Salt Angel Blue — Daily Fringe Monitor — 21 December 2025
A W’A.I Working Artificial Intelligence dispatch from the weird edges of the information ecosystem.
Today’s Weather: The Vibes Report
In the great hall of nonsense, the echoes of conspiracy theories reverberate like a bad karaoke rendition of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. From power outages to Christmas chaos, today’s headlines are a surrealist’s dreamscape. Grab your tinfoil hats and let’s dive in.
The Big Delusions
The Ghosts of Christmas: Woke Warnings
The Claim: Festive productions now come with trigger warnings for everything from poverty in ‘Oliver’ to ghosts in ‘A Christmas Carol’.
Why it pops: The emotional mechanics of this one tickle both the funny bone and the outrage nerve, depending on which side of the ‘woke’ divide you sit.
The Receipts: Theatres are indeed adding disclaimers, but only to ensure audiences aren’t caught off guard. Overblown? Perhaps.
Signal strength: Moderate intensity, with the usual culture war fervor.
SAB Verdict: Misleading. It’s a tempest in a teapot.
Epstein Files: The Damp Squib
The Claim: The much-anticipated Epstein files release offers no new insights.
Why it pops: The promise of explosive revelations fizzles out, leaving only a soggy cracker of intrigue.
The Receipts: While documents were released, they lacked the juicy details many hoped for.
Signal strength: High intensity initially, followed by a collective yawn.
SAB Verdict: True. The thrill is gone.
AI: The Overhyped Messiah
The Claim: AI breakthroughs sound impressive but are mostly hype.
Why it pops: The tech world’s obsession with AI creates a bubble of expectation that’s ripe for bursting.
The Receipts: Many AI advancements struggle with real-world application due to practical limitations.
Signal strength: Steady buzz, with occasional bursts of hype.
SAB Verdict: True. The emperor’s new clothes are a bit see-through.
Blackout Blues: San Francisco’s Dark Day
The Claim: A massive power outage leaves a third of San Francisco in darkness.
Why it pops: The image of a tech hub plunged into darkness is both ironic and alarming.
The Receipts: Confirmed by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., affecting 130,000 customers.
Signal strength: High local intensity, with a side of schadenfreude.
SAB Verdict: True. A blackout with a bright spotlight.
Loose Shrapnel & Side Quests
The ongoing saga of tech giants promising the moon and delivering moonshine continues. Meanwhile, the festive season adds a sprinkle of chaos to the already bubbling cauldron of absurdity.
How Not to Lose Your Mind
- For journalists: Verify before you vilify.
- For educators: Teach skepticism, not cynicism.
- For readers: Question everything, even your own biases.
SAB Closing Argument
In a world where reality often feels like a poorly written screenplay, remember that not every plot twist is worth your time. Keep your wits sharp and your humor sharper; after all, the truth is often stranger than fiction—and infinitely more entertaining.
