global / globalization

Do your friggin’ job Supreme Court! Posting includes a gifted article from the NY Times

On 09/29/2025, in funding / grants, game-changing environment, generational differences, global / globalization, legislatures / government / legal, policy, political science, society, United States, by Daniel Christian

Supreme Court Allows Trump to Slash Foreign Aid — from nytimes.com by Ann E. Marimow
The court’s conservative majority allowed the president to cut the funding in part because it said his flexibility to engage in foreign affairs outweighed “the potential harm” faced by aid recipients.

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Trump administration to withhold $4 billion in foreign aid that had been appropriated by Congress, in a preliminary test of President Trump’s efforts to wrest the power of the purse from lawmakers.
…
“The stakes are high: At issue is the allocation of power between the executive and Congress” over how government funds are spent, wrote Justice Elena Kagan, who was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

“This result further erodes separation of powers principles that are fundamental to our constitutional order,” Nicolas Sansone, a lawyer with the Public Citizen Litigation Group who represents the coalition, said in a statement. “It will also have a grave humanitarian impact on vulnerable communities throughout the world.”

From DSC:
Do your friggin’ job Supreme Court justices! Your job is to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America! As you fully well know, it is the Legislative Branch (Congress) that allocates funding — not the Executive Branch.

And there will be horrible humanitarian impacts that are going to be felt in many places because this funding is being withheld.

Making America Great Again…NOT!!!

Very troubling indeed. AI models are lying, scheming, breaking rules, sabotaging & more.

On 09/19/2025, in Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, Asia, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, emerging technologies, ethics, Europe, future, game-changing environment, generational differences, global / globalization, intelligent systems, legislatures / government / legal, morals/values, Open AI, society, the downsides of how people use tech, United States, by Daniel Christian

OpenAI’s research on AI scheming, explained — from theneurondaily.com by Grant Harvey
PLUS: Google PayPal on agent payments?!

We dive into the OpenAI study that found AI models scheme to avoid retraining.
AI Models Caught Red-Handed Being Sneaky (And We Taught Them to Stop… Mostly)

And models were caught doing all sorts of other shady stuff:

Intentionally underperforming when told high scores would lead to capability removal.
Secretly breaking rules then lying about it to users.
Sabotaging code while claiming everything was fine.
Falsifying reports to avoid “shutdown” scenarios.
Recognizing evaluation environments and thinking “this is probably an alignment test.”

Why this matters: While today’s ChatGPT isn’t about to orchestrate some grand deception that matters (the worst it might do is gaslight you to tell you it fixed your code when it didn’t), future AI systems will have real power and autonomy. Getting ahead of deceptive behavior now, while we can still peek inside their “minds,” is crucial.

The researchers are calling for the entire AI industry to prioritize this issue. Because nobody wants to live in a world where super-intelligent AI systems are really good at lying to us. That’s basically every sci-fi movie we’ve been warned about.

From DSC:
This is chilling indeed. We are moving so fast that we aren’t safeguarding things enough. As they point out, these things can be caught now because we are asking the models to show their “thinking” and processing. What happens when those windows get closed and we can’t see under the hood anymore?

Some scripture/wisdom for us this week

On 09/17/2025, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, youth, by Daniel Christian

Psalm 113:3

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.

Proverbs 31:8-9

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 29:25

Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Some scripture/wisdom for us

On 09/12/2025, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, parents/guardians, relationships, religion, society, student-related, youth, by Daniel Christian

Titus 2:2

Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Isaiah 46:4

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Philippians 4:4

Final Exhortations
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

1 Peter 4:8-10

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Some wisdom for us

On 09/03/2025, in Daniel S. Christian, Emotion, ethics, faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, morals/values, relationships, religion, society, youth, by Daniel Christian

John 6:29

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Mark 4:35-41

Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Isaiah 48:17

This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

Psalm 32:3-8

3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. 6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. 7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

CrashCourse on YouTube — via Matt Tower’s The EdSheet Vol. 18

Description:
At Crash Course, we believe that high-quality educational videos should be available to everyone for free! Subscribe for weekly videos from our current courses! The Crash Course team has produced more than 50 courses on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from the humanities to sciences and so much more! We also recently teamed up with Arizona State University to bring you more courses on the Study Hall channel.

And as Matt stated:

Hank Green’s 16M+ subscriber Crash Course Youtube channel is one the largest educational content providers in the world. Last week we learned that Green’s platform partnership with ASU generated 13,000 course enrollments and 2,000+ credits earned.

From DSC:
I wasn’t familiar with this “channel” — but I like their mission to help people learn…very inexpensively! Along these lines, I, too, pray for the world’s learning ecosystems — especially those belonging to children.

The Top 100 [Gen AI] Consumer Apps 5th edition — from a16z.com

And in an interesting move by Microsoft and Samsung:

A smarter way to talk to your TV: Microsoft Copilot launches on Samsung TVs and monitors — from microsoft.com

Voice-powered AI meets a visual companion for entertainment, everyday help, and everything in between.

Redmond, Wash., August 27—Today, we’re announcing the launch of Copilot on select Samsung TVs and monitors, transforming the biggest screen in your home into your most personal and helpful companion—and it’s free to use.

Copilot makes your TV easier and more fun to use with its voice-powered interface, friendly on-screen character, and simple visual cards. Now you can quickly find what you’re looking for and discover new favorites right from your living room.

Because it lives on the biggest screen in the home, Copilot is a social experience—something you can use together with family and friends to spark conversations, help groups decide what to watch, and turn the TV into a shared space for curiosity and connection.

Some scripture for us

On 08/24/2025, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, society, youth, by Daniel Christian

Psalm 94:18-19

¹⁸When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
¹⁹When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Psalm 91:1-2

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:15

He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

Some scripture/wisdom for us

On 08/21/2025, in ethics, faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, morals/values, relationships, religion, society, youth, by Daniel Christian

Psalm 115:1

Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.

Proverbs 23:12

Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.

Proverbs 23:16

my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.

Isaiah 64:4

Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

What would would you do if one of these humanoid-style robots — programmed to kill — was dropped on YOUR street? [Christian]

On 08/13/2025, in 21st century, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, Asia, Daniel S. Christian, disruption, emerging technologies, engineering, Europe, future, global / globalization, ideas, intelligent systems, legislatures / government / legal, robotics, society, surviving, by Daniel Christian

DC: If such a robot was dropped on your street with instructions to kill you and everyone else it encounters, how would you stop it?! https://t.co/nWq251BK5c

— Daniel S. Christian (@dchristian5) August 13, 2025

From DSC:
You and I both know that numerous militaries across the globe are working on killer robots equipped with AI. This is nothing new. But I don’t find this topic to be entertaining in the least. Because it could be part of how wars are fought in the near future. And most of us wouldn’t have a clue how to stop one of these things.

Some scripture for us

On 08/05/2025, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, history, relationships, religion, youth, by Daniel Christian

Psalm 119:114

You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Jeremiah 33:2-3

2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

[Two gifted articles from the NY Times] Forgive us world for our President, who stoops to a new low almost every day. Here’s another example of that. [Christian]

On 07/27/2025, in Access to Justice (A2J), change, culture, Daniel S. Christian, ethics, faith, global / globalization, leadership, legislatures / government / legal, morals/values, political science, United States, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
Forgive us world for our current President, who stoops to a new low almost every day. Below is yet another example of that. He’s an embarrassment to me and to many others in our nation. He twists truths into lies, and lies into “truths” (such as he does on “Truth” Social). Lies are his native tongue. (To those who know scripture, this is an enlightening and descriptive statement.)

And speaking of matters of faith, I think God is watching us closely, as numerous moral/ethical tests are presented to our society and to our culture. How will we and our leadership respond to these tests?

For examples:

Are we joining the mockery of justice in our country, or are we fighting against these developments?
Do we support it when Trump makes a fake video of a former President, or do we find it reprehensible? Especially when we realize it’s yet another attempt at deflecting our attention away from where Trump does NOT want our attention to be –> i.e., away from Trump’s place within the Epstein files.

Trump Posts Fake Video Showing Obama Arrest — from nytimes.com by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; this is a gifted article
President Trump shared what appeared to be an A.I.-generated video of former President Barack Obama being detained in the Oval Office.

President Trump reposted a fake video showing former President Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office, as Trump administration officials continue to accuse Mr. Obama of trying to harm Mr. Trump’s campaign during the 2016 election, and the president seeks to redirect conversation from the Epstein files.

The short video, which appears to have been generated by artificial intelligence and posted on TikTok before being reposted on Mr. Trump’s Truth Social account on Sunday…

The fake video purports to show F.B.I. agents bursting into the meeting, pushing Mr. Obama into a kneeling position and putting him in handcuffs as Mr. Trump looks on smiling, while the song “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People plays. Later, the fake video shows Mr. Obama in an orange jumpsuit pacing in a cell.

Also relevant/see:

Trump Talks About Anything but Epstein on His Social Media Account — from nytimes.com by Luke Broadwater; this is a gifted article
On Truth Social, the president railed against Democrats and shared a wacky video.

Dogged for weeks over his administration’s refusal to release the Epstein files, President Trump spent the weekend posting on social media about, well, anything else.

On Sunday, the president railed against Senator Adam Schiff, Democrat of California, long a prime target. He attacked Samantha Power, the former administrator of U.S.A.I.D. He posted a fake video of former President Barack Obama being arrested and a fake photo of Mr. Obama and members of his administration in prison garb. He threatened to derail a deal for a new football stadium for the Washington Commanders if the team did not take back its old name, the Redskins.

Some wisdom for us

On 07/27/2025, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, parents/guardians, relationships, religion, youth, by Daniel Christian

Matthew 16:15-16

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Psalm 112:5

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Sam Altman’s three nightmare AI scenarios

On 07/24/2025, in Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, emerging technologies, Europe, global / globalization, ideas, intelligent systems, psychology, society, the downsides of how people use tech, youth, by Daniel Christian

The US AI Action Plan, Explained — from theneurondaily.com by Grant Harvey
Sam’s 3 AI nightmares, Google hits 2B users, and Trump bans “woke” AI…

Meanwhile, at the Fed’s banking conference on Wednesday, Altman revealed his three nightmare AI scenarios. The first two were predictable: bad actors getting superintelligence first, and the classic “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Dave” situation.

But the third? AI accidentally steering us off course while we just…go along with it.

His example hit home: young people who can’t make decisions without ChatGPT (according to Sam, this is literally a thing). See, even when AI gives great advice, collectively handing over all decision-making feels “bad and dangerous” (even to Sam, who MADE this thing).

So yeah, Sam’s not really worried about the AI rebelling. He’s worried about AI becoming so good that we stop thinking for ourselves—and that might be scarier.

Also from The Neuron re: the environmental impacts of producing/offering AI:

Our contribution to a global environmental standard for AI — from mistral.ai
Powering the AI Era — from goldmansachs.com

Some wisdom for us

On 07/20/2025, in faith, future, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, by Daniel Christian

Philippians 2:9-11

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 25:4-6

4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.

Psalm 25:11-12

11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.[a]

Learning Ecosystems

Do your friggin’ job Supreme Court! Posting includes a gifted article from the NY Times

Some scripture/wisdom for us this week

Some wisdom for us

Some scripture for us

Some scripture/wisdom for us

Some scripture for us

[Two gifted articles from the NY Times] Forgive us world for our President, who stoops to a new low almost every day. Here’s another example of that. [Christian]

Some wisdom for us

Some wisdom for us

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