Mark Masterson
@mastermark.me
Trying to do better. A hell of a lot less clever than I used to think I was. Recovering male human.
CEO of Ito (itoworld.com)
CEO of Ito (itoworld.com)
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Good piece on the deafening silence from the increasingly Trumpified world of U.S. sports by @edgeofsports.bsky.social
Like the rest of the entertainment industry, sports is happy to play along with the “no-politics” normalization of the far right.
Like the rest of the entertainment industry, sports is happy to play along with the “no-politics” normalization of the far right.
In a Year of Violent Tumult, the Sports World Was Silent
When the country needed them to speak out, most athletes kept mum—and a few openly embraced embraced Trumpism.
www.thenation.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Good piece on the deafening silence from the increasingly Trumpified world of U.S. sports by @edgeofsports.bsky.social
Like the rest of the entertainment industry, sports is happy to play along with the “no-politics” normalization of the far right.
Like the rest of the entertainment industry, sports is happy to play along with the “no-politics” normalization of the far right.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
The other important thing is parallel work -- don't sit there and watch it work, it will be slower than doing it yourself. Work on something else at the same time as the agent is doing a parallel task in the background.
December 30, 2025 at 12:54 AM
The other important thing is parallel work -- don't sit there and watch it work, it will be slower than doing it yourself. Work on something else at the same time as the agent is doing a parallel task in the background.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
tldr you have to guide agents to the right places in your codebase containing good examples of what you want it to copy.
It is a copying machine. Garbage in, garbage out. No instructions/guidance? You get statistically average output and you are probably a better than average programmer.
It is a copying machine. Garbage in, garbage out. No instructions/guidance? You get statistically average output and you are probably a better than average programmer.
December 30, 2025 at 12:53 AM
tldr you have to guide agents to the right places in your codebase containing good examples of what you want it to copy.
It is a copying machine. Garbage in, garbage out. No instructions/guidance? You get statistically average output and you are probably a better than average programmer.
It is a copying machine. Garbage in, garbage out. No instructions/guidance? You get statistically average output and you are probably a better than average programmer.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
This guy has investigated this phenomenon extensively and actually recently released a book about it! Highly recommend his content.
Why we all talk like incels
YouTube video by Etymology Nerd
youtube.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:44 AM
This guy has investigated this phenomenon extensively and actually recently released a book about it! Highly recommend his content.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Denmark lost more troops per capita in the post 9/11 war on Afghanistan. Saying they “are not a good ally” because they won’t surrender their territories to the US is lunacy. We are betraying our allies to satisfy the whims of a would-be Emperor for whom the US is not enough.
They’re again advocating against Denmark when it comes to Greenland
December 27, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Denmark lost more troops per capita in the post 9/11 war on Afghanistan. Saying they “are not a good ally” because they won’t surrender their territories to the US is lunacy. We are betraying our allies to satisfy the whims of a would-be Emperor for whom the US is not enough.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
We’ve gone from bootlegging whiskey during prohibition to having to bootleg truth during fascism…
BREAKING: WATCH the full 60 Minutes CECOT segment here. This was sent to me anonymously. It appears to be the segment CBS' Bari Weiss killed. www.muellershewrote.com/p/watch-the-...
WATCH: The 60 Minutes CECOT Segment
I was sent the CECOT segment anonymously in a group chat.
www.muellershewrote.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:09 AM
We’ve gone from bootlegging whiskey during prohibition to having to bootleg truth during fascism…
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Incidentally only 2% of the photo archives owned by Getty Images have been digitized.
December 22, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Incidentally only 2% of the photo archives owned by Getty Images have been digitized.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.
Seems like it's worth posting this one again.
Why Do Historians Still Have To Go To Archives?
Why do historians go to archives? Hasn’t everything already been digitized?
contingentmagazine.org
December 22, 2025 at 1:40 AM
When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
‘“Her rhetoric is very dangerous,” Alnasseri said, adding that the majority of victims of sexual and domestic abuse know their abuser. “It’s deeply inaccurate, it’s misinformation and it’s spreading racism.”’
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Badenoch accused of making ‘deeply inaccurate’ claims about violence against women
Tory leader says Labour should focus on migrants ‘from cultures that don’t respect women’ rather than tackling misogyny in schools
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:44 PM
‘“Her rhetoric is very dangerous,” Alnasseri said, adding that the majority of victims of sexual and domestic abuse know their abuser. “It’s deeply inaccurate, it’s misinformation and it’s spreading racism.”’
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
I'm a cat person. Don't dislike dogs, particularly proper dogs like collies, just prefer cats. I've lived with 13 cats over my lifetime (max was 6 at once), so I am, of course a huge fan of @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
And I have this idea for an essay about 'cat geometry' but ... 1/5
And I have this idea for an essay about 'cat geometry' but ... 1/5
December 17, 2025 at 9:58 AM
I'm a cat person. Don't dislike dogs, particularly proper dogs like collies, just prefer cats. I've lived with 13 cats over my lifetime (max was 6 at once), so I am, of course a huge fan of @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
And I have this idea for an essay about 'cat geometry' but ... 1/5
And I have this idea for an essay about 'cat geometry' but ... 1/5
Reposted by Mark Masterson
median asking rent in the US per the Census Bureau (data is through 9/30)
JD Vance lies as he breathes
JD Vance lies as he breathes
December 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
median asking rent in the US per the Census Bureau (data is through 9/30)
JD Vance lies as he breathes
JD Vance lies as he breathes
This is a CEO. Of a massive entity. 🤯
And he only just 'learned' the things on this list? Setting aside the insanity of some of them (particularly the AI point that @ketanjoshi.co rightly makes)... 'Geography matters
...'? Etc
The sky is sometimes also blue. What is this chap being paid for? FFS
And he only just 'learned' the things on this list? Setting aside the insanity of some of them (particularly the AI point that @ketanjoshi.co rightly makes)... 'Geography matters
...'? Etc
The sky is sometimes also blue. What is this chap being paid for? FFS
A completely unhinged post from the head of Norway's oil fund: to hunt down the "leaders" of groups resisting AI implementation in companies and "remove" them
archive.ph/r0u2r
archive.ph/r0u2r
December 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
This is a CEO. Of a massive entity. 🤯
And he only just 'learned' the things on this list? Setting aside the insanity of some of them (particularly the AI point that @ketanjoshi.co rightly makes)... 'Geography matters
...'? Etc
The sky is sometimes also blue. What is this chap being paid for? FFS
And he only just 'learned' the things on this list? Setting aside the insanity of some of them (particularly the AI point that @ketanjoshi.co rightly makes)... 'Geography matters
...'? Etc
The sky is sometimes also blue. What is this chap being paid for? FFS
Reposted by Mark Masterson
I have come to the view that a) there is nothing inherently wrong with pornography, b) a worrying amount of Actually Existing Pornography is essentially hate propaganda against women, c) a lot of b is made under deeply abusive conditions.
Yes, which is why it is both true that (1) allowing THIS congress and THIS administration to sign internet restrictions or porn bans is crazy, but (2) there is a major, major problem with online access to pornography and liberals/Democrats needs to start thinking of ways to reckon with it.
also the online far-right are, almost to a man, porn-brained at a level that's quite difficult for people to process. they genuinely believe pornography is an expression of reality, and porn tropes shape their thinking about women.
December 15, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I have come to the view that a) there is nothing inherently wrong with pornography, b) a worrying amount of Actually Existing Pornography is essentially hate propaganda against women, c) a lot of b is made under deeply abusive conditions.
Yes. Yes, we did, and it was wildly naive...
In the '90s, people used the term "disintermediation" to celebrate the removal of institutional filters between people and information, which "wanted to be free."
What we see now is one result of that wildly naive view, combining untrammeled propaganda with a nearly total lack of critical thought.
What we see now is one result of that wildly naive view, combining untrammeled propaganda with a nearly total lack of critical thought.
December 15, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Yes. Yes, we did, and it was wildly naive...
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Quite a position to argues that the wokes are destroying a civilisation built on Christian faith but gang bangs are fine actually.
Reform MP Danny Kruger on pornstar/provocateur Bonnie Blue announcing her support for the party: "We’ll take votes from wherever we can get them, we want all the support we can get. Quite like Bonnie Blue."
Says party isn't "going to be fussy, we're not going to be judgemental" about Reform voters
Says party isn't "going to be fussy, we're not going to be judgemental" about Reform voters
December 15, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Quite a position to argues that the wokes are destroying a civilisation built on Christian faith but gang bangs are fine actually.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Oh noooo....
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
December 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Oh noooo....
Goddamn it, it's *not* a no win situation. Just respond with your goddamn *art*. Don't shitpost back, don't get trolled - write a goddamn song that speaks to goddamn power
www.theguardian.com/global/2025/...
www.theguardian.com/global/2025/...
The Trump administration keeps picking fights with pop stars. It’s a no-win situation | Adrian Horton
By using music from SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo in ICE videos, the government is playing a game of rage-bait
www.theguardian.com
December 13, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Goddamn it, it's *not* a no win situation. Just respond with your goddamn *art*. Don't shitpost back, don't get trolled - write a goddamn song that speaks to goddamn power
www.theguardian.com/global/2025/...
www.theguardian.com/global/2025/...
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Imagine writing a first person story about a secret affair with a member of the Kennedy Family who is currently one of the most powerful people in the country and not being able to sell a book about it to Americans
December 11, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Imagine writing a first person story about a secret affair with a member of the Kennedy Family who is currently one of the most powerful people in the country and not being able to sell a book about it to Americans
Yes, 💯, this is very, very good. Favorite quote:
"Well, we keep breeding these horses to run faster and faster, so it's only a matter of time until one of our mares gives birth to a locomotive." A human mind is not a word-guessing program with a lot of extra words.
😄
"Well, we keep breeding these horses to run faster and faster, so it's only a matter of time until one of our mares gives birth to a locomotive." A human mind is not a word-guessing program with a lot of extra words.
😄
One of the best things I've read about the AI bubble and how we should think about it from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
Pluralistic: The Reverse-Centaur’s Guide to Criticizing AI (05 Dec 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net
December 11, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Yes, 💯, this is very, very good. Favorite quote:
"Well, we keep breeding these horses to run faster and faster, so it's only a matter of time until one of our mares gives birth to a locomotive." A human mind is not a word-guessing program with a lot of extra words.
😄
"Well, we keep breeding these horses to run faster and faster, so it's only a matter of time until one of our mares gives birth to a locomotive." A human mind is not a word-guessing program with a lot of extra words.
😄
🧵
These ridiculous mega-projects like "datacenters in space" (doomed by thermodynamics) make a LOT more sense when you realize they're massive Ponzi schemes designed to transfer wealth from pension funds to VC's through "fee stacking."
It's the old Assets Under Management con. It should be illegal.
It's the old Assets Under Management con. It should be illegal.
“.. Skeptics believe the technical risks are being underestimated and say space-based data centers won’t be competitive on cost, especially if power and other constraints ease on the ground.”
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/tech/bezos-a...
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/tech/bezos-a...
December 11, 2025 at 1:54 PM
🧵
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Reposted by Mark Masterson
I can’t help thinking that when, in future, people ask what UK political leaders said as it became undeniable that US saw European liberal democracy as its no1 strategic foe, Starmer and others will regret that the answer is “not much, shuffled awkwardly, looked at their feet”.
December 10, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I can’t help thinking that when, in future, people ask what UK political leaders said as it became undeniable that US saw European liberal democracy as its no1 strategic foe, Starmer and others will regret that the answer is “not much, shuffled awkwardly, looked at their feet”.