Author | Lightnews

Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 17h

This morning I woke up hearing this song in my head. Lucky enough to experience Kurt sing it at The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in Chicago. Like the gangster ambiance, smoke you only wanted to breathe in. Now, a decade later, it’s useless to hunt for words.

youtu.be/s8WxZfAV3Bc?...

Nature Boy

YouTube video by Kurt Elling - Topic

youtu.be

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 17h

John Elkerr
“Circe’s Cabaret”
19” x 24”
Colored ink and graphite lighter burns on paper

A jitterbugging enchantress snaps her partner into an animal. Blue tears. A spasm of joy.

Please visit: johnelkerr.com

#SurrealArt #FineArt #drawing #art #ArtBrut #OutsiderArt #RawVision #Juxtapoz

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 1d

John Elkerr
“Medusa”
7.75” x 10”
Ink on ruled paper

With phalluses for hair, this Gorgon reminds us of the addicting fluid secreted by Burroughs’ Mugwumps in “Naked Lunch” (1959).

Please visit: JohnElkerr.com

#SurrealArt #FineArt #drawing #art #ArtBrut #OutsiderArt #RawVision #Juxtapoz

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 2d

We just saw Hadestown on YouTube. Superb musical! Couldn’t resist picking up one of their t-shirts.

You can literally sit in the audience with this link:

youtu.be/Jk7BCMZ_C2g?...

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 2d

My eye always seems to land on Phoenix’s fingers: how gently she draws Mars closer to the sun. As if hoping no one will notice. Of course she has to step out of her famously flamboyant character. Still, if only she could woo that world a little closer, then she would be the mother of a water world.

Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 2d

www.juancole.com/fitzgeralds-...

If you’re interested in the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam and you haven’t seen Juan Cole’s commentary, here’s the link. The Rubaiyat will never be the same!

FitzGerald's Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám: Commentary by Juan Cole with Original Persian

I am reprinting here my blog entries from Informed Comment that serve as an extended commentary on Edward FitzGerald's Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. The original entry is hyperlinked in the title. For eac...

www.juancole.com

Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 2d

John Elkerr
“Phoenix Draws Mars Into the Habitable Zone”
5.5” x 6”
Colored ink on paper

Here’s another piece demonstrating the comic genius of Elkerr.

Please visit: JohnElkerr.com

#ArtistonBluesky #SurrealArt #FineArt #SurrealismToday #drawing #art #ArtBrut #OutsiderArt #RawVision #Juxtapoz

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 3d

Intriguing piece. Thanks!

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 5d

John Elkerr
“Epiphany of the Minotaur”
19”x24”
Quill, ink and graphite on paper

To see a short film exploring the Minotaur in the work of John Elkerr, go to: vimeo.com/596984370?sh...

#art #surrealism #drawing #surreal #ArtistonBluesky #SurrealArt #FineArt #SurrealismToday #drawing

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 6d

John Elkerr
“My Days Are Wind”
8”x10”
Quill and colored ink on cardboard meatbox

For more information about Detroit-area artist John Elkerr and his work, go to: johnelkerr.com

#art
#surrealism
#drawing
#surreal
#ArtistonBluesky
#SurrealArt
#FineArt
#SurrealismToday
#drawing
#BookofJob
#JobBible

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 7d

Quill and ink drawing by Detroit-area artist John Elkerr. To see more of John’s work, go to: JohnElkerr.com

#artbrut
#outsiderart
#Detroitartists
#surrealism

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 8d

As a public health researcher, I found AIs (all of them) invented scholarly citations out of whole cloth — and I was a subscriber! They make up journal names, authors, and titles.Totally insidious. Once you’ve cornered them, they gush with apologies, then go right back to doing the same thing.

Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 8d

Transfixing. This piece seems to be telling me about a moment of reverent listening and empathy between two human beings. Their surroundings suggest an arena of safety, also the tricky and deceptive beauty of thin ice.

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 9d

Nice work outing this guy. It’s a little hard to believe that there are still people around who stupidly think “deleting” means destroying.

Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 10d

Source: University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance share.google/JIYct0QPmTrL...

This is unbelievable! There are still a few tickets left for this show. Is it the most “don’t miss” concert of this beleaguered century? Maybe. We’re definitely going! Main floor, third row, center.

24 October 2025 - SMTD | Count Basie Orchestra: Mélange Concert - University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance

share.google

Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 10d

youtu.be/ia1AAZzNzB4?...

“Parade” (1917), a 2007 re-creation of Jean Cocteau’s magical one-act scenario of the famous ballet, with music by Erik Satie w/ costumes by Picasso. The costumes reminded me of the dinosaurs & unicorns we saw dancing yesterday at the anti-fascist rally in Ann Arbor.

BALLET 'PARADE' 1917

YouTube video by Gersi Sikon

youtu.be

Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 12d

Rachel: Sorry, we can’t do this. “The Dirty Work” has been twisted into a crass melange of commercials.We’re recording it anyway and can watch it after tomorrow’s NO KINGS rally in Ann Arbor — without having to endure these insults from MSNBC.

#msnbc

Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 12d

…on to more commercials…

…what was I watching?…

Fisher Investments (white people)

Qunol Brain Health (white people)

Trivalgo (white people)

Rolaids (one black lady)

Homes dot come (white people)

Xfinity (white people)

#msnbc

homes.co - This website is for sale! - homes Resources and Information.

This website is for sale! homes.co is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, homes.co has it all. ...

Homes.co

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 12d

…on to…
…Qunol…
…Rexulti…
…Collace…
…Depression…
…Constipation…
#msnbc

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 12d

@maddow.msnbc.com

Wow, Rachel. Between commercials there is a documentary buried somewhere down in the depths of triviality on MSNBC tonight. Really?

#laxatives
#laundrydetergent
#cascade
#shamelessgreed
#msnbc

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 14d

youtu.be/jrK3PsD3APk?si=L8tjrnFahN6r1jDN
Here’s a watchable interview with the often insightful "Godfather of AI." Go to 1:22:33: do you think, as an AI, you'd be having a "subjective experience" because you can admit you've been pranked by a prism? That’s having a feeling?

AI: What Could Go Wrong? with Geoffrey Hinton | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

YouTube video by The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

youtu.be

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 14d

Your “puny little human judgment” is infused with something we call insight. Unfortunately for AI, there is no “in” to be sighted about.

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 14d

I’ll take the road up the middle.

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Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 15d

She’s likely to get nothing but trash from an AI. Hardly a day goes by when I don’t get false information from an AI. For example, never accept a citation at face value from an AI. The models will literally pull completely fictitious references out of their asses, then lie about what they just did.

Stephen Eric Berry @stephenericberry.bsky.social · 15d

Haunting, thank you.

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