CD Covington
@exaggerated.bsky.social
Writer, linguist, Germanist. Roller derby official in Berlin, Germany.
Freelance copy editor always looking for work. (rates on website)
web: www.cdcovington.com
Mastodon: @exaggerated@wandering.shop
Freelance copy editor always looking for work. (rates on website)
web: www.cdcovington.com
Mastodon: @exaggerated@wandering.shop
Reposted by CD Covington
“Then they shouldn’t have voted for this!”
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Hundreds of residents signed up for FEMA buyouts after Hurricane Helene. Not one has been approved.
Hundreds of residents signed up for FEMA buyouts after Helene. Not one has been approved.
More than a year after applying for a federal buyout, many North Carolina homeowners have heard almost nothing definitive.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:05 PM
“Then they shouldn’t have voted for this!”
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Boy I love seeing skeets about people getting "the ick" about how I live my life!
December 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Boy I love seeing skeets about people getting "the ick" about how I live my life!
I sure WISH I had space for a 30-cm (half-width) dishwasher, but it was a dishwasher or a place to store my cookware. Countertop machine obviously not an option.
My kitchen is 5 square meters/50ish sqft. Not a ton of options.
My kitchen is 5 square meters/50ish sqft. Not a ton of options.
People who want to get morally superior about how they hand-wash everything really gotta reckon with the fact that machine dish-washing uses considerably LESS water and emits considerably fewer greenhouse emissions than standard handwashing practices do.
(And you save a lot of time...)
(And you save a lot of time...)
December 27, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I sure WISH I had space for a 30-cm (half-width) dishwasher, but it was a dishwasher or a place to store my cookware. Countertop machine obviously not an option.
My kitchen is 5 square meters/50ish sqft. Not a ton of options.
My kitchen is 5 square meters/50ish sqft. Not a ton of options.
Beta'ed a book for a friend who asked for a basic "does this work?" read, and because I copyedit for money and am constitutionally incapable of turning it off, she got a commas and punctuation (and typos spelchek won't catch) pass.
December 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Beta'ed a book for a friend who asked for a basic "does this work?" read, and because I copyedit for money and am constitutionally incapable of turning it off, she got a commas and punctuation (and typos spelchek won't catch) pass.
Minnesota, North Dakota, Indiana -- check this list. It's EXTENSIVE
(unsanitary storage of goods)
(unsanitary storage of goods)
Just throw away everything www.fda.gov/safety/recal...
Gold Star Distribution Inc., Issues Recall of Certain FDA-Regulated Products in Three States Including Drugs, Devices, Cosmetics, Human Foods, and Pet Foods
Gold Star Distribution, Inc. (Gold Star or “the Company”) is recalling all FDA regulated products listed in this press release due to the presence of rodent and avian contamination.
www.fda.gov
December 27, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Minnesota, North Dakota, Indiana -- check this list. It's EXTENSIVE
(unsanitary storage of goods)
(unsanitary storage of goods)
Reposted by CD Covington
It is EXHAUSTING not only being made responsible for coming up with new kinds of assignments for our students; it's also tedious reading op-eds that suggest the core problem is a crisis in teaching. But, as Chris and I lay out here, this isn't a crisis in teaching; it's an attack on learning.
"We envision a resistance that is...a repudiation of the efficiencies that automated algorithmic education falsely promises: a resistance comprising the collective force of small acts of friction."
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Four Frictions: or, How to Resist AI in Education - Public Books
We are calling for resistance to the AI industry’s ongoing capture of higher education.
www.publicbooks.org
December 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
It is EXHAUSTING not only being made responsible for coming up with new kinds of assignments for our students; it's also tedious reading op-eds that suggest the core problem is a crisis in teaching. But, as Chris and I lay out here, this isn't a crisis in teaching; it's an attack on learning.
Reposted by CD Covington
For anyone looking for some seasonal entertainment this evening
Okay @erinbiba.bsky.social it’s time for my second-most anticipated annual thread: Cats in Christmas Trees (and Battling Menorahs). Starting off strong with Donut.
December 26, 2025 at 2:06 AM
For anyone looking for some seasonal entertainment this evening
Reposted by CD Covington
Sir Terry Pratchett is best understood as one of the most interesting, deeply ethical practical (I would say Pragmatist but I cede to actual experts) philosophers of the late 20th Century who just happened to work in deconstructed fantasy literature as his medium.
Discworld QOTD, from Hogfather
December 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Sir Terry Pratchett is best understood as one of the most interesting, deeply ethical practical (I would say Pragmatist but I cede to actual experts) philosophers of the late 20th Century who just happened to work in deconstructed fantasy literature as his medium.
Reposted by CD Covington
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO OUT MAGAZINE NO NO NO
December 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO OUT MAGAZINE NO NO NO
Reposted by CD Covington
You know how Americans are surprised to learn that gun deaths are rare in most other countries, pedestrian-centered cities are normal, or everybody else uses metric? That, but discovering that the rest of the world moved to EVs.
It's funny how us parochial Americans generally seem to perceive that the EV revolution is stalling or reversing when in fact it's accelerating rapidly worldwide. 25% of cars sold globally in 2025 were EVs!
It's mostly just the US that's being left behind
It's mostly just the US that's being left behind
December 24, 2025 at 6:07 PM
You know how Americans are surprised to learn that gun deaths are rare in most other countries, pedestrian-centered cities are normal, or everybody else uses metric? That, but discovering that the rest of the world moved to EVs.
Reposted by CD Covington
Government services aren't businesses. Delivering mail to citizens is something we pay for.
But if these are businesses, you won't believe how much money the military loses.
But if these are businesses, you won't believe how much money the military loses.
The USPS faces a tight squeeze. With fewer people using the mail, it’s lost more and more money: $9 billion in the 12 months ending in September alone.
https://cnn.it/4qkeNoF
https://cnn.it/4qkeNoF
December 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Government services aren't businesses. Delivering mail to citizens is something we pay for.
But if these are businesses, you won't believe how much money the military loses.
But if these are businesses, you won't believe how much money the military loses.
Reposted by CD Covington
Everyone involved in the publication and promotion of this book should be embarrassed. It's not a "harsh truth" that COVID mitigation was a mistake, it's ghoulish and false.
"In Covid's Wake" Part 1: Lyin… - If Books Could Kill - Apple Podcasts
Podcast Episode · If Books Could Kill · 06/17/2025 · 58m
podcasts.apple.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Everyone involved in the publication and promotion of this book should be embarrassed. It's not a "harsh truth" that COVID mitigation was a mistake, it's ghoulish and false.
Reposted by CD Covington
This is genuinely horrifying. Fact-free far-right agitprop given accolades by credible media across the political spectrum.
Congratulations to Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee, whose book In Covid's Wake has been recognized as:
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
December 24, 2025 at 5:00 AM
This is genuinely horrifying. Fact-free far-right agitprop given accolades by credible media across the political spectrum.
Reposted by CD Covington
"Wir müssen jetzt solidarisch mit Anna-Lena von Hodenberg und Josephine Ballon sein. Es ist absurd und gefährlich, wenn Menschen sanktioniert werden, weil sie Aufgaben übernehmen, die unser Gesetzgeber ausdrücklich geschaffen hat."
www.digitalpolitik.de/usa-gehen-ge...
www.digitalpolitik.de/usa-gehen-ge...
USA gehen gegen HateAid vor
Passend zur Weihnachtszeit verhängt das US-Außenministerium Sanktionen gegen fünf Personen. Sie sollen Teil eines angeblichen „globalen Zensur-industriellen Komplexes“ sein – so behauptet es Außenmini...
www.digitalpolitik.de
December 23, 2025 at 11:14 PM
"Wir müssen jetzt solidarisch mit Anna-Lena von Hodenberg und Josephine Ballon sein. Es ist absurd und gefährlich, wenn Menschen sanktioniert werden, weil sie Aufgaben übernehmen, die unser Gesetzgeber ausdrücklich geschaffen hat."
www.digitalpolitik.de/usa-gehen-ge...
www.digitalpolitik.de/usa-gehen-ge...
Reposted by CD Covington
Die USA belegen jetzt Leute, die sich gegen Hass im Netz einsetzen, mit Einreiseverbot. Das ist kein westlich-demokratischer Rechtsstaat mehr. Ich wünsche mir, dass das auch von PolitikerInnen in Europa so ausgesprochen wird.
This is not normal. Nothing about this is normal.
This is not normal. Nothing about this is normal.
Krass: Die US-Regierung hat Sanktionen gegen Anna-Lena von Hodenberg und Josephine Ballon von @hateaid.org erlassen, dazu trifft es auch den früheren EU-Kommissar Thierry Breton, weil "These radical activists and weaponized NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by foreign states". Einreiseverbot
December 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Die USA belegen jetzt Leute, die sich gegen Hass im Netz einsetzen, mit Einreiseverbot. Das ist kein westlich-demokratischer Rechtsstaat mehr. Ich wünsche mir, dass das auch von PolitikerInnen in Europa so ausgesprochen wird.
This is not normal. Nothing about this is normal.
This is not normal. Nothing about this is normal.
Reposted by CD Covington
book is absolutely lovely so far, but this little section stood out to me.
"Drivers and pedestrians said they typically broke laws to save time. Cyclists, however, said they typically broke laws to stay safe."
ridiculously true. at no point on my bike do i think about The Law. i think about safety
"Drivers and pedestrians said they typically broke laws to save time. Cyclists, however, said they typically broke laws to stay safe."
ridiculously true. at no point on my bike do i think about The Law. i think about safety
December 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
book is absolutely lovely so far, but this little section stood out to me.
"Drivers and pedestrians said they typically broke laws to save time. Cyclists, however, said they typically broke laws to stay safe."
ridiculously true. at no point on my bike do i think about The Law. i think about safety
"Drivers and pedestrians said they typically broke laws to save time. Cyclists, however, said they typically broke laws to stay safe."
ridiculously true. at no point on my bike do i think about The Law. i think about safety
Reposted by CD Covington
The news that AI was being trained on stolen works?
It was broken first about the BooksCorpus, on May 11 of 2021, and it was discussed in major news media thereafter. Romance authors talked about it. A lot.
The first archive they stole was largely romance.
arxiv.org/abs/2105.05241
It was broken first about the BooksCorpus, on May 11 of 2021, and it was discussed in major news media thereafter. Romance authors talked about it. A lot.
The first archive they stole was largely romance.
arxiv.org/abs/2105.05241
Addressing "Documentation Debt" in Machine Learning Research: A Retrospective Datasheet for BookCorpus
Recent literature has underscored the importance of dataset documentation work for machine learning, and part of this work involves addressing "documentation debt" for datasets that have been used wid...
arxiv.org
December 24, 2025 at 2:54 AM
The news that AI was being trained on stolen works?
It was broken first about the BooksCorpus, on May 11 of 2021, and it was discussed in major news media thereafter. Romance authors talked about it. A lot.
The first archive they stole was largely romance.
arxiv.org/abs/2105.05241
It was broken first about the BooksCorpus, on May 11 of 2021, and it was discussed in major news media thereafter. Romance authors talked about it. A lot.
The first archive they stole was largely romance.
arxiv.org/abs/2105.05241
Reposted by CD Covington
The news about Harlequin translators getting fired en masse?
You should care about that. They're doing it there because they think nobody gives a shit about romance and so it's fine to experiment with it first.
You should care about that. They're doing it there because they think nobody gives a shit about romance and so it's fine to experiment with it first.
December 24, 2025 at 2:53 AM
The news about Harlequin translators getting fired en masse?
You should care about that. They're doing it there because they think nobody gives a shit about romance and so it's fine to experiment with it first.
You should care about that. They're doing it there because they think nobody gives a shit about romance and so it's fine to experiment with it first.
Reposted by CD Covington
Reagan's project was successful: now, many Americans have no idea what a "public good" is.
Their only framework for social interaction--outside friends & family--is set by the concepts of private property & consumer choice.
That explains a lot about voting patterns & the dying sense of civic duty.
Their only framework for social interaction--outside friends & family--is set by the concepts of private property & consumer choice.
That explains a lot about voting patterns & the dying sense of civic duty.
Today I helped someone at the library who didn't know you could borrow items for free. She gave me her library card and $40 to pay for the books. Was delighted when I said everything is free to use.
I'd never encountered that before. I assumed people just knew library items were free and public.
I'd never encountered that before. I assumed people just knew library items were free and public.
December 23, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Reagan's project was successful: now, many Americans have no idea what a "public good" is.
Their only framework for social interaction--outside friends & family--is set by the concepts of private property & consumer choice.
That explains a lot about voting patterns & the dying sense of civic duty.
Their only framework for social interaction--outside friends & family--is set by the concepts of private property & consumer choice.
That explains a lot about voting patterns & the dying sense of civic duty.
Reposted by CD Covington
look at how little effort it takes for someone on the conservative grievance circuit to destroy a life
millions of college kids have half assed an assignment at the last minute, you eat the F and move on
but the effort to push trans people out of public life will use whatever it can get
millions of college kids have half assed an assignment at the last minute, you eat the F and move on
but the effort to push trans people out of public life will use whatever it can get
Worth noting that the student admits that she just threw the thing together in 30 minutes without reading the paper she was supposed to be responding to.
December 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
look at how little effort it takes for someone on the conservative grievance circuit to destroy a life
millions of college kids have half assed an assignment at the last minute, you eat the F and move on
but the effort to push trans people out of public life will use whatever it can get
millions of college kids have half assed an assignment at the last minute, you eat the F and move on
but the effort to push trans people out of public life will use whatever it can get
Reposted by CD Covington
The survey is open to non-members (I am not one) and to readers (who here is not &c.) so I encourage you to share your feelings on the matter. Don't assume that everyone already understands that AI is bad or why! I mean, people *should*, but you could say that about a lot of things.
SFWA members and general SFF community:
In this press release, our Board of Directors apologizes for recent events.
Feedback from writers is strongly welcomed in the survey.
SFWA Members: Write to office@sfwa.org to support our Emerging Tech Committee.
www.sfwa.org/2025/12/22/p...
In this press release, our Board of Directors apologizes for recent events.
Feedback from writers is strongly welcomed in the survey.
SFWA Members: Write to office@sfwa.org to support our Emerging Tech Committee.
www.sfwa.org/2025/12/22/p...
December 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The survey is open to non-members (I am not one) and to readers (who here is not &c.) so I encourage you to share your feelings on the matter. Don't assume that everyone already understands that AI is bad or why! I mean, people *should*, but you could say that about a lot of things.
Reposted by CD Covington
Wer angesichts von 1,2 Milliarden geleisteten Überstunden immer noch glaubt, der Mangel an Arbeitszeit sei die Ursache unserer lahmenden Wirtschaft, sollte sich am besten gar nicht zu dem Thema äußern.
"Wir müssen in Deutschland insgesamt mehr arbeiten": Katherina Reiche will Arbeitsreformen
Wirtschaftsministerin Reiche fordert mehr Arbeitszeit in Deutschland und flexibleren Kündigungsschutz für Besserverdienende. Sie plädiert für umfassende Reformen angesichts struktureller Probleme und ...
www.t-online.de
December 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Wer angesichts von 1,2 Milliarden geleisteten Überstunden immer noch glaubt, der Mangel an Arbeitszeit sei die Ursache unserer lahmenden Wirtschaft, sollte sich am besten gar nicht zu dem Thema äußern.
Reposted by CD Covington
Wir haben gerade noch einen Mann in Hessen freigekauft. Seine Mutter liegt im Hospiz und will ihn „nochmal sehen“. Sie hatte all ihr Geld beim Gefängnis eingezahlt, aber es reichte nicht. Er saß ein wegen Fahren ohne Ticket.
Habt schöne Feiertage.
Habt schöne Feiertage.
December 22, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Wir haben gerade noch einen Mann in Hessen freigekauft. Seine Mutter liegt im Hospiz und will ihn „nochmal sehen“. Sie hatte all ihr Geld beim Gefängnis eingezahlt, aber es reichte nicht. Er saß ein wegen Fahren ohne Ticket.
Habt schöne Feiertage.
Habt schöne Feiertage.
I have a new newsletter out, where I talk a little about one of my favorite German words: gemütlich. It's not a Christmas word, but Christmas is gemütlich (to me).
#linguistics #language
#linguistics #language
Favorite words: gemütlich
Hello, and happy holidays! I’m finally getting into the holiday spirit. I don’t have space for a tree or decorations (and I have a cat), so I don’t get into...
buttondown.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:34 AM
I have a new newsletter out, where I talk a little about one of my favorite German words: gemütlich. It's not a Christmas word, but Christmas is gemütlich (to me).
#linguistics #language
#linguistics #language
Reposted by CD Covington
Bari’s complaint was “there’s nothing new here” and while that’s untrue it’s also irrelevant
“we intentionally sent people to be tortured in a hellhole and bragged about it and The Hague is too good for everyone involved” is a story that simply cannot be told enough
“we intentionally sent people to be tortured in a hellhole and bragged about it and The Hague is too good for everyone involved” is a story that simply cannot be told enough
December 23, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Bari’s complaint was “there’s nothing new here” and while that’s untrue it’s also irrelevant
“we intentionally sent people to be tortured in a hellhole and bragged about it and The Hague is too good for everyone involved” is a story that simply cannot be told enough
“we intentionally sent people to be tortured in a hellhole and bragged about it and The Hague is too good for everyone involved” is a story that simply cannot be told enough