john fink ok!! :goat:
@adr.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
The librarian who went for Araldite. You may know me as @adr from twitter. That's ok also. I mean OK that you know me from there. Twitter is not ok. pronouns […]
[bridged from https://mastodon.social/@adr on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
[bridged from https://mastodon.social/@adr on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
I'm watching people in my feed screaming at each other over Firefox's "AI kill switch" this morning with some trepidation.
As far as I'm concerned, Firefox already has an AI kill switch. It's called `browser.ml.chat.enabled`, I set it to `false` more or less the day it appeared, it hasn't […]
As far as I'm concerned, Firefox already has an AI kill switch. It's called `browser.ml.chat.enabled`, I set it to `false` more or less the day it appeared, it hasn't […]
Original post on social.treehouse.systems
social.treehouse.systems
January 7, 2026 at 10:55 AM
I'm watching people in my feed screaming at each other over Firefox's "AI kill switch" this morning with some trepidation.
As far as I'm concerned, Firefox already has an AI kill switch. It's called `browser.ml.chat.enabled`, I set it to `false` more or less the day it appeared, it hasn't […]
As far as I'm concerned, Firefox already has an AI kill switch. It's called `browser.ml.chat.enabled`, I set it to `false` more or less the day it appeared, it hasn't […]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
One coworker -- who I'll call Xavier -- does everything through LLMs. He's the kind of developer that managers who have never been programmers _adore_ : 3000 lines of code per day.
I just realized that Xavier cannot read code, even code that he submits for review. He "understands" code by […]
I just realized that Xavier cannot read code, even code that he submits for review. He "understands" code by […]
Original post on im-in.space
im-in.space
January 6, 2026 at 7:53 PM
One coworker -- who I'll call Xavier -- does everything through LLMs. He's the kind of developer that managers who have never been programmers _adore_ : 3000 lines of code per day.
I just realized that Xavier cannot read code, even code that he submits for review. He "understands" code by […]
I just realized that Xavier cannot read code, even code that he submits for review. He "understands" code by […]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
Firefox should really strip down the browser to the core, make that performant and secure. Maybe even improve extension interfaces and then deliver whatever "AI" nonsense they want through extensions. Would make it so easy to stop having to talk about kill switches and how "hard" those are […]
Original post on tldr.nettime.org
tldr.nettime.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Firefox should really strip down the browser to the core, make that performant and secure. Maybe even improve extension interfaces and then deliver whatever "AI" nonsense they want through extensions. Would make it so easy to stop having to talk about kill switches and how "hard" those are […]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
📢 Today, TekSavvy published a **Quarterly Transparency Report** about requests we got from police and how we handled them.
This report covers the period from April to June, 2025 and as usual, I’m summarizing that report on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/andykm.bsky.social/post/3mbrmbyljuo2i […]
This report covers the period from April to June, 2025 and as usual, I’m summarizing that report on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/andykm.bsky.social/post/3mbrmbyljuo2i […]
Original post on mstdn.ca
mstdn.ca
January 6, 2026 at 6:48 PM
📢 Today, TekSavvy published a **Quarterly Transparency Report** about requests we got from police and how we handled them.
This report covers the period from April to June, 2025 and as usual, I’m summarizing that report on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/andykm.bsky.social/post/3mbrmbyljuo2i […]
This report covers the period from April to June, 2025 and as usual, I’m summarizing that report on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/andykm.bsky.social/post/3mbrmbyljuo2i […]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
I need university administrators (and probably some other people too, but definitely university administrators) to understand something: you cannot motivate your faculty to do more research or better teaching.
They are already maximally motivated people. They did not get the job by being […]
They are already maximally motivated people. They did not get the job by being […]
Original post on discuss.systems
discuss.systems
January 6, 2026 at 12:21 AM
I need university administrators (and probably some other people too, but definitely university administrators) to understand something: you cannot motivate your faculty to do more research or better teaching.
They are already maximally motivated people. They did not get the job by being […]
They are already maximally motivated people. They did not get the job by being […]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
The concept of "passive income" in our capitalist society is a curse. The whole idea that simply having wealth makes more wealth without having to do anything at all is rotten at the very core.
Oh sure, my savings are in interest bearing accounts and funds and such. But it's still the concept […]
Oh sure, my savings are in interest bearing accounts and funds and such. But it's still the concept […]
Original post on infosec.exchange
infosec.exchange
January 5, 2026 at 2:40 PM
The concept of "passive income" in our capitalist society is a curse. The whole idea that simply having wealth makes more wealth without having to do anything at all is rotten at the very core.
Oh sure, my savings are in interest bearing accounts and funds and such. But it's still the concept […]
Oh sure, my savings are in interest bearing accounts and funds and such. But it's still the concept […]
After sort of mildly poo-pooing the Meca-Quartz movement in the Militado ML-05 I've come around to it and this is one of my favourite analog watches now. Very clean; I can see why the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is a big hit. Unfortunately for my cheap […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
January 5, 2026 at 1:43 AM
After sort of mildly poo-pooing the Meca-Quartz movement in the Militado ML-05 I've come around to it and this is one of my favourite analog watches now. Very clean; I can see why the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is a big hit. Unfortunately for my cheap […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
TL;DR: “By 9:23 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2025, Canada’s 100 highest-paid CEOs had already earned what the average Canadian worker made in an entire year, according to a new report.”
#neoliberalparadise #incomeinequality #oligarchy #labour #classwar #cdnpoli […]
#neoliberalparadise #incomeinequality #oligarchy #labour #classwar #cdnpoli […]
Original post on mstdn.fname.ca
mstdn.fname.ca
January 2, 2026 at 1:56 PM
TL;DR: “By 9:23 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2025, Canada’s 100 highest-paid CEOs had already earned what the average Canadian worker made in an entire year, according to a new report.”
#neoliberalparadise #incomeinequality #oligarchy #labour #classwar #cdnpoli […]
#neoliberalparadise #incomeinequality #oligarchy #labour #classwar #cdnpoli […]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
We should pay attention to China's attempt to regulate AI chat bots to protect their citizens from harm. I think it's a good first approach to public safety.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/china-drafts-worlds-strictest-rules-to-end-ai-encouraged-suicide-violence/
The CNBC article […]
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/china-drafts-worlds-strictest-rules-to-end-ai-encouraged-suicide-violence/
The CNBC article […]
Original post on beige.party
beige.party
January 2, 2026 at 1:40 AM
We should pay attention to China's attempt to regulate AI chat bots to protect their citizens from harm. I think it's a good first approach to public safety.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/china-drafts-worlds-strictest-rules-to-end-ai-encouraged-suicide-violence/
The CNBC article […]
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/china-drafts-worlds-strictest-rules-to-end-ai-encouraged-suicide-violence/
The CNBC article […]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
Annoucing git-pkgs, explore the dependency history of your git repositories.
git pkgs init
git pkgs blame
git pkgs history rails
git pkgs diff --from=v2.0
git pkgs stats
git pkgs why rails
git pkgs diff --from=HEAD~10
git pkgs diff --from=main --to=feature […]
git pkgs init
git pkgs blame
git pkgs history rails
git pkgs diff --from=v2.0
git pkgs stats
git pkgs why rails
git pkgs diff --from=HEAD~10
git pkgs diff --from=main --to=feature […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 1, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Annoucing git-pkgs, explore the dependency history of your git repositories.
git pkgs init
git pkgs blame
git pkgs history rails
git pkgs diff --from=v2.0
git pkgs stats
git pkgs why rails
git pkgs diff --from=HEAD~10
git pkgs diff --from=main --to=feature […]
git pkgs init
git pkgs blame
git pkgs history rails
git pkgs diff --from=v2.0
git pkgs stats
git pkgs why rails
git pkgs diff --from=HEAD~10
git pkgs diff --from=main --to=feature […]
New Years Treat #taskmaster tomorrow and Saturday and I hope to Christ they announce the people for series 21 dammit
January 1, 2026 at 10:44 PM
New Years Treat #taskmaster tomorrow and Saturday and I hope to Christ they announce the people for series 21 dammit
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
@mayintoronto This goes through my head at least 3 times per night at work. I'm counting it for 2025
December 31, 2025 at 10:47 PM
@mayintoronto This goes through my head at least 3 times per night at work. I'm counting it for 2025
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
"I go to a lot of tech conferences — 13 in 2025...
the top non-tech topic for non-Americans involved the sweeping changes that have occurred since Donald J. Trump returned to office last January. The conversations generally ended with something like this: “I’m […]
[Original post on newsie.social]
the top non-tech topic for non-Americans involved the sweeping changes that have occurred since Donald J. Trump returned to office last January. The conversations generally ended with something like this: “I’m […]
[Original post on newsie.social]
December 31, 2025 at 2:17 PM
"I go to a lot of tech conferences — 13 in 2025...
the top non-tech topic for non-Americans involved the sweeping changes that have occurred since Donald J. Trump returned to office last January. The conversations generally ended with something like this: “I’m […]
[Original post on newsie.social]
the top non-tech topic for non-Americans involved the sweeping changes that have occurred since Donald J. Trump returned to office last January. The conversations generally ended with something like this: “I’m […]
[Original post on newsie.social]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
Interesting to look at recent polls: the #liberals are trending down (39%), the #cpc down a bit (38%), the #ndp and #bq are up (10% and 7%). Those are very plausible trends given that PM #markcarney has moved his party rightwards, and that threats from the White House seem less urgent.
The […]
The […]
Original post on cosocial.ca
cosocial.ca
December 30, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Interesting to look at recent polls: the #liberals are trending down (39%), the #cpc down a bit (38%), the #ndp and #bq are up (10% and 7%). Those are very plausible trends given that PM #markcarney has moved his party rightwards, and that threats from the White House seem less urgent.
The […]
The […]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
The headline is wrong. Toronto alone saw 4M+ food bank visits.
2.8M Canadians visited a food bank this year.
1 in 10 people in Toronto visited a food bank this year.
1 in 4 Canadians live with food insecurity.
These are policy decisions. It's only gotten worse year after year. Why are we […]
2.8M Canadians visited a food bank this year.
1 in 10 people in Toronto visited a food bank this year.
1 in 4 Canadians live with food insecurity.
These are policy decisions. It's only gotten worse year after year. Why are we […]
Original post on beige.party
beige.party
December 28, 2025 at 10:52 PM
The headline is wrong. Toronto alone saw 4M+ food bank visits.
2.8M Canadians visited a food bank this year.
1 in 10 people in Toronto visited a food bank this year.
1 in 4 Canadians live with food insecurity.
These are policy decisions. It's only gotten worse year after year. Why are we […]
2.8M Canadians visited a food bank this year.
1 in 10 people in Toronto visited a food bank this year.
1 in 4 Canadians live with food insecurity.
These are policy decisions. It's only gotten worse year after year. Why are we […]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
US Trade Dominance Will Soon Begin to Crack by Cory Doctorow
https://www.wired.com/story/us-trade-dominance-will-begin-to-crack/
https://www.wired.com/story/us-trade-dominance-will-begin-to-crack/
US Trade Dominance Will Soon Begin to Crack
Savvy countries will discover there’s a way to mitigate the harm incurred by Trump’s tariffs—and it’ll boost their own economies while making goods cheaper too.
www.wired.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:16 PM
US Trade Dominance Will Soon Begin to Crack by Cory Doctorow
https://www.wired.com/story/us-trade-dominance-will-begin-to-crack/
https://www.wired.com/story/us-trade-dominance-will-begin-to-crack/
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
As 2025 winds (or stumbles?) toward its end, my wishes for next year sound much like my wishes for any day of any year:
- Cities, nations, provinces/states, etc. all elect more women to leadership.
- The sensible people who exist between extremist polarities (in other words, 80% of humanity) […]
- Cities, nations, provinces/states, etc. all elect more women to leadership.
- The sensible people who exist between extremist polarities (in other words, 80% of humanity) […]
Original post on scholar.social
scholar.social
December 23, 2025 at 9:16 PM
As 2025 winds (or stumbles?) toward its end, my wishes for next year sound much like my wishes for any day of any year:
- Cities, nations, provinces/states, etc. all elect more women to leadership.
- The sensible people who exist between extremist polarities (in other words, 80% of humanity) […]
- Cities, nations, provinces/states, etc. all elect more women to leadership.
- The sensible people who exist between extremist polarities (in other words, 80% of humanity) […]
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
The context really, really does matter.
Yes, 764.6 billion liters globally is a lot of water by itself.
But do you know how much water is used?
Here's the comparison chart.
Please note that I had to increase #LLM #water use by 10x, to 7646 billion liters, *to make #AI even visible.*
Yes, 764.6 billion liters globally is a lot of water by itself.
But do you know how much water is used?
Here's the comparison chart.
Please note that I had to increase #LLM #water use by 10x, to 7646 billion liters, *to make #AI even visible.*
December 23, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
Jordan Kunni (@JordanKonek): "That’s her when she was 17. Walking into her igloo, that her dad made. It went viral in 2018. She’s now 93 years old." | nitter
https://nitter.net/JordanKonek/status/2003158001050669140#m
#inuit #igloo
https://nitter.net/JordanKonek/status/2003158001050669140#m
#inuit #igloo
December 22, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Jordan Kunni (@JordanKonek): "That’s her when she was 17. Walking into her igloo, that her dad made. It went viral in 2018. She’s now 93 years old." | nitter
https://nitter.net/JordanKonek/status/2003158001050669140#m
#inuit #igloo
https://nitter.net/JordanKonek/status/2003158001050669140#m
#inuit #igloo
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
Around 30% of Canadian renters spend 50% of income on rent: survey https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/12/21/canadian-renters-30-percent-half-income-rent-survey/
Around 30% of Canadian renters spend 50% of income on rent: survey
A new survey reveals nearly one-third of renters pay over half their income to their landlord, despite prices across the country declining.
vancouver.citynews.ca
December 22, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Around 30% of Canadian renters spend 50% of income on rent: survey https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/12/21/canadian-renters-30-percent-half-income-rent-survey/
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
I am frustrated by how all machine learning has been conflated into this heated AI discourse
There is good DH work that’s being dismissed as "AI slop" when it shouldn’t be
The ubiquity & (political, economic, social, technical) power of these tools mean scholars *must* understand & teach them+
There is good DH work that’s being dismissed as "AI slop" when it shouldn’t be
The ubiquity & (political, economic, social, technical) power of these tools mean scholars *must* understand & teach them+
December 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I am frustrated by how all machine learning has been conflated into this heated AI discourse
There is good DH work that’s being dismissed as "AI slop" when it shouldn’t be
The ubiquity & (political, economic, social, technical) power of these tools mean scholars *must* understand & teach them+
There is good DH work that’s being dismissed as "AI slop" when it shouldn’t be
The ubiquity & (political, economic, social, technical) power of these tools mean scholars *must* understand & teach them+
Reposted by john fink ok!! :goat:
Paying for healthcare is the stupidest thing ever.
My poor old moms has been laid up with a crook back for weeks now and is desperate for relief. Her doc put her on a wait list for an MRI which might not be until April next year.
Meanwhile, she has the ‘option’ of shelling out $1300 bucks and […]
My poor old moms has been laid up with a crook back for weeks now and is desperate for relief. Her doc put her on a wait list for an MRI which might not be until April next year.
Meanwhile, she has the ‘option’ of shelling out $1300 bucks and […]
Original post on mstdn.fname.ca
mstdn.fname.ca
December 21, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Paying for healthcare is the stupidest thing ever.
My poor old moms has been laid up with a crook back for weeks now and is desperate for relief. Her doc put her on a wait list for an MRI which might not be until April next year.
Meanwhile, she has the ‘option’ of shelling out $1300 bucks and […]
My poor old moms has been laid up with a crook back for weeks now and is desperate for relief. Her doc put her on a wait list for an MRI which might not be until April next year.
Meanwhile, she has the ‘option’ of shelling out $1300 bucks and […]