Daniel Dvorkin @medigoth@qoto.org

This is a truly impressive level of courage.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/active-duty-air-force-major-214055598.html

I understand that some of my fellow vets may not share my admiration for Major Watson's action. Senator and retired Captain Mark Kelly has exactly the same free speech rights as any civilian, unless and until he's recalled to active duty. Maj. Watson, a currently serving officer, does not.

He is committing a crime specific to officers, speaking "contemptuous words" against the president. (Not that things would go much better for enlisted who did the same.) He will almost surely lose his commission and be dismissed from the service, possibly with prison time along the way. And I'm quite sure he knew this when he made that sign and went up those steps.

Most laws should be followed, most of the time. Some laws are unjust, and should be broken all the time. Some other laws are not unjust in and of themselves, but can be used as vehicles for injustice, and should be broken when they are. That last is clearly where we are now, and Maj. Watson is a hero—a word I don't use lightly—for recognizing and acting on it.

Sir, I salute you.

Squirrels love the smell of (long) pork in the morning.

Those algaefa protistas have gone too far!

So do all who live to see such times.

Stop me before I snark again!

Actually ... don't.

Ever since the beginning of the internet, I've been waiting for an e-mail from Money. Today it finally arrived. If you need me, I'll be on my yacht.

Common #AI #writing tricks. All of these can be useful techniques, but they’re best as seasoning rather than main ingredients. #LLMs don’t do subtlety.

"Okay sweetie, before we go back to the apartment, you either have to put your paw booties on, or put the cigarette out. Your choice."

As in a fervific dream.

Definitely need some old rubber bands that are so dried out they'll snap the first time you try to use them. Bonus points if they hit you in the eye.

Or is that just me?

From a post on #AI #writing "tells." Both of these can be useful devices, but they're best as seasoning, not main ingredients. AI doesn't get that, of course. Sadly, neither do a number of human writers who have started using a more robotic style.

Oh, they'll comply with the #virus, all right. See, viruses don't ask nicely for compliance.

Yes, but also no because the #Reddit "science and logic guys" believe a whole lot of different but equally pernicious #bullshit, but also yes because #antivax may well be the most murderous ideology in history, which is a fucking high bar when you think about it.

Uphill both ways. That part is very important.

Note the name of the group where this was posted. They really think they're scoring some kind of point.

Liberals punish our sex offenders. Conservatives idolize theirs.

Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew.

"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."

For the WISP (work in some progress) I'm fiddling with #population growth models, and considering rolling my own to justify the numbers I want. I guess that makes me a rather finicky #Watsonian. But maybe it's like Tolkien coming up with several complete languages before writing any actual plot!

#seemslegit

Meta meme is meta.