wendell the disasterpiece
@wendellwrites.bsky.social
Writer, teacher, member of the SFWA and Codex Writers, open source advocate, they/them
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
Hot take: The doctor shouldn't be the one asking if it's ok if she uses AI to take patient notes. The power differential + patient anxiety + short appointment times means the patient feels pressure to say yes. It should be a question asked during check-in. (I wish it wasn't used at all, but...)
February 17, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Hot take: The doctor shouldn't be the one asking if it's ok if she uses AI to take patient notes. The power differential + patient anxiety + short appointment times means the patient feels pressure to say yes. It should be a question asked during check-in. (I wish it wasn't used at all, but...)
so far this year i've read 7 books. book 8 is witchmark by c. l. polk, i would rec it to fans of historical fiction and urban fantasy.
my favorite was definitely mass mothering by sarah bruni. definitely a book for this moment we're in.
my favorite was definitely mass mothering by sarah bruni. definitely a book for this moment we're in.
February 17, 2026 at 1:57 PM
so far this year i've read 7 books. book 8 is witchmark by c. l. polk, i would rec it to fans of historical fiction and urban fantasy.
my favorite was definitely mass mothering by sarah bruni. definitely a book for this moment we're in.
my favorite was definitely mass mothering by sarah bruni. definitely a book for this moment we're in.
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
This is an excellent thread on why the "reasoning" that LLMs use is different in kind rather than in degree from the kind of cognition we do as human beings.
The reason LLMs suck at chess is the same reason they initially sucked at drawing fingers and currently suck at counting to 100: state space
Hands are photographed and drawn from every angle, all chess books show every piece in every position, every list of numbers up to 100 shows every such number
Hands are photographed and drawn from every angle, all chess books show every piece in every position, every list of numbers up to 100 shows every such number
February 17, 2026 at 12:50 PM
This is an excellent thread on why the "reasoning" that LLMs use is different in kind rather than in degree from the kind of cognition we do as human beings.
i have spent the day buying surgery recovery things on amazon.
now i own grabbers, and i have to say that the wedge pillow set i bought looks pretty flexible with the possibilities.
now i own grabbers, and i have to say that the wedge pillow set i bought looks pretty flexible with the possibilities.
February 17, 2026 at 3:44 AM
i have spent the day buying surgery recovery things on amazon.
now i own grabbers, and i have to say that the wedge pillow set i bought looks pretty flexible with the possibilities.
now i own grabbers, and i have to say that the wedge pillow set i bought looks pretty flexible with the possibilities.
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
tl:dr we've automated "crit burn," the known tendency of over-workshopped stories to have all voice and character smoothed away.
h/t @johnchu.bsky.social
h/t @johnchu.bsky.social
February 16, 2026 at 3:37 PM
tl:dr we've automated "crit burn," the known tendency of over-workshopped stories to have all voice and character smoothed away.
h/t @johnchu.bsky.social
h/t @johnchu.bsky.social
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
“Earth is a pleasure cruise for 1000 people and we're all just the staff.”
I literally saw a post two weeks back in which a guy with two jobs was flagellating himself because he was short on rent, lamenting that had he donated plasma more, maybe his rent would be on time. This system is deeply fucked. Earth is a pleasure cruise for 1000 people and we're all just the staff.
February 16, 2026 at 8:48 PM
“Earth is a pleasure cruise for 1000 people and we're all just the staff.”
if people ever decide something i wrote was written by ai i guess i'll keep writing 🤷
i don't know what to do about these times we live in, man
i don't know what to do about these times we live in, man
February 16, 2026 at 9:27 PM
if people ever decide something i wrote was written by ai i guess i'll keep writing 🤷
i don't know what to do about these times we live in, man
i don't know what to do about these times we live in, man
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
Please, I beg you, for the love of G-d, if Google AI or ChatGPT says you don't need a lawyer to do something, TALK TO A LAWYER ANYWAY.
PLEASE.
PLEASE.
February 16, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Please, I beg you, for the love of G-d, if Google AI or ChatGPT says you don't need a lawyer to do something, TALK TO A LAWYER ANYWAY.
PLEASE.
PLEASE.
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
I can't remember the theorist offhand, but there's a Black scholar who talks about the urgency of white supremacy.
"We can't address racism right now, we have to address [emergency]."
And there will always be an emergency.
It's a common strategy used across most modes of oppression.
"We can't address racism right now, we have to address [emergency]."
And there will always be an emergency.
It's a common strategy used across most modes of oppression.
What I really hate about messages like that is there always seems to be an endless stream of people telling us it’s just not the right time to talk about our rights. Maybe later. Maybe later. We’ll get to it later, maybe.
February 16, 2026 at 9:06 PM
I can't remember the theorist offhand, but there's a Black scholar who talks about the urgency of white supremacy.
"We can't address racism right now, we have to address [emergency]."
And there will always be an emergency.
It's a common strategy used across most modes of oppression.
"We can't address racism right now, we have to address [emergency]."
And there will always be an emergency.
It's a common strategy used across most modes of oppression.
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
AOC’s biggest problem if she runs for president is that the white men who control our media ecosystem will not so much put a finger on the scale to stop her as an entire hand
it can be done (see: Zohran) but it’s going to be blatant and it’s going to be infuriating
it can be done (see: Zohran) but it’s going to be blatant and it’s going to be infuriating
Have you ever once seen the New York Times quote Trump like this?
February 16, 2026 at 7:21 PM
AOC’s biggest problem if she runs for president is that the white men who control our media ecosystem will not so much put a finger on the scale to stop her as an entire hand
it can be done (see: Zohran) but it’s going to be blatant and it’s going to be infuriating
it can be done (see: Zohran) but it’s going to be blatant and it’s going to be infuriating
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
Highly recommend being a slush reader. I've done it on two separate occasions. It was a couple hours a week of reading. Not nearly as much as a time sink as people fear, especially on a fully staffed up team.
Learning how the sausage is made will absolutely level up your own work.
Learning how the sausage is made will absolutely level up your own work.
OTHERSIDE is looking for 1-2 first readers! We got SO many amazing submissions that it's time to expand our team!
Interested? This is a great opportunity to learn about the editorial process 👀 We offer an honorarium and first readers can still submit to us!
📝Apply here: forms.gle/QcYLzXFn6AEn...
Interested? This is a great opportunity to learn about the editorial process 👀 We offer an honorarium and first readers can still submit to us!
📝Apply here: forms.gle/QcYLzXFn6AEn...
February 16, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Highly recommend being a slush reader. I've done it on two separate occasions. It was a couple hours a week of reading. Not nearly as much as a time sink as people fear, especially on a fully staffed up team.
Learning how the sausage is made will absolutely level up your own work.
Learning how the sausage is made will absolutely level up your own work.
i will put up with the heat today because it makes everyone else happy.
February 16, 2026 at 6:31 PM
i will put up with the heat today because it makes everyone else happy.
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
Gang.
GANG.
LLM DETECTORS ARE ALSO LLMs AND PRONE TO THE EXACT SAME ERRORS.
STOP USING THEM.
GANG.
LLM DETECTORS ARE ALSO LLMs AND PRONE TO THE EXACT SAME ERRORS.
STOP USING THEM.
Just because I keep seeing those "I checked this piece and it's written by AI" - this is an old article of mine, before AI was available. So could we not?
February 16, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Gang.
GANG.
LLM DETECTORS ARE ALSO LLMs AND PRONE TO THE EXACT SAME ERRORS.
STOP USING THEM.
GANG.
LLM DETECTORS ARE ALSO LLMs AND PRONE TO THE EXACT SAME ERRORS.
STOP USING THEM.
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
The Dinosaur Renaissance was a pivotal event in paleontology. But there's more than a little mythology to the story, distorting a complex history involving the ways the public encountered dinosaurs as well as scientific shifts. It was a joy to dig into the history with @commondescentpod.bsky.social.
@restingdinoface.bsky.social joins us for a journey through the evolution of dinosaur science of the 20th Century!
Episode 237 – The Dinosaur Renaissance
Listen to Episode 237 on Podbean, YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! In the mid-to-late 20th Century, the scientific and popular understanding of dinosaurs underwen…
buff.ly
February 16, 2026 at 3:32 PM
The Dinosaur Renaissance was a pivotal event in paleontology. But there's more than a little mythology to the story, distorting a complex history involving the ways the public encountered dinosaurs as well as scientific shifts. It was a joy to dig into the history with @commondescentpod.bsky.social.
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
Good morning, Bluesky.
Here is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
Here is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
February 16, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Good morning, Bluesky.
Here is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
Here is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
If you only read one thing today, let it be this. ICE is not in retreat. What we saw in Minnesota is going to spread everywhere. Get ready, friends. Take a training. Connect with your neighbors. Find out which groups are already doing prep work and volunteer. Lock arms and love on your community.
February 16, 2026 at 2:08 PM
If you only read one thing today, let it be this. ICE is not in retreat. What we saw in Minnesota is going to spread everywhere. Get ready, friends. Take a training. Connect with your neighbors. Find out which groups are already doing prep work and volunteer. Lock arms and love on your community.
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
They want to scare people out of posting ICE-critical content, because they know these posts are turning even their supporters against them. But the better option is to take a page out of their playbook and flood the zone.
Posting about ICE on Instagram is now enough to get you an “administrative subpoena.” 👀
@nytimes.com #$META
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
@nytimes.com #$META
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
February 16, 2026 at 1:49 PM
They want to scare people out of posting ICE-critical content, because they know these posts are turning even their supporters against them. But the better option is to take a page out of their playbook and flood the zone.
me: i'm finally going to go to sleep on time!
also me: decides to randomly open a new bank account instead of going to bed
my cats: decide to wrestle in bed as soon as i try to get to sleep
one of my cats: mournfully cries in another room after i kick them both out of bed
also me: decides to randomly open a new bank account instead of going to bed
my cats: decide to wrestle in bed as soon as i try to get to sleep
one of my cats: mournfully cries in another room after i kick them both out of bed
February 16, 2026 at 5:00 AM
me: i'm finally going to go to sleep on time!
also me: decides to randomly open a new bank account instead of going to bed
my cats: decide to wrestle in bed as soon as i try to get to sleep
one of my cats: mournfully cries in another room after i kick them both out of bed
also me: decides to randomly open a new bank account instead of going to bed
my cats: decide to wrestle in bed as soon as i try to get to sleep
one of my cats: mournfully cries in another room after i kick them both out of bed
my new bedroom has mirrored closet doors and my dog just tried to walk into the mirror. i asked her to stay in our world.
February 16, 2026 at 4:07 AM
my new bedroom has mirrored closet doors and my dog just tried to walk into the mirror. i asked her to stay in our world.
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
wrote sonnets for each of my partners for Valentines Day this year
February 16, 2026 at 3:25 AM
wrote sonnets for each of my partners for Valentines Day this year
years and years ago there used to be a few blogs i followed with queer and trans jews writing about living observant lives. what's the equivalent today?
February 16, 2026 at 3:35 AM
years and years ago there used to be a few blogs i followed with queer and trans jews writing about living observant lives. what's the equivalent today?
i have started my taxes!
clapclap
clapclap
February 16, 2026 at 3:19 AM
i have started my taxes!
clapclap
clapclap
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
We have FIVE DAYS left in our Kickstarter and are less than $2k away from our stretch goal which would give all backers a free digital copy of my script for SYTI #1!!
With the issue already completed, we will be sending out digital copies (and physical ASAP) shortly after the KS ends! GET YOURS NOW
With the issue already completed, we will be sending out digital copies (and physical ASAP) shortly after the KS ends! GET YOURS NOW
ICYMI:
SINK YOUR TEETH IN #1 IS LIVE ON KICKSTARTER!
Our Sapphic Vampire Noir debut funded in the first 12 hours and has smashed 2 stretch goals but we are absolutely still taking pledges and you can nab your copy now (and help the creative team get paid more!)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dea...
SINK YOUR TEETH IN #1 IS LIVE ON KICKSTARTER!
Our Sapphic Vampire Noir debut funded in the first 12 hours and has smashed 2 stretch goals but we are absolutely still taking pledges and you can nab your copy now (and help the creative team get paid more!)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dea...
February 14, 2026 at 4:16 PM
We have FIVE DAYS left in our Kickstarter and are less than $2k away from our stretch goal which would give all backers a free digital copy of my script for SYTI #1!!
With the issue already completed, we will be sending out digital copies (and physical ASAP) shortly after the KS ends! GET YOURS NOW
With the issue already completed, we will be sending out digital copies (and physical ASAP) shortly after the KS ends! GET YOURS NOW
Reposted by wendell the disasterpiece
Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.
February 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.