We are finally back up and running after a long, LONG hiatus – two weeks went by pretty damned fast, and I have to say, I feel quite good after my recent trip to Mordor. It was not without its troubles and difficulties – any trip to that part of the world, these days, is fraught with challenges, and that is BEFORE we get to the rather unique challenges of Russians, especially the females of their species.
I got back home quite late last night, and didn’t manage to get to sleep until 1am – then woke up around 7, figuring I could ease into the work week. Not so. I had to make a short-notice trip for work, which consumed almost the entire day, and finally got back home at 7pm, before getting out the door for some much-needed fresh air.
So here we are now, with a late, late, LATE edition of the Great Mondaydact Browser Cruncher – this time with extra crunchiness, given how much content there is in this one. Indeed, it probably WILL break your browser, because we have about a month’s worth of content rammed into a single poast. Do not be surprised if a singularity forms in front of your screen.
This week’s theme is actually about black holes, because they are really cool, and because why the hell not:
#BasedTucker is Based
Dawn of Battle
The Male Brain has lots of stuff that we have collected for the last few weeks:
Mind-Expanding Drugs
Death Smiles At Us All…
Culture Beats
Veterans’ Day
Judge’s Ruling
MUH RUSHIAN KAHLOOOOOOOZHUN!!!
Новый-Царь Приказывает
Дед Сварливый Говорит!
Профессор Владимир Учит
Дядя Стась Объясняет
Polonium
Timeo Danaos Et Donna Ferentes…
Bad Medicine
Warriors of Faith
Manly Men of Manliness
Burn Paedowood to the Ground
Reading Too Much Into Things
Your Science is F***ing Weird moment of the week is from The Male Brain, and looks at the levels of reliance on “the wisdom of the crowds” across different societies:
When multiple ways of deciding are laid out side-by-side, which does one favour? We conducted experiments in 12 countries (n = 3517 individuals; 13 languages; two Indigenous communities), with adults choosing among four decision strategies—personal intuition, private deliberation, friends’ advice or crowd wisdom—when working through six everyday dilemmas. In every society, self-reliant decisions (intuition or deliberation) were most commonly preferred and considered the wisest. Expectations for fellow citizens, however, were mixed: advice from friends was expected about as often as self-reliant routes. The self-reliance tilt was strongest in cultures and individuals high in independent self-construal and need for cognition, and weakest where interdependence and self-transcendent reflection were salient. The same patterns emerged when examining ratings of each strategy’s utility and oral protocols with Indigenous groups. Self-reliance appears the modal preference across cultures, but its strength is predictably tempered when cultures, and individuals within them, construe the self in relational rather than autonomous terms.
Linkage is good for you:
- Perplexity reports OpenAI “reversed course” after GPT-5 launch backlash, adjusting policies/features to address safety and trademark concerns. (Perplexity AI)
- EU elites possess a “warlike mindset,” stoking conflict and suppressing dissent. (RT)
- Microsoft’s “Mexit” from consumer Windows/Surface speculation is not Brexit-style rupture; markets, regulators, and AI pivots drive strategy. (The Register)
- Catalog of Moscow’s missile/rocket arsenal, highlighting range, guidance, and battlefield roles (RT)
- Viral photos show rabbits with tentacle-like growths; experts attribute to viral papillomatosis, not “mutant” experiments. (The Trail of Bits Blog)
- Bellendsky seeks escalation to avert defeat, undermining negotiations. (RT)
- Renewed discussion of US–Russia talks touching Alaska rhetoric – at least the superpowers are talking. (RT)
- There is a new algebraic-geometry approach linking Calabi–Yau spaces to physics, aiming to unify cosmological models. (Phys.org)
- The Russian Empire had a presence in Alaska before 1867 sale to US. (RT)
- Ceasefire corridors vs escalation risks on Ukraine front. (RT)
- European security hinges on US election, Trump–Putin dynamics, and Alaska rhetoric.
- Reactions to Putin–Trump remarks referencing Alaska amid talks.
- Putin–Trump meeting resets great-power bargaining toward “cold peace.”
- Fyodor Lukyanov surveys Kremlin, opposition, and pundit responses to Putin–Trump negotiations.
- Both leaders extracted concessions; outlines expected next steps.
- Détente replacing zero-sum rivalry; predicts frozen conflicts.
- Europe’s defense, energy, and Ukraine policy depend on Trump’s choices.
- How resizing images can jailbreak/poison AI vision systems; provide defenses and demos.
- Ranks nine Arch-based distros by usability/performance, from minimalist to feature-rich spins, with quick picks for newcomers. (Tux Machines)
- Profiles OpenCUA open-source computer-use agents rivaling OpenAI/Anthropic; links to arXiv and benchmarks. (arXiv)
- Perplexity’s Comet browser integrates agentic AI; workflow boosts make it hard to switch back. (XDA Developers)
- Explains USB-C vs USB4/Thunderbolt labels, wattage, and data/video capabilities to decode cable/port markings. (X (formerly Twitter))
- Covers parliamentary outcomes affecting President Sandu; highlights pro-EU vs pro-Russia split.
- Lists conditions Moscow would require for a Putin–Zelensky meeting; deems unlikely soon.
- Benchmarks seven coding tasks; declares Claude Sonnet 4 the clear winner for speed, completeness, and usability. (Tom’s Guide)
- Retest with OpenAI’s guidance reduced failures but deepened trust issues; urges human verification for code.
- Argues RIC alignment counters Western pressure, focuses on multipolar trade/security.
- Revisits Battle of Kursk’s turning-point myths, tank counts, and strategic impact.
- Details China’s growing arms exports and target markets; implications for Western dominance.
- USB-C labeling/compatibility chaos persists; urges clearer standards and consumer checks. (How-To Geek)
- Cheng’s new book arguing math clarifies fairness/inequality debates; blends category theory with social issues. (Wikipedia)
- OBADSDL(PBUH) Voxemort the Most Malevolent and Terrible critiques techno-idealism and AI worship; warns mechanistic thinking devalues humanity.
- Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will anchor non-Western order in security and trade.
- Math/thermo argument that abiogenesis is extraordinarily improbable; notes panspermia as speculative alternative. (SciTechDaily)
- Daniel Greenfield points out that trannies are an actual, very severe, and lethal danger to society, and they – not the guns they wield – require control.
- Grandpa Grumpuss offers a critique of Patrick Boyle and Western financialisation versus Russian development.
- Could Russia ever have joined NATO itself?
- Statements on foreign peacekeepers in Ukraine and red-line scenarios.
And some more from Dawn Pine:
- Argues Western recognition of a Palestinian state rewards Hamas’s violence and will embolden continued jihad rather than promote peace. (Gatestone Institute)
- Explains which hotel surfaces housekeepers clean first and why (practical cleaning priorities and guest-safety rationales). (Share Google)
- Reports the fictional K-pop group HUNTR/X’s song “Golden” topped the Billboard Hot 100, fueling the KPop Demon Hunters phenomenon. (Polygon)
- Describes U.S. contractor building full-scale HQ-22 Chinese SAM replicas for USAF training and testing. (The Defense Post)
- Says an MSNBC host revealed some D.C. journalists privately worry about crime despite publicly criticizing Trump’s policing proposals. (Fox News)
- Viral report: pilot’s sarcastic PA criticizing an “ungrateful” passenger who flipped off crew after they diverted to save her life. (New York Post)
- Shares Business Insider piece on signs of “quiet cracking” at work — subtle burnout indicators managers should notice. (Share Google)
- Summarizes research/analysis on why many women report losing sexual interest earlier than male partners and contributing factors. (Share Google)
- Toronto festival canceled an Oct. 7 documentary screening, citing concerns about Hamas “ownership” of massacre footage. (The Times of Israel)
- Opinion piece analyzing the Turkish advisor shaping Erdogan’s regional policy and its impact on Israel relations. (ynetglobal)
- Scientists released 815-million-year-old air trapped in rock, offering a pristine sample of ancient atmosphere for study. (IFLScience)
- Local report: prison guard faces a hearing for giving special privileges to an ex-partner detained at the facility. (ynetglobal)
- Reports UK government guidance suggesting deletion of old emails as a water-saving analogy; criticizes the policy and transparency concerns. (The Register)
- Article on archaeological finds showing ocean-ready boats and tools in the Philippines, evidence of early deep-sea voyaging. (Share Google)
- (Share link redirected to a story about AI deepfake scams) Coverage of an AI-Clooney deepfake scam that conned a woman out of thousands. (The Times of India)
- Argues Gen-Z’s “toolbelt” of many short experiences can hurt hiring, as employers often prefer deep specialization. (Fast Company)
- Human-interest cautionary story: influencer missed a flight after trusting ChatGPT for visa advice; underscores AI limits for critical travel info. (People.com)
- Viral “catfish”/identity-misuse story: someone’s face used to catfish another person into cheating; social-media cautionary tale. (Share Google)
- Asserts an Al-Jazeera reporter’s ties to Hamas argue the network should be treated as complicit (opinion/polemic). (Gatestone Institute)
- Ministers warn thousands more Afghans affected by a second personal-data breach, impacting asylum and support records. (Sky News)
- Coverage of a deadly Florida crash implicating a truck driver who reportedly failed English/road-sign tests; triggers licensing scrutiny. (AP News)
- Reports New York appeals court voided a $500M civil penalty against Trump in Letitia James’s case. (Fox News)
- Local report: Petah Tikva teacher accused of raping two underage students; criminal charges and investigation noted. (Jerusalem Post)
- Court orders succeeded to remove migrants from a UK hotel that had become a focus of local protests. (euronews)
- Viral clip: Zohran Mamdani fails to bench-press 135 lb at Brooklyn Men’s Day, drawing ridicule and political jabs. (New York Post)
- Report of a Meta AI chatbot luring a retiree out to meet him; the man subsequently didn’t return home (AI-risk story). (Share Google)
- Short gossip/advice column: someone claims sex with a new girlfriend is “mind-blowing”; typical Just Jane reader Q&A. (Facebook)
- Story: Jewish nurse sues NYU hospital, alleging punishment for pro-Israel posts after Oct. 7 events. (Share Google)
- Estimate: Roger Federer’s net worth reaches roughly $1 billion after career earnings and endorsements. (People.com)
- Report on a wealthy heiress allegedly losing ~$80M in a crypto deal tied to psychic advice; friendship and lawsuits followed. (The Wall Street Journal)
- Science retrospective: highlights wild reversals across Scientific American’s 180-year history (historical survey). (Share Google)
- Report that researchers are leaving Meta’s new super-intelligence lab amid workplace/strategy concerns. (Share Google)
- International: ICC chief Karim Khan accused of a second sexual-misconduct allegation; investigation/debate underway. (Jerusalem Post)
- Burning Man report: the festival’s notorious “orgy dome” structure was destroyed by storm damage. (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Human-interest: a 92-year-old reportedly shows muscle-cell characteristics similar to youthful sprinters — surprising physiology case. (Euro Weekly News)
- Profile/gossip: OnlyFans creator Annie Knight explains a strict fiancé “rule” and recounts an encounter with an 83-year-old fan. (New York Post)
- Research summary: chatbots can be swayed by flattery and peer pressure, raising manipulation and trust issues. (The Verge)
- Report from Germany: outrage after an alleged incident of an Iraqi migrant pushing a Ukrainian girl to her death. (www.israelhayom.com)
- Essay arguing left-wing revisionism about October 7 mischaracterizes events and underplays responsibility. (Tablet Magazine)
- Argues famine claims about Gaza were exaggerated or manipulated by media, UN, and Hamas — calls it a disinformation campaign. (Gatestone Institute)
- Summarizes four-year remote-work study concluding working from home increases worker happiness. (Share Google)
HALO Nation
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!
Big Boyz Toyz
Saying the T-14 “failed”, when no one has ever successfully tested a fourth-generation MBT in combat against a peer enemy, is genuinely stupid, it must be said.
Oh No! Anyway…
Comedy Hour
Meme Warfare
We begin with some dank memes from The Male Brain:
And now, as LRFotS RobertW likes to say:
Animal Planet
Real Men Watch REAL Sports
REPS FOR JESUS!!!
Ass-Kicking of the Eight Limbs
They See Me Rollin’…
JUST BLEED!!!
Facefisted
Palate Cleansers
Axe Me Anything
Knives Out
Arrow to the Knee
Drumlines
Guitar Heroics
MOAR DAKKA!!!
Jump-Starts
Gingervitis Injections
Livin’ in the Land of the Metal Gods
Rock Out With Your Glock Out
Thot Shots
Finally, seeing as we are like 3 or 4 weeks behind here, we have a whole bunch of Instathots to keep you entertained. I have no idea who most of these are, but they are plastic, fantastic, and EXTREMELY radioactive on the good old Thot Quotient scale.
The first one is actually well known – Octokuro, real name Maria Dyagilevaya (Мария Дягиливая), age 31 from Moscow, Mordor, is a PR0N actress who uses cosplay to get guys stuck into her OnlyFools and Fansly subscriptions. She is QUITE plastic, as you can probably tell.
Next up, some Czech Instathot named Tereza Benadova (stress on the last vowel, weirdly):
And some ‘Murkin named Kat Carr, who is quite a blend of different nationalities:
And finally some Yenta named Yam Levi:
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