David Raikow
@david.raikow.online
I think about international policy, politics, conflict, and political corruption. Trying to harness Machiavellian cynicism for the common good.
What *is* so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?
What *is* so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?
Reposted by David Raikow
There is a fifth wave of ska, beyond that which is known to rude boys
December 2, 2025 at 8:24 PM
There is a fifth wave of ska, beyond that which is known to rude boys
Reposted by David Raikow
Happy Birthday (Observed) to the uncontested KING Jonathan The Tortoise, estimated to be 192 years old
192 MORE YEARS! 192 MORE YEARS!
192 MORE YEARS! 192 MORE YEARS!
December 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Happy Birthday (Observed) to the uncontested KING Jonathan The Tortoise, estimated to be 192 years old
192 MORE YEARS! 192 MORE YEARS!
192 MORE YEARS! 192 MORE YEARS!
As a political corruption person, I’d be the super annoying one in class who insisted that I couldn’t respond without 20+ questions worth of additional info.
(Seriously though, there’s a real systemic v. opportunistic corruption problem with the scenario.)
(Seriously though, there’s a real systemic v. opportunistic corruption problem with the scenario.)
a fun thing from a class I'm guest teaching tomorrow: which of these will turn out OK for you, and which will be a disaster? (they're all from a single Chinese city between 2010 and 2022)
December 4, 2025 at 6:13 PM
As a political corruption person, I’d be the super annoying one in class who insisted that I couldn’t respond without 20+ questions worth of additional info.
(Seriously though, there’s a real systemic v. opportunistic corruption problem with the scenario.)
(Seriously though, there’s a real systemic v. opportunistic corruption problem with the scenario.)
I’m absolutely Team Bear.
“This thing is digging into my house, destroying property and living rent free.” Sorry, no. It was always the bear’s house. He was just letting you live rent free.
“This thing is digging into my house, destroying property and living rent free.” Sorry, no. It was always the bear’s house. He was just letting you live rent free.
The bear that moved into a home’s crawlspace more than a week ago in Altadena is not budging: despite numerous attempts by the homeowners to keep him out, the animal is staying put.
Unbearable living situation: Bear under Altadena home showing no signs of leaving
“I feel nervous all the time,” homeowner Ken Johnson said. “I’m always looking over my shoulder to see if he’s coming out.”
nbcnews.to
December 3, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I’m absolutely Team Bear.
“This thing is digging into my house, destroying property and living rent free.” Sorry, no. It was always the bear’s house. He was just letting you live rent free.
“This thing is digging into my house, destroying property and living rent free.” Sorry, no. It was always the bear’s house. He was just letting you live rent free.
Worth keeping an eye on. This could be an opportunistic one-off procurement scheme, but if people at Mogherini and Sannino’s level are deeply involved I wouldn’t start from that assumption. I hope the EPPO is looking closely for evidence of a broader network.
www.dw.com/en/european-...
www.dw.com/en/european-...
European fraud probe targets former EU official Mogherini – DW – 12/02/2025
EU prosecutors have detained three officials, including Italian politician Federica Mogherini. They suspect fraud in a 2021 and 2022 training program for junior diplomats and its tender process.
www.dw.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Worth keeping an eye on. This could be an opportunistic one-off procurement scheme, but if people at Mogherini and Sannino’s level are deeply involved I wouldn’t start from that assumption. I hope the EPPO is looking closely for evidence of a broader network.
www.dw.com/en/european-...
www.dw.com/en/european-...
Reposted by David Raikow
i’m setting you free. i’m releasing you from the discourse
December 2, 2025 at 1:39 AM
i’m setting you free. i’m releasing you from the discourse
Me, shouting into the void:
There’s a distinction between a war crime and a crime-that-would-be-a-war-crime-if-there-was-a-war. And distinction is important!
Also, the ICC can only exercise jurisdiction in very limited circumstances!
There’s a distinction between a war crime and a crime-that-would-be-a-war-crime-if-there-was-a-war. And distinction is important!
Also, the ICC can only exercise jurisdiction in very limited circumstances!
December 1, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Me, shouting into the void:
There’s a distinction between a war crime and a crime-that-would-be-a-war-crime-if-there-was-a-war. And distinction is important!
Also, the ICC can only exercise jurisdiction in very limited circumstances!
There’s a distinction between a war crime and a crime-that-would-be-a-war-crime-if-there-was-a-war. And distinction is important!
Also, the ICC can only exercise jurisdiction in very limited circumstances!
I’m too old and out of shape to be useful as a soldier, but sign me up for whatever else Commander Bong needs.
Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...
November 29, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I’m too old and out of shape to be useful as a soldier, but sign me up for whatever else Commander Bong needs.
Reposted by David Raikow
Happy Chompsgiving!
November 27, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Happy Chompsgiving!
Despite everything, I’m thankful for a lot of things. Mostly for the people who—in defiance of all common sense—continue to put up with me.
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Despite everything, I’m thankful for a lot of things. Mostly for the people who—in defiance of all common sense—continue to put up with me.
Reposted by David Raikow
TIP: Anyone who posts wild speculation as something that is “almost certainly” the case right now is ~almost certainly~ someone you should not rely on in moments where news is breaking and a story is rapidly developing.
November 26, 2025 at 9:09 PM
TIP: Anyone who posts wild speculation as something that is “almost certainly” the case right now is ~almost certainly~ someone you should not rely on in moments where news is breaking and a story is rapidly developing.
Reposted by David Raikow
Bitch, AI isn't conscious you're just lonely
November 26, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Bitch, AI isn't conscious you're just lonely
Reposted by David Raikow
I found a piece of toast that looks like it has a smile on it. Scientists say we should make it our king.
November 25, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I found a piece of toast that looks like it has a smile on it. Scientists say we should make it our king.
Reposted by David Raikow
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Reposted by David Raikow
In an era filled with tech dipshits who never developed emotionally past the age of 13 & use their wealth to become odious monsters ...
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
November 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
In an era filled with tech dipshits who never developed emotionally past the age of 13 & use their wealth to become odious monsters ...
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
My favorite part about these kinds of stories is that I don’t think there’s any way to prevent this behavior in LLMs. I think it may be inherent in the technology.
November 22, 2025 at 9:46 PM
My favorite part about these kinds of stories is that I don’t think there’s any way to prevent this behavior in LLMs. I think it may be inherent in the technology.
I honestly want 6 hours of this to use as decompression listening.
November 22, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I honestly want 6 hours of this to use as decompression listening.
Agreed 100%.
I don’t even say “Gen AI”, because most people will misinterpret that as well. Large data model-based software is not intelligent in any sense that the layperson understands the term. The minute you say anything like “AI”, people think Data from Star Trek or the hosts from Westworld.
I don’t even say “Gen AI”, because most people will misinterpret that as well. Large data model-based software is not intelligent in any sense that the layperson understands the term. The minute you say anything like “AI”, people think Data from Star Trek or the hosts from Westworld.
Yes! This is so important! Machine Learning is doing wonderful things like mapping Martian craters and analyzing microbe genomes. LLMs are a very specific form & it’s them doing these huge amounts of harm. I also sometimes say “Gen AI”
when I mean both LLMs and art generators; I try to never say AI
when I mean both LLMs and art generators; I try to never say AI
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Agreed 100%.
I don’t even say “Gen AI”, because most people will misinterpret that as well. Large data model-based software is not intelligent in any sense that the layperson understands the term. The minute you say anything like “AI”, people think Data from Star Trek or the hosts from Westworld.
I don’t even say “Gen AI”, because most people will misinterpret that as well. Large data model-based software is not intelligent in any sense that the layperson understands the term. The minute you say anything like “AI”, people think Data from Star Trek or the hosts from Westworld.
Reposted by David Raikow
"Greeks living in Afghanistan were Buddhist 500 years before China and a thousand years before Southeast Asia" is one of those things that sounds made up but is in fact true
November 20, 2025 at 3:25 PM
"Greeks living in Afghanistan were Buddhist 500 years before China and a thousand years before Southeast Asia" is one of those things that sounds made up but is in fact true
Reposted by David Raikow
"They key to the future is increasing the levels of compute."
OK, maybe the key is not saying that sentence tho.
OK, maybe the key is not saying that sentence tho.
November 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
"They key to the future is increasing the levels of compute."
OK, maybe the key is not saying that sentence tho.
OK, maybe the key is not saying that sentence tho.
Reposted by David Raikow
oh yeah the new york city subway is so fucking scary, you never know what kind of weirdo you'll have to share a train with
November 19, 2025 at 11:49 PM
oh yeah the new york city subway is so fucking scary, you never know what kind of weirdo you'll have to share a train with
Reposted by David Raikow
always be there
November 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
always be there
Reposted by David Raikow
"No, see, your 'Alpha' is just a violent, narcissistic control freak. In reality, high status wolves tend to be the parents of the rest of the pack, so they should really be more nurturing..."
November 19, 2025 at 4:13 AM
"No, see, your 'Alpha' is just a violent, narcissistic control freak. In reality, high status wolves tend to be the parents of the rest of the pack, so they should really be more nurturing..."