I was reading this speech by Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, where she warns that nuclear warfare has historically been constrained by human judgment, human conscience, and human accountability, and then she says AI lacks these qualities. It’s a great line. It’s got that reassuring, ceremonial ring to it. Like a prayer you say before…
Author: Norman
Title IX Legislated Inequality
You know, folks, I was thinking the other day, well, not really thinking, more like staring at the ceiling wondering why everything feels like a bad joke that never ends, and I remembered Title IX. Nineteen seventy-one. Civil Rights Act. Some smart people in Washington said, “Hey, let’s make sure the ladies get a fair…
Obsolete Technology Jobs
You ever notice how every few decades we announce the future, and then we ignore it for ten years out of spite. Like, right now, we have these AI systems that can write code, test it, deploy it, document it, and then politely ask if you would like a second application with fries. And the…
Garbage Time
People talk about “garbage time” in basketball. The last couple minutes of a blowout, where the starters are sitting on the bench with warm towels, and the coach is sending in guys whose mothers don’t even recognize them on the court. And the points don’t matter. The game’s already decided. It’s not history, it’s bookkeeping….
Wrath and Rage
Some people go to work every day, and they just let it all slide. The backstabbing, the incompetence, the guy in accounting who somehow doesn’t know how to use Excel despite working in accounting. None of it fazes them. They walk through the foul mistreatment of a workplace like they’re strolling through a light drizzle—annoying?…
Leftism is Infantalism
A lot of leftism these days feels like someone just slapped a political label onto a guy who never learned how to do his own laundry? I mean, remember when you were a kid – like a teenager, say – and you’d get all furious at the world because you, I don’t know, got a…
Landslide
Consider yourself fortunate to have just witnessed the single greatest landslide in the history of not just American politics, but—brace yourself—the history of civilization. That’s right, civilization. We’re talking about Donald Trump’s earth-shattering victory. This isn’t just a win; it’s a Win™, in all caps, bold, italicized, with little fireworks shooting off the ends. Forget…
Unburdened By What Has Been
I’ve been hearing some snickering about this “What Can Be, Unburdened By What Has Been” thing. Let’s call it WCBBWHB for short, or not, because that’s just ridiculous. The more I think about it, the more it sounds like the kind of babble you’d hear from someone who’s had a few too many mimosas at…
Gaining Function
So, you’ve heard about this thing called “Gain of Function” research, right? It’s one of those phrases that sounds like it came straight out of a science fiction novel, or maybe something a mad scientist in a cartoon would shout about while lightning crackles in the background. “Gain of function! My creation will now gain…
The Future is Amish
You ever think about the Amish? I mean, really think about them? There they are, living among us, like they’re from another time, another world even. But the more I think about it, the more I start to wonder if maybe, just maybe, they’ve got it all figured out. Yeah, that’s right. While we’re all…
Human Rights and Wrongs
You ever notice how we all talk about human rights like they’re these big, important things? Yeah, turns out, they’re pretty much like the instructions on a shampoo bottle — nobody really follows them, especially not the people in charge. I mean, I always thought rights were like those gifts you get on Christmas morning,…
Hate the Inferior
You ever hire someone to do a job, and then halfway through, you start to wonder if maybe, just maybe, you would’ve been better off asking your pet goldfish for help? Yeah, well, let me tell you about the time I decided to hire a contractor to recaulk my shower. I know what you’re thinking,…