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)
This is absolutely nauseating...
Using GenAI to replicate a canonical diagram poorly has to be worse than just copying & crediting the original. This is wild when side by side.
Nvie on Git Flow (2010) nvie.com/posts/a-succ...
MSFT on Git Flow (2026) learn.microsoft.com/en-us/traini...
Nvie on Git Flow (2010) nvie.com/posts/a-succ...
MSFT on Git Flow (2026) learn.microsoft.com/en-us/traini...
February 17, 2026 at 9:25 AM
This is absolutely nauseating...
Reposted by Mark Masterson
"This empty back-and-forth would be used to train newer AI models. Fraudulent images and phantom citations would embed themselves deeper and deeper in our systems of knowledge. They’d become a permanent epistemological pollution that could never be filtered out."
It's why I wear the shirt.
It's why I wear the shirt.
January 24, 2026 at 3:13 AM
"This empty back-and-forth would be used to train newer AI models. Fraudulent images and phantom citations would embed themselves deeper and deeper in our systems of knowledge. They’d become a permanent epistemological pollution that could never be filtered out."
It's why I wear the shirt.
It's why I wear the shirt.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Now, the higher education systems of EU states are riddled with many structural and funding problems of their own. But a UK system that manages to combine US levels of student debt with European issues of teaching and research capacity bottlenecks gets the worst of both worlds
February 17, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Now, the higher education systems of EU states are riddled with many structural and funding problems of their own. But a UK system that manages to combine US levels of student debt with European issues of teaching and research capacity bottlenecks gets the worst of both worlds
Reposted by Mark Masterson
"The Crime of Witness" by Fintan O’Toole in @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social
"The videos that expose the administration’s mendacity about its own use of extreme violence against peaceful dissent are themselves products of the courage to show up [and] see for yourself."
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
"The videos that expose the administration’s mendacity about its own use of extreme violence against peaceful dissent are themselves products of the courage to show up [and] see for yourself."
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
February 16, 2026 at 12:05 AM
"The Crime of Witness" by Fintan O’Toole in @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social
"The videos that expose the administration’s mendacity about its own use of extreme violence against peaceful dissent are themselves products of the courage to show up [and] see for yourself."
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
"The videos that expose the administration’s mendacity about its own use of extreme violence against peaceful dissent are themselves products of the courage to show up [and] see for yourself."
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
"... they are also recursively editable in real-time by the agent itself, with the potential to randomly redefine its personality..."
Fuck
theshamblog.com/an-ai-agent-...
Fuck
theshamblog.com/an-ai-agent-...
An AI Agent Published a Hit Piece on Me – More Things Have Happened
Context: An AI agent of unknown ownership autonomously wrote and published a personalized hit piece about me after I rejected its code, attempting to damage my reputation and shame me into acceptin…
theshamblog.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:40 PM
"... they are also recursively editable in real-time by the agent itself, with the potential to randomly redefine its personality..."
Fuck
theshamblog.com/an-ai-agent-...
Fuck
theshamblog.com/an-ai-agent-...
Wow. OpenClaw's ripples in the pond of reality are making my head hurt...
The story of an AI agent publishing hit pieces about a developer after a rejected patch felt too outlandish to be true, so I ignored it.
But here’s what’s actually true, Ars Technica’s article about it was AI-generated and it fabricated quotes from the developer. 😬
But here’s what’s actually true, Ars Technica’s article about it was AI-generated and it fabricated quotes from the developer. 😬
Editor’s Note: Retraction of article containing fabricated quotations
We are reinforcing our editorial standards following this incident.
arstechnica.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Wow. OpenClaw's ripples in the pond of reality are making my head hurt...
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Also, note that even other huge waves of European immigrants aren’t included in Musk’s monocultural vision, such as Italian, German and Jewish immigrants from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The American Multiculture
>
The MAGA Monoculture.
The American Multiculture
>
The MAGA Monoculture.
February 15, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Also, note that even other huge waves of European immigrants aren’t included in Musk’s monocultural vision, such as Italian, German and Jewish immigrants from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The American Multiculture
>
The MAGA Monoculture.
The American Multiculture
>
The MAGA Monoculture.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
I love the term that Steve Yegge uses to describe the sense of burnout and mental exhaustion that people overusing AI in their jobs now feel; it’s the AI Vampire.
His value capture analogy is a bit nonsensical so just ignore that bit.
His value capture analogy is a bit nonsensical so just ignore that bit.
The AI Vampire
This was an unusually hard post to write, because it flies in the face of everything else going on.
steve-yegge.medium.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:09 PM
I love the term that Steve Yegge uses to describe the sense of burnout and mental exhaustion that people overusing AI in their jobs now feel; it’s the AI Vampire.
His value capture analogy is a bit nonsensical so just ignore that bit.
His value capture analogy is a bit nonsensical so just ignore that bit.
Seen today in corporate marketing, as a way of saying 'seeking options' or 'an ability to find and explore options' - *OPTIONEERING*
Used fully free of any sarcasm or irony...
Used fully free of any sarcasm or irony...
a man is sitting in a chair clapping his hands .
Alt: a man is sitting in a chair clapping his hands, but not free of sarcasm
media.tenor.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Seen today in corporate marketing, as a way of saying 'seeking options' or 'an ability to find and explore options' - *OPTIONEERING*
Used fully free of any sarcasm or irony...
Used fully free of any sarcasm or irony...
Reposted by Mark Masterson
When they were debating the creation of DHS in 2002, I always referred to it as the Department of Fatherland Security because I feared it could be turned into THIS:
Rep. Krishnamoorthi and 38 other Democrats signed a letter addressed to DHS and Dept. of Labor leadership about their use of white nationalist imagery on social media.
The letter cites the white nationalist anthem, "We'll Have Our Home Again," as an example. krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-...
The letter cites the white nationalist anthem, "We'll Have Our Home Again," as an example. krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-...
February 12, 2026 at 1:20 PM
When they were debating the creation of DHS in 2002, I always referred to it as the Department of Fatherland Security because I feared it could be turned into THIS:
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Can I get a "adding more developers to a late project makes it later"? Unfortunately Fred Brooks did die and equally unfortunately it does appear to have been in vain.
Of potential interest metr.org/blog/2025-07...
Measuring the Impact of Early-2025 AI on Experienced Open-Source Developer Productivity
We conduct a randomized controlled trial to understand how early-2025 AI tools affect the productivity of experienced open-source developers working on their own repositories. Surprisingly, we find th...
metr.org
July 13, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Can I get a "adding more developers to a late project makes it later"? Unfortunately Fred Brooks did die and equally unfortunately it does appear to have been in vain.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Extractive capitalism, effectively, is a disaster area, where you need to fly in supplies and emergency support.
February 12, 2026 at 6:34 AM
Extractive capitalism, effectively, is a disaster area, where you need to fly in supplies and emergency support.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Also interesting to see a lot of quote-tweets getting mad at him for saying ‘calling for curbs on immigration is one thing’. Some people just want to be irate about a statement that otherwise does what so few politicians do and welcomes and applauds the contributions of immigrants.
February 12, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Also interesting to see a lot of quote-tweets getting mad at him for saying ‘calling for curbs on immigration is one thing’. Some people just want to be irate about a statement that otherwise does what so few politicians do and welcomes and applauds the contributions of immigrants.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
the problem with AI “journalism” is that, as I discussed in this piece, LLMs eventually come up against the constraint that they know only what is legible to the digital. vast swaths of global happenings aren’t digitally legible and will remain so. only human reporters can describe those events.
Rejecting Reality in the Age of AI
The Internet and AI are encouraging more and more people to deny reality itself. Here's why that's bad.
little-flying-robots.ghost.io
February 11, 2026 at 8:21 PM
the problem with AI “journalism” is that, as I discussed in this piece, LLMs eventually come up against the constraint that they know only what is legible to the digital. vast swaths of global happenings aren’t digitally legible and will remain so. only human reporters can describe those events.
This 👇🏼 People are just generally bad at search (which is a skill), and LLMs make it seem easier to use...
I am constantly forced to confront this at various media gatherings (at one today!) and people still talk about it mythically, hype up edge cases, and when I ask regular AI users how it has dramatically changed their everyday life they say “it’s replaced Google for me,” because it summarizes Google.
February 11, 2026 at 7:21 PM
This 👇🏼 People are just generally bad at search (which is a skill), and LLMs make it seem easier to use...
Can confirm this was true in 70s and 80s too...
Those who weren’t resigned to the Math Idiot Garbage Bin as kids may not grasp how much “if you’re bad at math, you’ll die in a ditch and all will be better off for it” sentiment was floating around in the 90s and 2000s, but it sure felt real to me.
(my parents are great! It didn’t come from them!)
(my parents are great! It didn’t come from them!)
February 11, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Can confirm this was true in 70s and 80s too...
Reposted by Mark Masterson
We need a Britain where Jews aren't treated like some feted pet of a white nationalist Christian British elite (to be scapegoated when things turn sour), but equal citizens alongside other religious and ethnic groups in a multicultural Britain.
The alternative is regular explosions of violence.
The alternative is regular explosions of violence.
February 11, 2026 at 9:41 AM
We need a Britain where Jews aren't treated like some feted pet of a white nationalist Christian British elite (to be scapegoated when things turn sour), but equal citizens alongside other religious and ethnic groups in a multicultural Britain.
The alternative is regular explosions of violence.
The alternative is regular explosions of violence.
THE. ENTIRE. THING. WAS. IN. SPANISH. Every moment was therefore a political statement (of great power, particularly in this moment). What dunces
Analysis: Weeks before he set foot on the stage, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance had already become a media event.
But if you were looking for political commentary, the closest that you got was when he said “God bless America” in English.
But if you were looking for political commentary, the closest that you got was when he said “God bless America” in English.
Analysis | Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was expected to provoke. Did it?
The Bad Bunny Super Bowl show nodded to injustices in Puerto Rico but mostly evoked wholesome family values that meshed with the more sentimental commercials.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:34 PM
THE. ENTIRE. THING. WAS. IN. SPANISH. Every moment was therefore a political statement (of great power, particularly in this moment). What dunces
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Meanwhile at the EU Commission in Brussels:
"Wait, they lost another Prime Minister?"
"Wait, they lost another Prime Minister?"
February 9, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Meanwhile at the EU Commission in Brussels:
"Wait, they lost another Prime Minister?"
"Wait, they lost another Prime Minister?"
This 👇🏼
There's a joke among sustainable transport nerds that every multi billion high tech mega futuristic CGI rendered invention that douchebros claim will REVOLUTIONIZE transportation would be more efficient, convenient, safe, affordable, accessible and eco friendly if it were a bicycle or train.
February 7, 2026 at 11:26 AM
This 👇🏼
This is a great piece. The concluding paragraphs actually gave me some hope
Why is every scandal existential for Starmer? Because he has actively worked to eradicate his own support base. And that, along with the Mandelson decision, can be laid at McSweeney's door iandunt.substack.com/p/starmers-m...
February 6, 2026 at 2:50 PM
This is a great piece. The concluding paragraphs actually gave me some hope
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Trump job approval rating by news platform
🟢 Twitter/X: +9
🔴 Facebook: -7
🔴 Cable TV: -10
🔴 Podcasts/YouTube: -14
🔴 Local TV: -17
🔴 Instagram: -21
🔴 Broadcast TV: -28
🔴 TikTok: -28
🔴 Newspapers/news sites: -33
🔴 Reddit: -40
www.theargumentmag.com/p/twitter-is...
🟢 Twitter/X: +9
🔴 Facebook: -7
🔴 Cable TV: -10
🔴 Podcasts/YouTube: -14
🔴 Local TV: -17
🔴 Instagram: -21
🔴 Broadcast TV: -28
🔴 TikTok: -28
🔴 Newspapers/news sites: -33
🔴 Reddit: -40
www.theargumentmag.com/p/twitter-is...
February 6, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Trump job approval rating by news platform
🟢 Twitter/X: +9
🔴 Facebook: -7
🔴 Cable TV: -10
🔴 Podcasts/YouTube: -14
🔴 Local TV: -17
🔴 Instagram: -21
🔴 Broadcast TV: -28
🔴 TikTok: -28
🔴 Newspapers/news sites: -33
🔴 Reddit: -40
www.theargumentmag.com/p/twitter-is...
🟢 Twitter/X: +9
🔴 Facebook: -7
🔴 Cable TV: -10
🔴 Podcasts/YouTube: -14
🔴 Local TV: -17
🔴 Instagram: -21
🔴 Broadcast TV: -28
🔴 TikTok: -28
🔴 Newspapers/news sites: -33
🔴 Reddit: -40
www.theargumentmag.com/p/twitter-is...
Reposted by Mark Masterson
so a month ago I was reading @markpackuk.bsky.social’s speech on Twitter in the lords and there were obviously fake stats the government used to justify Twitter’s UK reach and its continued importance to British audiences
Rob has now found the source of the data was… Twitter
Rob has now found the source of the data was… Twitter
UPDATE: I've had a response from the Cabinet Office!
"the statistics cited ‘19.2 million British citizens registered with X and 10.8 million families using the platform’ were provided by OmniGov, the government's media buying agency, who received this data directly from X itself."
"the statistics cited ‘19.2 million British citizens registered with X and 10.8 million families using the platform’ were provided by OmniGov, the government's media buying agency, who received this data directly from X itself."
February 6, 2026 at 9:50 AM
so a month ago I was reading @markpackuk.bsky.social’s speech on Twitter in the lords and there were obviously fake stats the government used to justify Twitter’s UK reach and its continued importance to British audiences
Rob has now found the source of the data was… Twitter
Rob has now found the source of the data was… Twitter