@MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 1mo ago

TODAY! The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes will be awarded at the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, on Thursday evening, September 3, 2026. The ceremony itself begins at 7:00 pm (Central European time). The pre-show dance performance begins at 6:45 pm. The webcast begins a few minutes earlier than that. The previous 35 ceremonies all took place in the USA, in Cambridge/Boston. In a break from tradition, this year’s ceremony will take place in Zürich, Switzerland. #IgNobel https://improbable.com/the-36th-first-annual-ig-nobel-prize-ceremony/

Improbable Research

The 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony

The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded at the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, on Thursday evening, September 3, 2026. The ceremony itself begina at 7:00 pm (Central …

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 2mo ago

The Swiss #Blackboard Mystery! We are still looking for someone in or near #Zurich who can lend us a portable big blackboard, for use in the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony on September 3. Maybe you (or your institution) have one hiding in your basement, quietly yearning for stardom? If so, please get in touch with us!

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 1mo ago

Boosted by @trending@homestead.social

The 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony will happen a week from today in Zurich, Switzerland - on Thursday, 3 September, 2026, starting at 19:00 (Central European time). If you don't have a ticket to be there in person, watch the free webcast. Maybe go to one of the Official Watch Parties. Maybe have a party of your own. Please spread the word! https://improbable.com/the-36th-first-annual-ig-nobel-prize-ceremony/

Improbable Research

The 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony

The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded at the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, on Thursday evening, September 3, 2026. The ceremony itself begina at 7:00 pm (Central …

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 1mo ago

A very few more tickets became available for the 26th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony (which will happen on Thursday, September 3, in #Zurich, Switzerland). Grab ‘em while you can. #IgNobel https://eventfrog.ch/de/p/wissenschaft-und-technik/the-36th-first-annual-ig-nobel-prize-ceremony-7446575553581194400.html

Eventfrog

Wissenschaft & Technik in der Schweiz | Finden & Tickets kaufen

Wissenschaft & Technik in der Schweiz: Finde Veranstaltungen ✓ Kaufe Tickets direkt online ✓ Oder trage selbst Events kostenlos ein ✓

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

VOLUNTEER TO HELP AT THE IG NOBEL PRIZE CEREMONY: After 35 years in the USA, the ceremony is moving to Europe. Anyone who would like to volunteer to help at the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony (in Zurich in September) can meet with ceremony organizers Marc Abrahams and Mirko Bischofberger, to explore the possibilities. We'll meet up on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00 am – noon — at ORBIZ Josef, Josefstrasse 214a, 8005, Zürich, SWITZERLAND. https://improbable.com/2026/03/10/the-ig-nobel-prize-ceremony-is-moving-to-europe-after-35-years-in-the-usa/

Improbable Research

The Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony Is Moving to Europe (after 35 years in the USA)

After 35 years in the USA, the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony is moving to Europe. This coming September 3, the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony will take place in Zurich, Switzerland. TICKETS TI…

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 9mo ago

Boosted by @cstross@wandering.shop

I suggest that you avoid purchasing any products or services from #Adobe. I base this on my recent experience with Adobe, buyng an upgrade — that fails to run on my computer. There is (apparently) no way for a customer to talk or correspond with a human being at Adobe. Because I have no record of any (impossible) correspondence with any Adobe human, Adobe and my credit card company both decline to issue a refund. REPEAT: I suggest that you avoid purchasing any products or services from Adobe.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 2mo ago

RE: https://mastodon.social/@RunRichRun/116977193948397680 Here’s why we are moving the ceremony to Europe: https://improbable.com/2026/03/10/the-ig-nobel-prize-ceremony-is-moving-to-europe-after-35-years-in-the-usa/

Quoting

Rich Stein (he/him)

@RunRichRun@mastodon.social

@MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science Did you move the ceremonies outside the US this year b/c 🟠 🤡, ICE, etc.? We received an alert/warning about the possibility of ICE activity at a national sporting event for teenagers that one of our crew is scheduled to attend next week... A kid's event. 😐 This is the worst simulation to be in. 🙁

Open quoted post

Improbable Research

The Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony Is Moving to Europe (after 35 years in the USA)

After 35 years in the USA, the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony is moving to Europe. This coming September 3, the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony will take place in Zurich, Switzerland. TICKETS TI…

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 2mo ago

Watch Party in Paris — the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony https://psl.eu/agenda/ig-nobel-36th-prize-ceremony-soiree-officielle-de-projection-paris

psl.eu

IG Nobel 36th Prize Ceremony - Soirée officielle de projection à Paris | PSL

Culture, Pour la première fois de leur histoire, les Ig Nobel s'installent en Europe… et vous pouvez vivre la cérémonie officielle depuis Paris ! , Le 3 septembre, la 36e cérémonie des Ig Nobel sera retransmise en direct depuis le Kongresshaus de Zurich. Pour la première fois en 35 ans, cet événement international, qui récompense des recherches scientifiques faisant « d'abord rire, puis réfléchir », quitte les États-Unis. À cette occasion, l'Université PSL organise une Watch Party officielle, ac

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 7mo ago

The Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony Is Moving to Europe (after 35 years in the USA) https://improbable.com/2026/03/10/the-ig-nobel-prize-ceremony-is-moving-to-europe-after-35-years-in-the-usa/

Improbable Research

The Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony Is Moving to Europe (after 35 years in the USA)

After 35 years in the USA, the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony is moving to Europe. This coming September 3, the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony will take place in Zurich, Switzerland. TICKETS TI…

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 2mo ago

Thirty years after Robert Matthews won a prize for this, journalists are still discovering it: "Toast really does land butter-side down, and physics explains why" https://boingboing.net/2026/07/29/buttered-toast-phenomenon.html/amp

Boing Boing

Toast really does land butter-side down, and physics explains why

Toast really does land butter-side down. Physicist Robert Matthews won a 1996 Ig Nobel working out the physics.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

RE: https://spore.social/@Victor/116310401027442498

If they ever build a Donald Trump Presidential Library this is where the bricks will come from.

Spore by Project Mushroom

Victor (@Victor@spore.social)

Rock Springs’ new $20 million solar sludge-drying system will start drying out human waste year-round starting in the summer. #biosolids #wastewater #solar https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/03/28/rock-springs-is-making-a-big-stink-about-its-solar-drying-facility-for-human-waste/

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 5mo ago

5 DAYS until Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony TICKETS go on sale (12 May 2026). improbable.com/the-36th-first-annual-ig-nobel-prize-ceremony/

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 3mo ago

How is this way-too-bright idea not crazy? "And this is just the start. Reflect Orbital plans to have more than 50,000 satellites in action by 2035" https://theconversation.com/the-u-s-just-approved-a-giant-space-mirror-to-test-sunlight-on-demand-low-earth-orbit-is-getting-weird-283482

The U.S. just approved a giant space mirror to test ‘sunlight on demand.’ Low Earth orbit is getting weird

The Conversation

The U.S. just approved a giant space mirror to test ‘sunlight on demand.’ Low Earth orbit is getting weird

From space hotels and artificial meteor showers, to a new giant mirror that reflects sunlight to Earth — low-Earth orbit is getting weird.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 5mo ago

4 DAYS until Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony tickets go on sale (12 May 2026). Please spread the word! https://improbable.com/the-36th-first-annual-ig-nobel-prize-ceremony/

Improbable Research

The 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony

The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded at the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, on Thursday evening, September 3, 2026. The ceremony itself begina at 7:00 pm (Central …

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 5mo ago

Ig Nobel Show at LUND UNIVERSITY, Sweden — TUESDAY, April 21, 2026, 3:30 pm (European Central Time). The tickets are all booked, but you can watch the live webcast https://www.lu.se/evenemang/ig-nobel-euro-tour-i-lund

lu.se

Ig Nobel Euro Tour i Lund

Lunds universitet. For information in English, see belowIg Nobel Euro Tour bjuder på ett underhållande och tankeväckande arrangemang där vinnare av Ig Nobel Prize presenterar sina udda, roliga och oväntade forskningsprojekt.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 7mo ago

RE: https://wandering.shop/@drawnonglass/116211057667245683

Oh, yes, we will livestream the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, continuing the livestreaming tradition we began in 1995.

wandering.shop

drawnonglass: "as a lifetime and supporting member of #HRSFA (#H…" - The Wandering Shop

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 5mo ago

Techniques of Successful Con Men: Remember that it’s easier to extract money from an organization you control than from an organization controlled by other people.
A Washington Post headline, on Feb 19, 2026, says: “After leaving WHO, Trump officials propose more expensive replacement to duplicate it — HHS proposes spending $2 billion a year to re-create systems the U.S. accessed through the WHO at a fraction of the cost, according to officials briefed on the matter.” https://improbablestuff.substack.com/p/con-men-work-with-organizations-that

improbablestuff.substack.com

CON MEN: Work with Organizations That Can Yield You the Most Profit

From the not-yet-published book “Techniques of Successful Con Men”

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

"Trump’s Justice Department Dropped 23,000 Criminal Investigations in Shift to Immigration' That's reason number 2 for doing it. Can you guess reason number 1? https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-doj-immigration-bondi-declinations-criminal-investigations

ProPublica

Trump’s Justice Department Dropped 23,000 Criminal Investigations in Shift to Immigration

Under Attorney General Pam Bondi, the DOJ abandoned a record number of cases — including hundreds of investigations into terrorism, white-collar crime and drugs — in just the first six months of President Donald Trump’s second term.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 7mo ago

Major news orgs keep running big headlines that consist of "Trump Says ________", as if he is telling the truth. This is a man who has been celebrated for nearly 50 years for being an entertaining, buffoonish liar. #ConfuseThePublic

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 5mo ago

"The World’s Longest-Running Experiment Is Still Teaching Us Physics" https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/resources/science-experiments/the-worlds-longest-running-experiment-is-still-teaching-us-physics/

ZME Science

The World's Longest-Running Experiment Is Still Teaching Us Physics

We're nearing the experiment's 100th year and 10th drop.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 7mo ago

"After 35 years, Ig Nobel ceremony to leave the U.S. — Finances and Trump policies underlaid the decision to move the satirical science event to Switzerland" [Science] https://www.science.org/content/article/after-35-years-ig-nobel-ceremony-leave-u-s

AAAS

Science | AAAS

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 7mo ago

RE: https://newsie.social/@servelan/116207626749066238

DOGE lives up to its billing: You’ve got to admit that that’s an *efficient* way to steal things.

Newsie

Servelan (@servelan@newsie.social)

DOGE employee stole Social Security data and put it on a thumb drive, report says | TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/10/doge-employee-stole-social-security-data-and-put-it-on-a-thumb-drive-report-says/

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 23mo ago

Nature magazine interviewed Ig Nobel Prize winners about how winning the prize has affected them. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03756-w

nature.com

How a silly science prize changed my career

A levitating frog, a necrophiliac duck, taxi drivers’ brains — the Ig Nobel prizes have shined a spotlight on offbeat work. Here’s an inside look at how winners feel about this sometimes unwanted ‘honour’.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 7mo ago

Update on the USA’s Festival of Looting & Destruction https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-12-2026

heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

March 12, 2026

In Ohio today, Republican candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy launched a $10 million TV and digital ad campaign to run until Election Day.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 7mo ago

Daily repetitive questions: (1) Where are the illegally withheld EPSTEIN FILES? (2) What country will Trump announce today that he will attack next?

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 7mo ago

A reminder that Upasana Sarraju’s new book called Unruly: The Ig Nobel Prizes and The Science That Refuses to Behave dives into, swims and surfs through a universe (our universe, in fact) full of unexpected science. [Yes, the book is a little bit about me, so I am highly biased. But Upasana has made something that's Upasanaistically grippingly thoughtful and thought-provoking (and also fun). ] https://www.penguin.co.in/book/unruly/

Penguin Random House India

Unruly - Penguin Random House India

Why don’t woodpeckers get headaches?Can condiments solve our energy crisis?How many people pick their nose? Believe it or not, these questions come straight from prize-winning research—and the surprising, tender and wonderfully misunderstood world of the Ig Nobel Prizes. Unruly tours the Ig universe: nominating letters full of chaos and charm, debates that run longer than […]

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@wcbdata Ah, I wish we could! But alas.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

An #Apple #Mac #Tahoe OS problem I've had the past several weeks — and seen others mention in various discussion places: This error message occurs frequently: "out of application memory". Although the err message specifies whichever app is using the most memory at that moment, the prob occurs regardless of what apps are or are not in use. Any suggestions?

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

Techniques of Successful Con Men: Invite people to give you money.
A headline in Ars Technica, on January 12, 2026, says: “You can now reserve a hotel room on the Moon for $250,000” https://improbablestuff.substack.com/p/con-men-invite-people-to-give-you?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1581193&post_id=185736534

improbablestuff.substack.com

CON MEN: Invite People to Give You Money

From the not-yet-published book “Techniques of Successful Con Men”

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

"THE COURT: How did the screw up happen? Was it your office, the U.S. Attorneys Office, the FBI, or both? How did you execute a plea agreement without knowing all the evidence on the device only later to find out, Oh, my God. There's babies and prepubescent children and bestiality. It's so egregious, Judge, but we didn't address any of that. Who screwed it up? Your office, the FBI, or both?" https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo/judge-eviscerates-trump-doj-over-us-attorney-fiasco

TPM – Talking Points Memo

Judge Eviscerates Trump DOJ Over US Attorney Fiasco

Presumption of Irregularity Attorney General Pam Bondi’s elaborate attempts to bypass Senate...

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 7mo ago

Big stwong man and big stwong man’s liddle stwong man wanna pwoove they are weally, weally tough. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-13-2026

heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

March 13, 2026

Despite reports that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence that permits it to target U.S.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 7mo ago

And from the Swiss point of view: https://www.nzz.ch/panorama/wegen-trump-die-satirischen-ig-nobel-preise-werden-neu-in-zuerich-verliehen-ld.1928615

Wegen Trump: Ig-Nobel-Preise ziehen von den USA nach Zürich um

Neue Zürcher Zeitung

Wegen Trump: Ig-Nobel-Preise ziehen von den USA nach Zürich um

Die Veranstalter befürchteten Schwierigkeiten bei der Einreise der Preisträger in die USA.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 9mo ago

Replying to

@cstross@wandering.shop Many kinds of animals learn skills from watching humans.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 1mo ago

Techniques of Successful Con Men: Make at least enough money to satisfy your basic needs. A headline in The Independent, on July 4, 2026, says: “Trump cashed in with 327 stock purchases just before he sent the market soaring by pausing tariffs: disclosure — The purchases were made on April 8, 2025, six days after Trump initiated a global trade war and day before he posted on Truth Social: ‘THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!’ “ https://improbablestuff.substack.com/p/con-men-satisfy-yourself

improbablestuff.substack.com

CON MEN: Satisfy Yourself

From the not-yet-published book “Techniques of Successful Con Men”

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@goss Thanks. Got huge amount of unused disk space. Problem is caused by something else.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 3mo ago

When your main goal is to make money, invest in things where you know what is about to happen. "The president's portfolio kept accumulating shares in companies — like Palantir and Lockheed Martin — that were benefiting directly from his global military escalations" https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-defense-stocks/ #Leadership

Trump acquired at least $10 million in defense stocks last year

Responsible Statecraft

Trump acquired at least $10 million in defense stocks last year

The president's portfolio kept accumulating shares in companies — like Palantir and Lockheed Martin — that were benefiting directly from his global military escalations

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

"Undead Robotics: Dead Bodies, Living Machines", Ruibao [China] about the influence of Daniel J. Preston and colleagues and others https://ruibao.news/necrobotics-dead-matter-living-machines/

銳報 SHARPPOST

亡灵机器人学：死去的身体，活着的机器

核对死蜘蛛夹爪、蚊子口器喷嘴与海螯虾外骨骼研究，保留实验数据，区分原型演示、应用设想及动物福利政策。

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@goss Again, thanks for the suggestions. But rebuilding the Spotlight index did not solve the problem, alas. Looks like an Apple operating system problem — one that affects some but not all macs, so provokes clamor from only the people (me included) whose computers now keep supposedly running out of memory.

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@goss But I will try the Spotlight add/subtract trick. One never knows...

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

“Impersonating Predators and Prey to Study Trophic Interactions Through Real-Life Simulations" https://improbable.com/2026/03/31/impersonating-predators-and-prey/

Improbable Research

Impersonating Predators and Prey

Whether you prefer to be eaten or to eat, you can pretend to indulge your preference by doing what the people in this study did: “Impersonating Predators and Prey to Study Trophic Interaction…

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Marc Abrahams @MarcAbrahams@mstdn.science

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@goss Good idea. But I have never enabled Siri and never enabled Apple intelligence.

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