RDS (formerly shawphd)
@rds773.myatproto.social
Former historian, current indexer. She/her, cis. Cats, nature, crafts, sci fi/fantasy. Covid aware. Chicago parent. GenX. West Coast ex-pat. I block & mute freely.
shawrd773@zirk.us
Need an index for your book in the humanities or social sciences? DM me.
shawrd773@zirk.us
Need an index for your book in the humanities or social sciences? DM me.
Pinned
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
More than half the CO₂ emissions of the Industrial Age have been pumped into the atmosphere since 1990.
More than half the CO₂ emissions of the Industrial Age have been pumped into the atmosphere since 1990.
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
Literally nothing is 'carbon neutral'. It is a physical impossibility. If someone's telling you their product has zero climate impact, they're actively deciding to lie to you.
Literally nothing is 'carbon neutral'. It is a physical impossibility. If someone's telling you their product has zero climate impact, they're actively deciding to lie to you.
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
Indexes in books are written by actual humans and cannot be done automatically by computers
Indexes in books are written by actual humans and cannot be done automatically by computers
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
As Donna haraway has been teaching for decades one of the prime objectives of capitalist white male dominated “sciences” is to silo off technology from society
This is “social” and “ethical” (where women are), and over here we have the “technological” and the “scientific”
This is “social” and “ethical” (where women are), and over here we have the “technological” and the “scientific”
February 17, 2026 at 6:01 PM
As Donna haraway has been teaching for decades one of the prime objectives of capitalist white male dominated “sciences” is to silo off technology from society
This is “social” and “ethical” (where women are), and over here we have the “technological” and the “scientific”
This is “social” and “ethical” (where women are), and over here we have the “technological” and the “scientific”
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
.@AstroKatie: "We got tricked by science fiction into thinking a futuristic city is all about flying cars and crystal towers and hologram billboards but what it really looks like is nice apartment blocks, good mass transit, pedestrian zones with shade trees and safe bike lanes."
February 17, 2026 at 7:02 PM
.@AstroKatie: "We got tricked by science fiction into thinking a futuristic city is all about flying cars and crystal towers and hologram billboards but what it really looks like is nice apartment blocks, good mass transit, pedestrian zones with shade trees and safe bike lanes."
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
Yeah. A lot of goofy "the left is not getting it about AI" takes on here. No, we get it. It sucks. The social and environmental costs suck. The slop sucks. The people forcing it on everyone suck. We can't wait for the entire sucky bubble to burst.
why won’t the left just praise every technology handed down from self-interested billionaires seeking only to enhance their power and profits?! clearly, they’re the ones in the wrong if they can’t get on board 😤
February 18, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Yeah. A lot of goofy "the left is not getting it about AI" takes on here. No, we get it. It sucks. The social and environmental costs suck. The slop sucks. The people forcing it on everyone suck. We can't wait for the entire sucky bubble to burst.
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
The concentration camps will not only be for immigrants, documented or otherwise. They already aren't.
They won't only be for brown and Black people.
The targets will keep expanding. It will not end.
The only way it will is if we stop it. Both in and out of the system. There is no other way.
They won't only be for brown and Black people.
The targets will keep expanding. It will not end.
The only way it will is if we stop it. Both in and out of the system. There is no other way.
February 17, 2026 at 10:49 PM
The concentration camps will not only be for immigrants, documented or otherwise. They already aren't.
They won't only be for brown and Black people.
The targets will keep expanding. It will not end.
The only way it will is if we stop it. Both in and out of the system. There is no other way.
They won't only be for brown and Black people.
The targets will keep expanding. It will not end.
The only way it will is if we stop it. Both in and out of the system. There is no other way.
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
It's time for the annual tradition of reviewing the ridership of CTA's Board and top paid staff to see if they ride the system. In 2025, numbers were overall up. CTA Acting President Leerhsen increased her rides beyond her commute to 549. VP of Rail Station Management logged the most rides at 656.
February 18, 2026 at 12:35 AM
It's time for the annual tradition of reviewing the ridership of CTA's Board and top paid staff to see if they ride the system. In 2025, numbers were overall up. CTA Acting President Leerhsen increased her rides beyond her commute to 549. VP of Rail Station Management logged the most rides at 656.
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
ICE agents are still out there this morning, photographing schools from unmarked vehicles and then quickly leaving after being confronted. Keep your heads up.
February 17, 2026 at 4:22 PM
ICE agents are still out there this morning, photographing schools from unmarked vehicles and then quickly leaving after being confronted. Keep your heads up.
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
Sowing fear of "ICE at the polls!" could do more to suppress votes than any actual ICE at the polls. Here's an explanation of the right's strategy on this, along with my recommendations for what to do instead of playing along.
katestarbird.substack.com/p/effective-...
katestarbird.substack.com/p/effective-...
February 17, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Sowing fear of "ICE at the polls!" could do more to suppress votes than any actual ICE at the polls. Here's an explanation of the right's strategy on this, along with my recommendations for what to do instead of playing along.
katestarbird.substack.com/p/effective-...
katestarbird.substack.com/p/effective-...
Vibes. Based. Economy.
February 18, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Vibes. Based. Economy.
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
NEW: When North Carolina's GOP wanted to pass a bill last year to require that local governments comply with ICE, they were one vote down.
A Democratic lawmaker gave that decisive vote—as she has on other GOP bills.
Now, she faces a primary challenge from a progressive activist... in 14 days.
A Democratic lawmaker gave that decisive vote—as she has on other GOP bills.
Now, she faces a primary challenge from a progressive activist... in 14 days.
The Feds Targeted Charlotte. Now a Local Democrat Who Helped ICE Faces Voters. - Bolts
North Carolina lawmaker Carla Cunningham voted to mandate compliance with ICE, and derided immigrants on the House floor. The Democrat faces an intense March primary.
boltsmag.org
February 17, 2026 at 2:54 PM
NEW: When North Carolina's GOP wanted to pass a bill last year to require that local governments comply with ICE, they were one vote down.
A Democratic lawmaker gave that decisive vote—as she has on other GOP bills.
Now, she faces a primary challenge from a progressive activist... in 14 days.
A Democratic lawmaker gave that decisive vote—as she has on other GOP bills.
Now, she faces a primary challenge from a progressive activist... in 14 days.
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
“.. ‘many system vendors will go bankrupt or exit product lines due to a lack of memory. Mobile phone production will be reduced by 200-250 million units, and PC and TV production will be significantly reduced.’ Yikes.”
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
February 17, 2026 at 6:37 PM
“.. ‘many system vendors will go bankrupt or exit product lines due to a lack of memory. Mobile phone production will be reduced by 200-250 million units, and PC and TV production will be significantly reduced.’ Yikes.”
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
The Department of Homeland Security is flooding social media platforms with subpoenas demanding they unmask the people behind anti-ICE accounts.
This crackdown on speech shows EXACTLY why online age verification laws are so dangerous.
Here's why: 🧵
This crackdown on speech shows EXACTLY why online age verification laws are so dangerous.
Here's why: 🧵
Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:38 PM
The Department of Homeland Security is flooding social media platforms with subpoenas demanding they unmask the people behind anti-ICE accounts.
This crackdown on speech shows EXACTLY why online age verification laws are so dangerous.
Here's why: 🧵
This crackdown on speech shows EXACTLY why online age verification laws are so dangerous.
Here's why: 🧵
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
Okay. I'm interested in what a class action lawsuit from the faculty and staff could look like. I:
- rebuilt FOUR entire courses from scratch
- no training in digital pedagogy was provided
- webcams or tech to teach with not provided
- no pay for extra hours provided
- no other options provided
- rebuilt FOUR entire courses from scratch
- no training in digital pedagogy was provided
- webcams or tech to teach with not provided
- no pay for extra hours provided
- no other options provided
This is emblematic of the consumer culture that fees have engendered.
What the hell did the students expect? It was a ONCE IN A CENTURY PANDEMIC. There were LAWS against congregating in public. Staff worked themselves to the bone to get online delivery working.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What the hell did the students expect? It was a ONCE IN A CENTURY PANDEMIC. There were LAWS against congregating in public. Staff worked themselves to the bone to get online delivery working.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Students begin Covid compensation claim against 36 more universities
It comes after University College London settled a claim from students there over lost learning in the pandemic.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Okay. I'm interested in what a class action lawsuit from the faculty and staff could look like. I:
- rebuilt FOUR entire courses from scratch
- no training in digital pedagogy was provided
- webcams or tech to teach with not provided
- no pay for extra hours provided
- no other options provided
- rebuilt FOUR entire courses from scratch
- no training in digital pedagogy was provided
- webcams or tech to teach with not provided
- no pay for extra hours provided
- no other options provided
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
A Dem that runs as pro trans gets a SIXTY ONE POINT BUMP WITH DEM VOTERS and a NINE POINT BUMP WITH INDIES over ones that go silent.
The failure to get this is a prior beliefs/incentives problem but it's also a research problem. The current establishment's understanding of voters is utterly cooked.
The failure to get this is a prior beliefs/incentives problem but it's also a research problem. The current establishment's understanding of voters is utterly cooked.
Relevant to that is another finding in the poll. A theoretical officeholder that speaks up about these issues is preferred by:
ICE raids D+72 I+40
Trans D+61 I+9
Gaza genocide D+33 I-24
Guessing that Gaza one was a question wording effect, but if you're running a a Dem, those are your voters.
ICE raids D+72 I+40
Trans D+61 I+9
Gaza genocide D+33 I-24
Guessing that Gaza one was a question wording effect, but if you're running a a Dem, those are your voters.
September 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM
A Dem that runs as pro trans gets a SIXTY ONE POINT BUMP WITH DEM VOTERS and a NINE POINT BUMP WITH INDIES over ones that go silent.
The failure to get this is a prior beliefs/incentives problem but it's also a research problem. The current establishment's understanding of voters is utterly cooked.
The failure to get this is a prior beliefs/incentives problem but it's also a research problem. The current establishment's understanding of voters is utterly cooked.
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
Make sure you tell your offline friends and family about this too, especially if they live in red states. Every call in a red state is more effective than a social media post in a blue one
BREAKING: I read the new version of the “Save America Act” (S. 1383) so u don’t have to. Here’s my summary. Point 1 is new. It requires that all 50 states send their voter rolls to the DHS to run thru DHS’s faulty “SAVE” voter purge program. Points 6 & 7 are new too. Tell ur Senators #NoOnSAVE 1/
February 17, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Make sure you tell your offline friends and family about this too, especially if they live in red states. Every call in a red state is more effective than a social media post in a blue one
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
AI is revolutionizing the world! A Playstation now costs $5,000 and this is the last phone you will ever own.
“.. ‘many system vendors will go bankrupt or exit product lines due to a lack of memory. Mobile phone production will be reduced by 200-250 million units, and PC and TV production will be significantly reduced.’ Yikes.”
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
February 17, 2026 at 10:02 PM
AI is revolutionizing the world! A Playstation now costs $5,000 and this is the last phone you will ever own.
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
I promise you that you will learn something and be a better person from for it. go listen to @drkalyncoghill.blacksky.team
Join our very own @drkalyncoghill.blacksky.team at @medlabboulder.bsky.social on March 12 discussing how their own experience fueled their decades-long research on digital harm and how Blacksky is taking what was once considered "me-search" and creating a safer internet rooted in self-determination.
From Survivor, to Researcher, to Steward
www.colorado.edu
February 17, 2026 at 10:28 PM
I promise you that you will learn something and be a better person from for it. go listen to @drkalyncoghill.blacksky.team
My second pregnancy would have killed me and my child
People always ask, "What would you do if you were born in another time period?"
With my health the answer is almost always, "Die before kindergarten."
Medical progress is the real deal, buddies.
With my health the answer is almost always, "Die before kindergarten."
Medical progress is the real deal, buddies.
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 11:12 PM
My second pregnancy would have killed me and my child
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
I spent my childhood inside of American concentration camps. I know one when I see one. And that is what ICE is building.
February 17, 2026 at 9:00 PM
I spent my childhood inside of American concentration camps. I know one when I see one. And that is what ICE is building.
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
the ai situation is a nice summation of how capitalism's deepening crises and cannibalisation are also a way by which it launders its own reputation and protects itself. everyone is constantly nostalgic for the exploitation of ten years ago
February 17, 2026 at 10:19 PM
the ai situation is a nice summation of how capitalism's deepening crises and cannibalisation are also a way by which it launders its own reputation and protects itself. everyone is constantly nostalgic for the exploitation of ten years ago
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
undeniably true, no matter whatever functionalities we’ve gotten used to
consumer electronics are bad. they are wasteful to a degree that is, quite frankly, absurd. there is no reason we should be churning through, throwing away and upgrading technology built on genuinely rare metals to the degree that has been normalised over the last twenty years
February 17, 2026 at 10:37 PM
undeniably true, no matter whatever functionalities we’ve gotten used to
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
BREAKING: I read the new version of the “Save America Act” (S. 1383) so u don’t have to. Here’s my summary. Point 1 is new. It requires that all 50 states send their voter rolls to the DHS to run thru DHS’s faulty “SAVE” voter purge program. Points 6 & 7 are new too. Tell ur Senators #NoOnSAVE 1/
February 17, 2026 at 9:47 PM
BREAKING: I read the new version of the “Save America Act” (S. 1383) so u don’t have to. Here’s my summary. Point 1 is new. It requires that all 50 states send their voter rolls to the DHS to run thru DHS’s faulty “SAVE” voter purge program. Points 6 & 7 are new too. Tell ur Senators #NoOnSAVE 1/
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
The great part about @amtrak.com is not the giant seats and stress free travel but being gently rocked to sleep while reading each and every chapter of a great book. @thewaroncars.bsky.social)
February 17, 2026 at 10:23 PM
The great part about @amtrak.com is not the giant seats and stress free travel but being gently rocked to sleep while reading each and every chapter of a great book. @thewaroncars.bsky.social)
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
have you ever read one of my Discworld QOTDs and thought, hey, I should really get around to reading those books?
good news! the full series is back on Humble Bundle - it’s Kobo but it’s pretty easily to transfer those to your preferred e-reader
you won’t regret it
good news! the full series is back on Humble Bundle - it’s Kobo but it’s pretty easily to transfer those to your preferred e-reader
you won’t regret it
Humble Book Bundle: Best of Humble Bundle: Terry Pratchett's Discworld by HarperCollins Encore 2026
Experience Sir Terry Practchett’s beloved Discworld series! Get 35+ books covering all corners of this comic fantasy universe and help support Room to Read!
www.humblebundle.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:19 PM
have you ever read one of my Discworld QOTDs and thought, hey, I should really get around to reading those books?
good news! the full series is back on Humble Bundle - it’s Kobo but it’s pretty easily to transfer those to your preferred e-reader
you won’t regret it
good news! the full series is back on Humble Bundle - it’s Kobo but it’s pretty easily to transfer those to your preferred e-reader
you won’t regret it
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
First of all, that's despicable. It's never acceptable to lie about using deadly force on anyone.
Second, here are federal officers completely fabricating what happened when they charged Miramar Martinez with assault when they shot her five times.
www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/me...
Second, here are federal officers completely fabricating what happened when they charged Miramar Martinez with assault when they shot her five times.
www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/me...
February 16, 2026 at 8:41 PM
First of all, that's despicable. It's never acceptable to lie about using deadly force on anyone.
Second, here are federal officers completely fabricating what happened when they charged Miramar Martinez with assault when they shot her five times.
www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/me...
Second, here are federal officers completely fabricating what happened when they charged Miramar Martinez with assault when they shot her five times.
www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/me...
Reposted by RDS (formerly shawphd)
Don't let them use this tragedy for their hateful agenda.
February 17, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Don't let them use this tragedy for their hateful agenda.