Jozef Imrich, name worthy of Kafka, has his finger on the pulse of any irony of interest and shares his findings to keep you in-the-know with the savviest trend setters and infomaniacs.
''I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center.''
-Kurt Vonnegut
Schneier on Security: “Humans make mistakes all the time. All of us do, every day, in tasks both new and routine. Some of our mistakes are minor and some are catastrophic. Mistakes can break trust with our friends, lose the confidence of our bosses, and sometimes be the difference between life and death. Over the millennia, we have created security systems to deal with the sorts of mistakes humans commonly make.
These days, casinos rotate their dealers regularly, because they make mistakes if they do the same task for too long. Hospital personnel write on limbs before surgery so that doctors operate on the correct body part, and they count surgical instruments to make sure none were left inside the body.
From copyediting to double-entry bookkeeping to appellate courts, we humans have gotten really good at correcting human mistakes. Humanity is now rapidly integrating a wholly different kind of mistake-maker into society: AI. Technologies like large language models(LLMs) can perform many cognitive tasks traditionally fulfilled by humans, but they make plenty of mistakes. It seems ridiculouswhen chatbots tell you to eat rocks or add glue to pizza.
But it’s not the frequency or severity of AI systems’ mistakes that differentiates them from human mistakes. It’s their weirdness. AI systems do not make mistakes in the same ways that humans do. Much of the friction—and risk—associated with our use of AI arise from that difference. We need to invent new security systems that adapt to these differences and prevent harm from AI mistakes..:
Marion Wiesel, Elie Wiesel’s wife, has passed away.
She was 94.
Wiesel, a Jewish refugee from Austria, is survived by her daughter Jennifer and son Elisha.
Marion Wiesel married Elie Wiesel in 1969, before they met she was a dedicated civil rights activist in her own right.
The impotence of language in the face of visceral horror should not be underestimated; words evade the tremulous pen. Authors revealing the sordid depths plumbed by mankind are wordsmiths of singular talent, who stare with unfaltering courage into the abyss.
The New Trump Republic: “Last week, just days after his inauguration, Donald Trump eliminated the membership of a key committee that handles aviation security. And on Wednesday night, a passenger plane collided with a military helicopter in the Washington, D.C., area.
On Tuesday, January 22, the Aviation Security Advisory Committee’s members received a memo from the Trump administration saying that the Department of Homeland Security was getting rid of the membership of all advisory committees in a “commitment to eliminating the misuse of resources and ensuring that DHS activities prioritize our national security.”
At the same time, Trump also fired the heads of the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard. Congress mandated the aviation committee in 1988, after the PanAm Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland.
After Trump’s move, the committee technically continues to exist but has no members to examine safety issues in airlines and airports. Its membership consisted of key groups in the aviation industry, from major unions to representatives from major airlines, as well as a group associated with victims of the PanAm bombing. Throughout its existence, the committee’s recommendations were adopted into air travel procedure. It was out of commission for more than a week until Wednesday’s disaster.
No survivors were reported in the crash between American Eagle Flight 5342 heading to D.C. from Wichita, Kansas, and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The D.C. fire chief has said that recovery is now underway, as bodies are pulled out of the Potomac River. With many of Trump’s executive orders and policy memos disrupting the normal function of government, could this disaster have been prevented by a competent administration?”
Washington: It’s easy, probably inevitable, to become inured to Donald Trump’s meandering and often outrageous verbiage. He speaks so much, with such little regard for customs or social norms, that one can’t help but shrug a lot of it off. There he goes again.
But when the president of the United States hijacks a tragedy – not just a plane crash, but America’s worst in nearly 25 years – to push his political agenda, traduce his enemies and demonise minorities, it’s important to stop and remember this is not normal. Nor is it OK.
With purpose emerging as the number one driver for government workers, it’s the mission-critical retention (and attraction) strategy for government
Overview: We argue that many current AI systems have learned how to deceive humans. From agents that play strategic games to language models that are prompted to accomplish a goal, these AI systems systematically produce false beliefs in others to achieve their goals.
[Original paper by Peter S. Park, Simon Goldstein, Aidan O’Gara, Michael Chen, and Dan Hendrycks]
Wikenigma is a unique wiki-based resource specifically dedicated to documenting fundamental gaps in human knowledge. Listing scientific and academic questions to which no-one, anywhere, has yet been able to provide a definitive answer. [ 1139 so far ] That’s to say, a compendium of so-called ‘Known Unknowns’. All articles are open for registered users to contribute and edit.
Trump firings tee up broader legal clash over congressional power
Roll Call: “President Donald Trump’s firing of inspectors general and independent agency board members in the last week sets up another major legal clash over Congress’ power to put limits on the removal of federal officials, experts said.
Since Friday, Trump removed more than a dozen inspectors general and Democratic members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and National Labor Relations Board, which Democrats and experts have criticized as violating legal protections on their removal. Andrea Katz, an associate professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis who specializes in administrative agencies, said the firings appear to be “deliberately violating the law to provide a test case” to see if the Supreme Court will side with his efforts to control the executive branch.
“This is a very precarious moment for the legislative power, with the courts potentially kneecapping Congress’ ability to legislate what the executive branch can do,” Katz said. Trump appears to be betting that the Supreme Court, currently controlled 6-3 by Republican appointees, will continue along a line of reasoning in prior cases where they expressed skepticism on limits Congress placed on the president’s control of the executive branch.
Washington Post – “President Donald Trump is laying the groundwork for a landmark confrontation over his authority to strike federal spending and regulation, as the White House looks to reconfigure vast swaths of the U.S. government even without approval from Congress. Only days into his second term, Trump’s extraordinary steps have challenged a fundamental principle of the Constitution: control over the power of the purse, which the president has looked to partly wrest away from lawmakers so that he can shape the federal budget as he wishes.
Already, Trump’s actions have triggered significant legal clashes. In one case, lawyers with the Justice Department on Thursday defended Trump’s ability to “lawfully direct agencies to implement the president’s agenda,” describing a pause in the disbursement of federal funds as “commonplace.”
A major travel website has revealed the most welcoming cities in Australia, based on thousands of reviews.
The Booking.com 2025 Traveller Review Awards collate the posted opinions of customers to find out where in Australia people can find the best hospitality and travel experiences.
Booking.com is a travel website that allows users to book accommodations. The Traveller Review Awards recognize the most welcoming cities in Australia based on traveler reviews.
Maleny (pronounced muh-LAY-knee) is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. Maleny was a timber town until the early 1920s and then was a centre of dairy production and fruit growing. In the 2021 census, the locality of Maleny had a population of 3,959 people.
Maleny has once again secured top spot in the top 10 Most Welcoming Towns in Australia.
Booking.com announced the recipients of its 10th annual Traveller Review Awards recently.
Maleny won for the second year in a row while Montville was ranked number 9, proving Blackall Range charm still reigns supreme.
The awards draw on more than 232 million verified reviews from real travelers.
Div 5 Cr Winston Johnston said it was no surprise Maleny and Montville were such welcoming towns. “Congratulations to our community and business owners who have worked tirelessly for many years to promote our area and to ensure that visitors enjoy a welcoming experience to the Blackall Range. This award is not easy to win and it is a credit to all concerned. It requires a lot of planning, training and strict attention to detail. Keep up this excellent work.”
Montville Chamber of Commerce President Shiralee Cooper said Montville’s accommodation venues have continued to provide outstanding service despite the continuing challenges of last minute cancellations and staffing because of the pandemic.
“I am so proud to see how our local businesses have extended a warm welcome to guests in trying times,” she said. “The friendly face is an important part of the experience for visitors to our hinterland home.
“Our proximity to Brisbane, our epic green vistas and fresh air have enticed visitors to escape to the hills. Montville’s natural beauty, our vibrant arts and crafts scene, unique shops and cafe culture are all a part of the appealing mystique of Montville.
“One of our hosted accommodations, Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat took out the top gong for Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Most Romantic Hotel in the entire world last year. While another multi-awarded accommodation, The Falls Montville won third place in the Small Hotels in the world as rated by Tripadvisor guests.
“If you read the reviews on any of the booking platforms you will understand why Montville and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland are such resilient destinations. Our tourism offerings are exceptional, as are the people who make it their business to warmly welcome guests.
“If you are seeking a refreshing break, now is the time to book before the onset of the Easter holiday crowds.”
Booking.com announced the recipients of its 13th annual Traveller Review Awards on January 28, revealing South Australia as one of the ‘Top 10 Most Welcoming Regions on Earth’.
Based on over 360 million verified customer reviews, the awards honour travel partners who consistently deliver outstanding hospitality and service.
In 2025, a record-breaking 1.71 million partners were recognized, an 16% increase compared to the year prior.
The Traveller Review Awards has also unveiled the Top Ten Most Welcoming Cities in Australia, placing Montville and Maleny in the top spots
Some of the welcoming towns in Australia include:
Margaret River, Western Australia
A vineyard town
Mudgee, New South Wales
A country retreat in a growing wine region
Ocean Grove, Victoria
A beachside town on the Bellarine Peninsula
Port Lincoln, South Australia
A seaside town known for its seafood and historic fishing industry
Bicheno, Tasmania
A small beach resort town on the east coast of Tasmania
Daylesford, Victoria
A town known for its beautiful lake of the same name
Halls Gap, Victoria
A town in the Grampians surrounded by bushwalking tracks and mountain
A cohesive community and ‘a world-class patisserie that’s bumped up everyone’s cholesterol level’ are some of the reasons why a Tassie town has been named one of the most welcoming places in Australia.
PLACES WE GO. Bicheno, East Coast Tasmania. Bicheno From Whalers Lookout Picture: Supplied
Bicheno has been named one of the most welcoming places in Australia.
The East Coast town featured in a top 10 list compiled by Booking.com.
Glamorgan-Spring Bay Acting Mayor and Bicheno resident Mike Symons said he was not surprised the town received the accolade.
“It goes to show we’re obviously a friendly beachside town, and we enjoy people coming to visit us because that’s obviously the feedback they’re giving – so we must be doing something right.”
Mr Symons said the town’s landscape was part of its appeal.
“A point of difference is its natural beauty; the vista, the water, the rocks, and all those things go to making it a beautiful spot to be in.
“But we’ve also got some good attractions, and we’ve got a range of accommodation.
“We’ve got some very high-end accommodation, and then you’ve got your good old caravan parks that people just come and have a wonderful summer holiday at.”
Regarding the town’s attractions, Mr Symons said there were lots of things bringing people to Bicheno.
“You can go down the street and get any number of little, lovely coffee shops; we’ve got a world-class patisserie that’s bumped up everyone’s cholesterol level in Bicheno single-handedly.
“We’ve got some really good, world-class people in Bicheno doing great things.”
Perched atop the town's famous flame-coloured rocks, Cod Rock Point is perfect for an oceanfront stay at Bicheno, Tasmania
Mr Symons said a welcoming town has a cohesive community.
“The local people of Bicheno are really active in a community sense; there’s a surf club, we’ve got an RSL club, we’ve got a bowls club, a golf club – we’ve got lots of people active in the community.
“We have a great Lions Club; we have a fantastic food and wine festival at the start of summer, and then we have a fantastic rock concert at the end of summer.
“All of these events are run by local people, and that engenders pride into the community and makes everyone really proud of where they live.”
Conversely, Mr Symons said there were also factors that could make a town unwelcoming, such as “facilities not up to scratch.”
“That’s partly where the council comes in.
Lobster Shack Bicheno
“We’ve got a great council crew in Bicheno that keep all the facilities tidy.
“If you haven’t got that going on and the place is looking untidy, it doesn’t become welcoming.”
Mr Symons said the townsfolk’s attitude could also make a place unwelcoming.
“Sometimes there are some places where perhaps people maybe don’t want the visitors and don’t understand what they bring to the economy, and perhaps they bemoan the fact some visitors got their park outside the supermarket.
“I think Bicheno just accepts that, and we know it’s going to be busy at Christmas.
“And local people just plan for that and we’re all aware of that, and we just enjoy it while it’s there.”
Bicheno is around 185km northeast of Hobart and has a population of about 950.
