2023 archive
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Computer security expert Bruce Schneier has written another long and detailed exploration of the current kerfuffle over AI.
In the light of all the real stupid billed as “artificial intelligence (for example), it is a timely and worthwhile read.
Lies and Lying Liars 0
Thom unpacks yet another Republican lie, this one about events in Israel.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
The hunt for politeness continues.
One wonders, was it his furry ears or his howling at the moon . . . .
One more time, “responsible gun owner” is an oxymoron.
Flying the Fiendlier Skies 0
Robert Reich explores why traveling by airline has become so unpleasant. He lists five reasons; here’s one of them (emphasis in the original):
While their jobs have become more difficult, many flight attendants haven’t had a raise in years.
And a lot of their hardest work is totally unpaid, because most flight attendants don’t get paid during the boarding process. They’re off the clock until the plane’s doors close.
And if the flight is delayed, those are often extra hours for no extra money.
Again, this mirrors trends in the overall economy, where too many workers are pushed into unpaid overtime or made to do work or be on call during their off hours.
Follow the link for a detailed exploration of the other four.
Limits of Limits 0
Some persons seem to think that limiting the terms of elected officials will somehow fix things. (Indeed, my local rag has had several such letters in the past week.)
I doubt it.
Persons who vote for one fool will quite happily vote for the next fool.
A better solution is not to vote for fools, not to live in a bubble, not to tell yourself that there’s no differences between candidates or parties when there quite plainly is, to see through lies, to separate reason from emotion–oh, well, you know enough to add to the list.
Yet, in a longer post about the foolishness of the term limits myth, Atrios makes a point that I have not seen articulated previously mentioned before:
QOTD 0
Alison Golden and Grace Dagnall:
“Truth,” Katya scoffed. “Truth is created by men and by money. That is the only truth.”
Golden, Alison and Dagnall, Grace, The Case of the Uncommon Witness, (San Carlos: Mesa Verde, 2021) p. 269
The Art of the Con 0
At the Las Vegas Sun, Mike Barrett points out that Lincoln was right.
Twits Own Twitter X Offenders
0
Sam and the crew talk with lawyer Mark Bankston about the libel suit he filed on behalf of Ben Brody against Elon Musk for Musk’s failure to exercise “reasonable care” in propagating an online lie. (Bankston is the lawyer who successfully sued Alex Jones.)
The Disinformation Superhighway 0
Don’t believe that “digital assistant.”
Aside:
Personally, I wouldn’t invite a spybot (or a vehicle for spybots) into my house on a bet.
But that’s just me.
Real Big Men 0
Michael in Norfolk marvels at the macho masqueraders pathetic poseurs.
A Tune for the Times 0
Mangy points out that one thing is not like the other thing.