John Peters
@johnthejack.bsky.social
Unbeliever (political & religious), Wales rugby, #c4news, porridge, tea, #MEcfs
'Obvious but wrong'
Also JTJ on the other place
https://johnthejack.com
'Obvious but wrong'
Also JTJ on the other place
https://johnthejack.com
Reposted by John Peters
“The neuron teaches us something uncomfortable: computation isn't a lens revealing neural truth—it's a filter that shows us only the biology that looks like a computer. Everything else gets discarded before we even begin our analysis.”
Fascinating read.
Fascinating read.
When we try to formalize a neuron computationally, we don't translate biology into code—we perform a violent collapse.
www.ocrampal.com/what-a-neuro...
#philosophy #science #psychology #AI #intelligence #physics #biology #philmind #philsci #philsky #philpsy #neurosky #neuroskyence
www.ocrampal.com/what-a-neuro...
#philosophy #science #psychology #AI #intelligence #physics #biology #philmind #philsci #philsky #philpsy #neurosky #neuroskyence
What a Neuron Teaches Us About Computation's Limits
When we try to formalize a neuron computationally, we don't translate biology into code—we perform a violent collapse. We lock causation into fixed arrows when biology lives in causal ambiguity. We sy...
www.ocrampal.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:09 PM
“The neuron teaches us something uncomfortable: computation isn't a lens revealing neural truth—it's a filter that shows us only the biology that looks like a computer. Everything else gets discarded before we even begin our analysis.”
Fascinating read.
Fascinating read.
Reposted by John Peters
If you've missed this piece about the different modes of empiricism in computer science versus the social sciences, I can highly recommend it. doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/the-empiri...
The Empiricism Gap in Computer Science
So far, I have argued that there is a dissonance between, on the one hand, CS’s founding myths, curricula, and self-image, and, on the other hand, the modern production of knowledge in computer scienc...
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz
January 4, 2026 at 1:28 PM
If you've missed this piece about the different modes of empiricism in computer science versus the social sciences, I can highly recommend it. doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/the-empiri...
Reposted by John Peters
--Think Différant--
Since mainstream analytic philosophy is clearly struggling to wrap its head around the writing of #LLM #AI, a better approach might be to consult the one philosopher who took WRITING seriously as a philosophical problem: Jacques Derrida. doi.org/10.1007/s001...
Since mainstream analytic philosophy is clearly struggling to wrap its head around the writing of #LLM #AI, a better approach might be to consult the one philosopher who took WRITING seriously as a philosophical problem: Jacques Derrida. doi.org/10.1007/s001...
January 4, 2026 at 4:04 PM
--Think Différant--
Since mainstream analytic philosophy is clearly struggling to wrap its head around the writing of #LLM #AI, a better approach might be to consult the one philosopher who took WRITING seriously as a philosophical problem: Jacques Derrida. doi.org/10.1007/s001...
Since mainstream analytic philosophy is clearly struggling to wrap its head around the writing of #LLM #AI, a better approach might be to consult the one philosopher who took WRITING seriously as a philosophical problem: Jacques Derrida. doi.org/10.1007/s001...
Reposted by John Peters
The last day before heading back to work, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than with the yearly galette des rois. 👑
January 4, 2026 at 6:47 PM
The last day before heading back to work, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than with the yearly galette des rois. 👑
Reposted by John Peters
“Sure, Maduro’s regime was corrupt, but Trump doesn’t mind corrupt regimes, only corrupt regimes where he doesn’t get a piece of the action.”
No, YOU forgot to post the link to your own piece. thecritic.co.uk/the-trump-ga...
The Trump Game | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine
The first rule of the Trump Game, played by politicians around the world, is you do not talk about the rules of the Trump Game. The object of the game is to pretend that the President of the United…
thecritic.co.uk
January 4, 2026 at 6:32 PM
“Sure, Maduro’s regime was corrupt, but Trump doesn’t mind corrupt regimes, only corrupt regimes where he doesn’t get a piece of the action.”
Excellent report by @lindseyhilsum.bsky.social on Colombian border: Venezuelans wait with some trepidation, acting president without any real power, fears of factionalism and descent into (possibly bloody) chaos. Concern in much of region, particularly Cuba. Scepticism everywhere #c4news
January 4, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Excellent report by @lindseyhilsum.bsky.social on Colombian border: Venezuelans wait with some trepidation, acting president without any real power, fears of factionalism and descent into (possibly bloody) chaos. Concern in much of region, particularly Cuba. Scepticism everywhere #c4news
Left-wing leaders across Latin America are feeling a bit like Mexico normally feels: 'So far from God and so near the United States.' @lindseyhilsum.bsky.social on #c4news
January 4, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Left-wing leaders across Latin America are feeling a bit like Mexico normally feels: 'So far from God and so near the United States.' @lindseyhilsum.bsky.social on #c4news
Reposted by John Peters
Today I wrote about my daughter who is about to turn 18 and has been battling long covid since early last summer. I am sharing her story with her permission in the hope that it might lead us to finding better treatment options. Please read and share. Thank you.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Kathi
Today I am sharing my daughter's story. She will turn 18 this week and has been battling "long covid" for lack of a better term since this past summer. It has turned her life (and ours) upside down.
substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Today I wrote about my daughter who is about to turn 18 and has been battling long covid since early last summer. I am sharing her story with her permission in the hope that it might lead us to finding better treatment options. Please read and share. Thank you.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
All that macho FAFO stuff from Hegseth and Rubio, but the fear is that they may well be the ones to find out, they and the poor Venezuelans. #c4news
January 4, 2026 at 6:18 PM
All that macho FAFO stuff from Hegseth and Rubio, but the fear is that they may well be the ones to find out, they and the poor Venezuelans. #c4news
Reposted by John Peters
King: "What is your idea, in infesting the sea?"
Pirate: "The same as yours, in infesting the earth! But because I do it with a tiny craft, I'm called a pirate; because you have a mighty navy, you're called an emperor."
--Augustine, City of God, 4.4
Pirate: "The same as yours, in infesting the earth! But because I do it with a tiny craft, I'm called a pirate; because you have a mighty navy, you're called an emperor."
--Augustine, City of God, 4.4
January 3, 2026 at 9:50 PM
King: "What is your idea, in infesting the sea?"
Pirate: "The same as yours, in infesting the earth! But because I do it with a tiny craft, I'm called a pirate; because you have a mighty navy, you're called an emperor."
--Augustine, City of God, 4.4
Pirate: "The same as yours, in infesting the earth! But because I do it with a tiny craft, I'm called a pirate; because you have a mighty navy, you're called an emperor."
--Augustine, City of God, 4.4
Illustration of the chilling effect on media of Trump's attacks on it, including nuisance legal claims.
My guess is that the motive was at least in part not about 'protecting US troops' but protecting themselves from retribution by the administration.
personally I think if a story about an illegal war and kidnapping leaks to you should publish it.
January 4, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Illustration of the chilling effect on media of Trump's attacks on it, including nuisance legal claims.
Reposted by John Peters
physiosforme.com/post/new-surve…
As requested - survey kept open for an add week. If you are #hcpcp wit#MEME o#lclc wit#pemem please complete this online survey of your experiences. It takes about 15 mins but you can stop and complete later to allow for pacing. Thanks @physiosforme.bsky.social
As requested - survey kept open for an add week. If you are #hcpcp wit#MEME o#lclc wit#pemem please complete this online survey of your experiences. It takes about 15 mins but you can stop and complete later to allow for pacing. Thanks @physiosforme.bsky.social
https://physiosforme.com/post/new-surve…
January 4, 2026 at 12:26 PM
physiosforme.com/post/new-surve…
As requested - survey kept open for an add week. If you are #hcpcp wit#MEME o#lclc wit#pemem please complete this online survey of your experiences. It takes about 15 mins but you can stop and complete later to allow for pacing. Thanks @physiosforme.bsky.social
As requested - survey kept open for an add week. If you are #hcpcp wit#MEME o#lclc wit#pemem please complete this online survey of your experiences. It takes about 15 mins but you can stop and complete later to allow for pacing. Thanks @physiosforme.bsky.social
In the US — where nearly 40% of people struggle to pay a $400 medical bill, one in three live with medical debt, about 26 million are uninsured and the average three-day hospital stay costs $30,000 — crowdfunding has become part of the health system.
(£) www.thetimes.com/us/american-...
(£) www.thetimes.com/us/american-...
For sick Americans, a slick GoFundMe is a matter of life and death
In a country where 26 million people are uninsured, emotional fundraising pleas can be the difference between hope and destitution
www.thetimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:17 PM
In the US — where nearly 40% of people struggle to pay a $400 medical bill, one in three live with medical debt, about 26 million are uninsured and the average three-day hospital stay costs $30,000 — crowdfunding has become part of the health system.
(£) www.thetimes.com/us/american-...
(£) www.thetimes.com/us/american-...
Previous protests have ended in repression, and there is little assurance that the current unrest will unfold differently. External threats of regime change are likely to worsen internal violence rather than empower Iranian society.
(£) www.thetimes.com/world/middle...
By @sanamvakil.bsky.social
(£) www.thetimes.com/world/middle...
By @sanamvakil.bsky.social
Three crises hang over Iran — even middle classes are on the brink
Hardship and years of discontent fuel protests against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime. The threat of war with Israel is looming too
www.thetimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Previous protests have ended in repression, and there is little assurance that the current unrest will unfold differently. External threats of regime change are likely to worsen internal violence rather than empower Iranian society.
(£) www.thetimes.com/world/middle...
By @sanamvakil.bsky.social
(£) www.thetimes.com/world/middle...
By @sanamvakil.bsky.social
Reposted by John Peters
It wasn't Malaria that defended Africans against colonialism
Portugal colonised Mombasa and the East African coast for 105 years in the 17th century; that was 37 years longer than the British lasted in 19th-20th cent. Kenya
The disease barrier is a myth
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/guns-germs...
Portugal colonised Mombasa and the East African coast for 105 years in the 17th century; that was 37 years longer than the British lasted in 19th-20th cent. Kenya
The disease barrier is a myth
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/guns-germs...
December 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
It wasn't Malaria that defended Africans against colonialism
Portugal colonised Mombasa and the East African coast for 105 years in the 17th century; that was 37 years longer than the British lasted in 19th-20th cent. Kenya
The disease barrier is a myth
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/guns-germs...
Portugal colonised Mombasa and the East African coast for 105 years in the 17th century; that was 37 years longer than the British lasted in 19th-20th cent. Kenya
The disease barrier is a myth
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/guns-germs...
Reposted by John Peters
Portugal did not need quinine to occupy Angola and Benguela for nearly 500 years
It wasn't armies of mosquitoes that stopped them from colonizing the rest of central Africa;
They invaded and were beaten back; it's not very complicated
It wasn't armies of mosquitoes that stopped them from colonizing the rest of central Africa;
They invaded and were beaten back; it's not very complicated
December 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Portugal did not need quinine to occupy Angola and Benguela for nearly 500 years
It wasn't armies of mosquitoes that stopped them from colonizing the rest of central Africa;
They invaded and were beaten back; it's not very complicated
It wasn't armies of mosquitoes that stopped them from colonizing the rest of central Africa;
They invaded and were beaten back; it's not very complicated
Reposted by John Peters
Manuscript cultures in West Africa's frontier regions.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
December 31, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Manuscript cultures in West Africa's frontier regions.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/texts-from...
Reposted by John Peters
The West African scholar al-Wālī (fl. 1688) was a rationalist whose writings combined classical/Greek philosophy and local oral traditions to challenge the ‘blind acceptance’ of religious authority
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
December 31, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The West African scholar al-Wālī (fl. 1688) was a rationalist whose writings combined classical/Greek philosophy and local oral traditions to challenge the ‘blind acceptance’ of religious authority
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
www.patreon.com/posts/17th-c...
Reposted by John Peters
When you’re super secure and in no way trying to compensate for anything.
January 4, 2026 at 12:56 AM
When you’re super secure and in no way trying to compensate for anything.
Reposted by John Peters
“What appears to be a newly created account appeared to invest $30,000 Friday in Maduro's exit. After Maduro went into custody Saturday morning, that same investor netted $436,759.61.”
Someone made $400K by predicting Maduro's capture. Here's what happened
The winnings come as the rules governing prediction markets are still evolving.
www.axios.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:29 PM
“What appears to be a newly created account appeared to invest $30,000 Friday in Maduro's exit. After Maduro went into custody Saturday morning, that same investor netted $436,759.61.”
Reposted by John Peters
finally, we're living through precedented times
January 4, 2026 at 6:56 AM
finally, we're living through precedented times
Reposted by John Peters
ExxonMobil and Chevron are about to bestow Donald Trump with a Peace Prize momentarily.
January 3, 2026 at 7:18 PM
ExxonMobil and Chevron are about to bestow Donald Trump with a Peace Prize momentarily.
Reposted by John Peters
There are 250 species of turtle in Order Testudines. They are among the most ancient lines of reptiles.
"Turtles" as a group includes terrapins/tortoises, sea turtles, & freshwater turtles.
Early in their evolution. a split occurred around what to with their neck.
"Turtles" as a group includes terrapins/tortoises, sea turtles, & freshwater turtles.
Early in their evolution. a split occurred around what to with their neck.
March 31, 2025 at 12:48 PM
There are 250 species of turtle in Order Testudines. They are among the most ancient lines of reptiles.
"Turtles" as a group includes terrapins/tortoises, sea turtles, & freshwater turtles.
Early in their evolution. a split occurred around what to with their neck.
"Turtles" as a group includes terrapins/tortoises, sea turtles, & freshwater turtles.
Early in their evolution. a split occurred around what to with their neck.
Thought @philgunson.bsky.social was good on #c4news
January 3, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Thought @philgunson.bsky.social was good on #c4news