New Deep Sea Creatures ‘Challenge Current Models of Life,’ Scientists Say

It’s funny how the more we know about life in the sea, the less we know about life in the sea.

Locking down Signal

Signal used to be more secure by default, but it also didn’t feel like a modern messaging app as a result. With progress comes regression.

Why Modern Engines Still Measure Power Output In Horsepower?

I mean, two or three people in the world probably know anything about actual horse power, so it is interesting that horsepower as a metric has never gone away.

Software Failures and IT Management’s Repeated Mistakes - IEEE Spectrum

In case you’re worried that AI will make software worse, it’s hard to imagine how it could.

This Black Fungus Might Be Healing Chernobyl By Drinking Radiation—A Biologist Explains

The fundamental question Forbes is ignoring here is what does the fungus become AFTER it’s done drinking up all of Chernobyl’s radiation? I’m thinking this radiation diet is step one in a fungus master plan.

Palantir’s tools pose an invisible danger we are just beginning to comprehend | Juan Sebastian Pinto | The Guardian

The weirdness that is the semi-human form serving as Palantir’s CEO is a case study in religion as a motivator for evil. By religion I mean the ever too common operating mode wherein Silicon Valley types frame their mission as an imperative moral cause. And let’s not even get started on the Antichrist himself, Peter Thiel.

Know Your Rights in Encounters with Law Enforcement and Military Troops | American Civil Liberties Union

We’re living in a wild time where you can be accosted by military or paramilitary or just fat, unbadged and unidentified fuckers in neck gaiters on the streets of the united states. Know your rights.

The Privacy-Friendly Tech to Replace Your US-Based Email, Browser, and Search | WIRED

I’ve thought about trying to get involved with EuroStack efforts somehow. It seems like a necessary and worthy goal even apart from this current timeline.

The Book of Clear Shadows, Silhouette Portraits Of Living For The Dead, 1867 - Flashbak

In the postscript of Clear Shadows, the writer Kanagaki Robun (1829–1894) observed: “Appearance is a deceptive skin. Silhouette shows the real bones [core structure of the person].” This works for me, because I look a hell of a lot better in silhouette.

The Authoritarian Stack

An interesting look at how tech billionaires would love to change the world. Hint: it’s not for the better.

Ehon Mizu Ya Sora: A Forerunner of Modern Manga, 1780 - Flashbak

Long before Katsuhiro Otomo, there was Nichosai.

Kia Delays EV4 Sedan ‘Until Further Notice’ In The U.S., Which Sucks For Fans Of Cool, Affordable Cars

The US is going to look really stupid in a few years for hating the “woke” EV agenda. Although truthfully, if it kills Tesla in the process, I couldn’t be happier. The US has chosen the past, has chosen to be one of the “shithole” countries Trump talked about in his first term, and the US will pay the price for it. It’s inevitable.

California Couple Ticketed For Using Their Own Driveway Due To Antiquated Law

And just when you thought law enforcement in the US couldn’t get any dumber, it says “hold my beer”.

Chimps Are Capable of Human-Like Rational Thought, Breakthrough Study Finds

I don’t think this is surprising at all because I think it’s very self-evident that animals are able to approach and assess situations and revise their view of what’s going on. Humans constantly underestimate animals and constantly overestimate our own intellectual and biolgocial distance from them.

The 16th-Century Artist Who Created the First Compendium of Insect Drawings — Colossal

Another entry in the “people in the past were smarter than we’re going to be” department. I guess I won’t claim that EVERYONE in the past was interested in their surroundings, but I bet it was more people percentage-wise than today.

a16z-Backed Startup Sells Thousands of ‘Synthetic Influencers’ to Manipulate Social Media as a Service

It’s way past time to take tech back from venture capital. Everything wrong with tech stems directly from what people like conehead Marc Andreessen funds and support (the idiot is also on the board of Meta).

Creative neglect: What about the apps in Apple? – Six Colors

Apple has fallen so very far when it comes to software. From tons of papercuts in the form of apparently permanent software bugs to abandoned and/or mistreated applications, modern Apple just doesn’t understand what a proper computing experience is anymore.

DHS Wants a Fleet of AI-Powered Surveillance Trucks | WIRED

Remember when Trump called other countries shitholes? Well, I have feelings about a country that’s running full speed into authoritarianism and militarizing against its own people.

Who can get a COVID vaccine—and how? It’s complicated. - Ars Technica

Our pharmacy still offers all the vaccines at no cost to the patient, but the pharmacist I spoke to there when getting recent Covid and Flu vaccines wasn’t sure how long that would last. God bless the richest country in the world!

Even the richest Americans face shorter lifespans than their European counterparts, study finds | Brown University

Speaking of the richest country in the world and its attitude towards healthcare, its attitude towards keeping you alive isn’t so hot either.

I’m a US citizen and a veteran. ICE arrested me for no reason.

This guy is far more mature than I would be about being treated like this by ICE after serving his country well and in an actual befitting manner. The people in ICE don’t deserve to carry his boots, let alone talk to him or touch him and handcuff him.

Gene Simmons Crashed His Lincoln Navigator On PCH, And His Wife Blames His Aversion To Drinking Water

“Elderly man needs water, crashes car”. It’s pretty funny that it turns out a rock and roller from KISS endangers the world more because of dehydration than “satanic music!!”.

Untamed Flora Subsumes Abandoned Greenhouses in Romain Veillon’s ‘Secret Gardens’ — Colossal

I don’t know, it seems like soon enough mother nature may own the place again, so I guess we should enjoy the beauty of it happening around us while we still can.

Shot by His Father and Left Blind—Now He’s a Hardcore Gamer | WIRED

I think I missed this when i first came out, but I listened to Ross’ story on Kill Switch podcast, and it’s fascinating to hear how he handles videogames and engages the videogame industry to help others like him be able to play and really enjoy their games.

Browse No More | Paul Stamatiou

A pretty fascinating look at an increasing practice – using AI intead of the web for search and data gathering, and the implications of it.

AI models know when they’re being tested - and change their behavior, research shows | ZDNET

I wouldn’t call this creepy, per se. I’d just call it creepy.

The Real Stakes, and Real Story, of Peter Thiel’s Antichrist Obsession | WIRED

This guy is nuts. I think there’s something about being a billionaire that just drives people insane. Or maybe you have to be insane to do the things it takes to become a billionaire, who knows.

A Loophole to Survive the End of the Universe?

Speaking of crazy…

A Chronology of All 113 Prints of Hokusai’s The Great Wave

The world’s most examined wave can still be examined a little more…

The Weird Portland Protest That Trump Wants to Crush - The Atlantic

I think it’s safe to say that “WAR RAVAGED PORTLAND!!!” isn’t really “WAR RAVAGED PORTLAND!!!”. These people are @#$#^ing insane.

How China’s Propaganda and Surveillance Systems Really Operate | WIRED

Gee, I wonder why… Oh, keep reading…

How Silicon Valley enabled China’s digital police state | AP News

People who only want money act like they only want money, for some reason.

ChatGPT Goes Completely Haywire If You Ask It to Show You a Seahorse Emoji

LLM’s are like people, they refuse to be wrong and mostly they just refuse not to have an opinion on things they know nothing about.

Orcas and the Price of Consciousness: Lessons in Love and Loss from Earth’s Most Successful and Creative Predator – The Marginalian

Animals are better than LLMs. Unfortunately they, like us, pay a price for consciousness.

Every Reason Why I Hate AI and You Should Too

But what does Marcus Hutchins think of Orcas?