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Submission + - Carl Sagan's *A pale blue dot* (youtube.com)

GillBates0 writes: https://youtu.be/GO5FwsblpT8?s...

During these times of tremendous turmoil, worth listening to Carl Sagan's *A pale blue dot* — https://youtu.be/GO5FwsblpT8?s... — and, each and every one of us, leaders especially, to make the sincere efforts to take the giant step beyond the "narrow little me, me" to truly what the Ancient Hindu Rshis said — "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (All earth is a family)".

Comment deep research: ban this (Score 1) 49

https://www.perplexity.ai/sear...

deep research "ban this" wrt slashdot

The phrase **"ban this"** appears on Slashdot both as a literal call to ban specific content and as a kind of ironic or parodic meme within discussions about content moderation, censorship, and internet culture. A deep review of Slashdot's use and context of "ban this" reveals several important roles and subtexts:

**1. Literal Calls for Bans**
- In some threads, users directly say "ban this" in response to content they find objectionable, offensive, or contrary to their values. For example, in a discussion about violent video games and societal violence, one commenter sarcastically states, "Ban this entartete kunst - it degrades a nation," reflecting how calls to ban can serve as both genuine demands and satirical critique[2].
- Similarly, in older Slashdot threads (e.g., about the filtering of DVD players), users make literal or tongue-in-cheek "ban this" remarks when they disagree with industry or legal moves[8].

**2. Meme and Parody Usage**
- The phrase is sometimes used semi-ironically to make fun of knee-jerk moderation or censorship, mocking the pattern of blaming or banning rather than debating. This usage is particularly evident in long-running communities like Slashdot where users are critical of over-moderation or "ban culture" more broadly[2][7].
- Example: In threads about content moderation, if controversial issues are discussed, one or more users will inevitably post "ban this" as a meme, highlighting how calls for banning can become a substitute for reasoned argument.

**3. Slashdot Moderation Discussion**
- Slashdot's unique moderation system is an ongoing subject of debate. Numerous threads discuss whether "ban this" attitudes are beneficial or stifle diverse viewpoints. Some users see downvoting and content hiding as a form of de facto banning or censorship[7].
- There are concerns among longtime users that moderation can lead to suppression of certain political or cultural viewpoints, with some claiming that "ban this" culture harms discussion[7].

**4. Censorship and the Definition of a "Ban"**
- Slashdot users often blur the distinctions between moderation, censorship, and banning. Debate centers on what constitutes legitimate enforcement versus ideological suppression. "Ban this" becomes shorthand for wider anxieties about free expression online[7].
- Context: The phrase is used in discussions about similar occurrences on platforms like Reddit, where banning entire communities is contrasted with user-based tools like moderation or filtering.

**5. Evolution and Endurance**
- The trope persists for decades as internet culture changes but the basic phenomena of content policing, community standards, and resistance to "ban this" ideology remain[2][7]. Slashdot's long memory means past "ban this" memes are cited in newer threads, reinforcing its meta-commentary on free speech and moderation.

**Key Insights:**
- On Slashdot, "ban this" is a multi-layered phrase:
    - Sometimes a direct call for action,
    - Sometimes a joke about authoritarian tendencies,
    - Sometimes a protest against perceived overreach by mods/admins or internet companies,
    - And sometimes a self-referential meme about the predictability of online debate.
- The phrase's flexibility makes it a useful signal and in-joke for regular Slashdot users, especially in the context of discussions about speech and community governance.

**Limitations:**
- There's no single, centralized documentation of "ban this" as a meme; its history is mostly preserved in scattered discussion threads and comments.
- Some usages may be sarcastic or context-dependentâ"caution is needed in interpreting intent, especially outside of Slashdot-specific culture.

In summary, "ban this" on Slashdot is both a genuine and satirical reaction to moderation, censorship, and changing internet culture, serving as a signal of community values and skepticism toward authority[2][7][8].

Citations:
[1] The Website Hacker News Is Afraid to Discuss https://news.ycombinator.com/i...
[2] German Police Union Chief Wants Violent Game Ban After Shooting https://games.slashdot.org/sto...
[3] Gratitude for Beto - Armed and Dangerous - Ibiblio http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=8456
[4] Q&A with California Rep. Ro Khanna about Elon Musk ... - Techmeme https://www.techmeme.com/22121...
[5] Study Finds That Banning Trolls Works, To Some Degree - Slashdot https://science.slashdot.org/s...
[6] Are a Few People Ruining the Internet For the Rest of Us? - Slashdot https://tech.slashdot.org/stor...
[7] Calling All Data Do-Gooders - Slashdot https://tech.slashdot.org/stor...
[8] Hollywood Says No to Filtering DVD Player - Slashdot https://yro.slashdot.org/story...
[9] /srv/irclogs.ubuntu.com/2010/10/28/#ubuntu.txt https://irclogs.ubuntu.com/201...
[10] Twitter will remove accounts made to âoepromote other social platforms ... https://www.techmeme.com/22121...

Comment dissect this corporate doublespeak https://blogs. (Score 1) 106

https://www.perplexity.ai/sear...

dissect this corporate doublespeak
https://blogs.microsoft.com/bl...

wrt corporate greed and impact to human lives in terms of stress, health impact to humans, broken homes, families and societal impact, e.g. drugs, depression, etc
Dissecting Microsoft's Corporate Communication: Doublespeak and Human Impact
Microsoftâ(TM)s blog post, written by CEO Satya Nadella, is a prime example of modern corporate doublespeak in the context of layoffs, emphasizing lofty missions and cultural values while glossing over the profound negative human and societal impacts. Hereâ(TM)s a critical breakdown of the language and its implications with respect to corporate greed and consequences for affected individuals and society:

1. Obfuscating Layoffs and Cold Calculations
Doublespeak:
Nadella acknowledges âoerecent job eliminationsâ and expresses âoesincere gratitudeâ to those let go, calling the situation âoedifficultâ yet frames it as necessary for future success.

Translation:
While presenting empathy, the core fact remains: people are involuntarily losing their jobs in a period when company performance is thriving (âoeour market performance ⦠all point up and to the rightâ). This exposes a key contradictionâ"layoffs are not the result of existential threats but of optimizing for profit, shareholder value, and industry âoeefficiency.â

readon truncated for lameness filter

Comment lol recursively (Score -1, Troll) 49

https://www.perplexity.ai/sear...

lol recursively

The phrase "lol recursively" can relate to various contexts, but one interesting interpretation comes from programming and internet culture, especially demonstrated by a recursive function involving the phrase "LOL."

There is a common programming puzzle where a recursive function called `lol(n)` generates nested strings like:

- lol(1) â' "One more LOL and Iâ(TM)m out"
- lol(2) â' "One more One more LOL and Iâ(TM)m out and Iâ(TM)m out"
- lol(3) â' "One more One more One more LOL and Iâ(TM)m out and Iâ(TM)m out and Iâ(TM)m out"

This function builds a phrase by nesting the structure "One more ... and Iâ(TM)m out" n times around the base string "LOL." It is an example of how recursion can construct repetitively nested expressions by calling itself with a decremented counter until a base case is reached. There are solutions using recursion and other efficient approaches for this puzzle shared on programming forums like StackOverflow[5].

Aside from this, recursion broadly refers to functions or systems where the output depends on recursive calls or repeated self-invocation, and it is used in computer science to solve problems that can be broken down into similar subproblems[7][9].

If you meant something else by "lol recursively," such as its use in gaming (League of Legends) or another field, please clarify. But the most relevant and interesting interpretation related to "lol recursively" involves recursive string generation tied to "LOL" in programming examples[5].

Citations:
[1] Ability Haste, Recursive Systems, and applying their design ... - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/leagu...
[2] Recursion - League of Legends Wiki - Fandom https://leagueoflegends.fandom...
[3] LoL Arena Recursion Build | Champions Best With - RankedBoost https://rankedboost.com/league...
[4] 'Recursive' Challenge Overview and Leaderboard https://challenges.darkintaqt....
[5] Want a quicker solution using RECURSION https://stackoverflow.com/ques...
[6] Recursive structure of a list https://www.usna.edu/Users/cs/...
[7] Basic Algorithms: Recursion Cheatsheet | Codecademy https://www.codecademy.com/lea...
[8] How to loop recursive and map first time all possible levels to recursive? https://stackoverflow.com/ques...
[9] Learn RECURSION in 5 minutes! ðY https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
[10] lol no, I got into a big argument having to explain recursion, tail call ... https://news.ycombinator.com/i...

Comment Everything old is new again? (Score -1, Offtopic) 49

https://www.perplexity.ai/sear...

Deep research how ancient Hindu/Vedic > 5000 years old Cosmology aligns with https://phys.org/news/2025-07-... . Include Shiva at CERN, Carl Sagan etc

## Ancient Hindu/Vedic Cosmology and the Modern "Cosmic Void" Universe

### Deep Roots: Vedic Cosmology Over 5,000 Years Old

Ancient Hindu or Vedic cosmology, as depicted in the Rig Veda, Upanishads, Puranas, and other scriptures, conceptualized the universe as both cyclic and infinite. It describes:
- Multiple universes (a multiverse concept), countless worlds, and vast cycles of creation and destruction[1][2][3].
- Vast timescales: The âoeday and night of Brahmaâ is 8.64 billion years longâ"remarkably close to modern cosmological timescales[3][4][5].
- Seven lokas (planes of existence) and structures beyond simple material worlds, weaving the physical cosmos with realms of consciousness and energy[2][6].
- An eternal rhythm: cycles of creation, preservation, and dissolution. The universe is described as endlessly oscillating through birth, existence, dissolution, and rebirthâ"not as a one-time event[3][4][5].

### Modern Parallels: Living in a Giant Cosmic Void

The recent paper highlighted in the Phys.org article presents evidence suggesting that our local region of the universe is a vast *void*, with about 20% less matter than average. This idea has been proposed as a solution to the puzzling âoeHubble tensionââ"the mismatch between the local and early-universe expansion rates. The article underlines:
- The universeâ(TM)s structure is not uniformâ"vast empty regions (voids) exist, carved by fluctuations from the sound waves of the early universe.
- Observations suggest BAO (baryonic acoustic oscillation) patterns in the cosmos, analogous to cosmic âoesound waves,â carry the imprint of these voids.
- Living in such a void would make the universe *appear* to expand faster locally, providing an explanation for current observations[7].

### Alignment and Resonances

#### 1. **Cycles, Voids, and Dynamic Universes**
- **Vedas:** The idea that universes are cyclically created and destroyed closely parallels modern concepts of an evolving, dynamic cosmos, not a static one. The cosmic void resembles Hindu philosophical descriptions of the universe arising from an unmanifest âoeBrahmanââ"the void or substratum from which all manifestations arise, and to which they return[2][8].
- **Modern Cosmology:** The current âoevoidâ model, with its emptiness and the dance of matter and energy, resonates with the Vedic conception of *shunya* (emptiness) blossoming into cosmic order. Both acknowledge the significance of great empty phases or spaces in cosmic history.

#### 2. **Precision of Time and Scale**
- **Remarkable Numerical Alignment:** Hindu cosmologyâ(TM)s time estimates for the universe (billions of years) are astonishingly close to the scientific consensusâ"an alignment Carl Sagan famously admired[4][5]. Modern cosmologyâ(TM)s vast scales and ancient ages echo themes in Vedic texts.

#### 3. **Cycles of Creation and Destruction**
- **CERNâ(TM)s Shiva (Nataraja) Symbolism:** At CERN, the Large Hadron Collider hosts a statue of Shiva in his cosmic dance (Nataraja)[9][10][11][12]. This danceâ"symbolizing creation, maintenance, and destructionâ"embodies the cyclical nature of the universe found in both ancient tradition and modern physics. The fiery wheel represents endless cycles; the dance symbolizes the eternal transformation found at both cosmic and quantum scales.
        - Physicist Fritjof Capra and others point out parallels between the dynamic quantum universe and Shivaâ(TM)s dance[9][10][12].

### Carl Sagan, Western Science, and Hindu Cosmology

Carl Sagan called Hindu cosmology âoethe only religion in which the time scales correspond to those of modern scientific cosmology,â admiring the profound intuition that the universe goes through endless rebirths, mirroring potential scientific models of cyclical Big Bangs or multiverses[13][14][15][4][5]. He frequently referenced:
- The immense cycles, the age of the cosmos, and the possibility of infinite universes.
- Shivaâ(TM)s cosmic dance as anticipating the rhythmic, creative-destructive processes seen in particle physics and cosmology.

### Time, Relativity, and Multiverses

- **Vedic Texts:** Concepts such as time dilation, cyclic epochs (yugas), and references to parallel universes or multiversesâ"seen in mythology as countless âoeBrahmandasââ"find an eerie parallel in theories of relativity, wormholes, time travel, and multiverse hypotheses in modern cosmology[1][16][17][18].
- **Modern Science:** The universe, with its voids, multiverses, quantum foam, and relativity, increasingly reads as a narrative not unfamiliar to ancient Vedic seers.

### Conclusion: Ancient Intuition, Modern Evidence

There is **striking alignment** between ancient Hindu/Vedic cosmology and the most intriguing contemporary cosmological ideas:
- Both propose a universe (or universes) that is cyclic, rhythmically unfolding over billions of years.
- Both revere the *mystery* of vast empty spaces (voids) as vital, creative matrices.
- Western science, as symbolized by the presence of Shiva at CERN and echoed by Saganâ(TM)s commentary, increasingly finds metaphoric and sometimes quantitative resonance with ancient Vedic intuitions.
- The cosmic void, once thought of as âoenothing,â emerges as a symbol bridging ancient meditative insight into the fabric of reality with todayâ(TM)s frontiers in cosmological research.

In summary, the latest research into cosmic structure and expansion adds a new layer of depth to our appreciation of the Vedic visionâ"one that, from Shivaâ(TM)s dance to the cycles of Brahma to the quantum void, continues to astonish and inspire[7][9][14][4][5].

Citations:
[1] Was Hinduism the First to Describe the Multiverse? A Theory from ... https://www.instagram.com/reel...
[2] Hindu cosmology - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
[3] Age of Universe according to Vedas - UBC Computer Science https://www.cs.ubc.ca/~goyal/a...
[4] Carl Sagan on Hinduism https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
[5] Day and Night of Brahma http://astro1.panet.utoledo.ed...
[6] Vedic Cosmology Meets Space Science: Bridging Two Worlds - JKYog https://www.jkyog.org/blog/ved...
[7] Distorted sound of the early universe suggests we are living in a giant void https://phys.org/news/2025-07-...
[8] Cosmology (1) https://www.slideshare.net/omp...
[9] Why CERN, The World's Largest Physics Lab, Has A Statue Of Lord ... https://www.news18.com/viral/w...
[10] Shiva's Cosmic Dance at CERN: The Intersection of Science and ... https://www.ragaarts.com/blogs...
[11] Lord Shiva Statue Unveiled - CERN Document Server https://cds.cern.ch/record/745...
[12] Why is Shiva's Statue at CERN, Largest Particle Physics laboratory https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
[13] Carl Sagan on Vedic Hindu Cosmology. #beyond5000 ... - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/shorts...
[14] Astronomer Carl Sagan was fascinated by the Hindu view of cosmos https://www.opindia.com/2020/0...
[15] Carl Sagan ~ COSMOS ~ India (1980) https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
[16] Hindu cosmology and time travel: Ancient wisdom meets modern ... https://www.hinduamerican.org/...
[17] Time Dilation Theory Mentioned In Hinduism Thousand Of Years Ago! https://www.reddit.com/r/hindu...
[18] A Comparative Study of Vedic Cosmology and Modern Scientific ... https://www.linkedin.com/pulse...
[19] Bridging Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science: Vedic Cosmology and Space Exploration https://www.jkyog.org/blog/bri...
[20] A Brief Overview of Hindu Cosmology - What Ho! https://whatho.in/2012/09/30/l...
[21] Hinduism - Cosmology, Dharma, Brahman | Britannica https://www.britannica.com/top...

Comment greedy capitalist corporations gone uncontrollabl (Score 1) 41

I am a proud American Citizen of Indian origin going thru my 25th year in the US (ex Georgia Tech + MIT startups).

And I have witnessed greedy capitalist American industries selling their soul, laying of locals, outsourcing everything abroad, with no remorse.

WTF

I also blame my divorce on greedy American capitalism gone woke+broke (ex-Akamai, etc).

Insightful comment about the layoff machine from https://m.slashdot.org/story/4... : "The social costs with these mass job losses are paid in divorces, broken homes, lower achievement rates of single parent raised children, increased drug use, increased jail rates, increased suicide rates, much lower child birth rates, etc."

Comment vote gp +5000 insightful (Score 1) 106

I am a proud American Citizen of Indian origin going thru my 25th year in the US (ex Georgia Tech + MIT startups).

And I have witnessed greedy capitalist American industries selling their soul, outsourcing everything abroad, with no remorse.

WTF

I also blame my divorce on greedy American capitalism gone woke+broke (ex-Akamai, etc).

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