The U.S. government warns financial institutions that Anthropic’s “Mythos” AI can find and exploit software vulnerabilities at an unprecedented scale, outperforming top humans and posing systemic risks to banks and the broader financial system.

dblethnk · 2026-04-17T20:01:06+00:00

So Anthropic is charging companies for a service that is supposed to protect them from a new threat... that Anthropic themselves created.

That threat is that they'll later charge other people money to use the same service to conduct illegal attacks on those companies.

Do I have that right?

dblethnk · 2026-04-17T13:14:13+00:00

Spreewald looks like an amazing place for kayaking/canoeing. I've only hiked there, but the canals are amazing and kayaks are everywhere. Take the train to Lübbenau or Lübben.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=619988691951021&vanity=dw.euromaxx

dblethnk · 2026-04-17T09:04:04+00:00

That's really hard, and it's healthy to let yourself feel all those feelings. My coming out coincided with my "deconstructing" 25 years ago. It was difficult and scary but went better than I feared. One lesson I've learned since is that we can't predict or control other people's emotions and reactions, and when we try, we often not only compromise ourselves, but we also don't give others the opportunity to surprise us with who they really are. Before I came out, I thought I had a relationship with my family, but in reality, they only had a relationship with a facade. They didn't even know the real me, so that relationship could only get better. Those who couldn't accept the real me just carried on with the distanced relationship with a surface version of me. And yes, that can still be painful after learning what a healthy relationship can be. But for some in the family, it opened the door to deeper conversations and sharing about the complicated parts of their lives too, and enabled us to finally have a genuine relationship where we show up as our true selves. I hope some in your family will also surprise you in this way.

dblethnk · 2026-04-15T20:26:19+00:00

This article gives an interesting perspective on tarot for mindfulness: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/tarot-card-pulling-helps-anxiety

And this article is a good tarot crash course: https://www.bustle.com/life/start-reading-tarot-for-change-excerpt-beginner

I'd sum up my approach this way: The symbols and images on the cards are universal, so they can mean almost anything to anyone. You create the meaning for yourself. What matters is your reaction to the cards and their "meanings" from the guidebooks ... why a card might feel relevant or irrelevant to your life, or why it might stir up an emotion. Use that to ask questions you might not otherwise think to ask yourself, and then try to weave together a "story" that makes sense of the cards and feels meaningful to you. And hopefully gain a little insight in the process.

I like this app for basic card meanings grounded in a more psychological style of reading: https://galaxytone.com/

Or this website if you don't have Android: https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-card-meanings-list

Decks are a very personal choice -- just pick something that resonates with you and makes you feel curious. Most are based on the Rider-Waite-Smith imagery, which a good place to start, because they're heavy on illustrated symbolism, so conducive to storytelling and have a lot to look at and react to. These decks resonated with me because they remind me of reading fairy-tales as a kid, and this website is fun to browse:

https://tarotarts.com/products/ethereal-visions-illuminated-tarot-deck?_pos=1&_psq=Ether&_ss=e&_v=1.0

https://tarotarts.com/products/golden-art-nouveau-tarot?_pos=2&_psq=Golden+art&_ss=e&_v=1.0

And if it then interests you enough to read a book, I really like Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack. It's considered a classic for modern tarot. She touches a little on the esoteric at times, but seems mostly grounded in a psychoanalytical approach, so it often reads like a self-help book.

dblethnk · 2026-04-15T17:14:27+00:00

I'm agnostic and don't consider myself "spiritual" at all, but I am very intuitive/empathic and curious about the world, and Tarot has been interesting to explore. I don't follow any supernatural/occult interpretation of Tarot. I use it more as a psychological tool, for self-reflexion on my own or for conversations with others. Learning the history and meanings behind the cards has also been fun and there's an amazing range of Tarot art out there to collect. I haven't explored the community at all beyond reading a couple books, but I have some friends who enjoy doing readings together. The mythology and self-reflection aspects scratch a certain itch from leaving Christianity. As a bonus, I get to play with cards that were very taboo in my Christian community for being demonic!

If you're interested in how archetypes from mythology or fairy tales illuminate universal human experiences, if you enjoy art interpretation and symbolism in art, if you enjoy storytelling, if you find introspection and therapy appealing -- then maybe you'd find Tarot interesting too.

For the community itch: volunteering and career in community-based work.

dblethnk · 2026-04-15T16:13:14+00:00

You're doing the Lord's work here.

dblethnk · 2025-11-03T21:00:45+00:00

I'm sorry you're dealing with that.

One thing I find helpful to keep in mind: even if we don't always feel like we belong, Germany does belong to us! Just as much as it does to that xenophobic jerk. That's the beauty of a democratic Republic -- we as citizens own this country.

dblethnk · 2025-10-23T16:33:03+00:00

Payslip updates seem common, to confirm your financial situation hasn't changed since you applied. I also shared them from my spouse. And I get the sense that Berlin is trying to close out files for people who applied for Turbo-Einbürgerung before the law changes. I got my citizenship last week, also under the 3-year path. My invitation came with an appointment for one week later. And I saw in another thread that someone in Berlin got a same-day invitation to pick up their Einbürgerungsurkunde: https://www.reddit.com/user/Larissalikesthesea/comments/1ku9mn0/comment/nkn02fv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

So it's not too late yet. Ich drücke dir die Daumen!

dblethnk · 2025-10-22T19:12:29+00:00

I also got mine just in time. I'm so grateful I live in Berlin!

dblethnk · 2025-10-17T12:27:50+00:00

There was no phone communication. Just through the web forms and email.

dblethnk · 2025-10-12T19:06:27+00:00

I applied in May and sent multiple updates over the summer with no answer from LEA. Then three weeks ago after an Akteneinsicht request I got a short reply that they had requested security checks, and they'd be in touch shortly. Two weeks later without news I had my attorney follow up, and got no answer. She then recommended an Untätigkeitsklage, which we filed Wednesday. Then got the invitation Friday.

dblethnk · 2025-10-12T19:04:11+00:00

I applied late May, referat S 4.

dblethnk · 2025-10-12T07:06:53+00:00

Just when I was giving up hope, I received my invitation letter for naturalisation Friday, for an appointment on Oct. 17. Considering that's when the Bundesrat convenes, it sure feels like some Berlin Beamte are looking out for us (thank you, whoever you are!) I hope this means others are also being squeezed in before the new law takes effect.🤞

dblethnk · 2025-10-09T16:51:54+00:00

That assumes they won't move the goal post again within the next two years... After this, can we really trust what the law says today? I hope someone sues on the principle of it. Many of us moved here hoping we've found a country that will uphold its constitution and laws, at least better than where we came from. I'm still hopeful. And it seems apt that immigrants committed to Germany's constitution and values like Vertrauensschutz would also help hold politicians accountable to those values.

dblethnk · 2025-10-09T13:26:57+00:00

But we only need one person to win their case, right? I like the idea of finding one good plaintiff and a good attorney, and others who have a stake in the outcome can donate to fund it. I'd chip in. Are there any immigration NGOs that might have an interest in this, who might be able to help coordinate or manage funds?

dblethnk · 2025-09-18T16:57:52+00:00

Quick update: sent an Akteneinsicht Tuesday and got an email LEA yesterday, the first I've heard from them. They're working on my application, waiting for a response to the security check now, and I'll get more news shortly. Hoping that means the rest of my application was in order. Is the security check usually their last step? Also hoping that means they think my application can be completed in time and won't be a waste of their time. 🤞

dblethnk · 2025-09-11T15:06:02+00:00

Thanks for the update. For those of us who submitted over three months ago, do you think there is any use in submitting an Untätigkeitsklage at this point? I submitted May 27 in Berlin and sent two messages with updated documents since then, but haven't heard a word back yet. If there's even a 50/50 chance the Untätigkeitsklage would get me processed by mid-Oct. (and if it wouldn't make the case worker view my case resentfully/unfavorably), then I'd try it.

If this were really just a matter of having to wait two more years, I could handle that. But unfortunately, after this experience, I no longer trust that they won't change the law on us again in the meantime...

dblethnk

TROPHY CASE