ceoln @ceoln@social.cleverlibre.org

The Globular Clusters of Barnard's Galaxy - From Rolf Wahl Olsen - https://flic.kr/p/24csgR5

This is just a gratitude post for folks like @molly0xfff who encapsulate news on complex subjects like #crypto and make it clear for folks who are not part of that world. I’ve long followed @web3isgreat but her newsletter is especially elucidating: https://open.substack.com/pub/mollywhite/p/issue-20-these-things-happen?r=f1my5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

(Also, Substack, it’s past time to add Mastodon to your share links.)

Tucker Carlson calling Donald #Trump "a demonic force, a destroyer. But he’s not going to destroy us.” The selfishness of this last clause, I mean, it’s not out of alignment with anything he says - but it cuts to his nature in such a direct way. His own destructive desire. So selfish and brutal. #TuckerCarlson #Fox https://twitter.com/justinhendrix/status/1626408888416468992?s=46&t=vi7Q3VVvu5mMpeiuYe6t3Q

Ahhh, long weekend.

Rebekah Mercer, an owner/funder of #CambridgeAnalytica & its holding companies, funds #OpenAI, the creator of GPT3 & #ChatGPT - to the tune of millions… this is extremely concerning news. #propaganda #surveillance #tech #farright #politics #AI read more:
https://womensagenda.com.au/tech/chatgpt-and-its-male-dominated-advisory-and-investor-group/

The idea that the struggle of trans people for recognition, equality, and respect is inherently dangerous to women and must be rejected as a threat to women’s rights is only plausible on the basis of a fundamentally discriminatory worldview that is fully in line with the reactionary crusade.

#shoegaze

today in US healthcare weirdness: a medication I last filled when I was still at Google had run out. I went to refill it, and was told by the pharmacist that my current insurance doesn't cover it, so it'll be $1800. Also, there's no generic.

Did some googling: found a coupon that lowers the cost to $800. Not great, but definitely better than $1800.

Then saw a link to the manufacturer's site. Through Walgreens and some independent pharmacies, I can get the prescription filled for $65.

The Black Panthers also provided free clinics and vaccination for kids. ♥️👍🏿

“First you have free breakfasts, then you have free medical care, then you have free bus rides, and soon you have FREEDOM!” Fred Hampton.

https://time.com/5937647/black-panther-medical-clinics-history-school-covid-19/

How did the Black Panthers, with relatively zero funding, set up free health clinics for Black people, where the government of the richest nation on earth could not?

These are uncomfortable questions, most easily answered by destroying those clinics.

Time for the #VisualWritingPrompt for 02/16/23!

Write a 500 character #SciFi story about this AI generated image.

#WritingCommunity #Midjourney #WritingPrompt #SecretSciFiNetwork

I say that as someone who is generally optimistic about the potential of #AI, certainly much more so than the tenor of my feed here.

But if the failure mode of a technology is "it generates plausible-sounding bullshit", a tiny box that says "May occasionally generate incorrect information" (as ChatGPT's homepage does) is not _nearly_ sufficient to educate its users.

in light of the backlash to the nyt open letter from so many supposed free speech absolutists, I thought I'd re up this piece on chattering class solidarity.

"free speech" is often just a call to protect the material interests of certain pundits. https://noahberlatsky.substack.com/p/chattering-class-solidarity

Thus is dehumanizing stuff. I really need allies to help fight back against it. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/arkansas-lawmaker-hearing-asks-transgender-woman-penis-rcna70787

Just a reminder that using "the children" and their need for "protection" has been the basis of every horrific moral panic targeting a marginalized group.

it's completely wild that people in the TRUTH AND ACCURATE INFORMATION business are oblivious to both their role in amplifying a bigoted right wing moral panic, AND honestly believe that journalism is best served by silencing their own employees

Extra extra extra love to trans friends (and strangers tbh) and their partners and families rn. I don't even know what else to say.

Fucking eh! I cringe at how little free time I had daily between age 11 and 18.