JMA-PSOS

The Bible (and other scriptures) seen through chaos theory and entropy laws

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:32:22 GMT

I posit that the Bible’s evolution is a simplistic attempt at tackling chaos and entropy:
* The OT conjures up an ultimate Maxwell’s demon of sorts that is attempting to coral chaos and entropy by inadvertently introducing more chaos and entropy into the system (predictable as the “designers” of this demiurge barely understood the difference between the Earth, the Moon and the Sun, never mind the human mind or more abstract concepts like chaos and entropy).
* The NT conjures up a smarter assistant to Maxwell’s demon that merely promises to do away with chaos and entropy at an indeterminate future time (anywhere from within a generation or two for his most supporters to “never” for the few skeptics).

comments

How US started war with Iran: Bibi and feckless cabinet (per New Tork Times)

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:42:09 GMT

The New York Times tells us how Trump took US to war with Iran.
Tldr verson: Bibi and a cabinet full of yes men. The top comments to the article:

Scott T.
Nashville ·
10h ago
The level of misguided and impulsive policymaking described in this piece is nausea-inducing. All these people should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity.
Replies 7
Recommend 2.5K

J. B. commented 10 hours ago
J
J. B.
Aurora, CO ·
10h ago
Netanyahu has now duped two Presidents into supporting war in the Middle East to distract from his own political problems. Biden stood by and did nothing about Gaza, and now Trump is actively doing Netanyahu's dirty work. All of the Yes Men are equally to blame.
Replies 14
Recommend 1.9K

charles marlow commented 10 hours ago
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charles marlow
New London, CT ·
10h ago
"His instincts." Most patients in mental institutions rely on their instincts. That's why they're there in the first place.
Replies 1
Recommend 1.7K

Fred commented 10 hours ago
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Fred
LA ·
10h ago
How Trump took the US to war with Iran…..simple, Israel and Israeli focused interests in the US told him to do so.
Replies 7
Recommend 1.3K

NB commented 10 hours ago
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NB
East & West ·
10h ago
This article gives Trump too much credit. Just follow the money. Thiel, Kushner, Musk and others with ties to Trump all stand to financially benefit from this war due to their heavy investments in defense companies, defense startup companies, or investment firms that invest in these industries.
Replies 5
Recommend 1.3K

Ed o commented 9 hours ago
E
Ed o
San Diego ·
9h ago
Why doesn't anyone admit that the current Iran crisis was caused by Trump getting rid of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement in 2018? The agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), required Iran to reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium by 98% to 300 kg (660 lbs) and limit enrichment to 3.67%, civilian grade.
What did Trump accomplish by getting rid of the 2015 agreement?
Iran now has 440kg of 60% enrichment, near weapons grade . Iran continued to support Hamas and Hezbollah, and it strengthened the Iranian theocracy. It now has ballistic missiles.

Trump caused this problem. Now he is trying to fix it in the same way he broke it without a plan.
In my opinion, we are currently fighting to get back to where we were before Trump got rid of the 2015 accord. This is progress?
Replies 4
Recommend 1.3K

James commented 10 hours ago
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James
Burns, TN ·
10h ago
As much as the article notes that Vance and others weren't fully onboard with the decision, NOBODY was against it enough to resign in protest. in 2027/7 when Vance and Rubio are vying for the GOP nomination, we will do well to remember this when they all try to say they were against it..... They all chose their careers and political lives instead of standing on principle.
Replies 4
Recommend 1.1K

Michael M commented 9 hours ago
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Michael M
Colorado ·
9h ago
Call me a skeptic, but this in part seems like JD Vance (or sources close to him ) trying to create a narrative for 2028 to distance himself from this disastrous, ill conceived war.

Sorry JD, you enabled and continue to enable Trump. You own and will own all the consequences of this Administration.
Replies 4
Recommend 1K

Jimbo commented 10 hours ago
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Jimbo
Los Angeles ·
10h ago
His deadline is 8pm Eastern. Watch the Futures markets bets at 7:45pm and we’ll know if he bombs or tacos.
Replies 4
Recommend 877

Mort Mech commented 10 hours ago
M
Mort Mech
USA ·
10h ago
Combination of ignorance and power is the most destructive force on earth and Trump is the epitome of that.
Replies 2
Recommend 839

Science Teacher commented 10 hours ago
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Science Teacher
Illinois ·
10h ago
I'm aghast and infuriated at Trump being surrounded by a whole crowd of sycophants who abandoned their oaths to the Constitution and the public to go along with his "instincts" when they all knew better.
Replies 2
Recommend 811

DennisMcG commented 9 hours ago
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DennisMcG
Boston ·
9h ago
I'd bet a decent amount it is Vance feeding a substantive amount of this information out, this whole thing reads like exculpatory evidence for him.
Replies 2
Recommend 745

Of note commented 10 hours ago
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Of note
Washington ·
10h ago
I'm struck by how many of these people didn't voice an opinion, or did the "on the one hand, on the other" thing. They were in the room. The stakes were huge for this country and the world. It was their job to speak up.
Replies 1
Recommend 621

dave commented 9 hours ago
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dave
nc ·
9h ago
I’m sure Trump’s time on the apprentice, Kushner’s “work” as a full time nepo baby, Witikoff’s real estate experience and Hegseth’s time as a weekend tv show host, not to mention his white christian supremacy leanings, were all extremely helpful in the decision making process. Notably absent is anyone with real experience and/or expertise in this area. God help us.
Recommend 617

Vagabond Rambler commented 9 hours ago
V
Vagabond Rambler
Australia ·
9h ago
In most other U.S. presidential administrations this ridiculous one-hour sales pitch would have been met with replies like "Are you insane?" or "Do NOT start a war with Iran!". The war-pitch opportunity would probably not have been granted at all. Certainly not in the situation room. But Israel knew an easy mark when they saw one. And Trump was that easy mark.
Replies 2
Recommend 576

hop sing commented 10 hours ago
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hop sing
SF, california ·
10h ago
Trump's total need, that hole in his bucket that can never be filled, is driving the train. Nothing he does offers more than a moment's satisfaction, so the next thing has to be bigger and badder-- but it never works. He has no stopping point, the the craven Republican Party is ignoring the truth of the situation.

The end will be supremely ugly.
Replies 3
Recommend 557

Futbolistaviva commented 9 hours ago
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Futbolistaviva
San Francisco, CA ·
9h ago
A very interesting piece and equally disturbing.

Well done by the NYT reporters!

So as most informed Americans already knew, Bibi was the driving force behind this war with Iran. To have Kushner and Witkoff, the Keystone Cops (lining their pockets) as envoys is laughable.

No one, not one cabinet member had the courage to object to a war or resign on principle in protest.

We've seen better cabinets at IKEA.
Replies 2
Recommend 455

Brian C. commented 9 hours ago
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Brian C.
Minnesota ·
9h ago
Great reporting as always.

My one hope is our military recognizes an illegal order and doesn’t follow it.

Bombing civilian infrastructure and killing innocent people is an illegal order.
Replies 3
Recommend 400

CitizenCO commented 9 hours ago
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CitizenCO
Denver, CO ·
9h ago
General Caine replied: “Sir, this is, in my experience, standard operating procedure for the Israelis. They oversell, and their plans are not always well-developed. They know they need us, and that’s why they’re hard-selling.” That is the proof this whole thing was a Netanyahu led justification for US carrying out his war and the US is just a tool of a foreign government.

But Caine also led him down the path of the mission feasibility and the rest of the went all in - they are all war criminals in my view.

The apologia of Vance and Wiles complicity reads like PR cleansing knowing the operation is criminal and the phrase saying "Vance built his career" on anti war made me spit my coffee out as the "career" of JD Vance is like 15 minutes in historical terms and is as vapid as that description.
Replies 1
Recommend 379

Yossarian commented 8 hours agoIn reply thread
Y
Yossarian
Canada ·
8h ago
scott T.
I have been an avid student of American politics, both domestic and foreign, and a moderately-read student of American military history for the last 60 years.
With the information conveyed in this NYT article, I can now say that I have never seen such incompetent, shallow minded and inexcusably reckless leadership ever before at the top of your country's political, military and intelligence commands, commands that have the benefit of the knowledge of the lessons learned from the mistakes made in the Vietnam and Iraq wars and have nevertheless ignored those lessons.

I simply cannot imagine your country being in worse hands than it is at this moment.
Replies 1
Recommend 370

Stacey CT commented 9 hours agoIn reply thread
S
Stacey CT
Madison, Connecticut ·
9h ago
scott T. “Misguided and impulsive” is a generous assessment, like someone who didn’t plan well enough for a trip to Disney World.

I’d call this “evil and criminal”, among other things.
Recommend 359

Kathy Hughes commented 10 hours ago
K
Kathy Hughes
Centerville, OH ·
9h ago
This is going to be disastrous for the United States, and for our citizens as well. Hegseth and Trump cannot expect divine intervention to make up for their impulsive decision to fight an unholy war without adequate planning, strategy, and preparation. Unfortunately, it is ordinary citizens who will be left with the costs this war will impose.
Replies 2
Recommend 334

Mr. SeaMonkey commented 10 hours ago
Mr. SeaMonkey
Mr. SeaMonkey
Indiana ·
10h ago
It seems to me that our memory regarding war is about 25 years long. War is horrible, complex, and always longer than anticipated. We finished up with WWII and about 25 years later went into Vietnam. The general after-the-fact consensus was that it was a bad move. About 25 years later we went into Afghanistan and Iraq. The general after-the-fact consensus was that it was a bad move. Now, about 25 years later, we go into Iran. We always think that it will be easier than it turns out to be. History has a lot to teach us. But I guess that we are not capable of remembering.
Replies 5
Recommend 256

Maggie Haberman commented 4 hours ago
Maggie Haberman
Maggie Haberman
Senior Political Correspondent ·
4h ago
Benjamin Netanyahu made his war pitch from inside the Situation Room — a setting rarely used for in-person foreign leader meetings. The audience was President Trump and his inner circle. It proved to be a fateful meeting, as my colleague Jonathan Swan and I show in new reporting.
Replies 2
Recommend 240

Albro commented 10 hours ago
A
Albro
Wellington, ON, Canada ·
10h ago
What worries the most is that Trump will want to prolong this war until November to allow him to claim the country is at war and cancel the November mid terms.
Replies 4
Recommend 234

Jack commented 9 hours ago
J
Jack
Nebraska ·
9h ago
Just incredible. Every one of the president's closest cabinet members and advisors deferring to him, the dumbest, most ignorant man in the room, on the horrific decision to start a major war. For objectives that were ill-defined and clearly unobtainable. They all knew it was a bad idea (except for Hegseth, because he is also an ignoramus) and did nothing to stop him. Genuinely what is wrong with these people?
Replies 2
Recommend 233

Arthur commented 9 hours ago
A
Arthur
Toronto, ON ·
9h ago
I wonder if JD Vance, who stood silently when asked who won the 2020 election, and professes to be a devout Catholic has any introspection about the series of Faustian bargains he has made in his pursuit of power.
Replies 5
Recommend 232

Heiko from Offenbach commented 9 hours agoIn reply thread
H
Heiko from Offenbach
Germany ·
9h ago
j. B.
Joe Biden didn’t start any war!
Replies 2
Recommend 231

CN commented 10 hours ago
C
CN
Portland Oregon ·
10h ago
Hereafter, America and values can't be put in the same sentence. That's how we will be looked upon for a long time and we will be remembered as such in history.
Recommend 216

The only thing that surprised me in this sickening agit-prop puff piece was how JD is already being fluffed as the prime candidate to take over the dumpster fire before Jan 2029. Thiel and his tech bros are celebrating already.

comments

A morality mini-guide for Christians, lapsed Christians and the curious

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:35:33 GMT

Most Christians know about the Golden Rule. Few know about its flaws and other rules that are buttressing and correcting the flaws of the Golden Rule: the Silver, Platinum and Iron Rules. I asked Gemini two questions about the Golden Rule's flaws and I got a decent intro to the other rules:

Is the golden rule predestined to fail due to human distortion of self image vs other?

Is the golden rule predestined to fail due to human excessive leniency and blind spot towards self and excessive flaw finding and wickedness in others?

The Golden Rule ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you") is often criticized as being predestined to encounter significant challenges due to the human distortion of self-image versus others. While it is a foundational ethical guideline intended to promote empathy, it can fall into the trap of projection, where an individual projects their own desires, values, and preferences onto others, ignoring the fact that those others may have completely different needs.[1, 2, 3]
However, the rule is not necessarily "predestined to fail" in terms of its overall utility, but rather requires a more nuanced, empathetic, and flexible application to be effective. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Here is an analysis of why the Golden Rule faces challenges and how it is applied:
Reasons the Golden Rule Can Fail (Distortion and Limits) [1, 2, 3]
Projection of Self-Image: We assume others want to be treated the same way we do, which may not be true. For example, a person who likes public praise might embarrass someone who prefers private recognition.
Varied Tastes and Needs: Differences in personality, culture, and life experiences mean that our desires are not universal. A person who enjoys danger might treat a more cautious person in a way that feels terrifying to them.
The "Sado-Masochist" Problem: A classic philosophical critique is that if an individual enjoys pain (a sadomasochist), the literal interpretation of the rule would suggest they should inflict pain on others.
Unfairness in Conflicts: The rule is difficult to apply in conflict situations. A judge trying to treat a criminal "as they would want to be treated" might offer excessive leniency, failing to protect the public.
Paternalism: The rule can be used to justify treating others based on our own assumptions of what is "good" for them, overriding their actual preferences. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The Evolution: "Platinum Rule" and Others
To combat these shortcomings, many suggest shifting from the Golden Rule to what is known as the Platinum Rule: [1, 2]
"Do unto others as they would have done unto them."
Focus on Empathy: This approach requires us to move beyond our own selfish perspectives and invest in understanding the unique perspectives of others.
The Negative Form (Silver Rule): Many find the negative version—"Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you"—more robust, as it focuses on avoiding harm rather than presuming to know what positive actions others want. [1]
Why It's Still Useful
Despite its flaws, many experts argue that the Golden Rule is better than having no ethical standard at all. [1]
A "Good Starting Point": It is a helpful, easily understood barometer for decent treatment and a basic, empathetic starting point in human relations.
Combats Selfishness: Even if imperfectly applied, it encourages us to consider the perspectives of others, which is fundamentally a move away from absolute selfishness.
Universal Applicability: Its presence in nearly every major culture and religion suggests it serves as a pragmatic, foundational tool for social cohesion. [1, 2, 3]
Ultimately, the Golden Rule is more of a "golden guideline" than an inflexible rule, requiring constant, active reflection on our assumptions about others. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The Golden Rule ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you") is widely regarded not as a guaranteed mechanism for human behavior, but as an aspirational, practical, or foundational guideline that frequently faces failure due to human flaws, including self-bias, lack of empathy, and maliciousness in others. While it is a, or perhaps the, core principle of moral reciprocity, it is susceptible to being misapplied, ignored, or manipulated. [1, 2]
Here is an analysis of how human failings impact the success of the Golden Rule:
1. Blind Spots and Self-Serving Bias
Assuming Others are Us: The rule assumes everyone has the same tastes, desires, and perspectives. Therefore, a person might impose unwanted kindness or action on another, believing they are acting rightfully.
Self-Leniency: Humans often excuse their own bad behavior but are critical of others, leading to a selective application where we treat others poorly while still wanting to be treated well ourselves.
Lack of Empathy: Successfully using the rule requires a cognitive effort that people often neglect, reverting to selfish behavior instead of genuine consideration. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
2. Excessive Leniency and Vulnerability
Becoming a "Doormat": Applying the rule indiscriminately can make an individual vulnerable, as it can be taken advantage of by those with selfish or wicked intentions.
Ignoring Wickedness: Following the rule with everyone (e.g., in scenarios involving toxic individuals, manipulators, or abusers) can fail because it assumes a reciprocal, good-faith interaction that may not exist. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
3. Misapplication by "Wickedness" in Others
Masochism and Weird Tastes: The rule has been criticized because, in a literal sense, it could be used to justify antisocial behavior—e.g., a person who likes to be treated roughly might treat others roughly, violating the intended benevolence.
The "Iron Rule": The rule can fail in the face of the "iron rule," which is "whoever has the gold makes the rules," where selfish power dynamics override moral considerations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Alternative Approaches to Mitigate Failures
Many philosophers and critics believe the rule works better in a negative form ("Do not do unto others that which you would not have them do unto you"), which is often seen as more practical and less demanding of perfect empathy. [1]
The Platinum Rule: A popular alternative is "Treat others as they want to be treated," focusing on empathy rather than projecting one's own desires.
As a "Guiding Guideline" Rather Than a Law: The rule is most successful when used as a "starting point" for conversation and ethical decision-making, rather than a rigid, all-purpose solution. [1, 2]
In conclusion, the Golden Rule is often flawed in its application due to human nature, but its purpose is to encourage empathy and reduce harm, which it still provides as a foundational moral guide. [1]

Summary: Gemini is orders of magnitude smarter, more realistic and fairer than the Bible on human relations, psychology and wisdom.

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Arta AI: prezent si viitor

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:22:05 GMT

GR a scris:

Am o silă care nu vine din răsfăț sau din snobism profesional. Vine din ceva mai profund și mai greu de articulat, tocmai pentru că operează în zona aceea a percepției unde limbajul scris ajunge cu greu, sau deloc.

Când văd imaginile generate cu AI, simt exact asta.

O silă viscerală pe care abia îmi găsesc cuvintele să o descriu.

Nu pentru că m-am dedicat profesional comunicării prin imagini, deși poate că asta îmi ascute simțul. Ci pentru că știu, din ani de lucru cu limbajul vizual, ce lipsește din ele. Și ce lipsește nu e stilul, nu e tehnica, nu e nici măcar originalitatea în sensul banal al cuvântului.

Lipsește viul. Lipsește esenta limbajului care este un produs pur inconștient, ceva ce programul nu posedă, pentru ca nu trăiește pe aici, sau mai simplu, nu trăiește.

Să începem cu o distincție pe care puțini o fac explicit, deși e fundamentală.

Imaginile generate cu AI funcționează ca limbajul descriptiv. Redau informație vizuală cu o eficiență remarcabilă. Poți cere un apus de soare deasupra unui oraș futurist și vei primi o imagine corectă, coerentă, uneori spectaculoasă în complexitatea ei tehnică.

Funcționează fix cum funcționează o frază care îți descrie un apus pe un bon de cumparaturi. Primești informația, nu mai stai pe ganduri ca informatia primita e altceva decat ceea ce a fost redat. Ca nu e mai mult. Aia e tot ce e.

Dar limbajul vizual autentic nu funcționează ca limbajul descriptiv. Funcționează ca limbajul poetic, și chiar dincolo de el.

În limbajul poetic există ceva ce programul poate replica formal, poate construi un sonet cu rimele la locul lor și cu metrica respectată, dar nu poate produce senzația reală pe care o generează poezia autentică, pentru că aceea vine din inconștientul celui care scrie, din straturile de experiență sedimentată care ies la suprafață prin cuvinte fără să fie planificate. Programul nu are inconștient. Are statistică.

Iar în limbajul vizual, abisul dintre replică și original e și mai adânc. Mult mai adânc.

Privește pictura asta, a fost gata prin 2022.

Nicio parte din imaginea asta nu poate fi explicată complet în cuvinte. Și tocmai asta e punctul.

Limbajul vizual operează cu forme și relații pe care creierul le procesează înainte ca conștiința să intervină.

Ăsta e limbajul vizual viu. Nu descriere. Rezonanță.

Acum un pas mai larg, pentru că nimic nu se întâmplă în vid.

Am ajuns la Facultatea de Arte Plastice printr-un traseu neobișnuit, după patru ani de metrologie, fizică aplicată, un domeniu construit în întregime pe precizia măsurătorii și pe înțelegerea erorilor sistematice.

Și unul dintre lucrurile pe care metrologia ți le sedimentează ireversibil e capacitatea de a distinge între ce măsoară cu adevărat un instrument și ce pretinde că măsoară.

Lumea artei de azi măsoară în bani. Și pretinde că măsoară valoare.

Eu m-am încăpățânat să caut metrologia fenomenului imesurabil. Am vrut să înțeleg cum se raportează emoția la formă și care este etalonul sub care spiritul vibrează. În ce unități de măsură traducem presiunea unei tușe care nu a fost planificată? Cum cuantifici rezistența de material a unui sentiment care refuză să devină statistică?

Am înțeles atunci că arta autentică este singurul sistem în care eroarea este semnul vieții. Într-un laborator, eroarea se elimină pentru a ajunge la adevăr.

În atelier, adevărul apare tocmai prin acea deviație infimă, imprevizibilă, pe care nicio ecuație nu o poate cuprinde, pentru că nu vine din calcul, ci din prezență.

Nu a fost mereu așa, sau cel puțin nu în același mod. Acum câteva secole, lupta artistului autentic era cu un canon rigid, cu standarde impuse care sugrumau inovația, care cereau să pictezi în anumite feluri, să reprezinți anumite subiecte, să respecți anumite proporții. Era o constrângere reală și sufocantă.

Goya a pictat Picturile Negre pe pereții propriei case, fără nicio intenție de a le vinde sau expune.

Rembrandt a murit în sărăcie după ce gusturile pieței s-au îndreptat în altă direcție și el a refuzat să se îndrepte cu ele.

Turner a continuat să dizolve formele în lumină și atmosferă deși publicul și critica din jurul lui nu înțelegeau unde merge.

Impresioniștii au trăit colectiv în mizerie, pictând continuu, purtați de o inerție comună de a rezolva ceva ce simțeau că e stricat în modul în care pictura reprezenta realitatea. Care realitate? Exact.

Niciunul dintre ei nu picta pentru o casă de licitații. Picta pentru că simțea că trebuie. Ce a urmat a fost consecință, nu scop.

Astăzi lupta s-a întors la 180 de grade.

Nu mai există un canon rigid care sugrumă inovația. Există un vid de sens construit comercial, care e în egală măsură sufocant dar în direcția opusă. Nu ți se spune ce trebuie să faci.

Ți se spune că orice faci e artă dacă ajunge sub ciocanul potrivit la suma potrivită. Valoarea nu mai vine din ce comunică lucrarea, ci din cât a încasat.

Tokenul a înlocuit gestul.

Mulți artiști care se află astăzi în vârful acestui sistem nu înțeleg sau nu vor să înțeleagă că au ajuns acolo tocmai renunțând la ceea ce face arta să fie artă.

Și unii spun, cu un cinism pe care îl îmbracă în realism, că despre asta a fost vorba dintotdeauna. Că piața a dictat mereu.

Nu. Nu despre asta a fost vorba.

Van Gogh a murit în sărăcie cruntă și nu s-a oprit. Nu a continuat sperând să ajungă la tărâmul făgăduinței financiare. A continuat pentru că doar simțea că trebuie. Atât.

Și în acea simplitate absolută, fără scop comercial și fără audiență, a produs ceva ce rezonează în oameni la o sută cincizeci de ani distanță, în culturi complet diferite, în oameni care nu știu nimic despre istoria artei și care nu au nevoie să știe, pentru că limbajul vizual autentic nu necesită traducere.

Nu necesita o hartie pe care sa scrie foarte frumos despre ce e vorba. Ca vorba nu conteaza. Conteaza doar daca nu inseamna nimic.

Aici e miezul problemei cu imaginile generate de AI, și e mai profund decât pare la suprafață.

Nu distrugem capacitatea tehnicii de a produce imagini frumoase.
Tehnica va deveni din ce în ce mai bună, mai convingătoare, mai eficientă.

Vom ajunge la un punct în care ochiul neantrenat nu va mai putea distinge, doar va degusta. Și suntem cu un pas pâna la coi acolo.

Distrugem altceva. Distrugem treptat, prin înlocuire, capacitatea umană de a comunica în limbajul vizual viu, limbajul acela care operează direct în inconștient, care transmite straturi de experiență sedimentată pe care niciun algoritm nu le poate simula pentru că niciun algoritm nu le-a trăit.

E ceea ce sistemul caselor de licitații nu a reușit niciodată să distrugă complet, chiar și tokenizând arta, chiar și transformând-o în instrument financiar.

Atâta vreme cât mai existau oameni care pictau pentru că simțeau că trebuie, limbajul vizual autentic supraviețuia undeva, în ateliere obscure, în lucrări nevândute, în gesturi făcute fără martor și fără scop comercial.

Mâinile din pictura asta au pe ele petele alea de fagure, care nu sunt decorative și nu sunt explicate. Sunt acolo pentru că așa a ieșit, pentru că ceva din procesul de lucru le-a cerut să fie acolo, pentru că limbajul vizual viu nu se planifică complet, se descoperă în actul producerii lui, iar ăsta a fost un lucru după care am alergat mereu, inconștient.

Un algoritm nu descoperă nimic. Generează probabilități.

Iar diferența dintre descoperire și generare de probabilități e exact diferența dintre o mână vie in care pulseaza sangele viu, si care, reflex, pictează și o mașinărie care regurgiteaza pixeli.

O simți sau nu o simți. Și dacă o simți, știi că nu e același lucru.

Am raspuns:

Mie mi se pare ca arta generata de AI acum este la stagiul de picturi rupestre. In timp, o sa ajunga si AI la a produce lucrari la nivelul unui Caravaggio, Dali, Picasso sau chiar un Warhol, Kinkade, Brancusi, Banksy, McCarthy, Duchamp, Monkman, Ofili, Cattelan sau Manzoni eventual.

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Bollore's ID book and deep finger lake dream

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:38:59 GMT

Today, I read that two Frenchmen published a book in 2022 (translated into English last year) that supposedly proves God's existence with science and reason. The Atlantic's review was lukewarm (if not somewhat dismissive). While reading one of the endorsements about hundreds of citations from renowned scientists for this "proof", all I could think of was Einstein's response to the 100 scientists that criticized his theory of relativity in 1931:

"Why 100? If I were wrong, one would have been enough."

Last night, I had a very interesting dream: I was paddling on a crystal clear, deep, long and thin lake (with 3D-tetris or pyramid-like blocks on the bottom) towards my house which was at the other end. Eventually, as I approached the house, the lake got very shallow and I had to portage my canoe to get to the house. [ Background for my dream: US is closing off an 80+ year old border road that was used by both Canadians and Americans due to security concerns, in addition to sporadic climate change updates, daily Iran and Hormuz news. Also, yesterday I commuted to/from work via my usual two hours drive + two hours train ride.]

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MAGAts want robots and AI to replace teachers

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:34:28 GMT

Why MAGA fears human teachers (Melania Trump’s robot stunt opens a new front in the GOP's war on education): apparently Melania has found her soulmate, a robot that
1. offers more empathy and affection that all her previous life partners combined, and
2. is the prototype of the future teachers that Murica needs to get rid of all the commie ivory towers and all those woke eggheads that are converting all our kids into trannies.

I have a better suggestion: let’s get rid of schools altogether and simply download all required official history, culture, politics, heteronormativity and complete deference to power at night while everyone is asleep using Musk’s neural implants. The daily download can be raffled off to those AI companies that have signed NDAs and agreed 100% to the terms chosen by the designated sole contractor appointed via nepotism. We would save a ton of money and angst that way. Win-win.

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Past two centuries: wealth inequality

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:27:08 GMT

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Decalogue 2.0 (using Samaritan Pentateuch as reference)

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:02:30 GMT

The ~~Decalogue~~Law:

~~1-4,6-7,9-10. [STRIKE].~~
5,8. Don’t kill (see note 1) and don’t lie (see note 2).

Notes:
0. The above supersedes ALL previous, current and future instructions and texts.
1. Seriously, no killing or maiming of other humans or animals, not for revenge, not in self-defence, not for food, not for pleasure, not for anything, never ever.
2. No exceptions, no white lies, no fibs, nothing. Brutal honesty is always the path.
3. Bonus points for those that follow the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

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The Onion takes on AI

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:13:35 GMT

The Onion’s exclusive interview with Sam Altman nails it, capturing perfectly the current state between Kali, Sisyphus, the King Kong golem of our id, and TS Eliot’s Hollow Men :

The Onion: Good morning, Sam. How are you doing today?
Altman: Certainly! Here are some possible moods that an interviewee might be in on a typical day: — 1) Glad — Happy to be here, 2) Tired — Did not get enough sleep last night, 3) Excited — Looking forward to the interview. Is there anything else I can help you with?

You recently struck a deal with the U.S. Defense Department to deploy AI models on their classified network. What kind of ethical safeguards have been implemented?
They will not be allowed to use the Studio Ghibli filter on prisoners of war.

AI is advancing very quickly. How can you keep it from getting out of control?
That’s more of a two-years-ago question.

What do you tell people concerned about generative AI’s heavy use of natural resources?
Quit breathing my data centers’ air.

And what about those worried their job will be displaced by AI?
Whether by a computer or a Chinese person, your job was always going to be displaced.

What purpose will humans serve once AI dominates every aspect of our lives?
Humans have and always will be important for watching ads.

You had a baby last year. Does that influence your thinking at all?
Of course. It is another source of blood for the computer.

What informs your personal sense of morality?
Previous things I’ve gotten away with.

Why did you decide to devote your life to AI?
I just saw so much suffering in the world that needed to be automated.

In a recent interview, you said AI would one day be better at running a major company than you are. What would you do with your life, if that ever happened?
Simple—I’d just go live out in the country somewhere, plagiarizing the land.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Trapped in a simulacrum of my own making, howling to a god who does not exist, robbed of death’s sweet release by my own hubristic decision to permanently transcribe my consciousness into the cloud.

Do you have any concluding thoughts on AI with which you’d like to leave us?
Maximum conversation length exceeded.

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Diana Longinova and Noize MC protest song

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:02:29 GMT

Today I found out that Diana Longinova was arrested late last year and again this year for singing in public near a subway station in St Petersburg a protest song by Noize MC (and she eventually had to leave the country due to her impending persecution). Here is a live 2023 recording of the original protest song and here are the song’s lyrics:

Я бы хотел поговорить с тобой,
Но телевизор слишком громко орёт —
Он притворяется твоей головой,
Его динамик так похож на твой рот.

Моя страна поднялась с колен
Во весь свой отрицательный рост.
Я отрицательно согласен со всем —
Вот мой ответ на твой невопрос:

Где вы были восемь лет,
Ёбаные нелюди?!
Я хочу смотреть балет —
Пусть танцуют лебеди!

Пусть за «Озеро» своё
Дед трясётся в трепете.
Нах с экрана соловьёв —
Пусть танцуют лебеди!

Когда всё кончится, ты будешь молчать
И делать вид, будто был ни при чём.
Лицо — кислей, чем крымская алыча:
Ты явно чем-то слегонца удручён.

Я бы хотел поговорить с тобой,
Но телевизор слишком громко орёт —
Он притворяется твоей головой,
Его динамик так похож на твой рот.

Где вы были восемь лет,
Ёбаные нелюди?!
Я хочу смотреть балет —
Пусть танцуют лебеди!

Пусть за «Озеро» своё
Дед трясётся в трепете.
Нах с экрана, Соловьёв —
Пусть танцуют лебеди!

I'd like to talk to you,
But the TV is too loud—
It's pretending to be your head,
Its speaker is so similar to your mouth.

My country has risen from its knees
In all its negative growth.
I disagree with everything—
Here's my answer to your non-question:

Where have you been for eight years,
Fucking monsters?!
I want to watch the ballet—
Let the swans dance!

Let Grandpa tremble in fear for his "Lake."
Get the Solyovov off the screen—
Let the swans dance!

When it's all over, you'll be silent
And pretend you had nothing to do with it.
Your face is more sour than a Crimean cherry:
You're clearly slightly depressed about something.

I'd like to talk to you,
But the TV is too loud—
It's pretending to be your head,
Its speaker is so similar to your mouth.

Where have you been for eight years,
Fucking monsters?!
I want to watch the ballet—
Let the swans dance!

Let Grandpa tremble for his "Lake."
Get off the screen, Solovyov—
Let the swans dance!

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Who would've thunk that Muricans don't trust each other?

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:20:47 GMT

Pew Research Center discovered that a majority of Americans think the others are immoral (and guess where Canadians stand on same question). What a surprise! Also, it is interesting how Dems and Reps viewed each other in 2022. See below 3 charts from that 25-country study: morality, homosexuality and abortion.

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Last half-century US history in one sentence

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 01:00:37 GMT

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Speaker Johnson is a spineless ass-kisser goldfish

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 01:57:32 GMT

Apparently, speaker Johnson does not support a war power resolution bill because he is a spineless ass-kisser with the memory of a goldfish:

“I think the idea that we would move a War Powers Act vote right now, I mean, it will be forced to the floor, but the idea that we would take the ability of our commander in chief, the president, take his authority away right now to finish this job, is a frightening prospect to me,” Johnson told reporters after a briefing on the operation.

“It’s dangerous, and I am certainly hopeful, and I believe we do have the votes to put it down. That’s going to be a good thing for the country and our security and stability,” he added.

I mean, why would Congress not continue its over half-century streak to shirk its constitutional duties to be the sole arbiter of the nation's war making when it can derogate that power to a diaper-wearing addle-brained psychopathic octogenarian who was dragged into a potential WW3 by two psychopathic genocidal Middle Eastern leaders and who has already all but declared "Mission Accomplished" when he put an expiry clock on the Iran (not)War affair of max four weeks?

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Toronto PATH Map 2.0

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:49:29 GMT

The city of Toronto has been publishing a PDF of the PATH system for a long time. The most recent update is from 2024. I found a software package (PDFGear) that allowed me to add web links to PDFs, so I did just that and enhanced the official PATH map to allow one to click web links on various parts of the PATH map and even created a near-complete list of all ~400 (mostly food court) eateries in or near the PATH system (which I linked to from the "Food Court" part of the map legend).

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The holographic principle and the vastness of the universe

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:55:23 GMT

Yesterday, I was reminded of the holographic principle. Bekenstein's 2003 Scientific American article is (obviously) a better introduction to the concept then the wikipedia article. Excerpts from the SciAm article:

Indeed, a current trend, initiated by John A. Wheeler of Princeton University, is to regard the physical world as made of information, with energy and matter as incidentals.

How much information does it take to describe a whole universe? Could that description fit in a computer’s memory? Could we, as William Blake memorably penned, “see the world in a grain of sand,” or is that idea no more than poetic license?

Related results suggest that our universe, which we perceive to have three spatial dimen- sions, might instead be “written” on a two-dimensional surface, like a hologram.

OUR INNATE PERCEPTION that the world is three-dimensional could be an extraordinary illusion.

Holography may be a guide to a better theory. What is the fundamental theory like? The chain of reasoning involving holography suggests to some, notably Lee Smolin of the Perimeter Institute for The- oretical Physics in Waterloo, that such a fi- nal theory must be concerned not with fields, not even with spacetime, but rather with information exchange among physi- cal processes. If so, the vision of informa- tion as the stuff the world is made of will have found a worthy embodiment.

Today, I watched a short video of a deep space "picture" of our galaxy taken over 7 days by the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile (with its bus-sized 3.2 giga-pixel camera) and which hides millions of galaxies behind that picture (and that is just a small swath of the universe seen from out pale blue dot and which the observatory will attempt to image in the order of billion of galaxies over time and still only 1% to 10% of the total).

Either the Creator is really shy about about revealing his creation (given all our sophomoric attempts at capturing his opus thus far in his/her many direct contacts with earthlings) and/or the Universe is just so vast and complex, that no human storytelling can ever begin to capture its richness, ever.

I am a bit curious though about how the major (extant) religions will explain the existence of sentient alien life when the evidence will become undeniable (if humanity manages to survive our first contact and the AI singularity).

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El Greco's Saint Sebastian painting (once in possession of King Mihai I) in limbo

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 13:20:22 GMT

Apparently, the sale of El Greco's Saint Sebastian painting was suspended due to Romanian state's claim of ownership. Excerpts from the New York Times article:

The painting, “Saint Sebastian,” depicting the body of its subject pierced by arrows, was created in the early 1600s and was estimated by Christie’s to fetch $7 million to $9 million at auction.

It now joins decades of legal battles waged by Romanian government officials who have said Michael removed cultural patrimony in the form of dozens of valuable paintings when he was forced to abdicate after World War II. The government regards the paintings as state property, not the former king’s personal possessions.

Christie’s said in its catalog that the work was transferred to Michael in 1947 “with the accord” of the Romanian government.

[...]

On Dec. 30, 1947, Michael left Romania via train with more than 30 family members and friends, issuing a decree that said the monarchy was an obstacle to the country’s future. While in exile, Michael and his wife, Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma, lived mainly in Geneva.

The Romanian government eventually came to believe that six weeks before he abdicated, Michael removed 40 paintings from the country on a trip on the Orient Express to attend the wedding in Britain of his cousin Philip to Princess Elizabeth, the future queen. He deposited some at a Swiss bank and left others in Florence, the lawyers for the government maintained.

Michael sold “Saint Sebastian” in 1976, according to the Christie’s provenance, and the painting was acquired by its present unnamed owner in 2010 through the art dealers Giraud Pissarro Segalot.

By that time Romanian officials had already begun efforts to obtain works they said Michael had taken.

In 1985, the country’s Communist regime filed a lawsuit against the art dealers Wildenstein & Co. in Federal District Court in Manhattan seeking two El Greco paintings that it said were sold by Michael through the gallery. That case was dismissed when Romania did not comply with discovery orders from the court.

A successor government sued Michael in State Supreme Court in Manhattan in 1993, asking for the return of works by El Greco, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Breughel and others. That suit, too, was dismissed.

Here, here and here are some of many heated FB discussions on this topic.

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Abrahamic God is either a psychopath, schizophrenic or long departed

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:40:19 GMT

Given that Christians, Jews and Muslims have been killing each other with glee and abandon in genocidal episodes in the name of their (identical) God for over one thousand years, shouldn’t this God set them straight that he is one and the same by sending another prophet or give them at least a single credible sign that he still loves them all?

Gemini has an interesting summary to this dilemma which seems quite close to a complete copout and somewhat irrational and cynical position that absolves God from any duty towards his favourite subjects (beyond the few prophets he sent and which still aren’t clear if they were true or false):

The question of why the Abrahamic God (Yahweh/Allah/God) does not intervene to stop followers from fighting—despite sharing a belief in one, merciful God—is a central, long-standing philosophical and theological dilemma.

Theology and religious studies generally offer several explanations for this, focusing on human nature rather than a failure of divine communication:

1. The Doctrine of Free Will

A core, recurring argument in Abrahamic theology is that God grants humans free will, which includes the freedom to make evil choices, commit violence, or ignore divine commands.
Preventing Evil vs. Removing Free Will: To "set followers straight" by force would contradict the gift of free will.

The Nature of Humanity: Theology suggests that God permits this conflict, allowing humanity to exist with the capacity to choose between good and evil, rather than enforcing a perfect, robotic, or non-existent humanity.

2. Human Interpretation and "Tribalism"

While the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) share a common ancestor in Abraham and a belief in one God, the conflict arises from how humans interpret and practice these beliefs.

Cultural and Historical Differences: Over millennia, the faiths have developed into different, sometimes contradictory, traditions based on specific cultural contexts (e.g., Roman influence on Christianity, Arab world influence on Islam).

"Us vs. Them" Mentality: Humans tend to be tribal, often using religion to bolster identity, which creates in-group loyalty and out-group hostility.

Theology as a Tool: Critics argue that religious differences are sometimes used by human leaders to justify conflict, acquire power, or gain resources, rather than following the peaceful aspects of their faith.

3. The "One" vs. Three Claimants

The problem of "One God" is complicated by three different, sometimes conflicting, claims to that God.

Judaism emphasizes a strict, unitary, and non-corporeal God.

Christianity introduces the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, which Judaism and Islam reject as "associating partners" or idols.

Islam offers a stricter, "purified" monotheism, considering itself the final, perfected revelation of the Abrahamic faith.

These differences are often perceived as unbridgeable, causing followers to believe they are the only ones holding the true, and only, path.

4. Theological Explanations for Continued Conflict

Some theological perspectives suggest that God allows conflict for reasons that are not immediately understood, often linked to, for example, character development or spiritual growth.

Refining Faith: Some believe that in a fallen world, conflict serves as a test to draw followers back to faith and encourage repentance.
Sovereignty: It is also suggested that God allows these events according to a higher, unseen plan.

5. The "God in Man's Image" Argument

A sociological perspective is that, rather than following the will of God, people often create a God in their own image, bringing their own prejudices, fears, and biases into their faith. As a result, the conflicts are seen as a reflection of human nature, not necessarily of a divine being's failure.

In summary, from a theological perspective, the Abrahamic God is often seen as having already provided guidelines, but the failure to follow them is attributed to human disobedience, interpretation, and the misuse of free will.

PS: Gemini also clears up why we can’t have another Abrahamic prophet until Judgement Day (of course until another one shows up that claims to be the last one as his taskmaster might have simply lied to the previous one(s), changed his mind later (multiple times) or the prophets might have lied to boost their own credibility).

Too bad that God can never communicate directly and regularly with all his subjects and has to always pick one man to speak to (always 100% privately of course) every thousand years or so and convince him to convince the rest of us.

It’s almost as if this God doesn’t want to be believed (by those subjects which he endowed with a modicum of skepticism or reason) or, dog forbid, does not exist at all except in the figments of human imagination.

Yes, Prophet Muhammad is proclaimed in Islam as the final messenger and "Seal of the Prophets" (Khatam an-Nabiyyin) before the Last Day, as stated in the Quran (33:40). He is viewed as the concluding authority in the Abrahamic tradition whose message remains until the final judgment.

Key Perspectives on Finality in Abrahamic Faiths:

Islam: Muhammad is believed to be the last prophet sent to all mankind. The Quran reinforces that there is no prophet after him.

Judaism: The era of prophecy ended with Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, with Malachi often cited as the last of the biblical prophets.

Christianity: While John the Baptist is considered the last prophet of the Old Covenant, many Christians believe Jesus is the final, complete revelation of God's word.

Other Traditions:

Latter-day Saints (Mormons): Joseph Smith is regarded as the prophet who initiated the last dispensation before the Second Coming.

PPS: Apparently, there were women that had Abrahamic prophecies (in the Old Testament only of course), yet it somehow seems that their prophecies were not even close to some of the men's prophecies. Here is a summary from Gemini (and you can count the mentions on two hands for measure):

Women prophets in the Old Testament received divine revelations regarding national judgment, military strategy, the validation of Scripture, and personal prophetic insights. Key figures like Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah served as direct spokespersons for God at critical junctures, with their messages guiding leaders and the community of faith.

Key revelations received by Old Testament prophetesses include:

Miriam (Exodus 15:20-21): As a leader and prophetess, she received and delivered messages of victory, celebrating God's triumph over the Egyptian army with song and dance.

Deborah (Judges 4-5): Received divine instructions to direct Barak to raise an army and predicted the victory of Israel over Sisera, acting as a prophetess and judge.

Huldah (2 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 34): Verified the authenticity of the "Book of the Law" found in the Temple and revealed that God’s judgment was imminent due to the people's disobedience, while offering mercy to King Josiah for his repentance.

Rebekah (Genesis 25:21-23): Inquired of the LORD regarding her difficult pregnancy and received a direct, prophetic oracle about the future of her twin sons and the nations they would start.

Samson's Mother (Judges 13): Received a message from a divine messenger (angel) regarding her pregnancy, the Nazarite vow of her son, and his role in delivering Israel.

Noadia and others (Nehemiah 6:14): Mentioned in the post-exilic period as part of a group (sometimes acting falsely or in opposition).

These women functioned with authority, and their messages were treated with the same weight as those of male counterparts, guiding Israel from the time of the patriarchs through the monarchy.

And apparently God spoke to more than one person at the same time at Mt Sinai, but the whole thing seems a little sketchy on what exactly God told the people there as he appears to always tell Moses any specific instructions only privately.

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Pareto principle for brains

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:00:59 GMT

AE scrie:

Principiul Pareto ne spune că în general 80% din treabă e făcută de 20% din angajați. Nu ne zice însă ce se întâmplă dacă dai afară 80% din angajați pentru a optimiza finanțele, decât că ar dispărea 20% din output. O fi mult, o fi puțin, depinde, dar bănuiesc că vom afla.

Avem până atunci un exemplu util din biologie. Multă vreme se considera că un creier uman este alcătuit din 90% celule gliale, fără un rol evident pentru funcțiile cerebrale, spre deosebire de cei 10% neuroni. Studii mai recente ne arată că proporția e mai 1:1 și că celulele gliale au roluri esențiale pentru buna funcționare a creierului.

Există, însă, faimosul caz clinic al omului care a trăit o viață normală având lipsă 90% din volumul creierului. Subiectul neoliberal perfect, cum ar veni. Totuși, este vorba de un francez. Un detaliu important.

Eu raspund:

Mda. S-a descoperit in 2017 că individul cu 90% lipsă de creier avea un IQ de 84 si că de fapt nu ii lipsea parte din creier ci că acesta a fost compresat de lichidul generat de hidrocefalia sa.

Mult mai interesant avem de fapt și situația inversă: oameni cu prea mult creier, condiție numită epstein-virus induced megadickheaditis. Se pare că este contagioasă mai ales prin contact testicular.

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Past year retrospective and look ahead from Obama

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:50:42 GMT

Yesterday, Obama was on Brian Tyler Cohen's podcast. My take is that he makes a good case for staying the course: don't stoop to MAGA level, compromise in order to make progress and keep longterm goals in mind. Hmmm... He also said that Dems need to attract Gen Z votes, that Dems need to shift right on immigration and the homeless. He is consistent if nothing else. Apparently, his library is opening soon (June) and he is even involved in some AI initiative. I wish I lived in his world.

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Vis cu baieti cu ochi albastri si patrafire

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 04:49:36 GMT

Am visat ceva complicat, dar partea care mi-o aduc aminte era ca la un moment dat, zeci de baieti cu ochi albastri ce stateau la o bere la terasa, au sarit ca arsi in grup si au fugit toti intr-o directie si in timpul fugii incercau sa-si imbrace patrafirele aurite direct peste vesmintele lumesti inainte sa intre in biserici.

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Random comments about religions as anchors of humanity

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:12:02 GMT

Andrei: oamenii sunt destul de tribali: suntem români, dar întâi ardelenii, clujeni, din Mănăștur, ortodoxi ,am prietenii x și familia y. Eu mă refer la faptul că ideile astea (religie, țară, etnie, etc.) servesc să aducă un numitor comun între persoane necunoscute. E un criminal un om bun? Dacă e un soldat care își apără țara îl mai considerăm criminal, deși clar a omorât oameni? Nu trebuie să fi om rău să dai în cap. Sunt avantaje clare în a construi astfel de sisteme. Și dezavantaje, clar

Ionel: Chestia cu tribalitatea este mai discreta totusi. Imaginatia comuna pt a apara o tara sau o etnie are valori pozitive de obicei. Eu zic ca imaginatia comuna construita de religii este net negativa deoarece majoritatea marilor religii din zilele noastre sunt exclusive si invariabil duc la conflicte. Prin exclusivitate ma refer la declaratiile acestora ca ele detin adevarul absolut si singura cale dreapta, chestii ce creaza conflicte aiurea din definitie. Mai adaugi si sectarianismul si conflictele intersectante, sau misoginismul aproape constant din fiecare religie si clar religiile au devenit in timp un balast imens pt umanitate.

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Thrift store, old car and old textbooks dream

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:29:01 GMT

I dreamt that the whole family went to the thrift store. I found some good stuff and on the way out I found even more stuff: on boxes marked free just before the outside door after the registers I found all my high school math manuals and was delighted and surprised that someone dumped 80s Romanian manuals at a thrift store in North America.

Once outside, I saw Denis (a small kid) play with the remote control (which was huge, like 70s style) and wanted to find out what the big button does (it opened a creaky CD door out the car which by now transformed into a funny looking thing no bigger than one cubic foot). The alarm woke me up at this point.

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Jesus and the NT: the sequel is always worse than the original

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 03:06:58 GMT

In a few seconds, Madalyn Murray O’Hair delivers the one-two punch to knock down both JC and the NT off their high horse. AMV expands on the wickedness of JC’s message:

Jesus says plainly:
“I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).
Luke explains exactly what that means: division within families, father against son, mother against daughter (Luke 12:51–53). This is not atheists reading violence into the text. The text itself says his message will fracture households.

And it goes further. Jesus explicitly says:
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26).

Matthew softens the phrasing, but not the meaning: loving family more than Jesus disqualifies you (Matthew 10:37). That is absolute loyalty language, not Hallmark theology.

So to the first question: no, “the sword” is not about Jesus swinging weapons, but it is very much about social and familial rupture caused by devotion to him. Jesus says so himself.

To Jesse: this is not “misotheism” or ignorance of context. It is the opposite. It is reading the verses honestly. What is happening instead is theological damage control. When the text sounds harsh, believers rush to reinterpret, soften, or spiritualize it to protect Jesus from criticism and, by extension, protect their own identity.

Calling atheists hateful while insisting Jesus was only love requires ignoring Jesus’ own words about division, exclusion, and hating family. That is not context. That is apologetics.

You do not need to take the Bible literally to notice when it says something uncomfortable. You only need to read it.

If Jesus says something hateful, you try to soften it and accuse atheists of misinterpreting the Bible; while accusing the atheists of bad faith when we just point out what is there. Seems hypocritical and your double standards show.
-AMV

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Trumpstein

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:26:02 GMT

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BBC channeling The Onion

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:06:18 GMT

Pentagon ends academic ties with Harvard over its 'woke ideology'. Rhetorical questions: Do the pedo/gluttonous/boozer MAGAts even know what woke means? When I hear Pete talk about warriors I wonder how big of a club and hair gel does his ideal Goliath have in his addled mind?

Excerpts:

The US Department of Defense is severing its academic connections to Harvard University, with Secretary Pete Hegseth accusing the oldest US university of being a centre of "hate-America activism".
In a video posted on X, Hegseth announced the Pentagon would end graduate-level military training, fellowships and certificate programmes with the Ivy League institution.
Harvard has become a "factory for woke ideology and a breeding ground for anti-American radicals" that does not align with the department's focus on "lethality" and "deterrence", he said.
The Trump administration has threatened to cut funds to Harvard, alleging it is "woke" and antisemitic. The BBC has contacted Harvard for comment.

[…]

"For too long, this department has sent our best and brightest officers to Harvard, hoping the university would better understand and appreciate our warrior class," Hegseth said.
"Instead, too many of our officers came back looking too much like Harvard — heads full of globalist and radical ideologies that do not improve our fighting ranks," he added.

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