Comments

  • Ukraine Crisis
    Well, that's too bad , I guess you go by own firsthand accounts. :D If you don't (or can't) evaluate more to add more context, then that's too bad as well. (Or just the usual cop-out.) :shrug:
    So, did you think that those ▸ items were to be expected? (By the way, has the Kremlin somehow managed to purge NATO from their vicinity? No? But they have accomplished something.)
    As mentioned sometime, continuing to bring up "NATO is in a proxy war with Russia", is about as helpful/useful as saying "North Korea and Iran are in a proxy war with Ukraine", hence it's brought up out of bias, potentially questionable preconception, whatever, maybe an agenda.

    Exclusive› Medvedev on NATO ‘direct war’ with Russia and escalation risks amid Ukraine conflict
    — Dmitry Medvedev (interview) · AlArabiya News · Nov 27, 2024 · 20m:10s

    Notice the (silovik style) talking points, propaganda lines, incidentally having made their way to certain others (thoroughly).

    I think we have to face up to the fact that the Russians think they're in a state of war with us. Donald Tusk has referred to it as a pre-war situation. I think he's wrong. I think it's an actual war. We've seen already quite clearly some very aggressive moves on the part of the Russians in various European countries. I think we're in a very difficult situation, and Russia is probably better to have some sort of dialogue with them, than no contact at all. So I don't rule that out. But I think at the moment, I'm not sure Russia is in a mood or a situation where it's going to be very easy to talk to Putin.Richard Dearlove (interview) · Sky News · Nov 27, 2024 · 1m:4s

    Either way, that sure is what the Kremlin circle wants others to hear (perhaps domestically in particular), something like "Russia is at war with NATO, the US, the West", which is just nonsense.

    But I think it may also be Zelensky's attempt to, in effect, call the West’s bluff. Actually getting all Nato’s 32 members to agree to a quick membership would be very difficult, but in effect he is asking, ‘If not the Article 5 security guarantee, what else could be offered?’Mark Galeotti (via Andy Gregory) · The Independent · Dec 1, 2024

    No particular prospect of Ukrainian NATO membership according to Galeotti. Others have come to similar conclusions.
  • Donald Trump (All General Trump Conversations Here)
    If he would be given the FBI, the end result would be that FBI likely would be less functioning and worse performing institution.ssu
    He'll just cripple the effectiveness of the department and sink it's morale.ssu

    ... to the silent cheers of a few that don't have the US' best interest at heart.
    All their "deep state" "swamp" enemies ... crap sells, especially to a certain demographic, again to the silent cheers of...
    Well, maybe they can turn the cheers into discouragement or indifference, we'll see.
  • Backroads of Science. Whadyaknow?
    I guess most are familiar with this stuff, unification, when things get really small they get weird, ...

    Space-Time: The Biggest Problem in Physics (— Quanta Magazine · Sep 25, 2024 · 19m:41s)



    Innovative ...

    ‹Nature Communications› Snail-inspired robotic swarms (— Robotics & AI Lab - CUHK Shenzhen · Apr 29, 2024 · 8m:28s)
  • Ukraine Crisis
    , well, whatever anyone might expect, some of what happened (or is happening) in the name of peace and a neutral Ukraine:

    Russo-Ukrainian War (2014-2022-)
    ▸ "On conducting a special military operation" (2022)
    Attacks on civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
    Atrocity crimes during the Russo-Ukrainian War
    Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation (2014) (Kharkiv Pact ditched)
    Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts (2022)
    ▸ Russification of Ukraine » Modern-day Ukraine
    Larger Wheat Harvest in Ukraine Than Expected (— NASA · Dec 4, 2022) → Exclusive: Crimea showers Syria with wheat, Ukraine cries foul (— Reuters · Dec 19, 2022)

    • What the Ukrainians wanted (or want): 2013-4, 2014, 2014-
    • What has come out of the UN: 68/262, 2623, 11th session, ES-11/1, ES-11/2, ES-11/3, ES-11/4, ES-11/5, 77/229, ES-11/6

    Elsewhere:

    Kabelmysteriene (The cable mysteries) (— NRK · Jun 26, 2022)
    Hybrid CoE Paper 18: The Arctic after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: The increased risk of conflict and hybrid threats (— Hybrid CoE · May 10, 2023)
    Unprecedented GPS jamming attack affects 1600 aircraft over Europe (— New Scientist · Mar 29, 2024)
    GPS jamming traced to Russia after flights over Europe suspended (— New Scientist · May 1, 2024)
    Innovation: Recent GPS jamming in regions of geopolitical conflict (— GPS World · May 24, 2024)
    Newest NATO Member Sweden Says Russia Disrupting Its Satellite Networks (— Bloomberg · Jun 20, 2024)
    Nordic satellites targeted by Russia after Sweden’s NATO accession (— Telecoms Tech News · Jun 21, 2024)
    European nations denounce Russian hybrid attacks, cable cut probes launched (— Reuters · Nov 19, 2024)
    Russian attacks on undersea cables 'most serious threat' to our infrastructure' - NATO (— euronews · Nov 28, 2024 · 12m)

    Squaring it so narrowly is off.

    Besides, you've been given sufficient evidence + arguments that repeating your lines as if you hadn't seems disingenuous.
  • Ukraine Crisis
    What say you?

    European nations denounce Russian hybrid attacks, cable cut probes launched
    — Andrius Sytas, Barbara Erling, Johan Ahlander, et al · Reuters · Nov 19, 2024

    Russian attacks on undersea cables 'most serious threat' to our infrastructure' - NATO
    — Shona Murray · euronews · Nov 28, 2024 · 12m

    Lies, fear- and war-mongering? Either way, there are prior examples, not unheard of.
  • Ukraine Crisis
    A Japanese minister brought up an Asian defense alliance:

    Ishiba's 'Asian NATO' dead on arrival as new PM set for diplomatic debut
    — Kathleen Benoza, Jesse Johnson · The Japan Times · Oct 8, 2024
    Japan: Deciphering Prime Minister Ishiba’s Strategic Vision. Toward an Asian version of NATO?
    — Céline Pajon · Ifri · Oct 10, 2024
    Japan’s prime minister vows military buildup and deeper ties with the US as regional tension rises
    — Mari Yamaguchi, Mayuko Ono · AP · Nov 9, 2024

    Little interest.
    Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, perhaps others, share some interests, though.
    Not much by way of nuclear deterrence, unlike a bunch of neighbors.
  • Ukraine Crisis
    EDITED

    The unfortunate thing for you is that the Russians have told us exactly in word and in deed what they want for over a decade - a neutral Ukraine.Tzeentch

    They went ahead with the opposite. Started a war and whatnot. Supplied the Ukrainians (+ others) with more reasons for wanting to join NATO, or whatever sufficiently resourceful defense.
    Not just neutral, by the way (has come up before). Besides, if Ukraine was neutral, then they might still kick Russia out of Sevastopol where they've been for a good while, put up a wall to prevent illegal Russian "migrants", look to the EU for trade/cooperation, go their own way.
    Adding something like "Russia Shall Not Be Attacked From Ukraine" to Ukraine's constitution is a bit late now, not impossible though.

    But, if that's what the Kremlin wants, then peace should be achievable:
    Add something to the effect of "No Ukrainian NATO-Membership" and "Russia Shall Not Be Attacked From Ukraine" to the Ukrainian constitution (without any of those special external vetos or backdoors). Ukraine butts out of Kursk. Russia butts out of Ukraine.
    Additionally, Ukraine could sign the usual minority protections, due process in the justice system, anti-corruption, some further democratic reforms and humanitarianism (things incidentally part of their path towards the EU, that Russia incidentally isn't currently expected to meet).
    Do you think the Kremlin would be on board with that peace proposal? (Lots of resources freed up, too, and I'm guessing a few sanctions would be lifted.)

    Some theorizing, FYI, though from memory this stuff has come up in the thread already:
    Why Russia Started War in Ukraine (— The Military Show · Sep 7, 2024 · 18m:55s)
  • What should the EU do when Trump wins the next election?
    Or it might become reasonable to start making those items at home instead of importing them.frank

    I suppose, if the tariffs were high enough, then the imports would be canceled, which would be bad for the exporter (compare with sanctions).
    The importers aren't likely to swallow the tariffs, they increase the cost of goods for the population.
    So, instead of the tariff stuff, how about pressuring capitalists to increasingly bring production/manufacturing home (and perhaps take a wage cut)?
    Well, that might decrease support among the capitalists, less $s for campaigning, fewer votes, ... (worse self-image for The Clown).
    Capitalism isn't patriotism, it's about maximizing profits, cheaper labor (lower wages) + less environmental regulations + less health and safety protection + ...
  • Ukraine Crisis
    It's quite popular among the mainstream media to repeat the idea that this is 'Putin's war', but it's been known since prior to the 2008 Bucharest NATO Summit that NATO expansion into Ukraine is a red line for much if not all of the Russian political establishment.Tzeentch

    It was about Ukraine's (established) independence, sovereignty, all that, and that the Ukrainians might assert it sooner or later.
    "Fortunately" for the Kremlin circle, Ukraine's anticipated NATO aspirations came to the fore, giving them the excuse to cross Ukraine's established red lines (land grabbing).
    Well, their (ongoing) destruction, regress, activities, whatever, engendered hate, further distrust, degraded chances of talks, it's how they roll.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    One of the better takes I’ve read:

    https://apple.news/AEToGjqpLR4aQxsRScVmgVA
    Mikie

    :up:

    Also, Fox and friends are entertaining, like The Jerry Springer Show. Has been referred to as entertainment, for that matter.(thedispatch, logicallyfacts) Compare to more sober, boring, ordinary news channels.

    The source-memes and whatever it all is (plus the amount of that stuff around), begs the question of where they came from and who wrote them. Determining (and perhaps poking at) their murky origins might be worthwhile.
  • Climate change denial
    My wife wanted to watch the documentary Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy (2024 · 1h:24m), so that's what we did. Some will call it propaganda, others will revel in the exposé, others still whatever else.

    Some keywords/phrases: profit maximization · capitalism · tragedy of the commons · continued growth · climate change (hence posting it here)

    The one-and-a-half hours are split into five chapters:

    1. Sell more
    marketing scienceadvertising ▸ faster fashion ▸ inflate supply and demand

    2. Waste more
    planned obsolescenceIFixit

    3. Lie more
    greenwashing

    4. Hide more
    ▸ disposal ▸ hazardous waste ▸ product cycles ▸ pollution

    5. Control more
    Amazon is cracking down on protesters and organizing, workers say (— Michael Sainato · Guardian · May 5, 2020); it's not just Amazon

    Regardless of the genuinely troubling (and known) message, just using it to promote anti-capitalism doesn't seem quite right. Responsible consumer culture and incentives are parts of a response, to be furthered by legal constraints on whatever parts of the problem. But, it's a global thing. Maybe we should all pick up some of that Greta Thunberg stuff and pass it on.

    FYI, here's a brief review, others can be found with a search: Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy film review — marketing tricks and their effect on the planet exposed (— Jonathan Romney · The Financial Times · Nov 21, 2024)
  • Why Americans lose wars


    On a Bird's-Eye View, the numerous wars waged by countries throughout history, killing numerous people, destroying, seems kind of ridiculous. Along that train of thought, deadly conflict comes through as absurd, should never be.

    When zooming in we also have to differentiate defense and offense, weigh justification, whatever it all is. Often enough we can find both bad and well-meaning actors (and whatever else/between) — actors all gone a hundred years after.

    I don't think defense is absurd, though they say that the best defense is a good offense. Can all defense be narrated as offense, can all defensive measures be cast as threats?(2024Apr8) Say, if democracy is threatened, then I'd expect a response.

    Anyway, it seems like a simple, universal answer to lean on is hard to come by. We're talking homo sapiens after all. Sometimes it just takes those few...
  • Climate change denial
    Of course , "it's the useful, safe, reliable implementation that needs work".
  • What should the EU do when Trump wins the next election?
    So the EU should start its own military alliance separate from the US.Benkei
    I have a fantasy that Europe will step up to take a bigger military and political role in the world, especially in Europe.T Clark
    • EU military as the highest priority
    [...]
    javi2541997

    Seems like a case has been made. Maybe not just the EU, but including other interested European countries?

    Under the current state of geopolitical affairs, there's no conceivable reason why Europe and Russia should be thinking about war, so what on earth are our politicians doing?Tzeentch

    And yet that's exactly what Russia kicked off (more than once). Plus other hostilities. :shrug: OK, one of them is a "special military operation". :D (Sep 18, Oct 6, Nov 2,16,17,20 2024)
  • Climate change denial
    , if we assume something like this can be weaponized (which it likely could), then (knowing homo sapiens) someone may do that eventually. If others don't/can't, then they'd have to rely on something else for deterrence, or a sufficient alliance, or whatever. I'm just speculating. Either way, if it's feasible, then it's grabbing free energy from the Sun. What's not to like? The idea is older than Reflect Orbital; it's the useful, safe, reliable implementation that needs work.
  • Why Americans lose wars
    Obama urges NATO members to pull their weight
    — Nolan D McCaskill · POLITICO · Nov 15, 2016

    Others have commented similarly to Obama. (Reasonable or not?)

    The problem I have described in the past though, is that I fear that the US (and the UK?) will use European militarization as a means to create more tension between Europe and Russia.Tzeentch

    The Kremlin already has and continues to. Posturing, regressing, undemocratization, land grabbing, bombing, Russification, ...

    Seems like plain hostile acts:Jun 21, 2024

    So the EU should start its own military alliance separate from the US.Benkei
    I have a fantasy that Europe will step up to take a bigger military and political role in the world, especially in Europe.T Clark

    Anyway, the Kremlin circle will "take offense" from whatever can then be used to further whatever they'd like to see, whatever they have in mind for their (chess)board. Thinking that's what others want is more than a little naïve. As mentioned a few times (e.g. here), you might ask the Baltics, the Moldovans, the Swedes, the Finns, ..., the Ukrainians, the Georgians, ...

    how to not "provoke" the Kremlin (and North Korea)Mar 21, 2024
    can all defense be narrated as offense, can all defensive measures be cast as threats?Apr 8, 2024
    Now creating that deterrence will simply get some people to think that your you're war-hungry. Well, I'm not.ssu

    Perhaps similar to , I'm guessing most aren't. There are things to do, kids to get to school, farms to tend, parties to have, books to read, renovations to complete, love interests to pursue, philosophical idealisms to discuss, suppers to cook, places to go, ...

    What should Europeans do?

    appeasing Putin will not end well.Banno
    Deterrence stops Putin. Appeasement won't.ssu
  • Ukraine Crisis
    I was oddly reminded of Star Trek...

    Armus: I am a skin of evil, left here by a race of Titans, who believed if they rid themselves of me, they would free the bonds of destructiveness.
    Picard: You say you are true evil? Shall I tell you what true evil is? It is to submit to you. It is when we surrender our freedom, our dignity instead of defying you.
    Skin of Evil (1988)

    If the Kremlin is willing to start a nuclear world war over a fifth of Ukraine, then everyone, including Russians, already has a significant problem to deal with. Is that what we're talking about here? Should Seoul hand the keys over to Pyongyang tomorrow?

    Deterrence stops Putin. Appeasement won't.ssu

    And Kim Jong Un is taking notes.

    Ukrainians targeting ammunition depots and such is fair enough. Why wouldn't it be? By all means, they should try to destroy bombs that would otherwise fall on their heads, like over the past 1000 days. (By the way, the Kremlin's hostilities don't end there.)
  • Climate change denial
    Hmm... Seems like a neat idea (not quite new though)...

    Startup Promises to Beam Sunlight from Space (— via TheBrainMaze TBM · Sep 7, 2024 · 52s)

    Reflect Orbital
  • Why Americans lose wars
    :
    Well, if the Kremlin circle is paranoid, then it's not about NATO in particular, but about anyone resourceful supporting Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, etc, established in 1991.
    Once the Kremlin decided that they couldn't let Ukraine be, losing some that control/influence (e.g. Crimea), then they'd already set the seemingly inevitable collision course.
    Any paranoia on their part is due to Ukraine's independence, that they might increase the rent of Sevastopol or allocate it for something of their own or whatever, that they might look to the EU for cooperation/trade more so than Moscow, anything — in short, that they might go their own way.
    Expressing that as supposed NATO-phobia has caught on (which was reasonably predictable).
    Take into consideration that it's about control of a sovereign country — the present Kremlin circle's kind of control — and what would you have the rest of the world do?
    The Ukrainians and most of the world said "No", which is reasonable.
    OK, so, no Ukraine NATO membership, then what?
    Besides, exactly how has grabbing Crimea and Donbas (and generous bombing) solved their supposed NATO-phobia?
    It hasn't, couldn't, but has instead (predictably) increased Russo-phobia or whatever.
    Anyway, that was part of the story above, adding to the discourse (with embedded reference links that I was too lazy to add here), not so much specifically giving a direct counter-argument to your comment, apologies if that was unclear.
  • Ukraine Crisis
    1000 days in. The Kremlin still hasn't gotten their way.

    Frachon opines:

    With Trump in the White House, Charles de Gaulle's prophecy is coming true: One day, the US will leave the Old Continent
    — Alain Frachon · Le Monde · Nov 7, 2024
  • Why Americans lose wars
    , my apologies, sorry you read it like so. FYI, this stuff has been covered quite a bit in parallel threads (here, here, 2023dec31, 2024feb29, 2024mar21, ...), it's not so much that you're being ignored.

    I have a fantasy that Europe will step up to take a bigger military and political role in the world, especially in Europe.T Clark

    Which you share with others, including:

    So the EU should start its own military alliance separate from the US.Benkei

    EU defense focus has almost been lulled to sleep by NATO.
  • Why Americans lose wars
    , in more recent history, when Russia looked more like today, the invasions they tend to bring up are France/Napoleon and Germany/Hitler. I suppose the Ottomans might qualify.

    Kursk, on the other hand, doesn't qualify in this context. There's a negligible chance that Ukraine would invade Russia, had they not invaded first. For that matter, Crimea 2014 seems to have taken most by surprise, and the response (until 2022) were mostly sanctions.

    NATO/Europe/China would be reckless to attack Russia; they have the world's largest nuclear weapons arsenal, a fairly straightforward deterrent. It could happen if Russia attacked a NATO member. Europe, Canada, Alaska have bordered Russia for a good while (some over sea), and not threatened with any invasion. Why would they? It's the other way around, defense against Russian encroachment/assault. Just ask the Moldovans, and the Swedes and Finns. Well, and the Ukrainians and Georgians. NATO represents a different kind of threat: the Kremlin can't do as they see fit (which some are thankful for).

    Anyway, don't want to spam here, should probably go to the Ukraine Crisis thread instead.
  • Why Americans lose wars
    Even knowing Russia's historical paranoia about being surrounded and invaded, we immediately started expanding NATO right up to it's borders. Now it's enclosed by hostile countries backed by the US and western European militaries. No wonder Putin is furious. We blew it.T Clark

    Something's a bit off ↑ here.

    NATO isn't seeking to take over countries. Countries seek to be part of NATO for defense and have to qualify (which can take some years).

    For a country the size and geography of Russia it might be easy enough to list all kinds of "hostile countries" in the vicinity. It's not like grabbing land resolves the (supposed) situation. But yeah, mistakes were made, things were blown.

    Nov 2, 2024 (should actually have been in the Ukraine Crisis thread)

    If "Putin is furious", it's because the Ukrainians went their own way.

    Russians and Ukrainians will live exactly as befits brothers and good neighbors after the implementation of the goals of the special operation.Sergey Lavrov · Jan 22, 2024

    NATO enlargement is one of Putin's lines, but so is the artificiality of the state of Ukraine and it being natural of Ukraine being part of Russia.ssu

    Some things are imported from Russia straight through sanctions. ;)
  • Why Americans lose wars
    :up:
    "The US" does not refer to a single/uniform/monolithic entity.
    I suppose that's exposed by the nature of democracy.
    Administrations come and go, whatever sentiments come and go, ...
    A weakness of democracy (compared to dictatorships or theocracies for example)?
    Well, if politics are like fashions and impatience a driver, then perhaps.
    We can just hope that voters generally are smart enough.

    Obviously, this (the U.S. setback) is a temporary phenomenon. America will continue its involvement in this conflict, in fact direct involvement. But we have repeatedly said before that according to our forecasts fatigue from this conflict, fatigue from the completely absurd sponsorship of the Kyiv regime, will grow in various countries, including the United States. And this fatigue will lead to the fragmentation of the political establishment and the growth of contradictions.Dmitry Peskov · via Reuters · Oct 2, 2023

    This is what distinguishes a true world leader from the people we call temporary caretakers, who come for five minutes to show off on the international platform, and then disappear just as quietly.Vladimir Putin · via Newsweek · Oct 17, 2023
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    The Clown did something he's good at, "drag others down to his level and beat them with experience" (paraphrasing Twain or whoever). Why play his game? That's his circus.
  • Donald Trump (All General Trump Conversations Here)
    Something I was trying to figure out, but gave up on...
    Why would The Clown possibly choose RFK Jr as head of Health?
    I kept ending up at spite + show of power, but that's not very charitable.
    If I were to categorize candidates as, say -- red, to-be-determined/maybe, green -- then RFK Jr would start out red for that position, and greens aren't that hard to find in the US.
  • In Support of Western Supremacy, Nationalism, and Imperialism.
    I find myself disagreeing with a fair part of the opening post, but, anyway...

    1. How do you impose democracy upon a people by force?Srap Tasmaner

    You ask everyone what they prefer, without others knowing what they said, granting everyone an equal say.
    Those are some basics at least; not what I'd normally call an imposition.
    If most said "I want Stalin to do as he please", then they may not get a second chance at this, thereby surrendering the principle.
    There's lots more associated with democracy, but those are some basics anyway.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    He's back! (— Michael de Adder · Nov 5, 2024)

    https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe025cd01-a125-435d-9256-314668b38e4b_7890x6832.jpeg
  • In praise of anarchy
    :

    run with the anarchist idea, see where it goes.Nov 3, 2024

    Show implications/consequences. (Footwork missing. It's everyone's lives.)

    Also, you'd have to prove that removing the justice system of any (transparent) democratic majority, i.e. no justice system, increases justice. (Universal statements like "all politicians / people in charge bad" also need proof.)
  • In praise of anarchy
    In a world of many, the true anarchist/individualist remains outnumbered.
    Will it be by organized thugs, or a (transparent) democratic majority where all have a say?
    There's no such thing as a perfect social system; the more individuals, the more unhappy about something or other, that's just history, statistics, and (only part-time rational) homo sapiens.
    Genuine anarchy inherently remains as unstable as one against two, tending away therefrom, like the one anarchist being overcome/outdone by many cooperators.
    Running with the least bad is rational enough, regardless of some personal sacrifices.
    By and large, reasonably civilized societies tend to be democracies, but run with the anarchist idea, see where it goes.
    , you'll have to weigh whatever personal grievances against this stuff.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    :up: An odd kind of blindness or tunnel vision or something



    The Ukrainian situation might have started in some (out of sight) way between 1991 and 2009.

    Certain people wouldn't accept a wholly independent Ukraine. That independence itself meant that Crimea wasn't for the Kremlin to control, and their empowering influence over Ukraine would diminish. Loss. "Must regain."

    The sentiment might be older, but sometime after the cold war it apparently came into focus, became important to a number of (let's say) "concerned citizens", important enough to solidify the collision course of which we're seeing the results.

    Operatives deployed, people friendly/susceptible to "the cause" rallied + more hired, "little green men" sent, Ukrainian "red lines" crossed, takeover, invasion, bombing, grab, all the while utilizing that suppress-rinse-revise machine (including domestically). Hostilities (+ elsewhere).

    As far as I can tell anyway, the "root cause" was that seemingly inevitable collision set in motion by a number of "entitled", influential people asserting ownership, and rejecting a friendlier course, or democratic course for that matter. The Ukrainians (and most of the world) said "No".

    Might be worth noting that the Kremlin's course of action hasn't resolved (maybe can't resolve) their supposed fear of NATO. To keep NATO at bay, are they going to make Donbas a minefield with anti-missile installations or something?

    ↑ there's plenty more evidence to this story (which is what it is) — coherent, plausible, straightforward enough
  • Where is AI heading?
    , some Dali "come to life" could be cool (y) Weird eyes might even be a bonus :D
  • Where is AI heading?
    Famous paintings, such as Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' and 'The Milkmaid', come to life from AI prompter Przemek87394560 who used the Chinese AI video model Kling AI. — Museums News

    ▸ via instagram

    ▸ via facebook

    Check out Mona Lisa :) Entertainment (and fakery) gets a new tool
  • Atheism about a necessary being entails a contradiction
    , the four links say about the same but worded differently (Banno's might be the most concise), the first line in my comment just gives a brief summary while expressing the non-ampliativity.

    Some typical responses ...
    "But God is the creator of any of the possible worlds", which departs from modal logic (and commits petitio principii anyway).
    "But it's not logical necessity, it's metaphysical necessity", which roughly does the same by introducing a sufficiently vague/vacant phrase to head off to wherever (just about anywhere), whereas the logic is what we use to reason/deduce things.

    A possible world is a self-consistent entirety; possible worlds, W, maintain standard logic.
    • possibly p (holds for some consistent world): ◊p ⇔ ∃w∈W p
    • necessarily p (holds for all consistent worlds): □p ⇔ ∀w∈W p
    To round up the common subjunctive modalities, contingent and impossible can be set out from those.

    intelligibleHallucinogen
    ... and possible aren't the same; the latter is fairly concise above.

    (As an aside, whatever "eternal" means, atemporal mind is incoherent (2022Nov11, 2024Sep22), atemporal living is nonsense.)

    Oddly enough perhaps, "God is necessary" turns out to be a definition of "God", it's not an observation or a deduction, so "God" is now at the mercy of the definition if you will. (Also note, we're no longer talking down-to-Earth modalities like "water is necessary for the rain", "toddlers have to drink regularly", ...)