iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 17h

Just seen the phrase ‘strong with the weak, weak with the strong.’ Is there any better summary of Trump?

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“What I’ve learnt in the last two and a half years is don’t take anything said in Washington too seriously.” BBC reporter, on Trump’s comments on the fatuous five fuel thieves.

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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 18h

La Pigna Sanremo, posing for a photo.

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Nice bit of Russian Orthodox in Sanremo.

Highly decorated roof and domes of a Russian Orthodox Church.

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Well compared to you Mike, fair enough.

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Reposted by Jo Wolff

Very happy about this, although unclear to me what will happen to the bus I sometimes catch along part of Oxford Street. Can’t imagine what a reasonable replacement route would be: hoping transport professionals have a much better grasp of bus route possibilities.

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Reposted by Jo Wolff

Emmanuel Carrère, Kolkhoz.

In my baccalaureate exams, which I took in 1975, I got a 4 in philosophy. To put that into perspective, 10 is a passing mark, 14 to 16 is very good, and 4 is a straight fail. But you have to ask: philosophy isn't maths, so a 4 in it is absurd: why not a 5? Why not a 3? Why not a O, for that matter? Without telling me, my father approached the Paris School Board and after some time was able to view my exam paper. The marker had written: 'insufferable pedantry'.

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The same body of law, applied in different circumstances, will predictably sometimes lead to different outcomes.

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Reposted by Jo Wolff

Rare opportunity to invest in no future.

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Just seen the phrase ‘strong with the weak, weak with the strong.’ Is there any better summary of Trump?

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In this age of surveillance I often think of the story of the bugging of a Trade Union leader’s phone. His wife was so lonely in London she spent all day speaking on the phone chatting to her mother in Scotland, both in heavy accents. Someone had the job of listening in and transcribing.

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“We’re keeping an open mind.” Words never heard from a member of the Trump Administration.

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Reposted by Jo Wolff

Very old fashioned I know, but I still have a hankering for a world in which people can live the life they want to live as long as they don’t seriously harm others or put their own life and health at too high risk (and in the latter case there’s room for discussion).

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It’s said that if you click enough links on Wikipedia you always get to some philosophical content, also that in internet disputes eventually someone brings up Hitler. Therefore when AI models become fully parasitic using their own outputs for training, all answers will be taken from Mein Kampf.

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Rare opportunity to invest in no future.

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Looking around, is it time to circle the woke wagons?

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I have enormous sympathy. But the dilemma for me is that in universities that are less globally connected what people want is not to listen to me talk (there are plenty of my talks on YouTube already), but to come up, meet me, and chat after the talk.

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“Our father … was away three, often four days a week, taking with him a small black suitcase and, in an envelope, some washing powder to wash his underpants and socks at the hotel.” I thought I travelled light. Hmmm Emmanuel Carrère, Kolkhoz.

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Terror suspects released on bail? Informant with an over-active imagination maybe?

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Looking forward to this new P.G. Wodehouse.

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Reposted by Jo Wolff

Building docks to build submarines. I think I’d prefer more money into Best Start (the revival of ‘Sure Start’) making universal credit less draconian, and some mayor-like initiatives such as some new bus routes, community and sports centres, library upgrades, even road and pavement repair.

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Reposted by Jo Wolff

But if it’s woke reliability it doesn’t count.

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Pre-COVID I would often get invitations to speak at conferences or workshops a year, even two, ahead. Now it’s much more common to get invitations just a few months, even weeks, away. Can think of several personal reasons but wondering if it’s part of a more general trend.

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Heard a good French Caribbean cover band play Bob Marley’s Redemption Song last night, and my immediate thought was how is it even possible to write a song so hauntingly beautiful?

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Is DC called ‘Trumpograd’ yet?

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Reposted by Jo Wolff

There was a bit of a fad for posting photos of trees here once. Not seeing so many now. Oh well. Always a few years behind the curve.

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But if it’s woke reliability it doesn’t count.

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Even if you don’t need them? For guests?

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There was a bit of a fad for posting photos of trees here once. Not seeing so many now. Oh well. Always a few years behind the curve.

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Heard a good French Caribbean cover band play Bob Marley’s Redemption Song last night, and my immediate thought was how is it even possible to write a song so hauntingly beautiful?

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