TKarney
@pecunium.bsky.social
I write things (sporadically https://www.patreon.com/Pecunium) I make things (yarn, woven goods, minor woodworking). I take photographs (and teach photography).
I'm moderately polymathic (though maths are not my thing)
Welcome to my place
I'm moderately polymathic (though maths are not my thing)
Welcome to my place
Reposted by TKarney
This guy? www.thecrimson.com/article/1991...
December 31, 2025 at 1:25 AM
This guy? www.thecrimson.com/article/1991...
Just listened to The Nields set.
Dar Williams to follow.
Dar Williams to follow.
December 31, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Just listened to The Nields set.
Dar Williams to follow.
Dar Williams to follow.
Reposted by TKarney
but i think (to bring it back to my own bugbears) it reflects the inability of the commentariat class to imagine that liberalism could be a political movement at all
December 30, 2025 at 4:58 PM
but i think (to bring it back to my own bugbears) it reflects the inability of the commentariat class to imagine that liberalism could be a political movement at all
Reposted by TKarney
Connected to this, I think there's an assumption that political movements can't keep up their energy over many years or decades.
But they very clearly can! The push to contain and then end slavery had been a political issue for *decades* before the ACW. Civil Rights took a long time!
But they very clearly can! The push to contain and then end slavery had been a political issue for *decades* before the ACW. Civil Rights took a long time!
December 29, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Connected to this, I think there's an assumption that political movements can't keep up their energy over many years or decades.
But they very clearly can! The push to contain and then end slavery had been a political issue for *decades* before the ACW. Civil Rights took a long time!
But they very clearly can! The push to contain and then end slavery had been a political issue for *decades* before the ACW. Civil Rights took a long time!
Reposted by TKarney
I am annoyed by the persistence of 'resist libs are tired of resisting Trump' line.
No Kings put record-breaking numbers of people into the streets, specials/off-years are at D+10 or more.
I don't think the resist libs are tired. I think some writers are tired of writing about resist libs.
No Kings put record-breaking numbers of people into the streets, specials/off-years are at D+10 or more.
I don't think the resist libs are tired. I think some writers are tired of writing about resist libs.
December 29, 2025 at 11:38 PM
I am annoyed by the persistence of 'resist libs are tired of resisting Trump' line.
No Kings put record-breaking numbers of people into the streets, specials/off-years are at D+10 or more.
I don't think the resist libs are tired. I think some writers are tired of writing about resist libs.
No Kings put record-breaking numbers of people into the streets, specials/off-years are at D+10 or more.
I don't think the resist libs are tired. I think some writers are tired of writing about resist libs.
Reposted by TKarney
I’ve noticed a lot of adverts on YouTube that are right wing messages in disguise, clearly aimed at targeting swing voters in Virginia.
‘It’s frightening’: How far right is infiltrating everyday culture
Extremist messaging now woven into music and YouTube videos, with one expert saying: ‘You can be radicalised sitting on your couch’
www.theguardian.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I’ve noticed a lot of adverts on YouTube that are right wing messages in disguise, clearly aimed at targeting swing voters in Virginia.
Reposted by TKarney
The U.S. Postal Service has adopted a new rule that could create doubt about whether some ballots mailed by voters by Election Day will receive postmarks in time to be counted.
via @stateline.org
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usps...
via @stateline.org
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usps...
USPS says mail-in ballots might not get postmark on same day they’re dropped off
The U.S. Postal Service has adopted a new rule that could create doubt about whether some ballots mailed by voters by Election Day will receive postmarks in time to be counted.
www.newsfromthestates.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The U.S. Postal Service has adopted a new rule that could create doubt about whether some ballots mailed by voters by Election Day will receive postmarks in time to be counted.
via @stateline.org
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usps...
via @stateline.org
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usps...
Reposted by TKarney
Still mind-blowing that a top admin official was revealed to have taken $50,000 in cash in a paper bag from people looking for government favors, the reaction of the administration was "Whatever losers, this is how it works now" and bigshot news media said "If you say so, we'll forget about it"
Border czar Tom Homan didn't receive a normal background check for his role while his bribery probe was still ongoing:
Justice officials felt sure Homan would not be able to obtain a security clearance based on the evidence gathered. It remains unclear how Homan was eventually granted clearance.
Justice officials felt sure Homan would not be able to obtain a security clearance based on the evidence gathered. It remains unclear how Homan was eventually granted clearance.
Border czar Tom Homan didn’t receive normal background check during bribery probe
President-elect Trump initially balked at submitting names of likely nominees to the FBI for background checks, a basic step intended to flag possible financial conflicts or ethical problems.
www.ms.now
December 30, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Still mind-blowing that a top admin official was revealed to have taken $50,000 in cash in a paper bag from people looking for government favors, the reaction of the administration was "Whatever losers, this is how it works now" and bigshot news media said "If you say so, we'll forget about it"
Reposted by TKarney
My childhood home wasn’t far from where this monument now stands. Result of the life’s work of John Johnson, local black historian.
www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=208773
www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=208773
The Lynching of Raymond Byrd Historical Marker
On the night of August 15, 1926, a mob of rowdy Wythe County citizens forced their way into the Wythe County jail that stood on this site until 1928. (A historical marker located in Wytheville in Wyt...
www.hmdb.org
December 30, 2025 at 5:21 PM
My childhood home wasn’t far from where this monument now stands. Result of the life’s work of John Johnson, local black historian.
www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=208773
www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=208773
Reposted by TKarney
Trumpers have a howling void of angry insecurity where a soul should be. Unchecked power tastes like ashes in their mouth because they thought when they got it everyone would be forced to like and admire them even though they’re irredeemable assholes. But people still treat them like assholes.
Trump crony has embarrassing meltdown after more Kennedy Center performers quit www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Trump crony has embarrassing meltdown after more Kennedy Center performers quit
The Trump administration is lashing out at performers who have chosen to cancel performances at the Kennedy Center following Donald Trump’s recent decision to deface the cultural institution with ...
www.dailykos.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Trumpers have a howling void of angry insecurity where a soul should be. Unchecked power tastes like ashes in their mouth because they thought when they got it everyone would be forced to like and admire them even though they’re irredeemable assholes. But people still treat them like assholes.
Game changer.
If thus is different to the “stopper” I saw being discussed a couple of months ago the future is looking better.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
If thus is different to the “stopper” I saw being discussed a couple of months ago the future is looking better.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
Frontiers | Upper respiratory tract immunization with Pam2Cys-adjuvanted spike protein vaccine achieves sterilizing protection against SARS-CoV-2
Injected COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe disease, but do not induce robust mucosal immune responses. Nasal vaccines offer the advantage of local imm...
www.frontiersin.org
December 30, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Game changer.
If thus is different to the “stopper” I saw being discussed a couple of months ago the future is looking better.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
If thus is different to the “stopper” I saw being discussed a couple of months ago the future is looking better.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
Reposted by TKarney
At this point, I don't think there's any excuse for artists concerned about the fate of American democracy to accept or honor Kennedy Center bookings. But I do find it funny that one of the only interesting things on the spring schedule is Robert Ward's operatic adaptation of Miller's The Crucible.>
December 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
At this point, I don't think there's any excuse for artists concerned about the fate of American democracy to accept or honor Kennedy Center bookings. But I do find it funny that one of the only interesting things on the spring schedule is Robert Ward's operatic adaptation of Miller's The Crucible.>
Reposted by TKarney
I've waited 3 years to make this post
December 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I've waited 3 years to make this post
No it isn’t.
We should pull the plug because it’s a waste if money, and a plagiarism machine meant to destroy jobs, but there is no reason to worry about sentience, much less sapience.
We should pull the plug because it’s a waste if money, and a plagiarism machine meant to destroy jobs, but there is no reason to worry about sentience, much less sapience.
AI showing signs of self-preservation and humans should be ready to pull plug, says pioneer
AI showing signs of self-preservation and humans should be ready to pull plug, says pioneer
Canadian computer scientist Yoshua Bengio warns against granting legal rights to cutting-edge technology
A pioneer of AI has criticised calls to grant the technology rights, warning that it was showing signs of self-preservation and humans should be prepared to pull the plug if needed.
Yoshua Bengio said giving legal status to cutting-edge AIs would be akin to giving citizenship to hostile extraterrestrials, amid fears that advances in the technology were far outpacing the ability to constrain them. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:43 PM
No it isn’t.
We should pull the plug because it’s a waste if money, and a plagiarism machine meant to destroy jobs, but there is no reason to worry about sentience, much less sapience.
We should pull the plug because it’s a waste if money, and a plagiarism machine meant to destroy jobs, but there is no reason to worry about sentience, much less sapience.
Russia says “there is not, and never has been any such country as Ukraine, or people as Ukrainians.”
That’s explicitly existential.
And they’ve committed atrocities, with intent: even if the numbers are lesser, e.g. stealing children and pretending they are in need of adoption.
That’s explicitly existential.
And they’ve committed atrocities, with intent: even if the numbers are lesser, e.g. stealing children and pretending they are in need of adoption.
What does an "existential war" imply? On the eastern front in ww2 maybe it was applicable, because the nazis really were seeking a campaign of extermination. You'd have to be incredibly naive and uncritical to think this is the case in the Donbass.
I dunno, man. I sort of feel like you SHOULD fight in your country’s existential defensive war.
Losing your voting rights seems like a pretty small price to pay in the light of history.
(As for class war, still waiting for the Russian proletariat to rise up and stop the war. lol)
Losing your voting rights seems like a pretty small price to pay in the light of history.
(As for class war, still waiting for the Russian proletariat to rise up and stop the war. lol)
December 30, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Russia says “there is not, and never has been any such country as Ukraine, or people as Ukrainians.”
That’s explicitly existential.
And they’ve committed atrocities, with intent: even if the numbers are lesser, e.g. stealing children and pretending they are in need of adoption.
That’s explicitly existential.
And they’ve committed atrocities, with intent: even if the numbers are lesser, e.g. stealing children and pretending they are in need of adoption.
Reposted by TKarney
Note Hess was still captured and convicted as the war criminal he was, not made a crucial ally against Hitler.
December 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Note Hess was still captured and convicted as the war criminal he was, not made a crucial ally against Hitler.
Reposted by TKarney
I hate these charts so much because they imply chatgpt is comparable to the internet or phones
You could create the same graphic for full screen pop-up advertising on websites and make them look like ultra-rapid technology adoption when really they were just baked unavoidably into the internet
You could create the same graphic for full screen pop-up advertising on websites and make them look like ultra-rapid technology adoption when really they were just baked unavoidably into the internet
In 2025, AI became pervasive in American life and the economy, with ChatGPT surging in adoption much faster than any other major technology in memory. @nytopinion.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:38 AM
I hate these charts so much because they imply chatgpt is comparable to the internet or phones
You could create the same graphic for full screen pop-up advertising on websites and make them look like ultra-rapid technology adoption when really they were just baked unavoidably into the internet
You could create the same graphic for full screen pop-up advertising on websites and make them look like ultra-rapid technology adoption when really they were just baked unavoidably into the internet
Reposted by TKarney
This is going to catch me flack: it's what people who don't know what good writing is think is good writing, and without understanding what makes writing good.
I think a lot of people who don't often write (or who just don't care) understand how easy it is to spot "AI" text once you've been exposed to it. It's gotten to the point that I can look at a piece of "AI" writing and tell if it was written by ChatGPT or some other LLM. They have "house styles."
December 30, 2025 at 5:32 PM
This is going to catch me flack: it's what people who don't know what good writing is think is good writing, and without understanding what makes writing good.
Reposted by TKarney
Having worked in book and comic stores since I was 19, I felt every one of these signs deep in my soul. Solidarity with Manager-san.
December 30, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Having worked in book and comic stores since I was 19, I felt every one of these signs deep in my soul. Solidarity with Manager-san.
Reposted by TKarney
Whenever we're out of this shit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should be built into an absolutely nightmare bureaucratic goliath. Increase the original funding by a million times and hire thousands of staffers trying to fuck shit up for business.
December 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Whenever we're out of this shit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should be built into an absolutely nightmare bureaucratic goliath. Increase the original funding by a million times and hire thousands of staffers trying to fuck shit up for business.
Reposted by TKarney
If you ever want to make someone from another industrialized country look at you as if you've gone mad, explain to them that you can be fired for being sick. I was. This was pre-pandemic. I had strep and a doctor's note.
I was fired for absenteeism.
I was fired for absenteeism.
December 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
If you ever want to make someone from another industrialized country look at you as if you've gone mad, explain to them that you can be fired for being sick. I was. This was pre-pandemic. I had strep and a doctor's note.
I was fired for absenteeism.
I was fired for absenteeism.
Reposted by TKarney
one of my first tasks in my first job was redoing the monitoring on cdn software written by a "super dev" who rigged all his checks to claim it always has 1ms latency
December 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
one of my first tasks in my first job was redoing the monitoring on cdn software written by a "super dev" who rigged all his checks to claim it always has 1ms latency
Reposted by TKarney
Most of my professional work in tech was *undoing* the work of self-styled “super devs” who has been allowed to run free because the businesses that employed us realized these guys had made a fucking mess of everything and they needed systems that worked in an understandable and maintainable way.
imo software engineering will revolve around the super devs who are able to knock out entire sprints of work in a day or two when they need to.
critically though:
1) I do not think there are enough of these devs
2) no idea how you train more of these if you don't gain skills from pre-llm coding
critically though:
1) I do not think there are enough of these devs
2) no idea how you train more of these if you don't gain skills from pre-llm coding
December 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Most of my professional work in tech was *undoing* the work of self-styled “super devs” who has been allowed to run free because the businesses that employed us realized these guys had made a fucking mess of everything and they needed systems that worked in an understandable and maintainable way.
Reposted by TKarney
In this case, the complaining student sent an email to OU to institute the complaint against Ms. Curth while cc'ing overtly political actors, such as disgraced former Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters, who is known for his virulent anti-LGBTQ positions.
December 30, 2025 at 4:36 PM
In this case, the complaining student sent an email to OU to institute the complaint against Ms. Curth while cc'ing overtly political actors, such as disgraced former Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters, who is known for his virulent anti-LGBTQ positions.
Reposted by TKarney
It was amazing to write with @ehayot.bsky.social & each of us put our stank into every part of this essay.
I have no memory of how we drafted it in October, but when we came back to it a couple weeks ago, I felt this paragraph in my bones.
I have no memory of how we drafted it in October, but when we came back to it a couple weeks ago, I felt this paragraph in my bones.
December 30, 2025 at 1:36 AM
It was amazing to write with @ehayot.bsky.social & each of us put our stank into every part of this essay.
I have no memory of how we drafted it in October, but when we came back to it a couple weeks ago, I felt this paragraph in my bones.
I have no memory of how we drafted it in October, but when we came back to it a couple weeks ago, I felt this paragraph in my bones.