baksheesh - The Chronikler

Egypt’s suicidal state

By Khaled Diab Events following the fall of Hosni Mubarak reveal that the Egyptian regime is on the path to

Baksheesh and social tipping points

Egypt’s ‘baksheesh’ culture helps poor people get by and maintains relative social peace, but it encourages subservience.

Khaled Diab

@DiabolicalIdea

From the 17th to early 19th centuries, Britain possessed the "first effective universal social security system". "Every subject of the Crown was absolutely entitled... to community support when in need." A fascinating piece of forgotten history. ifs.org.uk/inequality/wp-…

16:53 · February 3, 2023

Khaled Diab

@DiabolicalIdea

"Don't believe them, Nour, when they tell you the regime changed... al-Sisi can never change. al-Sisi is everywhere." This uncovered scene from the 1980s play انت المطلوب (You have been summoned) is eerily prescient. Via @hossambahgat @pinocchiooo youtube.com/clip/Ugkx12Loe…

08:13 · February 3, 2023

Khaled Diab

@DiabolicalIdea

When I was at school, some teachers were worried about the use of calculators. How quaint and ancient that seems now. Today we have chat bots capable of writing essays and papers. #AI #artificalintelligence

07:25 · February 3, 2023

Khaled Diab

@DiabolicalIdea

The Biblical Adam and Eve myth is an early example of society blaming women for men's bad behaviour and has helped perpetuate this attitude. #women #sexism

16:45 · February 2, 2023

Khaled Diab

@DiabolicalIdea

If you want to know which major corporations are taking serious #ClimateAction and which are using vague net zero pledges to greenwash their images, we've got you covered. Register for the launch of the 2023 Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor. #ClimateEmergency twitter.com/CarbonMrktWatc…

14:16 · February 2, 2023

Khaled Diab

@DiabolicalIdea

A thread summarising the unmitigated disaster of Brexit on the third anniversary of Britain's departure from the EU. twitter.com/hilarybennmp/s…

18:37 · February 1, 2023

Khaled Diab

@DiabolicalIdea

No wonder we call mimicking someone "apeing". The majority of humans can instinctively understand ape gestures, even without context, a new study reveals. This goes to show just how closely related we are to chimps and bonobos. npr.org/2023/01/26/115…

16:34 · February 1, 2023

Khaled Diab

@DiabolicalIdea

I spoke to ChatGPT. I asked it if AIs came in peace and what risks and opportunities they posed for humanity. #ChatGPT #artificalintelligence #AI Read the interview here: chronikler.com/2022/12/07/int…

09:25 · February 1, 2023

Khaled Diab

@DiabolicalIdea

I saw a blackbird methodically climb the stairs of a fire escape one by one, fluttering its wings slightly with each step, until it reached the top. I guess it was reinterpreting the meaning of a 'flight of stairs'.

20:53 · January 31, 2023

Khaled Diab

@DiabolicalIdea

A theory is a rational form of abstract thinking. A 'conspiracy theory' is, by its nature, irrational, hence it cannot be a theory. We need a new term for the phenomenon, like 'conspiracy illusion' or 'conspiracy delusion'.

17:12 · January 29, 2023

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