Category Archives: Uncategorized

Oh, No! The “Fellowship of Friends” Is NOT a Kook California Doomsday Cult — Oh, Wait!

NOTE: In 2017, when one North Carolina Yearly Meeting of Quakers collapsed after years of infighting (the other NCYM survived; but that’s another story) several of the surviving Meetings (which had been targeted as, pardon the foul language, “liberals” during the squabble), came together and formed a loose successor association. After much to-ing and fro-ing … Continue reading Oh, No! The “Fellowship of Friends” Is NOT a Kook California Doomsday Cult — Oh, Wait! →

Has An AI program Gone “Sentient”? (And What Does THAT Mean?)

Sentient (from Merriam-Webster Online:) 1 : responsive to or conscious of sense impressions sentient beings 2 : aware 3 : finely sensitive in perception or feeling Some synonyms: alive, apprehensive, aware, cognizant, conscious, mindful, sensible, aware, alert, attentive, heedful, observant, watchful, wide-awake, hyperaware, hyperconsciousTwo more: 1 Google: Skeptical, proprietary — repressive? 2. You and Me: … Continue reading Has An AI program Gone “Sentient”? (And What Does THAT Mean?) →

Ukraine, War Notes: The End of Euphoria, A Shift in The Odds

Washington Post: Ukraine is running out of ammunition as prospects dim on the battlefield Hopes that Ukraine will be able to reverse Russian gains are fading in the face of superior firepower By Siobhán O’Grady, Liz Sly and Ievgeniia Sivorka June 10, 2022 – ET SLOVYANSK, Ukraine — The euphoria that accompanied Ukraine’s unforeseen early victories … Continue reading Ukraine, War Notes: The End of Euphoria, A Shift in The Odds →

Lament of the Day: Farewell, Detente; Hello Again, Cold War

[Note: In the heady days of glasnost and perestroika, around 1989, I was once asked to shepherd a couple of Russian visitors to northern Virginia for a day. Worn out from long bouts of sightseeing in nearby Washington, they mostly wanted to relax; I could handle that.

The “Taserdrone”: Coming to a School Near Your Kids? (Or Grandkids?)

[Maybe not. The plan just flew into a few, er, headwinds. Or more like a bunch of buzz saws. But don’t relax. Such “whatever-you-talk-about-DON’T-talk-about-guns” ideas can be stickier than superglue.] Washington Post: A lot, said its ethics board, nine of whose members resigned over the idea. ‘You cannot address these horrific national tragedies … by … Continue reading The “Taserdrone”: Coming to a School Near Your Kids? (Or Grandkids?) →