JP Babb
@jpbabb.bsky.social
I am an SF author and academic, currently pursuing a PhD in science and technology studies in Toronto. My research interests include science fiction, epistemology, and the history of cosmology, among others.
Hiveminds are a good idea, actually. We should do that.
December 7, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Hiveminds are a good idea, actually. We should do that.
Reposted by JP Babb
If JKR is willing to destroy every women's and girls' organisation and institution in this country in her crusade against trans rights, make her fucking do it. Call her bluff. Full juridicial kamikaze. Show everyone how much these ghouls really care about women's and girls' spaces.
All these statements being made with "utmost regret and sadness" fundamentally don't change the fact that these organisations are all folding to appease one vexatious bigot because she has infinite money, instead of doing the right thing and sticking by their guns and ignoring the Supreme Court.
Women’s Institute will no longer accept trans women as members from April
Exclusive: CEO says decision taken with ‘utmost regret and sadness’ after supreme court ruling on definition of a woman
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:27 AM
If JKR is willing to destroy every women's and girls' organisation and institution in this country in her crusade against trans rights, make her fucking do it. Call her bluff. Full juridicial kamikaze. Show everyone how much these ghouls really care about women's and girls' spaces.
I remember when people were freaking out about how the orgy scene in #LowerDecks went against "Gene's vision", and I just imagined actual Gene Roddenberry getting angry at it because there's no enough hole and also he's just decided that everyone in the future has two sets of genitals #StarTrek
I feel like Gene would approve.
November 5, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I remember when people were freaking out about how the orgy scene in #LowerDecks went against "Gene's vision", and I just imagined actual Gene Roddenberry getting angry at it because there's no enough hole and also he's just decided that everyone in the future has two sets of genitals #StarTrek
if I were in charge of a Star Trek series, it would have a recreational sex change midway through the first season. Not even a big thing, just like "Oh, hey, you're a woman now!" "Oh yeah, yeah, I kind of felt like it was time for a change, y'know?" And then they shrug and go do their jobs.
November 5, 2025 at 4:46 PM
if I were in charge of a Star Trek series, it would have a recreational sex change midway through the first season. Not even a big thing, just like "Oh, hey, you're a woman now!" "Oh yeah, yeah, I kind of felt like it was time for a change, y'know?" And then they shrug and go do their jobs.
How come characters who want to form hiveminds (with the honourable exception of Agnes Jurati) never get to be heroes?
Like, I'm sorry, but Viktor was the only one proposing proactive solutions to Piltover's social crises. #Arcane
Like, I'm sorry, but Viktor was the only one proposing proactive solutions to Piltover's social crises. #Arcane
October 25, 2025 at 1:05 PM
How come characters who want to form hiveminds (with the honourable exception of Agnes Jurati) never get to be heroes?
Like, I'm sorry, but Viktor was the only one proposing proactive solutions to Piltover's social crises. #Arcane
Like, I'm sorry, but Viktor was the only one proposing proactive solutions to Piltover's social crises. #Arcane
Reposted by JP Babb
“The advice is ingrained with the optimism that this technology will only get better. It’s the same story the AI companies are telling: with more computers and more data, all will be fine. That’s bullshit. This is and will always be a statistical, associative machine.”
Belgian AI scientists are advocating *against* the use of AI in academia. “If independent thinking is no longer encouraged at university, where would it?” apache.be/2025/10/24/b...
Belgian AI scientists resist the use of AI in academia
Several AI scientists have published an open letter calling for a ban on AI use by students.
apache.be
October 25, 2025 at 10:54 AM
“The advice is ingrained with the optimism that this technology will only get better. It’s the same story the AI companies are telling: with more computers and more data, all will be fine. That’s bullshit. This is and will always be a statistical, associative machine.”
People scoff at science fiction and fantasy, but I bet that serious literary novelists have never once needed to rise to the challenge of writing from the perspective of a distributed consciousness simultaneously existing in like six different places at once.
October 25, 2025 at 4:44 AM
People scoff at science fiction and fantasy, but I bet that serious literary novelists have never once needed to rise to the challenge of writing from the perspective of a distributed consciousness simultaneously existing in like six different places at once.
The most frustrating thing is when you have to argue against someone who doesn't realise that you already agree with them.
October 15, 2025 at 3:34 AM
The most frustrating thing is when you have to argue against someone who doesn't realise that you already agree with them.
Everyone fears them until they don't. And then the dam bursts.
We’re in this weird period in which everyone is afraid of people that almost everyone despises
Witkoff tries to praise Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, but has a hard time finishing his thought because of booing
October 12, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Everyone fears them until they don't. And then the dam bursts.
What can I say, it's a *really* good book!
Just want to say I cannot put this book down.
(I mean. I’m not reading it *now* because I’m posting this and gonna have spaghetti later and was running errands earlier but it is being read often throughout the day.)
(I mean. I’m not reading it *now* because I’m posting this and gonna have spaghetti later and was running errands earlier but it is being read often throughout the day.)
October 11, 2025 at 10:33 PM
What can I say, it's a *really* good book!
Reposted by JP Babb
Discworld QOTD, from Men at Arms
“If you had enough money, you could hardly commit crimes at all. You just perpetrated amusing little peccadilloes.”
“If you had enough money, you could hardly commit crimes at all. You just perpetrated amusing little peccadilloes.”
Discworld QOTD, from The Wee Free Men
October 9, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Men at Arms
“If you had enough money, you could hardly commit crimes at all. You just perpetrated amusing little peccadilloes.”
“If you had enough money, you could hardly commit crimes at all. You just perpetrated amusing little peccadilloes.”
I think that we need to bring back physical media as a tool of resistance. I'm just thinking of all of these underground comics from the 70s and 80s that were so over the top that they would certainly just be taken down for ToS violations from, say, Webtoon.
October 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I think that we need to bring back physical media as a tool of resistance. I'm just thinking of all of these underground comics from the 70s and 80s that were so over the top that they would certainly just be taken down for ToS violations from, say, Webtoon.
So buckle up, everyone; I'm a real academic, and I'm about to explicate one of the greatest works of art of the 20th century: #CowTools, by #GaryLarson! #TheFarSide #ComicsStudies [Note: a version of this essay previously appeared on my Tumblr blog] 1/
October 6, 2025 at 1:30 AM
So buckle up, everyone; I'm a real academic, and I'm about to explicate one of the greatest works of art of the 20th century: #CowTools, by #GaryLarson! #TheFarSide #ComicsStudies [Note: a version of this essay previously appeared on my Tumblr blog] 1/
Reposted by JP Babb
I had no idea that the phrase “Back to the old drawing board” comes from this Peter Arno cartoon from March 1st 1941’s New Yorker. It’s rather splendid to be able to date the birth of what would become part of everyday speech with such precision.
September 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I had no idea that the phrase “Back to the old drawing board” comes from this Peter Arno cartoon from March 1st 1941’s New Yorker. It’s rather splendid to be able to date the birth of what would become part of everyday speech with such precision.
Reposted by JP Babb
Good lord! Read the translated alt-text!
In La Repubblica, really extraordinary text (look at alt text), essentially saying calling this fascism is too subtle, that it’s worse and Hegseth is a lunatic.
Who am I to argue?
www.repubblica.it/rubriche/l-a...
Who am I to argue?
www.repubblica.it/rubriche/l-a...
October 1, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Good lord! Read the translated alt-text!
Reposted by JP Babb
i made a helpful reference
September 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
i made a helpful reference
Reality's End
Reality's End: Babb, J.P.: 9781997596110: Books - Amazon.ca
www.amazon.ca
October 2, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Reposted by JP Babb
These scripts are GREAT and these calls are EASY and ESSENTIAL. Call your senators and reps today and tell them to vote against ANY bill that contains cuts to trans health care.
#DidThisToday
#DidThisToday
so: what do we need you to do? two things.
1.call your D/I senators. find contact info here: reps.fyi
what do we need you to say? try the call script below. adapt it; make it your own! there are bailout points written in, in case you get nervous. but please *call.* 🧵
1.call your D/I senators. find contact info here: reps.fyi
what do we need you to say? try the call script below. adapt it; make it your own! there are bailout points written in, in case you get nervous. but please *call.* 🧵
![Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I'm one of Senator [THEIR NAME]'s constituents. House Republicans are trying to insert a multiple articles of anti-trans legislation, including a full transgender healthcare funding ban, into the F-Y '26 budget. I'm calling to tell the Senator to stand up for trans Americans and vote NO on any bill with that language. This IS worth forcing a shutdown.
[you can stop here at 0:20 if you want to bail out—but it's better if you don't]
This care funding ban follows the map the G-O-P charted while attacking abortion. Democrats lost that fight by giving in to the G-O-P an inch at a time. Giving an inch at a time on trans care will devastate trans Americans and it'll get Democrats nothing in return but contempt.
[you can stop here at 0:40 if you want to bail out—but it's better if you don't]
Right now, the most popular Democrat in the U-S, [Zo-RAHN Mom-DA-nee], is campaigning on making trans healthcare cheaper and easier to access, and he's only got more good will because of it.
[you can stop here at 0:50 if you want to bail out—but it's better if you don't]
I'm asking the Senator to refuse to allow any anti-trans language including a healthcare ban in the F-Y '26 bill. Do not vote for any bill with that language. This IS worth forcing a shutdown. Standing with trans people is the right thing to do and it's politically smart. Voters and donors show up for Democrats who fight.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2lzahebnas6od6j6jfydwst7/bafkreih4xihrkllo4bucwiubjidhjlbjt3k7x6wtzdk776qx67tpcaizli@jpeg)
September 29, 2025 at 4:56 PM
These scripts are GREAT and these calls are EASY and ESSENTIAL. Call your senators and reps today and tell them to vote against ANY bill that contains cuts to trans health care.
#DidThisToday
#DidThisToday
Reposted by JP Babb
I just called Chuck Schumer’s office and, for the first time EVER, a person answered, who then politely entered my complaints into their call log.
This tells me two things:
1) They’re not getting enough calls over there, and 2) If you want to yell at Schumer, today’s the day.
(212) 486-4430
This tells me two things:
1) They’re not getting enough calls over there, and 2) If you want to yell at Schumer, today’s the day.
(212) 486-4430
hey, cis people. we need you to call every single elected official you've got, now.
Trump threatens to shut down US government unless Democrats agree to ban all trans health care
https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/09/29/trans-care-ban-government-shutdown/?utm_content=1759153201&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky
https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/09/29/trans-care-ban-government-shutdown/?utm_content=1759153201&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky
September 29, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I just called Chuck Schumer’s office and, for the first time EVER, a person answered, who then politely entered my complaints into their call log.
This tells me two things:
1) They’re not getting enough calls over there, and 2) If you want to yell at Schumer, today’s the day.
(212) 486-4430
This tells me two things:
1) They’re not getting enough calls over there, and 2) If you want to yell at Schumer, today’s the day.
(212) 486-4430
With Jimmy Kimmel, the administration made the classic authoritarian mistake of going too hard after too normie of a celebrity too soon into their regime.
September 23, 2025 at 1:46 AM
With Jimmy Kimmel, the administration made the classic authoritarian mistake of going too hard after too normie of a celebrity too soon into their regime.
So I'm trying to figure out what's been bugging me about this season of #SNW and I think it's exemplified by "Four and Half Vulcans". A lot of people have (fairly) dunked on this one for its writing and its bioessentialism and its *ahem* comedy. But I want to talk about its premise. #writing 1/
September 20, 2025 at 1:07 AM