Eric Kennedy
@ericbkennedy.bsky.social
Associate Prof of Disaster & Emergency Management at York University. Trying to improve use of evidence, science, data, and wisdom in wildfire. Editor of Canadian Journal of Emergency Management.
!!!
Holy shit:
Stateline spoke to nearly a dozen firefighters, agency staffers and contractors, who said that top officials assigned to the fire deployed the crews to a remote location under false pretenses so federal agents could check their immigration status.
www.hcn.org/articles/fir...
Stateline spoke to nearly a dozen firefighters, agency staffers and contractors, who said that top officials assigned to the fire deployed the crews to a remote location under false pretenses so federal agents could check their immigration status.
www.hcn.org/articles/fir...
Firefighters question leaders’ role in ICE raid near Bear Gulch Fire - High Country News
Firefighting veterans believe the management team overseeing fire crews played a key role in handing team members over to immigration authorities.
www.hcn.org
September 3, 2025 at 8:28 PM
!!!
Fun example of "AI" being not just bad but dangerous: Google "AI" is happy to say that Toronto currently has 7 µg/m³ of PM2.5 and is "well below the threshold generally considered healthy." But, the source it links says Toronto is currently actually at PM2.5 of 38µg/m³, which ain't great.
July 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Fun example of "AI" being not just bad but dangerous: Google "AI" is happy to say that Toronto currently has 7 µg/m³ of PM2.5 and is "well below the threshold generally considered healthy." But, the source it links says Toronto is currently actually at PM2.5 of 38µg/m³, which ain't great.
I’d be much more open to double spacing if I had literally ever seen a document by a double spacer that wasn’t riddled with an inconsistent pile of single, double, and triple spacing.
the reason for double spacing is gone! the only thing left is the headache other people get dealing with your double spaces
July 7, 2025 at 5:44 AM
I’d be much more open to double spacing if I had literally ever seen a document by a double spacer that wasn’t riddled with an inconsistent pile of single, double, and triple spacing.
Let's check in on how abandoning the whole of idea of public health is going...
July 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Let's check in on how abandoning the whole of idea of public health is going...
**Taps sign**
It ain’t “Artificial Intelligence,” it’s a low-accountability statistical model with a good marketing campaign.
It ain’t “Artificial Intelligence,” it’s a low-accountability statistical model with a good marketing campaign.
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 11:46 AM
**Taps sign**
It ain’t “Artificial Intelligence,” it’s a low-accountability statistical model with a good marketing campaign.
It ain’t “Artificial Intelligence,” it’s a low-accountability statistical model with a good marketing campaign.
ChatGPT: How do I tell my professor colleagues that LLM drivel they share with me is no more valuable or okay to normalize than the LLM drivel students submit on assignments?
June 19, 2025 at 11:45 AM
ChatGPT: How do I tell my professor colleagues that LLM drivel they share with me is no more valuable or okay to normalize than the LLM drivel students submit on assignments?
You should absolutely wear a respirator (N95, KN95, etc) when in large crowds to protect yourself and others.
But, hot take: if a protest is the only time you’re wearing a mask, you’re making it easier for anti-mask folks to stigmatize and ban. Show solidarity by wearing them elsewhere, regularly.
But, hot take: if a protest is the only time you’re wearing a mask, you’re making it easier for anti-mask folks to stigmatize and ban. Show solidarity by wearing them elsewhere, regularly.
June 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
You should absolutely wear a respirator (N95, KN95, etc) when in large crowds to protect yourself and others.
But, hot take: if a protest is the only time you’re wearing a mask, you’re making it easier for anti-mask folks to stigmatize and ban. Show solidarity by wearing them elsewhere, regularly.
But, hot take: if a protest is the only time you’re wearing a mask, you’re making it easier for anti-mask folks to stigmatize and ban. Show solidarity by wearing them elsewhere, regularly.
159 Canadian Forces members were killed in Afghanistan, a higher per-capita fatality rate than Americans.
At least five of those were killed by Americans in so-called “friendly fire” incidents.
At least five of those were killed by Americans in so-called “friendly fire” incidents.
HEGSETH: We wore a patch on our shoulder that said ISAF -- International Security Assistance Force. And you know what the joke was? That is stood for 'I saw Americans fighting.'
COONS: Let's just make clear for the record that our military partners in Afghanistan included many who served and died
COONS: Let's just make clear for the record that our military partners in Afghanistan included many who served and died
June 12, 2025 at 12:04 AM
159 Canadian Forces members were killed in Afghanistan, a higher per-capita fatality rate than Americans.
At least five of those were killed by Americans in so-called “friendly fire” incidents.
At least five of those were killed by Americans in so-called “friendly fire” incidents.
One of my pet peeves with wildfire coverage is when media outlets uncritically parrot bad understandings of emergency management and how different levels of government work together to manage wildfire.
So, I want to highlight CBC doing it well! Brief 🧵 (1/n)
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
So, I want to highlight CBC doing it well! Brief 🧵 (1/n)
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Why hasn't Sask. called for military help? The province says it needs wildfire expertise | CBC News
Despite facing one of its earliest, most aggressive fire seasons, Saskatchewan has not asked the federal government for the military's help. Why not? Provincial officials say the military doesn't have...
www.cbc.ca
June 10, 2025 at 2:21 PM
One of my pet peeves with wildfire coverage is when media outlets uncritically parrot bad understandings of emergency management and how different levels of government work together to manage wildfire.
So, I want to highlight CBC doing it well! Brief 🧵 (1/n)
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
So, I want to highlight CBC doing it well! Brief 🧵 (1/n)
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
This is how I start the conversation about LLMs with my students: it’s like going to the gym and riding an e-bike on the treadmill.
Then, we figure out how to co-create a class where it’s safe to struggle at workouts together.
Then, we figure out how to co-create a class where it’s safe to struggle at workouts together.
Love the teacher who says it is like sending a robot to lift weights for you at the gym.
I talked to 15 teachers/professors about how AI and ChatGPT is ruining their lives:
www.404media.co/teachers-are...
www.404media.co/teachers-are...
June 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM
This is how I start the conversation about LLMs with my students: it’s like going to the gym and riding an e-bike on the treadmill.
Then, we figure out how to co-create a class where it’s safe to struggle at workouts together.
Then, we figure out how to co-create a class where it’s safe to struggle at workouts together.
Perpetual subtweet on people using AI in academia: if you can’t be bothered to do the analysis or write it yourself, why in the world should I be bothered to read it, let alone trust it?
May 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Perpetual subtweet on people using AI in academia: if you can’t be bothered to do the analysis or write it yourself, why in the world should I be bothered to read it, let alone trust it?
I continue to hold firm to my position that “if you can’t be bothered to write it, why should I be bothered to read it?”
Why would anyone buy a comic no one had time to make?
Even if we put the horror of automating art aside, this seems like a crippling misunderstanding of why people enjoy comics in the first place.
Even if we put the horror of automating art aside, this seems like a crippling misunderstanding of why people enjoy comics in the first place.
This is so, so bleak. (Source: www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/42...)
May 6, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I continue to hold firm to my position that “if you can’t be bothered to write it, why should I be bothered to read it?”
Jumping. I think quizzes that suggest who you vote for like "vote compass" are awful...
but this new one from Leger, which gives you likely party alignment based on things about you, your 'lifestyle habits,' and not a single questions about values, is just downright dangerous for democracy.
but this new one from Leger, which gives you likely party alignment based on things about you, your 'lifestyle habits,' and not a single questions about values, is just downright dangerous for democracy.
April 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Jumping. I think quizzes that suggest who you vote for like "vote compass" are awful...
but this new one from Leger, which gives you likely party alignment based on things about you, your 'lifestyle habits,' and not a single questions about values, is just downright dangerous for democracy.
but this new one from Leger, which gives you likely party alignment based on things about you, your 'lifestyle habits,' and not a single questions about values, is just downright dangerous for democracy.
Reposted by Eric Kennedy
I like paying taxes. Genuinely. Not grudgingly. I can’t pave a road, I can’t build and staff a hospital. $200 in my pocket won’t pay for my kid’s daycare but if we all pool our money it might. I really wish someone on the left would be brave enough to be like, “Taxes are good, actually.”
April 4, 2025 at 10:49 PM
I like paying taxes. Genuinely. Not grudgingly. I can’t pave a road, I can’t build and staff a hospital. $200 in my pocket won’t pay for my kid’s daycare but if we all pool our money it might. I really wish someone on the left would be brave enough to be like, “Taxes are good, actually.”
Reposted by Eric Kennedy
This is why we say that popping on a mask when you go to the grocery store is a chance to resist creeping fascism. It’s a simple way to refuse this training to abandon others.
Despite its falsity, RFK Jr's message resonates with many Americans. Because it gives them a sense of protection against the risks they face and a sense of permission to not feel bad for others who do experience harm.
At an event in W. Va. Friday, RFK Jr. "called on Americans to eat better and exercise" for "pandemic preparedness."
He said otherwise healthy people did not die from Covid-19, but @sherylnyt.bsky.social found that 30% who died were otherwise healthy.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03...
He said otherwise healthy people did not die from Covid-19, but @sherylnyt.bsky.social found that 30% who died were otherwise healthy.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03...
March 29, 2025 at 12:06 AM
This is why we say that popping on a mask when you go to the grocery store is a chance to resist creeping fascism. It’s a simple way to refuse this training to abandon others.
Every accusation is a confession.
The Trump administration recently denied a funding request from the city of Asheville, North Carolina, to help its recovery from Hurricane Helene, telling the city it must cut a program meant to aid female and minority contractors.
www.yahoo.com/news/trump-a...
www.yahoo.com/news/trump-a...
Trump admin makes Asheville remove ‘DEI’ language to access hurricane relief aid
The Trump administration recently denied a funding request from the city of Asheville, North Carolina, to help its recovery from Hurricane Helene, telling the city it must cut a program meant to aid f...
www.yahoo.com
March 16, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Every accusation is a confession.
Here's the thing: you can say it's a 'constitutional crisis' all you want, but the playbook here (and tbh, I'm referring to multiple situations) is to simply deny there's a crisis + assert their power is absolute & right.
The crisis only exists if you make it, rather than accepting their take.
The crisis only exists if you make it, rather than accepting their take.
March 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Here's the thing: you can say it's a 'constitutional crisis' all you want, but the playbook here (and tbh, I'm referring to multiple situations) is to simply deny there's a crisis + assert their power is absolute & right.
The crisis only exists if you make it, rather than accepting their take.
The crisis only exists if you make it, rather than accepting their take.
If you can’t be bothered to write it, why should I be bothered to read it?
“I asked ChatGPT and—”
ok, i’m going to stop you right there and save us both some time
ok, i’m going to stop you right there and save us both some time
March 7, 2025 at 12:06 AM
If you can’t be bothered to write it, why should I be bothered to read it?
Cannot overstate how much this gutting of expertise is going to impact wildfire response. NOAA’s work to support (fire) weather forecasting; capacity for staffing incident management teams; ability to move firefighters and gear to where it’s needed… absolutely all being decimated.
The red card question is crucial. Not laying off fire positions doesn’t preserve the fire workforce because so much of the surge capacity works in other roles but is wildfire qualified (has a red card) so it can serve in the fire “militia” when things get rough (PL5).
GOOD QUESTION
“How many U.S. Forest Service employees have been terminated since January 20, 2025?“
Please also seek how many of those terminated employees held a “red card” qualifying them to assist in wildfire response.
Leaders own their choices.
Sec. Rollins should own this one, and answer.
“How many U.S. Forest Service employees have been terminated since January 20, 2025?“
Please also seek how many of those terminated employees held a “red card” qualifying them to assist in wildfire response.
Leaders own their choices.
Sec. Rollins should own this one, and answer.
February 27, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Cannot overstate how much this gutting of expertise is going to impact wildfire response. NOAA’s work to support (fire) weather forecasting; capacity for staffing incident management teams; ability to move firefighters and gear to where it’s needed… absolutely all being decimated.
Theme of the last two weeks: Tell me you don't know what "soft power" is without telling me you don't know what soft power is.
February 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Theme of the last two weeks: Tell me you don't know what "soft power" is without telling me you don't know what soft power is.
One of the things I'm so down about right now is how long it takes to build strong institutions that quietly do the work to make all our systems run, and how quickly certain folks are committed to burning them down entirely.
We are watching in realtime the systematic unraveling of decades aviation safety accident investigative precedent and process from the President of the United States.
January 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM
One of the things I'm so down about right now is how long it takes to build strong institutions that quietly do the work to make all our systems run, and how quickly certain folks are committed to burning them down entirely.
Whelp, that's one way to put a water bomber out of commission...
(One of the Quebec tankers in California was hit by a small drone)
(One of the Quebec tankers in California was hit by a small drone)
January 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Whelp, that's one way to put a water bomber out of commission...
(One of the Quebec tankers in California was hit by a small drone)
(One of the Quebec tankers in California was hit by a small drone)
Reposted by Eric Kennedy
Why I'm quitting the Washington Post by @anntelnaes.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/anntelna...
Why I'm quitting the Washington Post
Democracy can't function without a free press
open.substack.com
January 4, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Why I'm quitting the Washington Post by @anntelnaes.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/anntelna...
I'm sorry what now? "Priority access... for players and VIPs" is not a "requirement" we should even entertain. Woof.
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
FIFA asks that players, VIPs get priority at hospitals in 2026
Internal Ministry of Health documents call ‘priority access’ to hospital care for FIFA players and VIPs a ‘requirement’ of the tournament — a concept one bioethicist says is 'very disturbing and ethic...
www.torontotoday.ca
December 19, 2024 at 8:24 PM
I'm sorry what now? "Priority access... for players and VIPs" is not a "requirement" we should even entertain. Woof.
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...