NealWiser

I’ve been here since close to the beginning, and I’m NOT leaving now. I’ve seen Twitter at it’s best, and at it’s worst (and used to write about both for one of the largest Twitter-focused blogs). I welcome thoughtful discourse. Let’s see what happens.

@charliebcurran Who exactly is the studio paying?

this doesn't make any fucking sense

@sjryanwriter @Pinboard @Simberg_Space There’s a difference. Believe it or not, radiation wouldn’t get everyone. There’d be enclaves of survivors all over. But the cold would kill vegetation and anything requiring warm water.

@NealWiser @Pinboard @Simberg_Space Nixon signed the SALT treaty and Reagan campaigned on nuclear arms reduction. Sagan's contribution was that instead of dying from radioactive fallout, we'd die from freezing cold.

The most far-fetched part of Project Hail Mary, a science fiction story about teaming up with an alien at Tau Ceti to save Earth from star-eating bacteria, is the idea that Earth governments would unite to rapidly and competently address a global threat

@SciGuySpace People are overly distracted today. There’s just too much noise for it to register. And after decades of waiting, if they do hear about it, they just assume it’s more talk.

I’m super excited for Artemis II. Been waiting my whole life for this first step back out there. But the media environment is so different today, and the world is vastly different as well. So far I have not seen this break through. Hopefully it does. Amazing crew to cheer on.

@Simberg_Space @Pinboard

@NealWiser @Pinboard I don't think Sagan's unscientific paper had much to do with arms-control efforts.

@vashikoo I could easily duplicate this shot for Pennies using (drumroll!!!) AI. As long as you don’t mind the parachutes all falling up.

A BRIDGE TOO FAR (1977) The largest real parachute drop ever filmed: • 11 authentic C-47 Dakota troop transports. • 1000 real jumps by military parachutists. • 19 cameras filming simultaneously. • No CGI. No models. No tricks. 💯 practical filmmaking.

Sometimes my phone will change “you” to “it” and make me sound like a psycho… Did it find the keys? Did it see my text? Did it empty the dishwasher? Real “it puts the lotion on the skin” energy there.

@ChrisO_wiki Looks like all that remote work during the big C is going to be popular again.

1/ The world is facing a 'ticking time bomb' from its supply of oil, according to a briefing note from JP Morgan. Physical scarcity of oil is about to unfold across the globe, spreading sequentially through April from east to west, causing major economic disruption worldwide. ⬇️

@JackCuthbert I already get up at 6am everyday, even on weekends. Daylight savings time doesn’t change anything, just when I do it.

The clock have moved forward but have you moved forward in your life? What are you saving your daylight for? Shit this got deep.

@Robotbeat It’s a moot point. The damage to the supply chain will be catastrophic for both the industries that use it, and the overall economy.

Guess which country produces more helium than all the Gulf states combined?

okay, hear me out

Guys i'm thinking about opening up Final Draft on my laptop. I won't but I'm thinking about it so first draft is essentially complete? Right? x #screenwriting #screenwriter

@umesh_ai Looks like @Apple’s future Dubai HQ.

Prompt on Midjourney : A breathtaking desert megastructure stands alone beneath a blazing white sun, a vast ring-shaped palace of pale sandstone, black glass, and gold suspended above endless dunes by colossal sculpted columns. Within the central void hangs a floating garden of palms, fountains, and terraces, visible through the giant open ring. The camera composition should feel cinematic and monumental, a wide-angle hero shot from dune level with strong foreground shadow patterns leading the eye toward the impossible structure. The light should be immaculate and studio-like despite the harsh desert: sculpted highlights on every architectural edge, controlled shadow detail, subtle bounce from the sand, and ultra-clear visibility through warm dust in the air. Small caravans and reflective pools at the base add scale and contrast. The entire image should feel like a lost imperial wonder of impossible engineering, combining extreme detail, royal opulence, surreal physics, and a jaw-dropping sense of scale and clarity. --chaos 30 --ar 16:9 --profile skx15nm --stylize 700 --v 8

@StopAntisemites Are you trying to associate No Kings with the Palestinian movement? You are aware that during a large public rally, anyone can just walk right in.

Philadelphia, PA - at today's “No Kings” protest, a journalist captured participants screaming "Death to America, Death to the Zionist Entity (Israel), Long Live the Intifada." According to their website - “No Kings” upholds a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. The No Kings protests are orchestrated by the 50501 Movement; the three funders of the 50501 Movement are: - Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss' Foundation ($293.6 million) - George Soros’ Open Society Foundation ($194.2 million) - Arabella ($47 million) So much for “grassroots” fighting against Kings.

@AntSpeaks Most cryptos are scam operations run by people taking advantage of the hype. However, several dozen “coins” are professionally run and legitimately trying to develop real technologies. Those who understand “Technical Analysis” (the trading tools) can make insane money.

Ben McKenzie, who many will recognise from shows like The O.C. and Gotham, speaks with Bill Maher and essentially argues that cryptocurrency is a scam. I’m aware this interview isn’t recent, but there’s a reason I’m bringing it up. Despite considering myself fairly well versed in tech and things related to it, I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I know very little about crypto. So I have a genuine question for those who understand it better.. Is what Ben is saying here true? Is crypto a Ponzi scheme or a scam? I ask this without bias, although I realise many responses will naturally come with one, and that’s fine. Personally, I know a few people who have done very well from crypto trading, so my immediate, perhaps naive, reaction is that it can’t simply be a scam. I’m interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks.

@PulpLibrarian This played for months at the theater I worked at as a kid. Audiences loved it and were fairly consistent, even mid-week.

Enemy Mine (1985). This went hugely over budget as original producer Stephen Friedman left the project due to creative differences, so Wolfgang Petersen had to do extensive reshoots when he took over as a new director. It's based on the Hugo and Nebula award winning 1979 novella by Barry B. Longyear, with a few tweaks to add more drama to the end. And it's a great tale: rivalry becomes friendship and then duty between stranded enemies Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. But it didn't set the box office alight despite an extensive marketing campaign. Which is a shame, because it's a really enjoyable movie with a strong sci-fi pedigree and it's quite touching. The score by Maurice Jarre is exceptionally good too.

@IamEmily2050 Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! I actually understood a lot of that.

The interview between the two legends, Jeff and Bill, was one hour long, so I used the NotebookLM video overview to capture the key details. In a collaborative discussion, Google's Jeff Dean and Nvidia's Bill Dally examine the rapid evolution of machine learning and its future hardware requirements. They highlight the transition from simple task based models to autonomous agents capable of executing long term, complex workflows. To support these advances, the experts emphasise the need for low latency inference and innovative chip architectures that minimise data movement to conserve energy. The conversation also explores how AI driven design is currently accelerating the creation of more efficient semiconductors at both companies. Finally, they reflect on the profound societal benefits of these technologies, particularly through the potential for personalised healthcare and individualised educational tutors.

@LukeBarnett Is this another side-sequel to Cloverfield?

Yeah, sure. Absolutely. I'm in.

90s so accurate 🤣

@CuriosityonX I got this.

Aliens have landed. They are peaceful and want to speak to one human to judge our entire species. ​ Who do we send to represent Earth?