Michael Sappir

@m.sappir.net

2460 Followers 1572 Following

Socialist, Jewish-Israeli, text guy, against apartheid and genocide. Never not mad at Germany. Founding editor @thediasporist.bsky.social, co-host parallelweltpalaestina.info 📍Chicago, via Leipzig and Jerusalem

Our failure to mourn In the time since October 7, Jewish Israelis and foreign sympathisers have never ceased to publicly castigate the world for failing to mourn our losses. Some highlight the first two days of fighting, when Israeli troops had not yet entered the Gaza Strip and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had not yet declared the "complete siege" for which he now stands accused of genocide. Viewing the global response to Israeli suffering during those two days as insufficient, Zionist bodies such as the World Jewish Congress quickly found confirmation of the world's ancient, ineradicable hatred of Jewish people.
That claim is, well, bullshit. But it's not merely bullshit marketing. Bullshit is also inherent to the technology itself: LLMs cannot help but make shit up. Their output is inevitably bullshit, and, crucially, it always will be. By now, everyone has heard about 'Al hallucinations', but this term is in itself another bullshit obfuscation. An LLM cannot "hallucinate', because it does not think, it does not sense, and it does not imagine. It is designed to give people the impression that it is thinking, but that impression is pixel-deep. It truly is just glorified AutoCorrect: based on statistical analysis of massive amounts of (ill-gotten) text, it generates phrases, sentences, and paragraphs statistically likely to pass for what you asked for. At no point in this process does the model reflect on, consider, or imagine anything. Above all, it does not hear, see, or otherwise sense a world outside of the texts it is based on. It doesn't get the world wrong - it has no world to get right. As one literacy specialist put it, LLMs have a "baked-in indifference to the truth." They have no grasp on reality. The closest they get is testing outputs against documents they have already ingested. They are like a ghost trapped in a massive library with no real memory of the world - only what it has read about it. It makes things up without noticing.
“VIVEK CHIBBER It seems to me a pretty clear-cut principle, which is you should allow only as many immigrants in as your infrastructure and your political culture can absorb. Now, that's not giving any numbers. That's not giving any clear laws, but it's a principle. So in certain countries, that'll mean a fairly restrictive immigration policy. Look at South Africa right now: South Africa has an immigration debate, because Zimbabwean migrants are coming into the country. And for the American left, this is important for a couple of reasons. First of all, you can't say it's racism. The American left loves to go to race as the explanation for all this stuff. And there is not a racism problem in South and Southern Africa. It is national. It is cultural. And that's why I said people are now attached to their national identities in a way that wasn't true 120 or 150 years ago.”
These are Kurdish militias you're talking about? Not only. Israel can provide them with weapons. This was part of the plan. And then, to our amazement, Trump said the Kurds didn't want to fight. But, really, Trump is the one who forbade them from fighting, because Erdoğan put pressure on him not to do it. (Highlighted:) Israel had a brilliant plan and spent a lot of money, and shocked the Iranians in the beginning of the war. But you prevented the militias from acting, and now you ask why the regime didn't fall. Because you didn't give us the chance. In Gaza. In Lebanon. In Syria, In Iran. (End of highlight) Everything we wanted to do, you prevented us from doing it. If you go to war, and you define the goal of the war, do it. If not, don't do it. It's not only that you don't do it, but you falsely blame the Kurds and the Israelis. And you give in to all the demands of Iran. And they won't stop. Tomorrow, they might say, If you don't close the Embassy in Jerusalem, we will close the strait. Then what do you do?
A shot from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 1, episode 7, "The Elysian Kingdom". Doctor M'Benga (dressed as a king) uses a tricorder to scan a tiny dog in the arms of La'an, dressed as a princess, while Nurse Chapel, dressed as a witch, watches on in fascination.
Spanish Civil War poster; a hand reaches in from above, offering a book titled "historia" to two welcoming hands from below. The text in rough translation: "Read! Combating ignorance you will defeat fascism. The Ministry of Public Education is opening the libraries to the people. If you cannot read in the library, borrow books there to read at home."
Flyer with an image of Karl Marx: REFLECTIONS ON MARXIST POLITICAL ECONOMY TODAY – SUNDAY MAY 10, 7PM - 8:30PM KALAPRIYA INDIAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER – 2101 S . WABASH SUITE 1, CHICAGO, IL 60616 Join Chicago DSA for a discussion on the enduring relevance of Marxist political economy today with historian and AAUP chapter president Gabriel Winant and writer and DSA organizer Ramsin Canon.
Flyer with an image of Karl Marx: REFLECTIONS ON MARXIST POLITICAL ECONOMY TODAY – SUNDAY MAY 10, 7PM - 8:30PM KALAPRIYA INDIAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER – 2101 S . WABASH SUITE 1, CHICAGO, IL 60616 Join Chicago DSA for a discussion on the enduring relevance of Marxist political economy today with historian and AAUP chapter president Gabriel Winant and writer and DSA organizer Ramsin Canon. (RSVP via link in the next post)
Graffiti showing a caricature of Hitler shooting himself in the head and text reading: follow your leader
Sickos meme: yes… ha ha ha… yes!
Podcast transcript about a website with a whole page of “Hezbollah” featuring Dershowitz and Bari Weiss (actually Hasbara of course)
Gif from Wicked (2024): Elphaba, future Wicked Witch, recounts her vision of celebrations throughout Oz, all to do with her
Echtes Bild aus dem Twitterkonto des israelischen Außenministeriums, der Iran als Kopf einer Krake darstellt, deren Tentakel u.a. Hamas, Hezbollah, PIJ und Houthis sind
In 1968 Rejwan wrote to a Canadian colleague that antisemitism was "a totally foreign importation" into the Arab world. Laying bare ambiguities that continue to haunt us today, he went on: “Harkabi gives me the feeling that he wants to eat the cake and have it. He himself, as a Zionist, would not really make any distinction between Zionism and Judaism, Israeli and Jew-but he asks the Arabs to do so, and the trouble is that even if they do so, he would not agree; he would still call them anti-Semites since, as is often said here, you cannot draw the line between Zionism and Judaism as the former is the "national liberation movement" of the Jews.”
An: Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen und die EU-Kommission Trump stoppen: Einreiseverbot für ICE-Agenten in die EU! Gestartet von Anna di Bari ICE STOPPEN Einreisverbot für Trumps Gewaltbehörde in der EU jetzt!
Talking points for calling senators * Placing restrictions on ICE is not enough, the DHS has to be defunded. Call it a temporary pause if you need to. * Compromising with the fascist GOP is stupid, they will not respect the rules you agree on. * Kristi Noem and Steven Miller have got to go. * Public opinion is with you, MAGA is in crisis, do not back down now with our democracy and our lives at stake. Your constituents and history will not be forgiving if you do.
AK gegen Arbeitskreis gege... @akgegenantisem.bsky.social Als erkennbare Mitglieder einer der ältesten antifaschistischen Organisationen hatten sie ihren Spaß daran, ein Banner mit der Aufschrift "FREE ANTIFA FROM ZIONISM" zu tragen. Frei übersetzt: "VVN JUDENFREI". Als erkennbare Mitglieder einer der ältesten antifaschistischen Organisationen hatten sie ihren Spaß daran, ein Banner mit der Aufschrift "FREE ANTIFA FROM ZIONISM" zu tragen. Frei übersetzt: "VVN JUDENFREI". 2/3
Mittlerweile ist viel Zeit vergangen und die Kritik muss sich zuspitzen. Wo Betrug konstatiert wird, wie im Titel dieses Buches, ist Entzug des Vertrauens geboten. Wer betrügt, irrt nicht, ihm ist jegliche Legitimität seines Anliegens abzusprechen. Weder taugen die Antideutschen als Kritikerinnen deutscher Verhältnisse, noch ist von ihnen irgendein kluger Gedanke zu erhaschen oder eine Theorie über die hiesigen oder gar internationalen Entwicklungen zu entnehmen; schon gar nicht über den Antisemitismus, den sie laufend beschwören. Sie sind mittlerweile Bestandteil eines politische Lager übergreifenden, Bürger- wie Staatenkriege bejahenden Blocks, der jeglicher Emanzipation, jeglichem Aufbruch, ja selbst der Verhinderung des Schlimmsten, das heißt einer autoritär-rechten Formierung von Gesellschaft und Staat, entgegensteht. Dieses Urteil mag irritieren. Es wird im Folgenden jedoch ausgeführt werden.
Post by Norm Charlatan: Me, reading and studying history: Haha fuck yeah!!! Yes!! Me, realizing I am living through a historical event: Well this fucking sucks. What the fuck.
Black and white poster saying "04277 never sleeping" with an antifascist action logo and images of beepers with the names of 5 pro-Palestine left groups and 2 far right groups on them. Between the beepers an illustrated fist smashes a swastika and a downturned triangle.
Twitter post from @meemsaf: I will sadly be deleting this account in a few days, before the new terms of use kick in which require allowing my data being used by Musk's content generation bot. I spent many good years on Twitter and I miss it, but this is the red line for me. Find me elsewhere.
(Erste zwei Sätze hervorgehoben) Derartige Reisen für Entscheidungsträger stehen in der Kritik, weil sie ein einseitiges Bild der politischen Lage in Israel vermitteln, auf Akteure aus Regierung, Militär und Siedlerbewegung fokussiert sind und kritische Stimmen weitgehend ausblenden. Sie werden auch innerhalb Israels genutzt, um den politischen Kurs der Regierung zu stützen. So diente die Reise der deutschen Delegation, die mit einem eigens dafür bemalten Flugzeug eingeflogen wurde, dem Außenminister und Likud-Politiker Gideon Saar als Anlass, um eine Rede gegen die Zweistaatenlösung in israelischen Medien zu platzieren – in der er einen künftigen palästinensischen Staat mit dem NS-Staat verglich. Unter den Teilnehmenden der Großgruppe im November waren auch zwei Sprecher*innen der kürzlich gegründeten Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft (BAG) Shalom, die sich der Bekämpfung von »Antisemitismus und Antizionismus« in der Linkspartei verschreibt. Der innerparteiliche Zusammenschluss wurde nach eigener Darstellung von der israelischen Botschaft eingeladen, Mitglieder auf die Reise zu entsenden – deren Kosten sich auf mehrere tausend Euro pro Person belaufen dürften. Laut einem dem »nd« vorliegenden Dokument übernahm Israels Außenministerium sämtliche Kosten des Programms einschließlich Hin- und Rückflug, Hotelübernachtungen und Verpflegung.
A: "I've read Marx it's all very pretty in his books isn't it" B: "? What" A: "They're very pretty ideas, but everywhere someone tries to force communism to magically "happen" it always ends in a bloody tyrannical takeover Bc everyone can't do everything all the time! Best we can do is elect someone we know will fight for our collective interest & if they don't we vote em out"
Sticker reading "Antizionism is a Neo-Nazi Movement" with an antifascist action logo
טראמפ: אליזבט צורקוב, שהוחזקה בידי מיליציה פרו־איראנית בעיראק, שוחררה ונמצאת בשגרירות ארה"ב בבגדאד נשיא ארצות הברית דונלד טראמפ הודיע כי אליזבט צורקוב, שהוחזקה בידי מיליציה פרו־איראנית בעיראק, שוחררה ונמצאת בשגרירות ארה"ב בבגדאד. צורקוב, בת 38, היא אשת אקדמיה ומומחית לענייני סוריה והמזרח התיכון, ובעלת אזרחות רוסית. היא נכנסה לעיראק בעזרת דרכונה הרוסי לצורך עבודת דוקטורט ומחקר אקדמי מטעם אוניברסיטת פרינסטון שבארה"ב, ונחטפה במרץ 2023.
Screenshot of idf.il website
Article quote: I understand why some find the distinction irrelevant. Jews are being killed and attacked for their views; this is undeniably upsetting. "The very conversation-is this antisemitic or not— trivializes the issue," Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, said on a recent podcast. "We Jews who support Israel are now being targeted by acts of violence. Does it matter whether somebody calls it antisemitism or not?" In a sense, Kurtzer is correct. The severity of the violence should, on its own, offer sufficient grounds for condemnation. Yet for American Jewish leaders and politicians, it clearly matters a great deal whether or not this violence is called "antisemitism."
Auszug aus einem Text: "Israelbezogener Antisemitismus ist nicht etwas gänzlich anderes als die sonstigen Formen des Judenhasses. Im Gegenteil: Er bedient sich derselben Motive und Argumentationen wie der offene Antisemitismus. Monika Schwarz-Friesel beschreibt in ihrem Buch Judenhass im Internet das „Chamäleon Antisemitismus". Dessen Kern bleibt immer gleich, doch seine Erscheinungsform ändert sich und passt sich historisch an die jeweilige Umwelt an. Israelbezogener Antisemitismus bedient sich klassischer antisemitischer Motive wie dem Vorwurf der Verschlagenheit, Unmenschlichkeit, Gier und illegitimen Macht."
Bild von einer Google Suche, die den Artikel bei der JA zeigt
Tweet von Hadash: „We support the decision by @dieLinke to adopt the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, and encourage other parties to do the same. The fight against antisemitism is critical, but it must not be used to silence necessary left criticism of Israel and its violent policies.“
Die internationale Arbeitsdefinition von Antisemitismus lautet: "Antisemitismus ist eine bestimmte Wahrnehmung von Juden, die sich als Hass gegenüber Juden ausdrücken kann. Der Antisemitismus richtet sich in Wort oder Tat gegen jüdische oder nichtjüdische Einzelpersonen und/oder deren Eigentum sowie gegen jüdische Gemeindeinstitutionen oder religiöse Einrichtungen." Die Bundesregierung hat außerdem folgende Erweiterung verabschiedet: "Darüber hinaus kann auch der Staat Israel, der dabei als jüdisches Kollektiv verstanden wird, Ziel solcher Angriffe sein."
Antisemitismus ist Diskriminierung, Vorurteil, Feindseligkeit oder Gewalt gegen Jüdinnen und Juden als Jüdinnen und Juden (oder jüdische Einrichtungen als jüdische)
Image of the Apple Intelligence & Siri screen in macOS Settings
A world dominated by such hypothetical tools would seem to have little room for humans to act purposefully on the world, or derive any meaning from life at all. As OpenAI CEO Sam Altman once said: "Al will probably most likely lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime, there'll be great companies. "18 If the aim seems absurd, we must remember that it represents the logical endpoint of one of capitalism's tendencies, the drive to deskill, to transfer knowledge from workers to machines, from humans to capital. Speculations about AGI are, in this sense, speculations about the endpoint of the drive to deskill: ultimately targeting all human knowledge. That is not to say that this is a plausible outcome; there are many countervailing forces (not least the fact that we continually generate new knowledge and new tasks). Indeed, capitalism's relationship to knowledge is rather paradoxical: on the one hand, there is a tendency to universalize certain kinds of knowledge, to make sure everyone is in possession of it-since that, too, is a form of deskilling. That is, if everyone knows a thing, then no group of workers can gain special bargaining power from possessing that knowledge. We can take reading and writing as an example, and we could look at many lobbying efforts and political arguments over what should be included in school curricula through that lens. Even the investments that many big tech companies have been making into their own kind of schools, so-called coding academies, can be understood in the light of these universalizing pressures: make everyone into a programmer, and programmers can no longer demand higher-than-average wages.
A language model is Kafkaesque by design and from the moment of its random initialization. A human-staffed bureaucracy can devise ways of checking and re-tooling the match between its symbols and the real world; it is, at least in principle, capable of knowing that the world exists and is not identical to its symbolic representations (even if the structure doesn't know, certainly the people inside can, be they fellow victims of the system or not). In contrast, for a language model, text does not represent anything; a model does not know that text represents something for people. You cannot even tell it that the world exists, since it would mistake the telling for merely more words. Like a Kafkaesque bureaucracy, a model's only reality is text itself. The bureaucracy may have forgotten that its forms represented something, a language model has never been able to know it in the first place.
Photo of a book page, reading: Labor now is not just copied, but wholly metabolized by the machine, taken in, digested, dissolved, rebuilt into rewired circuitry. The ghost labor in the Al that haunts our imagination today, appears not as human-shaped, but as incomprehensible, not as our past labor, but as a force that is wholly alien. Vonnegut imagined the ghost labor that underlies the automatic lathe as a conspicuous gap, recognizable as an absence, something we could miss, but today's real ghost labor has become invisible and unrecognizable, part of the "inside" of the black box. It disappears not merely from view but from our imagination as well, camouflaged in a machine that eats up people's labor, and excretes faux autonomy. The gap becomes a shapeless void, indistinguishable from the machine itself, animating it from within. And precisely because ghost labor is no longer recognizable in the Al as our own past labor, because it makes that very past labor invisible, we are pushed to imagine that the past human agency that Al recycles must really be the Al's own agency. It is the systematic lack of comprehensibility and the invisibilization of human labor that mark the contrast between the imagination of the 1950s and today, in how we relate to these objects, and consequently how we imagine the object as object-as player piano, or as piano Player, a ghost of past labor, or simply a ghost, as an object or a subject, as like us, or alien to us, as a part of us or apart from us.
Jan. 23, 2025 tweet from Netanyahu defending Musk against the “smear” of calling out his Hitler salutes, citing Musk’s support for Israeli violence
Wagenknecht ist nicht allein. Tatsächlich wird in den Medien oft die Vorstellung verbreitet, mein migrantisch geprägter Bezirk sei eine No-Go-Area für Schwule, Juden oder sogar für Frauen ohne Kopftuch. Einmal, als ich zu Recherchezwecken in Greifswald war, wo die AfD soeben mehr als ein Drittel aller Stimmen bekam, wurde ich von einem Barkeeper besorgt gefragt, ob ich keine Angst hätte, so nah an der Sonnenallee zu wohnen. Der süße blonde Mann hatte bis zu unserer Begegnung zwar noch nie einen Juden in echt getroffen, war aber fest davon überzeugt, mein Viertel, wo ich ständig auf Hebräisch-Sprechende und knutschende Queers stoße, sei für mich extrem gefährlich.
Da steht nur, wie in Medien anderer Länder, dass (a) Hamas weltweit zu Protest aufruft, (b) dass der Staat Israel seine Bürger zu Wachsamkeit ruft und (c) dass in Dtl. jüdische Einrichtungen auch sich sorgen machen. Dass der Aufruf zu Gewalt gegen jüd. Menschen aufruft, nicht.