D. Hicks
@danhicks.bsky.social
philosopher turned data scientist turned philosopher. enviro policy, data science, phil sci/STS, lefty stuff. UC Merced. they/them. Signal: danhicks.50
Pinned
D. Hicks
@danhicks.bsky.social
· Nov 30
This is a thread to illustrate the nuclear block. I'm going to reply with a throwaway account, then block it, and screenshot the results from my alt account.
Reposted by D. Hicks
Happy Eat the Christmas Tree Day to all who celebrate
December 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Happy Eat the Christmas Tree Day to all who celebrate
Reposted by D. Hicks
These technologies can and are being used to create lifelike images and videos of actual living women and girls. For what I think are pretty obvious gendered civil rights reasons, it needs to be a recognized civil cause of action to create an AI image or avatar of a woman without her consent.
"And I never say no"
We need to have a serious talk about the way "AI companion" apps not only prey on the vulnerable, but are priming their users to ignore consent and to conflate love with control.
We need AI regulations across so many sectors, but this area is particularly horrifying.
We need to have a serious talk about the way "AI companion" apps not only prey on the vulnerable, but are priming their users to ignore consent and to conflate love with control.
We need AI regulations across so many sectors, but this area is particularly horrifying.
December 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
These technologies can and are being used to create lifelike images and videos of actual living women and girls. For what I think are pretty obvious gendered civil rights reasons, it needs to be a recognized civil cause of action to create an AI image or avatar of a woman without her consent.
Reposted by D. Hicks
This pretty much sums up Bluesky
December 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
This pretty much sums up Bluesky
In the other direction, elder niece (17 yo) really wants to go out of state, but her parents are getting a divorce so that's probably not financially viable. "That's fine, I'll just take out loans. I'd rather be in debt $100,000 than stay in California."
When my father-in-law made another comment about $100k tuition, I made him look up tuition at his undergrad institution, Indiana State Evansville (~$15k before aid if you live at home like he did). And then told him that, like him, most college-goers attend within an hour of home.
I think most researchers and policymakers underestimate how much people really do not understand the difference between college sticker and net price. And the way high prices at a select few influences feelings about all.
December 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM
In the other direction, elder niece (17 yo) really wants to go out of state, but her parents are getting a divorce so that's probably not financially viable. "That's fine, I'll just take out loans. I'd rather be in debt $100,000 than stay in California."
Reposted by D. Hicks
open-faced sandwich, therefore, they are a taco.
December 28, 2025 at 3:26 AM
open-faced sandwich, therefore, they are a taco.
Reposted by D. Hicks
Relatedly, I learned recently that there are simplified devices (speakers, etc) designed specifically for Alzheimer's patients, and if they could be made to look just slightly cooler and keep the word "Alzheimer's" off the packaging, I would buy the shit out of that stuff for certain loved ones.
It is surprising to me that none of the major platforms have actual _parental control_ features so that we can limit the amount of time that our parents can spend online, and which apps they’re allowed to use. I don’t worry about my teenager’s use of the internet at all, just my octogenarian dad’s.
December 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Relatedly, I learned recently that there are simplified devices (speakers, etc) designed specifically for Alzheimer's patients, and if they could be made to look just slightly cooler and keep the word "Alzheimer's" off the packaging, I would buy the shit out of that stuff for certain loved ones.
Reposted by D. Hicks
A 3 1/2 year old I am auntie to is completely sure I am 10 years old. She knows I have an apartment, live on my own, and work at a museum, but responded to these data points with "she is a very smart girl, like me!"
Today my best pal gifted me this portrait of me, age 10, busy at my job as curator
Today my best pal gifted me this portrait of me, age 10, busy at my job as curator
December 25, 2025 at 7:35 PM
A 3 1/2 year old I am auntie to is completely sure I am 10 years old. She knows I have an apartment, live on my own, and work at a museum, but responded to these data points with "she is a very smart girl, like me!"
Today my best pal gifted me this portrait of me, age 10, busy at my job as curator
Today my best pal gifted me this portrait of me, age 10, busy at my job as curator
Reposted by D. Hicks
“San Francisco should stop treating oversight as something that starts after deployment.”
This for everything everywhere immediately.
This for everything everywhere immediately.
I'm grateful for my brilliant students. One wrote about impacts of last weekend's debacle: "if we only talk about #Waymo, we will miss a critical, broader conversation around how San Francisco’s innovation policy still treats the city as a laboratory first and a community second." archive.ph/x6Iyq
San Francisco should learn from Waymo’s power outage debacle — and enact tech rollout standards
OPINION: “The weekend outage gave us a clear, non-theoretical glimpse of what happens when new systems meet old infrastructure,” Michael Redmond writes.
www.sfchronicle.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
“San Francisco should stop treating oversight as something that starts after deployment.”
This for everything everywhere immediately.
This for everything everywhere immediately.
Reposted by D. Hicks
JUST LIKE THEY DID WHEN MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTED A WEALTH TAX
OH WAIT THEY DIDN'T MASSACHUSETTS ACTUALLY HAS MORE RICH PEOPLE NOW BECAUSE THE STATE CAN AFFORD TO BE A NICER PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO LIVE
OH WAIT THEY DIDN'T MASSACHUSETTS ACTUALLY HAS MORE RICH PEOPLE NOW BECAUSE THE STATE CAN AFFORD TO BE A NICER PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO LIVE
Billionaires are considering cutting or reducing their ties to California by the end of the year because of a proposed ballot measure that could tax the state’s wealthiest residents.
A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving
It’s uncertain whether the proposal will reach the statewide ballot in November, but some billionaires like Peter Thiel and Larry Page may be unwilling to take the risk.
nyti.ms
December 27, 2025 at 12:00 AM
JUST LIKE THEY DID WHEN MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTED A WEALTH TAX
OH WAIT THEY DIDN'T MASSACHUSETTS ACTUALLY HAS MORE RICH PEOPLE NOW BECAUSE THE STATE CAN AFFORD TO BE A NICER PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO LIVE
OH WAIT THEY DIDN'T MASSACHUSETTS ACTUALLY HAS MORE RICH PEOPLE NOW BECAUSE THE STATE CAN AFFORD TO BE A NICER PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO LIVE
Reposted by D. Hicks
Being a law professor at Harvard is like getting kicked in the head by a horse.
I had missed this latest delirium by Adrian Vermeule on birthright citizenship
'Common law?! NAH, it's the Roman law of adoption that should govern the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution!'
thenewdigest.substack.com/p/immigratio...
'Common law?! NAH, it's the Roman law of adoption that should govern the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution!'
thenewdigest.substack.com/p/immigratio...
December 27, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Being a law professor at Harvard is like getting kicked in the head by a horse.
Reposted by D. Hicks
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
December 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Reposted by D. Hicks
Michael Fratrich is a versatile American painter born in 1968. Known as "One man, 10 art styles” he masters Impressionism, Tonalism, and Realism. Based in Lambertville, NJ, he owns Ten One Gallery, featuring his iconic "Farmscape" collection and rural American scenes.
Waking up to a blanket of snow
Waking up to a blanket of snow
December 26, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Michael Fratrich is a versatile American painter born in 1968. Known as "One man, 10 art styles” he masters Impressionism, Tonalism, and Realism. Based in Lambertville, NJ, he owns Ten One Gallery, featuring his iconic "Farmscape" collection and rural American scenes.
Waking up to a blanket of snow
Waking up to a blanket of snow
Reposted by D. Hicks
I remember the phrase "they can't be allowed to melt back into society" re: the de-Baathification of Iraq after the war there. Like everything about that experience, the attempt was cynical, stupid, and botched. But there really should be a plan about what we do with guys like these in the future.
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 26, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I remember the phrase "they can't be allowed to melt back into society" re: the de-Baathification of Iraq after the war there. Like everything about that experience, the attempt was cynical, stupid, and botched. But there really should be a plan about what we do with guys like these in the future.
Reposted by D. Hicks
(daft punk One More Time voice) Auld Lang Syne
December 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
(daft punk One More Time voice) Auld Lang Syne
Reposted by D. Hicks
Yeah, scaffolded writing projects that build over time are how I used to do it too. I still think you can do it, but it's going to take much more time to monitor the writing / independent research part of it. It was always hard to scale, but now "hard to scale" means 30 students instead of 100.
December 26, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Yeah, scaffolded writing projects that build over time are how I used to do it too. I still think you can do it, but it's going to take much more time to monitor the writing / independent research part of it. It was always hard to scale, but now "hard to scale" means 30 students instead of 100.
Reposted by D. Hicks
I'm still upset that "manosphere" doesn't refer to men who have been crushed and formed into a perfect orb.
December 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I'm still upset that "manosphere" doesn't refer to men who have been crushed and formed into a perfect orb.
Reposted by D. Hicks
I used to be a professor, so I know many #academic folk spend their after-Christmas already planning spring courses. I wrote a book that talks about rise of #fascism from the roots, #LGBTQ and #science history. It’s accessible. It has back matter for students. And I have teaching materials.
Are you a professor planning to incorporate THE INTERMEDIARIES (medical #history, Weimar, #Jewish history, #transgender history, #LGBTQ fighting Nazis) into your course? I have pdf to share, additional teaching materials, images, and resources for use. Please ping me.
wwnorton.com/books/978132...
wwnorton.com/books/978132...
December 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by D. Hicks
Over the last two years I've spent a lot of time reading Newton's Principia and Bacon's Novum Organum and I think more astro/physicists should have this experience
December 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Over the last two years I've spent a lot of time reading Newton's Principia and Bacon's Novum Organum and I think more astro/physicists should have this experience
Reposted by D. Hicks
Your neighbourhood historian of science agrees.
Over the last two years I've spent a lot of time reading Newton's Principia and Bacon's Novum Organum and I think more astro/physicists should have this experience
December 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Your neighbourhood historian of science agrees.
Reposted by D. Hicks
deleted my snark about the screenshotted post, because his explanation of it sounds less like 'it's ok if your code breaks' and more like 'it's ok if your code isn't super elegant'
rywalker.com/why-good-eno...
rywalker.com/why-good-eno...
December 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
deleted my snark about the screenshotted post, because his explanation of it sounds less like 'it's ok if your code breaks' and more like 'it's ok if your code isn't super elegant'
rywalker.com/why-good-eno...
rywalker.com/why-good-eno...
I hate Xmas, but Honey is a fan
December 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I hate Xmas, but Honey is a fan
Reposted by D. Hicks
"Why do we have to take ethics classes for a computer science degree?"
This is why. And frankly, we should be failing more students for inadequately demonstrating their understanding of the topic.
Let's review some fun historical examples of why "No, actually quality will continue to matter."
This is why. And frankly, we should be failing more students for inadequately demonstrating their understanding of the topic.
Let's review some fun historical examples of why "No, actually quality will continue to matter."
December 26, 2025 at 3:32 PM
"Why do we have to take ethics classes for a computer science degree?"
This is why. And frankly, we should be failing more students for inadequately demonstrating their understanding of the topic.
Let's review some fun historical examples of why "No, actually quality will continue to matter."
This is why. And frankly, we should be failing more students for inadequately demonstrating their understanding of the topic.
Let's review some fun historical examples of why "No, actually quality will continue to matter."
Reposted by D. Hicks
This is why it’s so important to trace things back to the beginning whenever possible.
I believe @rauchway.bsky.social calls these “historical urban legends”
I believe @rauchway.bsky.social calls these “historical urban legends”
looking up the source of quotes, whether for a book or a video script, is great for figuring out when a quote everyone "knows" and has repeated for ages is actually just weird bullshit someone else made up
December 26, 2025 at 1:18 PM
This is why it’s so important to trace things back to the beginning whenever possible.
I believe @rauchway.bsky.social calls these “historical urban legends”
I believe @rauchway.bsky.social calls these “historical urban legends”
Reposted by D. Hicks
ICE stood by its promise of targeting the worst of the worst.
The only difference is that they meant in terms of who to hire, not who to arrest.
The only difference is that they meant in terms of who to hire, not who to arrest.
December 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
ICE stood by its promise of targeting the worst of the worst.
The only difference is that they meant in terms of who to hire, not who to arrest.
The only difference is that they meant in terms of who to hire, not who to arrest.
Reposted by D. Hicks
In a new blog post, I contrast two flavors of empiricism: the one practiced in the social sciences and the one practiced in ML/CS.
I argue that we need both, given that CS is increasingly about "claims," and not just constructing artifacts.
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/the-empiri...
I argue that we need both, given that CS is increasingly about "claims," and not just constructing artifacts.
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/the-empiri...
December 26, 2025 at 12:40 PM
In a new blog post, I contrast two flavors of empiricism: the one practiced in the social sciences and the one practiced in ML/CS.
I argue that we need both, given that CS is increasingly about "claims," and not just constructing artifacts.
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/the-empiri...
I argue that we need both, given that CS is increasingly about "claims," and not just constructing artifacts.
doomscrollingbabel.manoel.xyz/p/the-empiri...