Notices by David Colarusso (colarusso@mastodon.social)

RE: https://mastodon.social/@Colarusso/114722375829597115

This year’s 6th-grade garage band set list included all of last year’s songs plus additions from Cheap Trick, Urge Overdrive, Willy Mason, and The Cars. #PorchFest 🎸🤘

Happy Towel Day to all who celebrate.

@inthehands I keep feeling that the current incarnation of this technology betrays such a lack of imagination/vision. In a different world, I can see such a technology, built on the shared cultural heritage of so many, put to use for the benefit of the many, not the few.

Chapter Two: Foundations and Principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church

AKA

We're all in this together. Every person is of equal worth. Every person is owed dignity, & every person should have a say in how the powerful exercise that power (not only a few).

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html#CHAPTER_TWO_

How about a rewrite of the chapter titles to make things more accessible?

Chapter One: A Dynamic Approach Faithful to the Gospel

AKA

An explanation of why this *IS* the Church staying in her lane.

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html#CHAPTER_ONE

RE: https://mastodon.social/@Colarusso/109722376144189550

Reading the Pope's encyclical, and I think we're approaching AI in similar ways, "We cannot condone naïve enthusiasms, nor fuel unfounded fears. Instead, let us establish standards for discernment . . . and let us translate these standards into practices. . . ." See https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html#:~:text=We%20cannot%20condone%20na%C3%AFve%20enthusiasms%2C%20nor%20fuel%20unfounded%20fears.%20Instead%2C%20let%20us%20establish%20standards%20for%20discernment%20%E2%80%94%20the%20dignity%20of%20the%20human%20person%2C%20the%20universal%20destination%20of%20goods%2C%20the%20preferential%20option%20for%20the%20poor%2C%20care%20for%20our%20common%20home%20and%20peace%20%E2%80%94%20and%20let%20us%20translate%20these%20standards%20into%20practices%20such%20as%20responsible%20planning%2C%20the%20assessment%20of%20human%20and%20social%20impact%2C%20the%20inclusion%20of%20the%20most%20vulnerable%2C%20the%20promotion%20of%20digital%20literacy%20and%20guiding%20research%20and%20industry%20toward%20justice%20and%20peace

"CONCLUSION" doesn't lend itself to an AKA. So, I'll go with, we're all in this together and "... it is imperative to cultivate hearts that love the truth, prefer what is right despite the most appealing content and pursue wisdom rather than immediate results."

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html#CONCLUSION

Chapter Five: The Culture of Power and the Civilization of Love

AKA

Might does NOT make right! Accountability & blame must not be "collapsed into 'the machine.'" We ARE all in this together. Reject war, injustice, and hopelessness posing as "realism." Embrace dialogue.

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html#THE_CULTURE

Chapter Four: Safeguarding Humanity at a Time of Transformation. Truth, Work, Freedom.

AKA

Truth is a common good. Work & economies should support, not undermine, dignity. Tech and its systems of power should empower people not enslave them.*

* This section notably acknowledges the Church's role in past systems of slavery, with the Pope asking for her pardon.

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html#CHAPTER_FOUR_

Chapter Three: Technology and Dominance. The Grandeur of Humanity in Light of the Promises of AI

AKA

With great power comes great responsibility. AI "alignment" is not enough. There must be an open discussion subjecting this alignment to shared standards of social justice.

AND

Humanity is not a condition we should seek to fix for with the adoption of such a goal it "becomes easier to accept that some lives are less useful, less desirable or less worthy."

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html#CHAPTER_THREE

Having read through the the Pope's encyclical,¹ I'm struck by how much it complements Ted Chiang's observation that most people's fears about AI are really fears about capitalism.

¹ See thread above.

The running commentary over on Bluesky is equating the encyclical to a law review article. Let's see.

✅ Pithy Latin title
✅ Lots of footnotes
✅ J.R.R. Tolkien quote from The Lord of the Rings. See FN 187 https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html#_ftn187

Checks out.

Better than doom scrolling. Will come back to this later, maybe tomorrow.

Dear reader, I think the answer is yes. The above video was from earlier in the week, and this is the scene today.

The swans are building something... 🤔 Could this be the start of cygnet watch 2026?

Layer by layer.

I decided on adding pen but tried to make it a light touch. I can’t wait to see if these two become parents.

Added some color and depth to make it pop. Now I get to decide what do do with my pen. Suggestions welcome. I could just come in to add black to the beaks or do something more like this. https://mastodon.social/@Colarusso/115191700579084515 Your thoughts?

Cygnet Watch 2026 continues. Both images from this morning.

And if you’re curious what’s going on behind the picture today, here’s my best get. I still can’t get over the fact I carry this camera around with me all day and somehow we call it a “phone.”