31 Comments

Joel. I’m in awe—articulate, insightful, intriguing. Your “essay” is everything Twitter is not and can never be. Postman was right. And we have sunk even lower. What shall we do? What shall we ever do?

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Once again, a wittily-drawn, historically and contemporaneously-endowed, thoughtful, provocative and engaging piece. Thank you.

(I am going to have to stop writing these comments; even to my own ears, my comments, though genuinely meant, are running the risk of sycophancy.)

Do keep up the great work though.

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Thank you for taking the time to think, to write and gift us the opportunity to reflect….well done

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One of the best essays I’ve read in a long time. The nail’s head has been hammered.

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Brilliant Joel Bowman ..!! you are a perfect addition to the Bonner group. Many thanks.. Bob Noble.

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Blimey - another brilliant essay but alas I think I may not have done it justice from having too much Cabernet Sauvignon so I will re-read tomorrow after a flat white!

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There is probably a mathematical fallacy which underlies the way we think nowadays. Our reasoning can effectively be reduced to algorithms, which are arithmetical systems and which find their points of reference internally: they`re self-referential.

About 100 years ago Gödel proved his incompleteness theorems which demonstrated that any self-referential arithmetic system will give incoherent results. For instance, in these systems you can prove that the same thing is both right and wrong. My take on this:

With computers we place our idea

In the pure arithmetical sphere.

With assumptions inherent

The result’s incoherent

As Gödel made perfectly clear.

I see incoherence everywhere, even at the highest levels of the state. Only God can solve our big problems.

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A tiny bit too highbrow for me. Stop showing off and speak plainly.

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Great post. Well written. Entertaining and thoughtful.

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Like your style, Joel!

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Stellar

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Excellent Joel!.... Muy provocativo y real a la vez. I guess you change the malbec for cabernet yesterday that was Labor Day in Argentina LOL... bravo, I love Sucre Parrilla, let me know if you have time anyday to share lunch, maybe in Duque Parrilla or Cabrera.... all the best...! Muy bueno tu articulo de verdad... abrazo Guille

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After trying to follow the thoughts in the leading portion of this article, I must confess I turned away lost.

Was Musk buying Twitter desirable?

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[Ecc 1:9-11 NKJV]

That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come by those who will come after.

[Ecc 12:13-14 NKJV]

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

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I don't understand a word of it.

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Joel, it was probably an oversight on your part, but you implied that Antony J Blinken is the US Secretary of Defense, but he is the US Secretary of State.

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