"From a communist perspective, informed by Marxist-Leninist principles emphasizing collective solidarity, class consciousness, mutual aid, and the prioritization of communal well-being over bourgeois individualism, the article on everyday life in contemporary Riga reveals several key observations:.."
now change "from a libertarian viewpoint" to from a "from the viewpoint of a Hobbit".
keep in mind that LLM's don't know anything and are designed to output text that is statistically-likely.
"1. Appreciation for Simple Courtesies and Modesty
Subtle gestures of politeness: Hobbits value community, but not in a loud or intrusive way. The idea that people in Riga practice small courtesies, like offering a seat with a simple gesture or adjusting expectations without irritation, would feel very familiar. To a hobbit, these kinds of modest exchanges are the heart of a well-functioning community. The lack of grandiosity in social interactions, such as not making a spectacle out of kindness or politeness, would seem very aligned with hobbit ideals.Queueing with respect: The concept of respecting others' time in queues, where there is a mutual understanding that resources (like time and money) are limited, would be seen as a practical and sensible way of life. Hobbits, who enjoy quiet gatherings in their homes or the market in the Shire, would recognize the value of calm and respectful order in public spaces."
"From a libertarian perspective, the article portrays Riga's public life as a near-ideal example of spontaneous order and voluntary social cooperation in shared spaces, where harmony emerges without heavy reliance on government rules, enforcement, or top-down planning..."
I've somehow lost the gemini chat explaining it as a personification. I went back and got these
If you are hearing the phrase "Auntie Oksana" (Тетя Оксана) specifically in the context of Russian weather or "temperature," it is almost certainly a reference to popular internet memes or urban slang rather than a professional meteorologist.
In the Russian-speaking internet (Runet), "Auntie Oksana" has become a shorthand for a specific kind of unreliable or overly dramatic "neighborhood" source of information.
yokay, let me give you some more transcript
Now that I see the full context, the mystery is solved! This is a classic case of Speech-to-Text error.
The word isn't "Оксана" (Oksana); the reporter actually said "заставляют" (zastavlyayut), which means "force" or "make".
The Corrected Phrase
The transcript should read:
"...цифры на термометре заставляют: на улицу ни ногой!"
"...the numbers on the thermometer force [you]: don't set a foot outside!"
Why it sounds like "Oksana"
In fast Russian speech, the word заставляют (za-stav-lya-yut) can be mumbled. The middle "stav-lya" sounds can get swallowed, leaving something that sounds like "za-ya-yut" or "sa-na," which the computer AI then "corrected" to the common name Оксана.
I puzzled far too long over the phonetics and I don't see how the last one could be possible. Let's try that again
When she says "Auntie Oksana" (Тетя Оксана) at [00:09], she is referring to Oksana Fedorova, as discussed previously. Here is the breakdown of why she says it in that specific context:
The Joke: The reporter is describing a record-breaking cold snap in Moscow. She says, "The numbers on the thermometer, [Auntie] Oksana, say don't you dare step a foot outside" [00:08].
The Persona: She is addressing her "anchor" in the studio. In this comedic setup, Oksana Fedorova is imagined as the news anchor.
The Cultural Irony: In Russia, Oksana Fedorova is the quintessential "Auntie" of television because she hosted the famous children's show Good Night, Little Ones!. By addressing the news anchor as "Auntie Oksana," the video is poking fun at the cozy, domestic nature of Russian state TV, contrasting it with the "deadly" freezing temperatures being reported.
Well, the woman in the video resembles an Oksana Federova, but if she's an auntie, I'm Batman. Here she is
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=3b5cf2041e18d574&sxsrf=AE3TifP1ZrjiDImMWsmg-_tQH7vGKnlIvg:1766481139030&udm=2&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeqDdErwP5rACeJAty2zADJgeXKnD4z7v_UXM32TmNnj1yxfQDJKRFuKsiopx1kXI2HeCwSiMz_r_cLw9z-Mtg7tSmcI7MYFK_I8uSxj7ZdznMQoypHL9PYUQVEywwdBJtoqMFqGEmQsJQqv8HLDXTUeS3OS-&q=Oksana+Fedorova&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0hK2Gr9ORAxXEf_UHHcdJAecQtKgLegQIChAB&biw=1382&bih=1075&dpr=2
She could be the reporter in the video, but it isn't in her imdb
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1185905/
If should probably come as no surprise that Trump can lie continuously, given that the goal of AI seems to have been making a machine that can lie to use continuously.
Bsky thread with Lord of the Rings inspired cover band names. I was thinking to jump in, but then someone posted "A Flock of Smeagols" and there was no point in anything further being said.
Using the names of the Democratic politicians referenced in this thread.
Create an image based on the names Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Bill Clinton, Cory Booker, Gavin Newsom, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, John Kerry, Kamala Harris, and Pete Buttigieg.
Oksana thing may be an AI hallucination. I pulled out the transcript and saw Oksana after thermometer, and I got three different stories. Don't have any Russian speakers around, so can't ask anyone.
marching band is seen as a ‘girly’ thing in Japan.
Ever seen Girls and Panzer? ;-)
(For those who are not accustomed to the franchise: The premise is that "sensha-do" (tanking) is a 100% female thing and a prestige sport for girls who battle it out in WW2-era tanks) Lots of marching music there.
Considering what Ukraine is doing to Russia, not necessarily impossible. The most surprising part is that it hasn't been front page news around the world. Where is the MSM in this??? Looks like a cover-up.
😝
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “Welcome to my world”
"From a communist perspective, informed by Marxist-Leninist principles emphasizing collective solidarity, class consciousness, mutual aid, and the prioritization of communal well-being over bourgeois individualism, the article on everyday life in contemporary Riga reveals several key observations:.."
Communist Analysis of Riga's Social Norms
On “Weekend Music Thread music thread #09 In Russia, Christmas music sings you!”
A comment I made yesterday has got lost. Too much Cyrillic, perhaps.
On “Welcome to my world”
now change "from a libertarian viewpoint" to from a "from the viewpoint of a Hobbit".
keep in mind that LLM's don't know anything and are designed to output text that is statistically-likely.
"1. Appreciation for Simple Courtesies and Modesty
Subtle gestures of politeness: Hobbits value community, but not in a loud or intrusive way. The idea that people in Riga practice small courtesies, like offering a seat with a simple gesture or adjusting expectations without irritation, would feel very familiar. To a hobbit, these kinds of modest exchanges are the heart of a well-functioning community. The lack of grandiosity in social interactions, such as not making a spectacle out of kindness or politeness, would seem very aligned with hobbit ideals.Queueing with respect: The concept of respecting others' time in queues, where there is a mutual understanding that resources (like time and money) are limited, would be seen as a practical and sensible way of life. Hobbits, who enjoy quiet gatherings in their homes or the market in the Shire, would recognize the value of calm and respectful order in public spaces."
(ChatGPT)
"
With all the high-quality public services they enjoy, they're a lot less cranky than than they otherwise would be.
"
Yes, but Riga has an educated population.
"
How libertarianish. :)
"From a libertarian perspective, the article portrays Riga's public life as a near-ideal example of spontaneous order and voluntary social cooperation in shared spaces, where harmony emerges without heavy reliance on government rules, enforcement, or top-down planning..."
Libertarian Insights on Riga's Social Harmony
On “Weekend Music Thread music thread #09 In Russia, Christmas music sings you!”
I can imagine middle-schoolers saying "Oksana is thermometer" randomly just to yuck it up. It could be the new 6-7.
"
I've tried to follow what she says (at 9-11 seconds). It's
"Цифры на термометре, Оксана, говорят на улицу не ногой"
"The numbers on the thermometer, Oksana, say 'don't step outside'"
However, she's speaking fast and there's no pause where I've put the second comma. "Оксана" could be something else.
"
I've somehow lost the gemini chat explaining it as a personification. I went back and got these
yokay, let me give you some more transcript
I puzzled far too long over the phonetics and I don't see how the last one could be possible. Let's try that again
When she says "Auntie Oksana" (Тетя Оксана) at [00:09], she is referring to Oksana Fedorova, as discussed previously. Here is the breakdown of why she says it in that specific context:
Well, the woman in the video resembles an Oksana Federova, but if she's an auntie, I'm Batman. Here she is
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=3b5cf2041e18d574&sxsrf=AE3TifP1ZrjiDImMWsmg-_tQH7vGKnlIvg:1766481139030&udm=2&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeqDdErwP5rACeJAty2zADJgeXKnD4z7v_UXM32TmNnj1yxfQDJKRFuKsiopx1kXI2HeCwSiMz_r_cLw9z-Mtg7tSmcI7MYFK_I8uSxj7ZdznMQoypHL9PYUQVEywwdBJtoqMFqGEmQsJQqv8HLDXTUeS3OS-&q=Oksana+Fedorova&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0hK2Gr9ORAxXEf_UHHcdJAecQtKgLegQIChAB&biw=1382&bih=1075&dpr=2
She could be the reporter in the video, but it isn't in her imdb
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1185905/
If should probably come as no surprise that Trump can lie continuously, given that the goal of AI seems to have been making a machine that can lie to use continuously.
"
Оксана is a common female name in Ukraine. The diminutive Оксанка is used to refer pejoratively to a generic Ukrainian woman.
Wiktionary says it derives from the Greek ξενία, meaning 'hospitality', from ξένος, 'foreign', c.f. English 'xeno-'.
I can't speak authoritatively, but I've found no support online for an association with 'thermometer'.
"
...what does it take to use an icon of my own choice?
Register the e-mail address you use at Gravatar, and upload the image you want to use. WordPress loves Gravatar.
"
Website question!
Although the current icon for me bears an uncanny resemblence, what does it take to use an icon of my own choice?
"
nous, if it were album names, how about Nazgul Skyline?
"
Bsky thread with Lord of the Rings inspired cover band names. I was thinking to jump in, but then someone posted "A Flock of Smeagols" and there was no point in anything further being said.
"
Sacrifices had to be made.
"
Happy Winter Solstice, everybody.
On “The Wiles Interview”
Using the names of the Democratic politicians referenced in this thread.
Create an image based on the names Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Bill Clinton, Cory Booker, Gavin Newsom, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, John Kerry, Kamala Harris, and Pete Buttigieg.
"
-
On “Weekend Music Thread music thread #09 In Russia, Christmas music sings you!”
I like these: Heather Dale: Huron Carol, in 4 languages (Huron, French, English, American Sign Language)
This is a Mongolian band. It's very rich and interesting: GG 16x9 Multipants v25 0 c linh phuonglelinh hoanh
"
Oksana thing may be an AI hallucination. I pulled out the transcript and saw Oksana after thermometer, and I got three different stories. Don't have any Russian speakers around, so can't ask anyone.
"
Re: weather voice. Out here, the voice on the weather channel for boaters is referred to as "The Swede".
"
"Oksana is a woman’s name that personifies a themometer."
whatnow?
On “Weekend music thread #08 How do you get to Carnagie Hall?”
Ever seen Girls and Panzer? ;-)
(For those who are not accustomed to the franchise: The premise is that "sensha-do" (tanking) is a 100% female thing and a prestige sport for girls who battle it out in WW2-era tanks) Lots of marching music there.
"
A more viable alternative.
Fall of Civilizations
"
GREENLAND DESTROYS RUSSIA
Considering what Ukraine is doing to Russia, not necessarily impossible. The most surprising part is that it hasn't been front page news around the world. Where is the MSM in this??? Looks like a cover-up.
😝
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.