molly db
@mollydb.bsky.social
foss old man, baby academic | Northwestern University School of Communication | Creative Interfaces Research and Design Studio | #TheProfessorGothamNeeds | they is preferred, her is accepted
A mini-thread for a few of my Thanksgiving favorites!
November 27, 2025 at 8:02 PM
A mini-thread for a few of my Thanksgiving favorites!
Haven't critically read this yet, but for academics, industry, and researchers -- we don't have to build it just because we can. If we do anyway, we need to do all we can to prevent harm to anyone, directly or indirectly.
New resource⚡️ Block it! Don’t Build It. Don’t Fill It. Don’t Fuel It.
A mini-toolkit to take action to slow down and disrupt the government’s kidnapping, detention, and deportation machine.
Info on strategies/tactics, ways to take action, and more:
www.interruptingcriminalization.com/block-it
A mini-toolkit to take action to slow down and disrupt the government’s kidnapping, detention, and deportation machine.
Info on strategies/tactics, ways to take action, and more:
www.interruptingcriminalization.com/block-it
November 27, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Haven't critically read this yet, but for academics, industry, and researchers -- we don't have to build it just because we can. If we do anyway, we need to do all we can to prevent harm to anyone, directly or indirectly.
Reposted by molly db
"I had not touched a cat in 15 years when an orange kitten wandered over to sit with me in the grass one day. I was left without adequate words to describe that experience. It reminded me that I am alive."
When Kittens Came to My Prison, I Had Not Petted One in 15 Years
I had not touched a cat in 15 years when an orange kitten wandered over to sit with me in the grass.
prisonjournalismproject.org
January 31, 2025 at 3:32 AM
"I had not touched a cat in 15 years when an orange kitten wandered over to sit with me in the grass one day. I was left without adequate words to describe that experience. It reminded me that I am alive."
I am not endorsing the commentary, but I think the OP (or pOPe?) is worth thinking about.
Marc Andreesen,🥚, picked a fight with *the Pope* over a pretty basic call to exercise discernment when building AI.
Marc truly believes that any constraint on anything he does is fundamentally illegitimate.
Marc truly believes that any constraint on anything he does is fundamentally illegitimate.
November 10, 2025 at 2:22 AM
I am not endorsing the commentary, but I think the OP (or pOPe?) is worth thinking about.
Reposted by molly db
Marc Andreesen,🥚, picked a fight with *the Pope* over a pretty basic call to exercise discernment when building AI.
Marc truly believes that any constraint on anything he does is fundamentally illegitimate.
Marc truly believes that any constraint on anything he does is fundamentally illegitimate.
November 9, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Marc Andreesen,🥚, picked a fight with *the Pope* over a pretty basic call to exercise discernment when building AI.
Marc truly believes that any constraint on anything he does is fundamentally illegitimate.
Marc truly believes that any constraint on anything he does is fundamentally illegitimate.
Senator Dick Durbin's DC and Chicago office do not take calls (including voicemails) on weekends. Some of his other offices do. Access to an elected official outside of "normal office hours" is imperative for a democratic process: pluralpolicy.com/app/person/7...
November 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Senator Dick Durbin's DC and Chicago office do not take calls (including voicemails) on weekends. Some of his other offices do. Access to an elected official outside of "normal office hours" is imperative for a democratic process: pluralpolicy.com/app/person/7...
Reposted by molly db
Asking anyone who's got energy to do so to call their Dem Senators and urge them not to back down on healthcare. 🙏
Your friends who are too sick to work to access healthcare are going to be really fucked otherwise. Being too sick to work means no paycheck to cover now-exorbitant marketplace plans.
Your friends who are too sick to work to access healthcare are going to be really fucked otherwise. Being too sick to work means no paycheck to cover now-exorbitant marketplace plans.
November 9, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Asking anyone who's got energy to do so to call their Dem Senators and urge them not to back down on healthcare. 🙏
Your friends who are too sick to work to access healthcare are going to be really fucked otherwise. Being too sick to work means no paycheck to cover now-exorbitant marketplace plans.
Your friends who are too sick to work to access healthcare are going to be really fucked otherwise. Being too sick to work means no paycheck to cover now-exorbitant marketplace plans.
The @python.org turned down a $1.5 million NSF grant because the US government said that the PSF couldn't do ANY of the many community support projects that are "DEI." The community is living their values and choosing each other rather than the money. Stay strong. Hold the line.
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 28, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The @python.org turned down a $1.5 million NSF grant because the US government said that the PSF couldn't do ANY of the many community support projects that are "DEI." The community is living their values and choosing each other rather than the money. Stay strong. Hold the line.
Reposted by molly db
Unfortunately the satire is entirely indistinguishable from the actual ai industry hype.
Bystanders Horrified by Slightly-Too-Honest AI Billboard
The AI billboard asks you to visit a website called Replacement.AI, which brags that humans are "no longer necessary."
futurism.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Unfortunately the satire is entirely indistinguishable from the actual ai industry hype.
Reposted by molly db
The ChatGPT subreddit is absolutely hilarious. LLMs just output statistically likely responses, and a statistically likely response to being asked to do some work is "I'll have that done by...". So apparently in some cases ChatGPT had just been telling users it'll get back to them later.
1/2
1/2
October 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
The ChatGPT subreddit is absolutely hilarious. LLMs just output statistically likely responses, and a statistically likely response to being asked to do some work is "I'll have that done by...". So apparently in some cases ChatGPT had just been telling users it'll get back to them later.
1/2
1/2
Find out if your food pantry takes things like pet food, formula, diapers, and a thousand other consumable household goods. Everyone needs laundry detergent, dish soap, and toothpaste. Deodorant, body wash, and other hygiene items preserve dignity
If you want to find a local food bank, you can use the website below.
If you’re donating, it’s best to donate money. If you want to donate food, PLEASE donate food you or your family would actually eat, including things like breakfast cereals and snack foods.
www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...
If you’re donating, it’s best to donate money. If you want to donate food, PLEASE donate food you or your family would actually eat, including things like breakfast cereals and snack foods.
www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...
October 24, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Find out if your food pantry takes things like pet food, formula, diapers, and a thousand other consumable household goods. Everyone needs laundry detergent, dish soap, and toothpaste. Deodorant, body wash, and other hygiene items preserve dignity
Reposted by molly db
If you want to find a local food bank, you can use the website below.
If you’re donating, it’s best to donate money. If you want to donate food, PLEASE donate food you or your family would actually eat, including things like breakfast cereals and snack foods.
www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...
If you’re donating, it’s best to donate money. If you want to donate food, PLEASE donate food you or your family would actually eat, including things like breakfast cereals and snack foods.
www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...
October 23, 2025 at 11:24 PM
If you want to find a local food bank, you can use the website below.
If you’re donating, it’s best to donate money. If you want to donate food, PLEASE donate food you or your family would actually eat, including things like breakfast cereals and snack foods.
www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...
If you’re donating, it’s best to donate money. If you want to donate food, PLEASE donate food you or your family would actually eat, including things like breakfast cereals and snack foods.
www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...
Reposted by molly db
Reposted by molly db
📣 Attention science + tech journalists!
Trying to keep up with the flood of research papers that come out every day? Attempting to track what research has already been covered by others, and what may benefit from deeper exploration?
You are invited to participate in our research study!
[1/3]
Trying to keep up with the flood of research papers that come out every day? Attempting to track what research has already been covered by others, and what may benefit from deeper exploration?
You are invited to participate in our research study!
[1/3]
October 16, 2025 at 6:46 PM
📣 Attention science + tech journalists!
Trying to keep up with the flood of research papers that come out every day? Attempting to track what research has already been covered by others, and what may benefit from deeper exploration?
You are invited to participate in our research study!
[1/3]
Trying to keep up with the flood of research papers that come out every day? Attempting to track what research has already been covered by others, and what may benefit from deeper exploration?
You are invited to participate in our research study!
[1/3]
Reposted by molly db
It's the Great Shakeout! If you're a wheelchair user like me, you should LOCK, COVER, and HOLD ON! The Earthquake Country Alliance has a great resource for disabled folks, seniors, and anyone with access needs. www.earthquakecountry.org/library/Shak...
www.earthquakecountry.org
October 16, 2025 at 5:19 PM
It's the Great Shakeout! If you're a wheelchair user like me, you should LOCK, COVER, and HOLD ON! The Earthquake Country Alliance has a great resource for disabled folks, seniors, and anyone with access needs. www.earthquakecountry.org/library/Shak...
A few years ago I had an oophorectomy for endometriosis. I just had a drainage and multi-stage sclerosis for a large endometrioma at Northwestern Medicine. I'd been told I would need a second oophorectomy, but with specialists and access to world class resources, I had options. You deserve the too.
October 16, 2025 at 12:59 AM
A few years ago I had an oophorectomy for endometriosis. I just had a drainage and multi-stage sclerosis for a large endometrioma at Northwestern Medicine. I'd been told I would need a second oophorectomy, but with specialists and access to world class resources, I had options. You deserve the too.
Reposted by molly db
An extremely rough day for Edgewater in Chicago. ICE activity near schools. People kidnapped while working in yards, standing on hiring corners. So many rapid responders biking, walking, driving, whistles around necks, trying to protect their neighbors, but up against such well-funded forces.
October 11, 2025 at 2:24 AM
An extremely rough day for Edgewater in Chicago. ICE activity near schools. People kidnapped while working in yards, standing on hiring corners. So many rapid responders biking, walking, driving, whistles around necks, trying to protect their neighbors, but up against such well-funded forces.
Reposted by molly db
They’re so fucking fragile.
October 1, 2025 at 2:55 PM
They’re so fucking fragile.
My newest teaching innovation is telling my students that when I say "come talk to me" it's a good or neutral thing. If I say "come talk to me about [stress inducing topic]" it's probably not a good or neutral thing.
October 2, 2025 at 2:25 AM
My newest teaching innovation is telling my students that when I say "come talk to me" it's a good or neutral thing. If I say "come talk to me about [stress inducing topic]" it's probably not a good or neutral thing.
Yesterday I got my flu vaccine so I could help protect my friends and neighbors who can't. Also because Influenza A is already sweeping through campus
September 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Yesterday I got my flu vaccine so I could help protect my friends and neighbors who can't. Also because Influenza A is already sweeping through campus
In today's Overthinking with mdb: I rewrote "gut this for info" to "mine this for info" to "forage this for info"
August 18, 2025 at 7:20 PM
In today's Overthinking with mdb: I rewrote "gut this for info" to "mine this for info" to "forage this for info"
Today I called my house rep to tell her and her team how much I love public media. States like Illinois that have people living outside of the major cities need public funding to have public media that speaks for everyone who calls the state home
June 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Today I called my house rep to tell her and her team how much I love public media. States like Illinois that have people living outside of the major cities need public funding to have public media that speaks for everyone who calls the state home
Reposted by molly db
making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless
June 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless
Is doing a presentation as a ten minute string of double dactyls (the poem style) a good idea or the best idea?
June 2, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Is doing a presentation as a ten minute string of double dactyls (the poem style) a good idea or the best idea?