oliver @sonoftambo

It’s not influential but this is by far the best one

Natalie Wynn @ContraPoints

2 months ago

Is “We Are Charlie Kirk” the most influential work of AI art?

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The UK could have stopped a genocidal massacre in Sudan’s El Fasher but failed to act over concerns it would anger the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a top war crimes expert has told Parliament. Human rights investigator Nathaniel Raymond said he provided the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with intelligence for more than two years warning that the fall of El Fasher would unleash “one of the single largest mass casualty events of the 21st century”. With his warnings ignored, more than 60,000 people were killed when the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed the Northern Darfur state capital last October. The UN has since said the massacre showed “hallmarks of genocide”. Addressing parliament’s International Development Committee on Tuesday, Raymond said his team from the Yale School of Public Health believed the UK was its “best hope” for stopping the siege. But his team’s warnings were ignored despite two dozen private meetings with the office of then-foreign secretary David Lammy. He told MPs that Lammy’s officials prioritised the government’s “economic, security, and diplomatic relationships with the UAE” above “the genocidal slaughter of tens of thousands of civilians living in El Fasher and its surrounding communities”. As the sole penholder for Sudan at the United Nations Security Council, the UK is responsible for driving international response to the conflict. “They told me that the UK was facing significant private pressure behind the scenes from the UAE limiting its ability to affect the situation,” Raymond told MPs. “Direct sanctions against UAE officials, at minimum, could have been used to interdict the clandestine UAE pipeline of advanced weaponry flowing to the RSF,” he added. A UN report published Tuesday found that the RSF is responsible for 87% of verified incidents of rape and sexual slavery in Sudan, including el-Fasher, since the outbreak of violence in 2023. “The tragedy of El Fasher shows that advanced technology and analysis can provide leaders essential decision support information, but satellite data and computing power cannot by itself generate either political will or moral courage,” said Raymond.

Your 2025/26 Premier League champions... ARSENAL! 🏆🔴

Mikel Arteta has been forced to use 21 different front fours this season so perhaps it is no wonder they lack attacking rhythm. And just when it looked like they might be finding it, both Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze got injured. So it was back to grinding out another win. But at this stage, with four games left, that’s what needs to happen. 📝 @amylawrence71 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/72299…

@chaojinnn you ok man?

@IDFVETRAPIST @chaojinnn @CovertWarfare_ no way man 😭. unfortunately i’m just wired as a problems person, not a solutions person.

@IDFVETRAPIST @chaojinnn @CovertWarfare_ yeah i don’t disagree. it’s just the way i look at things. again, you could (and i would) absolutely explain away the malaysia example through examining the postcolonial conditions - but i agree it’s just super damn frustraring, and genuinely quite saddening

@IDFVETRAPIST @chaojinnn @CovertWarfare_ jf-17 programme is good bc it shows pakistan developing capacity to produce airframes, but the engine is still chinese so a way to go

@IDFVETRAPIST @chaojinnn @CovertWarfare_ not that rhe nucleae programme is bad - it offers great strategic depth; but you have a nuclear state that can’t produce ball bearings at scale

@IDFVETRAPIST @chaojinnn @CovertWarfare_ it’s rhe cop-out answer i use for everything but it’s really just a consequence of material conditions of post-colonial statehood

@IDFVETRAPIST @chaojinnn @CovertWarfare_ but remain military dependent for diff reasons. gulf states largely by strategic choice, pakistan by economic constraints eg. sanctions & choosing to spend on big boom weapons rather than military bredth, turkey by alliance constraints eg. f35/s400 issue

I want there to be a day when I don’t have to share this speech anymore

Massive new pressures on strained energy and water systems for tiny gains on jobs & growth Incredibly: “It is not known what the energy consumption of the new centres will be as this data is not included in the planning applications…” No national strategy on water use either.

BBC News (UK) @BBCNews

a year ago

Data centres to be expanded across UK as concerns mount bbc.in/45k9pKP

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'I walk down the street now and sometimes people call me “uncle.” Uncles in the community give pearls of wisdom and help people on the bumpy roads of life, so my aim now is to make football more available for everyone, in the same way Mr. Pigden and others did for me. Both on and off the pitch. I think the future of football culture sees people from all walks of life, pros and ex pros, journalists and fans – anyone with a love of the game really – the future of the culture sees everyone pitching in and taking the sport to new heights. I want my girls to go into any situation, whether it’s in sports or whatever other field they choose, and feel like they’ve got a chance and deserve to be in the room. It shouldn’t have to take an amazing schoolteacher to one day spot you standing outside the classroom, or a football captain to find you waiting hopelessly in the club reception area. Opportunities should be available and inclusive from the very beginning.⁠ ⁠ I hope when it’s all said and done people remember me as a down-to-earth, humble bloke who knew he was fortunate to get the opportunity he did, and did the very best he could with it. I got my start in life because a nice person stopped and asked me, “What you doing here?” and then helped me get where I needed to be. My hope now is in 50 years, or in 100 years time, no kid is going to be standing outside a classroom feeling utterly helpless and alone.' ⁠ ❤️✍️ @IanWright0

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@lol_purify the goat

“One day, everyone will have always been against this.” - Omar El Akkad.

@lol_purify ok willy