Rothaí
@rothaiocht.bsky.social
I am an emigrant who writes love letters. Ireland :: California
Oh yikes, I’ve been looking for coverage of the creepy Edge Foundation era. Here it is. And worse than I thought.
The billionaires' eugenics project: how Epstein infiltrated Harvard, muzzled the humanities and preached master-race science
Edge - Jeffrey Epstein's favourite intellectual salon - was sold to me as a gathering of the world's finest minds, writes Virginia Heffernan. The files reveal it was something far darker: a decades-lo...
www.thenerve.news
February 18, 2026 at 3:43 AM
Oh yikes, I’ve been looking for coverage of the creepy Edge Foundation era. Here it is. And worse than I thought.
Anil is onto something. We should let them buy tables to Black Tie Tax Day Gala.
It’s $20k on a million! If you make A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR and aren’t dropping twenty big ones at a charity gala a couple times a year just as an excuse to dress up and hang out, you should get the fuck out of New York City.
February 18, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Anil is onto something. We should let them buy tables to Black Tie Tax Day Gala.
Skyquake in the Bay Area!
February 18, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Skyquake in the Bay Area!
George Saunders recently told Anna Sales a story of his time as a mining engineer in Indonesia, making million-dollar calculations on precisely where to drill for oil.
Months in, it turned out the Indonesian national oil company was using a map with a different grid.
Months in, it turned out the Indonesian national oil company was using a map with a different grid.
February 18, 2026 at 2:32 AM
George Saunders recently told Anna Sales a story of his time as a mining engineer in Indonesia, making million-dollar calculations on precisely where to drill for oil.
Months in, it turned out the Indonesian national oil company was using a map with a different grid.
Months in, it turned out the Indonesian national oil company was using a map with a different grid.
Reposted by Rothaí
I think Lauren is correct that this piece does ignore or elide the valid leftist critiques, but there is a dismissiveness around the users of AI that is a big part of why those critiques are largely failing. The stakes are too high to keep repeating unsuccessful tactics, or to keep scolding users.
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i... i wouldn't call this "directionally correct" as much as i'd call it uninterested in confronting the left critiques of the AI industry that the right has no objection to: the amorality of its leaders, its model of theft, and its environmental damage
The left is missing out on AI
As a movement, it has largely refused to engage seriously with AI, ceding debate about a threat and opportunity to the right
www.transformernews.ai
February 17, 2026 at 4:14 PM
I think Lauren is correct that this piece does ignore or elide the valid leftist critiques, but there is a dismissiveness around the users of AI that is a big part of why those critiques are largely failing. The stakes are too high to keep repeating unsuccessful tactics, or to keep scolding users.
Spot on.
Epstein understood the vanity of other rich idiots, so he funded Edge Foundation & Santa Fe Institute to draw in pretentious oligarchs who wanted to Talk Smart with lecherous scientists.
20+yrs ago they openly called them “Billionaires’ Dinners.”
Wiped but archived.
archive.ph/9CLwX
Epstein understood the vanity of other rich idiots, so he funded Edge Foundation & Santa Fe Institute to draw in pretentious oligarchs who wanted to Talk Smart with lecherous scientists.
20+yrs ago they openly called them “Billionaires’ Dinners.”
Wiped but archived.
archive.ph/9CLwX
February 17, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Spot on.
Epstein understood the vanity of other rich idiots, so he funded Edge Foundation & Santa Fe Institute to draw in pretentious oligarchs who wanted to Talk Smart with lecherous scientists.
20+yrs ago they openly called them “Billionaires’ Dinners.”
Wiped but archived.
archive.ph/9CLwX
Epstein understood the vanity of other rich idiots, so he funded Edge Foundation & Santa Fe Institute to draw in pretentious oligarchs who wanted to Talk Smart with lecherous scientists.
20+yrs ago they openly called them “Billionaires’ Dinners.”
Wiped but archived.
archive.ph/9CLwX
We should stop making blankets out of cocaine.
it's even worse than first reported
the fucking guy caused an inflight disruption so bad the pilot had to leave the command deck then he was like I RELIEVE U OF DUTY
absolute toddler baby shit brained government at the highest levels
the fucking guy caused an inflight disruption so bad the pilot had to leave the command deck then he was like I RELIEVE U OF DUTY
absolute toddler baby shit brained government at the highest levels
New details emerge about in-flight blow-up between Corey Lewandowski and pilot
Additional details have emerged about a mid-flight showdown between Homeland Security advisor Corey Lewandowski that led to a Coast Guard pilot's firing — and immediate reinstatement.DHS Secretary Kri...
www.rawstory.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:21 PM
We should stop making blankets out of cocaine.
I emigrated purely for the cookware.
Alright Ireland, let’s see your worst examples of that weird first pancake.
#pancaketuesday
#speirgorm
#pancaketuesday
#speirgorm
February 17, 2026 at 4:19 PM
I emigrated purely for the cookware.
Excellent piece on the massive business of cultural, religious, and political influence.
Surprised to see the reflexive Bluesky sneering at the @nymag cover photo, especially from historians who would do well to study a shift this huge in young women’s aspirations.
Surprised to see the reflexive Bluesky sneering at the @nymag cover photo, especially from historians who would do well to study a shift this huge in young women’s aspirations.
Do You Have a Moment to Talk About How Mormons Conquered Pop Culture?
How the women of Utah blogged and posted their way into American hearts and wallets.
www.thecut.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Excellent piece on the massive business of cultural, religious, and political influence.
Surprised to see the reflexive Bluesky sneering at the @nymag cover photo, especially from historians who would do well to study a shift this huge in young women’s aspirations.
Surprised to see the reflexive Bluesky sneering at the @nymag cover photo, especially from historians who would do well to study a shift this huge in young women’s aspirations.
My metric for my own gullibility is the fortune I spent on stuff shilled by Andrew Huberman during a year of lockdown with a Zoom kindergartener.
When I read anything on/by AI now, I first pat the 8Sleep mattress I’m still paying off, and a 2021 pack of Athletic Greens.
Memento moron, girl.
When I read anything on/by AI now, I first pat the 8Sleep mattress I’m still paying off, and a 2021 pack of Athletic Greens.
Memento moron, girl.
February 14, 2026 at 7:06 PM
My metric for my own gullibility is the fortune I spent on stuff shilled by Andrew Huberman during a year of lockdown with a Zoom kindergartener.
When I read anything on/by AI now, I first pat the 8Sleep mattress I’m still paying off, and a 2021 pack of Athletic Greens.
Memento moron, girl.
When I read anything on/by AI now, I first pat the 8Sleep mattress I’m still paying off, and a 2021 pack of Athletic Greens.
Memento moron, girl.
Reposted by Rothaí
If they’re losing the “I’m not political but I love America” guys in Callaway hats…
Yesterday morning kids were sent running from their bus stop in panic because ICE showed up. This guy at today’s ICE Out of Lindenwold protest is a must watch 😭. @maddow.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 4:40 PM
If they’re losing the “I’m not political but I love America” guys in Callaway hats…
Reposted by Rothaí
COLUMN: AI is fundamentally vampiric by nature. I talk with two screenwriters (who also teach screenwriting) about why giving viewers the AI "tools" to generate TV shows based on pre-existing shows will just result in empty, bad television
People should want better for themselves than this!
People should want better for themselves than this!
Column: After a long day, the last thing I want is to tell GenAI to create a TV show for me to watch
Screenwriters weigh in on why a service promising to use your prompts to create a TV show would be bad. It’s fan fiction without the fans.
www.chicagotribune.com
August 7, 2025 at 2:11 PM
COLUMN: AI is fundamentally vampiric by nature. I talk with two screenwriters (who also teach screenwriting) about why giving viewers the AI "tools" to generate TV shows based on pre-existing shows will just result in empty, bad television
People should want better for themselves than this!
People should want better for themselves than this!
Reposted by Rothaí
Hahaha well there it is. I knew it. Former Coinbase comms and Crypto Huckster makes it clear this was a paid ad for dolts
February 11, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Hahaha well there it is. I knew it. Former Coinbase comms and Crypto Huckster makes it clear this was a paid ad for dolts
Reposted by Rothaí
This article immediately labels @emilymbender.bsky.social and I as "curmudgeons" because we don't think that the spicy auto complete has a concept of the self.
Experiments conducted with the A.I. system Claude are producing fascinating results—and raising questions about the nature of selfhood. Gideon Lewis-Kraus reports from inside the company that designed it, Anthropic. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/rOfXjg
February 11, 2026 at 3:01 PM
This article immediately labels @emilymbender.bsky.social and I as "curmudgeons" because we don't think that the spicy auto complete has a concept of the self.
Reposted by Rothaí
The most depressing AI pieces are always going to be the thoughtful, nuanced, open-minded considerations by respected writers who are transparently responding to the publicity incentive created by editors whose owners want this kind of content
July 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The most depressing AI pieces are always going to be the thoughtful, nuanced, open-minded considerations by respected writers who are transparently responding to the publicity incentive created by editors whose owners want this kind of content
Reposted by Rothaí
Experiments conducted with the A.I. system Claude are producing fascinating results—and raising questions about the nature of selfhood. Gideon Lewis-Kraus reports from inside the company that designed it, Anthropic. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/rOfXjg
February 11, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Experiments conducted with the A.I. system Claude are producing fascinating results—and raising questions about the nature of selfhood. Gideon Lewis-Kraus reports from inside the company that designed it, Anthropic. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/rOfXjg
I once took part in a workshop for dozens of retiring athletes trying to transition into post-Olympic careers.
Came away thinking I would never, ever let my kid train for the Olympics.
The winter athletes were notably stranded and pitiful, because season timing wrecked their education.
Came away thinking I would never, ever let my kid train for the Olympics.
The winter athletes were notably stranded and pitiful, because season timing wrecked their education.
February 12, 2026 at 5:43 PM
I once took part in a workshop for dozens of retiring athletes trying to transition into post-Olympic careers.
Came away thinking I would never, ever let my kid train for the Olympics.
The winter athletes were notably stranded and pitiful, because season timing wrecked their education.
Came away thinking I would never, ever let my kid train for the Olympics.
The winter athletes were notably stranded and pitiful, because season timing wrecked their education.
Bless HG Wells‘ 1938 optimism in predicting the distributed intelligence of “World Brain“ would “have at once, the concentration of a craniate animal and the diffused vitality of an amoeba."
The internet has given our bodies the vitality of a heap of skulls and the concentration of an amoeba.
The internet has given our bodies the vitality of a heap of skulls and the concentration of an amoeba.
February 11, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Bless HG Wells‘ 1938 optimism in predicting the distributed intelligence of “World Brain“ would “have at once, the concentration of a craniate animal and the diffused vitality of an amoeba."
The internet has given our bodies the vitality of a heap of skulls and the concentration of an amoeba.
The internet has given our bodies the vitality of a heap of skulls and the concentration of an amoeba.
George Dyson laid out where the people driving AI were headed 21 years ago—of all places, on the site funded by a predator to suck in intellectually vain billionaires and creepy tenured scientists. (The fawning intro about Larry, Sergey, and Eric is by his publisher.)
www.edge.org/conversation...
www.edge.org/conversation...
TURING'S CATHEDRAL | Edge.org
www.edge.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:06 PM
George Dyson laid out where the people driving AI were headed 21 years ago—of all places, on the site funded by a predator to suck in intellectually vain billionaires and creepy tenured scientists. (The fawning intro about Larry, Sergey, and Eric is by his publisher.)
www.edge.org/conversation...
www.edge.org/conversation...
Reposted by Rothaí
I keep saying to people in my life that the problem with writing in these days is that you sound absolutely off your nut for simply saying what is happening.
February 4, 2026 at 2:29 AM
I keep saying to people in my life that the problem with writing in these days is that you sound absolutely off your nut for simply saying what is happening.
Reposted by Rothaí
Soooo what’s this thing where people are pushing back so hard on calling their civil disobedience “protest”, like it’s a slur?
February 4, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Soooo what’s this thing where people are pushing back so hard on calling their civil disobedience “protest”, like it’s a slur?
Reposted by Rothaí
And I’ve seen a lot of these posts distinguishing between protest and what’s happening in Minneapolis. The subtext feels to me that they're distinguishing the protests and uprisings of 2020 with what's happening now. "We're not protesting, it's something more noble!"
January 25, 2026 at 3:46 PM
And I’ve seen a lot of these posts distinguishing between protest and what’s happening in Minneapolis. The subtext feels to me that they're distinguishing the protests and uprisings of 2020 with what's happening now. "We're not protesting, it's something more noble!"
Came back to Bluesky briefly. The onset of insomnia, anxiety, and despair was comically fast. Even with a curated feed, this is self-harm now.
Back to good books, classic films, & news from KQED/ New Yorker/ Oaklandside.
Back to neighbors, local orgs, and bugging the school board. Take care! 💚
Back to good books, classic films, & news from KQED/ New Yorker/ Oaklandside.
Back to neighbors, local orgs, and bugging the school board. Take care! 💚
February 4, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Came back to Bluesky briefly. The onset of insomnia, anxiety, and despair was comically fast. Even with a curated feed, this is self-harm now.
Back to good books, classic films, & news from KQED/ New Yorker/ Oaklandside.
Back to neighbors, local orgs, and bugging the school board. Take care! 💚
Back to good books, classic films, & news from KQED/ New Yorker/ Oaklandside.
Back to neighbors, local orgs, and bugging the school board. Take care! 💚