Robin Marwick
@electricland.bsky.social
Freelance medical editor, alto, digital packrat, occasional traveller, trying to make things better. The pup is Bunty, an Airedale terrier (🎂2023-05-29). 🇨🇦 She/her. Yay for alt text. https://linktr.ee/rmarwick
Pinned
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Incredible performance.
Nina Simone Live At Montreux 1976 - Backlash Blues
YouTube video by bernardobarcellos
youtu.be
February 4, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Incredible performance.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
all the ai bros keep complaining about being compared to nft bros or crypto bros but they all have spent years now lecturing everyone about how maybe if you really understood it you'd be able to fairly critique it, and in the interim nfts completely collapses and crypto 100% turned into crime, so
The constant condescension about ai is another aspect of it that makes me hate it more. The assumption is you can only be against it because you don't understand it like I do. No man. I don't like voluntarily making every human enterprise dependent on a tech run by a tiny group of financial maniacs
February 18, 2026 at 7:03 AM
all the ai bros keep complaining about being compared to nft bros or crypto bros but they all have spent years now lecturing everyone about how maybe if you really understood it you'd be able to fairly critique it, and in the interim nfts completely collapses and crypto 100% turned into crime, so
Can’t. Stuck in Lodi again.
Can't. Flying to the moon, playing among the stars.
Can't. Taking Manhattan and then Berlin.
February 18, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Can’t. Stuck in Lodi again.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Instead of "the left isn't paying enough attention to these machine gods" they're claiming to build, perhaps we should write an article about how effective altruists brand themselves "left", ask who is writing these articles, and trace their cults and sources of funding.
February 18, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Instead of "the left isn't paying enough attention to these machine gods" they're claiming to build, perhaps we should write an article about how effective altruists brand themselves "left", ask who is writing these articles, and trace their cults and sources of funding.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
When the article succinctly describes the underlying flaw with the current flood of LLMs branded simply as "AI", but then proceeds to say "but what if you just decide that's not true? Then the AI can do anything and you're an idiot for doubting it".
February 18, 2026 at 5:40 AM
When the article succinctly describes the underlying flaw with the current flood of LLMs branded simply as "AI", but then proceeds to say "but what if you just decide that's not true? Then the AI can do anything and you're an idiot for doubting it".
Reposted by Robin Marwick
why won’t the left just praise every technology handed down from self-interested billionaires seeking only to enhance their power and profits?! clearly, they’re the ones in the wrong if they can’t get on board 😤
February 17, 2026 at 6:47 PM
why won’t the left just praise every technology handed down from self-interested billionaires seeking only to enhance their power and profits?! clearly, they’re the ones in the wrong if they can’t get on board 😤
Reposted by Robin Marwick
So many others have already said this, but: The list of technologies I’m currently excited about is lengthy and varied, and my level of excitement for them is high
Generative AI happens to not be on that list, mostly because I am not excited by something that seems on balance unjustifiably bad
Generative AI happens to not be on that list, mostly because I am not excited by something that seems on balance unjustifiably bad
is there a technology that "the left" is excited about?
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
The left is missing out on AI
As a movement, it has largely refused to engage seriously with AI, ceding debate about a threat and opportunity to the right
www.transformernews.ai
February 18, 2026 at 5:23 AM
So many others have already said this, but: The list of technologies I’m currently excited about is lengthy and varied, and my level of excitement for them is high
Generative AI happens to not be on that list, mostly because I am not excited by something that seems on balance unjustifiably bad
Generative AI happens to not be on that list, mostly because I am not excited by something that seems on balance unjustifiably bad
Reposted by Robin Marwick
My dudes. My billionaire pals. The wealth tax is for YOUR well-being, not ours.
Read this sentence slowly:
“Gov. Gavin Newsom, crypto executives and business leaders are ramping up efforts this week to stop the proposed wealth tax...”
gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/u...
“Gov. Gavin Newsom, crypto executives and business leaders are ramping up efforts this week to stop the proposed wealth tax...”
gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/u...
As Bernie Sanders Comes to California, Wealth Tax Opponents Intensify Efforts
www.nytimes.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:22 AM
My dudes. My billionaire pals. The wealth tax is for YOUR well-being, not ours.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
I am going to sleep, and you should too, but if you're not quite ready and would like a little joy to help you toggle between The Living Nightmare and Sweet Dreams, I cannot possibly recommend this video highly enough:
John Oliver & Cookie Monster Out-Takes
YouTube video by Mashable
www.youtube.com
February 18, 2026 at 5:17 AM
I am going to sleep, and you should too, but if you're not quite ready and would like a little joy to help you toggle between The Living Nightmare and Sweet Dreams, I cannot possibly recommend this video highly enough:
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Great blogpost by @aliahanna.bsky.social on the use of "AI" in writing at every step of the process: in outlining, in research, and ofc in drafting.
"Great writers become great writers by engaging deeply with the work of other writers, and ultimately, imagining themselves in community with them."
"Great writers become great writers by engaging deeply with the work of other writers, and ultimately, imagining themselves in community with them."
February 17, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Great blogpost by @aliahanna.bsky.social on the use of "AI" in writing at every step of the process: in outlining, in research, and ofc in drafting.
"Great writers become great writers by engaging deeply with the work of other writers, and ultimately, imagining themselves in community with them."
"Great writers become great writers by engaging deeply with the work of other writers, and ultimately, imagining themselves in community with them."
Reposted by Robin Marwick
the logic of his position is that you would them abandon those issues and so on and so on until you’ve fully sacrificed a group of vulnerable americans to reactionary bullies for the sake of a percentage point (if that)
Like this. "You must strategically abandon the specific issues that the right has rendered toxic & focus on others."
But then ... why wouldn't the right just be able to do the same thing on those other issues?
But then ... why wouldn't the right just be able to do the same thing on those other issues?
February 18, 2026 at 2:51 AM
the logic of his position is that you would them abandon those issues and so on and so on until you’ve fully sacrificed a group of vulnerable americans to reactionary bullies for the sake of a percentage point (if that)
Reposted by Robin Marwick
just learned that walnuts are gretskii orekhi or gretski in russian. anyway wayne walnuts was the greatest player ever eh
February 18, 2026 at 5:15 AM
just learned that walnuts are gretskii orekhi or gretski in russian. anyway wayne walnuts was the greatest player ever eh
Reposted by Robin Marwick
this is so wholesome I’m dying
My students starting singing “We’re all in this together” when they realized Ramadan and Lent are at the same time this year.
🤣😩
🤣😩
February 18, 2026 at 4:38 AM
this is so wholesome I’m dying
Reposted by Robin Marwick
I think I just surprised Ian with my last answer about “what I thought about politicians” who want to rip up bike-lanes claiming they cause traffic congestion.”
I didn’t just say that was wrong, or bad policy, or any of the usual more polite answers.
I said it was a lie.
“Strong words,” he said.
I didn’t just say that was wrong, or bad policy, or any of the usual more polite answers.
I said it was a lie.
“Strong words,” he said.
LISTEN: Businesses & govts are forcing employees back to the office, plus kids are back in school. Without a smart strategy with more choices, that’s a recipe for traffic gridlock.
I’ll be discussing LIVE on CBC TV News across Canada tonight with @ianhanomansing.bsky.social 7:40pm EDT/4:40pm PDT.
I’ll be discussing LIVE on CBC TV News across Canada tonight with @ianhanomansing.bsky.social 7:40pm EDT/4:40pm PDT.
September 3, 2025 at 12:00 AM
I think I just surprised Ian with my last answer about “what I thought about politicians” who want to rip up bike-lanes claiming they cause traffic congestion.”
I didn’t just say that was wrong, or bad policy, or any of the usual more polite answers.
I said it was a lie.
“Strong words,” he said.
I didn’t just say that was wrong, or bad policy, or any of the usual more polite answers.
I said it was a lie.
“Strong words,” he said.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Heads up, Waterstones is doing 25% off preorders of HOW TO FAKE IT IN SOCIETY. Enter the code FEB26 to get the deal. This lasts to the 20th so get in quick! #WPreorder
How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles | Waterstones
Buy How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.
www.waterstones.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:52 AM
Heads up, Waterstones is doing 25% off preorders of HOW TO FAKE IT IN SOCIETY. Enter the code FEB26 to get the deal. This lasts to the 20th so get in quick! #WPreorder
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Sorry to get radical but I don’t think it’s my job or yours to embrace, accept, understand - and certainly not to use - the thing being sold to us as AI. I don’t like any part of it, so I won’t. I’m missing out? Good, that’s what I want. You’re worried about me missing out? That’s fuckin weird, man.
February 18, 2026 at 5:13 AM
Sorry to get radical but I don’t think it’s my job or yours to embrace, accept, understand - and certainly not to use - the thing being sold to us as AI. I don’t like any part of it, so I won’t. I’m missing out? Good, that’s what I want. You’re worried about me missing out? That’s fuckin weird, man.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
I love how Ethiopia, a developing country, is just like “enough of this fossil fuel vehicle nonsense, with its cascading bads, someone will sell us electric cars we can fuel ourselves, so let’s do that.”
“Our transition to EVs is aimed at ensuring our energy sovereignty,” said Ethiopia’s state minister for transport and logistics. “As a net importer of fuel, we are affected by global supply and price fluctuations. In contrast, EVs use electricity, which we produce locally and can price ourselves.”
Electric Vehicle Sales Boom as Ethiopia Bans Fossil-Fuel Car Imports
The East African country is making use of cheap hydropower and Chinese electric vehicles to ditch the internal combustion engine.
www.bloomberg.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:58 AM
I love how Ethiopia, a developing country, is just like “enough of this fossil fuel vehicle nonsense, with its cascading bads, someone will sell us electric cars we can fuel ourselves, so let’s do that.”
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Sure:
Light rail, high speed rail, ocean wave generation, solar power generation, wind generation, heat pump tech, geothermal heat pump tech, last mile on-demand transit solutions, better wheelchairs, better wheel chair lifts, better flexible seating on public transit, maker spaces, tool libraries.
Light rail, high speed rail, ocean wave generation, solar power generation, wind generation, heat pump tech, geothermal heat pump tech, last mile on-demand transit solutions, better wheelchairs, better wheel chair lifts, better flexible seating on public transit, maker spaces, tool libraries.
is there a technology that "the left" is excited about?
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
The left is missing out on AI
As a movement, it has largely refused to engage seriously with AI, ceding debate about a threat and opportunity to the right
www.transformernews.ai
February 18, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Sure:
Light rail, high speed rail, ocean wave generation, solar power generation, wind generation, heat pump tech, geothermal heat pump tech, last mile on-demand transit solutions, better wheelchairs, better wheel chair lifts, better flexible seating on public transit, maker spaces, tool libraries.
Light rail, high speed rail, ocean wave generation, solar power generation, wind generation, heat pump tech, geothermal heat pump tech, last mile on-demand transit solutions, better wheelchairs, better wheel chair lifts, better flexible seating on public transit, maker spaces, tool libraries.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
The left tried for decades to pass green energy subsidies, passed them, the subsidies worked, and now literally the entire planet's electricity grid is going to convert to solar+battery. It just doesn't feel like "tech" because it mostly produces kinda boring blue collar jobs instead of billionaires
is there a technology that "the left" is excited about?
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
The left is missing out on AI
As a movement, it has largely refused to engage seriously with AI, ceding debate about a threat and opportunity to the right
www.transformernews.ai
February 18, 2026 at 3:51 AM
The left tried for decades to pass green energy subsidies, passed them, the subsidies worked, and now literally the entire planet's electricity grid is going to convert to solar+battery. It just doesn't feel like "tech" because it mostly produces kinda boring blue collar jobs instead of billionaires
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Today in the neighborhood. We are sheltering in place until this menace is contained.
February 17, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Today in the neighborhood. We are sheltering in place until this menace is contained.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Reposted by Robin Marwick
a fucking pedophile sexually abused nearly every prospective and actual Olympian gymnast for over two decades, and the political discourse is hyper-fixated on the hypothetical unfairness of trans girls competing with cis girls
1 reason why I get so angry at anti-trans "safety in women's sports" people is NONE of them do SHIT or say ANYTHING about actual safety in womens sport. There are ongoing histories and challenges and abuses in sport, and folks are more than welcome to pay attention, and give a damn. But they don't.
February 17, 2026 at 7:57 PM
a fucking pedophile sexually abused nearly every prospective and actual Olympian gymnast for over two decades, and the political discourse is hyper-fixated on the hypothetical unfairness of trans girls competing with cis girls
Reposted by Robin Marwick
their biggest mistake was proving that we can take care of each other way more effectively than they can take care of us, part 271
lol, it’s a lot easier to form a tenants union when everyone in the building is in the same group chat
MAJOR: Twin Cities Tenants joins five labor unions, together repping 25,900 members, to launch a rent strike drive, vowing to withhold rent March 1 if @governorwalz.mn.gov fails to deliver an eviction moratorium and rent relief. If launched, this would be the largest US rent strike in 100+ years.
February 18, 2026 at 3:07 AM
their biggest mistake was proving that we can take care of each other way more effectively than they can take care of us, part 271
Reposted by Robin Marwick
I love that my tax dollars go to paying authors for books being in libraries
People get to read for free, authors still get paid, make more books someday maybe, everyone wins
People get to read for free, authors still get paid, make more books someday maybe, everyone wins
Earnestly, the Public Lending Right is one of the best things I like my tax dollars going towards! Hell yeah I love giving money to authors for books being in libraries!
February 18, 2026 at 3:45 AM
I love that my tax dollars go to paying authors for books being in libraries
People get to read for free, authors still get paid, make more books someday maybe, everyone wins
People get to read for free, authors still get paid, make more books someday maybe, everyone wins
Reposted by Robin Marwick
According to the letter I just received, this year CA $14,795,649.63 was paid out in direct #PublicLendingRight payments to 18,661 Canadian literary creators
Mine was $384.88 because my book is still in 8 Canadian libraries and it's over 5 years old (none of them have the audiobook anymore, sadly)
Mine was $384.88 because my book is still in 8 Canadian libraries and it's over 5 years old (none of them have the audiobook anymore, sadly)
February 18, 2026 at 3:16 AM
According to the letter I just received, this year CA $14,795,649.63 was paid out in direct #PublicLendingRight payments to 18,661 Canadian literary creators
Mine was $384.88 because my book is still in 8 Canadian libraries and it's over 5 years old (none of them have the audiobook anymore, sadly)
Mine was $384.88 because my book is still in 8 Canadian libraries and it's over 5 years old (none of them have the audiobook anymore, sadly)