Louise Seamster
@louiseseamster.bsky.social
debt, development, infrastructure, the economics of racial inequality, and the myth of racial progress. I express my own views
Reposted by Louise Seamster
“we train our own death now”
"It's not artificial intelligence. It's African intelligence."
Michael Geoffrey Asia, the secretary general of the Data Labelers Association in Kenya tells @jasonkoebler.bsky.social about the notoriously brutal and underpaid work of training AI.
Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH65...
Michael Geoffrey Asia, the secretary general of the Data Labelers Association in Kenya tells @jasonkoebler.bsky.social about the notoriously brutal and underpaid work of training AI.
Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH65...
February 17, 2026 at 3:18 PM
“we train our own death now”
Reposted by Louise Seamster
thinking about the conversation I had with Jesse Jackson in 2019:
"The truth of slavery—that Africans subsidized America’s wealth—that truth will not go away. It’s buried right now, but as each generation becomes much more serious, it will be grappled with." www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
"The truth of slavery—that Africans subsidized America’s wealth—that truth will not go away. It’s buried right now, but as each generation becomes much more serious, it will be grappled with." www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
![Jesse Jackson: Well, first of all, we had been freed without being made equal. There’s historical continuity between blacks being amassed in prison after 246 years of legal slavery. When there was a contest about it [in Dred Scott v. Sandford], the Supreme Court ruled that blacks had no rights. [After emancipation and the Civil War] those who had been slave masters became segregation masters. They took our freedom away from us; they began to lock up blacks by the thousands to do prison labor, farm labor—the whole range. They just put us back in slavery.
We finally, in 1954, broke the backbone—legally—of that system [with the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision], but we were never—there was never repair for damage done. Two hundred and forty-six years of slavery, then legal Jim Crow and [nearly] 5,000 lynchings without a conviction. And even today, discrimination by extension of that system has not completely ended.
So we had been fighting for repair. We fought against the barbarism for our freedom; now we’re fighting for our equality. We are the foundation of American society—not the bottom, the foundation. When the Declaration of Independence came, we had been enslaved for 157 years. We made cotton king. We are due a different kind of recognition.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4vkwol5raj4hnslvsqvmpiqw/bafkreic4dao7rhh7274jfmz3jjnb6s3ak5c2ag75h4jha7mgli3r3fqbey@jpeg)
February 17, 2026 at 12:54 PM
thinking about the conversation I had with Jesse Jackson in 2019:
"The truth of slavery—that Africans subsidized America’s wealth—that truth will not go away. It’s buried right now, but as each generation becomes much more serious, it will be grappled with." www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
"The truth of slavery—that Africans subsidized America’s wealth—that truth will not go away. It’s buried right now, but as each generation becomes much more serious, it will be grappled with." www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Reposted by Louise Seamster
colleagues do not despair if you missed the "digital humanities" train. these ones are still up for grabs and sure to attract tons of funding
1. the corporate humanities
2. the scalable humanities
3. the crypto humanities
4. the agile humanities
5. the consultancy humanities
1. the corporate humanities
2. the scalable humanities
3. the crypto humanities
4. the agile humanities
5. the consultancy humanities
February 17, 2026 at 1:25 PM
colleagues do not despair if you missed the "digital humanities" train. these ones are still up for grabs and sure to attract tons of funding
1. the corporate humanities
2. the scalable humanities
3. the crypto humanities
4. the agile humanities
5. the consultancy humanities
1. the corporate humanities
2. the scalable humanities
3. the crypto humanities
4. the agile humanities
5. the consultancy humanities
“Ambient AI listening in the hospital” what could go wrong
We've just rolled out ambient AI listening in our hospital, and my colleagues are really, really excited about it (more time doing things other than note writing). They're so excited that things like patient concerns/autonomy are lost.
We're just making up ethics as we go along with AI right now.
We're just making up ethics as we go along with AI right now.
Hot take: The doctor shouldn't be the one asking if it's ok if she uses AI to take patient notes. The power differential + patient anxiety + short appointment times means the patient feels pressure to say yes. It should be a question asked during check-in. (I wish it wasn't used at all, but...)
February 17, 2026 at 2:18 PM
“Ambient AI listening in the hospital” what could go wrong
Reposted by Louise Seamster
We've just rolled out ambient AI listening in our hospital, and my colleagues are really, really excited about it (more time doing things other than note writing). They're so excited that things like patient concerns/autonomy are lost.
We're just making up ethics as we go along with AI right now.
We're just making up ethics as we go along with AI right now.
Hot take: The doctor shouldn't be the one asking if it's ok if she uses AI to take patient notes. The power differential + patient anxiety + short appointment times means the patient feels pressure to say yes. It should be a question asked during check-in. (I wish it wasn't used at all, but...)
February 17, 2026 at 2:09 PM
We've just rolled out ambient AI listening in our hospital, and my colleagues are really, really excited about it (more time doing things other than note writing). They're so excited that things like patient concerns/autonomy are lost.
We're just making up ethics as we go along with AI right now.
We're just making up ethics as we go along with AI right now.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
"...alleging that school officials failed to ensure student safety and minimize classroom disruptions."
(because ICE raids on school grounds...oh never mind)
They're not done with curricular censorship, but cracking down on student speech and behavior is a real focus now.
(because ICE raids on school grounds...oh never mind)
They're not done with curricular censorship, but cracking down on student speech and behavior is a real focus now.
Texas AG probes three school districts over ICE protests
Paxton said his office is examining claims that administrators and faculty helped organize the demonstrations.
www.texastribune.org
February 17, 2026 at 12:04 PM
"...alleging that school officials failed to ensure student safety and minimize classroom disruptions."
(because ICE raids on school grounds...oh never mind)
They're not done with curricular censorship, but cracking down on student speech and behavior is a real focus now.
(because ICE raids on school grounds...oh never mind)
They're not done with curricular censorship, but cracking down on student speech and behavior is a real focus now.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
(1/11) If you live in NY, you’ve probably started seeing a new warning: “THIS PRICE WAS SET BY AN ALGORITHM USING YOUR PERSONAL DATA.” This mandatory disclosure went into effect late last year, and it’s the first attempt by a US state to grapple with a new generation of surveillance pricing.
February 11, 2026 at 8:41 PM
(1/11) If you live in NY, you’ve probably started seeing a new warning: “THIS PRICE WAS SET BY AN ALGORITHM USING YOUR PERSONAL DATA.” This mandatory disclosure went into effect late last year, and it’s the first attempt by a US state to grapple with a new generation of surveillance pricing.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Reposted by Louise Seamster
The pace at which US wealth concentration is rising is simply staggering
The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory
The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory
February 15, 2026 at 2:47 PM
The pace at which US wealth concentration is rising is simply staggering
The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory
The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Pell Grant Facing $11.5B Shortfall, CBO Says
If Congress doesn’t add money to the Federal Student Aid account by Sept. 30, students could face dramatic grant cuts or eligibility restrictions.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
If Congress doesn’t add money to the Federal Student Aid account by Sept. 30, students could face dramatic grant cuts or eligibility restrictions.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
CBO: Pell Grant Facing $11.5B Shortfall
If Congress doesn’t add money to the Federal Student Aid account by Sept. 30, students could face dramatic grant cuts or eligibility restrictions.
www.insidehighered.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Pell Grant Facing $11.5B Shortfall, CBO Says
If Congress doesn’t add money to the Federal Student Aid account by Sept. 30, students could face dramatic grant cuts or eligibility restrictions.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
If Congress doesn’t add money to the Federal Student Aid account by Sept. 30, students could face dramatic grant cuts or eligibility restrictions.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Reposted by Louise Seamster
I’m shaken by this point that the value of “curating” the telecasts of individual sports watchers via AI is gambling, bc of its logical extensions.
If we all see a different version of reality, we invest (literally) in reality differently. And someone else “wins” from those competing bets.
If we all see a different version of reality, we invest (literally) in reality differently. And someone else “wins” from those competing bets.
the real use value is gambling
February 15, 2026 at 12:45 PM
I’m shaken by this point that the value of “curating” the telecasts of individual sports watchers via AI is gambling, bc of its logical extensions.
If we all see a different version of reality, we invest (literally) in reality differently. And someone else “wins” from those competing bets.
If we all see a different version of reality, we invest (literally) in reality differently. And someone else “wins” from those competing bets.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Students Across the U.S. Are Protesting ICE. Texas Wants to Punish Their Schools. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/u...
Students Across the U.S. Are Protesting ICE. Texas Wants to Punish Their Schools.
www.nytimes.com
February 15, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Students Across the U.S. Are Protesting ICE. Texas Wants to Punish Their Schools. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/u...
Reposted by Louise Seamster
"Thanks to our growing insight into Epstein’s world, we have gained a clearer picture of the psychic and economic logic of the contemporary far right". Must read from Melinda Cooper www.equator.org/articles/eps...
Epstein Family Values • EQUATOR
The billionaire patriarchs of the American far-right want to rule an economy of masters and servants
www.equator.org
February 15, 2026 at 11:42 AM
"Thanks to our growing insight into Epstein’s world, we have gained a clearer picture of the psychic and economic logic of the contemporary far right". Must read from Melinda Cooper www.equator.org/articles/eps...
Reposted by Louise Seamster
“The Trump administration’s decision to not appeal this preliminary injunction means that for the foreseeable future, they cannot use civil rights laws or federal funding as a cudgel to remake the UC in its ideological image.”
—Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel
—Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel
Trump administration drops appeal of court order blocking $1.2-billion UCLA settlement
The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a major higher education case in which a federal judge blocked its $1.2-billion settlement proposal to UCLA over alleged civil rights violations. It will...
www.latimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM
“The Trump administration’s decision to not appeal this preliminary injunction means that for the foreseeable future, they cannot use civil rights laws or federal funding as a cudgel to remake the UC in its ideological image.”
—Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel
—Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel
Reposted by Louise Seamster
North Carolina lawmakers have voted to remove all college campus voting sites. Specifically at the largest HBCU in the US NC A&T. They now have to walk 30 minutes to their nearest polling place. Students are protesting this - pls share and support.
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/
Even without an on-campus voting site, NCAT students still marched to the polls. 💙💛 Students at North Carolina A&T showed that barriers won’t stop their voices. When access isn’t easy, they organize. ...
TikTok video by HBCU Student Action Alliance
www.tiktok.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:55 PM
North Carolina lawmakers have voted to remove all college campus voting sites. Specifically at the largest HBCU in the US NC A&T. They now have to walk 30 minutes to their nearest polling place. Students are protesting this - pls share and support.
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Much of my youth revolved around the website ZineLibrary. It went down around Occupy in a massive loss for a movement whose ideas and knowledge mostly doesn't circulate online but in person.
Anyway I've put it back online with a *thousand* anarchist zines:
zinelibrary.org
Anyway I've put it back online with a *thousand* anarchist zines:
zinelibrary.org
ZineLibrary
zinelibrary.org
February 14, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Much of my youth revolved around the website ZineLibrary. It went down around Occupy in a massive loss for a movement whose ideas and knowledge mostly doesn't circulate online but in person.
Anyway I've put it back online with a *thousand* anarchist zines:
zinelibrary.org
Anyway I've put it back online with a *thousand* anarchist zines:
zinelibrary.org
Reposted by Louise Seamster
I am hiring a postdoc @ Univ of Iowa. Potential project focuses include flood-risk infrastructure planning, disaster recovery processes and outcomes, insurance program externalities, or uncertainty in climate damage attribution. Please consider applying/sharing! jobs.uiowa.edu/postdoc/view...
Postdoctoral Requisition Details - Jobs@UIOWA: Search and Apply for Jobs at The University of Iowa
Jobs@UIOWA: The official place to search and apply for jobs at The University of Iowa.
jobs.uiowa.edu
February 13, 2026 at 7:38 PM
I am hiring a postdoc @ Univ of Iowa. Potential project focuses include flood-risk infrastructure planning, disaster recovery processes and outcomes, insurance program externalities, or uncertainty in climate damage attribution. Please consider applying/sharing! jobs.uiowa.edu/postdoc/view...
Reposted by Louise Seamster
The key thing here is that the local rapid response was able to figure out who had been taken, and make sure there was a lawyer working to free her. That makes a world of difference.
Call if you see this happening, and join your local one if you're a citizen.
Call if you see this happening, and join your local one if you're a citizen.
February 14, 2026 at 2:57 PM
The key thing here is that the local rapid response was able to figure out who had been taken, and make sure there was a lawyer working to free her. That makes a world of difference.
Call if you see this happening, and join your local one if you're a citizen.
Call if you see this happening, and join your local one if you're a citizen.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Ok I see you UCLA Faculty Association and the Council of University of California Faculty Associations, pushing your university to be better and creating the space for this to happen!
NEW: The Trump administration has dropped its appeal of a federal court order blocking its $1.2-billion settlement demand to UCLA over alleged campus civil rights violations: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Trump administration drops its appeal of court order blocking $1.2-billion UCLA settlement
The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a major higher education case in which a federal judge blocked its $1.2-billion settlement proposal to UCLA over alleged civil rights violations. But it ...
www.latimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Ok I see you UCLA Faculty Association and the Council of University of California Faculty Associations, pushing your university to be better and creating the space for this to happen!
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Great news. Note how the party that sued here was not the University of California but its faculty and staff unions.
NEW: The Trump administration has dropped its appeal of a federal court order blocking its $1.2-billion settlement demand to UCLA over alleged campus civil rights violations: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Trump administration drops its appeal of court order blocking $1.2-billion UCLA settlement
The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a major higher education case in which a federal judge blocked its $1.2-billion settlement proposal to UCLA over alleged civil rights violations. But it ...
www.latimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:02 AM
Great news. Note how the party that sued here was not the University of California but its faculty and staff unions.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
happy to see this news.. still mad that UCLA’s workers had to sue to stop this because our well-paid administrators were too spineless to fight for us
NEW: The Trump administration has dropped its appeal of a federal court order blocking its $1.2-billion settlement demand to UCLA over alleged campus civil rights violations: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Trump administration drops its appeal of court order blocking $1.2-billion UCLA settlement
The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a major higher education case in which a federal judge blocked its $1.2-billion settlement proposal to UCLA over alleged civil rights violations. But it ...
www.latimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:58 AM
happy to see this news.. still mad that UCLA’s workers had to sue to stop this because our well-paid administrators were too spineless to fight for us
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Once more: Columbia could have fought; it chose not.
NEW: The Trump administration has dropped its appeal of a federal court order blocking its $1.2-billion settlement demand to UCLA over alleged campus civil rights violations: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Trump administration drops its appeal of court order blocking $1.2-billion UCLA settlement
The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a major higher education case in which a federal judge blocked its $1.2-billion settlement proposal to UCLA over alleged civil rights violations. But it ...
www.latimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Once more: Columbia could have fought; it chose not.