@
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
We should all be carrying pepper spray with us, everywhere, these days.
June 19, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
“Military gear has been used for domestic law enforcement for a long time, but flying military gear over LA at a time when the president has sent military units against the wishes of the governor is noteworthy," says Matthew Feeney, longtime tech researcher and advocacy manager at Big Brother Watch.
The High-Flying Escalation of CBP's Predator Drone Flights Over LA
Custom and Border Protection flying powerful Predator B drones over Los Angeles further breaks the seal on federal involvement in civilian matters typically handled by state or local authorities.
www.wired.com
June 13, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
This is a shocking development. Two leading Democratic lawmakers and their spouses in Minnesota were shot in their homes early this morning by a man possibly impersonating a police officer. This is the kind of violence we have been warning about. www.fox9.com/news/brookly...
Minnesota lawmaker shootings: Legislators targeted by suspect impersonating police
A shelter-in-place alert was sent out at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning by the Brooklyn Park Police Department after multiple shootings. A suspect in the shooting may be impersonating law enforcement and ...
www.fox9.com
June 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
Our brains love the colour gradation in rainbows, maybe due to our ancestors searching for sources of water. Looking at plants helps us recover from stress & looking at something we think is beautiful causes dopamine release.
I've posted this photo to alter your brain biochemistry for the better 🌿
June 14, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
Especially if you're on the fence about it, protest today. Fascism is isolating and lonely. Its very goal is to make you feel like you're the only person unwilling to accept a cult of personality. On days like today you fully realize there are more of us than there are them. You will feel better.
June 14, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
A federal program to protect US cities against extreme heat has just evaporated
A federal program to protect US cities against extreme heat has just evaporated
NOAA's Center for Heat Resilient Communities would have helped local officials keep residents safe.
www.motherjones.com
June 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
This wasn’t about LA. It was a test.

Raids, troops, panic - then blame the people for the fallout.
They’re normalizing the crackdown now, so they can escalate it later.

Next time it’ll be a swing state.
Closer to the vote.
Louder.
Faster.
More justified.

And they’ll say, “We had no choice.”
June 9, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
The Los Angeles Police Department has stated that demonstrations in the city have remained peaceful. Let that sink in.
June 8, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
Hello. I live in Los Angeles. The president is lying.
June 8, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
A day is a long time in US politics. Big Balls won't be a federal employee much longer. www.wired.com/story/big-ba...
‘Big Balls’ Is Officially a Full-Time Government Employee
The first wave of DOGE staffers was supposed to be gone after 130 days. Instead, core members of the team have signed on for the long haul.
www.wired.com
June 5, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
This is Lola. She is one of the most skilled soccer dribblers we've ever seen, so it makes sense that she's already capturing footage for her documentary. 14/10
June 5, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
OK, this is wild.

In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.

It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.

What the HELL?

1/
May 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
The awesome might of a raging supercell with a wedge tornado at night in the Nebraska Sandhills, April 27, 2025. #newx
May 12, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
Carla Hayden was supposed to serve until 2026. She was abruptly removed with no clear reason given, although I think it’s obvious why.
May 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
HAPPENING NOW: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was just taken into custody while protesting outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention center
May 9, 2025 at 7:44 PM
@wired.com @reuters.com @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social

Sadly I can’t think of any other good candidates to actually do this. I’ve lost faith in @apnews.com and @npr.org
coverage of important issues.
newsrooms of the world did u know that when Rümeysa Öztürk gets out you can pay her to write an editorial, and then publish it? did u know that if all of you did this it would be a whole thing and a good one
May 9, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
Stephen Miller says they are “actively looking at” suspending the writ of habeas corpus, which is only allowed when the US has been invaded or during an insurrection, which would not allow people to challenge their incarceration in court if they are arrested and detained.
May 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
What is happening at FEMA? Instability, cuts, and a looming sense of dread have FEMA employees unsure the agency is ready for hurricanes, fires, and floods. “We are being set up for a really, really bad situation," says one.
FEMA Isn’t Ready for Disaster Season, Workers Say
Instability, cuts, and a looming sense of dread have FEMA employees unsure the agency is ready for hurricanes, fires, and floods. “We are being set up for a really, really bad situation," says one.
www.wired.com
May 8, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
staffers are still cleaning up the Kristi Noem mess after she got gutted/filleted by @chrismurphyct.bsky.social

this is A MOMENT. #MustWatch

🧢 @trumpfile.org
May 8, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
Conclave Tok is alive and kicking.
May 7, 2025 at 10:00 PM
“Let’s go, shall we? Let’s go.”
TANK vs TESLA

"We've crushed fascism before and we'll crush it again"

- ⁠WW2 veteran Ken, 98, in the tank
May 7, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
Weather and climate research funds are being “chainsawed” from NOAA's budget. Last I checked, Louisiana & Florida, which are maximally susceptible to Hurricanes, voted Red in the last General Election.

Wondering if residents there knew in advance this would happen.
May 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Reposted by Alas, Babylon
This wrapping paper turns everything into bread 🥖

Created by Japanese designer Ippei Tsujio
May 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM