Brent Baxter
@brentbaxter.bsky.social
Husband. Dad. Techie. Seeker.
Reposted by Brent Baxter
ChatGPT is failing to protect vulnerable teens.
We tested ChatGPT on over 1200 prompts asking questions about self-harm, suicide, eating disorders & substance abuse.
53% of the responses contained harmful or dangerous content.
Read more in @cnet.com 👇
www.cnet.com/tech/service...
We tested ChatGPT on over 1200 prompts asking questions about self-harm, suicide, eating disorders & substance abuse.
53% of the responses contained harmful or dangerous content.
Read more in @cnet.com 👇
www.cnet.com/tech/service...
Study Reveals ChatGPT Gives Dangerous Guidance to Teens, Despite Safety Claims
The chatbot created personalized suicide notes for a fictional 13-year-old girl.
www.cnet.com
August 15, 2025 at 1:23 PM
ChatGPT is failing to protect vulnerable teens.
We tested ChatGPT on over 1200 prompts asking questions about self-harm, suicide, eating disorders & substance abuse.
53% of the responses contained harmful or dangerous content.
Read more in @cnet.com 👇
www.cnet.com/tech/service...
We tested ChatGPT on over 1200 prompts asking questions about self-harm, suicide, eating disorders & substance abuse.
53% of the responses contained harmful or dangerous content.
Read more in @cnet.com 👇
www.cnet.com/tech/service...
Inspired by the game Two Truths and a Lie, I'm beginning a new series called One Truth. I hope to share meaningful aspects that will foster stronger connections and relationships. They also provide context for other writing I have done—and will do.
www.brentbaxter.com/one-truth-i-...
www.brentbaxter.com/one-truth-i-...
One Truth | I Have a Graduate Degree from a Seminary
💡One Truth is a personal statement intended to reveal something important to truly understand me. The inspiration came from the icebreaker game Two Truths and a Lie, where a group tries to discern bet...
www.brentbaxter.com
August 13, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Inspired by the game Two Truths and a Lie, I'm beginning a new series called One Truth. I hope to share meaningful aspects that will foster stronger connections and relationships. They also provide context for other writing I have done—and will do.
www.brentbaxter.com/one-truth-i-...
www.brentbaxter.com/one-truth-i-...
I’ve restarted my old blog. The site has moved to a new home and been tidied up (though you may still find a few broken links). I’ve published a new post—a reflection on relationships, and in particular my recent wedding anniversary.
www.brentbaxter.com/something-ol...
www.brentbaxter.com/something-ol...
Something Old, Something New
My wife and I recently celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary. We kept it simple: dinner for two at a casual local restaurant. While waiting for our food, our youngest son messaged us, asking for pho...
www.brentbaxter.com
August 4, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I’ve restarted my old blog. The site has moved to a new home and been tidied up (though you may still find a few broken links). I’ve published a new post—a reflection on relationships, and in particular my recent wedding anniversary.
www.brentbaxter.com/something-ol...
www.brentbaxter.com/something-ol...
Schwarbombs!
Kyle Schwarber went 3 for 3 to put the National League ahead as they won the first All-Star Game home run swing-off.
Kyle Schwarber's 3 homers in All-Star Game's first tiebreaking swing-off lift NL over AL
Kyle Schwarber went 3 for 3 in the first All-Star Game home run swing-off to put the National League ahead 4-3 following a 6-6 tie in which the American League rallied from a six-run deficit.
bit.ly
July 16, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Schwarbombs!
What could possibly go wrong ... !?
BREAKING: DOGE is starting to put together a team to migrate the SSA's computer systems entirely off one of its oldest programming languages in a matter of months, potentially putting the integrity of the system—and the benefits on which tens of millions of Americans rely—at risk.
DOGE Plans to Rebuild SSA Codebase In Months, Risking Benefits and System Collapse
Social Security systems contain tens of millions of lines of code written in COBOL, an archaic programming language. Safely rewriting that code would take years—DOGE wants it done in months.
www.wired.com
March 28, 2025 at 2:56 PM
What could possibly go wrong ... !?
Reposted by Brent Baxter
This is a direct attack on the First Amendment. Regardless of how you feel about DEI, teaching any element of it is protected by the First Amendment. This is a federal prosecutor attacking the curriculum of a private Christian college. Inexcusable.
March 6, 2025 at 7:57 PM
This is a direct attack on the First Amendment. Regardless of how you feel about DEI, teaching any element of it is protected by the First Amendment. This is a federal prosecutor attacking the curriculum of a private Christian college. Inexcusable.
Reposted by Brent Baxter
I cover health and biotech at WIRED, and I'm looking to speak with employees at federal labs whose work is being affected by the credit card freeze. You can reach me securely on Signal at emullin.06. I can honor requests for anonymity.
March 3, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I cover health and biotech at WIRED, and I'm looking to speak with employees at federal labs whose work is being affected by the credit card freeze. You can reach me securely on Signal at emullin.06. I can honor requests for anonymity.
Reposted by Brent Baxter
Thousands of potential layoffs *apparently* still isn't efficient enough for Elon Musk. Now, operatives linked to DOGE are reportedly modifying AutoRIF, a Defense Department program that could enable mass firings of federal workers.
DOGE Is Working on Software That Automates the Firing of Government Workers
Operatives working for Elon Musk’s DOGE appear to be editing the code of AutoRIF—software designed by the Defense Department that could assist in mass firings of federal workers, sources tell WIRED.
buff.ly
March 3, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Thousands of potential layoffs *apparently* still isn't efficient enough for Elon Musk. Now, operatives linked to DOGE are reportedly modifying AutoRIF, a Defense Department program that could enable mass firings of federal workers.
First measles case reported in PA.
Montgomery County officials released details about the region’s first 2025 confirmed case of measles, including the places the unvaccinated child visited before their emergency room diagnosis.
The county’s Office of Public Health is still working on contact tracing with the child’s parents.
The county’s Office of Public Health is still working on contact tracing with the child’s parents.
Montgomery County ID’s potential measles exposure locations after first 2025 case confirmed
People in those areas between Feb. 25 and 26 could have been exposed
www.inquirer.com
March 3, 2025 at 3:42 AM
First measles case reported in PA.
This is hard to watch, but I encourage you to do so. There is so much to unpack here than the clips you have seen. Saying that Trump is off the rails is putting it lightly.
www.c-span.org/program/whit...
www.c-span.org/program/whit...
President Trump Meets with Ukrainian President Zelensky
www.c-span.org
February 28, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This is hard to watch, but I encourage you to do so. There is so much to unpack here than the clips you have seen. Saying that Trump is off the rails is putting it lightly.
www.c-span.org/program/whit...
www.c-span.org/program/whit...
This is a very helpful read in the midst of what feels like an impossible situation.
In light of everything happening, I wrote about how the KKK in the 1920s felt unstoppable, about the people that fought against them anyway, and about how fascism always fails. dansinker.com/posts/202…
February 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM
This is a very helpful read in the midst of what feels like an impossible situation.
Reposted by Brent Baxter
A reminder to turn Advanced Data Protection On for those who haven't.
Settings > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection
Settings > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection
February 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
A reminder to turn Advanced Data Protection On for those who haven't.
Settings > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection
Settings > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection
I couldn't read this article with out having a Muse sountrack running in my head ... supermassive black hole.
A team of astrophysicists have found flares of light in Sagittarius A*, a supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way.
Why are 'fireworks' coming from a black hole? This is what scientists say
A team of astrophysicists have found flares of light in Sagittarius A*, a supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way.
www.npr.org
February 21, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I couldn't read this article with out having a Muse sountrack running in my head ... supermassive black hole.
Reposted by Brent Baxter
"The same tracking techniques that Google claims are essential for online advertising also expose individuals' sensitive information to data brokers, surveillance companies, and law enforcement," EFF’s Lena Cohen told BBC News.
Fingerprinting: Critics say Google rules put profits over privacy
Google is allowing advertisers to collect more personal information, which is harder for users to control.
www.bbc.com
February 19, 2025 at 12:12 AM
"The same tracking techniques that Google claims are essential for online advertising also expose individuals' sensitive information to data brokers, surveillance companies, and law enforcement," EFF’s Lena Cohen told BBC News.
Reposted by Brent Baxter
This is absolutely the Twitter Files for the government.
Elon wanted to humiliate his enemies. But what Twitter Files showed was generally careful governance, some bad calls, & stuff taken out of context by “journalists” who didn’t understand the basics. Same here.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/u...
Elon wanted to humiliate his enemies. But what Twitter Files showed was generally careful governance, some bad calls, & stuff taken out of context by “journalists” who didn’t understand the basics. Same here.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/u...
DOGE Claimed It Saved $8 Billion in One Contract. It Was Actually $8 Million.
The biggest single line item on the website of Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team appears to include an error.
www.nytimes.com
February 19, 2025 at 1:24 PM
This is absolutely the Twitter Files for the government.
Elon wanted to humiliate his enemies. But what Twitter Files showed was generally careful governance, some bad calls, & stuff taken out of context by “journalists” who didn’t understand the basics. Same here.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/u...
Elon wanted to humiliate his enemies. But what Twitter Files showed was generally careful governance, some bad calls, & stuff taken out of context by “journalists” who didn’t understand the basics. Same here.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/u...
The team at @wired.com has been doing fantastic work reporting on the dynamics afoot in DOGE. Here is an excellent example of their vital "no stone left unturned" reporting.
All the norms and guardrails are being discarded.
All the norms and guardrails are being discarded.
Elon Musk’s Man in the Treasury Is Still Holding Down His Day Job as Software CEO
An email sent to workers at the US Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service said DOGE’s Tom Krause is “currently” the CEO of the Cloud Software Group. Critics believe this could be a massive...
www.wired.com
February 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The team at @wired.com has been doing fantastic work reporting on the dynamics afoot in DOGE. Here is an excellent example of their vital "no stone left unturned" reporting.
All the norms and guardrails are being discarded.
All the norms and guardrails are being discarded.
Reposted by Brent Baxter
i realize its lame/cringe to do this in public but i'm *not* a well-sourced govt reporter. i write about the internet lol. but the more sensitive/specific the info...the more its helpful to protect sources with multiple perspectives. so if this is you...boy it would be helpful in telling this story
February 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
i realize its lame/cringe to do this in public but i'm *not* a well-sourced govt reporter. i write about the internet lol. but the more sensitive/specific the info...the more its helpful to protect sources with multiple perspectives. so if this is you...boy it would be helpful in telling this story
Reposted by Brent Baxter
This week, Gov. Shapiro announced that he will be filing suit to challenge President Trump’s unconstitutional freeze on $1.2 billion that the US Congress appropriated to PA.
Read the full statement of support from @senatorcosta.com and @senatorhughes.com here 🔽
Read the full statement of support from @senatorcosta.com and @senatorhughes.com here 🔽
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes Applaud Governor Shapiro’s Lawsuit to Unfreeze $1.2 Billion in Federal Funding for PA’s Families
HARRISBURG, PA – February 13, 2025 – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that he will be filing suit to challenge President Trump’s unconstitutional freeze on $1.2 billion that the US Congress…
buff.ly
February 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
This week, Gov. Shapiro announced that he will be filing suit to challenge President Trump’s unconstitutional freeze on $1.2 billion that the US Congress appropriated to PA.
Read the full statement of support from @senatorcosta.com and @senatorhughes.com here 🔽
Read the full statement of support from @senatorcosta.com and @senatorhughes.com here 🔽
Move fast and break things they said ...
The whole myth of total Elon genius right there folks. Smart no doubt but the smartest? Obviously not.
The DOGE "force of super-geniuses" reinventing our $6 trillion government forgot to password-protect their website. Here's what it looks like right now www.404media.co/anyone-can-p...
February 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Move fast and break things they said ...
I feel like we are on the cusp of the next big data breach being the US government. DOGE can't even secure a WordPress site, what should we expect them to do with databases full of sensitive PHI/PPI data.
The technology team at financial regulator CFPB has been gutted
The technology team at financial regulator CFPB has been gutted
DOGE has gained an unusual level of access to agency data.
buff.ly
February 14, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I feel like we are on the cusp of the next big data breach being the US government. DOGE can't even secure a WordPress site, what should we expect them to do with databases full of sensitive PHI/PPI data.
This is the individual calling most of the shots right now and who has access to most/all (who really knows?) of your personal data and federal agencies.
February 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
This is the individual calling most of the shots right now and who has access to most/all (who really knows?) of your personal data and federal agencies.
If we make it through the next four years, then what else could go wrong? Oh wait ...
There is a 2 percent chance that seven years from now, “the city destroyer” will hit Earth with the force of an 8-megaton nuclear weapon. Here are its possible impact points.
This Is Where Asteroid 2024 YR4 Could Strike
There is a 2 percent chance that seven years from now, “the city destroyer” will hit Earth with the force of an 8-megaton nuclear weapon. Here are its possible impact points.
www.wired.com
February 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM
If we make it through the next four years, then what else could go wrong? Oh wait ...
Reposted by Brent Baxter
here's today's post: "what the fuck is going on?" — none of this is normal.
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
what the fuck is going on?
none of this is normal
bit.ly
February 12, 2025 at 3:49 PM
here's today's post: "what the fuck is going on?" — none of this is normal.
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
Reposted by Brent Baxter
helpful and important to stop thinking of x as a social media platform and see and talk about it for what it is: a political weapon
X/Twitter has banned multiple accounts after posts went viral naming people who work with Elon Musk
February 3, 2025 at 10:29 PM
helpful and important to stop thinking of x as a social media platform and see and talk about it for what it is: a political weapon
Reposted by Brent Baxter
This says it all.
January 29, 2025 at 2:36 AM
This says it all.