West Bennett

This is brilliant - a website where people sit in digital "queues" waiting to either "Ask an 'AI'" or "Be an 'AI'". Kind of like #Omegle, but without the creepy pervs!

https://youraislopbores.me/

#AI

Huh, I'm curious what effect this knowledge might have (if any) on #transgender persons and their existence:

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1122852?user_id=688df53416db12a71511c696

Does it mean that we might soon find whatever "causes" transgenderism in the DNA and be able to filter it out of the population over time using #eugenics?

This is a moral dilemma, and top of my mind right now as I'm #actuallyautistic that they might consider something similar if they can find an "autistic letter".

Is it moral to prevent someone from being born the sex that they don't "feel" before they have a chance to feel that way?

Is it moral to "fix" people from having #autism?

This also isn't just a moral question, but also a #scientific one and practical one, because if you can code "out" undesirable traits, that could lean to population "gene shallowing". Anyone remember what happened to the #GrosMichel #banana? And what might be starting to happen with the #Cavendish banana if the #Panamadisease continues to spread?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_disease

If we started gene or even DNA editing en masse, we could be writing #humanity an early grave.

It's something to consider and #discuss, I think.

Man, if I was ANYWHERE near #NewYork right now, I would march RIGHT down to James "Babydoll" Dixon's office, look his secretary or receptionist in the face, and say:

>"What would it cost in dollars to get #JonStewart to appear in a five minute discussion where I directly ask him:

>>'What would it take to get you to seriously run for #President of the #UnitedStates to save our country's soul?

>>See, over 20 years ago, you sat onstage between Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala, and you implored them,

>>>"we NEED you, we NEED what you do."

>>Well, I am here now, saying to you, Mister Stewart, we NEED you. We NEED what you do.

>>Since at least 1999, the turn of the millennium, we've been watching you.

>>We've watched you play the court jester... but the one that revealed the Emperor's New Clothes.

>>We've seen you grow from a slightly mawkish and self-deprecating shy guy to a commanding and somber elder statesman. The voice of a rational generation.

>>Your unique career trajectory has been guiding you to this moment in time, this place in space.

>>We need you, like the #Ukraine needed #Zelenskyy. We need your strength, your intelligence, your wit, your candor.

>>We need you. Please, step up. Help save us.

>>We need you.

>>#NoJoke.'

>Either recorded or private, his choice, of course. Do you validate?"

You know, if I lived anywhere near New York, that is. 😉

-West Bennett, 02.27.2026

#DailyShow #USPol #US #America #USPolitics #USA

If you are an #American citizen, I consider it your DUTY to contact your local #representatives, #senators, congresspersons, and demand that Articles of #Impeachment be drawn and immediately be presented for a vote against #President #Trump for the illegal, un-#constitutional and un-American removal of a #dictator of another #country ( #Venezuela ) without a #Congressional Declaration of #War, as only #Congress may declare war as is stated in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of our #Constitution:

[The Congress shall have Power . . . ] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; . . .

(reference - https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C11-1-1/ALDE_00013587/ )

Here is how you can find the phone number to your representatives:

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

CALL them. Don't e-mail them. Don't mail them. Don't fill out their online forms. CALL them. Talk to them on the phone directly, or visit their local offices and meet with them in person. This needs to happen immediately, as soon as possible.

Because we all know, whether you're on the #right or the #left that one of Trump's greatest talents is in DELAYING our #legal system.

There is no more room for delay. This President needs to be not only impeached for this action, but removed from office, as soon as possible.

This is the last straw, a direct circumvention of the separation of powers, and a direct violation of our constitution, and his own #Oath of Office.

#NoKings

I think, after 20 years since my diagnosis as an #Aspie, I'm finally able to "pass" as a #neurotypical successfully if I choose.

I just had an epiphany that, to me at least, might be the "key" to unlocking this secret - small talk's banality IS important! #Gossip MATTERS! It's mandatory! We're about to get all #philosophy up in here!

See, you know how we all have two faces - the one that we show to the world, and the one that we keep to ourselves or our closest companions? The Outer Self and the Inner Self?

That's what's called the "#Human Condition", also known as the "Hedgehog's Dilemma" (reference - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog%27s_dilemma ).

So summarize all of that for you, the long and short of it is this:

We are individuals that want to "join" with others (think "relationships" of all sorts).

That creates two concepts - The #Self, and The #Other

We want and desire for The Self and The Other to be one, to be merged, joined, ultimately. But, there's a couple of problems with that.

There's the fear of LOSING The Self when joining with The Other.

And, there's the fear of rejection from The Other. From being cast aside, forgotten, ignored.

So The Self, in defense of itself, creates The Wall. The Wall divides us, keeps us separated, but safe.

It's a translucent wall - and we control the opacity. Through it, we choose how much of The Self to show to The Other, how much we risk rejection, or fear of being absorbed and losing our individuality.

And that's where "small talk" comes into play. By using "small talk", #neurotypical people clear the opacity of their wall; risking vulnerability (just a little!) to The Other. Showing just a LITTLE bit more of The Self.

Every "small talk" conversation should be thought of in these terms:

The Self: "Oh Hi, Other! I'm a person! A real human with needs, desires, feelings, emotions. Are you?"

The Other: "Hey there Self, yeah I too am a real human with needs, desires, feelings, emotions! We should totally chill more often!"

The Self: "A'ight, lets hang, my man!"

The Other: "True Dawg, True. For sho!"

I have no idea why that turned into a #racist remake of the movie Friday at the end, but the point is this.

Every bit of small talk, every communication between you and another person about the minuscule happenings in your life, in their life... it's tiny peeks through The Wall. It allows for a collection of "mini-risks", that allow neurotypicals to "gel" and learn to start to trust each other, to build stronger bonds.

To really start to merge... just a little closer to each other.

Now that I know that... I don't think I'll see any public gatherings, informal meetings, get-togethers the same way again.

Or, to sum it all up in a horribly culturally-appropriating way:

"Chillin' wit yer homies makes you a pack, yo!

Family."

#aspergers #actuallyautistic #racism #monkeysphere

Well, I just got myself "#verified" on my own #Mastodon server, so that was fun - NOT! Here's how I did it, because the default instructions don't work if your main front page to your domain name IS your Mastodon root drive. Because Mastodon does everything dynamically using #RubyOnRails, so there's no "index.html" page to edit to add the required #verification link!

---

1. Went to /home/mastodon/live/app/views/layouts/

and edited the file "application.html.haml" to include the following lines at the bottom:

.ownerContainer
%a{:href => "https://westodon.com/@West", rel: "me", class: "centered-link"} Owner's Profile

What this does is make a link at the bottom of your main Mastodon page (it's okay, it gets replaced later with all sorts of other stuff), that's centered on the page, and contains the URL to my profile. So for you, change that URL of course.

...And then I saved it (required admin password/sudo)

2. Cleared the #Ruby cache. This was actually the most complicated part, because it required multiple additional steps that I wasn't expecting.

To clear the cache, you have to run the following line:

RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake tmp:cache:clear

But I got an error. To fix that error, I had to do ALL of the following:

Install Ruby with:
sudo snap install ruby --classic

and then do:
bundle install

and then do:
yarn install

ONLY THEN was I finally able to clear the cache with the part way above on the top of step 2 up there.

3) Then I did this Ruby precompile command:
RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rails assets:precompile

4) Then I restarted Mastodon services:
sudo systemctl restart mastodon-*

5) Preferences > Public Profile

Under Public Profile's main "tab", I entered the required "Extra field". Label - "Westodon", Content - "https://westodon.com"
> Save Changes

6) Verification "tab" (Still under Preferences > Public Profile), scrolled ALL the way to the bottom, to the section called "Websites allowed to credit you", and put my "westodon.com" on its own line and hit Enter

7) Finally, under Administration > Server Settings > Appearance, I stuck the following lines in the "Custom CSS" Section:

.ownerContainer {
text-align: center; /* Centers inline content within the container */
}

.centered-link {
/* Optional: further styling for the link itself */
display: inline-block; /* Allows margin: auto for block-level centering if desired, but text-align on parent is usually sufficient for links */
margin: 0 auto; /* This would center a block-level element, but works with inline-block too */
padding: 10px 20px;
background-color: lightblue;
text-decoration: none;
color: #333;
}

---

After that, I reloaded my website and BAM! Finally got my verification #checkmark. Now, I'm not sure if ALL of these steps were required, but those are all the steps I did, and when I was done, I was finally verified.

I feel like it should be easier to do this from within the Admin settings directly... /sigh

@chicating @bicmay if I recall correctly, before it was called #Obamacare, it was called #Romneycare!

@arcadetoken oh no, it's not unusual and it's not toxic, just the opposite.

What you're talking about is open communication.

What you're talking about is the same thing I always try to do during interpersonal conflict.

See, I'm a computer #programmer by trade, an engineer.

And, like #Hemmer from #StarTrek: #StrangeNewWorlds, I see it as my role in life, my "calling", if you will, to "Fix that which is broken".

That applies to both myself inside and problems external to me, including other people.

The world is filled with problems to solve.

When I see a problem presented before me, I am COMPELLED to solve it, much like an #OCD person is compelled to do... whatever it is that they are compelled to do.

The problem is that while, yes, other people ARE problems to solve... we all have our own internal histories and traumas that have shaped who we are.

For many of us, and perhaps it's just a part of the #humancondition, every part of us wants to FIGHT change, to even fight improvement.

It might possibly be a part of our mental #homeostasis, it might be #identity self-preservation, but some part of us wants us to stay the same, to make no changes. Even for the better.

So, when I reach out to try to help "fix" people, the same way I try to improve myself EVERY damn day of my life, they often and usually respond with hesitance, suspicion, and sometimes outright hostility.

I've learned that people can only change when they WANT to change. So all you can do is hold out the olive branch of your unique perspective, and let them know that you are there IF they want to talk and help sort out their issues, and improve themselves.

But you can't force it on people. They have to want it for themselves.

And that's the biggest and toughest thing that I've had to learn since I was diagnosed with #aspergers twenty years ago, is that you can't "fix" everyone... most people don't WANT to be fixed.

So, you just have to show compassion, listen to them, and wait for a moment to give a tiny bit of advice here and there to try to steer in the direction that you think would benefit them the best.

And then... give them space. You can only show them the door, THEY are the ones that have to walk through it.

...is that enough hackneyed metaphors for you? 😂

Water Tower in South La. #Water #Photography #Lafitte #Louisiana #BlueSky #Leica #LeicaPhotography

Oak tree in the south Louisiana marsh
#photo #landscape #landscapephoto #art #ArtPhoto #artphotography #OakTree #marsh #marshland

from a recent project that I'm working on. South La. marsh from above
#wetlands #marsh #southLouisisana #Leica #LeicaSL2-s