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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 5h

If they had succeeded, it would have been a propaganda coup; now that they have failed, the people at home need never know. Like the fifth Venezuelan speedboat attacked by the US Navy, it plays to a certain segment of the audience.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 5h

The recent crisis at Zaporizhzhia makes much more sense when viewed through the lens of Russia forcing a re-connection of the plant to their own power grid: The horrifically risky theft of a power supply fits their habits better than nuclear blackmail.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 5h

propaganda. That can drag one's mind along a deeply-grooved track that its creators want you to follow: Such narrative fixes the direction of discussion and action.

Also, if you know how to get research grants that are private-island money, then I know several people who'd love to hear about it.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 5h

"Pocket all the research grants"?! Just where did you infer that from? I was referring to research results such as the discovery of the crystals that made LCD tech viable, which funded its host university for five decades.

I suspect that you've been affected by a steady background of anti-science

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 13h

... OR westerners could supply inflatable dummy humanitarian convoys to get the Russians to waste even more munitions on non-military targets.

Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 13h

"Throw it to the scientists, they're curious little things."

Result: We still don't have a solution, but we know a lot more about the problem and a few related things, one of which is a real money-spinner. That scientist and their team are now buying a private island somewhere to wait it all out.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 21h

(That should be deride, not derive - autocorrection slipped that one past me...)

Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 21h

I know that some people will derive the idea of giving out charity, but this isn't charity. Supporting the weak and the vulnerable prevents them from becoming a problem for the rest of society, which makes it an investment. That's especially so once they get back on their feet and can contribute.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 21h

So, what reason did they give for wasting their ordnance? Some claim about them being filled with ammunition and an AFV each?

Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 1d

There's always one's own imagination, but that typically doesn't generate a revenue stream.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 1d

A deep concentration of wealth in the hands of a few people allows them to pursue their whims without checks or balances. Such people often mistake their wealth for wisdom.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 1d

That is an entirely disturbing perspective which I hadn't considered. (My own take on it was that it compensates for a lack of imagination, talent or artistic skill by providing ready-made solutions.)

From your POV, is it better that such users lock themselves away with their fantasies?

Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 1d

for ideas to keep the whole show running for those who'd hopped onto the gravy train. Hopefully, it won't be too harsh when the AI bubble bursts as well.

Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 1d

This image also shows Norma Jean reading a thoroughly unruffled magazine while flying in the open air, which demonstrates a fundamental disconnection from reality that plagues LLMs - and those who buy into the hype around them. The dot-com bust days felt like this, too - a sense of people grasping

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 1d

For me, it was the in-game music from the original Doom.

Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 1d

The Chinese executed that man, you know. Best to not let the US get there.

Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 1d

I should add here that I think they'll have enough men and material on their western border to make a good showing for a couple of months, but I doubt that they'll have enough in the way of strategic reserve to hold what they take.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 1d

That's true, but then the upper cohorts will transition out of national service. That will leave a monthly intake who'll get stolen from, and then 11 months of less-structured exploitation. Hopefully, it's going to lower their morale.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 2d

"Will starting a war with NATO bring an end to all our problems?"

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 2d

That's interesting from a cultural viewpoint: There's long been a habit of Russians in the second half of their national service exploiting the "fresh meat" in their first six months. I wonder how that will play out when there's one group going in per month?

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 2d

Christopher Alexander's work on patterns of architecture and town construction comes to mind here - particularly his collaboration with Ishikawa, Silverstein et al. in "A Pattern Language".

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 2d

The expressions on their faces tell me that they find this as grotesque and undignified a spectacle as I do. Trump ought to be in a hospital.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 2d

One also has to be able to apply those consequences - a tricky proposition when such people often invest wealth in insulation from consequences.

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 2d

I've seen chocolate pizzas, if we're counting commercially-produced abominations. But have you ever heard of Czech Frgál, which is far more palatable?

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Definitely Over Thirty @definitelyover30.bsky.social · 2d

... That looks almost exactly like the pizzas that I could buy by the slice pretty much anywhere I went in Italy a few decades ago. Ah, happy memories.

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