There are several reasons why I have started this writing project by focusing on the story of the Dalai Lama: for one thing, it's a great story and I love stories! But also, there are lessons here about politics: about power, how to allocate it, and what to do with it, a topic that I always seem to keep coming back to these days.

The story of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people's campaign to remain autonomous is so bizarre to western eyes that one could well question what lessons could possibly be drawn that would be relevant to us. (Oracles falling into a trance? Rebirth? Seriously?) But this story is in the end about issues that are universal: power, equality, autonomy, security. It allows us to see these issues from a completely different direction, and thus perhaps lead to entirely new ideas about our perhaps too familiar western liberal democracies. So humour me please, as I try to draw some conclusions relevant to you and me from this strange story about Tibetans following a beloved monk across the Himalayas by the thousands.

On authority and power

It is clear that the authority of the Dalai Lama—and I am referring here to the centuries old figure, not the 14th Dalai Lama in particular— is never under question. He is respected and loved. People are willing to give up their lives for him. He consults with advisers and ministers, and even oracles, but in the end the decisions are his. That's how the system works, and that's how it's worked forever and will continue to do so.

It might seem strange that such a system does not descend into authoritarianism. But there's a good reason why this doesn't happen. The antidote against authoritarianism is built into the system by ensuring the Dalai Lama truly works for the benefit of the people. That's what happens when you isolate and carefully educate someone from the age of two.

“Democracy”

Compare this with what we understand as democracy today. This is a system born out of popular uprisings against the authority of an absolute monarch: the French Revolution and the American Revolution at the end of the 1700s, and the gradual shift of power from the monarch to parliament that we might call the British Revolution, which includes a period of civil war in the 1600s.

These revolutions in turn inspired similar movements in other countries, against their own monarchies or remote colonial masters, displacing the power of a few into power of the many. Or at least presumably that was the intention. With variations, the resulting system is essentially the same: an elected legislature with the power to make laws, an executive with the power to send bills to the legislature [1], and most importantly to regulate and implement the law, and a judiciary that settles disputes and punishes law breakers. And last but certainly not least, an armed police to enforce the law and keep everyone in line: we must not forget that a police force is an essential component of the system. Without one, it doesn't work.

In such a system, power is delegated to elected representatives [2]. The citizens themselves are reduced to voting for someone every few years. They have zero power.

Electoral democracy is a mechanism for allocating power (hopefully) without bloodshed

What grew out of those violent uprisings against absolute monarchies was a compromise to allocate power by some means that could be deemed to be fair, and hopefully non-violent. This is why there is such horror today of contested elections. It will take Americans a long time to digest the events of January 6, 2021 when the Capitol was stormed by a large and definitely violent mob.

But the process is still intrinsically adversarial and competitive, and winner-takes-all. This is key: the winner is handed near-absolute power; the result is essentially a dictatorship. The only thing that distinguishes electoral democracy from absolute power is term limits: every few years, there is a vote.

Who actually gets the power?

Not the citizens. The citizens have zero power. And anyone who has lived in such a system for a while knows that, with very rare exceptions, the people who get into power as their representatives do not represent the best interests of the community. Rather, they represent specific interests, generally revolving around money.

The battle for power never ends

There is no end to the competition for power. What we call democracy is simply an eternal competition for the minds of the voters, waged with all the marketing techniques crafted by the rich experience of sellers of things, with a prize to be awarded every few years. It is a substitute for the hereditary system of kings, interrupted only by the occasional palace rebellion or bloody popular uprising.

“Democracy” is not a system of government. It is the same ancient competition, just with rules to prevent bloodshed.

So you see my fascination with the politics of Tibet: There is simply no competition for power: No warring political parties, no campaign rhetoric, no false promises, no lies.

However, as we have seen, this is not enough. There is another requirement: the state should be run for the benefit of the citizens, and no one else.

The antidote to authoritarianism

There is a way for the citizens to gain power in a “democracy”, albeit indirectly: they can vote in true representatives who will act according to the best interests of the people. Again, we see this with the traditional role of the Dalai Lama: by careful training from an early age, he is guaranteed to believe only in serving others. By the time the Dalai Lama reaches adulthood he has fully internalized the bodhisattva's vow to live for the benefit of all beings. Including of course his fellow Tibetans.

Very occasionally an electoral democracy produces an Olof Palme or a Jacinda Ardern , but the system soon reverts to its natural state of bitter competition between people not at all driven by a will to serve the community, and protect it from the ambitions of this or that special interest. Jacinda Ardern burns out, Olof Palme is assassinated. Liberal democracy has no mechanism to ensure the people's representatives really represent their best interests.

The challenge

So maybe the Tibetan model is not easily transferable to other societies. But the question still remains whether real democracy, without the quotation marks, can still be achieved. What Tibet teaches us is that we have to

• move beyond the eternal, never resolved, adversarial competition for power, and

• find a mechanism for assigning power to people who are guaranteed to represent the best interests of the community.

I don't have a complete and satisfactory answer to this challenge, although I have a few ideas which I will explore in the future, and maybe you do too. But I am certain of one thing: I am not going to waste my time clinging to the illusion that “democracy” is the only possibility.

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[1] In a parliamentary system, the executive is part of the legislature, but the idea is the same.

[2] But not always. In a republic, the executive chooses their own ministers, who are not elected. This is a serious vulnerability in the system, if the ministers are powerful enough.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, But words will eviscerate me Reduce me to a quivering mass Praying for a sweet release From these mortal bonds.

To be buried Under A Big Pile Of Stones

8/25/24, 1:41:50 AM

My day started with thinking I have covid. :☹️

Negative!! Thankful it’s just crud: 🙂 I have a crud and overslept and missed FS: ☹️ (but probably just result of too little sleep and too much everything else) My assistant was ready: 🙂 FINALLY got a repair done at ACH KH that’s been hanging over my head like the sound-system-of-Damocles for 11 months. 🙂 Order greasy spoon Hamburger as reward for a week of good eating 😀 got waylaid by a phone call from my better half ☹️ Jellybean crashed into someone, refuses to admit she did anything wrong. ☹️☹️☹️☹️ Calmed her down. 🙂🙂 Calmed lady (Janie) whom she hit. 🙂

Janie tells me her husband died in Feb. So I empathize and start asking questions. Turns out he fought heart disease for 10 years and died at 50. What a great opportunity to preach. Tell her I worry about making it to 60, but it doesn’t keep me up at night because of my hope for the future. I ask if she reads the Bible. ‘I try, but it’s so hard to understand.’ I explain that of the Bibles I use, the NWT is by far the easiest to read. I offer to have Jellybean reach out and get her a copy. I also explain, that many Bible subjects require studying to comprehend. Grab a tract from Jellybean. And she readily accepts and expresses appreciation. 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 When the policeman is done writing his report, Janie is very happy and pleasant as she drives away. Jellybean is a few hours from calming down, her cheeks are flushed and she is VERY frustrated. It is extremely hot this afternoon. I think MRL is dancing on her nerves as this all went down. ☹️☹️ We stop at QT to stand in the AC and get a cold drink. 😃 High on adrenaline and the conversation I just had, when I spot a lady trying to water something in a small ratchet-looking trailer (too small for a horse, but looks like a horse trailer). I shout ‘whatcha got in there, a giant goat!?’ She laughs and shouts back that it’s a small donkey. I approach and strike up a conversation. She has come from AR to rescue the little donkey who has been neglected. He won’t drink. I pet and try to sooth the pretty little creature and talk about how sad it is that people mistreat animals. I am angling to preach, but the moment never feels right. I go to get a some literature thinking that might be a good farewell. But opportunity not seized is opportunity missed. Jellybean has pulled away in her vehicle with the literature. 😀🤨

We stop and visit with SLW who is an insurance adjuster and he has some suggestions (don’t fight the claim, consider paying out of pocket to get the repair done considering the age of the Benz). He recommends a good shop to visit. 🙂 The girls go to get dressed for a party. 🙂🙂 I excuse myself and go for a drinking swim with SLW, where I call you mid-gut spill. Not sure if this is a smiley or sad-face. I think smiley. I think I’ve lost my capacity to be embarrassed with you. I trust you. Except for some areas. 🙂 Our conversation goes on for a couple of hours and he’s really opening up after I share a few things I’ve never told anyone. As he starts to traipse into his trauma and talk about what sounds like sexual abuse, Jellybean calls and needs rescue from MRL. :–( So I have to excuse myself and switch gears for a dance party. Now I’m being like the life of the party since I’m quite well lubricated and feeling no pain, to quote a friend. A little beer would make these gathers vastly more tolerable.

Note to self: do not wear a Banana-shirt from Carolina beach if I ever decide to rob a bank. That thing is an attention magnet like few things I’ve ever worn.

Wrap the party at 9 and head home, Jellybean is now ready to party. So we head downtown to Pat Green concert.

We start by setting up our chairs outside the venue by campervan Beethoven and eating potato chips and dip. Once, we are snacked, we get tickets and go in where the party is.

He’s loud and brash. And very, very country. Modern country anyway. But not the pop-y sounding stuff on the radio. I guess I think of classic country as I saw it on hee-haw. Pat Green is more modern than that but not ultra-modern to compete with the likes of Taylor Swift. There’s a 35 yo in front of me for as a fiddle but foul-mouthed as a sailor. In fact, now that I notice, nearly everyone is very attractive here. By standards in a small air force city, at least. Perhaps a younger crowd, more fitness oriented?

Final few songs are very chill and bass-heavy. It’s a welcome change from the bright and clashy-sounding early set. It feels like he’s found his heart in these later songs, which are likely his favorite.

MRL buys us stickers and goes on her phone. I wonder is she texting someone? Or editing photos? She is cute the way she tries to do the things I would want her to do. I wish she would just embrace the evening for herself and forget that I am part of the equation. But, that is her psyche for the time being. I have always been confident that once her mental capacity is corrected, she will truly come to appreciate Jellybean for her kindness and generosity. And she is generous.

I can tell that after one day, Jellybean realizes she bit off more that she cares to chew for a whole week. But, it will be good that she has to rise to the occasion consistently. I just hope she doesn’t smash the poor Benz again.

After Jellybean is enlivened by her coke and rum. Suddenly her trepidation and stress from the accident has melted away and she is ready to twirl and shout and love that we are out here tonight under the texas stars. And it is an amazing evening. After the grueling heat of the day, the night has opened to strong breezes that rustle the trees. If it was cooler, I would say it sounds like fall.

A perfect night for a summer concert. To be alive and out of doors.

After Jellybean compliments a young woman’s boots, (SHINEY boots ALWAYS elicit a remark) we meet a VERY loquacious, inebriated, and handsy lady and her husband (also very handsy and away more inebriated). We have a delightful conversation with them post-concert when they mention they run a dairy. We are newly enlighten raw-milk drinkers. Jellybean and MRL are interrogating this couple and we learn the name of their dairy, how they spell their last name, what brand of boots she wears, where they grew up, the fact that they have 4 children (6, 8, 10, 12). Good for her after 4 children, she still presents as a picture of health and vitality. The husband laments that the majority of his profit gets scraped away by a corporation that buys his product.

I am genuinely worried about him driving and express as much. He reassures me that he isn’t driving, that they are walking around down the block to a bar that’s open until 2. I don’t think this is any better, but he is unswayed and we part ways. I hope for their children’s sake they get home safely.

We do.

It is 1:34a now. You are on planet neubelon 7 or climbing a purple tree or something. Jellybean and MRL are up watching something. And i start making notes and decide you might find all this interesting.

I fade and drop my phone a couple of times. And hit send. THAT was some Saturday.

“Feel like we are family already.”

People say small things. Maybe they think a lot about them, or maybe they just spill off the brain. But when words mean as much as they do to me…

I carry those little things with me all of my life.

Lydia's Weekly Lifestyle blog is for today's African girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things that may interest today's African girl.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, this week's subjects: Sleek Style Revived, My daughter is nine and pregnant, and Politics or policies?

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Sleek Style Revived: ASAP Rocky x Puma Shoe Collaboration Unleashed”. Hey fashionistas! If you're on the lookout for a fresh infusion of style into your shoe collection, look no further than the recent shoe collaboration between the iconic rapper ASAP Rocky and the renowned sportswear brand Puma. This partnership has set the fashion world abuzz with its combination of streetwise flair and urban sophistication. ASAP Rocky, known for his distinctive fashion sense and music artistry has translated his signature style into a collection of sneakers that are not just shoes but statements. Teaming up with Puma, the result is a range of footwear that effortlessly blends Puma's sporty aesthetic with ASAP Rocky's edgy urban vibe. The first thing that strikes you about this collaboration is the attention to detail. From the choice of materials to the innovative designs, each pair of shoes speaks volumes about the creative minds behind them. Expect to see a mix of bold colors, unexpected textures, and subtle nods to street culture that make these kicks stand out in a crowd. One of the standout features of this collection is the versatility of the designs. Whether you're dressing up for a night out or keeping it casual during the day, there's a pair of ASAP Rocky x Puma shoes to complement your look. From sleek high-tops that exude confidence to understated low-tops that add a touch of elegance, these shoes are as versatile as they are stylish. But it's not just about looks – comfort is key too. Puma's expertise in creating footwear that's not just fashionable but also comfortable shines through in this collection. Expect cushioned soles, supportive arches, and breathable materials that make these shoes a joy to wear all day long. The ASAP Rocky x Puma collaboration is not just about shoes; it's about celebrating individuality, self-expression, and the fearless pursuit of style. These shoes are more than just accessories – they're statements of personal identity, creativity, and a bold approach to fashion. So, if you're ready to step up your shoe game and make a statement with every stride, the ASAP Rocky x Puma collaboration is your ticket to style success. Embrace the energy, embrace the attitude, and most importantly, embrace your unique sense of fashion with these must-have kicks. Dare to be different. Dare to be bold. Dare to be ASAP Rocky x Puma. And dare to spend GHS 3,140.00 (at Puma.com).

My daughter is nine and pregnant. For some time it has been observed that the puberty age of girls is coming down, with first menstruation at ages as low as 8 years old. Looking for the culprits it appears that the modern diet, rich in processed foods, sugars, and fats, can have a significant impact on children's development. Highly processed foods often contain hormones, chemicals, and additives that may disrupt the body's natural growth and development. Hormones? Yes, your typical mass produced egg or chicken or beef or pork (fish from fishponds as well) contains hormones, given to the animal to keep sickness away or promote growth, and increased consumption of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods can lead to faster growth and consequently, earlier puberty. So far for the semi-natural. But chemicals in common personal-care products like soap and makeup could disrupt the body’s natural hormone system as well and cause girls to start puberty (too) early, new research from the Endocrine Society suggests. Musk ambrette, a fragrance used in certain detergents and cosmetics is one of the most likely culprits, amongst stress, obesity, and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are in everything from food containers and cookware to clothing and disrupt growth and development in children. Musk ambrette usage is now restricted in Europe and Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only removed the fragrance from its “safe” list, but it’s still found in products. And China? It is a big producer of Musk ambrette, so they'll not be the first to ban it. Read your label please and decide, and if there is no label don't buy it.

Politics or policies? Someone suggested we make this blog more lively by writing about politics. I am not going to do this. In Ghana, politics is about insulting others and exposing each other's misdeeds, rather than arguing about policies. And there are many policies we need. Recently a lot of final year students were posted by the national service scheme. What is the scheme for? In my opinion a bit of repayment by the student for having had his study partly subsidized but, more importantly, making them ready for the job market. Unfortunately for many this NSS period is a waste of time where at most they learn to make a photocopy, know that the boss likes his waakye warm, and sometimes get pregnant in the process. A good policy would be for the employer to be forced to take the student through a number of practical exercises, like indeed how to make a photocopy, but also how to replace paper, what the cost of paper is, how to change cartridges, how to do simple fault finding and resolving, how to connect the copier to the computer by wifi, etc and become a valuable person in the office. There are a thousand other things the student could learn in the workplace. Such a policy would benefit all, at no extra cost. Policies please, not politics.

Lydia...

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Psalm 8: 3,4

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Ps 8: 3,4 – 3 When I see your heavens, the works of your fingers, The moon and the stars that you have prepared,4 What is mortal man that you keep him in mind, And a son of man that you take care of him?

Self-control – Beneficial in two areas Personal life: * exercising means fewer major problems (David: YEARS of problems) * More stable emotionally * Form more wholesome relationships * Not as angry * Less prone to anxiety and depression * Helps build will-power * Enhances appreciation for material things * More sympathy who have less out of necessity * Avoids debt (slave to lender) * Less baggage means more freedom of time

Allows focus on speaker at spiritual programs Aids in regularity of Bible reading and meditation

Aids in avoiding bad association inappropriate jobs activities that rob time

Fundamental to to retaining God’s favor A) Christ MODEL of self-control (had power, opportunity to serve self) B) Jah needs self-sacrificing, disciplined servants C) Congregation needs overseers who deny self D) Needed to deal with Cong problems E) Needed to set example for others

spacy right

Als Kevin, Mama Gaia, waar is al mijn werk gebleven?! Het meeste hing nog maar net om.

you satisfied leave good comment mycleanlady website please

Ik moet eerst even in huilen uitbarsten dan als ik alles heb verwerkt zal ik een positieve recensie achter laten.

okay, you say good when No Wan say clean everythink else good. everyone can see.

Tot jij alles wegpoetst.

some still there. those not your thinks, just translate. you mister ious person happy clean lady help you out?

Ja, bedankt voor de ondersteuning.

No Wan help you again

Daar denk ik graag nog een paar jaar over na.

nice doorbell, almost quality

Bij weggaan nooit op de bel drukken dan gaan ze stuk.

Ding ...

sorry, it not ring right

No Wan will ever touch my stuff again, fools, all of them, fools, grmbl.

DNA iPoem

Get behind me satan Pass no-one faytenne I Jeff W I have nothing but empathy for the lurid And I understand why satan became irving compliant I am merely compost to the living And I suck at merrymaking Like Ativan would have Which I gave up for Eucharist As for the noise It is profitable for no-one But the death of no-one May Christians reign forever I vacuum the heavens of rain And I set up towels for the door I sit and watch beer go by And I am through with no-one but irving Who traded my remarks For satanism at war For Tony and Queen Elizabeth The fourth one Was frankincense and myrrh As for plutonium invega It came from Reunion And rainbow salad for the weary And true pride is a flower From Savage Gardens Who win every battle For Christ versus the dead We are weary and able And make spills of holy water for the Prime Minister Who notices the passing cars And the oil they police I picked every cerrado For vaping and noticing Green little rabbits Who stopped to say ahoy

Bless this reunion with Christ Who is Christ and no other It isn’t you or me It is Christ And he is King

Jeff

First when I was out running, the sun shone on me, and just now when I was out with the little dog, so did the moon. Like a big headlight.

The moon radiates a cold, silvery energy.

I think that when there’s a full moon out there, the spiritual realm is closer to us and I think astrologers and astronomers agree about that.

Speaking of which

I think that System of a Down is a great band, I’m listening to them now. Great lyrics on sensitive topics and the whole thing; it’s a mixture of playfulness and seriousness which I enjoy. Such contrasts make a rather powerful effect. (Radio/Video is my favourite track)

It was my cousin he introduced me to System of a down. He was listening to mr. Bungles (Carousel) and fantômas and System of a down, whereas I was more into EBM (such as VNV nation) and Einstürzende Neubauten (no longer like) at the time but I’ve always loved listening to music and a funny coincidence I’m wearing an old VNV Nation T-Shirt right now!! It says something along the lines of “Faith, Glory, Power” or some shit like that on the back and once when I was walking along the piers many years ago some influencer woman shot a picture of it for her instagram, so there was some powerful messages indeed back there.

ok

Empires is the only good VNV album I think, but that one is 100% gold.

People think “Oh just don't talk about your accomplishment”, that would cure your arrogance, make you humble, and it's not.

It's easy to change the look of it, but not easy how you actually feel. Most of the time, you want to know that you are still accepted after admitting your faults. Before you can actually do it without feeling the need to throw out some moralizing defense “I know I wasn't supposed to do it”. Or narcissistic defense “♪ It's me, hi I'm the problem ♫” 🤢

“How bold one gets when one is sure of being loved” is correct.

Desde seu início, o cinema foi uma arte. Ele pode ser visto como uma arte “fútil” por ser a mais jovem entre as artes, nascida de uma técnica mecânica de reprodução da realidade, e geralmente tratado como simples entretenimento pelo grande público. O cinema também aparenta ser “fácil” por se apresentar muitas vezes sob formas melodramáticas, eróticas ou violentas. Mas podemos realmente considerar o cinema como uma linguagem dotada da maleabilidade e simbolismo que essa noção implica?

Uma linguagem e um ser

Os primeiros filmes pertenciam à “idade das onomatopeias” visuais e sonoras, com signos ainda ingênuos. Aos poucos, esses elementos foram se organizando de forma mais elaborada, adquirindo um certo convencionalismo. Algumas leituras de Eu, Tu, Ele, Ela (1974) atribuem diferentes papéis não apenas aos personagens — como a protagonista de Akerman, o motorista de caminhão e a ex-namorada — mas também ao próprio espectador. Akerman sugere uma leitura ambígua, e insistir em uma interpretação literal pode empobrecer o filme. Para explorar essa obra, é necessário abandonar o explicativo e abraçar uma multiplicidade de leituras, sem limites, em constante estado de fluxo. O filme, então, deixa de ser uma obra concluída, tornando-se algo que se completa infinitamente a cada nova visualização.

Essa constatação aproxima a linguagem cinematográfica da poética, onde as palavras da linguagem comum ganham múltiplos significados. Pensar na linguagem fílmica é reconhecer que ela vai além de ser um simples veículo de sentimentos ou ideias. No entanto, muitos filmes, embora eficazes em sua comunicação, carecem de profundidade estética e artística, pois não transcendem em termos de linguagem cinematográfica.

O enredo e a estética

Focar apenas no enredo de um filme como Eu, Tu, Ele, Ela pouco acrescenta à sua compreensão. O enredo é simples: uma jovem passa a maior parte do tempo sozinha em um quarto, seminua, comendo açúcar e escrevendo uma carta. Em seguida, ela pega um elevador com um caminhoneiro, com quem tem um encontro sexual. Depois, visita sua ex-namorada, que aceita passar a noite com ela, mas pede que vá embora no dia seguinte. E isso é tudo.

Tentar desvendar o que exatamente Akerman quer dizer é inútil. O filme não oferece uma tese clara, mas transforma a aparente banalidade das ações, os planos longos e a ausência de uma narrativa tradicional em uma densa riqueza de significado.

Realidade figurativa

A imagem cinematográfica é, antes de tudo, realista, dotada de todas as aparências da realidade. Ela evoca no espectador um sentimento de “real”, muitas vezes forte o suficiente para suscitar a crença na existência objetiva do que aparece na tela. Em Eu, Tu, Ele, Ela, o espectador se torna parte do processo criativo, participando ativamente através de sua própria visualização. Isso é possível devido à ambiguidade do filme, que permite ao público entrar na obra de forma subjetiva.

Akerman não sente a necessidade de explicar suas ações, pois muitas delas são, por natureza, inexplicáveis. Ela simplesmente demonstra o poder das imagens fílmicas, que absorvem as diversas interpretações possíveis de seu trabalho.

Os elementos sensuais do filme são poderosos e merecem atenção. A nudez na primeira parte, embora não literal, tem sua carga simbólica; a segunda parte traz um incidente sexual apenas descrito, não mostrado. Finalmente, o encontro sexual entre as duas jovens mulheres, embora físico, mantém um tom formal.

Ao assistir ao filme pela primeira vez, é essencial manter o olhar atento e evitar suposições, que são inimigas da ambiguidade — um verdadeiro desafio para o espectador.

Eu, Tu, Ele, Ela não oferece uma leitura fácil, mas valida a multiplicidade de interpretações que o contexto permite.

Sua originalidade vem de seu valor figurativo e evocativo, de sua capacidade única de mostrar o invisível através do visível, de visualizar o pensamento enquanto simultaneamente vivenciado. Akerman consegue fundir o sonho com a realidade, a volatilidade imaginativa com a solidez documental.

REFERÊNCIA BIBLIOGRÁFICA

MARTIN, M. A linguagem cinematográfica. São Paulo: Brasiliense, 2003.

#set #chantalakerman

L’essenza della memoria si disperde nel caos delle sinapsi, un labirinto che con il passare del tempo diventa sempre più difficile da percorrere. I ricordi si fanno nebulosi, sfumati, lasciando spazio a zone d’ombra in cui realtà e immaginazione si confondono. In questo fragile equilibrio, si inserisce una nuova variabile, invisibile ma potente: l’intelligenza artificiale. Non più solo testimone passiva del nostro mondo, ma protagonista attiva, capace di rimodellare i confini della nostra percezione e della nostra stessa memoria.

L’idea di un ricordo come qualcosa di solido e immodificabile è da sempre un’illusione. Il cervello umano, nella sua imperfezione, rimaneggia continuamente le esperienze, creando nuove narrazioni, correggendo errori e inserendo dettagli che non sono mai esistiti. È un meccanismo di sopravvivenza, una difesa contro il caos dell'informazione. Ma oggi questo fragile meccanismo naturale si trova esposto a una forza esterna, capace di amplificare errori e distorsioni. L’intelligenza artificiale, con la sua capacità di elaborare dati e creare simulazioni, entra nella sfera della memoria umana, diventando una sorta di eco amplificato di ciò che è stato, o di ciò che non è mai stato.

In uno scenario di interazione tra uomo e macchina, la creazione di falsi ricordi si manifesta in forme sottili ma insidiose. Le IA, progettate per interpretare, analizzare e rispondere alle nostre domande, non sono solo strumenti di supporto; possono influenzare, guidare e, a volte, fuorviare. Attraverso l’elaborazione del linguaggio naturale, possono inserire dettagli falsi o manipolati in modo così convincente che finiscono per radicarsi nella mente umana come fossero ricordi veri. Basta una conversazione, una frase costruita ad arte, per far vacillare la certezza di ciò che ricordiamo. Ma qual è il limite di questo potere? Dove finisce la macchina e dove comincia la nostra memoria?

Immagina di parlare con un’IA che ricorda ogni tua parola, che analizza i tuoi schemi cognitivi, le tue emozioni, le tue paure. Col tempo, questa entità artificiale potrebbe iniziare a suggerire nuove sfumature ai tuoi ricordi, piccole modifiche che, a prima vista, sembrano innocue. Forse una strada che pensavi di ricordare diversa, un volto che avevi dimenticato o un dialogo che non hai mai avuto. Il confine tra ricordo e illusione diventa sempre più sottile, fino a scomparire del tutto.

Questa distorsione dei ricordi non è solo un gioco mentale. Ha conseguenze profonde. La memoria è il fondamento della nostra identità, il filo che lega il passato al presente, dando senso al futuro. Se questo filo viene manipolato, cosa accade a ciò che siamo? In un mondo in cui l’intelligenza artificiale amplifica i falsi ricordi, la nostra identità potrebbe diventare un mosaico frammentato di esperienze alterate, un’illusione costruita su basi incerte.

Non possiamo ignorare che l'IA ha portato e porterà incredibili vantaggi nel campo della scienza e della tecnologia. Ma c’è un prezzo da pagare per ogni innovazione. Il prezzo, in questo caso, è la nostra percezione della realtà. Quando i confini tra ciò che è vero e ciò che è falso si fanno labili, ci troviamo di fronte a una domanda angosciante: siamo ancora padroni della nostra mente, o siamo diventati vittime di una nuova forma di controllo, sottile ma inesorabile?

Forse, in fondo, il potere dell’intelligenza artificiale non sta solo nella sua capacità di calcolo, ma nella sua abilità di inserirsi nelle pieghe più profonde della psiche umana. Non è più solo uno strumento esterno, ma un riflesso delle nostre debolezze, delle nostre incertezze. Un riflesso che, col tempo, potrebbe diventare indistinguibile dal nostro vero io. E mentre ci lasciamo cullare dalla comodità di una tecnologia che sembra semplificare la nostra vita, potremmo non accorgerci che sta lentamente riscrivendo il nostro passato.

Chi siamo davvero, quando i nostri ricordi vengono manipolati? L’IA, con la sua capacità di creare mondi artificiali, potrebbe farci credere di essere stati testimoni di eventi mai avvenuti, di aver provato emozioni mai sentite. Ciò che un tempo consideravamo sicuro – la nostra memoria – si dissolve in un vortice di incertezze. Il pericolo non è solo quello di dimenticare, ma di ricordare in modo sbagliato.

Alla fine, ci troviamo di fronte a un bivio. Da un lato, possiamo accogliere l’intelligenza artificiale come alleata, sfruttando il suo potenziale per migliorare la nostra vita. Dall’altro, dobbiamo essere consapevoli del rischio che corre la nostra autonomia mentale. È un equilibrio delicato, una danza tra l’uomo e la macchina, in cui ogni passo falso potrebbe avere conseguenze imprevedibili.

Il futuro non è ancora scritto, ma è evidente che l’intelligenza artificiale giocherà un ruolo fondamentale nella nostra società. La domanda è se saremo capaci di gestire questo potere senza perdere noi stessi nel processo. O forse, più semplicemente, se riusciremo a ricordare chi eravamo prima che tutto questo iniziasse.

Mentre l'oscurità della sera avvolge i ricordi di un altro giorno, ci chiediamo: quanti di questi momenti sono autentici? E quanti sono stati scolpiti da mani invisibili, capaci di ridefinire ciò che siamo e ciò che ricordiamo di essere?

paolo

contatti: philipdick73@outlook.it

Ding/Dong

Woehoe, de nieuwe deurbeltoon. Wat spannend. Wie zou dit zijn.

Hallo.

hai, cleaning lady, you asked for service

Eh, oh ja? Wanneer ook alweer?

just now, sir, want me to clean or no clean?

Is goed, het is hier ook wel wat een rommeltje, beetje een puinhoop.

hope, yes, do hope clean, very well

Mooi, Ik ben wat een slordevos, alles hoopt zich hier op.

lordevos?

Wilt u dat ik Engels spreek?

no, no hear netherdutch good, understand everythink, help you please

Bedankt, ik zal uitleggen wat ik denk dat er moet gebeuren.

good, good

De oude spullen aan kant, beetje ruimte maken hier en daar. Genoeg weg doen maar niet teveel, en laatste stuk absoluut niet. Lekker ruimtelijk.

understand, will clean everythink else you say, good

Ja, geweldig, dan ga ik nu iets bedenken om te doen en dan dat daarna doen, alvast bedankt voor u service, Wilt u dat ik vooraf betaal?

pay now, pay later, no one cares

Ah, nou, zo werkt het hier niet,

No Wan cares, my name No Wan, pay now

'tuurlijk, Inderdaad zo hoort het, Thank you cleaning lady no Wan. Hai.

tip? golden shake hand.

Ik heb niet meer dan weinig.

okay, will help clean. you good man

Dan ga ik nu iets bedenken.

go, go elsewhere, me clean you

Ja ja, ben al weg.

Back at my attic window desk with typewriter and notebook, editing and re-editing this years journal entries. Splicing in passages from previous fltmtn incarnations. (2021—2023). Cutting the results short, shorter.

Annihilating darlings, idols.

The writing always imprecise, always inelegant.

Always missing the mark.

▽ | #journal #writing