Rebecca Zorach

Picture of lid of a Dunkin coffee cup with the word Dunkin and above it a graphic of a person appearing to run away from a map of the US

Ok it's been pointed out to me that this is supposed to be a rebus for "America runs on Dunkin," but it looks for all the world like a person running away from the US

Mary was ostensibly descended from David and Bathsheba, so...

New York Times font: "We focused on newborns because no one could blame them for the wealth position of their families," Dr. Darity said in an email.

As opposed to, say, 10 year olds, who absolutely are to blame for the wealth position of their families

The Psychological Impact of Digital Isolation: How AI-Driven Social Interactions Shape Human Behavior and Mental Well-Being Felix Eling 3697-3705 Apr 30, 2025 Education The Psychological Impact of Digital Isolation: How AI-Driven Social Interactions Shape Human Behavior and Mental Well-Being Felix Eling Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Gulu College of Health Sciences, Gulu City, Northern Uganda DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.90400265 Received: 13 March 2025; Revised: 22 March 2025; Accepted: 25 March 2025; Published: 30 April 2025 ABSTRACT The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in social interactions has transformed how humans experience companionship, communication, and mental well-being. This review examines the psychological impact of AI-driven social interactions, focusing on virtual assistants, AI chatbots, and digital companions. It explores the benefits, risks, and ethical concerns associated with AI companionship. A systematic review methodology was employed, detailing inclusion criteria, databases searched, and analysis techniques. Findings suggest that while AI can offer emotional relief and support, over-reliance may disrupt real-world social bonding. Ethical concerns such as data privacy, emotional manipulation, and regulatory gaps are highlighted. The study underscores the need for balanced AI integration in human socialization. The study also addresses gaps in previous literature by examining AI’s influence on different demographic groups and cultural contexts.

Let me tell you a story. Perhaps you can guess where this is going... though it does have a bit of a twist.

I was poking around Google Scholar for publications about the relationship between chatbots and wellness. Oh how useful: a systematic literature review! Let's dig into the findings. 🧵

Why do people think "it's here to stay" and "it's not going anywhere" are such persuasive arguments for AI? The same can be said for violence and hate

"We don't provide comment on correspondence to Congress regarding Interior issues via the media. However, the current review process ensures that wind and solar projects-regardless of whether they are proposed on federal, state or private lands —receive appropriate oversight when federal resources, permits or consultations are involved. This policy strengthens accountability, prevents misuse of taxpayer-funded subsidies and upholds our commitment to restoring balance in energy development. By applying consistent review standards, the Department is protecting American landscapes, safeguarding wildlife and prioritizing energy projects that deliver real value, reliability and return on investment for the American people." Thanks.

I now have comment from the Interior Department confirming it is holding up approvals for “federal resources, permits or consultations” related to solar projects on private lands

Cc @heatmap.news

Why does it effing matter if kids get extra time on tests? Give them ALL more time on tests. My ADHD kid accidentally got 2x rather than 1.5x on a high-stakes math test recently and lo and behold, he did better than usual. Does he know his stuff less because he needs more time?

What if we razed every Data Center to the ground and salted the earth where they stood

Looks like Spontaneous Objects is happening-- it's in the catalogue! And not only that but my cover image is on the cover of the catalogue! www.psupress.org/catalogs/PDF...

Tell me you have Pro-Russia bias without telling me you have Pro-Russia bias.

USAID shutdown has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health The Trump administration’s decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths from infectious diseases and malnutrition, accord...

Elon Musk and the Trump administration gleefully shutting down USAID “has already caused the deaths of six hundred thousand people, two-thirds of them children.”

People throw around terms like genocide quite freely online but it’s hard to find other words to describe this level of man-made death.

Almost half the US economy is now based on Nvidia selling GPUs to itself using other companies as proxies

To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.

A Terrible and Avoidable Tragedy in D.C. Trump was warned that members of the military could be attacked.

“There are costs to performatively deploying members of the military,” Juliette Kayyem writes, “one of which is the risk of endangering them”:

I wear a mask when I teach...wonder if I'll be reported!

Also interesting that The University Under Threat group really began with a test of the commitment to consistent enforcement. It turned out that tenured faculty, unlike say JVP, were not disciplined for violating the rules

Yes. Just clarifying that it wasn't forced by the deal. It predated the funding freeze by almost a year.

All of this was already put in place last year.

Fuck, Northwestern just caved. Reading the deal now. ( www.northwestern.edu/president/do... )

Instead of "AI", say "entitled assholes with computers"

Examples:

Will your job be replaced by entitled assholes with computers?

What's the environmental impact of entitled assholes with computers?

Will entitled assholes with computers cure cancer?

Do entitled assholes with computers lie?

COWEN: The stupidest question possible: Why don’t we just make more GPUs? ALTMAN: Because we need to make more electrons. COWEN: What’s stopping that? What’s the ultimate binding constraint? ALTMAN: We’re working on it really hard. COWEN: If you could have more of one thing to have more compute, what would the one thing be? ALTMAN: Electrons.

I laughed at loud. These people are so pathetic; our enemies are numbskulls. They will kill us all and still not know hs physics.

COWEN: The stupidest question possible: Why don’t we just make more GPUs?

ALTMAN: Because we need to make more electrons.

conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/sam...

Fox guest on how to save money during the holidays:

"Remember, adults don't need gifts. Focus on the people in your life who are aged 3 to 18. Grandma doesn't need slippers. If they don't live by you, don't get them a gift."

The Great AI Bubble Yes, it's a bubble. And yes, it's going to burst.

NEW: Welcome to the Great AI Bubble. Yes, it’s here. And yes, it’s going to burst.

It’s also got way more in common with the Epstein scandal than you really want to know.

open.substack.com/pub/broligar...

"Blending family and governance," NYT? WTF?

They fuck you up, your mum and dad
They may not mean to, but they do.
And now thanks to some bright tech lad
They will never, ever be done with you.

literally one of the quickest ways to watch most Americans turn into rabid frothing fascist zombies is mention the word “vegan” around them.

i’m personally not even vegan, i just think it’s neat. a lot of the theory (especially from BIPOC vegan folks) is really fascinating.

I mean:

1. I don't believe this for one second and...

2. If it is true, @schumer.senate.gov is incompetent and should go retire and hang out with Andrew Cuomo, and let someone competent take over.

Schumer AND Durbin need to go

You think people don't understand how this works? Either you made this happen or you're a complete weakling as a leader

Did ChatGPT tell the Democratic Party to kill itself??