tsalon 🇨🇦

If you reach a goal by compromising your values, you haven’t succeeded.

If you fall short of a goal by upholding your values, you haven’t failed.

The highest form of accomplishment is standing by your principles when they’re tested.

I still remember this.

Topology of "China AI" On circles, misconceptions, deep infrastructure, founder archetypes, state's role, memes, AGI. A conversation about the topology of China’s AI world for you.

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Love this!
substack.com/@archeronlin...

Farewell, Tess. The Pioneer of Old Shanghai Studies Dies at 93 "She gave Shanghai back its history."

Thank you Tess Johnston for your existence and for documenting of Old Shanghai, which was once my fascination when I was there in the late 1990s. RIP. substack.com/home/post/p-...

A touching part of story. You'd have to read what happened prior & his prayers to appreciate:

"As a new exile, Phurba received the Dalai Lama’s blessings in person.

“You have faced many hardships on your journey, I have been keeping you in my thoughts,” Phurba recalled the Dalai Lama saying."

and construct a rigorous mathematical system for China's outstanding philosophical thoughts, guiding social governance and practice in the coming intelligent era, thereby transforming into powerful productivity."

"endow artificial intelligence with a value system (the "conscience" mentioned by Wang Yangming) and a cognitive architecture (the "heart" mentioned by Zen Buddhism); to give "reason" to the humanities, interpret Chinese thought with the mathematical and cognitive models of artificial intelligence"

His ideas are quite unique and profound.

"This article attempts to build a two-way connection between the humanities and social sciences and general artificial intelligence: to establish a "heart" for the machine...

Very interesting read.

"AGI, Zhu’s team has recently said, is characterised by qualities such as resourcefulness in novel situations, social and physical intuition, and an understanding of cause and effect."

Reading about where we were then (+aspirations) and thinking about where we are now...

On Being Canadian: The Space We Make for Each Other - Policy Magazine The meaning of being Canadian begins with liberty. I knew this even before a turning point in my life became a turning point in the life of the country. If I

"The space we make for each other."

Please find some time to read this entire essay.

Reminds me of what Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche said:

"recently, I found out there's something we could do, which is maybe learn to outwit the algorithm.

You explore some other channels, so that the algorithm gets so confused."

youtu.be/vgdskXHXA9M?...

A.I. Is Coming for Culture We’re used to algorithms guiding our choices. When machines can effortlessly generate the content we consume, though, what’s left for the human imagination?

“Its webs, meanwhile, are woven by machines that are owned by corporations.” www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

I wish everyone on the planet could breathe clean air...

"US is trying to undercut global demand for Chinese green tech by compelling its largest trading partners to import US fossil fuels instead..."

Landscapes of Uniqueness, Inner and Outer, on a Walk Through Japan.

"Living by the Japanese principle of "一期一会 / ichigo ichie"—the uniqueness of each moment—teaches us that our experiences intertwine through fate. This interplay cannot be controlled or manipulated; it’s about welcoming each moment with an open heart and surrendering to it."

A beautiful piece...

PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

On climate and sustainability:

Aftershock: Creating Your Action Plan for a Greener Future

#SXSW

PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

And this one from the health & wellness category:

80 is the new 30:Drs. Bland & Bowden on the future of health

#SXSW

PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

Also intriguing is this hands-on workshop by former Google exec and conscious tech entrepreneur Annika Bevington

Awaken with AI: For the Brave and Ready

#SXSW

PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

My other #SXSW pick:
Accenture Life Trends 2026: The Hero’s Journey of Now
participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...

PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

The New Browser Wars: AI, Privacy and The Fight for You - an old friend Robert Mao of Arcsphere plans to share his thoughts and ideas on this at the next #SXSW , help vote to make it happen!

participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...

Also #amreading

Book cover: Essential Prose by Gary Snyder

At this moment: Essential Prose by Gary Snyder

Writing is healing. So do write! You never know, it may become a source and foundation for your art work later on.

Finally!

I don't mean to sound all gloom and doom, but some days I really wonder if we, as a collective whole, have a next year.

“Musk said that the great weakness of Western civilization is empathy. You fool. Empathy is the glue of humanity. It is the basis of civilization.”

How climate change is affecting prized tea-growing regions in China and Taiwan Changing weather patterns and higher temperatures are affecting some of the most prized tea-growing regions in China and Taiwan.

How is climate changing affecting the world’s most prized tea terroirs? @npr.org visited the idyllic hills of Fujian recently, replete with chirping crickets, to find out www.npr.org/2025/07/10/n...

We are folllowing the footsteps of U.S...