Curious, Confused, Coding Connor
@codingconnor.bsky.social
I write code, and I advocate for coders to take a more critical look at the impact of technology on our mental health 🧠, our civic discourse 🗣️, and income inequality 🤑
I’m intellectually fascinated, and socially terrified, by AI.
I’m intellectually fascinated, and socially terrified, by AI.
Pinned
Mundus sine Caesaribus
I’m intrigued by the idea that old codebases can be better than newer codebases b/c of decades of work squashing bugs. I kinda imagine like old growth forest vs a new garden. The old ecosystem is mature and complicated and tangled. It works (maybe better?) but it appears messier than new code.
So, the DOGE kids intend to rewrite the social-security administration's COBOL code-base!
and they want to do it ...
... in *a few months*
I did a huge dive into COBOL a few years ago (www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/magazi...) ...
... so let me explain why DOGE is *way* over its skis here
1/9
and they want to do it ...
... in *a few months*
I did a huge dive into COBOL a few years ago (www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/magazi...) ...
... so let me explain why DOGE is *way* over its skis here
1/9
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www.wealthsimple.com
March 31, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I’m intrigued by the idea that old codebases can be better than newer codebases b/c of decades of work squashing bugs. I kinda imagine like old growth forest vs a new garden. The old ecosystem is mature and complicated and tangled. It works (maybe better?) but it appears messier than new code.
I’m a big fan of thoughtful takes on how LLM’s are influencing coding. My fav section title here: “LLMs Amplify Existing Expertise”.
My take: having coding expertise allows you to develop this new human-in-the-loop LLM coding skillset. Coding with LLM’s is a skill you have to develop.
My take: having coding expertise allows you to develop this new human-in-the-loop LLM coding skillset. Coding with LLM’s is a skill you have to develop.
Here's the table of contents for my lengthy new piece on how I use LLMs to help me write code simonwillison.net/2025/Mar/11/...
March 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I’m a big fan of thoughtful takes on how LLM’s are influencing coding. My fav section title here: “LLMs Amplify Existing Expertise”.
My take: having coding expertise allows you to develop this new human-in-the-loop LLM coding skillset. Coding with LLM’s is a skill you have to develop.
My take: having coding expertise allows you to develop this new human-in-the-loop LLM coding skillset. Coding with LLM’s is a skill you have to develop.
What. The. Actual. Fuck?!???!!
March 11, 2025 at 8:35 PM
What. The. Actual. Fuck?!???!!
“I think society starts to reflect the structure of its dominant form of communication and so you need communications infrastructure that is democratic” - @jay.bsky.team 👏👏👏
@bsky.app CEO @jay.bsky.team details how the platform utilizes open networks to allow users to craft their own social media experience while maintaining their personal privacy.
March 11, 2025 at 8:22 PM
“I think society starts to reflect the structure of its dominant form of communication and so you need communications infrastructure that is democratic” - @jay.bsky.team 👏👏👏
Great thread about how lack of social-media scheduler support for @bsky.app is an obstacle for larger orgs to move here. Hopefully this will continue to change as the Bluesky community grows
I've seen several people ask why it took so long for us to leave X (most news orgs still haven't left, mind you).
So, just to be transparent, I'll explain: We knew we'd likely need an exit plan. We set up Bluesky, Threads and Mastodon accounts in 2023.
But there was a problem. 1/
So, just to be transparent, I'll explain: We knew we'd likely need an exit plan. We set up Bluesky, Threads and Mastodon accounts in 2023.
But there was a problem. 1/
"There are so many stories we never could have told if not for the connections we made on Twitter. But that bird has flown the coop," Ashton Pittman writes.
Here’s why the Mississippi Free Press will no longer post on X:
Here’s why the Mississippi Free Press will no longer post on X:
March 11, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Great thread about how lack of social-media scheduler support for @bsky.app is an obstacle for larger orgs to move here. Hopefully this will continue to change as the Bluesky community grows
I know @mcuban.bsky.social loves @bsky.app. It’s time for him to fully fund @freeourfeeds.com and take a massive step towards securing bluesky’s future as a better social media.
March 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I know @mcuban.bsky.social loves @bsky.app. It’s time for him to fully fund @freeourfeeds.com and take a massive step towards securing bluesky’s future as a better social media.
Mundus sine Caesaribus
March 11, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Mundus sine Caesaribus
Well worth watching the full talk!
March 11, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Well worth watching the full talk!
💯💯💯
Right now there is clear, overwhelming opposition to Mahmoud Khalil’s abduction across the moderate, liberal, progressive & left spectrum. This kind of loud unity is what authoritarians are afraid of. To keep it up we need every institution & public leader to join the chorus.
March 11, 2025 at 3:42 AM
💯💯💯
Shout it from the rooftops! Algorithms can be better! #holdtechaccountable
Algorithms don’t have to be the way they are. The @knightgtown.bsky.social report proves platforms could build feeds that serve users, not just engagement. Transparency, accountability, and user control can create better algorithms—if we demand them
techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/yes-we-can...
techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/yes-we-can...
Yes, we can have better algorithms
A new report from recommender system experts highlights practical alternatives to addictive and engagement-driven feeds
techandsocialcohesion.substack.com
March 7, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Shout it from the rooftops! Algorithms can be better! #holdtechaccountable
A little microcosm of sports washing... What happens when an oil company sponsors a ski race while burning oil is ultimately jeopardising the future of skiing? Is disrupting the event effective or does it just piss people off?
fasterskier.com/2025/03/in-n...
fasterskier.com/2025/03/in-n...
In Norway, a Fossil Fuel Feud at a Celebration of the National Sport – FasterSkier
This article was made possible through the generous support of our voluntary subscribers. If you would like to see more articles like this one, please support FasterSkier with a voluntary subscription.
fasterskier.com
March 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
A little microcosm of sports washing... What happens when an oil company sponsors a ski race while burning oil is ultimately jeopardising the future of skiing? Is disrupting the event effective or does it just piss people off?
fasterskier.com/2025/03/in-n...
fasterskier.com/2025/03/in-n...
Good recap thread 🧵 on one of the problems with the Discover feed. When a post makes it to Discover, people who don’t know you / your brand engage, and the quality of the engagement predictably falls.
I’m a broken record on this so let me define the problem.
the Discover feed means that for a subset of posts a significant fraction of your audience is people to whom you are a total stranger, many of whom are new here.
the Discover feed means that for a subset of posts a significant fraction of your audience is people to whom you are a total stranger, many of whom are new here.
February 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Good recap thread 🧵 on one of the problems with the Discover feed. When a post makes it to Discover, people who don’t know you / your brand engage, and the quality of the engagement predictably falls.
I like this as an example of how a lot of curious people are using (and benefiting from?) LLMs. There are a lot of reasons to be skeptical that LLMs are overall good for human well-being, but I’m gently inclined to think this doesn’t fall in that category. I’d love to hear perspectives!
very cool (old) post by @teorth.bsky.social. when i tried to read it a few years ago, i didn’t understand much at all. this time, thanks to some basic familiarity with logic (and thanks to Claude’s help unpacking a few examples), i feel like i decently grasp the first section (Zeroth-order logic)
Epistemic logic, temporal epistemic logic, and the blue-eyed islander puzzle lower bound
I recently reposted my favourite logic puzzle, namely the blue-eyed islander puzzle. I am fond of this puzzle because in order to properly understand the correct solution (and to properly understan…
terrytao.wordpress.com
February 26, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I like this as an example of how a lot of curious people are using (and benefiting from?) LLMs. There are a lot of reasons to be skeptical that LLMs are overall good for human well-being, but I’m gently inclined to think this doesn’t fall in that category. I’d love to hear perspectives!
At least we gave them a Bible!
Then Jesus said unto the stranger, "are you here legally?"
Then Jesus said unto the hungry, "my taxes better not be paying for these loaves and fishes."
Then Jesus said unto the poor, "this is your own fault."
Then Jesus said unto the stranger, "are you here legally?"
Then Jesus said unto the hungry, "my taxes better not be paying for these loaves and fishes."
Then Jesus said unto the poor, "this is your own fault."
Three migrants sent to Guantánamo said they were denied calls to loved ones, subjected to humiliating strip searches and left in isolation for prolonged periods.
Invasive frisks, suicide attempts: Three migrants describe Guantánamo detention
Three migrants sent to Guantánamo said they were denied calls to loved ones, subjected to humiliating strip searches and left in isolation for prolonged periods.
wapo.st
February 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
At least we gave them a Bible!
Then Jesus said unto the stranger, "are you here legally?"
Then Jesus said unto the hungry, "my taxes better not be paying for these loaves and fishes."
Then Jesus said unto the poor, "this is your own fault."
Then Jesus said unto the stranger, "are you here legally?"
Then Jesus said unto the hungry, "my taxes better not be paying for these loaves and fishes."
Then Jesus said unto the poor, "this is your own fault."
“I talk about 60 percent of people living paycheck to paycheck, a health care system which is broken, a child care system which is broken, a horrific housing crisis of working people who are paying 50 or 60 percent of income on rent. […] Where were the Democrats? Where were they?”
“There is something profoundly wrong when we have a president moving us to an authoritarian type of society, capturing more power for himself, acting in an unconstitutional way virtually every day.”
Exclusive interview ⤵️
Exclusive interview ⤵️
Bernie Sanders on Battling a Government 'Of, By, and For' the Billionaires
An exclusive interview with Bernie Sanders as he launched his ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour, countering billionaire power and Trump tax cuts in Omaha.
www.rollingstone.com
February 25, 2025 at 6:27 PM
“I talk about 60 percent of people living paycheck to paycheck, a health care system which is broken, a child care system which is broken, a horrific housing crisis of working people who are paying 50 or 60 percent of income on rent. […] Where were the Democrats? Where were they?”
Bluesky is exciting because of the potential to craft a new human-focused social media. I hadn’t thought of this idea before, but it is exciting to be on a platform where ideas like this have a chance of becoming reality. (1/)
I’m getting increasingly annoyed by my feeds being dominated by US posts.
Some is fine, but it drowns out European, UK, Scottish and local posts.
This is important as we need to build connections, community and resilience locally.
@bsky.app could help by enabling geographical filtering.
Some is fine, but it drowns out European, UK, Scottish and local posts.
This is important as we need to build connections, community and resilience locally.
@bsky.app could help by enabling geographical filtering.
February 25, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Bluesky is exciting because of the potential to craft a new human-focused social media. I hadn’t thought of this idea before, but it is exciting to be on a platform where ideas like this have a chance of becoming reality. (1/)
This is the single best breakdown of DOGE I’ve heard yet. @wired.com and @techwontsave.us knock it out of the park, but I wish I hadn’t listened before bed as these days the truth gives me nightmares.
Over the past few weeks, Elon Musk’s DOGE has infiltrated the US government and begun dismantling pieces of it.
This week @makenakelly.bsky.social joins @parismarx.com to discuss the threat DOGE poses to government services and everyone who depends on them.
Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/264_...
This week @makenakelly.bsky.social joins @parismarx.com to discuss the threat DOGE poses to government services and everyone who depends on them.
Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/264_...
February 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
This is the single best breakdown of DOGE I’ve heard yet. @wired.com and @techwontsave.us knock it out of the park, but I wish I hadn’t listened before bed as these days the truth gives me nightmares.
Sci Fi has a rich history of being subversive, and Andor continues that heritage. I’m kinda shocked it made it past corporate for-profit sanitization, but I also find hope that this type of messaging is available in mainstream media. Long live the Star Wars rebels!
February 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Sci Fi has a rich history of being subversive, and Andor continues that heritage. I’m kinda shocked it made it past corporate for-profit sanitization, but I also find hope that this type of messaging is available in mainstream media. Long live the Star Wars rebels!
This type of “social stunt” is genuine activism. Attention matters. Grabbing attention in funny and creative ways is an act of resistance.
On Monday morning, TV sets at the headquarters of the Department of Housing and Urban Development played the seemingly AI-generated video on loop, along with the words “LONG LIVE THE REAL KING.”
Read the full article: www.wired.com/story/trump-...
Read the full article: www.wired.com/story/trump-...
February 24, 2025 at 6:50 PM
This type of “social stunt” is genuine activism. Attention matters. Grabbing attention in funny and creative ways is an act of resistance.
We are subservient to for-profit algorithms that do not have our well-being in mind. We need algorithm transparency, and algorithm choice. Our feeds shouldn’t maximize for engagement, they should maximize for well-being.
Surely this new video won't make me seem like a crank.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJp...
Algorithms are breaking how we think
YouTube video by Technology Connections
www.youtube.com
February 24, 2025 at 6:37 PM
We are subservient to for-profit algorithms that do not have our well-being in mind. We need algorithm transparency, and algorithm choice. Our feeds shouldn’t maximize for engagement, they should maximize for well-being.
*cracks open door* oh, this looks kinda public. do i really want to be here?
February 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
*cracks open door* oh, this looks kinda public. do i really want to be here?