Janeen Fernando
@janeenfernando.bsky.social
Currently @UN. All views are my own. 🇱🇰🇹🇭🇲🇻
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
For all the advances in AI over the past few years, even the cleverest chatbots still sometimes spout nonsense. This is mostly a mild irritation. But sometimes it can get their makers into trouble
Libellous chatbots could be AI’s next big legal headache
Companies from Google and Meta to OpenAI are getting sued for defamation
econ.st
November 15, 2025 at 9:20 PM
For all the advances in AI over the past few years, even the cleverest chatbots still sometimes spout nonsense. This is mostly a mild irritation. But sometimes it can get their makers into trouble
Possibly more enjoyable than Wordle now
How did you do in Connections today? Players must select four groups of four words without making more than three mistakes. nyti.ms/3HxTwr1
August 16, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Possibly more enjoyable than Wordle now
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
Measles once killed millions every year. Vaccines changed this, preventing disease, long-term immune damage and deadly outbreaks.
In this article @scientificdiscovery.dev & @spoonerf.bsky.social explain how vaccines were developed and their impact on saving lives. ourworldindata.org/measles-vacc...
In this article @scientificdiscovery.dev & @spoonerf.bsky.social explain how vaccines were developed and their impact on saving lives. ourworldindata.org/measles-vacc...
Measles vaccines save millions of lives each year
Measles once killed millions every year. Vaccines changed this, preventing disease, long-term immune damage, and deadly outbreaks.
ourworldindata.org
May 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Measles once killed millions every year. Vaccines changed this, preventing disease, long-term immune damage and deadly outbreaks.
In this article @scientificdiscovery.dev & @spoonerf.bsky.social explain how vaccines were developed and their impact on saving lives. ourworldindata.org/measles-vacc...
In this article @scientificdiscovery.dev & @spoonerf.bsky.social explain how vaccines were developed and their impact on saving lives. ourworldindata.org/measles-vacc...
Memories from Annie, but also Mad Men’s immortalized ‘reboot’
The Broadway composer of "Annie" and "Bye Bye Birdie" died Thursday at 96.
Charles Strouse, Broadway composer of 'Annie' and 'Bye Bye Birdie,' dies at 96
The Broadway composer of Annie and Bye Bye Birdie died Thursday at 96.
www.npr.org
May 16, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Memories from Annie, but also Mad Men’s immortalized ‘reboot’
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
It’s that magical time of the year again, when we worry that the broken US political system will result in the unnecessary sovereign default of the world’s premier reserve asset and usher in financial Ragnarok. on.ft.com/3YB80M2
May 9, 2025 at 11:59 AM
It’s that magical time of the year again, when we worry that the broken US political system will result in the unnecessary sovereign default of the world’s premier reserve asset and usher in financial Ragnarok. on.ft.com/3YB80M2
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
The 1983 pilot of “Thomas & Friends,” featuring narration from Ringo Starr, was found in storage by accident. It was restored and made available for viewing for the first time on Friday. Watch here.
Rediscovered Thomas the Tank Engine Pilot Is Released
www.nytimes.com
May 9, 2025 at 6:58 PM
The 1983 pilot of “Thomas & Friends,” featuring narration from Ringo Starr, was found in storage by accident. It was restored and made available for viewing for the first time on Friday. Watch here.
I mean…still completely rational 🤷🏽♂️
Did I finish the books I bought 2 weeks ago?
No
But did I finish the book I bought last week?
Also no
But did I just buy another book?
Yes, why do you ask? 🤪
No
But did I finish the book I bought last week?
Also no
But did I just buy another book?
Yes, why do you ask? 🤪
May 1, 2025 at 5:10 AM
I mean…still completely rational 🤷🏽♂️
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
"Improvements since 2007 reduced costs by 19%, averaging $5 billion per hurricane. This exceeds the annual budget for all federal weather forecasting."
#NOAA
#NOAA
The economic value of hurricane forecasts
www.nber.org/papers/w3254...
www.nber.org/papers/w3254...
The Social Value of Hurricane Forecasts
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
April 16, 2025 at 5:17 PM
"Improvements since 2007 reduced costs by 19%, averaging $5 billion per hurricane. This exceeds the annual budget for all federal weather forecasting."
#NOAA
#NOAA
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
greenland’s outgoing leader greets danish pm as she arrives in nuuk
slightly warmer reception than the vance visit
slightly warmer reception than the vance visit
April 2, 2025 at 8:43 PM
greenland’s outgoing leader greets danish pm as she arrives in nuuk
slightly warmer reception than the vance visit
slightly warmer reception than the vance visit
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
China reduced extreme poverty rapidly, but Indonesia hasn't been far behind
April 2, 2025 at 3:21 PM
China reduced extreme poverty rapidly, but Indonesia hasn't been far behind
Well it’s Ash Wednesday and I found this little gem from some old 1940s #archival research. Turns out Catholic Church in Ceylon thought the enforced hardships of WWII incl rationing, relocation was indeed sufficient to give people a free pass on Lenten Sacrifice #lka #lent #SriLanka #history #WWII
March 5, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Must watch!
Here’s an entertaining explainer on content moderation -what it actually is, why conservative “censorship” complaints were always self-serving propaganda, & why Meta actually backed away.
Years of writing, research & court proceedings synthesized into shareable satire.
youtu.be/nf7XHR3EVHo?...
Years of writing, research & court proceedings synthesized into shareable satire.
youtu.be/nf7XHR3EVHo?...
Facebook & Content Moderation: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
youtu.be
February 25, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Must watch!
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
Cars in the UK are much less polluting than they were 30 years ago, thanks to emissions limits and technological advancements from automakers.
This is one of the reasons why air quality in the UK is now better than it was for several generations.
This is one of the reasons why air quality in the UK is now better than it was for several generations.
February 17, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Cars in the UK are much less polluting than they were 30 years ago, thanks to emissions limits and technological advancements from automakers.
This is one of the reasons why air quality in the UK is now better than it was for several generations.
This is one of the reasons why air quality in the UK is now better than it was for several generations.
Very reminiscent of bygone times visiting this stunning cathedral and the little train ride from Cam
February 18, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Very reminiscent of bygone times visiting this stunning cathedral and the little train ride from Cam
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
Who invited the AI notetaker?
The use of artificial intelligence in meetings raises etiquette and privacy concerns.
The use of artificial intelligence in meetings raises etiquette and privacy concerns.
Please Stop Inviting AI Notetakers to Meetings
Using artificial intelligence to summarize meetings raises questions around etiquette, privacy and the purpose of meeting in the first place.
www.bloomberg.com
February 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Who invited the AI notetaker?
The use of artificial intelligence in meetings raises etiquette and privacy concerns.
The use of artificial intelligence in meetings raises etiquette and privacy concerns.
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
Richard de Zoysa was abducted and killed 35 years ago next week (18 Feb). In his memory, and the unfinished struggle for truth and justice for all victims of enforced disappearances in #SriLanka, #PolityLK will publish 9 pieces.
For updates follow us linktr.ee/politylk
1/4
For updates follow us linktr.ee/politylk
1/4
February 13, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Richard de Zoysa was abducted and killed 35 years ago next week (18 Feb). In his memory, and the unfinished struggle for truth and justice for all victims of enforced disappearances in #SriLanka, #PolityLK will publish 9 pieces.
For updates follow us linktr.ee/politylk
1/4
For updates follow us linktr.ee/politylk
1/4
A delightfully quirky bit of Lankan internet trivia and history, with a bit of cautionary tale woven in. Do read. #lka
It's funny knowing that people are spending a few dollars every year just for the simple reason of redirecting a tiny portion of Sajith Premadasa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa's web traffic to Hiru TV and the Department of Prisons. I think that's beautiful.
Sajith and Gota: A tale of two domains
Two domain names under Sajith Premadasa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa exist solely to redirect traffic to other corners of the internet.
readme.lk
February 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
A delightfully quirky bit of Lankan internet trivia and history, with a bit of cautionary tale woven in. Do read. #lka
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
The USAID's website has gone off line as the Trump administration continues to review its future and the path forward for US foreign aid in general.
USAID Website Goes Dark With Future of US Assistance in Doubt
The US Agency for International Development’s website was off-line over the weekend as the Trump administration continues to review its future and the path forward for US foreign aid in general.
www.bloomberg.com
February 2, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The USAID's website has gone off line as the Trump administration continues to review its future and the path forward for US foreign aid in general.
Digital refugees, flock here?
January 25, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Digital refugees, flock here?
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
India plans to simplify its income tax filing rules to make it less tedious for taxpayers to comply with the law and help cut down on disputes that have ballooned to more than $120 billion over the past decade
India to Simplify Decades-Old Income Tax Filing Rules in Budget
India’s government plans to simplify its income tax filing rules to make it less tedious for taxpayers to comply with the law and help cut down on disputes that have ballooned to more than $120 billio...
www.bloomberg.com
January 8, 2025 at 7:05 AM
India plans to simplify its income tax filing rules to make it less tedious for taxpayers to comply with the law and help cut down on disputes that have ballooned to more than $120 billion over the past decade
Imperial ambitions extend to every Nuuk and cranny?
January 8, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Imperial ambitions extend to every Nuuk and cranny?
Reposted by Janeen Fernando
I've been very quiet here, but here's a great thing that happened recently: Theatre Studies at the U. of Glasgow has launched a *free* online introduction to playwriting in partnership with Playwrights' Studio, Scotland! www.futurelearn.com/courses/an-i... Do pass on to anybody interested!
Introduction to Playwriting - Online Course
In this intro course, you'll generate ideas for a play and get to know genre, drama structure, exposition, dialogue, and drafting.
www.futurelearn.com
December 2, 2024 at 11:32 AM
I've been very quiet here, but here's a great thing that happened recently: Theatre Studies at the U. of Glasgow has launched a *free* online introduction to playwriting in partnership with Playwrights' Studio, Scotland! www.futurelearn.com/courses/an-i... Do pass on to anybody interested!
The X verse losing its mind over a PhD title is a bizarre illustration of the (pseudo) anti-institutionalist moment we seem to be living in.
December 2, 2024 at 12:07 PM
The X verse losing its mind over a PhD title is a bizarre illustration of the (pseudo) anti-institutionalist moment we seem to be living in.