless content management system:

**Flexibility**: Strapi is highly flexible and can be used with a variety of different front-end technologies, including React, Vue, Angular, and more. This allows developers to choose the best tools for the job and create custom solutions to meet specific needs.

**User-Friendly Interface**: Strapi has a user-friendly interface for managing content, making it easy for non-technical users to create, manage, and publish content.

**Scalability**: Strapi is built on Node.js, which makes it highly scalable and able to handle large amounts of traffic and data. This makes it a good choice for large-scale applications and websites.

**Customizable**: Strapi is highly customizable, allowing developers to extend its functionality through plugins and APIs. This makes it a good choice for projects that need specific functionality that may not be included in the core platform.

**Open-Source**: Strapi is open-source, which means that it is free to use and its source code is publicly available. This allows developers to access the code, make changes, and contribute to the platform.

Overall, Strapi is a powerful, flexible, and user-friendly headless content management system that offers many benefits for web and mobile developers.

## Webhooks

A webhook in Strapi is a way to trigger a specific action in response to an event, such as the creation or update of a content type. You can use webhooks to perform a variety of tasks, such as sending notifications, triggering integrations with other platforms, or updating your database.

To use webhooks in Strapi, you'll first need to create a webhook endpoint. This is typically a URL on your own server that will receive the webhook payload and perform the necessary actions.

Next, you'll need to configure the webhook in Strapi. This can be done in the administration panel under the "Webhooks" section. Here, you can specify the event that will trigger the webhook, such as the creation or update of a content type, and the webhook endpoint.

Some common use cases for webhooks in Strapi include:

Sending notifications: You can use webhooks to send notifications to users or administrators when certain events occur, such as the creation of a new content type or the updating of an existing one.

Integrating with other platforms: Webhooks can be used to trigger integrations with other platforms, such as triggering a Zapier automation or sending data to a third-party API.

Updating your database: Webhooks can be used to update your database in real-time when events occur, such as when a new content type is created or updated.

Automating workflows: Webhooks can be used to automate workflows, such as triggering a build process or deploying changes to your production environment.

These are just a few examples of the many use cases for webhooks in Strapi. The specific use case will depend on your needs and the actions you want to perform in response to events in Strapi.

Here's an example of how you can set up a webhook in Strapi with a URL, headers, key-value, and events:

1. Create a Webhook Endpoint: First, you'll need to create a webhook endpoint on your own server that will receive the webhook payload and perform the necessary actions. For this example, let's assume the webhook endpoint URL is https://example.com/webhook.

2. Log in to Strapi: Next, log in to the Strapi administration panel and navigate to the "Webhooks" section.

3. Add a New Webhook: Click on the "Add new" button to add a new webhook.

4. Configure the Webhook: In the "URL" field, enter the URL for the webhook endpoint: https://example.com/webhook.

5. Add Headers: If your webhook endpoint requires headers, you can add them in the "Headers" section. For example, if your endpoint requires an "Authorization" header, you can add it as follows:

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What is Strapi?

There are a number of potential negative impacts that could result from the development and use of AI if not properly mitigated. Some of these include:

Job displacement: As AI becomes increasingly capable of performing tasks that were previously done by humans, there is a risk that certain jobs will become obsolete. This could lead to widespread unemployment and economic disruption.

Bias and discrimination: If AI systems are trained on biased data, they may perpetuate and even amplify existing biases in society. This could lead to discrimination against certain groups of people, such as those based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status.

Privacy and security: As AI systems become more prevalent, they will have access to large amounts of personal data. If this data is not properly protected, it could be accessed and used by malicious actors, leading to privacy breaches and security risks.

Lack of accountability: As AI systems become more advanced, it may become more difficult to understand how they are making decisions. This could make it hard to hold individuals or organizations accountable for the actions of the AI system.

Autonomous weapons: As military AI technologies continue to advance, there is a risk that they will be used to create autonomous weapons, which could make the decision to use force without human intervention. This could lead to a new arms race and the potential for unintended escalations of conflicts.

These are some of the potential negative impacts that could occur if not properly mitigated, but it's important to note that AI also brings many benefits and opportunities for humanity. Researchers, engineers and policymakers must work together to ensure that the development of AI aligns with the values and the best interests of humanity

Negative Impacts of AI

The holidays in Denver, Colorado are always a special time of year. With the snow-capped Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, the city is transformed into a winter wonderland.

During the holidays, Denver is filled with twinkling lights and festive decorations. The downtown area, in particular, is a sight to behold with its towering Christmas tree and outdoor ice skating rink.
One of the most popular holiday activities in Denver is visiting the Denver Zoo's annual "Zoo Lights" event. The zoo is transformed into a dazzling display of colorful lights and holiday-themed displays. Visitors can enjoy hot cocoa and treats as they stroll through the grounds and take in the sights and sounds of the season.

Another popular holiday tradition in Denver is visiting the Denver Botanic Gardens for their "Blossoms of Light" event. The gardens are adorned with thousands of twinkling lights, creating a magical atmosphere for visitors to enjoy.
Of course, no holiday in Denver would be complete without experiencing a snowy day. The city is known for its beautiful powdery snow, which is perfect for skiing and snowboarding at the many nearby resorts. 

After a day on the slopes, visitors can warm up with a mug of hot cocoa by the fireplace at one of the city's many cozy lodges.

Overall, the holidays in Denver are a magical and memorable experience that is not to be missed.

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Winter Wonderland 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, and Zixiao Wang, the former Chief Technology Officer of FTX Trading, for their involvement in a scheme to defraud equity investors in FTX, a crypto trading platform co-founded by Samuel Bankman-Fried and Wang. 

The SEC's complaint alleges that between 2019 and 2022, Ellison manipulated the price of FTT, an exchange crypto security token issued by FTX, by purchasing large quantities on the open market to boost its price. FTT served as collateral for undisclosed loans by FTX of its customers' assets to Alameda, a crypto hedge fund owned by Bankman-Fried and Wang and run by Ellison. 

The complaint also alleges that Bankman-Fried raised billions of dollars from investors by falsely claiming that FTX was a safe crypto asset trading platform with sophisticated risk mitigation measures, and that Alameda was just another customer with no special privileges, while at the same time improperly diverting FTX customer assets to Alameda.

The SEC's complaint charges Ellison and Wang with violating the anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and seeks injunctions against future securities law violations, an injunction prohibiting them from participating in any offering of a penny stock, and civil penalties.

SEC Charges Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang with Defrauding Investors in Crypto Asset Trading Platform FTX

Binance.US to acquire its assets, valued at around $1.022 billion, consisting of (i) the fair market value of Voyager's cryptocurrency portfolio, estimated at $1.002 billion at a future date, plus (ii) $20 million of additional consideration. 

Binance.US, an exchange based in California, will make a $10 million good faith deposit and reimburse Voyager for certain expenses up to a maximum of $15 million. The deal, which is subject to closing conditions, is set to be consummated through a Chapter 11 plan, and is set to be approved by the bankruptcy court on 5 January 2023.

The transaction aims to return crypto to customers in kind, in accordance with court-approved disbursements and platform capabilities.

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Voyager Digital has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Binance.US

Leo Carrillo State Park has 1.5 miles of beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and beachcombing. The beach also has tidepools, coastal caves and reefs for exploring. Giant sycamores shade the main campgrounds. The park also features back-country hiking.

Leo Carrillo State Park has 1.5 miles of beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and beach combing. 

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Return to Leo Carillo State Beach

So here I am, finally doing what I've put off for far too long. I have spent the last few months in a process of re-invention. I have been enjoying seeing all the wonderful content people are creating and releasing to the world. I used to do a lot more of that. I do have a college degree in Multimedia after all.

What this is about is NOT saying, "I used to" anymore. Now is leveraging all the years of having done this before but on a new and improved level.

Follow me on a fun new adventure!

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I bought a new Camera Canon M6 Mark ii

Pops cooler than a polar bear's toenail. Iccee!

```js
export default {
  strategy: 'Throwback 70',
  engine: {
    cpus: 12,
    output: justynClarkNetwork,
    backups: ['./storage/timeless.portal'],
  },
}
```


Writing on audio + software engineering, platform building, and the music industry.