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TeMPOraL01/21/20255 repliesview on HN

> Belphegor (or Baal Peor, Hebrew: בַּעַל-פְּעוֹר baʿal-pəʿōr – “Lord of the Gap”) is, in the Abrahamic religions, a demon associated with one of the seven deadly sins. According to religious tradition, he helps people make discoveries. He seduces people by proposing incredible inventions that will make them rich.

Huh. Would feel right at home in our industry.

> According to some demonologists from the 17th century, his powers are strongest in April.

Any demo days or other significant VC stuff happening in April?

> The German bishop and witch hunter, Peter Binsfeld (ca. 1540–ca.1600) wrote that Belphegor tempts through laziness. According to Binsfeld's Classification of Demons, Belphegor is the main demon of the deadly sin known as sloth in the Christian tradition. The anonymous author of the Lollard tract The Lanterne of Light, however, believed Belphegor to embody the sin of gluttony rather than sloth.

Yeah, hits too close to home.

Via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belphegor


Replies

irrational01/22/2025

Can’t spell “demon” without “demo”. Cue the church lady.

show 1 reply
WorldMaker01/21/2025

> Any demo days or other significant VC stuff happening in April?

Lots of tech companies plan elaborate demos for April 1st, for some foolish reason. It certainly gets very busy on HN keeping up.

miki12321101/21/2025

How was this never mentioned in Unsong? Not a single time?

show 1 reply
gpderetta01/21/2025

Makes sense, with laziness being one of the three virtues of a great programmer.

vdjskshi01/21/2025

Sounds like the patron saint of LLMs