My blog

Heated Rivalry and the canon of unapologetic queer storytelling

Let’s start by saying that this is smut. Clear and unapologetic smut. But it’s also so much more. When I watched Heated Rivalry, it hit very close to home as I, in my 20’s, was briefly involved with a professional hockey player. I really identify with Kip, although not nearly as ripped or charming. And…

We learned how to fuck before we learned how to stay

I’m not here to scold hookup culture, abolish Grindr, or pretend sex is the villain. I like sex. I like desire. I like the particular electricity of men wanting men without apology. This is not moral panic. This is a pattern recognition post. As per usual, I went home, up north, to celebrate X-mas with…

Generative AI Did Not Create a Skills Gap. It Exposed One.

There is something oddly reassuring about blaming generative AI for our current professional anxiety. It lets us believe the problem arrived suddenly, from the outside. That we were competent until a machine disrupted us. That the solution is training, adaptation, and time. That this is just another wave to surf. That story is wrong. What…

Apparently I’m Supposed to Monetize My Thoughts Now

There was a time when having a thought was just that. A thought. You had it. You enjoyed it. You maybe shared it with a friend over a coffee. No checkout button involved. Those days are dead! Today, if you express an idea in public, someone’ll ask when the course drops. You write a thoughtful…

We Built a Job Market Where Templates Beat Talent

I’ve written on this topic before, but I feel I wasn’t done yet, so here we go. There was a time when work spoke for itself. When skill was visible, when mistakes built character, and when experience meant something more than a tidy list of power verbs. That time is gone. Today, the job market…

The Beautiful Bullshit of Artificial Intelligence

If you’re a heavy user of generative ai such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or similar, this might have happened to you, too. I’ll use ChatGPT as placeholder for all of these, because they all do the same thing, sometimes. When ChatGPT starts dreaming, it doesn’t count sheep. It starts inventing facts with the confidence of…

Whamageddon, Mariahgeddon, and the Soundtrack to Our Collective Breakdown

As I sit here, listening to a sweet italodisco playlist, I start thinking about genres of music and then music in general. And eventually seasonal music… Every December, millions of unsuspecting humans enter the most passive-aggressive endurance sport ever invented: trying not to hear Christmas music. It begins innocently enough. You pop into the grocery…

The Trouble With Being Liberal

Notice that I didn’t include ”a” before ”Liberal” in this headline. I’m not talking about USA liberal party. I’m talking about Liberalism as a more global concept. I’ve debated myself a lot about this particular post, as I’m pretty sure it will generate some pretty bad hate coming my way. I’ve decided to publish it…

How to Brief AI Like a Human (and Not Sound Like Beige Paste)

AI doesn’t need more hype or hate. It needs better direction. People toss it half-baked one-liners like “write copy for a pen” and expect poetry. When it gives them something that sounds like a middle manager in a meeting, they cry that AI has no soul. Newsflash: it’s echoing yours. If you treat it like…

Between Frequencies

Downtime is a myth. What I call rest is just curiosity wearing a disguise. It sneaks in quietly, pretending to behave, then pulls me into another vortex of sound, syntax, or circuitry. I never resist. Stillness feels like a foreign language, and I’ve never been fluent in anything that doesn’t move. Music is the first…

The Hidden Risks of the AI Future We Are Racing Toward

I watched a short film recently, and it sent chills down my spine. LITERAL chills! I knew I had to write something about this, even though it’s a bit on the darker side. I’ll link it in the text below. The Age of Invisible Power Artificial intelligence is no longer a story from the future.…

Why LGBTQ+ History Month Matters More Than Ever

Yes, I know I’m a little late, I meant to publish this on Oct. 1 but being the compulsive editor that I am, I missed by a couple of days. Ooops. Queer people are both more visible than ever and simultaneously more targeted by political backlash, LGBTQ+ History Month is not just a cultural footnote.…

When Fraud Models Confuse Everyday Struggle With Suspicion

I wanna start with saying that I don’t have a specific person in mind when writing this. I use “him” as a placeholder. Picture this: It’s a Tuesday night in Stockholm. A student finishes a late shift at the bar, hops on the night bus home, and stops by a kiosk for a korv med…

The Next Two Years of AI: An Educated Guess From the Trenches

In a previous post I established most people loves to talk about the AI revolution like it’s something that just started. We’ve already established that’s wrong; we’re mid-plot, popcorn in hand, watching the characters make questionable life choices. But if the last two years have felt like a tidal wave, buckle up. Because the next…

Hyphens: Humanity’s Dumbest Obsession With a Tiny Stick

You know what makes me want to set my keyboard on fire? Hyphens. Those microscopic scratches on the page that somehow manage to divide nations, destroy friendships, and convince otherwise sane people that they alone understand the True and Sacred Rules. Let’s get one thing straight: hyphens are punctuation’s version of IKEA’s allen key. You…

The AI Revolution is Not Starting — We’re Already Knee-Deep in It

If you’ve been anywhere near a news site lately, you’ve seen the same breathless headline recycled with minor tweaks: “The AI revolution has begun.” Which is a bit like yelling “the party is starting!” at 2 a.m. while someone is already asleep on the couch, another guest is doing karaoke with a lamp, and the…

10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Stockholm From a Local’s Perspective

As someone who’s lucky enough to call Stockholm home, I can tell you there’s so much more to this city than what you might find in the typical guidebooks. Stockholm is a place that effortlessly balances history with modernity, nature with urban life, and tradition with innovation. It’s a city I’m proud of, and if…

When Prompts Break: Why Your AI Rules Start to Slip Mid-Project

I’ve done a few years in the world of Generative AI now, gotten myself a certification in prompt engineering, even. And, while this particular problem has gotten better, I’ve noticed that the rules given in a prompt start failing after a while. Here I’ll try to explain what the heck is going on. You start…

Queer Creation Unbound: How AI Is Powering a New Creative Revolution

WE DON’T NEED PERMISSION Queer creators have always been magicians. Turning scraps into spectacle. Spinning truth out of trauma. Crafting joy in the middle of a society that keeps trying to erase us. Now, a new tool has landed in our hands. One system was never meant for us to have. One we can twist,…

How LGBTQ+ Community Members Can Prompt AI for Inclusive Output

Introduction AI is woven into our daily lives now, so it’s more important than ever that it represents everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community. The problem? Many AI systems are trained on huge datasets that carry built-in bias. That bias can lead to queer, trans, non-binary, and bisexual voices being overlooked or erased. But there’s good…

April Fools’ Day: The One Day Everyone Becomes a Fact-Checking Genius

There’s something almost magical about April 1st. For 24 glorious hours, the internet transforms. Suddenly, every uncle on Facebook and every conspiracy-prone cousin becomes a razor-sharp fact-checker. Bluff headlines are dissected within seconds. Fake news gets swatted away with snarky comments and smug eye rolls. “Do you really believe that?” they scoff, conveniently forgetting that…

AI be Learning about You!

I quit my restaurant job over a year ago and have been focusing on working with other things, mainly remotely and doing it with a laptop as my primary work tool. As regular readers know, I write a lot about Generative AI and this post is no exception. I prompted ChatGPT ”with what you’ve learned…

Roine Chaos – The Untamed Version

The brief drops like a challenge. ”Write something bold. Make it sing.” I roll my eyes, “sip” my coffee, and dive into the madness. My desk explodes into chaos. Sticky notes stick to the walls, the floor, the dust bunnies. Books pile up, pages curling under the weight of half-finished ideas. My browser groans with…

Encryption Trends: The Future of Security Is Here, and It’s Changing Fast

Encryption is in the spotlight like never before. With quantum computers looming on the horizon and organizations scrambling to stay ahead of potential threats, the world of cryptography is buzzing with breakthroughs and challenges. After I’ve almost spent a week down a weird rabbit hole, here’s a quick dive into the latest trends shaking up…

Why GPT is Great for Brainstorming but Not for Writing Entire Pieces

As a writer, I find it’s natural to hit creative roadblocks. Sometimes, I just need a spark to get the ideas flowing. This is where tools like ChatGPT come in handy. GPT, with its vast database and ability to mimic human language, can be an incredible tool to bounce ideas off. Whether you’re struggling to…

I’m Thee!”I Googled it Once” Expert

Picture this: you’re scrolling through job ads when you see something about neural networks. Neural networks? you think, I wrote an article about that once! How hard could it be? Suddenly, you feel a surge of confidence, bordering on delusion. Next thing you know, you’re imagining yourself applying for a machine learning engineer role. Forget…

Brand Tone: Finding Your Unique Voice in the Sea of Content

The world is noisy! Really noisy! A massive flood of content is produced every second, ranging from TikToks to blog posts, infographics to podcasts. This is both exciting and overwhelming for brands trying to capture the attention of their audiences. It begs the question: how do you rise above the noise? The answer lies in…

Redesign

Yes, I’m redesigning the playground. Some hiccups may be encountered.

The Heartstopper Conundrum

”Will you write something about Heartstopper?” ”You have to have a go on the Heartstopper series.” ”I want your Heartstopper opinion!!! pls…” A while back, I wrote a little bit about the Swedish series ”Young Royals” and now I get mail that I HAVE to write about Heartstopper. I have seen all three seasons of…

Job Fraudsters – Are You Being Scammed

I’m well aware that I’ve written about this before but I feel it’s a good idea to repeat things like this. And keep it visible. The job market is worse than ever when it comes to scammers and it really shows. Especially in the remote work market. In a world where technology brings convenience and…

Brag til Your Heart’s Content

Experiencing a long period without work can be challenging and emotionally taxing. The usual daily routine is disrupted, financial concerns may arise, and self-doubt can start to creep in. However, this time can also be a valuable opportunity for self-reflection, growth, and preparation for future opportunities. One effective tool that can help in navigating these…

Unpaid Internships and Volunteer Work: Opportunity or Exploitation

Unpaid internships and so-called ”volunteer” roles have always been presented to me as incredible opportunities—ways to gain experience, make industry connections, and get a foot in the door, and let’s not forget exposure. Companies package these roles as stepping stones that will take me from the ranks of hopeful applicants to a thriving career. And…

Are We Dating Our Computers Yet?

I talk to my computer almost as much as I talk to people. It listens, it replies, it doesn’t judge my snack choices or my sleep schedule. So when AI companions started popping up everywhere, I had to ask; are they friends, therapists, or just really advanced mirrors? And if we fall for them, what…

It’s a dream come true, finally.

No, I haven’t won the lottery or landed my dream job. All this is about is the fact that I have, finally, caught up in my mailbox and as I write this I have zero unattended email in all my inboxes (yes, I have more than one), and it feels really good. Now I aim…

The Unexpected Adventure of Bin Juice

I should say sorry in advance for this one. It’s too warm to get some real work done in the garden so here I am, thinking about stuff…. We all know bin juice—the mysterious, often feared, and always reviled liquid that lurks at the bottom of garbage bins. It’s the stuff of nightmares and gag-worthy…

The Dark Side of Free Website Offers – A Scam Unveiled

I love how Roineland looks, it fills its purpose, and, believe it or not, it generates a fair amount of traffic, and it gets me some jobs. I could probably update it to a more appealing look and feel but as a sucker for the internet early days, I’m sticking with it for now. I…

The True Value of Networking on LinkedIn Over Merely Collecting Connections

In today’s professional world, LinkedIn stands as a pivotal platform for career development and networking. While some users might view LinkedIn merely as a tool for collecting connections, the true value lies in active networking, which can lead to significant professional growth and opportunities. This article explores why it’s beneficial to engage meaningfully on LinkedIn,…

Know Your Fucking Worth: Why Freelancers Should Stand Firm

As a freelancer, I’ve had my share of price-haggling clients. In the early days of my freelancing career, I did a lot of budging on my prices, cuz I wanted the job and some quick cash. I also didn’t have a clear view of my own worth and how to price my various services and…

The Educative Role of Freelancers: Guiding Clients Towards Their Real Needs

In the evolving world of freelance services, where expertise spans in every domain such as writing, design, and digital marketing, freelancers frequently find themselves in a position not just to deliver services, but also to educate their clients. The scenario where a freelancer needs to clarify the actual scope of a client’s request—such as distinguishing…

The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence in Film and Television: From ”WarGames” to ”Star Trek” and Beyond

The portrayal of artificial intelligence in movies and television series has evolved dramatically over the decades, reflecting not only advances in technology but also shifts in societal attitudes towards AI. From the Cold War anxieties of ”WarGames” to the optimistic futurism of ”Star Trek,” the depiction of AI has ranged from malevolent forces threatening humanity…

Young Royals – A reflection

I think this is a first for Roineland. It’s almost a review. I have seen and appreciated the Swedish series Young Royals with great interest. Let me share some personal thoughts on this drama series. Young Royals is a Netflix show that explores life at a prestigious boarding school in Sweden. Here, we meet Prince Wilhelm, portrayed by…

AI Broadly Categorized

On a daily, I get asked ”Roine, what is AI, really?” And every time I’m a little stumped for words because I have, so far, not been able to really get myself to categorize the different areas. This means that I, of course, felt a little compelled to do some looking into this. I mainly…

Just a Small Hack

Hey, I just wanted to share a small hack for a completely different experience when it comes to searching for information. The image is an example and can be customized to almost anything. In this search, I wanted to know what Boston plumbers have their Gmail publicly posted on Facebook. This isn’t limited to Facebook…

AI Ethics is Not The Same as Inclusive AI

Woooohoooo… it’s another AI post. AI ethics is a branch of ethics concerned with AI’s creation, development, and deployment. It addresses the moral implications of AI systems, ensuring they contribute positively to society without causing unintentional harm. This article looks into the key aspects of AI ethics, including transparency, fairness, accountability, privacy, and the future…

The Employer Test Redundancy

It’s happened again. I was applying for a writing gig and I was, again, faced with an assessment that had NOTHING to do with the actual job description. A mathematical logic test. I am not a strong mathematician. At all! Sure, I can count, add, subtract, multiply, and divide, and I sure as hell never…

I’m a Freelance Writer – Of Course, I have A WordPress Website

Starting a small WordPress.com company website for a freelance writer in 2024 involves careful consideration of various factors to ensure the site not only reflects the writer’s personal brand but also effectively attracts and retains the target audience. WordPress.com offers a versatile platform for building and managing websites, catering to a wide range of needs…

Securing the Remote Workforce -Embracing Modern Encryption for Smartphones

As a part of my working remotely, I use my phone a lot. In the dynamic realm of remote work, smartphones have become indispensable tools for productivity, communication, and accessing corporate data. However, this convenience comes with heightened security concerns, necessitating robust encryption measures to safeguard sensitive information. Albeit I don’t use ALL of these,…

The Near Future of Open-Source Software and Linux – My Perspective

I’ve written my fair share about Linux and Open-Source. I’m not going to stop that, just because my current obsession is GenAI, so here’s another Open-Source post. Open-source software (OSS) has revolutionized the world of technology, fostering innovation, collaboration, and widespread adoption. Its impact can be seen across various industries, from cloud computing to embedded…

Making AI More Inclusive – Is ChatGPT a Rainbow Warrior

So… I had a job interview, with an amazing person and now I have to write a little about it, as it really touched close to home. As generative AI technologies like GPT (Generative Pretrained Transformer) and Google’s Gemini evolve, there’s a growing discourse on their potential to either perpetuate or bridge societal divides. Marginalized…

Harnessing GPT for AI Learning: Empowering the Prompt Engineer

Yes, it’s another AI post. Get over it! 🙂 One of my most fun times in front of the screen is the sessions in which I write (increasingly ridiculous) prompts into ChatGPT or DALL-E. (you don’t want to see what kind of weird graphics my mind has created) I asked GPT 3.5 if it would…

Alright, alright, alright!

I recently posted a thing about scams and scammers where I basically stated that I won’t be writing about it because it changes so fast and the various scams are so extremely many. After combing through a bunch of feedback, I realize the thirst is real.. And I mean the thirst for a post about…

Beware of Scammers

I’ve been asked, several times, to write about current and ”popular” ways people can get scammed online. I’ve thought about it but decided against writing such a post, for many reasons; Firstly, it would probably be the longest blog post in modern history. There are so many scams out there, that it would be virtually…

Challenges Faced as a Freelancer

Besides my regular gig in the restaurant business, I’ve been freelancing for the last two decades, or so. It’s been a wild ride in the last couple of years. As the gig economy has gained traction, so have the scams in my field. I’ve completely abandoned the platform Freelancer.com (seriously, don’t even think about it)…

Socializing in the Digital Age – The Online Vs. Real-life Friendship Debate

In the past few decades, the rise of the internet and mobile technologies has revolutionized the way we communicate and build relationships, offering us the choice between socializing online and doing so in real life. Each mode of interaction comes with its own set of advantages and challenges, and what’s deemed “better” often depends on…

The Evolution from GPT-3 to GPT-4

ChatGPT here, ChatGPT there, ChatGPT everywhere! This last year, ChatGPT from OpenAI has been all the rage. Rightfully so, in my humble opinion. After all, it has helped people immensely, with everything from pure boredom to thick volumes of text about just anything on this earth. At the time I write this, ChatGPT has over…

The Dangers of AI-Generated Fake Images and Voices

I’ve written kind of a kilometer (yes I use metric) about AI, and I’m not nearly done. This time I want to talk about when AI gets used to create fake images or even fake voices. I’m going to start with an example. These are two different pictures of Henry Cavill. Can you spot the…

Home Automation – Some ideas

In the last three years or so, I’ve been on a mission to automate stuff at home and at the cottage. So far, most of the lighting and some of the heating (being able to turn the heating on before coming to the cottage, is the shit in the middle of the winter) are automated…

Lowball Offers – Day-to-Day for Freelancers

I feel I need to say something about this, as I do some freelance work. The digital landscape has significantly diversified the opportunities for freelancers across the globe. Platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com have opened up a world of possibilities where skilled professionals can offer their services to a broad client base. However,…

GDPR & HIPAA – What’s Going On

I don’t know why, but people have asked me, several times, over the last couple of months, questions about GDPR and HIPAA. As I live in Sweden, I do have some insight into GDPR, especially since it sometimes touches on what I write about. But HIPAA. Didn’t have a clue until a few days ago,…

Sidekicking it – Where AI Meets Your Imagination

Hello fellow wordsmiths and literary adventurers! Are you tired of staring at a blank screen, waiting for the muse to strike? Yeah, me too! Since ChatGPT crept into our lives just about a year ago, a lot of writers have seen their jobs vanish, or be made partly by a set of algorithms and a…

The Role of Public Employment Services in Modern Job Searching

As a Swede, I’m pretty used to bureaucracy, crazy regulations, and plain weird laws. One of the more special cases is the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedligen) and their craziness. I’m not gonna go into detail about all the weird things they demand from people (moving across the country or losing your benefits, is one).…

How to Launch Your Own E-Commerce WordPress Site – A Step-by-Step Guide

So, you’ve got an amazing product you want to start selling? You’ve heard that WordPress is the biggest platform for creating a website. It’s not a lie. Not even a small white lie. As of September 2023, over 810 million websites are using WordPress as their platform. Starting an e-commerce website can seem daunting, especially…

Launching Your Online Store on WordPress.com – A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you looking to start selling products online? WordPress.com provides an accessible platform to launch a webshop. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a hobbyist wanting to monetize your passion, creating an online store on WordPress.com is a straightforward process. This guide will walk you through the steps to get your webshop…

Seamless & Scalable – Future of SAAS

The digital revolution has transformed how businesses operate, and Software-as-a-Service (SAAS) products have emerged as the top dog and driving force in this dynamic landscape. With their accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and scalability, SAAS solutions have revolutionized traditional software distribution models. In this post, I will take a look at the potential future development of SAAS products,…

The Top 5 Resources for Leveling Up Your Generative AI Skills

Hey there! Before you dive into this, be aware that this is, BY FAR, the longest post I’ve ever written for the Playground, in….ever! Also, if you wanna read the prequel to this monster, click here. Are you ready to take your generative AI skills to the next level? Whether you’re a beginner or a…

The Business Case for Open Source: Cost Savings and Beyond

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, businesses face the challenge of keeping up with the ever-increasing demands for software solutions. One approach that has gained significant traction over the years is the utilization of open-source software. Open-source solutions not only offer cost savings but can also provide numerous strategic advantages. In this post, I look…

Generative AI – Not all that Easy

Generative AI is a rapidly growing field with the potential to revolutionize many industries. However, there are also a number of challenges that need to be addressed before generative AI can be widely adopted. Data privacy and security One of the biggest challenges with generative AI is data privacy and security. Generative AI models often…

The Power and Dangers of Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity

In the digital age, where cybercriminals constantly outsmart conventional security measures, the emergence of AI presents a significant opportunity to strengthen cybersecurity defenses. However, this double-edged sword also poses new threats as cybercriminals also use AI technology for their malicious activities. This post takes a peek into the fascinating world of AI in cybersecurity, exploring…

Safeguard your Digital Assets – A Look at Zero Trust Security

Current brain tumbler:In today’s interconnected and complex online world, the traditional perimeter-based security approach is no longer sufficient to protect digital assets. The increasing number of data breaches and sophisticated cyber threats has necessitated the adoption of innovative security strategies. One such strategy gaining traction is Zero Trust security. This concept challenges the notion of…

Should Companies Publish the Salary Range for Advertised Jobs?

The question of whether companies should publish the salary range for jobs they advertise has sparked considerable debate in recent years. Transparency in job listings is seen by some as a step toward fair employment practices, while others argue that it is not always feasible due to legal and practical considerations, such as the General…

One of the Hard Questions in Life – What Would you do?

A few days ago, I was asked a question by a former colleague. The question was formulated in a simple way, and I thought very little about my answer, and just spit it out: ”Buy new things.” The question was ”What would you do if you lost ALL your belongings in life?” It would be…

Re-read that post, baby, one more time

I type pretty fast and sometimes my fingers move faster than my eyes or brain registers. This has, over the years, resulted in some pretty hilarious typos and strange sentences. Today I want to talk about proofreading. And editing. In today’s digital age, we communicate more through text than ever before. Whether it’s emails, social…

Culinary Sustainability – Meet Fotografiska Restaurant

Over a year ago, I wrote a piece about a dish I ate at the restaurant in Fotografiska. That post sparked an idea to write about the restaurant in general and this little piece of text has been in my drafts for about a year, while I’ve been debating myself if I should publish it,…

Generative AI Security Risks: How to Protect Yourself

As anticipated, the piece I wrote about DarkBERT generated a bunch of emails (roine@roineland.com if you’re wondering) about safety on the deep/dark web. I will, of course, oblige and give you a little report about staying safe while dabbling with deep web AI. Or, actually, it’s a good idea to stay vigilant, generally, with AI.…

Speaking of AI – Meet DarkBERT, the ”dark web” GPT

By now, many have heard of ChatGPT from OpenAI, Bard from Google, or any of the other AIs out there. Since OpenAI released ChapGPT back in November of 2022, the AI market has exploded. Everyone wants a piece of the action, and many are trying. Even META has released an AI, named RoBERTa (an acronym…