The wildest part of articles like this (to me) is that they never consider that these tools don't have to "work" technologically in order to "work" as tools of oppression and fear.

Facial recognition and ICE databases are notoriously flawed, but still deployed and used to justify arrests.

Lawsuit Accuses Meta of Profiting From Widespread Fraud On Its Platforms Ben Lennett summarizes lawsuit from CFA that alleges Meta enabled scam ads and profited as consumers lost $2.7B.

A new lawsuit from the Consumer Federation of America alleges Meta violated DC’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act by misleading users about platform safety while scam ads proliferated, as consumers lost billions to fraud on social media. Ben Lennett highlights key points from the complaint.

AI hallucinated — and now an elite law firm is profusely apologizing to a federal judge Sullivan & Cromwell apologized for AI hallucinations in a court filing. Another law firm spotted the mistakes.

“A chart attached to the letter showed that the motion contained incorrect case names and numbers and apparently fabricated quotes from cases.”

Ghostly figure in a white sheet seated; Carked It! Game Night at Darebin ICC, Wed 13 May 6–8pm — free, registration essential.

Carked It! Game Night is a relaxed, social evening where a card game opens up conversations about life, death, and everything in between. Jump in, play, laugh, reflect, or just be part of the room.

Register here: https://IC-Carked-It-Game-Night.eventbrite.com.au

#CarkedIt #EndOfLife #Darebin

Tough conversations and anticipatory grief: being a carer - ABC listen When Casey Beros' dad was diagnosed with mesothelioma, she knew her entire world would change.  More than three million Australians are carers — a role people are often thrust into without any kind of map. So based on her own experience, Casey wrote one. On All in the Mind this week, what it takes to be a carer for a loved one. How to get through the tough conversations and difficult moments — from giving bad news to talking about voluntary assisted dying — and still come out the other end in one piece. Guest: Casey Beros Health journalist Author, Next of Kin Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

More than three million Australians are carers. In this episode of All in the Mind, Casey Beros shares what it was like to care for her dad and navigating the hardest parts of that journey.

Victoria and Albert Museum 17K likes, 610 comments. "Unboxing Tarot Decks Through the Ages 🔮💀🌙 | Ancient Rare Historical & Modern Tarot Cards"

Beautiful video on the origins and development of tarot.

And a reminder that you can book a tarot reading with me on my website 🔮

Aphrodisias: Meeting Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, again Photos and reflections from Aphrodisias, ancient sanctuary of Aphrodite, and how meeting her there changed my relationship with the goddess of love.

I've written about my visit to Aphrodisias, one of the great sanctuaries of Aphrodite in the ancient world, in what is now Türkiye.

#PaganSky #WitchSky #Aphrodite

cosettepaneque.com/aphrodisias-aphrodite-gr...

I love it! The tower is cool as.

Exposing a global ‘online rape academy’ that is teaching men how to abuse women and evade detection CNN exposes an online network of men encouraging each other to drug and assault their partners, and swap tips on how to get away with it.

The CNN story about the ‘rape academy’ is shocking, but I cannot honestly say I am shocked. I wish I could be. I wish this felt like an unimaginable exception. Instead, it feels like another exposure of something many women know.
edition.cnn.com/interactive/...

My introduction to Aphrodite, my goddess of love and shadows My month with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, wasn't about roses and sparkling wine. Self-care and self-love are not luxuries. They take hard work.

I revisited a blog I wrote in 2022 about Aphrodite. In some ways, my self-care has held steady, and I've taken meaningful steps to support myself more consistently. It's hard work.

#PaganSky #WitchSky

Facebook wants to scan users’ camera rolls for content The new opt-in feature is designed to mine devices for images that can be turned into postable collages and recaps, although it’s unclear whether anyone will use this.

Will you let Meta mine your phone for content?
www.socialmediatoday.com/news/faceboo...

A black-and-white close-up of a smiling woman, studio microphone at right; memorial name and lifespan shown at bottom.

Today, we remember journalist, author, and Wiccan priestess Margot Adler. She was a prominent voice in the Pagan world and the author of the influential book "Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today," published in 1979.

#PaganSky #WitchSky

Ghostly figure in a white sheet seated; Carked It! Game Night at Darebin ICC, Wed 13 May 6–8pm — free, registration essential.

Join us at the Darebin Intercultural Centre for Carked It!, an Australian-made card game that brings humour, curiosity, and surprisingly meaningful conversations about life and death.

Register here: https://IC-Carked-It-Game-Night.eventbrite.com.au

#CarkedIt #GameNight #EndOfLife #death #Darebin

Illustration of the goddess Aphrodite as a nude woman with long pink hair stands on a rocky path by a blue mountain lake, surrounded by pink flowers and white doves.

Marble relief of the goddess Aphrodite, or a priestess, with a tall crown, carved necklace and inscription at the base; face partially damaged.

The monumental gateway at the ancient Greek city of Aphrodisias, with tall fluted columns and ornate entablature under a blue sky; two people nearby.

I devote April to Aphrodite. To her, I dedicate my love and shadows–the conscious, holistic, and ongoing process of enhancing my wellbeing, happiness, and self-love for the benefit of all beings.

#PaganSky

Join us for a gentle, open conversation about life, death and everything in between. This free café-style gathering offers a safe space to explore end-of-life topics. 

#DeathCafe #Melbourne

Victor Orbán’s removal sends a timely signal.

Corrupt kleptocratic Christian nationalism was on the ballot in Hungary today — just as it will be on the ballots that Americans will cast in November.

It was repudiated abroad — may it be repudiated here in November (and beyond).

People who align themselves with Trump are on the losing side of elections and the wrong side of history.

Empedocles and the dance of Love and Strife Explore how Empedocles' four roots, cosmic forces of Love and Strife, and the creative power of Aphrodite offer a dynamic magical framework.

New post: Empedocles gave us the four elements and two ungendered cosmic forces — Love and Strife — that offer an alternative to binary-polarity models and a different lens on the Wheel of the Year.

#PaganSky #WitchSky #OccultSky

Why is ICE taking DNA samples from protestors? What are they doing with it? What do they plan to do with it?
www.npr.org/2026/03/18/n...

Imperialism vs Colonialism: Key Differences Explained | TheCollector Understanding the differences between imperialism and colonialism is crucial to understanding the political and social complexities of our modern world.

What's the difference between imperialism and colonialism?

Opinion | Our Health Care System Isn’t Built for You to Get Old Thousands shared their caregiving stories. Is America listening?

These caregiving stories are from the US, but they’ll feel familiar in Australia. Caring for parents or partners through dementia, cancer, and ageing is exhausting, complex, and often lonely. 

Ghostly figure in a white sheet seated; Carked It! Game Night at Darebin ICC, Wed 13 May 6–8pm — free, registration essential.

Join us at the Darebin Intercultural Centre for Carked It!, an Australian-made card game that brings humour, curiosity, and surprisingly meaningful conversations about life and death.

Register here: https://IC-Carked-It-Game-Night.eventbrite.com.au

#CarkedIt #GameNight #EndOfLife #death #Darebin

What Is YouTube’s Dominance Doing to Us? We Asked Its C.E.O. Neal Mohan on A.I. slop, parental controls and his platform’s impact on our lives.

I really appreciate Lulu's efforts here, but Big Tech CEOs will Big Tech CEO. #YouTube

Why do some regrets fade, while others persist and grow? | Aeon Essays Since living requires choosing, we will always feel regret about the paths not taken. But what matters is the future we forge

“Living a fulfilling, less regretful life has a lot to do with making authentic choices.”

Hegseth Fires Army Chief Amid Battle With Its Leaders Senior Army officers reacted with anger and frustration to news of Gen. Randy George’s dismissal, characterizing it as the latest blow to the service.

‘Less therapeutic, more pastoral’ doesn’t read neutral to me. It reads like a move away from pluralistic care toward something more narrowly religious. Good spiritual care meets the person, not the ideology.

‘Edge of Life’: where science meets the numinous Reflections on Edge of Life, a documentary exploring psilocybin therapy, palliative care, and the tension between medicine and spirituality.

We hosted a sold-out screening of 'Edge of Life', a documentary exploring psilocybin-assisted therapy in palliative care. My latest blog is a review and explores the questions it raises.

#PaganSky #PalliativeCare

I'm hating a lot of technology today. So many unhelpful suggestions and disruptions, and so much spam.

Bold blue-to-pink gradient text reading "Trans rights are human rights," promoting Trans Day of Visibility (March 31).

Trans Day of Visibility is a day to recognise trans and gender-diverse people in their fullness with lives, work, creativity, and community. Visibility is powerful when it is paired with safety, dignity, and legal protection. 

#TransDayOfVisibility #TDOV

Thanking the good people at Facebook Purity for improving my experience with that awful platform.

An empty cup of coffee next to a red book (The Chaldean Oracles) with a highlighter, book light, and glasses on top. A blanket is nearby.

A quiet Sunday morning with Cuban cafe con leche and a good book—The Chaldean Oracles. #PaganSky