Lembas Eater
@waybread.bsky.social
Just a person trying to be pseudonymous on the internet. Sometime teacher of philosophy. Episcopal. Trying to love my crooked neighbor with my crooked heart.
Addendum to this. One interesting thing I've found is you can actually devise multiple-choice questions that ChatGPT gets wrong about any given essay or book. What it gets wrong and why is not - for me at least - predicible. But there are persistent lacunae and misunderstandings in its output.
No but really tech companies are destroying education. Maybe you can argue they don’t mean to. And maybe you can argue there’s a way they could do better. But they are. The wheels are flying off.
November 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Addendum to this. One interesting thing I've found is you can actually devise multiple-choice questions that ChatGPT gets wrong about any given essay or book. What it gets wrong and why is not - for me at least - predicible. But there are persistent lacunae and misunderstandings in its output.
I have this same thought from time to time and then I have to take a break because, as Nietzsche said, the darkness stares back into you.
For profit companies, most of whom helped buy the sitting fascist government, have concentrated most of the gains in the stock market to effect, in part, this outcome which happens to align itself beautifully with the republican objective to destroy public education as we know it. Wild stuff.
November 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM
I have this same thought from time to time and then I have to take a break because, as Nietzsche said, the darkness stares back into you.
Reposted by Lembas Eater
It’s fun to think about the surgeon who will botch your surgery 20 years from now and what he’s doing at this moment. He just ran all his homework through ChatGPT. He just read that article about vaccines and autism at the CDC website. He just watched an Instagram video about the moon landing hoax.
November 21, 2025 at 4:27 AM
It’s fun to think about the surgeon who will botch your surgery 20 years from now and what he’s doing at this moment. He just ran all his homework through ChatGPT. He just read that article about vaccines and autism at the CDC website. He just watched an Instagram video about the moon landing hoax.
Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models
arxiv.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:28 PM
One sign of stupidity (or intentional ignorance, it amounts to the same thing) is "discovering" things people already know about and still, somehow, misunderstanding it.
Call it the "Christopher Columbus".
Call it the "Christopher Columbus".
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has proposed a "brilliant" idea for how to end the war in Ukraine. And how no one thought of it earlier.
November 20, 2025 at 6:19 PM
One sign of stupidity (or intentional ignorance, it amounts to the same thing) is "discovering" things people already know about and still, somehow, misunderstanding it.
Call it the "Christopher Columbus".
Call it the "Christopher Columbus".
If AI takes down Oracle I will revise my opinion of the tech. It is useful sometimes!
“.. After the new issuance, Oracle’s outstanding debt load surpassed $100 billion, making it the most indebted big tech company with an investment-grade rating.”
@wsj.com $ORCL
www.wsj.com/tech/oracle-...
@wsj.com $ORCL
www.wsj.com/tech/oracle-...
November 20, 2025 at 12:58 PM
If AI takes down Oracle I will revise my opinion of the tech. It is useful sometimes!
I see a lot of people asking what is Plur1bus about?
And I'm pretty sure it's about a virus from space.
Are people not paying attention?
And I'm pretty sure it's about a virus from space.
Are people not paying attention?
November 20, 2025 at 4:27 AM
I see a lot of people asking what is Plur1bus about?
And I'm pretty sure it's about a virus from space.
Are people not paying attention?
And I'm pretty sure it's about a virus from space.
Are people not paying attention?
All I want is fort LLMs to stop being (essentially) free to high school and college students and... that will probably never happen.
I guess I can hope that training stays expensive and the cheap models fall out of date.
Oh, how I hate the free internet cheating machine.
I guess I can hope that training stays expensive and the cheap models fall out of date.
Oh, how I hate the free internet cheating machine.
most haters literally believe serving the LLM loses money in spite of the fact that it is clearly reported in sec auditable documents at several megacorps that it is very profitable
if you're an AI hater (and i'm not hating on haters) you should probably disinter these two scenarios in your mind. the "AI bubble go pop" world most likely involves it becoming very cheap; it's the expectation that it *will* get more expensive that is driving the center overbuilds and gov't begging
November 20, 2025 at 2:38 AM
All I want is fort LLMs to stop being (essentially) free to high school and college students and... that will probably never happen.
I guess I can hope that training stays expensive and the cheap models fall out of date.
Oh, how I hate the free internet cheating machine.
I guess I can hope that training stays expensive and the cheap models fall out of date.
Oh, how I hate the free internet cheating machine.
I really like jazz, but I feel like I would like it a lot more if I was cooler. Alas!
November 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
I really like jazz, but I feel like I would like it a lot more if I was cooler. Alas!
I sometimes teach a college class here and there and the kids are all great. They're wonderful people. But many of them can't really read (without audiobook narration) and most have no idea how to write a paper thanks to AI.
So, like, maybe we should go back and figure out where went wrong.
So, like, maybe we should go back and figure out where went wrong.
Call me Luddite but it's mental that some American school districts have moved absolutely everything onto screens??
November 19, 2025 at 8:06 PM
I sometimes teach a college class here and there and the kids are all great. They're wonderful people. But many of them can't really read (without audiobook narration) and most have no idea how to write a paper thanks to AI.
So, like, maybe we should go back and figure out where went wrong.
So, like, maybe we should go back and figure out where went wrong.
The reason the GOP doesn't have anything approaching a healthcare plan is that having a healthcare plan requires you know things. And the GOP, in its current form, is constitutionally opposed to knowing things.
Markwayne Mullin: "Reward people for being healthy. Think about this. Healthcare is the only industry that you're not rewarded for taking care of your responsibility. If you think about homeowners insurance, if you're within 500 feet of a fire hydrant, your insurance goes down."
November 19, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The reason the GOP doesn't have anything approaching a healthcare plan is that having a healthcare plan requires you know things. And the GOP, in its current form, is constitutionally opposed to knowing things.
I am skeptical about many AI-booster's claims b/c LLMS output the (rough) average of what people have previously said in the context of their prompt.
You can't get Copernicus by taking the (rough) average of Ptolemy.
And even if you did - through randomness - how would you know it's right?
You can't get Copernicus by taking the (rough) average of Ptolemy.
And even if you did - through randomness - how would you know it's right?
November 18, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I am skeptical about many AI-booster's claims b/c LLMS output the (rough) average of what people have previously said in the context of their prompt.
You can't get Copernicus by taking the (rough) average of Ptolemy.
And even if you did - through randomness - how would you know it's right?
You can't get Copernicus by taking the (rough) average of Ptolemy.
And even if you did - through randomness - how would you know it's right?
Every cereal is man cereal if you are man enough.
November 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Every cereal is man cereal if you are man enough.
Again. We have got to get to the bottom of the "smiling like a maniac" disease that every spokesperson of this administration has contracted. Somebody run some blood tests or something.
KARL: The president claims that Thanksgiving costs are down 25%. Does he know that's not true?
HASSETT: Well if you look at Walmart--
KARL: Wait a minute. I've gotta stop you. The Walmart package this year contains much less than the one last year. That's why the price is less.
HASSETT: Well if you look at Walmart--
KARL: Wait a minute. I've gotta stop you. The Walmart package this year contains much less than the one last year. That's why the price is less.
November 18, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Again. We have got to get to the bottom of the "smiling like a maniac" disease that every spokesperson of this administration has contracted. Somebody run some blood tests or something.
Reposted by Lembas Eater
Health Savings Accounts are so unappealing to me. I don't need a debit card to buy q-tips. I need an MRI.
November 17, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Health Savings Accounts are so unappealing to me. I don't need a debit card to buy q-tips. I need an MRI.
Ugg. We've already, like, had this discussion.
November 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Ugg. We've already, like, had this discussion.
Now we're talkin'.
It could be buy one get one free shrimp bhuna at your local Indian restaurant
BESSENT: “THE $2,000 DIVIDEND COULD COME IN LOTS OF FORMS… IT COULD BE JUST THE TAX DECREASES. IT COULD BE NO TAX ON TIPS.”
November 17, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Now we're talkin'.
In a better world we would be using the industrial and logistical might of our country to help these people. This is a perfect opportunity to make friends by good deeds. And yet such possibilities are invisible to evil men.
"Iran is facing its worst water crisis in decades. With no end in sight and authorities warning they may even have to evacuate the capital of 10 million people, residents like Ensani are scrambling to respond."
www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/i...
www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/i...
Taps run dry as water crisis forces Iran to consider evacuating its capital
A prolonged drought along with years of overconsumption, an inefficient agricultural sector and mismanagement have led to the problem, analysts say.
www.nbcnews.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:32 PM
In a better world we would be using the industrial and logistical might of our country to help these people. This is a perfect opportunity to make friends by good deeds. And yet such possibilities are invisible to evil men.
The good news we solved the climate crisis.
The bad news is we don’t want to.
The bad news is we don’t want to.
The economic sense is so extremely in favour of renewables now, Pakistan is even paying Qatar penalties to rather NOT deliver the fossil gas that Pakistan already placed orders for, because their Solar PV and batteries make much more sense.
It saves them money to cancel their gas imports and pay!
It saves them money to cancel their gas imports and pay!
So Pakistan is *paying* Qatar to *not* deliver LNG because even including this penalty payment their solar PV and battery spending is much better value for money and saves them billions.
How fascinating!
How fascinating!
November 16, 2025 at 1:26 PM
The good news we solved the climate crisis.
The bad news is we don’t want to.
The bad news is we don’t want to.
Reposted by Lembas Eater
I’m going to be honest with you: The headline is appalling, but the piece, which indeed has an absolutely bizarre tone of nostalgia, is worse.
November 16, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I’m going to be honest with you: The headline is appalling, but the piece, which indeed has an absolutely bizarre tone of nostalgia, is worse.
Because the 10th wouldn’t fit.
I would like to know if there's a rationale for having NINE URNS on the mantle
"It was tough to beat Apple, but the Swiss did it." said one administration official.
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
November 16, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Because the 10th wouldn’t fit.
Insurance: It costs a ton.
Me: I want to pay less!
Insurance: Ok. Die then.
Me: Here is the money you wanted, Mr. Insurance.
Me: I want to pay less!
Insurance: Ok. Die then.
Me: Here is the money you wanted, Mr. Insurance.
Imagine negotiating prices with an insurance company as an individual what a fucking dumbass
November 15, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Insurance: It costs a ton.
Me: I want to pay less!
Insurance: Ok. Die then.
Me: Here is the money you wanted, Mr. Insurance.
Me: I want to pay less!
Insurance: Ok. Die then.
Me: Here is the money you wanted, Mr. Insurance.
Reposted by Lembas Eater
Priests being arrested
November 14, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Priests being arrested
The quote from the student is so telling. She paid for a class. The university removed her instructor. Now shes stuck.
This is never about student wellbeing or learning. Always about power.
This is never about student wellbeing or learning. Always about power.
Indiana University removed a Lecturer from her "Diversity, Human Rights, and Social Justice" course after a student filed a complaint about a graphic the instructor showed in class, which included "Make America Great Again" as an example of "Covert White Supremacy."
www.wfyi.org/news/article...
www.wfyi.org/news/article...
IU lecturer removed from class during intellectual diversity investigation
A lecturer in the Indiana University School of Social Work has been removed from teaching one of her classes Diversity, Human Rights, and Social Justice while the university investigates a complaint...
www.wfyi.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:53 AM
The quote from the student is so telling. She paid for a class. The university removed her instructor. Now shes stuck.
This is never about student wellbeing or learning. Always about power.
This is never about student wellbeing or learning. Always about power.
The connection between fascism and AI is both tell you what they think you want to hear in order to advance an agenda indifferent to the truth.
Look, Vance knows this is false. He doesn’t actually believe it. He has said this outright. For fascist filth like Vance, factual correctness is irrelevant. All that matters is whether it is symbolically correct. It’s vice signaling. Does it accurately represent your imagined fears?
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 14, 2025 at 3:23 AM
The connection between fascism and AI is both tell you what they think you want to hear in order to advance an agenda indifferent to the truth.