Them: Stop being a weirdo. Just be yourself.

Me: Make up your mind.

The last area on earth without plastic pollution. Cartoon from 2024.

#nature #plastic #trash #waste #garbage

Dear Fedi friends.

As some of you may know, I have a wonderful daughter Lila who had a severe form of epilepsy at the age of 5 months. This epilepsy is called West Syndrome.

We had to go through a hell of a treatment to stop her seizures. The thing that helped her was called "Synacthene Retard". It's basically ACTH, a synthetic hormone similar to adrenocorticotropic hormone produced by our anterior pituitary gland.

My daughter was one of the last kids who had a chance to get the Synacthene Retard from the lab that produced it (Alpha Sigma). This was late March 2024. And in May 2024 Alpha Sigma said they discontinued this product without ANY public explanation.

I am trying to inquire about the disappearance of Synacthene Retard from French pharmacies. I am looking for contacts of a medical journalist or an expert in pharmaceutics to help me lead this investigation. It may save lives of dozens of other kids with that suffer from West Syndrome. Thank you!

Hi all,
I’m a mother from Gaza, doing my best to take care of my 8 children under the harshest living conditions. @aral @fabio
Since the war began, providing food, warmth, and basic needs has become nearly impossible.

If you can support us — even with a small amount — you will be standing with me and my children, giving us a chance to stay safe and cared for during these devastating times.
https://gofund.me/1d3ea05b6
#gaza #genocide #aid #palestine

Uber to launch delivery robots bringing food to UK doorsteps from December
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/uber-eats-food-delivery-robots-uk-december-b1259575.html?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into News (UK Edition) @news-uk-edition-FlipboardUK

My friend seems genuinely baffled that I am an AI researcher who refuses to use AI! Not only that, but I argue against it from theory, not experience. Why don't I just give it a try for a while, and see what it's really about before I judge it?

I guess I see where he's coming from. Part of the problem is the word "AI." LLMs are not my research focus, so it's less of a contradiction than it sounds. But I admit, being a non-user makes my arguments against LLMs less credible.

I just don't understand why I owe it to anybody to give AI a shot. I know how LLMs work in gory detail, and I don't trust them. I've seen the mediocre work they produce. I've read studies about the seductive illusion of competence and caring they create, and how people fall for that. I know it's all built on an incredibly exploitative business model.

I feel entirely justified in not giving them a chance. I guess I'm just as baffled by how badly he wants me to try it, and how sure he seems to be that it would change my mind.

Puffin has the hiccups! There's one right at the start, and at the end.

She was doing this for a few minutes before I realized what it was and started recording, so I only got the last 2 on film, but she had 6 or 7 overall.

#Cats
#CatsOfMastodon

"Clearly, Trump's anti-anxiety medicine prescription levels were increased that morning"
- Aure

Reporter: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?

Mamdani: We’ve spoken about….

Trump: "That's okay. You can just say yes. It's easier than explaining it. I don't mind."
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #GOP #Politics #uspolitics #uspol