Claiming that large language models will give rise to AGI is like me saying, "Soon my toaster will be making bread from scratch."

This is legit scary. Marsha Blackburn is openly admitting that her bill KOSA will be used to drive trans people off the internet.

But Democrats are lining up to support it, and LGBTQIA+ orgs have dropped their opposition. WTF WTF WTF

https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/senator-admits-kids-online-safety?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=994764&post_id=136690186&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email

FYI after three-plus years of dodging it, I finally have covid. Seems to be a mild case, and I'm on paxlovid. I'm going to basically hole up for the next five days and not try to do much, so if you email me, you might not get a reply right away.

If you're going to be a fan of Genesis of the Daleks, you really ought to check out Phil Collins of the Daleks and Peter Gabriel of the Daleks as well.

We have a death cult in this country. It's horrifying and should be a major scandal. Every candidate for federal elected office should be asked about this constantly.

https://slate.com/technology/2023/07/pedestrian-deaths-road-safety-traffic-accidents.html

@samhainnight I don't know if that's true about covid, but I do think a lot of people were kind of broken inside by social isolation. Plus now they view all rules as arbitrary after they got mad about masking.

Hill I'm willing to die on: the Joker should not be a failed stand up comic. He's a homicidal clown, it's completely different.

Random thought: I increasingly don't think capitalism has much to do with making a profit, or maximizing value.

Over and over, we see priceless resources destroyed so that the bosses can feel powerful. I think that's the main goal of capitalism, actually: making bosses feel like big men. Profit is incidental.

I had mediterranean food for dinner, and now everything I do for the rest of the evening will be post-hummus.

Why not Andy Peacehol???

What is best in life?

To read awesome books.

To shout about them to one's people.

To see their spines broken by many pairs of hands cracking them open.

To hear the jubilation of the readers!

My latest SFF book review column for the @washingtonpost is out now! It's all about beach reads that also have big ideas. And wow, there are some books out there right now that are fun *and* thought-provoking. Including a strong contender for year's best.

Featuring @Harkaway, Moniquill Blackgoose, Emily Tesh and @binashah.

No-paywall link: https://wapo.st/3pjxP4q

I still can't believe that no tech whiz has created a version of Kickstarter for book pre-orders.

By this I mean: author says they'll write a book if they get 10,000 guaranteed pre-orders from local bookshops.

Readers credibly promise pre-orders before the book is written.

Once the book is ready and pre-orders are available, the money goes directly to local bookstores so everyone can pick up copies on pub date.

This way, the author has guaranteed sales before they invest time/energy.