I am a semanticist and my current take on the world is that #meaning is dying. (I am talking about the scientific definition of meaning, incl. the formation of mental concepts and the ability to refer to objects / events in real or imagined situations.)

In our era of #capitalism and efficiency, #language is often reduced to strings of words that one repeats. This is language without meaning and it is dangerous. Words alone do not say how things are and how they could be.

Be radical. Mean it.

Wrote something on being a weirdo for February's theme 'affirmations' for the #IndieWeb Carnival that's being hosted by @artlung this month.

This was a fun one to write. Got some ideas out I've had buzzing around for a while.

Different kinds of affirmations: https://spacetimetech.wordpress.com/2025/02/17/different-kinds-of-affirmations

#affirmations #IndieWebCarnival #writing #blogging #art #artists #FringeDwellers #outsiders #weirdos #individuality #weirdness #uniqueness #nature #purpose #meaning #happiness #joy @vhbelvadi

Do you know what these words mean?
#accelerationism #degrowth #language #meaning

How is this possible?

The origin of the name of the U.S. state of #Oregon is unknown.

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

#Machines and #meaning: #AI's role in a #humanist future

AI raises important questions about what it means to be #human. It's time to have that conversation.

https://onlys.ky/machines-and-meaning-ais-role-in-a-humanist-future-2/

Self-proclaimed #misogynist and #extremist #farright #influencer #AndrewTate used a #homophobic #slur to attack the #Māori #haka.

“The haka is a #sacred Māori #tradition. Mocking it shows a #lack of #respect for its deep #cultural #meaning as a #symbol of #unity, #pride, and #strength”

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #NewZealand #IndigenousPeople #Representation #Culture #Conservatives #Extremism #Fascism #Religion #EmptyThePews

https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/11/18/andrew-tate-uses-homophobic-slur-to-attack-the-haka/

Today is All Saints Day, a holiday in some Catholic countries.

In my country of residence (and other countries), on this night, people go to cemeteries and leave candles on the graves of loved ones, their ancestors, and famous people.

It's a solemn and extremely beautiful tradition. In this country, it might one of the only nights of the year that people talk about family tragedy (such as the Soviet deportations).

Unfortunately, the weather is wet and windy today -- not great for those going to cemeteries.

I've visited cemeteries on this night in the past, but my people aren't buried here.

So I light my own candle with intention and sit quietly with it for several hours, remembering the people in my life who have passed. It's a tradition I've adopted that has become very meaningful to me.

Was surprised today when I read "pinked him in the quick". I presumed it should be "pinned". This lead me to do some search and find some interesting information about the #word #quick.
#alive was the original meaning of "quick." The flesh under the nail is called quick because the nail, the hard part, is dead, but the flesh is "alive."
Some other words still in use today which carry the original meaning of quick include #quicklime, literally "living lime", #quicksand "living sand." "quicksilver", comes from the fact that mercury flows, as though it were alive.
"The quick and the dead" did not refer to gunslingers in the Old American West, but instead refers to "the living and the dead."

How ‘#ProLife’ Lost all #Meaning

The #AntiAbortion movement may have won the battle 2 yrs ago w/ #Dobbs, but they’re losing the war—& turning an entire generation away from their cause.

By Charles Sykes

#law #UnitedStates #abortion #RoeVWade #ReproductiveHealthCare #ReproductiveRights #WomensHealth #BodilyAutonomy #freedom #CivilRights #HumanRights #BidenHarris2024
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/06/how-pro-life-lost-all-meaning/678784/

#Trump #sneakers and the #MAGA #uniform: #Merchandising #fascism to the #mainstream.

#MAGA #merchandise is a way of creating #meaning among the #faithful just as the walls close in on #DonaldTrump.

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #Conservatives #Extremism #Fascism #Religion #ChristianNationalism #RepublicanParty #ThePartyOfHate #EmptyThePews

https://www.salon.com/2024/03/15/sneakers-and-the-maga-uniform-merchandising-fascism-to-the-mainstream/

It’s #JoshCavallo’s time to shine & this #teammate’s #homophobic #remarks aren’t going to dim his light

For the #Australian #soccer #star this year’s #Pride #round is taking on a very #significant #meaning.

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #Australia #Entertainment #Sports #Soccer #Representation #Culture #RoleModels

https://www.queerty.com/its-josh-cavallos-time-to-shine-this-teammates-homophobic-remarks-arent-going-to-dim-his-light-20240308

#Hir #review: #FelicityHuffman #shines as #disorderly #housewife in #absurdist #queer #comedy.

While at its heart, it’s a #radical #exploration of #gender and upending #societal #expectations, it takes on a slightly #muckier #meaning when set against the #culturewars of 2024. Hir won’t be enjoyed by everybody.

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #UK #Entertainment #TheArts #Theatre

https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/02/23/hir-review-felicity-huffman-shines-as-disorderly-housewife-in-absurdist-queer-comedy/

Stephen Fry reads Nick Cave's stirring letter about ChatGPT and human creativity

Nick Cave’s letter addresses struggle and the creative process, and the meaning derived from that struggle. It speaks to the potential impact of AI use in the creative industries.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iGJcF4bLKd4
#Creativity #AI #CreativeProcess #Meaning #Humanity #ArtisticCreations #Love #NickCave #StephenFry

In this episode, Prof. Jenni Barclay explains the importance of storytelling by scientists to themselves, other scientists, and the general public.

Has that got you thinking, hey, wait, WHAT?! Everyone knows that scientists should never tell stories! If we expect them to show up like Back off man, I’m a scientist! and guide us through difficulties, then they’d best stick strictly and dryly to the facts, because everyone knows that scientists should never tell stories, right? But scientists even need to tell stories to themselves and to each other to more effectively process the information contained in their data, observations, and experiences. Human beings are not computers: we need stories to grasp the meanings of things, and that also goes for scientific facts. This means scientists need to be storytellers, too, if they want people to understand not just what the facts are, but what they mean for society and the world at large. Then people would better be able to see what our options are for responding to environmental and technological developments and emergencies.

https://www.solarpunkpresents.com/season-four/scientists-tell-stories-too-and-thats-a-good-thing-with-prof-jenni-barclay

Learn more about Jenni and her research on volcanoes and scientists here https://research-portal.uea.ac.uk/en/persons/jenni-barclay or follow her on social media at @volcanojenni on xitter and bluesky.

Support Solarpunk Presents on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkpresents

#Artists explore the meaning of #home through the #lens of #queer and #trans #domesticity in #NewYork.

#Group #exhibition ‘#DreamingofHome’, at #LeslieLohman #MuseumofArt, uses a #seminal #CatherineOpie #photograph as a #springboard to explore the #meaning of #home today.

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #Entertainment #TheArts #Representation #Culture

https://www.wallpaper.com/art/exhibitions-shows/dreaming-of-home-leslie-lohman-museum-of-art

I’m challenging consumerism this month.

IF you find yourself thinking, “Maybe loved one would like _this_ as a gift,” walk away. I say, don’t push yourself to make that purchase that it seems like you’re making out of obligation. You and the recipient will both be happier when you give what you feel not what you settled on.