EssayWells
@essaywells.bsky.social
Scientist, husband, parent, possibly a little too into Dungeons and Dragons. @essayWells on Twitter (Ex-Twitter?)
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This has to be bait, this has to be bait, I know they played both American idiot and holiday, this is bait for clicks, I will not click it, clicking is the mind killer
February 8, 2026 at 11:48 PM
This has to be bait, this has to be bait, I know they played both American idiot and holiday, this is bait for clicks, I will not click it, clicking is the mind killer
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going great already lmfaoo
February 8, 2026 at 11:45 PM
going great already lmfaoo
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My theory that AI maximalists don’t know how to use a computer remains undefeated so far
February 8, 2026 at 9:46 PM
My theory that AI maximalists don’t know how to use a computer remains undefeated so far
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generative AI has become widely available in the summer of 2022 and entered mainstream in 2023
people are working themselves up in a frenzy, convinced they're utterly helpless without software younger than still-fresh canned tuna. we have been making art for at least 50,000 years, get a grip
people are working themselves up in a frenzy, convinced they're utterly helpless without software younger than still-fresh canned tuna. we have been making art for at least 50,000 years, get a grip
February 6, 2026 at 11:13 PM
generative AI has become widely available in the summer of 2022 and entered mainstream in 2023
people are working themselves up in a frenzy, convinced they're utterly helpless without software younger than still-fresh canned tuna. we have been making art for at least 50,000 years, get a grip
people are working themselves up in a frenzy, convinced they're utterly helpless without software younger than still-fresh canned tuna. we have been making art for at least 50,000 years, get a grip
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The oldest known image of an owl:
More than 30,000 years ago, someone skillfully scratched the figure of a long-eared owl (Asio otus) into the soft outer layer of the walls of Chauvet Cave, France. The owl is looking backward over their wings, head turned 180 degrees
carnegiemnh.org/ancient-owl-...
More than 30,000 years ago, someone skillfully scratched the figure of a long-eared owl (Asio otus) into the soft outer layer of the walls of Chauvet Cave, France. The owl is looking backward over their wings, head turned 180 degrees
carnegiemnh.org/ancient-owl-...
February 8, 2026 at 6:08 PM
The oldest known image of an owl:
More than 30,000 years ago, someone skillfully scratched the figure of a long-eared owl (Asio otus) into the soft outer layer of the walls of Chauvet Cave, France. The owl is looking backward over their wings, head turned 180 degrees
carnegiemnh.org/ancient-owl-...
More than 30,000 years ago, someone skillfully scratched the figure of a long-eared owl (Asio otus) into the soft outer layer of the walls of Chauvet Cave, France. The owl is looking backward over their wings, head turned 180 degrees
carnegiemnh.org/ancient-owl-...
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Juat heard the (Italian) FIFA boss suggesting the USA is our biggest trading partner. Only if you count the EU countries separately. UK trade with the EU as a whole is more than twice the volume of UK trade with the USA.
February 8, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Juat heard the (Italian) FIFA boss suggesting the USA is our biggest trading partner. Only if you count the EU countries separately. UK trade with the EU as a whole is more than twice the volume of UK trade with the USA.
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NYT LLM MLM BS
To be very clear, that lady in the NYT article is not making any money with her hundreds of AI slop books.
She makes money by *convincing people* she makes money that way and getting them to pay her to teach them how to do it.
It's an evolved MLM, and the NYT is helping market it.
She makes money by *convincing people* she makes money that way and getting them to pay her to teach them how to do it.
It's an evolved MLM, and the NYT is helping market it.
February 8, 2026 at 11:07 PM
NYT LLM MLM BS
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but the main point is that I think you need to understand a problem in order to solve it effectively
code generation tools just generate likely code based on other problems people solved. if you have a common problem your odds of usable code are decent, but that's not because it understood anything
code generation tools just generate likely code based on other problems people solved. if you have a common problem your odds of usable code are decent, but that's not because it understood anything
February 8, 2026 at 5:12 PM
but the main point is that I think you need to understand a problem in order to solve it effectively
code generation tools just generate likely code based on other problems people solved. if you have a common problem your odds of usable code are decent, but that's not because it understood anything
code generation tools just generate likely code based on other problems people solved. if you have a common problem your odds of usable code are decent, but that's not because it understood anything
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Virtually every "AI" use case I've encountered in my work life boils down to people wanting the satisfaction of solving a problem without taking the time to understand the problem. And the actual best answer would be for them to leave the problem to people who actually care enough to understand it
but the main point is that I think you need to understand a problem in order to solve it effectively
code generation tools just generate likely code based on other problems people solved. if you have a common problem your odds of usable code are decent, but that's not because it understood anything
code generation tools just generate likely code based on other problems people solved. if you have a common problem your odds of usable code are decent, but that's not because it understood anything
February 8, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Virtually every "AI" use case I've encountered in my work life boils down to people wanting the satisfaction of solving a problem without taking the time to understand the problem. And the actual best answer would be for them to leave the problem to people who actually care enough to understand it
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I'm no political strategist but has anyone in Labour considered *not* alienating any huge chunk of their base? I just feel like they tried alienating the left and the centre left and the public sector workers and the academics, and none of those things worked great, so maybe give my idea a whirl?
February 8, 2026 at 9:44 PM
I'm no political strategist but has anyone in Labour considered *not* alienating any huge chunk of their base? I just feel like they tried alienating the left and the centre left and the public sector workers and the academics, and none of those things worked great, so maybe give my idea a whirl?
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If anyone is selling you the opportunity to make money, *you* are how *they* make money and the 'secret' they have is convincing people like you to pay them.
There will be a lot of smoke & mirrors to make it look like you have agency, but the product is your gullibility.
There will be a lot of smoke & mirrors to make it look like you have agency, but the product is your gullibility.
February 8, 2026 at 8:50 PM
If anyone is selling you the opportunity to make money, *you* are how *they* make money and the 'secret' they have is convincing people like you to pay them.
There will be a lot of smoke & mirrors to make it look like you have agency, but the product is your gullibility.
There will be a lot of smoke & mirrors to make it look like you have agency, but the product is your gullibility.
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To be very clear, that lady in the NYT article is not making any money with her hundreds of AI slop books.
She makes money by *convincing people* she makes money that way and getting them to pay her to teach them how to do it.
It's an evolved MLM, and the NYT is helping market it.
She makes money by *convincing people* she makes money that way and getting them to pay her to teach them how to do it.
It's an evolved MLM, and the NYT is helping market it.
February 8, 2026 at 8:03 PM
To be very clear, that lady in the NYT article is not making any money with her hundreds of AI slop books.
She makes money by *convincing people* she makes money that way and getting them to pay her to teach them how to do it.
It's an evolved MLM, and the NYT is helping market it.
She makes money by *convincing people* she makes money that way and getting them to pay her to teach them how to do it.
It's an evolved MLM, and the NYT is helping market it.
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Maybe a good time for this as well with norovirus making headlines.
I made this for our bathroom and a few “lucky” friends also got one as a gift.
As I’ve said before, it’s astonishing that I even have any friends at all.
I made this for our bathroom and a few “lucky” friends also got one as a gift.
As I’ve said before, it’s astonishing that I even have any friends at all.
February 8, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Maybe a good time for this as well with norovirus making headlines.
I made this for our bathroom and a few “lucky” friends also got one as a gift.
As I’ve said before, it’s astonishing that I even have any friends at all.
I made this for our bathroom and a few “lucky” friends also got one as a gift.
As I’ve said before, it’s astonishing that I even have any friends at all.
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Andre Ventura of Chega (change) running on anti-immigratiom slogans like "this isn't Bangladesh" and "Portugal is ours" has lost the Portugal presidential election in a landslide.
He was second on 23% to 31% in the first round but losing about 30-70 in the run-off to socialist António José Seguro
He was second on 23% to 31% in the first round but losing about 30-70 in the run-off to socialist António José Seguro
February 8, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Andre Ventura of Chega (change) running on anti-immigratiom slogans like "this isn't Bangladesh" and "Portugal is ours" has lost the Portugal presidential election in a landslide.
He was second on 23% to 31% in the first round but losing about 30-70 in the run-off to socialist António José Seguro
He was second on 23% to 31% in the first round but losing about 30-70 in the run-off to socialist António José Seguro
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The one positive thing about Keir Starmer having no ability to manage his own parliamentary party is that it produces on-the-record quotes like this
Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden has claimed there would be “no point” in removing Morgan McSweeney “if the Prime Minister stays”.
“In fact, I think if the Prime Minister stays there, I don’t think that would make any difference at all,” he said.
“In fact, I think if the Prime Minister stays there, I don’t think that would make any difference at all,” he said.
February 8, 2026 at 9:54 PM
The one positive thing about Keir Starmer having no ability to manage his own parliamentary party is that it produces on-the-record quotes like this
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The relevance of what McSweeney believed in 2020 to Labour's 2024 victory is not clear to me. I'd guess Johnson, Truss, Covid corruption, Partygate had a lot to do with it. But what's happened since 2024 can be attributed to McSweeney. And the evidence of what he's done since then speaks for itself.
On the other hand I think the wrongest of takes is the idea that McSweeney was incidental to the election victory that was all but guaranteed because of Tory collapse. He built a formidable election campaign- and was literally the only person you could find in 2020 who thought Labour could win.
February 8, 2026 at 9:26 PM
The relevance of what McSweeney believed in 2020 to Labour's 2024 victory is not clear to me. I'd guess Johnson, Truss, Covid corruption, Partygate had a lot to do with it. But what's happened since 2024 can be attributed to McSweeney. And the evidence of what he's done since then speaks for itself.
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The absolute pinnacle was 30 years ago when we all lost a whole month watching the Game of Life make funny little patterns and no modern AI will ever recapture that magic.
February 8, 2026 at 7:42 PM
The absolute pinnacle was 30 years ago when we all lost a whole month watching the Game of Life make funny little patterns and no modern AI will ever recapture that magic.
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Good morning. The President of the United States was in the middle of the most serious child sex trafficking ring of the last quarter century.
He is referenced not a dozen times in the case files. Not 100 times. Not 1,000 times. He’s referenced 38,000 times.
He is referenced not a dozen times in the case files. Not 100 times. Not 1,000 times. He’s referenced 38,000 times.
February 8, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Good morning. The President of the United States was in the middle of the most serious child sex trafficking ring of the last quarter century.
He is referenced not a dozen times in the case files. Not 100 times. Not 1,000 times. He’s referenced 38,000 times.
He is referenced not a dozen times in the case files. Not 100 times. Not 1,000 times. He’s referenced 38,000 times.
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They call it “persistent presence” and it’s a technique of war they have used in other parts of the world, notoriously in Somalia, which gives a new dimension to the cruelty of doing this to cities full of Somali refugees
In some cases they’re literally using the same Black Hawks even
In some cases they’re literally using the same Black Hawks even
You may ask yourself why helicopters fly over the Twin Cities so much and my best guess is it is to fuck with people.
Ugh. Looked up for a second only to see this guy buzz by my window.
February 8, 2026 at 2:43 PM
They call it “persistent presence” and it’s a technique of war they have used in other parts of the world, notoriously in Somalia, which gives a new dimension to the cruelty of doing this to cities full of Somali refugees
In some cases they’re literally using the same Black Hawks even
In some cases they’re literally using the same Black Hawks even
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Second time in 3 days I’m posting this Vonnegut quote wrt AI.
February 8, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Second time in 3 days I’m posting this Vonnegut quote wrt AI.
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An F-16 fighter jet of Ukraine's Air Force spectacularly shoots down a Russian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone in the skies over Ukraine.
📹 Telegram/AirTeam UA
📹 Telegram/AirTeam UA
February 8, 2026 at 8:08 PM
An F-16 fighter jet of Ukraine's Air Force spectacularly shoots down a Russian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone in the skies over Ukraine.
📹 Telegram/AirTeam UA
📹 Telegram/AirTeam UA
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6. Telling people off for being excited about something positive and productive in this time of relentless shit is not praxis. It’s being a miserable shitlord. I’m sure it feels great to tell people off online, but you’re being a dick.
February 8, 2026 at 7:21 PM
6. Telling people off for being excited about something positive and productive in this time of relentless shit is not praxis. It’s being a miserable shitlord. I’m sure it feels great to tell people off online, but you’re being a dick.
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Morgan McSweeney's genius is twofold: he is literally amazing at 1) despising the left and 2) giving exclusives to journalists who also despise the left. I can't believe those smarts didn't have staying power!
February 8, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Morgan McSweeney's genius is twofold: he is literally amazing at 1) despising the left and 2) giving exclusives to journalists who also despise the left. I can't believe those smarts didn't have staying power!
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the thing i'm waiting for with the ai romance novel lady is for another scammer to figure out that purely ai-generated material w no human authorship is generally not considered to be protected by copyright in the US rn, and saving themselves the 45 mins per book by reselling hers
February 8, 2026 at 6:06 PM
the thing i'm waiting for with the ai romance novel lady is for another scammer to figure out that purely ai-generated material w no human authorship is generally not considered to be protected by copyright in the US rn, and saving themselves the 45 mins per book by reselling hers
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consumer-facing llm chatbots must be stopped.
it's like crack to some people. worse, maybe, because they are being led to believe they're doing the smart thing by using "AI"
it's like crack to some people. worse, maybe, because they are being led to believe they're doing the smart thing by using "AI"
according to a pediatric ER doctor my wife follows on Instagram they have started to see children coming in sick because their parents are asking ChatGPT what the correct dosage is on over the counter medication instead of just looking at the instructions on the bottle
One of the easiest ways to shoot down the idea that "AI" is an expert is to show how it deals with something people know about.
Younger readers may not get this as most appliances come pre-wired, but anyone 35+ can see these are chaotic fire hazards.
From Mastodon, AI asked how to wire a plug:
Younger readers may not get this as most appliances come pre-wired, but anyone 35+ can see these are chaotic fire hazards.
From Mastodon, AI asked how to wire a plug:
February 8, 2026 at 4:44 PM
consumer-facing llm chatbots must be stopped.
it's like crack to some people. worse, maybe, because they are being led to believe they're doing the smart thing by using "AI"
it's like crack to some people. worse, maybe, because they are being led to believe they're doing the smart thing by using "AI"