Bill Smart
Bill Smart
@justbill.bsky.social
Roboticist
Walked into the local credit union today, and Should I Stay or Should I Go was playing over the speakers. When did The Clash become customer service music? #old
October 18, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Also, "Let's add daily standups"
October 13, 2025 at 5:59 AM
New Teslabot video dropped.
October 13, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Favorite tiki bar in LA? Does the Bamboo House of Dolls exist in some form?
September 29, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Reposted by Bill Smart
New from #SCIMaP - analysis of the White House’s Proposed FY 2026 National Science Foundation Budget.

Take-home: Slashing NSF by >50% will lead to ~$11 billion in economic loss and extensive job loss and reduced training opportunities in communities nationwide.

Report: osf.io/e8rnc

a 🧵
September 24, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Always go to the gig...

90 minutes each way to Portland for Sleater-Kinney last Wednesday,
September 13, 2025 at 4:18 AM
[invite open to @scalzi.com amd anyone else reading this]
September 3, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Can't wait! Also, Oregon State University (and me and my students) will be there with a booth full of real robots. Stop by on Sat or Sun if you want a guided tour and group complaining session about large language models
September 3, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Love it! Will you be selling prints on your Etsy?
August 30, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Wow! This takes me back to grad school. Can you still buy these somewhere?
August 16, 2025 at 5:33 AM
How about the (Rascal) Deputy?
www.identifont.com/find?font=de...
Identifont - Raskal Deputy
www.identifont.com
July 9, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Tell me you don't understand how machine learning works without telling me you don't understand how machine learning works.

This is what happens when you just use the thing, rather than taking the time to understand how the thing works first. Said old guy who did comp. learning theory last century
June 21, 2025 at 8:41 PM
And, for those with a whole work day to burn, Yasi Salek's Bandspain on Pulp the band, in two parts:
www.theringer.com/podcasts/ban...
[part 2 doesn't seem to be up on The Ringer yet]
Pulp: Part 1 (1978-1994) With Siân Pattenden - The Ringer
In today’s episode, we trace Pulp’s story, starting from high school talent show stars up through the moment they become Britpop major players. Yasi is joined by British music journalist, author...
www.theringer.com
May 26, 2025 at 5:16 PM
No, no. Memorial day, not April Fools' Day.

I'll take this opportunity to flag the awesome @harvilla.bsky.social and his 60 Songs episode on Common People: www.theringer.com/2021/03/24/m...
May 26, 2025 at 5:16 PM
0.00007174 bitcoin. You'll be a millionaire by the end of the month!
May 15, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Loved it
April 23, 2025 at 7:19 PM
He's now on Kill the Dead, on his own time
April 23, 2025 at 8:06 AM
My 15-year-old son had to pick a book, read it, and report on it for his high school lit class. No restrictions. His choice? The awesome Sandman Slim by the awesome @richardkadrey.bsky.social

My job here is done.
April 23, 2025 at 8:05 AM
At least with NSF awards, they're also paying for graduate students to learn the craft. In some sense, all NSF awards are (effectively) training awards, and the training is often as important as the science. No research grants means no new scientists, in addition to no new science.
April 23, 2025 at 8:01 AM
So, all of the other comments about the design, but I also can't help thinking about the level of dumb in interpreting "oyster catchers". Surely that's a bird reference (with great logo potential), not about literally catching oysters.
March 23, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Cinder (and her older brother Khalif)
March 11, 2025 at 12:18 AM
We do, indeed, have an orange one in Corvallis. Never seen it on the road, but often pass it parked on Circle.
February 21, 2025 at 6:44 AM
February 21, 2025 at 12:38 AM