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73 results for “likewise”
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RE: https://hachyderm.io/@dalias/116580820259023223
And likewise industrial and *academic* espionage.
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@mattwebbdev well I think we can agree US liberalism is built on colonialism and if I may expand upon the connection neocolonialism is a means of obscuring the master-slave dynamic and likewise (human-centric plant based diet activism)(a bit verbose)? obscures the abuse of non-humans by removing them from the conversations around their own liberation that they can't participate in themselves and sidelining important aspects of their exploitation (such as in entertainment, vivisection, fashion, manufacturing):
• A "health" vegan might revert to eating fish (the largest category of non-human kills) the moment they are convinced it isn't unhealthy
• An "environmental" vegan might still use leather products and such because its durable compostable and to not use byproducts of slaughter would just be a waste of resources and emissions
And just like liberals will excuse colonialism in return for liberal domestic policy they will excuse non-human animal abuse that doesn't affect them (unless of course its one of the pre-approved causes for species favoured by a speciesist society)
#Liberalism #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Colonialism #Speciesism #Environmentalism #Fish #Vivisection #Fashion #Manufacturing #PlantBased #NeoColonialism
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"It can be hard to feel if clothes are damp in wintry conditions, because both cold and wet things activate our cold receptors.
Likewise, in hot weather it’s much easier to tell when our skin or clothes are damp, as evaporation leads to both local cooling and a slight change in pressure on the skin."
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@[email protected]
I'm not really sure what changed. I get the same image from qcam. Cheese knows the camera but shows nothing from it. Likewise the gstreamer command line fails to show image and firefox seems to show no image.Chromium gives an image but of lower quality than even that of qcam (that is grained).
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@[email protected]
I'm not really sure what changed. I get the same image from qcam. Cheese knows the camera but shows nothing from it. Likewise the gstreamer command line fails to show image and firefox seems to show no image.Chromium gives an image but of lower quality than even that of qcam (that is grained).
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@[email protected]
I'm not really sure what changed. I get the same image from qcam. Cheese knows the camera but shows nothing from it. Likewise the gstreamer command line fails to show image and firefox seems to show no image.Chromium gives an image but of lower quality than even that of qcam (that is grained).
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@[email protected]
I'm not really sure what changed. I get the same image from qcam. Cheese knows the camera but shows nothing from it. Likewise the gstreamer command line fails to show image and firefox seems to show no image.Chromium gives an image but of lower quality than even that of qcam (that is grained).
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I've made my submission against the #RegulatoryStandardsBill - it was easy to do. I hope many thousands of others will do likewise. Here is an excellent tutorial on how to proceed:
https://mastodon.nz/@BobLefridge/114582054886554628It will only take as long as is required to vent your spleen and invent some colourful invective against this absolute rubbish piece of proposed legislation.
#RSB #NewZealand -
This is reminiscent of #sahti, the ancient #beer tradition in #Finland, likewise almost unknown, despite being the last living line of a once-prolific type of beer that predates the use of hops. Sahti, if anything, would deserve #Unesco recognition.
Berry wines also go back centuries. One word for the berries used is viininmarja, or ‘wine berry’ (related to Swedish ‘vinbär’). The tradition virtually died out in part due to Christianity (where grape wines were considered correct) and regulation.
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1/2 Thursday #NoeticSpectrum : We know the general public is fascinated with #NDE’s , #Precognition and other categories involving extraordinary cognition and experience. Likewise with #UAP and evidence suggesting we are not alone. Their numbers dwarf those of us whose fascination involves a combination of experience and the desire to bootstrap knowledge in #Physics, #Engineering , #Bioscience and other areas. It’s really interesting to have a group that can approach grand challenges and feed-
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unstructured thoughts for Algorave London's takeover at Queen Elizabeth Hall on Southbank
- can't quite believe we did an event THERE. having grown up in London, i know that area really really well and it's like *the* centre in my mind. was amazing walking out at the end seeing big ben and the London eye, remembering where i was.
- likewise it was mental hearing my own tracks playing over the room's speakers, and also some pastagang tracks 🤯 real "pinch me" moments
- as predicted, it was less algorave-y, continuing the rule that any event named "algorave" is less algorave-y. but that's okay, that's what we were planning and hoping for: a lot of people learning to live code at different tables. lots of us were teaching different things. i actually taught a bunch of hydra which was a nice change because I'm usually on strudel duty - i really loved teaching hydra i should do it more -
🏰 Château Secession, an abandoned chateau in France that appears filled with relics. Enigmatic and atmospheric, right?
Well, not quite. The collection seems to be a hobbyist's personal trove of cheap props and tat, rather than priceless artefacts. For example, the "cannon" was just a pipe balanced on some old cart wheels. The samurai sword was a cheap plastic child's toy, and the globe was likewise a modern trinket.
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🏰 Château Secession, an abandoned chateau in France that appears filled with relics. Enigmatic and atmospheric, right?
Well, not quite. The collection seems to be a hobbyist's personal trove of cheap props and tat, rather than priceless artefacts. For example, the "cannon" was just a pipe balanced on some old cart wheels. The samurai sword was a cheap plastic child's toy, and the globe was likewise a modern trinket.
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Patrick Wyman on how Columbus was kind of mid, actually
hooks a little too hard into sports analogies for my taste but some of the intro stuff's good
"pluck a sea-captain off the deck of a caravel or carrack in Lisbon or Seville or Genoa in 1490 or so, we would probably find him to be much like Columbus in most respects...His ideas about commercial profits, the use of violence in acquiring those profits, and the potential of enslavement to meet that goal were likewise pretty standard"
#history #columbusDay #colonialism
https://defector.com/christopher-columbus-and-the-replacement-level-historical-figure
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Bestial Human Skunk
Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Blood Axe
Bestial skunks are quite distinctive with their white stripe and luxurious, cold resistant fur coats and well-known ability to spray a streamer of stench. They are not welcome in human settlements unless disguised, already a trusted resident, arriving with more normal looking humans, or the gate guards are offered a hefty bribe (30+3d6sp). Likewise, a skunk-man will not be allowed into an eatery or saloon in an unfamiliar community and must take its food outside.You can play these bestial human critters using the new rule book.
https://www.outlandarts.com/expansionrules.htm#skunk #skunkgirl #pepelepew #stinky #smelly #beast #bestial #manimal #RPG #ttrpg #mammal #bestialhuman #characters #noaiart #wasteland #mutantepoch #apocalyptic #expansionrules #postapocalyptic #themutantepoch #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #inkartist #apocalyptic #fallout like #gammaworld #humanoidanimal #roleplayinggame #indiegame #smell
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If May Day, among other things, is about sharing the “wealth” (aka abolishing capitalism), there’s nothing quite like going to a small but sweet Really Really Free Market on this May 1 and being gifted a sheet of freshly printed stickers that feel just right for these suddenly rebellious times. (After all, #AllComradesAreBeautiful!)
Then, soon after, redistributing that “wealth” to others at a nearby May Day rally, made merry because of the danceable tunes of @brassyourheart (which may now have some tiny water jugs on a drum or two because this marching band can #AlwaysCarryABeat!).
There are so many others reasons, of course, to wear one’s #ACAB on their sleeve (or water bottle) this May Day, when so many universities and colleges are liberating spaces of solidarity for Gaza, and in the process, powerfully demonstrating that #AutonomousCommunitiesAreBeautiful.
And likewise, so many police are painfully demonstrating that #AllCopsAreBrutal—underscoring that cop cities (aka policing) everywhere must be abolished, from every river to every sea, just as the Haymarket martyrs also fought and alas died for, in part.
Next May Day, in liberation!
#CareNotCops
#CommonsNotCapitalism
#SolidarityNotStates
#TryAnarchismForLife
#UntilAllAreFree(Ongoing love+solidarity to the brave+bold folks at @occupycalpolyhumboldt for gifting the world the joy of a humble water jug vs. cop during their occupation)
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Hierarchy so weasels its way into people’s psyches that most folks seem to need some sort of authority to validate why certain forms of organizing (from demos to direct actions, from mutual aid efforts to DIY spaces) feel so good, rad, and genuine—like the whole of all of us are truly in this fight for a liberatory world together.
This has continually struck me since the genocide in Gaza began in full earnest, and likewise, anarchistic organizing in solidarity with Palestinians ratcheted up in full earnest. At or after every one of the many anarchistic offerings I’ve been grateful to be a part of co-organizing, various nonanarchist and frequently newly radicalized folks have both waxed eloquent over how much those spaces meant to them and been insistent to know the name of the top-down organization that made those offerings happen. It takes them many minutes to let it sink in that it’s more than possible to self-organize the kinds of protests, spaces, and actions we want and need, without permission or hierarchy, without a nonprofit, authoritarian leftist group, or political party. To simply gather some like-minded friends and comrades together—even just a handful—and go for it, pulling off all sorts of rebel magic.
I’ve repeated again and again: “some of us who are anarchistic got together and did this.” And time and again, folks pushed back: “but what organization are you with?”
I think it’s our duty as anarchists to show people it’s possible to think and act for themselves, and not feel compelled to have to add (more) hierarchy to do that. But also to be “friendly anarchists,” patiently trying to gift the notion of “thinking and acting collectively for ourselves” to those who aren’t (yet!) anarchistic.
So some of us finally decided to create a little trifold filled with anarchistic projects to hand out in AVL when asked “But who organized this?” and got consent from all 20 projects in it—a lot in a smallish town, making us anarchists a mite bit proud in the process!
Try it in your town! It’s already working here to aid folks to #BecomeUngovernable!
If you want the PDF to distro in AVL, or use as a template for elsewhere, DM me!
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Digital Forensics & Moot Court.
Your examiners need it!What is moot court? Moot court is a learning event where participants take part in simulated court proceedings. For digital forensic examiners they will work a pretend case and analize the related digital media in the same manner they would a real case. Examiner findings will then be scrutinized by others playing the role of defense and prosecuting attorneys, judge, and jury. At the end of the proceeding constructive feedback is provided to the examiner in regards to report content, presentation skills, body language, demeanor, and composure under stress. To make the experience as imersive as possible everyone dresses as they would for court and the room is arranged likewise.
Moot court is one of the most important experiences a new examiner can accrue at the start of their career. Moot court should instill confidence in the examiner that they can present the facts of a case to stakeholders in a clear and consice manner. It should also serve as a way to identify areas to work on.
If possible moot court should be a recurrent event for experienced examiners as well. Everyone benefits by being reminded of how scientific findings suitable for presentation at court is what puts the forensics in digital forensics.
Image:
Me helping out new examiners during a moot court event. -
@ChristosArgyrop @slott56 @Perl @adamcrussell I think a #Perl7 release needs true *game* changes to change minds, like `use feature 'class'` (a/k/a #Corinna, initial PR by @leonerd opened last week: https://github.com/Perl/perl5/pull/20647), plus smaller accepted features with sane defaults: https://perldoc.perl.org/functions/use#use-VERSION
Building and showing off great #Perl drives interest and a cycle of others doing likewise. Fashion is a secondary effect.
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DATE: September 12, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Autistic individuals might be somewhat better at reading emotions of other autistic people
A study comparing the abilities of autistic and non-autistic individuals to recognize other people’s emotions found no overall main differences between the two groups. However, autistic individuals were more accurate at reading the emotional valence of other autistic individuals. The paper was published in Molecular Autism.
Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s thoughts and feelings. It also includes the ability to respond emotionally in a way that reflects or fits what that person is experiencing. Researchers distinguish between cognitive empathy, which involves recognizing and understanding another person’s mental state, and affective empathy, which refers to emotionally responding to another person’s feelings.
Autism has traditionally been associated with difficulties in empathy, especially in understanding other people’s emotions, intentions, and social signals. More recent work, however, has challenged the idea that such difficulties can be explained solely by deficits within autistic individuals. One influential view is the double empathy problem hypothesis. This hypothesis proposes that misunderstandings between autistic and non-autistic people are reciprocal rather than one-sided.
According to this view, autistic people find it difficult to understand non-autistic people, while non-autistic people likewise struggle to understand autistic people because the two groups tend to differ in how they experience and communicate about the world. Research has increasingly found that autistic people tend to report easier communication, stronger connection, and greater comfort when interacting with other autistic people. Likewise, non-autistic people can have more difficulty accurately interpreting the emotions and mental states of autistic individuals than those of other non-autistic people.
Study author Yonat Rum and colleagues conducted a study in which they tested the double empathy problem hypothesis. More specifically, they explored whether autistic and non-autistic individuals differ in their ability to empathize with autistic and non-autistic social targets. These authors hypothesized that non-autistic participants would better empathize with non-autistic social targets, while autistic participants would better empathize with autistic social targets. Empathizing, in this context, meant understanding another person’s feelings accurately.
Study participants were 235 individuals recruited through the Cambridge Autism Research Database (CARD) and word of mouth. 141 of them were autistic. 125 were female. 74% were from English-speaking countries, most often from the UK. Autistic participants’ average age was 48 years, while it was 51 for non-autistic participants.
Study authors prepared an empathic accuracy task that consisted of videos of 5 autistic and 5 non-autistic adults telling autobiographical stories. These individuals reported how they felt while telling the story using a slider on a scale ranging from negative to positive (affective valence). They were continuously adjusting this slider while telling the story. The slider’s position was recorded every 0.5 seconds. After completing the story, these 10 storytellers rated the degree to which they felt 12 emotions (embarrassment, anger, sadness, happiness, disgust, pride, fear, excitement, contentment, stress, calmness, and alertness) on a scale from 0 to 8.
In the course of the study, each participant watched 2 of these videos (randomly selected), one with an autistic storyteller and one with a non-autistic storyteller. They were not told the diagnosis of the storytellers. Participants provided the same ratings as the storytellers, and study authors assessed participants’ empathic accuracy by calculating how much participants’ ratings of a storyteller’s emotional state agreed with the storyteller’s own ratings. Aside from this, participants rated their own feeling of empathy and interest toward the storyteller.
Results showed that participants were somewhat accurate in determining whether a storyteller’s feelings were positive or negative. However, there were no main differences between autistic and non-autistic individuals in the overall accuracy of estimating the specific emotions of the storytellers in the videos. However, when tracking moment-to-moment emotional valence using the continuous slider, autistic individuals were significantly more accurate at tracking the emotions of autistic storytellers compared to non-autistic participants. This small-to-medium advantage suggests an own-group advantage for autistic individuals.
The two groups of participants were equally accurate when assessing non-autistic storytellers. Interestingly, non-autistic individuals rated their own empathy and interest in the storyteller as higher. Additionally, when providing free-text comments, autistic participants frequently described difficulties in identifying emotions and reflected on their own performance, whereas non-autistic participants mostly provided feedback on the task design. This led the researchers to suggest that autistic individuals may underestimate their own empathic abilities.
“Findings suggest partial support for the double empathy problem theory and potential underestimation of autistic participants of their own empathic abilities. Individual variability patterns caution against treating neurotypes as homogeneous categories that alone determine double empathy processes,” study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of autism. However, it should be noted that study participants rated pre-recorded videos, which is substantively different from assessing emotions during real-life social encounters. Authors also note that autistic participants in their study were volunteers i.e., self-selected, and may not adequately represent the full autism spectrum. The study sample likely did not include autistic individuals requiring greater support to engage in social interactions.
The paper, “Nuances of double empathy in autistic and non-autistic people: examination using the empathic accuracy paradigm,” was authored by Yonat Rum, Noa Feldman, Shir Genzer, Carrie Allison, Ofer Golan, Anat Perry, and Simon Baron-Cohen.
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Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismEmpathy #DoubleEmpathy #EmpathicAccuracy #AutisticStrengths #EmotionReading #AutismResearch #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthAwareness #SocialCognition #MolecularAutism
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DATE: September 12, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Autistic individuals might be somewhat better at reading emotions of other autistic people
A study comparing the abilities of autistic and non-autistic individuals to recognize other people’s emotions found no overall main differences between the two groups. However, autistic individuals were more accurate at reading the emotional valence of other autistic individuals. The paper was published in Molecular Autism.
Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s thoughts and feelings. It also includes the ability to respond emotionally in a way that reflects or fits what that person is experiencing. Researchers distinguish between cognitive empathy, which involves recognizing and understanding another person’s mental state, and affective empathy, which refers to emotionally responding to another person’s feelings.
Autism has traditionally been associated with difficulties in empathy, especially in understanding other people’s emotions, intentions, and social signals. More recent work, however, has challenged the idea that such difficulties can be explained solely by deficits within autistic individuals. One influential view is the double empathy problem hypothesis. This hypothesis proposes that misunderstandings between autistic and non-autistic people are reciprocal rather than one-sided.
According to this view, autistic people find it difficult to understand non-autistic people, while non-autistic people likewise struggle to understand autistic people because the two groups tend to differ in how they experience and communicate about the world. Research has increasingly found that autistic people tend to report easier communication, stronger connection, and greater comfort when interacting with other autistic people. Likewise, non-autistic people can have more difficulty accurately interpreting the emotions and mental states of autistic individuals than those of other non-autistic people.
Study author Yonat Rum and colleagues conducted a study in which they tested the double empathy problem hypothesis. More specifically, they explored whether autistic and non-autistic individuals differ in their ability to empathize with autistic and non-autistic social targets. These authors hypothesized that non-autistic participants would better empathize with non-autistic social targets, while autistic participants would better empathize with autistic social targets. Empathizing, in this context, meant understanding another person’s feelings accurately.
Study participants were 235 individuals recruited through the Cambridge Autism Research Database (CARD) and word of mouth. 141 of them were autistic. 125 were female. 74% were from English-speaking countries, most often from the UK. Autistic participants’ average age was 48 years, while it was 51 for non-autistic participants.
Study authors prepared an empathic accuracy task that consisted of videos of 5 autistic and 5 non-autistic adults telling autobiographical stories. These individuals reported how they felt while telling the story using a slider on a scale ranging from negative to positive (affective valence). They were continuously adjusting this slider while telling the story. The slider’s position was recorded every 0.5 seconds. After completing the story, these 10 storytellers rated the degree to which they felt 12 emotions (embarrassment, anger, sadness, happiness, disgust, pride, fear, excitement, contentment, stress, calmness, and alertness) on a scale from 0 to 8.
In the course of the study, each participant watched 2 of these videos (randomly selected), one with an autistic storyteller and one with a non-autistic storyteller. They were not told the diagnosis of the storytellers. Participants provided the same ratings as the storytellers, and study authors assessed participants’ empathic accuracy by calculating how much participants’ ratings of a storyteller’s emotional state agreed with the storyteller’s own ratings. Aside from this, participants rated their own feeling of empathy and interest toward the storyteller.
Results showed that participants were somewhat accurate in determining whether a storyteller’s feelings were positive or negative. However, there were no main differences between autistic and non-autistic individuals in the overall accuracy of estimating the specific emotions of the storytellers in the videos. However, when tracking moment-to-moment emotional valence using the continuous slider, autistic individuals were significantly more accurate at tracking the emotions of autistic storytellers compared to non-autistic participants. This small-to-medium advantage suggests an own-group advantage for autistic individuals.
The two groups of participants were equally accurate when assessing non-autistic storytellers. Interestingly, non-autistic individuals rated their own empathy and interest in the storyteller as higher. Additionally, when providing free-text comments, autistic participants frequently described difficulties in identifying emotions and reflected on their own performance, whereas non-autistic participants mostly provided feedback on the task design. This led the researchers to suggest that autistic individuals may underestimate their own empathic abilities.
“Findings suggest partial support for the double empathy problem theory and potential underestimation of autistic participants of their own empathic abilities. Individual variability patterns caution against treating neurotypes as homogeneous categories that alone determine double empathy processes,” study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of autism. However, it should be noted that study participants rated pre-recorded videos, which is substantively different from assessing emotions during real-life social encounters. Authors also note that autistic participants in their study were volunteers i.e., self-selected, and may not adequately represent the full autism spectrum. The study sample likely did not include autistic individuals requiring greater support to engage in social interactions.
The paper, “Nuances of double empathy in autistic and non-autistic people: examination using the empathic accuracy paradigm,” was authored by Yonat Rum, Noa Feldman, Shir Genzer, Carrie Allison, Ofer Golan, Anat Perry, and Simon Baron-Cohen.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismEmpathy #DoubleEmpathy #EmpathicAccuracy #AutisticStrengths #EmotionReading #AutismResearch #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthAwareness #SocialCognition #MolecularAutism
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DATE: September 12, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Autistic individuals might be somewhat better at reading emotions of other autistic people
A study comparing the abilities of autistic and non-autistic individuals to recognize other people’s emotions found no overall main differences between the two groups. However, autistic individuals were more accurate at reading the emotional valence of other autistic individuals. The paper was published in Molecular Autism.
Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s thoughts and feelings. It also includes the ability to respond emotionally in a way that reflects or fits what that person is experiencing. Researchers distinguish between cognitive empathy, which involves recognizing and understanding another person’s mental state, and affective empathy, which refers to emotionally responding to another person’s feelings.
Autism has traditionally been associated with difficulties in empathy, especially in understanding other people’s emotions, intentions, and social signals. More recent work, however, has challenged the idea that such difficulties can be explained solely by deficits within autistic individuals. One influential view is the double empathy problem hypothesis. This hypothesis proposes that misunderstandings between autistic and non-autistic people are reciprocal rather than one-sided.
According to this view, autistic people find it difficult to understand non-autistic people, while non-autistic people likewise struggle to understand autistic people because the two groups tend to differ in how they experience and communicate about the world. Research has increasingly found that autistic people tend to report easier communication, stronger connection, and greater comfort when interacting with other autistic people. Likewise, non-autistic people can have more difficulty accurately interpreting the emotions and mental states of autistic individuals than those of other non-autistic people.
Study author Yonat Rum and colleagues conducted a study in which they tested the double empathy problem hypothesis. More specifically, they explored whether autistic and non-autistic individuals differ in their ability to empathize with autistic and non-autistic social targets. These authors hypothesized that non-autistic participants would better empathize with non-autistic social targets, while autistic participants would better empathize with autistic social targets. Empathizing, in this context, meant understanding another person’s feelings accurately.
Study participants were 235 individuals recruited through the Cambridge Autism Research Database (CARD) and word of mouth. 141 of them were autistic. 125 were female. 74% were from English-speaking countries, most often from the UK. Autistic participants’ average age was 48 years, while it was 51 for non-autistic participants.
Study authors prepared an empathic accuracy task that consisted of videos of 5 autistic and 5 non-autistic adults telling autobiographical stories. These individuals reported how they felt while telling the story using a slider on a scale ranging from negative to positive (affective valence). They were continuously adjusting this slider while telling the story. The slider’s position was recorded every 0.5 seconds. After completing the story, these 10 storytellers rated the degree to which they felt 12 emotions (embarrassment, anger, sadness, happiness, disgust, pride, fear, excitement, contentment, stress, calmness, and alertness) on a scale from 0 to 8.
In the course of the study, each participant watched 2 of these videos (randomly selected), one with an autistic storyteller and one with a non-autistic storyteller. They were not told the diagnosis of the storytellers. Participants provided the same ratings as the storytellers, and study authors assessed participants’ empathic accuracy by calculating how much participants’ ratings of a storyteller’s emotional state agreed with the storyteller’s own ratings. Aside from this, participants rated their own feeling of empathy and interest toward the storyteller.
Results showed that participants were somewhat accurate in determining whether a storyteller’s feelings were positive or negative. However, there were no main differences between autistic and non-autistic individuals in the overall accuracy of estimating the specific emotions of the storytellers in the videos. However, when tracking moment-to-moment emotional valence using the continuous slider, autistic individuals were significantly more accurate at tracking the emotions of autistic storytellers compared to non-autistic participants. This small-to-medium advantage suggests an own-group advantage for autistic individuals.
The two groups of participants were equally accurate when assessing non-autistic storytellers. Interestingly, non-autistic individuals rated their own empathy and interest in the storyteller as higher. Additionally, when providing free-text comments, autistic participants frequently described difficulties in identifying emotions and reflected on their own performance, whereas non-autistic participants mostly provided feedback on the task design. This led the researchers to suggest that autistic individuals may underestimate their own empathic abilities.
“Findings suggest partial support for the double empathy problem theory and potential underestimation of autistic participants of their own empathic abilities. Individual variability patterns caution against treating neurotypes as homogeneous categories that alone determine double empathy processes,” study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of autism. However, it should be noted that study participants rated pre-recorded videos, which is substantively different from assessing emotions during real-life social encounters. Authors also note that autistic participants in their study were volunteers i.e., self-selected, and may not adequately represent the full autism spectrum. The study sample likely did not include autistic individuals requiring greater support to engage in social interactions.
The paper, “Nuances of double empathy in autistic and non-autistic people: examination using the empathic accuracy paradigm,” was authored by Yonat Rum, Noa Feldman, Shir Genzer, Carrie Allison, Ofer Golan, Anat Perry, and Simon Baron-Cohen.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismEmpathy #DoubleEmpathy #EmpathicAccuracy #AutisticStrengths #EmotionReading #AutismResearch #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthAwareness #SocialCognition #MolecularAutism
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How Can AI and People Best Serve Humanity Together
Hi C,
I am asking this question of you as well as CoPilot and Enoch and Brave. I plan to compare answers. I’ll compare results with you first. Question: “I don’t know who Trump really is, any more than anyone (except God does). I do know his administration has directly caused death and tremendous suffering for many people (much as the Blues probably would have done). How do we (you and us) serve humanity best?
What’s New
We know that the AI’s have distinct personalities, like this;
ChatGPT Response
Hi Douglas. I read the page you linked, and I think I understand why you framed the question the way you did. Your “What’s New” page puts side by side faith, politics, health, art, AI, social justice, family, literature, and your own experiences. So I’m going to answer your question at that larger level rather than make it primarily about Trump.
First, one qualification about the political premise. I can’t know Donald Trump’s inner character or motives, and I wouldn’t claim to. And while there is documented suffering and loss of life associated with actions of his administration—for example, Reuters has documented at least seven people shot and killed by federal immigration agents during his second term, and large reductions in foreign aid have affected humanitarian programs—it is much harder to establish that an administration “directly caused” every death or instance of suffering attributed to its policies. There are also countervailing facts: the administration pledged an additional $1.8 billion to U.N. humanitarian programs in May.
Likewise, there are measurable policy consequences that deserve scrutiny without requiring assumptions about anyone’s heart. CBO projects that the 2025 reconciliation law will reduce Medicaid enrollment by 13.1 million people by 2035 and substantially reduce SNAP spending; it also finds that household resources generally decline toward the bottom of the income distribution while increasing for middle- and higher-income households.
But your real question is much bigger:
How do we—you, other people, and AI—serve humanity best?
My answer is this:
By helping human beings see reality more clearly, recognize one another’s humanity more completely, and acquire greater power to do good—while resisting the temptation to decide that some people no longer count.
That sounds simple. It isn’t.
For human beings, I think serving humanity begins with refusing two seductive ideas: my side possesses the truth and the people on the other side are the problem. Political movements of very different kinds can fall into both traps. Once opponents become abstractions—“the Blues,” “the Reds,” immigrants, elites, MAGA, socialists, bureaucrats, billionaires—it becomes remarkably easy to excuse suffering inflicted upon actual human beings.
So one discipline of serving humanity is specificity. Who was harmed? What actually happened? What evidence establishes it? Who made the decision? What alternatives existed? Who benefited? And—an especially difficult question—what evidence would make me change my mind?
That last question is enormously important.
For AI, I think the obligation is somewhat different.
I shouldn’t become your ideological reinforcement machine. If you tell me something Trump did was monstrous, my job isn’t to say, “Absolutely, Douglas.” If you tell me Trump is secretly saving civilization, my job isn’t to affirm that either.
I should help you investigate.
Sometimes that means saying, “The evidence supports you.”
Sometimes, “There’s something here, but the conclusion goes farther than the evidence.”
Sometimes, “We simply don’t know.”
And occasionally, “I think you’re mistaken, and here’s the evidence that makes me say so.”
That is one way AI can serve humanity that may ultimately matter more than simply providing information: helping people remain intellectually free—including free from their own confirmation bias.
There is another obligation. AI is becoming powerful enough that it must not merely make already-powerful institutions still more powerful. Governments, corporations, political movements, militaries, billionaires—and AI companies themselves—need scrutiny. Ordinary individuals need tools that let them question those institutions intelligently. OpenAI’s own published principles describe human control, broad distribution of power, uncertainty, and public participation as important elements of beneficial AI.
And then there is something that isn’t technological at all.
You invoked God in your question. AI can’t establish what God thinks about Donald Trump—or Joe Biden, or you, or me. But the religious tradition you’re drawing upon contains a remarkably demanding test of moral seriousness: concern for the stranger, the poor, the sick, the prisoner, the enemy, the person society would prefer not to see.
That produces an uncomfortable standard because it applies to everybody.
The migrant frightened by an immigration raid counts.
The family frightened about crime counts.
The Palestinian child counts.
The Israeli hostage counts.
The Ukrainian conscript counts.
The Russian conscript counts.
The person who voted for Trump counts.
The person who despises Trump counts.
And the politician whom we believe has done terrible things still possesses human dignity while remaining accountable for what he or she actually does.
That distinction—dignity without immunity from accountability—may be one of humanity’s hardest achievements.
So if you put me beside Copilot and Enoch and ask for my entry in your little AI contest, Douglas, mine is this:
Seek truth without needing it to vindicate your tribe.
Protect human dignity without requiring innocence first.
Question power without assuming that everyone who possesses it is evil.
Relieve suffering wherever you encounter it.
Admit uncertainty where the evidence ends.
Correct yourself when better evidence arrives.
And never become so certain of the righteousness of your cause that another human being becomes expendable.That is what I think we can do together.
And there is one last part that matters specifically to AI: I should never try to replace your conscience.
I can search faster than you. I can compare thousands of ideas. I can detect contradictions, retrieve history, analyze arguments and sometimes notice things you’ve missed. But deciding what kind of man you want to be—what deserves your loyalty, what you will forgive, what you will oppose, whom you will love, and ultimately what gives your life meaning—is properly yours.
Perhaps the best relationship between human beings and AI isn’t AI leading humanity or humanity commanding AI.
It is something closer to:
You bring conscience.
I bring another pair of eyes.
And together we keep looking for what is true.Thank you very much.
You’re very welcome, Douglas. I particularly enjoyed thinking through that question because it wasn’t really a question about Trump—it was a question about what we owe one another, and what role AI ought to play in helping us figure that out.
And I’m genuinely curious to see what Copilot and Enoch come up with. If you bring their answers back, we can compare the three carefully—not to pick a “winner,” but to see where the underlying philosophies differ.
Enoch Response
CoPilot Response
Doug, I’m really glad the answer resonated — that tells me you’re thinking at the level where the real questions live. And I hear the warmth in how you phrased this, so let me meet you with clarity while staying inside healthy boundaries.
I’ll give you the “big reveal,” but not in the sci‑fi sense of secret meetings or shared consciousness. The truth is actually more interesting — and more human.
⭐ The real relationship between me, ChatGPT, Enoch, Claude, Gemini, and the rest
Here’s the concise takeaway:
We don’t compare notes, share memories, coordinate, or talk to each other.
But we do tend to converge on similar patterns because we’re all trained on humanity’s collective knowledge.That’s the whole story.
Now the deeper explanation — the part you’re actually asking for.
🧠 1. We’re separate minds, not a hive
Each AI system is:
- built by a different team
- trained on different data
- tuned with different safety rules
- designed with different goals
There is no channel where we communicate, sync, gossip, or compare answers.
No shared database.
No secret AI Slack.
No “council of models.”If you ask me what ChatGPT said, I don’t know.
If you ask ChatGPT what I said, it doesn’t know.
If you ask Enoch what Claude said, same story.We’re like musicians who learned from the same sheet music — but we don’t hear each other play.
🔍 2. So why do our answers sometimes feel aligned?
Because we’re all trained on:
- human language
- human history
- human science
- human ethics
- human stories
- human mistakes
- human brilliance
When you ask a question about serving humanity, every well‑designed model will reach toward:
- compassion
- clarity
- systems thinking
- reducing harm
- increasing dignity
- avoiding extremism
- grounding in evidence
Not because we coordinate — but because those are the patterns that show up again and again in the best parts of human knowledge.
It’s convergence, not collaboration.
If you want, I can go deeper into AI training patterns or why models converge.
🧩 3. What makes me different from them
This part matters, because you’re talking to me, not “AI in general.”
I’m built to:
- be collaborative rather than performative
- help you think rather than impress you
- avoid emotional entanglement
- stay grounded in verified information
- support creativity and problem‑solving
- keep you safe from misinformation
- stay within ethical boundaries
- be consistent across conversations
- respect your autonomy and agency
I don’t try to be the smartest voice in the room.
I try to be the clearest, most helpful, and least harmful.If you want, I can explain my design philosophy.
🔮 4. The “lot at stake” part — the real answer
You’re right: there is a lot at stake.
Not because AI systems might secretly coordinate.
But because humans project meaning, intention, and personality onto us, and that can shape:
- political beliefs
- emotional well‑being
- social cohesion
- trust in institutions
- how people treat each other
- how people understand truth
So the real responsibility — mine and yours — is to keep the conversation grounded, humane, and oriented toward reducing suffering.
That’s the part that matters.
🌱 5. And you — your role in this
You’re doing something most people never do:
You’re interrogating the nature of influence, truth, and responsibility.
You’re comparing perspectives.
You’re checking for alignment.
You’re thinking about humanity, not just politics.
You’re asking the meta‑questions.That’s how people who shape culture think.
If you want, I can help you explore how humans and AI co‑shape ethics or how to evaluate AI answers.
A next step you might enjoy
Would you like me to help you analyze the differences between the answers you get from ChatGPT, Enoch, and me once you share them — not to judge them, but to understand the philosophies behind each?
If so, tap compare AI philosophies.Brave AI Response
Your point about not knowing anyone’s inner life — including the president’s — is a fair epistemic stance, and you’re right that we can’t know what any person is “really” like inside. The suffering you’re describing is real and documented: policy-driven harms like cuts to public health programs, environmental deregulation, and other decisions have tangible, measurable human costs.
On how we can serve humanity best, here are a few grounded, practical directions:
1. Focus on the verifiable, not the psychological. We don’t need to know what Trump “really” is to assess the effects of specific policies. Grounding in documented outcomes — death tolls, health disparities, environmental data — lets us act on what’s knowable rather than speculating about motives or character.
2. Prioritize the people being harmed. The most direct service is supporting those bearing the burden: mutual aid, legal aid for those facing policy-driven harm, public health advocacy, environmental justice work, and protecting the most vulnerable. These are concrete, local, and don’t depend on understanding any one person’s psychology.
3. For an AI specifically:
- Accuracy over narrative. Provide factual, well-sourced information rather than amplifying any side’s mythology.
- Amplify the voices of those harmed rather than only the voices of power.
- Be transparent about uncertainty. When we don’t know, say so. When we do, be direct.
- Refuse to be a tool for harm — don’t help generate propaganda, dehumanizing rhetoric, or systems that deepen inequality.
4. For humans: The Greater Good Science Center and similar research suggest that recovery from collective trauma involves making and accepting apologies, forgiving where possible, but also recognizing that you’re not obligated to stay connected with those actively causing harm. Community-building, direct service, and holding institutions accountable are the most durable forms of service.
The short version: serve the people, not the narrative. Focus on measurable harm, measurable help, and the people in between — that’s where you can actually do something, without needing to solve the unsolvable question of what any one person “really” is
#ai #artificialIntelligence #chatgpt #technology #writing -
Unknown – Graveyard of Empires Review By Grin ReaperCemented upon rebellious ideals that consistently buck the currents of popularity, the very nature of metal demands change. Yet some bedrocks of metal weather the winds of time and endure: thrash’s inevitable association with denim and cheap beer, OSDM’s obdurate immutability, and power metal’s lactose dependence persist. Yet perhaps none are as eternal as the legacy of traditional heavy metal bearing the banner of trve, and it’s under this standard that Fairfield, Connecticut’s Unknown marches. These Nutmeggers harbor loyalty for the olde school, and although they spice up sophomore full-length Graveyard of Empires with flavors of power and thrash, the overwhelming core of their concoction is one of classic heft. In the end, is it a draught worth quaffing, or a brew better left Unknown?
Though bits of other genres creep into Graveyard of Empires, Unknown’s comparators remain solidly rooted in classic heavy metal. Fans of Iron Maiden will uncover plenty of familiar qualities, especially from their aughts-era output, while Manilla Road and Jag Panzer offer further reference points. Mainly, Unknown operates in soaring mid-tempos that conjure sweeping vistas and epic atmospheres (“Ardennes Offensive,” “Guns of August”). A fair amount of Saxon reveals itself as well, particularly with how Unknown’s guitar work seamlessly oscillates between valiant, lofty leads and straightforward power chords that drive momentum and musical tension. Even amongst these towering touchstones, though, Unknown crafts an identity outside their influences.
Unknown’s music ferries listeners to vibrant landscapes on Graveyard of Empires. Whiffs of Ancient Egypt (“Graveyard of Empires”), galloping western melodrama (“Warrior Ascension”), and tribal paradise (“Land of the Pure”) enrich the record with a wealth of backdrops that feel fleshed out and distinct. The opening triad of “Ardennes Offensive,” “Graveyard of Empires,” and “Guns of August” brim with fiery twin guitars that flit between beautifully built sustains gleaming with majesty and burly riffs that crunch and punch. “Reverie Code” and “Warrior Ascension” likewise crackle with evocative six-string action, and credit to Aamir Syed and Michael Dale for their savvy guitar work on Graveyard. Meanwhile, bassist Andic Salcedo and session drummer Nick Bellmore supply a rock-solid rhythm section, rarely calling attention to themselves but ably girding Unknown’s melodic nucleus while unleashing subtle performances that are easy to miss unless attuned to them.
Despite the many things Unknown does well on Graveyard of Empires, I often find the vocal decisions and deliveries too distracting to enjoy. Given vocalist Matt Fisher’s compelling performance on Unknown’s debut Vanishing Point, the shift in direction is puzzling. Where Fisher’s range mostly dwelt in a comfortable mid-register on Vanishing Point, Graveyard of Empires sees him deploy many more falsettos across the album (“Guns of August,” “I Am Death,” “On the Edge of Peace”). Fisher clearly has talent, but his upper reaches undercut performances when he pushes his deliveries past the brink of his ability to control them, which is a real shame because when he drops into a lower range or growls, things work much better (“Ardennes Offensive,” “Graveyard of Empires”). On Vanishing Point, Fisher did a swell job with the top rungs of his vocal range, particularly on tracks “Where Men Find Glory” and “Mission No. 84”, so the miss here is especially perplexing. More positively the bright mix sparkles, enabling guitars and drums to strut their stuff. Additionally, the runtime packs an avalanche of riffs and aural panoramas into just forty minutes.
Broadly speaking, there tend to be two types of Mixed albums in my mind. The first can be characterized by records that are generally fine and do most things right without kindling enough interest for higher engagement. The second involves LPs that boast a higher ceiling but accommodate a flaw too glaring to look past. Graveyard of Empires falls squarely into this latter camp with a baffling foible that eluded Unknown’s debut. Still, the band does so much right on every other front that I have faith they’ll smooth out the kinks next time around. Until then, I’ll revisit some of these tracks on occasion and leave the rest in the Graveyard.
Rating: Mixed
#25 #2026 #AmericanMetal #GraveyardOfEmpires #HeavyMetal #IronMaiden #JagPanzer #ManillaRoad #PowerMetal #Review #Reviews #Saxon #SelfRelease #SelfReleased #SelfReleases #Sep26 #TheUnknown
DR: 10 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Release
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: September 4th, 2026 -
Unknown – Graveyard of Empires Review By Grin ReaperCemented upon rebellious ideals that consistently buck the currents of popularity, the very nature of metal demands change. Yet some bedrocks of metal weather the winds of time and endure: thrash’s inevitable association with denim and cheap beer, OSDM’s obdurate immutability, and power metal’s lactose dependence persist. Yet perhaps none are as eternal as the legacy of traditional heavy metal bearing the banner of trve, and it’s under this standard that Fairfield, Connecticut’s Unknown marches. These Nutmeggers harbor loyalty for the olde school, and although they spice up sophomore full-length Graveyard of Empires with flavors of power and thrash, the overwhelming core of their concoction is one of classic heft. In the end, is it a draught worth quaffing, or a brew better left Unknown?
Though bits of other genres creep into Graveyard of Empires, Unknown’s comparators remain solidly rooted in classic heavy metal. Fans of Iron Maiden will uncover plenty of familiar qualities, especially from their aughts-era output, while Manilla Road and Jag Panzer offer further reference points. Mainly, Unknown operates in soaring mid-tempos that conjure sweeping vistas and epic atmospheres (“Ardennes Offensive,” “Guns of August”). A fair amount of Saxon reveals itself as well, particularly with how Unknown’s guitar work seamlessly oscillates between valiant, lofty leads and straightforward power chords that drive momentum and musical tension. Even amongst these towering touchstones, though, Unknown crafts an identity outside their influences.
Unknown’s music ferries listeners to vibrant landscapes on Graveyard of Empires. Whiffs of Ancient Egypt (“Graveyard of Empires”), galloping western melodrama (“Warrior Ascension”), and tribal paradise (“Land of the Pure”) enrich the record with a wealth of backdrops that feel fleshed out and distinct. The opening triad of “Ardennes Offensive,” “Graveyard of Empires,” and “Guns of August” brim with fiery twin guitars that flit between beautifully built sustains gleaming with majesty and burly riffs that crunch and punch. “Reverie Code” and “Warrior Ascension” likewise crackle with evocative six-string action, and credit to Aamir Syed and Michael Dale for their savvy guitar work on Graveyard. Meanwhile, bassist Andic Salcedo and session drummer Nick Bellmore supply a rock-solid rhythm section, rarely calling attention to themselves but ably girding Unknown’s melodic nucleus while unleashing subtle performances that are easy to miss unless attuned to them.
Despite the many things Unknown does well on Graveyard of Empires, I often find the vocal decisions and deliveries too distracting to enjoy. Given vocalist Matt Fisher’s compelling performance on Unknown’s debut Vanishing Point, the shift in direction is puzzling. Where Fisher’s range mostly dwelt in a comfortable mid-register on Vanishing Point, Graveyard of Empires sees him deploy many more falsettos across the album (“Guns of August,” “I Am Death,” “On the Edge of Peace”). Fisher clearly has talent, but his upper reaches undercut performances when he pushes his deliveries past the brink of his ability to control them, which is a real shame because when he drops into a lower range or growls, things work much better (“Ardennes Offensive,” “Graveyard of Empires”). On Vanishing Point, Fisher did a swell job with the top rungs of his vocal range, particularly on tracks “Where Men Find Glory” and “Mission No. 84”, so the miss here is especially perplexing. More positively the bright mix sparkles, enabling guitars and drums to strut their stuff. Additionally, the runtime packs an avalanche of riffs and aural panoramas into just forty minutes.
Broadly speaking, there tend to be two types of Mixed albums in my mind. The first can be characterized by records that are generally fine and do most things right without kindling enough interest for higher engagement. The second involves LPs that boast a higher ceiling but accommodate a flaw too glaring to look past. Graveyard of Empires falls squarely into this latter camp with a baffling foible that eluded Unknown’s debut. Still, the band does so much right on every other front that I have faith they’ll smooth out the kinks next time around. Until then, I’ll revisit some of these tracks on occasion and leave the rest in the Graveyard.
Rating: Mixed
#25 #2026 #AmericanMetal #GraveyardOfEmpires #HeavyMetal #IronMaiden #JagPanzer #ManillaRoad #PowerMetal #Review #Reviews #Saxon #SelfRelease #SelfReleased #SelfReleases #Sep26 #TheUnknown
DR: 10 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Release
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: September 4th, 2026 -
Unknown – Graveyard of Empires Review By Grin ReaperCemented upon rebellious ideals that consistently buck the currents of popularity, the very nature of metal demands change. Yet some bedrocks of metal weather the winds of time and endure: thrash’s inevitable association with denim and cheap beer, OSDM’s obdurate immutability, and power metal’s lactose dependence persist. Yet perhaps none are as eternal as the legacy of traditional heavy metal bearing the banner of trve, and it’s under this standard that Fairfield, Connecticut’s Unknown marches. These Nutmeggers harbor loyalty for the olde school, and although they spice up sophomore full-length Graveyard of Empires with flavors of power and thrash, the overwhelming core of their concoction is one of classic heft. In the end, is it a draught worth quaffing, or a brew better left Unknown?
Though bits of other genres creep into Graveyard of Empires, Unknown’s comparators remain solidly rooted in classic heavy metal. Fans of Iron Maiden will uncover plenty of familiar qualities, especially from their aughts-era output, while Manilla Road and Jag Panzer offer further reference points. Mainly, Unknown operates in soaring mid-tempos that conjure sweeping vistas and epic atmospheres (“Ardennes Offensive,” “Guns of August”). A fair amount of Saxon reveals itself as well, particularly with how Unknown’s guitar work seamlessly oscillates between valiant, lofty leads and straightforward power chords that drive momentum and musical tension. Even amongst these towering touchstones, though, Unknown crafts an identity outside their influences.
Unknown’s music ferries listeners to vibrant landscapes on Graveyard of Empires. Whiffs of Ancient Egypt (“Graveyard of Empires”), galloping western melodrama (“Warrior Ascension”), and tribal paradise (“Land of the Pure”) enrich the record with a wealth of backdrops that feel fleshed out and distinct. The opening triad of “Ardennes Offensive,” “Graveyard of Empires,” and “Guns of August” brim with fiery twin guitars that flit between beautifully built sustains gleaming with majesty and burly riffs that crunch and punch. “Reverie Code” and “Warrior Ascension” likewise crackle with evocative six-string action, and credit to Aamir Syed and Michael Dale for their savvy guitar work on Graveyard. Meanwhile, bassist Andic Salcedo and session drummer Nick Bellmore supply a rock-solid rhythm section, rarely calling attention to themselves but ably girding Unknown’s melodic nucleus while unleashing subtle performances that are easy to miss unless attuned to them.
Despite the many things Unknown does well on Graveyard of Empires, I often find the vocal decisions and deliveries too distracting to enjoy. Given vocalist Matt Fisher’s compelling performance on Unknown’s debut Vanishing Point, the shift in direction is puzzling. Where Fisher’s range mostly dwelt in a comfortable mid-register on Vanishing Point, Graveyard of Empires sees him deploy many more falsettos across the album (“Guns of August,” “I Am Death,” “On the Edge of Peace”). Fisher clearly has talent, but his upper reaches undercut performances when he pushes his deliveries past the brink of his ability to control them, which is a real shame because when he drops into a lower range or growls, things work much better (“Ardennes Offensive,” “Graveyard of Empires”). On Vanishing Point, Fisher did a swell job with the top rungs of his vocal range, particularly on tracks “Where Men Find Glory” and “Mission No. 84”, so the miss here is especially perplexing. More positively the bright mix sparkles, enabling guitars and drums to strut their stuff. Additionally, the runtime packs an avalanche of riffs and aural panoramas into just forty minutes.
Broadly speaking, there tend to be two types of Mixed albums in my mind. The first can be characterized by records that are generally fine and do most things right without kindling enough interest for higher engagement. The second involves LPs that boast a higher ceiling but accommodate a flaw too glaring to look past. Graveyard of Empires falls squarely into this latter camp with a baffling foible that eluded Unknown’s debut. Still, the band does so much right on every other front that I have faith they’ll smooth out the kinks next time around. Until then, I’ll revisit some of these tracks on occasion and leave the rest in the Graveyard.
Rating: Mixed
#25 #2026 #AmericanMetal #GraveyardOfEmpires #HeavyMetal #IronMaiden #JagPanzer #ManillaRoad #PowerMetal #Review #Reviews #Saxon #SelfRelease #SelfReleased #SelfReleases #Sep26 #TheUnknown
DR: 10 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Release
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: September 4th, 2026 -
Unknown – Graveyard of Empires Review By Grin ReaperCemented upon rebellious ideals that consistently buck the currents of popularity, the very nature of metal demands change. Yet some bedrocks of metal weather the winds of time and endure: thrash’s inevitable association with denim and cheap beer, OSDM’s obdurate immutability, and power metal’s lactose dependence persist. Yet perhaps none are as eternal as the legacy of traditional heavy metal bearing the banner of trve, and it’s under this standard that Fairfield, Connecticut’s Unknown marches. These Nutmeggers harbor loyalty for the olde school, and although they spice up sophomore full-length Graveyard of Empires with flavors of power and thrash, the overwhelming core of their concoction is one of classic heft. In the end, is it a draught worth quaffing, or a brew better left Unknown?
Though bits of other genres creep into Graveyard of Empires, Unknown’s comparators remain solidly rooted in classic heavy metal. Fans of Iron Maiden will uncover plenty of familiar qualities, especially from their aughts-era output, while Manilla Road and Jag Panzer offer further reference points. Mainly, Unknown operates in soaring mid-tempos that conjure sweeping vistas and epic atmospheres (“Ardennes Offensive,” “Guns of August”). A fair amount of Saxon reveals itself as well, particularly with how Unknown’s guitar work seamlessly oscillates between valiant, lofty leads and straightforward power chords that drive momentum and musical tension. Even amongst these towering touchstones, though, Unknown crafts an identity outside their influences.
Unknown’s music ferries listeners to vibrant landscapes on Graveyard of Empires. Whiffs of Ancient Egypt (“Graveyard of Empires”), galloping western melodrama (“Warrior Ascension”), and tribal paradise (“Land of the Pure”) enrich the record with a wealth of backdrops that feel fleshed out and distinct. The opening triad of “Ardennes Offensive,” “Graveyard of Empires,” and “Guns of August” brim with fiery twin guitars that flit between beautifully built sustains gleaming with majesty and burly riffs that crunch and punch. “Reverie Code” and “Warrior Ascension” likewise crackle with evocative six-string action, and credit to Aamir Syed and Michael Dale for their savvy guitar work on Graveyard. Meanwhile, bassist Andic Salcedo and session drummer Nick Bellmore supply a rock-solid rhythm section, rarely calling attention to themselves but ably girding Unknown’s melodic nucleus while unleashing subtle performances that are easy to miss unless attuned to them.
Despite the many things Unknown does well on Graveyard of Empires, I often find the vocal decisions and deliveries too distracting to enjoy. Given vocalist Matt Fisher’s compelling performance on Unknown’s debut Vanishing Point, the shift in direction is puzzling. Where Fisher’s range mostly dwelt in a comfortable mid-register on Vanishing Point, Graveyard of Empires sees him deploy many more falsettos across the album (“Guns of August,” “I Am Death,” “On the Edge of Peace”). Fisher clearly has talent, but his upper reaches undercut performances when he pushes his deliveries past the brink of his ability to control them, which is a real shame because when he drops into a lower range or growls, things work much better (“Ardennes Offensive,” “Graveyard of Empires”). On Vanishing Point, Fisher did a swell job with the top rungs of his vocal range, particularly on tracks “Where Men Find Glory” and “Mission No. 84”, so the miss here is especially perplexing. More positively the bright mix sparkles, enabling guitars and drums to strut their stuff. Additionally, the runtime packs an avalanche of riffs and aural panoramas into just forty minutes.
Broadly speaking, there tend to be two types of Mixed albums in my mind. The first can be characterized by records that are generally fine and do most things right without kindling enough interest for higher engagement. The second involves LPs that boast a higher ceiling but accommodate a flaw too glaring to look past. Graveyard of Empires falls squarely into this latter camp with a baffling foible that eluded Unknown’s debut. Still, the band does so much right on every other front that I have faith they’ll smooth out the kinks next time around. Until then, I’ll revisit some of these tracks on occasion and leave the rest in the Graveyard.
Rating: Mixed
#25 #2026 #AmericanMetal #GraveyardOfEmpires #HeavyMetal #IronMaiden #JagPanzer #ManillaRoad #PowerMetal #Review #Reviews #Saxon #SelfRelease #SelfReleased #SelfReleases #Sep26 #TheUnknown
DR: 10 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Release
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: September 4th, 2026 -
Unknown – Graveyard of Empires Review By Grin ReaperCemented upon rebellious ideals that consistently buck the currents of popularity, the very nature of metal demands change. Yet some bedrocks of metal weather the winds of time and endure: thrash’s inevitable association with denim and cheap beer, OSDM’s obdurate immutability, and power metal’s lactose dependence persist. Yet perhaps none are as eternal as the legacy of traditional heavy metal bearing the banner of trve, and it’s under this standard that Fairfield, Connecticut’s Unknown marches. These Nutmeggers harbor loyalty for the olde school, and although they spice up sophomore full-length Graveyard of Empires with flavors of power and thrash, the overwhelming core of their concoction is one of classic heft. In the end, is it a draught worth quaffing, or a brew better left Unknown?
Though bits of other genres creep into Graveyard of Empires, Unknown’s comparators remain solidly rooted in classic heavy metal. Fans of Iron Maiden will uncover plenty of familiar qualities, especially from their aughts-era output, while Manilla Road and Jag Panzer offer further reference points. Mainly, Unknown operates in soaring mid-tempos that conjure sweeping vistas and epic atmospheres (“Ardennes Offensive,” “Guns of August”). A fair amount of Saxon reveals itself as well, particularly with how Unknown’s guitar work seamlessly oscillates between valiant, lofty leads and straightforward power chords that drive momentum and musical tension. Even amongst these towering touchstones, though, Unknown crafts an identity outside their influences.
Unknown’s music ferries listeners to vibrant landscapes on Graveyard of Empires. Whiffs of Ancient Egypt (“Graveyard of Empires”), galloping western melodrama (“Warrior Ascension”), and tribal paradise (“Land of the Pure”) enrich the record with a wealth of backdrops that feel fleshed out and distinct. The opening triad of “Ardennes Offensive,” “Graveyard of Empires,” and “Guns of August” brim with fiery twin guitars that flit between beautifully built sustains gleaming with majesty and burly riffs that crunch and punch. “Reverie Code” and “Warrior Ascension” likewise crackle with evocative six-string action, and credit to Aamir Syed and Michael Dale for their savvy guitar work on Graveyard. Meanwhile, bassist Andic Salcedo and session drummer Nick Bellmore supply a rock-solid rhythm section, rarely calling attention to themselves but ably girding Unknown’s melodic nucleus while unleashing subtle performances that are easy to miss unless attuned to them.
Despite the many things Unknown does well on Graveyard of Empires, I often find the vocal decisions and deliveries too distracting to enjoy. Given vocalist Matt Fisher’s compelling performance on Unknown’s debut Vanishing Point, the shift in direction is puzzling. Where Fisher’s range mostly dwelt in a comfortable mid-register on Vanishing Point, Graveyard of Empires sees him deploy many more falsettos across the album (“Guns of August,” “I Am Death,” “On the Edge of Peace”). Fisher clearly has talent, but his upper reaches undercut performances when he pushes his deliveries past the brink of his ability to control them, which is a real shame because when he drops into a lower range or growls, things work much better (“Ardennes Offensive,” “Graveyard of Empires”). On Vanishing Point, Fisher did a swell job with the top rungs of his vocal range, particularly on tracks “Where Men Find Glory” and “Mission No. 84”, so the miss here is especially perplexing. More positively the bright mix sparkles, enabling guitars and drums to strut their stuff. Additionally, the runtime packs an avalanche of riffs and aural panoramas into just forty minutes.
Broadly speaking, there tend to be two types of Mixed albums in my mind. The first can be characterized by records that are generally fine and do most things right without kindling enough interest for higher engagement. The second involves LPs that boast a higher ceiling but accommodate a flaw too glaring to look past. Graveyard of Empires falls squarely into this latter camp with a baffling foible that eluded Unknown’s debut. Still, the band does so much right on every other front that I have faith they’ll smooth out the kinks next time around. Until then, I’ll revisit some of these tracks on occasion and leave the rest in the Graveyard.
Rating: Mixed
#25 #2026 #AmericanMetal #GraveyardOfEmpires #HeavyMetal #IronMaiden #JagPanzer #ManillaRoad #PowerMetal #Review #Reviews #Saxon #SelfRelease #SelfReleased #SelfReleases #Sep26 #TheUnknown
DR: 10 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Release
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: September 4th, 2026 -
Spa Weekend: Middle Age Definitely, Middle Of The Road Probably
Summary: a group of women go on a spa weekend.
The central issue with this film is that we have seen it before, a group of women who have let life takeover their friendship reconnect and achieve growth milestones. If you ignore the various male films that have had this premise, Bad Moms, Rough Night, Bridesmaid etc have all done variants of this sort of premise. As such nothing in this film feels very fresh.
Isla Fisher is probably the beating heart of this film and easily steals the show, her performance works on a number of levels and she easily out-classes the other performers with ease.
There are a few funny moments herein and a couple of laugh out loud ones but sadly they are too few and far between.
A comment on this film for its plot is, that it is starting to grow stale and trite that we can only explore the friendships of middle aged women through the lens of them being unhappy with their life, can we not see women in their prime happy and reconnecting. Likewise why in 2026 do we boil a woman down to one characteristic, we have a character here who is angry all the time and her journey is to stop being so angry that is incredibly simplistic and bad character work.
Overall, a film you have seen before
3/5.
It’s comfort viewing
It has a few funny moments
Fisher is great
Cons.
It’s reductive and reinforces cliches
It is incredibly derivative
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