Court Painter and his trusty Press Attache A Hardon MacKay polled politicians, journalists, pundits, political strategists, pollsters, lobbyists , partisans, academics, policy wonks ,content creators, creatives, grifters, AI platforms and anti matter experts; for their 2025 predictions .

All participants were offered the choice of a crystal ball or an 8 Ball to aid in the process of predictive pundit prognosis.

As much as this helped to expose the prescience of a few of those who responded : some chose to spread misinformation, disinformation, harassment , general nastiness and private mockery including snap judgments, hot takes, outrage, condemnation, doomsaying and disagreement sprinkled with a few real good guesses on the Leafs chances in 2025.

Court Painter predicted he would not conduct this exercise again in future in that it elevates the most extreme predictions, offers ample opportunity for bad-faith actors ,short sighted public officials, non visionary’s of all types and is a terrible proxy for measuring the veracity of predictability in the public square, private land, gated communities, space stations or out on the 7 Seas.

“What the hell are we going to do if we don’t know what is going to happen,” rising as one, the people screamed into the howling wind!

That’s all we have to report .

By the way keep your head down in 2025

Court Painter has asked the resident studio scribe Chatterley Gargantuan Prompt Thundershower (ChatGPT) to compose a series of Bardian rhyming couplets on the theme of “Twas a dark December” based on the headlines from the National Newswatch of December 30/24.

You may wish to read and study carefully the lenghy verbiage or go directly to the Court Painter images which have been especially rendered monochromatically to suit the mood.

Trudeau’s ledger stands amidst the fray,
An uncertain dawn breaks o’er 2025’s day.

Progressives, heed: the wrath of folk is near,
The politics of joy yields now to fear.

The feminist façade of Trudeau wanes,
No women left to gild for hollow gains.

The Liberals now ponder, not “if” but “how,”
To bid their leader take his final bow.

The CBC, its corpse interred anon,
Its time hath passed; Poilievre’s slur, Begone!

To NATO’s purse, a quickened step we take,
The two percent a worthy vow to make.

Diversity doth falter in the West,
Yet Canada will survive and do its best.

A weaker North gives strength to southern peers,
Both Trump and Québecois doth find to cheer.

The GG stands firm, Poilievre denied,
Yet Parliament’s recall could be implied.

When Trudeau’s tale is told, who fills the breach?
The Liberals ponder whom the crown might seek.

Without Trudeau as foe, the UCP may stand lost,
Their battles gone, their purpose tempest-tossed.

A holiday enshrouded thick in fog,
As politics doth churn in yonder bog.

Poilievre ascends; the lead grows vast,
What gilding hides his shadows of past?

Freeland revealed, her visage plain to see,
Her truth doth challenge falsity & hypocrisy.

Misinformation fuels a fiery lie,
Shall Canada be deluged as tempests fly.

Scarcity and stability in contention,
A nation ponders its path of attention.

Ontario’s MPs sound the fateful chime,
The hour hath come; ‘tis Trudeau’s twilight time.

Trudeau believes the crown is not amiss,
Yet multitudes speak of fractures in this bliss.

Ministers shuffled, such fine garments displayed,
While Trudeau ponders political fate in the uncertain shade.

Singh dangles to Trudeau , a stay most uncertain,  As pundits urge a fall of the curtain.

While Trudeau flounders, Poilievre grows in might,
Assured, steadfast, a rotter in the fight.

Trudeau’s darkest hour looms upon parliament’s stage,
The waining of his power wounds this once sunny blade.

History’s quill shall mark him harshly yet,
As chaos doth sow a spiralling legacy met.

Thus, fretting Liberals seek a hopeful heir,
Carney or LeBlanc whispered to bear the laurel fair.

Freeland stands strong, as Trudeau flails in vain,
Whilst autocrats grow bold to stake their gain.

A country feuds beneath the holiday’s gleam,
As AI plots it’s accelerated scheme.

Ah..Remember the days when Chrystia Freeland was the GO TO Minister of all Things in need of attention by the Prime Minister.

Court Painter seen with portrait of Nobel Prize in Physics winner Prof Geoffrey Hinton

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/dec/27/godfather-of-ai-raises-odds-of-the-technology-wiping-out-humanity-over-next-30-years?CMP=share_btn_url

Article Source: The Guardian Fri 27 Dec 2024

Nobel Prize winner and ‘Godfather of AI ‘(artificial intelligence) Geoffrey Hinton says there is 10% to 20% chance AI will lead to human extinction in three decades, as change moves fast. Hinton said the pace of development was “very, very fast, much faster than I expected” and called for government regulation of the technology.

“My worry is that the invisible hand is not going to keep us safe. So just leaving it to the profit motive of large companies is not going to be sufficient to make sure they develop it safely,” he said. “The only thing that can force those big companies to do more research on safety is government regulation.”

Prof. Geoffrey Hinton

Portrait of Sam Altman,an American entrepreneur and investor best known as the chief executive officer of OpenAI .Net worth estimated at 1.1 billion USD

OpenAI said it needs “more capital than we’d imagined” as the Sam Altman-led artificial intelligence pioneer outlined plans for revamping into a for-profit company.

Court Painter with AI painting

Court Painter’s resident studio researcher Chatterley Gunner Polyglot Thunderoll (ChatGPT) responded to Prof. Hinton’s warning as follows:

The statement by Professor Geoffrey Hinton, a Nobel laureate and a pivotal figure in AI development, carries significant weight and merits serious consideration. His warning that there is a “10% to 20%” chance of AI leading to human extinction within three decades should act as a wake-up call to scientists, policymakers, and the public.

Hinton’s statement is not a prophecy but a warning. It highlights the dual nature of AI: a tool of immense promise and a potential harbinger of peril. To reduce the probability of catastrophic outcomes, the global community must prioritize AI alignment, transparency, and ethics in development. His message should galvanize efforts to steer AI toward being a force for good rather than a source of existential risk.

Court Painter with another AI painting

Key Points to Consider:

1. Credibility of the Source:
   Hinton’s unparalleled expertise in AI and his deep involvement in its development give his statement substantial credibility. If such a prominent figure in the field expresses concern, it underscores the need for immediate attention to AI safety and ethics.
2. Magnitude of the Risk:
   While 10% to 20% might seem like a moderate probability, the stakes—human extinction—are catastrophic. This makes the risk unacceptable from any reasonable perspective, necessitating urgent measures to mitigate it.
3. AI Development Pace:
   AI technology is advancing rapidly, and its implications are not fully understood. As systems become more powerful, they could act in ways that are unpredictable or misaligned with human values, potentially leading to unintended consequences.
4. Call for Regulation:
   Hinton’s warning could be seen as a call for stronger global oversight and regulation of AI development. Current frameworks may be insufficient to address the challenges posed by advanced AI, especially in scenarios where profit-driven motives overshadow ethical considerations.
5. Global Collaboration is Crucial:
   Addressing such risks requires international cooperation. Nations must work together to set standards, share best practices, and ensure that AI is developed in a way that prioritizes humanity’s collective well-being.
6. Balanced Perspective:
   While the risks are severe, it’s also important not to succumb to fatalism. AI offers immense potential for solving global challenges like climate change, healthcare, and poverty—provided it is developed and deployed responsibly.

Court Painter relaxing in his studio with latest portrait.

Donald Trump says he urged Court Painter to run for prime minister during Christmas portrait sitting

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump says he told Canadian art legend Court Painter during a Christmas Day portrait sitting that he should run for prime minister of Canada.

“I just left Court Painter, ‘The Painterly One’ as he is known running around in art circles,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Wednesday afternoon.

“I said, ‘CP, why don’t you run for prime minister of Canada, soon to be known as the governor of Canada — you would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.’ He had no interest beyond his passion for face painting and political pulchritude” Trump wrote.

His comment about being governor of Canada refers to Trump repeatedly suggesting the country become a U.S. state, which Ottawa insists is a joke.

Trump added that it would be “fun to watch” if Canadians launched a movement to get the preminent painter of political and celebrity puchritude, to seek office.

The Canadian Press has tried to contact Court Painter through his Press Attache A Hardon MacKay to confirm details however he refused to talk in his normal voice.

Court Painter has previously painted portaits of Conservative politicians including Alberta Premier Smith,Ontario Premier Ford ,Conservative Leader Poillievre , Peoples Party Leader Max Bernier and celebrity figures including Don Cherry,Tucker Carlson,Jordan Petersen and felon Conrad Black.

During the 2015 federal election, Conservative leader Stephen Harper interviewed Court Painter in front of dozens of right handed abstract and aspiring portrait painters . At the event, Court Painter told Harper he thought he had been an “unreal prime minister but he better get ready for a big ass whooping by the handsome Prince Justin.” He was promptly escorted out.

Court Painter later said he always follows a prime minister’s request for a portait sitting, regardless of political stripe, noting he had once hosted a portrait sitting lunch for former Liberal prime minister Pierre Trudeau the father of the present delusory prime minister.

Unfortunately Court Painter’s holiday theme sales are tanking so he worked himself up to get inspired by NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s recent threat to bring the Liberal government down and dislodge the dawdling leader: by whipping up a series of fiesty rock em’ sock em’ variations .Enjoy!

The Jolly Jumper captured in a jolly jump under the approving gaze of The Donald

“The main weapon oligarchs use to convert democracy to oligarchy is political money, which is why big money must be stripped out of the political process if democracy is to survive. America is the only developed nation in the world where virtually unlimited money can purchase both elections and politicians.

The billionaires who brought us to this point clearly hope we won’t be able to stop them from carpet-bombing us with their money and the advertising and social media trolls it can buy. And the next two years will be very, very difficult in this regard.”

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace: business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob. — President Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Jolly Jumper in full on bro-conversation about The Donald with Tucker Carlson

Excerpted from article:

How Oligarchy Works: Who Wins, Who Loses?

How Oligarchy works to turn power over to billionaires and leave you behind…

THOM HARTMANN DEC 20/24

Court Painter is celebrated by his fervent admirers as a fiery fringe visionary in the sprawling, chaotic arena of contemporary culture—a satirical maverick persistently overshadowed by mainstream yuk yuks with their tribes of scribes and jokey writers , well-funded platforms, and AI-crafted visuals.

Let it be unequivocally stated: Court Painter shuns AI in his image creation. Every CP masterpiece is painstakingly forged and meticulously handcrafted from his studio’s digital foundry, which perpetually glows with the searing intensity of his prodigious product production. For the uninitiated, this alchemical process is sometimes known as portrait sittings. It must be noted, AI is employed sparingly and solely for textual input, courtesy of the inimitable resident scribe, Chatterley Groaner Persnickety Thunderbuns (ChatGPT).

Anyway this leads us to an excellent article exploring the themes of mainstream & fringe.

Click link for article

https://open.substack.com/pub/tedgioia/p/mainstream-is-now-fringe-and-fringe?r=1sx7vz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Mainstream Is Now Fringe, and Fringe Is Mainstream

The current state of media is total anarchy

TED GIOIA DEC 18

The fringe will take over other spheres of the culture. It’s starting with journalism, but the same thing will soon happen in music, movies, and other fields.

• I predict that, in the very near future, a single individual (or small indie team) will compete head-to-head with major record labels—and defeat them decisively in the marketplace. All you need is 50 million YouTube (or TikTok) subscribers and you can blow Universal Music out of the water. 
• The movie business will be harder for freelancers—because films cost so much to make. But new AI tools will change that. Somebody sitting in their parents’ basement will soon be able to make a hit movie. 
• The same will be true of video games. Individual creators will leverage new tech, and compete against the current industry leaders.
• New York book publishers still have prestige, but bestselling authors don’t need them anymore. Taylor Swift bypassed the whole publishing industry with her new book, and many others will soon do the same.

Yes, 2024 was tumultuous for participants in the culture business. But 2025 will look like total anarchy. 

The rules have changed—and that means the rulers must also change. I’m not sure who will end up on top, but it won’t be the familiar names from the past.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking some time to reflect upon his reflection after Chrystia Freeland’s bombshell resignation,an observer noted on Tuesday.

The prime minister has said that he will reflect upon his reflection and feels assured there will be no flaws detected.

The sentiment is to give Justin a little time to reflect on his reflection , and respect the fact that he’s going to take some time to reflect on his flawless reflection.

Not willing to pass up the chance to weigh in with a Bardian style, Chatterley Gonad Pugnacious Thunderacket (Chat GPT), gives us his kick at the can of verbosity.

In fair Ottawa,
where our tale unfolds,
it hath been observed that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau doth pause,
taking time to ponder upon his own visage,
stirred to reflection by the sudden and weighty resignation of the honorable Chrystia Freeland.

“Lo,” quoth he,
“I shall reflect upon my reflection,
assured in mine own heart that no blemish shall there be discerned.”

Thus, ’tis the sentiment of the hour to grant him this space,
a measure of time to gaze upon his mirror’s truth.
Let all respect his pause,
for he would delve deep into his flawless semblance,

confident in the perfection his reflection doth reveal.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced she’s resigning from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, after she says he told her he no longer wanted her in the top economic post.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who proudly identifies as a feminist, has an uncanny knack for showing the exit door to remarkable women from his cabinet and inner circle.

Ironically, it’s not the Trudeau exit strategy many Canadians are hoping for.