Viola Tricolor
@kaffeehaus.bsky.social
"It was one thing to design robots to clean up nuclear waste or to perform boring, repetitive tasks so that—at least in theory—people could do more intellectually or creatively rewarding work, including (I imagine) building robots and writing poetry. But ...
That even people with humanities phds doesn't see the problem is depressing - anecdote from 2019 in excerpt below. We have eleventy-million things we could work on. Why pic the thing that supposedly requires "ethical" (as if!) use of ecocide-plagiarism-psychosis machines?
lithub.com/were-already...
lithub.com/were-already...
We’re Already at Risk of Ceding Our Humanity to AI
Machines It’s 2019. I’m in a bar in Providence, Rhode Island, chatting with graduate students and researchers with PhDs. One of them, who holds a PhD in Latin American literature, observed approvin…
lithub.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:05 AM
"It was one thing to design robots to clean up nuclear waste or to perform boring, repetitive tasks so that—at least in theory—people could do more intellectually or creatively rewarding work, including (I imagine) building robots and writing poetry. But ...
If you need a link to forward to people who believe that LLMs ("AI") will do historical research in the future this might be it! After a description of parts of what research is S. Davies explains why this cannot be done by "AI". Just one quote:
"If you ask gen AI to give you a ...
"If you ask gen AI to give you a ...
A while back I coined the phrase "ecocide-plagiarism machines" for LLM-based genAI.
A better term is "ecocide-plagiarism-psychosis machines."
3/3
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
A better term is "ecocide-plagiarism-psychosis machines."
3/3
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
Basement adventures showed me why ChatGPT can only ever be garbage.
In The British Library. Photo by Surekha Davies. Hallo readers, First, a news flash: Join me for a virtual book launch for HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY...
buttondown.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:01 AM
If you need a link to forward to people who believe that LLMs ("AI") will do historical research in the future this might be it! After a description of parts of what research is S. Davies explains why this cannot be done by "AI". Just one quote:
"If you ask gen AI to give you a ...
"If you ask gen AI to give you a ...
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
The diplomatic "achievement" of the ceasefire was to recalibrate the tempo of the genocide sufficiently to get it off the front pages and the news bulletins, thus alleviating the political pressure on Israel's western accomplices.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Israel still committing genocide in Gaza, Amnesty International says
The NGO’s chief says last month’s ceasefire ‘risks creating a dangerous illusion that life in Gaza is returning to normal’
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The diplomatic "achievement" of the ceasefire was to recalibrate the tempo of the genocide sufficiently to get it off the front pages and the news bulletins, thus alleviating the political pressure on Israel's western accomplices.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
Ahead of our Make Freedom Ring concert in Munich on 30th November, I speak to BR-Klassik about the situation in Gaza, the silence of the classical music industry, the responsibility to speak out as a German citizen, and the question of justice for Palestine
www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news...
www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news...
Michael Barenboim zu Gaza-Konflikt:
Am Sonntag gibt Michael Barenboim ein Benefizkonzert für Gaza-Hilfen. Im Interview spricht der Geiger über die Gründe für sein öffentliches Engagement und darüber, warum Konzerte Orte der Solidarität ...
www.br-klassik.de
November 27, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Ahead of our Make Freedom Ring concert in Munich on 30th November, I speak to BR-Klassik about the situation in Gaza, the silence of the classical music industry, the responsibility to speak out as a German citizen, and the question of justice for Palestine
www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news...
www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news...
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
@naomiaklein.bsky.social: ”For the Surrealists, the slide from military horror to full fascism took a couple decades, and even longer for the imperial boomerang to return. Now there are no delays, everything is synchronous.” www.equator.org/articles/sur...
www.equator.org
November 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM
@naomiaklein.bsky.social: ”For the Surrealists, the slide from military horror to full fascism took a couple decades, and even longer for the imperial boomerang to return. Now there are no delays, everything is synchronous.” www.equator.org/articles/sur...
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
Thanks! Junk Birds is my compilation of published short stories. Cover by my daughter Clarissa!
www.six18sfoundry.com/work-1
www.six18sfoundry.com/work-1
November 27, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Thanks! Junk Birds is my compilation of published short stories. Cover by my daughter Clarissa!
www.six18sfoundry.com/work-1
www.six18sfoundry.com/work-1
At least, this doesn't seem to be ignorance of beauty but rather its pursuit (could still be idiocy or feigned affection, though!) :
CHOKHA
(India, active 1799 – ca. 1826)
Escapade at Night, ca. 1800-1810
(www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...)
CHOKHA
(India, active 1799 – ca. 1826)
Escapade at Night, ca. 1800-1810
(www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...)
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 PM
At least, this doesn't seem to be ignorance of beauty but rather its pursuit (could still be idiocy or feigned affection, though!) :
CHOKHA
(India, active 1799 – ca. 1826)
Escapade at Night, ca. 1800-1810
(www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...)
CHOKHA
(India, active 1799 – ca. 1826)
Escapade at Night, ca. 1800-1810
(www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...)
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
Before you indulge in any holiday mirth, remember that Peter of Damascus (12th century) warns against 298 passions mentioned in the Bible: harshness, trickery, malice, perversity, mindlessness, mindlessness, licentiousness, enticement, dullness, lack of understanding, idleness, sluggishness (1/?)
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Before you indulge in any holiday mirth, remember that Peter of Damascus (12th century) warns against 298 passions mentioned in the Bible: harshness, trickery, malice, perversity, mindlessness, mindlessness, licentiousness, enticement, dullness, lack of understanding, idleness, sluggishness (1/?)
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
Revolutionary ghosts are always helpful.
So I turned to the Surrealists for tips on fighting fascism.
Stay for the ending about @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social surrealist campaigning...
Enjoy!
So I turned to the Surrealists for tips on fighting fascism.
Stay for the ending about @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social surrealist campaigning...
Enjoy!
New @equatormag.bsky.social: @naomiaklein.bsky.social on how the Surrealists transformed the wreckage of history into revolutionary art – and what their example can teach us about the fight against fascism today www.equator.org/articles/sur...
November 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Revolutionary ghosts are always helpful.
So I turned to the Surrealists for tips on fighting fascism.
Stay for the ending about @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social surrealist campaigning...
Enjoy!
So I turned to the Surrealists for tips on fighting fascism.
Stay for the ending about @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social surrealist campaigning...
Enjoy!
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
European complicity in coloured dots
European Parliament blocks debate on Israeli attacks on Gaza.
As hundreds die in bombings Gaza and Lebanon despite a 'ceasefire', The Left called for the European Parliament to do the bare minimum today and hold a debate.
The right and centre voted no.
As hundreds die in bombings Gaza and Lebanon despite a 'ceasefire', The Left called for the European Parliament to do the bare minimum today and hold a debate.
The right and centre voted no.
November 26, 2025 at 11:34 AM
European complicity in coloured dots
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
“Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.”
William Cowper, English poet, author of The Task, born #OTD 1731; admired by Wordsworth, Jane Austen, William Blake.
National Portrait Gallery London | Cowper & Newton Museum Olney
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.”
William Cowper, English poet, author of The Task, born #OTD 1731; admired by Wordsworth, Jane Austen, William Blake.
National Portrait Gallery London | Cowper & Newton Museum Olney
November 26, 2025 at 6:01 AM
“Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.”
William Cowper, English poet, author of The Task, born #OTD 1731; admired by Wordsworth, Jane Austen, William Blake.
National Portrait Gallery London | Cowper & Newton Museum Olney
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.”
William Cowper, English poet, author of The Task, born #OTD 1731; admired by Wordsworth, Jane Austen, William Blake.
National Portrait Gallery London | Cowper & Newton Museum Olney
That's a wonderful reply to @ianfjanssen.bsky.social 's question, book here:
November 26, 2025 at 8:46 AM
That's a wonderful reply to @ianfjanssen.bsky.social 's question, book here:
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
…she does not say to believe in God. She says, “Cultivate a place inside yourself that tyranny can’t reach.”
and
“They cannot rob us of anything that matters if we have a life inside.”
You already know well how I feel about Herbert and Miłosz. Add to those Václav Havel’s letters to his wife.
2/2
and
“They cannot rob us of anything that matters if we have a life inside.”
You already know well how I feel about Herbert and Miłosz. Add to those Václav Havel’s letters to his wife.
2/2
November 26, 2025 at 12:38 AM
…she does not say to believe in God. She says, “Cultivate a place inside yourself that tyranny can’t reach.”
and
“They cannot rob us of anything that matters if we have a life inside.”
You already know well how I feel about Herbert and Miłosz. Add to those Václav Havel’s letters to his wife.
2/2
and
“They cannot rob us of anything that matters if we have a life inside.”
You already know well how I feel about Herbert and Miłosz. Add to those Václav Havel’s letters to his wife.
2/2
I hope for books in the replies while I cannot contribute anything:
📚
At first, I thought maybe Stefan Zweig's "Welt von Gestern"/"World of Yesterday" but, thinking about it, it's not a good example, I fear.
📚
At first, I thought maybe Stefan Zweig's "Welt von Gestern"/"World of Yesterday" but, thinking about it, it's not a good example, I fear.
I'm in a question-asking mood today:
What's the best text that you've read on leading the inner intellectual and emotional life during times of historical crisis?
Could be anything, ancient treatise, modern scholarship, diary, poetry, scripture, screed, whatever.
What text works for you on this?
What's the best text that you've read on leading the inner intellectual and emotional life during times of historical crisis?
Could be anything, ancient treatise, modern scholarship, diary, poetry, scripture, screed, whatever.
What text works for you on this?
November 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I hope for books in the replies while I cannot contribute anything:
📚
At first, I thought maybe Stefan Zweig's "Welt von Gestern"/"World of Yesterday" but, thinking about it, it's not a good example, I fear.
📚
At first, I thought maybe Stefan Zweig's "Welt von Gestern"/"World of Yesterday" but, thinking about it, it's not a good example, I fear.
Perfect:
Instead of getting up and leaving Plato's cave the obsession with thinking AI is a real conscious intellect is digging down and making a deeper chamber with even fainter shadows flickering on the wall, and proclaiming you're seeing the true light of intellect.
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Perfect:
I've been falling into the rabbit hole of a particularly complex conspiracy theory for two hours now (the bottom of that hole cannot be reached yet, I guess, the story is still developing). So far it's an interesting study because it shows how only slightly distorted sources seem to be enough ...
November 25, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I've been falling into the rabbit hole of a particularly complex conspiracy theory for two hours now (the bottom of that hole cannot be reached yet, I guess, the story is still developing). So far it's an interesting study because it shows how only slightly distorted sources seem to be enough ...
November 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
This is what we should be talking more about.
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
November 25, 2025 at 7:50 PM
This is what we should be talking more about.
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
In case you missed it, Prof. Imani Perry and author Tananarive Due discussed a titan of Afrofuturist fiction,
Octavie E. Butler, and her masterwork,
"Lilith’s Brood: The Xenogenesis Trilogy", hosted by
@libraryofamerica.bsky.social .bsky.social
#Lit #BlackSky #SciFi #SpecFi
Octavie E. Butler, and her masterwork,
"Lilith’s Brood: The Xenogenesis Trilogy", hosted by
@libraryofamerica.bsky.social .bsky.social
#Lit #BlackSky #SciFi #SpecFi
The Radical Imagination of Octavia E. Butler
YouTube video by Library of America
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
In case you missed it, Prof. Imani Perry and author Tananarive Due discussed a titan of Afrofuturist fiction,
Octavie E. Butler, and her masterwork,
"Lilith’s Brood: The Xenogenesis Trilogy", hosted by
@libraryofamerica.bsky.social .bsky.social
#Lit #BlackSky #SciFi #SpecFi
Octavie E. Butler, and her masterwork,
"Lilith’s Brood: The Xenogenesis Trilogy", hosted by
@libraryofamerica.bsky.social .bsky.social
#Lit #BlackSky #SciFi #SpecFi
November 25, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
This sounds really interesting, I like the review by Giuliana Chamedes which provides an overview that makes me want to read the book:
📚
📚
November 24, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This sounds really interesting, I like the review by Giuliana Chamedes which provides an overview that makes me want to read the book:
📚
📚
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
The pledge they had to read aloud:
“We trade dopamine for daylight, doom scrolls for detours, pixels for paper maps. Here’s to boredom, to wrong turns, to fruitful friction. To shared growth, spontaneous encounters, and Life beyond the screen.”
free link: archive.ph/2025.11.20-1...
#MonthOffline
“We trade dopamine for daylight, doom scrolls for detours, pixels for paper maps. Here’s to boredom, to wrong turns, to fruitful friction. To shared growth, spontaneous encounters, and Life beyond the screen.”
free link: archive.ph/2025.11.20-1...
#MonthOffline
A group of us ditched our smartphones for a month. It changed us.
The fliers that appeared in our D.C. neighborhoods about the challenge offered few details beyond a toll-free number.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The pledge they had to read aloud:
“We trade dopamine for daylight, doom scrolls for detours, pixels for paper maps. Here’s to boredom, to wrong turns, to fruitful friction. To shared growth, spontaneous encounters, and Life beyond the screen.”
free link: archive.ph/2025.11.20-1...
#MonthOffline
“We trade dopamine for daylight, doom scrolls for detours, pixels for paper maps. Here’s to boredom, to wrong turns, to fruitful friction. To shared growth, spontaneous encounters, and Life beyond the screen.”
free link: archive.ph/2025.11.20-1...
#MonthOffline
Am 1. Dezember um 19 Uhr in Berlin!
Diffrakt - Zentrum für Theoretische Peripherie
Crellestr. 22
10827 Berlin
Diffrakt - Zentrum für Theoretische Peripherie
Crellestr. 22
10827 Berlin
Great looking event with @robin-c.bsky.social @dirkmoses.bsky.social and Teresa Koloma Beck at diffrakt for @blnreview.bsky.social, discussing Dirk’s piece on critical theory (vor allem in Deutschland?) after Gaza
blnreview.de/events/educa...
blnreview.de/events/educa...
Berlin Review · Education after Gaza—Critical Theory and the Present
Zeitschrift für Bücher und Ideen.
blnreview.de
November 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Am 1. Dezember um 19 Uhr in Berlin!
Diffrakt - Zentrum für Theoretische Peripherie
Crellestr. 22
10827 Berlin
Diffrakt - Zentrum für Theoretische Peripherie
Crellestr. 22
10827 Berlin
Reposted by Viola Tricolor
Almost all paintings that show a mirror and a reflection get the optical relations wrong - to see the image as unlikely is to miss its point, it's practically the only way to compose a two-fold image to reveal a hidden face, as Walter Sickert does here in this work from 1906.
November 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Almost all paintings that show a mirror and a reflection get the optical relations wrong - to see the image as unlikely is to miss its point, it's practically the only way to compose a two-fold image to reveal a hidden face, as Walter Sickert does here in this work from 1906.