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Yes, it’s already time to be worried — very worried. As the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have shown, the earliest drone equivalents of “killer robots” have made it onto the battlefield and proved to be devastating weapons. But at least they remain largely under human control. Imagine, for a moment, a world of war in which those aerial drones (or their ground and sea equivalents) controlled us, rather than vice-versa. Then we would be on a destructively different planet in a fashion that might seem almost unimaginable today. Sadly, though, it’s anything but unimaginable, given the work on artificial intelligence (AI) and robot weaponry that the major powers have already begun. Now, let me take you into that arcane... Read more
Been There, Smelled That explores the aromas of places around the world. Travel writer Maggie Downs investigates some of the world’s most potent smells, looks at how odor cultivates a connection to place, and presents how humans engage with smells, from scents that have endured generations to the latest innovations in aroma-making.
There’s a specific combo of smells that serves as a portal, instantly plunging me into a different place and time. Warm sugar, fried dough, freshly popped popcorn—and then WHOOSH. It’s Orlando 1993, and I’m a frizzy-haired kid on my first trip to Disney World.
My school marching band was there to perform in a parade, but I don’t recall the actual parade or spinning in teacups or any of that. What stands out is the moment I entered the Magic Kingdom. It was magical, sure. But it was also disorienting, because splayed out before me was the cleanest place I’d ever seen.
How do you make the funny cowboy dance stop?
The funny cowboy dance starts on its own and ends on its own. Any attempt to stop it will make it last longer.
Would the funny cowboy dance be funnier if you wore an oversized cowboy hat, or a very tiny cowboy hat?
Don’t be ridiculous.
What are you chewing when you do the dance?
Chewing?! I’m not chewing anything. That’s what my mouth does when I do the dance.
Does it ever change? It looks the same every time you do it.
It only looks the same to the untrained eye, or to the idiot.
What does it mean?
My funny cowboy dance doesn’t “mean” anything. It simply “is.” It can entertain, yes, but its main purpose is to make you question some of your long-held beliefs. The dance is also meant as a tribute to the men who built this country, the dancing cowboys.
Isn’t the pretending-to-gallop-cross-eyed-while-firing-a-six-gun-in-the-air basically the same as the pretending-to-gallop-cross-eyed-while-twirling-a-lasso?
To the untrained eye, or to the idiot.
- by Matthew McManus
Over two days this week, a U.K. court will hear Julian Assange’s appeal against extradition to the U.S.
The post Life Inside the Brutal U.S. Prison That Awaits Julian Assange appeared first on The Intercept.
- by Robin Reames
One popular theory has attributed the decline in death rates to improved nutrition. But an analysis of caloric intake worldwide suggests that there isn’t a strong relationship.
As many of you may already know, the Drupal Association has set strategic goals for 2023 to 2025, such as doubling the number of organizations that are makers and tripling the number of contributions (Read the strategic plan here). In line with these objectives, I joined in 2023 to contribute to boosting activities in support of these goals. Since then, we've been up to some pretty exciting stuff.
While I've been spreading the word and championing these activities, it became apparent that Drupal needed a dedicated space – a specific hub – where we could discuss these initiatives, particularly focusing on innovation. The aim? To not only highlight the efforts of the Drupal Association but also to capture the essence of Drupal Innovation.
The post Styled appeared first on The Perry Bible Fellowship.