H = ruling of the appellate court
P ∈ ℝ = current illegal percentage
W = global set of jurisdictions
I(P) = predicate “P is illegal”
Δ(P) = adjusted value of P, defined as
Δ(P) = P + (0.10 · P)

#trump #logics #wiskundeB

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c0l9r67drg7t

When Ethical Shortcuts Dim the Advent Light

DID YOU KNOW

Advent is a season of holy illumination. As the Church prepares to celebrate the coming of Christ—the Light of the world—Scripture invites us to step into that light ourselves, allowing it to search our motives, habits, and private reasoning. Advent is not merely about anticipation; it is about preparation of the heart. One of the ways God prepares us is by exposing the subtle rationalizations we use when compromising our ethics. These compromises rarely appear as outright rebellion. Instead, they cloak themselves in logic, fairness, and self-preservation. The study before us invites us to pause, reflect, and ask whether our ethics are shaped by convenience or by Christ.

Did You Know… that following the crowd never lessens your personal accountability before God?

One of the most common ethical rationalizations is the quiet reassurance that others are doing the same thing. This reasoning offers comfort, but Scripture strips it of its power. Solomon writes with piercing honesty, “Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment” (Ecclesiastes 11:9). The tone is not cynical but clarifying. Enjoyment, opportunity, and freedom are acknowledged, but they are never detached from accountability. Advent reminds us that history is moving toward fulfillment, not moral ambiguity. Paul reinforces this when he says, “We make it our goal to please Him… for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:9–10). The Greek word bēma refers to a public tribunal, underscoring that each life stands individually before Christ.

This truth is not meant to produce fear but steadiness. Romans 2:6–11 reminds us that God shows no partiality and does not grade on a curve. Ethical faithfulness has never been determined by popular behavior. Advent trains believers to live with the end in view, remembering that Christ comes not only as Savior but as righteous Judge. Integrity, then, becomes an act of hope. We live faithfully not because others do, but because Christ is coming, and our lives are lived before Him.

Did You Know… that secrecy never protects compromise because nothing is hidden from the Lord?

Another familiar justification whispers, “No one will know.” Scripture answers this assumption with unwavering clarity. “For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths” (Proverbs 5:21). The language here suggests careful attention, not distant surveillance. Jeremiah records the Lord’s own words: “Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? Do not I fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:24). Advent celebrates the mystery of God drawing near in the Incarnation, but it also reminds us that God has never been absent. The One who comes to us in Christ already sees us fully.

Hebrews deepens this truth: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). This exposure is not cruelty; it is mercy. God sees in order to heal, restore, and redirect. Ethical compromise thrives in imagined darkness, but Advent declares that the Light has come into the world. Living transparently before God frees us from the exhausting work of hiding and invites us into integrity shaped by grace rather than fear.

Did You Know… that God cares deeply about ethical compromise because it grieves His heart?

A more subtle rationalization says, “No one really cares.” Scripture answers this with heartbreaking clarity. “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become… and the Lord was grieved” (Genesis 6:5–6). The Hebrew language conveys deep emotional pain. God is not indifferent to human conduct. Sin does not merely break rules; it breaks fellowship. Advent reminds us that God’s response to human corruption was not abandonment, but incarnation. He entered the brokenness He grieved.

Paul echoes this relational dimension when he warns believers not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Ethical compromise is never merely personal; it affects our communion with God. Advent calls us to remember that Christ comes because God cares—deeply, persistently, redemptively. Integrity, then, is not about earning approval but honoring relationship. We live ethically because we belong to a God who loves us enough to be wounded by our choices and gracious enough to restore us when we repent.

Did You Know… that minimizing “small” compromises misunderstands how seriously God views truth and justice?

Another rationalization treats ethical shortcuts as insignificant. “Cutting a few corners,” we tell ourselves, “is not that serious.” Scripture strongly disagrees. “A false witness will not go unpunished… No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house” (Proverbs 19:5; Psalm 101:7). God’s concern is not limited to large moral failures; it extends to everyday dishonesty. Revelation reinforces this sobering truth, reminding us that deceit has no place in God’s eternal kingdom (Revelation 21:8, 27).

Jesus takes this even further by challenging our sense of entitlement. In Matthew 5:39–42, He calls His followers to radical generosity rather than retaliatory fairness. Advent places this teaching in sharp relief. The One born in a manger relinquishes every claim to privilege. Ethical living, in Jesus’ vision, is not about defending our rights but reflecting His character. When we live generously, honestly, and sacrificially, we bear witness to a kingdom that operates by grace rather than self-justification.

As you reflect during this Advent season, consider the quiet conversations you have with yourself when ethical choices arise. Are they shaped by Christ’s coming kingdom or by temporary convenience? Advent invites us to prepare room not only in our hearts

The first ISWS 2025 Tutorial Session is on "Reasoning in Large Knowledge Graphs". Valentina Presutti is announcing Aidan Hogan from University of Chile, Santiago de Chile, as first speaker.

#isws2025 #semanticweb #semweb #knowledgegraphs #reasoning #logics #tutorial #summerschool #bertinoro

I've been fumbling around with #openprocessing #logics and #colours and made two sketches demonstrating something like logical combination of colours, applying logical operations to the r, g, b values of the colours to be "mixed". I know this is completely useless but it was a funny prgramming exercise...

You can see (and test) the results in the two sketches

Colour VenDetta:

https://openprocessing.org/sketch/2634928

and Colour VennDango:

https://openprocessing.org/sketch/2635918

#CreativeCoding #mathart #processing

It's done! I have just given print approval for "Medientechnisches Wissen Vol. 1", 2nd edition. The book, originally published on 2017, grew from 306 to 428 pages - mostly because of an additional chapter on #archaeology.

https://www.degruyter.com/document/isbn/9783111036540/html

#MediaScience #MediaArchaeology #Logics #InformationTheory #Cybernetics