I just signed a petition calling for Norwegian universities to use research expertise on AI when deciding how to implement it, rather than having decisions be made mostly administratively. , If you are a researcher in Norway, please read it and sign it if you agree – and share with anyone else who might be interested. The petition was written by three researchers at UiT: Maria Danielsen (a philosopher who completed her PhD in 2025 on AI and ethics, including discussions of art and working life), Knut Ørke (Norwegian as a second language), and Holger Pötzsch (a professor of media studies with many years of research on digital media, video games, disruption, and working life, among other topics). This is not about preventing researchers from exploring AI methods in their research. It is about not uncritically accepting the hype that everyone must use AI everywhere without critical reflection. It is about not introducing Copilot as the default option in word processors, or training PhD candidates to believe they will fall behind if they do not use AI when writing articles, without proper academic discussion. Changes like these should be knowledge-based and discussed academically, not merely decided administratively, because they alter the epistemological foundations of research. Maria wrote to me a couple of months ago because she had read my opinion piece in Aftenposten in which I called for a strong brake on the use of language models in knowledge work. She was part of a committee tasked with developing UiT’s AI strategy and was concerned because there was so much hype and so few members of the committee with actual expertise in AI. I fully support the petition. There are probably some good uses for AI in research, but the uncritical, hype-driven insistence that we must simply adopt it everywhere is highly risky. There are many researchers in Norway with strong expertise in AI, language, ethics, working life, and culture. We must make use of this expertise. This is also partly about respect for research in the humanities, social sciences, psychology, and law. Introducing AI at universities and university colleges is not merely a technical issue, and perhaps not even primarily a technical one. It concerns much more: philosophy of science, methodological reflection, epistemology, writing, publishing, the working environment, and more. […]
Frank
Today in a Dutch newspaper a brief interview with the designer of this toilet. The designer is a woman who confesses maybe having been a bit naive, but never even having thought about the possibly offensive and/or derogatory aspects of her toilet, certainly not about any sexual implications that it might have.
As an aside, this urinal started out life as a washing basin, with a tab for its nose and the tab handles for eyes. The designer wanted to go even more minimal with her design and everything fell in place for her when she turned it into a urinal.
Personally I can see why this design is offensive to some people, but it reminds me more of something out of the Little Shop of Horrors, rather than having an immediate and outright derogatory meaning. Freud would have a field day, but I would have some serious reservations about peeing in that urinal.
Werner
I actually like this one better than the VA one in terms of offensiveness …
http://postarchives.entensity.net/031204/image.php?pic=pray.jpg
Jill
Well. Rather that than the mouth, I guess, but…
Realising that urinals are an aspect of culture I have little exposure to, I found urinals.net, which collaboratively documents urinals.
At first glance, the women’s urinals look pretty stupid, but if you read the instructions for the one at Texas A&M you’ll see that they’re designed so you can squat over it instead of sitting down on it. That’s sensible – so often you’ll hover over a yucky seat anyway, why not build em for hovering.
Personally I’ll take an Asian squat toilet over a grubby Western public toilet any day.
Norman
I guess there’s one advantage at least that those pushing affirmative apartheid in Australia will have problems removing?
Jill
What, not having to get your buttocks dirty to have a pee? I did once find a site that explains how to pee standing up. Without devices. For women, that is. I had a go in the shower once but I guess I didn’t have the patience to perfect the technique.
lostlog
The Duchamp vs. Warhol Remix
Unfortunately they are dropping it. IMO it’s a brilliant idea.