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void-gazer.bsky.social

@void-gazer.bsky.social
212 followers 1.4K following 819 posts

Just a human hoping for a better world Anti-dystopia, pro-beaver London UK

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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
When it comes to AI it's only China that comes close at all and they have incentives to collaborate; they are miles away from developing the compute to train frontier models without distillation anyway Autonomous weapons bans would be harder but still possible, similar to what happened with bio
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
How long do you think it's going to be limited to bumbling around? 5 years? 10 years? Also specialised manufacturing robots have existed for decades, I just picked that example because it was directly connected to GPT
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
AI risk debate in a nutshell:
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Here's the nominal, non-adjusted figures. Notice how wage growth is higher than the horizontal 'overall inflation' bar, but not higher than healthcare costs? We're arguing in the same general direction. I'm not claiming people are getting richer. I am trying to show why the data is misleading.
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
to which I posted this table which uses the same data but calculates it relative to wage growth my first point with this was that health, education and childcare are more expensive unambiguously housing is a bit more complicated - here it looks like housing is cheaper relative to wages by 8.6%
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
you are nowhere close to understanding what I am saying and I do not know how to simplify it further. This whole thing started with me responding to Stancil, who was arguing thst the economy is fine actually, with this graph people responded with 'oh but look wages went up more than housing costs'
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Full circle to where this all started: You can buy many more TVs with your wages but much less healthcare. Housing - chart below makes it look like you can buy more. But in practice averaging out urban and rural housing is misleading
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
I thought these ones would've been pretty clear 🫤
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
This happens Damn I guess the economy was fine all along and Americans just lost their minds and elected a madman cause of vibes
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Heard you like charts
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Wrong on both counts 1. Most enclosure happened between 1760-1870. Went from 3% arable land enclosed to over half in that period globalcapitalism.history.ox.ac.uk/files/case26... 2. Factory boom happened over a similar time period. Roughly between 1750-1850. "Very quickly", sure, by some timescales
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Most Londoners do not drive often and that is a good thing You are not entitled to roll around a city in a giant metal box, nor to demand lots of space to park your giant metal box. I'd rather have nice things in my city. If entitled "motorists" got their way London would look like the below
aerial photograph of the 26 lane Freeway in Texas with a lot of traffic, looks like shit
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
I got my figures from this article: www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo... Maybe I shouldn't trust the Standard, but I'm not sure how you're getting 120 either Has 120 rows but data starts at row 13. Then have to exclude 'non-stats19' ones to keep figs comparable + factor in multi fatality incidents
​A vertical screenshot of a spreadsheet titled "Road fatalities in Greater London: 2025 provisional." The top section contains a disclaimer explaining that the data is provisional and follows "STATS19" national statistics definitions, excluding suicides, deaths by natural causes, or injuries followed by death after 30 days. 
​Below the header is a large table with columns including Date, Location, Fatal Casualty Mode (e.g., Pedestrian, Pedal Cycle, Motorcyclist, Car Driver), Borough, Type of Fatality (Stats19 vs. Non-Stats19), and TfL Bus Involved.
​The table lists approximately 95 individual fatal incidents occurring between January 1, 2025, and December 29, 2025. Pedestrians and motorcyclists appear most frequently in the "Fatal Casualty Mode" column. Several entries are marked with a "Yes" in the final column, indicating the involvement of a London bus.
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Road deaths in London 2012 - 134 2013 - 132 2014 - 127 2015 - 136 2016 - 116 2017 - 131 2018 - 112 2019 - 125 [covid years] 2022 - 102 2023 - 95 2024 - 110 2025 - 95 2012-2019 avg 126 2022-2025 avg 100
A highly saturated, "Frutiger Aero" style digital image. It features several dolphins leaping out of a bright blue ocean into a sky filled with a large rainbow, heart-shaped clouds, and colorful hot air balloons. A large white text box in the center contains the lowercase caption: "how it feels to spread misinformation".A professional bar chart titled "People killed on London's roads by year - Total fatalities." The y-axis ranges from 0 to 140, and the x-axis shows years from a "Baseline (2010-2014 average)" through to 2025.
​Data Trend: The bars show a general downward trend, starting at 136 (Baseline/2015) and hitting a low of 75 in 2021 (marked as "Pandemic affected years").
​Recent Data: Post-pandemic, the numbers rise to 102 (2022), 95 (2023), and 110 (2024).
​Current Year: The final bar for 2025 is colored teal (signifying "Provisional data") and shows a count of 95. A dotted light-blue line tracks the overall downward trend across the entire period.



Source TFL, reported here:



https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/suv-cars-london-sadiq-khan-mayor-road-safety-plan-tfl-b1274659.html
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Left Panel: A brightly lit, colorful 3D render of Mr. Incredible (Bob Parr) from The Incredibles smiling optimistically. The caption at the bottom reads: "THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE REVERSE CRAMER INDEX".
​Right Panel: A black-and-white, highly distorted, and "deep-fried" version of the same image where Mr. Incredible looks hollow-eyed and traumatized. The caption at the bottom reads: "THOSE WHO KNOW THE REVERSE CRAMER INDEX".
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Khan started the Swedish VisionZero model in 2018 Road deaths in London 2012 - 134 2013 - 132 2014 - 127 2015 - 136 2016 - 116 2017 - 131 2018 - 112 2019 - 125 [covid years] 2022 - 102 2023 - 95 2024 - 110 2025 - 95 2012-2019 avg 126 2022-2025 avg 100 26 lives vs mild inconvenience. Easy choice.
graph showing the numbers in the post with a downward trendline
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
We need this guy there ASAP
Uber driver named Pekup Andropov (sounds like 'pick up and drop off')
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
This is why but they're too scared to admit it
A geopolitical map meme of the Middle East, focusing on the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.
​The map shows Iran to the north, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to the south, and Oman to the east. A small, red silhouette of a person lying down (a common internet meme representation of Saddam Hussein's hiding place) is superimposed over the Musandam Peninsula of Oman, pointing directly into the narrowest part of the Strait of Hormuz. A line connects the silhouette to the text label "Saddam Hussein."
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Too dangerous, here's a safer and cheaper option
An edited meme featuring a line-art illustration of several ancient laborers pulling a heavy platform on wooden rollers. A photographic image of a massive oil tanker ship is superimposed on top of the platform. The laborers appear to be straining as they pull the ship with ropes.
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
An MS Paint-style meme featuring two characters representing the geopolitical tension in the Middle East.
​On the left, a large, angry-looking white figure with the Iranian national emblem on its chest is shouting into a speech bubble: "I FUCKING HATE YOU AND HOPE YOU DIE."
​On the right, a smaller, smiling character with a propeller hat and an image of an oil tanker on its chest says calmly: "I love transporting oil through the strait of hormuz."
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Republicans should definitely run this guy for president, he is not easy to make fun of at all and everyone takes him very seriously, really
The JD Vance meme
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Side by side comparison with him previously doing the heart gesture in case anyone still has doubts
Side by side gifs of Musk, left showing him doing a 'heart goes out to you' gesture, right shows him doing a Fascist salute
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
the debate
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Here let me step up my game
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
In terms of food insecurity, 2022 was worse than 2021, so that isn't surprising I wasn't on Twitter in 2022 so idk if you mean something different
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Raw numbers of how much food people are buying may be up, but food insecurity was also up in 2023 vs 2022 (2024 data not out yet) You are really beating up that strawman you've made there. www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-...
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
The crux of it is that blaming nostalgia as a whole, as Will does, is incorrect. Real issue is which groups people identify with & how they see the group's status relative to the past I don't know of any papers that have looked at left's nostalgia, but likely they identify with working class etc
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
'Group-based' in this paper is not to relative supremacy vs other groups necessarily, can be relative to same group's past Paper is abt the right so doesn't explain the left, I'm referring to its distinction between personal & group nostalgia - former has little political impact, latter has a lot
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Not if you look at the crime figures in the context of other cities - London under Khan has done much better relative to the rest of the UK Crime rates fluctuate for many reasons, most of which are outside the mayor's control
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
Line graph of global temperatures for past 22,000 years
various historical events are marked: Agriculture begins, Stonehenge, etc. Last 10,000 years are labelled temperature range during all of human civilisation. The line jumps sharply at the end, marked 'you are here'
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
Squidward with bulging eyes meme

Text: when I'm in a being wrong competition and my opponent is paul krugman
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
Mike Wazowski meme with NATO logo superimposed

top text says "NATO watching trump talk about annexing other members"
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
The Sardaukar Planet from Dune 2021
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
They've literally made him look like Superman 😂😂
Superman in handcuffs being escorted by soldiers, from the movie Man of Steel
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
The heavily armed escort makes it look like that scene from Superman lmao
Superman in handcuffs with soldiers, from the film Man of Steel
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Trust in Asteroids is already at an all-time high I'd say
Election campaign style poster saying "Giant Meteor Just End It Already"
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
4 panel meme, grim reaper says 'its time to go Bashar'
Bashar says 'was I a good dictator'
'No'
'You were utter shit'
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Coming soon
Diagram showing a hole and two red icons showing 2x people lying down. 
Entrance Hidden by Bricks and Rubble
Saddam Hussein
Bashar al-Assad
Air Vent
Fan
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
The UK spends significantly less as a % of GDP on healthcare than the US, has a higher life expectancy, better health outcomes & lower mortality despite 14 years of Tories mismanaging the NHS. sites.lsa.umich.edu/mje/2023/05/... doi.org/10.1787/d5db...
Health Expenditures as % of GDP in 2022, bar chart of OECD countries. US spends 16.6%, UK 11.3%Bar chart showing rates of preventable mortality US vs Uk. UK numbers are around 125 per 100,000 population, U.S around 175. 2020 has a spike in both, but the UK has a smaller spike at 150 while the US goes to nearly 250
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Stilgar from Dune with an intense look, subtitle says "Lisan al-Gaib!"
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
How does a supposed journalist not even think to double check "Hunter deButts"? The normalisation of AI search is going to be a disaster 'Citogenesis' and ppl being confidently incorrect are huge issues already, AI will make it so much worse I bet ChatGPT citogensis has already happened. XKCD:
Transcript from ExplainXKCD:

Where Citations Come From:Citogenesis Step #1

Through a convoluted process, a user's brain generates facts. These are typed into Wikipedia.

[Hairy sits at a desk, typing on a laptop.]Hairy: (typing) The "scroll lock" key was was designed by future Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a college project.
Step #2
A rushed writer checks Wikipedia for a summary of their subject.[Ponytail sits at a desk, typing on a desktop.]Ponytail: (typing) US Energy Secretary Steven Chu, (Nobel Prizewinner and creator of the ubiquitous "scroll lock" key) testified before Congress today...
Step #3 Surprised readers check Wikipedia, see the claim, and flag it for review. A passing editor finds the piece and adds it as a citation.[Cueball sits on a couch with a laptop in his lap, typing.]Cueball: Google is your friend, people. (typing)
Step #4
Now that other writers have a real source, they repeat the fact.

[A flow chart, with "Wikipedia citation" in the center. The word "Wikipedia" is in black, the word "citations" is white with a red background.[A black arrow leads from "brain" to "Wikipedia."][A black arrow labeled "words" leads from "Wikipedia" to "careless writers," and a red arrow labeled "citations" leads back to "Wikipedia citations."][A black & red arrow leads from "Wikipedia" to "cited facts" which leads to "slightly more careful writers," which leads to "more citations," which leads back to :"Wikipedia" (all black & red arrows).] References proliferate, completing the citogenesis process.
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
If your "armed citizenry prevents coups from ever getting off the ground so we don't hear about them" idea was true, You'd rarely see coups in countries with armed citizenry. And yet: 10% of Thais own guns legally, and it has a US-style gun culture. www.dw.com/en/a-look-at...
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
You have it backwards, Regimes usually disarm their opponents *after* seizing power Most European countries have gun control and haven't had coups Meanwhile the countries with the most coups all have/had easy access to guns It's the strength of institutions that makes a difference, not guns
Number of coup d'états worldwide from 1945 to 2021, by type and country
.lı
Thailand
10
5 12
Syria
8 423
Bolivia
CO
8
9
5 3
00
1
Argentina
7
8
Nigeria
626
Haiti
6
7
Paraguay
5 311
Benin
LO
5
6 3°
Peru
5 211
Burkina Faso
5 11
Afghanistan
5
61
Mauritania
LO
5
441
LO
5
5 22
Sierra Leone
Honduras
5 2
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
I find it very disturbing how the media have covered this. They're reporting it as if it's some quirky story 'causing controversy' rather than a woman being harassed and abused by an online mob. She got rape threats and comments full of sexism & slurs This is how it's being covered: This is not ok.
Cambridge Lecturer Defends PhD On 'Politics of Smell', But Internet Isn't Impressed
40 minutes ago
N NDTV
Thesis Linking Body Odour
With Racism Goes Viral. Internet Reacts
1 day ago
TN Times Now
Cambridge Teacher Earns PhD After Thesis Correlated Body Odour With Racism
1 day ago
Daily Mail
Woman leaves the internet bitterly divided after sharing 'woke' PhD thesis on 'the...
2 hours ago
MSN
University of Cambridge PhD student's thesis exploring 'smell' goes viral
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Little sample:
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
These are not people with "slightly differing opinions". And free speech my ass, why were critiques of the Turkish government censored? Why can't you post information about Musk's jet? What about criticising the Indian government? theintercept.com/2023/03/28/t... futurism.com/elon-musk-tw...
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
"people" in quotation marks. so I'm not a person? your enemies aren't really people? don't do Fascist things if you don't want to be called out for it
Umberto Eco's 14 Points of Fascism
1. The cult of tradition.
2. The rejection of modernism.
3. The cult of action for action's sake.
4. Disagreement is treason.
5. Fear of difference.
6. Appeal to social frustration.
7. The obsession with a plot.
8. The enemy is both strong and weak.
9. Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy.
10. Contempt for the weak.
11. Everybody is educated to become a hero.
12. Machismo and weaponry.
13. Selective populism.
14. Ur-Fascism speaks Newspeak.
Lawrence Britt's 14 Points of Fascism
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
4. Supremacy of the Military
5. Rampant Sexism
6. Controlled Mass Media
7. Obsession with National Security
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
9. Corporate Power is Protected
10. Labor Power is Suppressed
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
14. Fraudulent Elections
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
If your idea of "just taking the piss" includes using slurs and swastikas, you might need to take a look at yourself
Man wearing Nazi uniform looks uncomfortable and asks "Are we the baddies?"
Screenshot from a Mitchell and Webb comedy sketch
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void-gazer.bsky.social @void-gazer.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
London remains orders of magnitude safer than US Cities. It also looks nice, have a look at the London hashtag here on Bsky, it's a gorgeous city. Or look on Google Street View. Instead of lying to strangers on the internet, what a sad and miserable thing to do discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10183479/1/g...
3 graphs showing homicide rates comparing London to other cities. The first one shows London vs other parts of the UK over time where it is second with a rate of 1.4 after Greater Manchester (2.1), but above West Yorkshire (1.0) and West Midlands (0.8). The X-axis begins at 2012 and ends at 2020, it is squiggly but generally follows a stable trend for London.  Second graph compares to European cities, Barcelona had the highest rate in 2021 with 3.1, London is in the middle, below Paris but above Rome and Milan. The third graph compares it to North American cities, London is the lowest and the line now looks flat, Chicago is at the top with 29.8 compared to London's 1.4. New York has a rate of 5.1
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