Good discussion about this one recent Vergcast. They did a whole like 2 hour episode just on dram. AI demand is a real thing, but the bigger problem has been consolidation in the DRAM industry when the market was down (20 companies to three), the amount of time it takes to build new wafer capacity, and those firms reluctance to build that new capacity given the recent history of dram bust cycles killing companies. A wafer factory is a huge building, already hard to build, that also needs to be one of the most sterile places known to man. No east feat and a big investment the three surfing companies aren’t going to make just because pc gamers are mad about high prices. Add onto that the geopolitics of where ram is and can be safely built (Taiwan, SC, other SEA countries, etc) with the skilled labor to run them, lead times on the machines that etch the wafers (I think it’s just one company somewhere in Europe iirc) and you’ve got a mess.

Basically demand was low, prices went down, companies went bust. Demand started to pick up but the three (really two) surviving companies were reluctant to invest in capacity for fear of another bust cycle. Now demand is high, capacity is being built, but there is going to be a long lead time on that easing prices. And if demand continues to increase, capacity may not ever catch up enough to ease prices.

I know it’s fashionable to blame everything we can on AI, and it’s true AI is a factor here in driving demand, and it’s far less fun to say “well actually dram supply is a complicated problem spanning economics, supply chain realities, and geopolitics with a lot of nuance”. But the latter is true.

And it would be useful to pay more attention to this. The silicone supply chain is crazy important and crazy fragile. Instead of just reflexively going “AI bad” to this kind of event, I’d be useful to be talking about how we can diversify supply chains and silicone capacity.

Think dram prices are high now? China just encircled Taiwan in a show of force and the US expects them to make a move to take the island by 2027, the whatever anniversary of Taiwan’s independence. Not just the huge impact that would have due to Taiwan, given TSMC manufacturers most of our advanced chips of all kinds, but all the regional instability that would follow. It’s a big complicated world and there are problems beyond ai.

Newsome has to get the legislature to put it on the ballot, Californians have to approve it. The nonpartisan redistricting commission was created by referendum and can only be changed by referendum. It’s good that he’s supporting the initiative and pushing it. Pat on the head for that.

But you ever noticed Newsome doesn’t fight for shit unless it personally affects him? Round up immigrants and send them to El Salvador? Newsome doesn’t want to even talk about that cause he thinks it’s a political loser for him personally. Trans kids being discriminated in sports? Newsome thinks he’d do better in a presidential election if he’s a little bigoted since Kamela got hit on the issue, so fuck trans kids. Trump rounding up immigrants in LA, big meh from newsome. However, Trump takes over Newsome’s national guard, now newsome is ready to fight. Republicans rigging the House which could mean a president Newsome would have to deal with a Republican house, now he’s going to the mat.

So yeah, glad Newsome is doing a thing for once, but he’s still a piece of shit.

“Newsome’s press staffer sent a funny tweet. I guess that makes up for him creating a platform to shit on trans people with right wing monsters, saying that Dems should ignore Trump sending innocent people to an El Salvador gulag because the issue is a political loser, and years of shit policies”

The reason Dems lose is because they don’t ever actually do anything. A tweet is not an action. It’s performative bullshit.

So, hehe funny tweet. But also, fuck newsome, do something.

The Gemini podcast is going to condense your text and make it conversational, but it will necessarily lose detail in the process. A better recommendation is the Eleven Labs Reader, it’ll just read any text or file you throw at it with top tier voice models. Can use it for free and they have paid plans for more use. They also have a “podcast” generator option like Gemini, but I haven’t tried it so can’t vouch for the quality.

I use Eleven Labs all the time for things I want to read, like email newsletters, industry publications, etc but never find the time to sit down and read. Now I can have AI read them to me while I walk the dog. Super handy imo

deemed controversial and antisemitic

The first reads, “Kill all Jews.”

Hmm, I guess I could see how some might read that as controversial and potentially antisemitic.

Some do. My library has a play area set up for littles and another area set up for infants. On Saturdays they have a sing along story hour thing, and other events like that throughout the week. We also have plenty of local parks with playground equipment. No free place with indoor slides and ball pits though like McDonald’s used to have.

Hey bby. How’d that work out?

Then maybe show don’t tell people that Dems are not the same. Get caught fighting for the people. Don’t do a Monday morning CNN cable hit, or a press conference in front of usaid where you ask politely to be let in and then slink off when your told no. Force your way in to the department of education, get arrested with 30 of your colleagues. Do shit.

Bullshit excuse. When Republicans are in the minority they are obstructionist fucks, getting their message out and actual media attention with performative bullshit, generally being effective as the opposition party. When Dems are in the minority all you get is whiney “somebody do something!” bleets from leadership. This is why we lose, our representatives are unwilling to fight for the people. Moron voters see Trump and Republicans as actually willing to try to do something to improve their lives, while Dems complain about process to cable news hosts nobody watches. The Trump admin is acting lawlessly, and Dems meet that moment by asking Republicans in Congress to do something about it? Fucking hell, do something, show up, fight, inspire, lead.