Erik Watkins
@erikwatkins.bsky.social
Urban Planner, Active Transportation. Urbanist. #goodtrouble #necessarytrouble
Reposted by Erik Watkins
"I have nothing to hide! I don't need digital privacy!" Well...
- AI companies are scraping your data
- Scammers are using AI to get better at their schemes
- And yeah, a new era of government surveillance...
A starter guide to protecting you online life:
- AI companies are scraping your data
- Scammers are using AI to get better at their schemes
- And yeah, a new era of government surveillance...
A starter guide to protecting you online life:
A Starter Guide to Protecting Your Data From Hackers and Corporations
Hackers. AI data scrapes. Government surveillance. Yeah, thinking about where to start when it comes to protecting your online privacy can be overwhelming. Here’s a simple guide for you—and anyone who...
www.wired.com
May 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
"I have nothing to hide! I don't need digital privacy!" Well...
- AI companies are scraping your data
- Scammers are using AI to get better at their schemes
- And yeah, a new era of government surveillance...
A starter guide to protecting you online life:
- AI companies are scraping your data
- Scammers are using AI to get better at their schemes
- And yeah, a new era of government surveillance...
A starter guide to protecting you online life:
Reposted by Erik Watkins
Not surprising at all. It’s a long-standing urban design principle. Activate streets and they become safer. Think about it: where do you feel more safe? A bustling crowd of people going in & out of restaurants/shops or an empty dark street with no action?
Spoiler: The thing you’d never guess is more commercial activity/more foot traffic = less violent crime. No one knew this.
University of Chicago Crime Lab boss: Most conventional wisdom about what causes shootings is wrong
Conventional wisdom about violence is wrong, Jens Ludwig, director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab, says in “Unforgiving Places,” in which he looks at why Greater Grand Crossing has so many mor...
chicago.suntimes.com
April 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Not surprising at all. It’s a long-standing urban design principle. Activate streets and they become safer. Think about it: where do you feel more safe? A bustling crowd of people going in & out of restaurants/shops or an empty dark street with no action?
Reposted by Erik Watkins
I consider "wake-up calls" that I don't request ... attacks.
“SB334 is not a partisan takeover so much as a civic recovery mission,” writes Utah Sen. John D. Johnson in an op-ed.
Voices: I sponsored SB334. It’s not an attack, it’s a wake-up call for Utah higher education.
“SB334 is not a partisan takeover so much as a civic recovery mission,” writes Utah Sen. John D. Johnson in an op-ed.
www.sltrib.com
April 22, 2025 at 12:02 AM
I consider "wake-up calls" that I don't request ... attacks.
Reposted by Erik Watkins
Everyone needs to go read The Jungle.
April 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Everyone needs to go read The Jungle.
Reposted by Erik Watkins
Yes — and your soul.
The Lisa Murkowski video is interesting for the ethical quandary it presents.
I understand the premise: I don't want to oppose Trump because I'll get primaried out and lose my sweet, sweet power.
But then I ask, if you can't vote the way you want/should now, haven't you lost your power already?
I understand the premise: I don't want to oppose Trump because I'll get primaried out and lose my sweet, sweet power.
But then I ask, if you can't vote the way you want/should now, haven't you lost your power already?
April 18, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Yes — and your soul.
Reposted by Erik Watkins
These laws are not about keeping people who are not eligible to vote from voting. These laws are about keeping people who are eligible to vote from voting.
🧵 There are a lot of misleading claims out there about the SAVE Act. Let me set the record straight: I voted for the SAVE Act for the simple reason that American elections are for Americans. Requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote is common sense.
April 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
These laws are not about keeping people who are not eligible to vote from voting. These laws are about keeping people who are eligible to vote from voting.
Reposted by Erik Watkins
WATCH: @tnsenatedems.bsky.social oppose the Senator John Stevens bill protecting giant corporations from sick farmers
@campbell4tn.bsky.social calls it “crazy”, @jeffyarbro.bsky.social (a lawyer) says Stevens misleads about what it does. Bowling & Crowe joined Dems against
House Judiciary next
@campbell4tn.bsky.social calls it “crazy”, @jeffyarbro.bsky.social (a lawyer) says Stevens misleads about what it does. Bowling & Crowe joined Dems against
House Judiciary next
April 4, 2025 at 6:01 PM
WATCH: @tnsenatedems.bsky.social oppose the Senator John Stevens bill protecting giant corporations from sick farmers
@campbell4tn.bsky.social calls it “crazy”, @jeffyarbro.bsky.social (a lawyer) says Stevens misleads about what it does. Bowling & Crowe joined Dems against
House Judiciary next
@campbell4tn.bsky.social calls it “crazy”, @jeffyarbro.bsky.social (a lawyer) says Stevens misleads about what it does. Bowling & Crowe joined Dems against
House Judiciary next
Reposted by Erik Watkins
They want us passive and beaten down so they can commit their crimes in broad daylight
April 3, 2025 at 3:07 PM
They want us passive and beaten down so they can commit their crimes in broad daylight
Reposted by Erik Watkins
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
April 3, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
Reposted by Erik Watkins
New York Times, October, 1890
"Let the facts, which are multiplying every day, tell who it is that pays the onerous tariff taxes. They will answer that the American people pay these taxes and that the burden of them rests most heavily upon the poor."
"Let the facts, which are multiplying every day, tell who it is that pays the onerous tariff taxes. They will answer that the American people pay these taxes and that the burden of them rests most heavily upon the poor."
April 3, 2025 at 4:00 AM
New York Times, October, 1890
"Let the facts, which are multiplying every day, tell who it is that pays the onerous tariff taxes. They will answer that the American people pay these taxes and that the burden of them rests most heavily upon the poor."
"Let the facts, which are multiplying every day, tell who it is that pays the onerous tariff taxes. They will answer that the American people pay these taxes and that the burden of them rests most heavily upon the poor."
Reposted by Erik Watkins
Booker: "I confess that I have been imperfect. I confess that I've been inadequate to the moment. I've confess that the Democratic Party has made terrible mistakes that gave a lane to this demagogue. I confess we all must look in the mirror and say 'we will do better.'"
April 1, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Booker: "I confess that I have been imperfect. I confess that I've been inadequate to the moment. I've confess that the Democratic Party has made terrible mistakes that gave a lane to this demagogue. I confess we all must look in the mirror and say 'we will do better.'"
Reposted by Erik Watkins
Also, *because* these COBOL systems are old ...
... the code is *very* bug-free
The maintainers have had decades to find and fix all the flaws in the system
In contrast, as any developer will tell you, the newer a code base is ...
... the more bugs it's gonna have, the more it'll crash
3/9
... the code is *very* bug-free
The maintainers have had decades to find and fix all the flaws in the system
In contrast, as any developer will tell you, the newer a code base is ...
... the more bugs it's gonna have, the more it'll crash
3/9
March 30, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Also, *because* these COBOL systems are old ...
... the code is *very* bug-free
The maintainers have had decades to find and fix all the flaws in the system
In contrast, as any developer will tell you, the newer a code base is ...
... the more bugs it's gonna have, the more it'll crash
3/9
... the code is *very* bug-free
The maintainers have had decades to find and fix all the flaws in the system
In contrast, as any developer will tell you, the newer a code base is ...
... the more bugs it's gonna have, the more it'll crash
3/9
Reposted by Erik Watkins
This is such an important study that I sent it on to my city's Engineering team, who are already all-in on bikes and Vision Zero.
Sharrows are ONLY good when they signify a truly shared street, where bikes and cars go at roughly the same speed. CROW and NACTO have good examples of both.
Sharrows are ONLY good when they signify a truly shared street, where bikes and cars go at roughly the same speed. CROW and NACTO have good examples of both.
Never forget, a 13-year study found that protected bike-lanes led to a drastic decline in fatalities for all road users.
ALL ROAD USERS.
And painted bike-lanes? No safety improvement at all.
For sharrows, it’s actually safer to NOT have them.
Via @usa.streetsblog.org @nyc.streetsblog.org
ALL ROAD USERS.
And painted bike-lanes? No safety improvement at all.
For sharrows, it’s actually safer to NOT have them.
Via @usa.streetsblog.org @nyc.streetsblog.org
Separated Bike Lanes Means Safer Streets, Study Says — Streetsblog USA
Cities that build protected lanes for cyclists end up with safer roads for people on bikes and people in cars and on foot, a new study of 12 large metropolises revealed Wednesday.
usa.streetsblog.org
March 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
This is such an important study that I sent it on to my city's Engineering team, who are already all-in on bikes and Vision Zero.
Sharrows are ONLY good when they signify a truly shared street, where bikes and cars go at roughly the same speed. CROW and NACTO have good examples of both.
Sharrows are ONLY good when they signify a truly shared street, where bikes and cars go at roughly the same speed. CROW and NACTO have good examples of both.
And they should be sued for copyright infringement. The founder of Studio Ghibli was strongly opposed to AI created art. (Called it an insult to life itself)
Altman is using Studio Ghibli’s popularity very specifically to push users into OpenAI’s paid tiers, and presumably neither Ghibli the company nor its artists will be compensated in any way.
Studio Ghibli-style AI images are melting OpenAI's GPUs confirms Sam Altman
March 28, 2025 at 4:55 PM
And they should be sued for copyright infringement. The founder of Studio Ghibli was strongly opposed to AI created art. (Called it an insult to life itself)
Reposted by Erik Watkins
What's amazing is that this Republican congressman is so far gone that he thinks "taxing the rich" is some wildly radical idea.
NEBRASKA CROWD: “TAX THE RICH! TAX THE RICH!”
@USRepMikeFlood: “So your proposal to solve (the debt) is tax the rich?”
NEBRASKA CROWD: *CHEERS WILDLY*
(not sure this went quite as he planned 😬)
@USRepMikeFlood: “So your proposal to solve (the debt) is tax the rich?”
NEBRASKA CROWD: *CHEERS WILDLY*
(not sure this went quite as he planned 😬)
March 19, 2025 at 12:26 AM
What's amazing is that this Republican congressman is so far gone that he thinks "taxing the rich" is some wildly radical idea.
Reposted by Erik Watkins
My students continue to learn the hard way.
Columbia Journalism Review tested eight generative AI search tools and found their answers were wrong 60% of the time, and the paid ones actually fared worse than the free ones.
Meanwhile, millions of people trust the way they present total bullshit with confident language.
Meanwhile, millions of people trust the way they present total bullshit with confident language.
AI search engines cite incorrect sources at an alarming 60% rate, study says
CJR study shows AI search services misinform users and ignore publisher exclusion requests.
arstechnica.com
March 19, 2025 at 2:13 PM
My students continue to learn the hard way.
Reposted by Erik Watkins
Tim Walz is correct. I hope whichever advisor on the Harris campaign said "we need to tone this guy down" never works in politics again
Gov. Walz, "There’s nothing conservative about an unelected South African nepo baby firing people at the VA."
March 15, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Tim Walz is correct. I hope whichever advisor on the Harris campaign said "we need to tone this guy down" never works in politics again
Reposted by Erik Watkins
“The state of Utah right now is seeing a number of requests for food assistance that are higher than they’ve ever been,” said Ginette Bot, president and CEO of the Utah Food Bank.
Rising costs, federal funding cuts, SNAP fraud putting Utah families at risk
Utah food banks are seeing an unprecedented demand as rising costs, federal funding cuts, and SNAP benefit fraud put more families at risk of hunger.“The state
kutv.com
March 14, 2025 at 10:43 PM
“The state of Utah right now is seeing a number of requests for food assistance that are higher than they’ve ever been,” said Ginette Bot, president and CEO of the Utah Food Bank.
Reposted by Erik Watkins
Meta probably realizes that all-out war on this book will only help its sales. But they are furious that an insider--who signed an NDA!--is going White Lotus on them, showing what it's like on the inside. www.wired.com/story/plaint...
Meta Tries to Bury a Tell-All Book
Mark Zuckerberg might be in his post-fact-checking-era. But that hasn’t stopped Meta from going after the author of Careless People.
www.wired.com
March 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Meta probably realizes that all-out war on this book will only help its sales. But they are furious that an insider--who signed an NDA!--is going White Lotus on them, showing what it's like on the inside. www.wired.com/story/plaint...
Reposted by Erik Watkins
these people swore an oath to defend the constitution but i guess that’s just too hard
Schumer tells me Republicans might try to jam Democrats again in September, but thinks Trump will be less popular then and Republican appropriators might be more willing to stand up to him. He said they refused to do so now.
March 14, 2025 at 12:02 AM
these people swore an oath to defend the constitution but i guess that’s just too hard
Reposted by Erik Watkins
*Literally* an argument from 1955. The college I went to, a STEM institution, admitted its first students in 1957. The question of whether or not to admit women was hotly debated among the founding trustees. I have *held in my hands* a 1955 letter arguing that admitting women would be a waste …
Heritage: "reducing federal higher education subsidies and loan cancellation that place the federal thumb on the scale in favor of spending years in postsecondary work of questionable value will help young Americans to start and expand their families." www.heritage.org/education/re...
Education Policy Reforms Are Key Strategies for Increasing the Married Birth Rate
The fertility rate in the United States has dropped to 1.6,
www.heritage.org
March 13, 2025 at 6:17 PM
*Literally* an argument from 1955. The college I went to, a STEM institution, admitted its first students in 1957. The question of whether or not to admit women was hotly debated among the founding trustees. I have *held in my hands* a 1955 letter arguing that admitting women would be a waste …
Reposted by Erik Watkins
TL;DR: Utah taxpayers are paying an outside law firm $700 per hour to defend the legislature in my lawsuit over their refusal to give me a press pass.
You can see the contract for yourself here.
le.utah.gov/Documents/Co...
You can see the contract for yourself here.
le.utah.gov/Documents/Co...
March 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
TL;DR: Utah taxpayers are paying an outside law firm $700 per hour to defend the legislature in my lawsuit over their refusal to give me a press pass.
You can see the contract for yourself here.
le.utah.gov/Documents/Co...
You can see the contract for yourself here.
le.utah.gov/Documents/Co...
Reposted by Erik Watkins
🚨 Everyone needs to call their Dem Senator right now. They are starting to cave.
Tell them:
1. Vote NO on Cloture
AND
2. Vote NO on the Republican spending bill.
Don’t let them pivot to reconciliation. GOP doesn’t need Dem votes on that and they know it.
TODAY is the showdown.
🤳🏽: (202) 224-3121
Tell them:
1. Vote NO on Cloture
AND
2. Vote NO on the Republican spending bill.
Don’t let them pivot to reconciliation. GOP doesn’t need Dem votes on that and they know it.
TODAY is the showdown.
🤳🏽: (202) 224-3121
March 12, 2025 at 2:19 PM
🚨 Everyone needs to call their Dem Senator right now. They are starting to cave.
Tell them:
1. Vote NO on Cloture
AND
2. Vote NO on the Republican spending bill.
Don’t let them pivot to reconciliation. GOP doesn’t need Dem votes on that and they know it.
TODAY is the showdown.
🤳🏽: (202) 224-3121
Tell them:
1. Vote NO on Cloture
AND
2. Vote NO on the Republican spending bill.
Don’t let them pivot to reconciliation. GOP doesn’t need Dem votes on that and they know it.
TODAY is the showdown.
🤳🏽: (202) 224-3121