Matt Drance
@drance.bsky.social
I have the benefit of heighten pattern recognition
Reposted by Matt Drance
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Reposted by Matt Drance
On Wednesday, Conde Nast management illegally fired four union leaders. While our union fights these illegal dismissals, the “Fired Four” have been left with no severance or COBRA coverage. Please donate to help cover their living expenses at the link below.
Donate to Support the Fired Four: Alma, Ben, Jake, Jasper, organized by Louryn Strampe
On November 5, 2025, Conde Nast management illegally fired four union l… Louryn Strampe needs your support for Support the Fired Four: Alma, Ben, Jake, Jasper
www.gofundme.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:36 PM
On Wednesday, Conde Nast management illegally fired four union leaders. While our union fights these illegal dismissals, the “Fired Four” have been left with no severance or COBRA coverage. Please donate to help cover their living expenses at the link below.
Reposted by Matt Drance
Bill is the preeminent John Hughes expert. I learn something every single time he writes about him.
Sadly, won't be covering the 4K upgrade of Criterion's THE BREAKFAST CLUB (it's a beaut), but I did post 7,426 words about the film and disc when the Blu-ray came out, and the special features are identical across the two releases. filmfreakcentral.net/2018/04/the-...
The Breakfast Club (1985) [The Criterion Collection] - Blu-ray Disc - FILM FREAK CENTRAL
***/**** Image A+ Sound A Extras A starring Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, John Kapelos written and directed by John Hughes by Bill Chambers Necessity is the mother of invention, ...
filmfreakcentral.net
November 10, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Bill is the preeminent John Hughes expert. I learn something every single time he writes about him.
Reposted by Matt Drance
[Avengers reverse the Snap and have all their heroes and all of Wakanda's army arrayed against Thanos]
Cap: "Okay *now* we surrender"
Cap: "Okay *now* we surrender"
November 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
[Avengers reverse the Snap and have all their heroes and all of Wakanda's army arrayed against Thanos]
Cap: "Okay *now* we surrender"
Cap: "Okay *now* we surrender"
“No matter how unhinged the position you’ve taken, or paid someone marginally credentialed to sketch out on your behalf—“Can Woman Think?: We Investigate,” “Is the Negro a Man: A Reconsideration”—that opinion will, by virtue of such provenance, possess all needed evidentiary gravity for the Times.”
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
“No matter how unhinged the position you’ve taken, or paid someone marginally credentialed to sketch out on your behalf—“Can Woman Think?: We Investigate,” “Is the Negro a Man: A Reconsideration”—that opinion will, by virtue of such provenance, possess all needed evidentiary gravity for the Times.”
Reposted by Matt Drance
Panera’s moderately caffeinated lemonade was loosely associated with 2 deaths before it was taken off market.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
I fully believe in the corporate death penalty and believe we would be a better world if OpenAI lost its corporate charter and was forcibly dissolved.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
ChatGPT encouraged college graduate to commit suicide, family claims in lawsuit against OpenAI | CNN
A 23-year-old man killed himself in Texas after ChatGPT ‘goaded’ him to commit suicide, his family says in a lawsuit.
www.cnn.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Panera’s moderately caffeinated lemonade was loosely associated with 2 deaths before it was taken off market.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
Reposted by Matt Drance
This story in the Boston Globe that quotes @ethanz.bsky.social reminds me of the fascinating story over the last decade of how to moderate dopers who cheat their way onto the leaderboards of online sports platforms like Strava (1/n)
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/01/b...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/01/b...
Why Strava, Letterboxd, Beli, and other niche social media apps are having a moment - The Boston Globe
The apps serve as both a personal diary and a tight-knit social network that some users prefer over larger sites networks that they believe have grown toxic.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:01 AM
This story in the Boston Globe that quotes @ethanz.bsky.social reminds me of the fascinating story over the last decade of how to moderate dopers who cheat their way onto the leaderboards of online sports platforms like Strava (1/n)
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/01/b...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/01/b...
Reposted by Matt Drance
Meta earns about $7 billion a year on scam ads, report says - mashable.com/article/meta... madness...
Report: Meta earns about $7 billion a year on scam ads
Meta reportedly made a lot of money off of fraudulent ads, according to the company's own internal documents, a new report claims.
mashable.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Meta earns about $7 billion a year on scam ads, report says - mashable.com/article/meta... madness...
Line after extraordinary line in here from Judge Ellis. Thank you Heather for reporting.
Greetings from the Dirksen federal courthouse, where U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis has just taken the bench to rule on federal agents actions' during a series of increasingly aggressive raids across Chicago and the suburbs.
Background, for @wttw.bsky.social from @bymattmasterson.bsky.social
Background, for @wttw.bsky.social from @bymattmasterson.bsky.social
Judge Set to Rule Thursday in Case Centering on Federal Immigration Agents’ Use of Force: ‘I Could See Inside the Barrel’
Protesters, clergy members and others who say they’ve been directly impacted by a series of increasingly aggressive raids across Chicago and the suburbs will testify before a federal judge weighing wh...
news.wttw.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Line after extraordinary line in here from Judge Ellis. Thank you Heather for reporting.
Reposted by Matt Drance
Outlanders out now on Nintendo Switch! ✨💫
Town-building strategy game, populated by hard-working, charming folk in search of a simpler life. Some just want to survive off the land, others want to create amazing things
Play now! https://loom.ly/gIVQ_Z8
Town-building strategy game, populated by hard-working, charming folk in search of a simpler life. Some just want to survive off the land, others want to create amazing things
Play now! https://loom.ly/gIVQ_Z8
November 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Outlanders out now on Nintendo Switch! ✨💫
Town-building strategy game, populated by hard-working, charming folk in search of a simpler life. Some just want to survive off the land, others want to create amazing things
Play now! https://loom.ly/gIVQ_Z8
Town-building strategy game, populated by hard-working, charming folk in search of a simpler life. Some just want to survive off the land, others want to create amazing things
Play now! https://loom.ly/gIVQ_Z8
Reposted by Matt Drance
"Your HR just rejected 45 women over 40 using AI…out of 47 applicants. You didn’t notice because the algorithm said ‘not qualified.’ And you didn’t bother to double-check. AI doesn’t eliminate bias. It automates it at scale."
#bias #psychology #sociology #equality
substack.com/home/post/p-...
#bias #psychology #sociology #equality
substack.com/home/post/p-...
The Algorithm Holds a Ugly Truth
Sometimes It's Our Bad Institutional History of Bad Habits.
substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:06 AM
"Your HR just rejected 45 women over 40 using AI…out of 47 applicants. You didn’t notice because the algorithm said ‘not qualified.’ And you didn’t bother to double-check. AI doesn’t eliminate bias. It automates it at scale."
#bias #psychology #sociology #equality
substack.com/home/post/p-...
#bias #psychology #sociology #equality
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Matt Drance
How can we know if a law or policy has chilled people’s free expression? Can we use science to find out?
Excited to join @penney.bsky.social, author of a new book on Chilling Effects, & @katygb.bsky.social on Dec 10th to discuss the science of civil liberties
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
Excited to join @penney.bsky.social, author of a new book on Chilling Effects, & @katygb.bsky.social on Dec 10th to discuss the science of civil liberties
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
The Science of Chilling Effects
knightcolumbia.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:49 PM
How can we know if a law or policy has chilled people’s free expression? Can we use science to find out?
Excited to join @penney.bsky.social, author of a new book on Chilling Effects, & @katygb.bsky.social on Dec 10th to discuss the science of civil liberties
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
Excited to join @penney.bsky.social, author of a new book on Chilling Effects, & @katygb.bsky.social on Dec 10th to discuss the science of civil liberties
knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
Reposted by Matt Drance
thank you for the outpouring of support!
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
Donate to Help Laid-Off Teen Vogue Staffers Recover, organized by Lexi McMenamin
More than half the team at Teen Vogue was laid off this week by our parent co… Lexi McMenamin needs your support for Help Laid-Off Teen Vogue Staffers Recover
www.gofundme.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
thank you for the outpouring of support!
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
Reposted by Matt Drance
FFC interviews Ellen Greene, star of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and the new short film BEATRIX IS INVISIBLE, by Walter Chaw (@mangiotto.bsky.social). filmfreakcentral.net/2025/11/audr...
Audrey, Too: FFC Interviews Ellen Greene - FILM FREAK CENTRAL
by Walter Chaw I was a full-grown man before I understood completely the grace of Audrey. Audrey, as interpreted by the legendary Ellen Greene in Frank Oz’s big-screen adaptation of the Off-Broadway m...
filmfreakcentral.net
November 2, 2025 at 7:07 PM
FFC interviews Ellen Greene, star of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and the new short film BEATRIX IS INVISIBLE, by Walter Chaw (@mangiotto.bsky.social). filmfreakcentral.net/2025/11/audr...
Reposted by Matt Drance
If I said the last of the great twentieth century British film directors died last night, and very few people even remembered him by the time of his death... would you know what I'm talking about?
tribunemag.co.uk/2025/10/cryi...
tribunemag.co.uk/2025/10/cryi...
Crying for Freedom: Peter Watkins at 90
Radical British filmmaker Peter Watkins was briefly tipped by the BBC before The War Game made him a controversial pariah. But he persisted — and now, at 90, he is a hero of liberated, formally remark...
tribunemag.co.uk
November 1, 2025 at 11:17 AM
If I said the last of the great twentieth century British film directors died last night, and very few people even remembered him by the time of his death... would you know what I'm talking about?
tribunemag.co.uk/2025/10/cryi...
tribunemag.co.uk/2025/10/cryi...
Reposted by Matt Drance
For @unclegrambo.bsky.social and @deciderdotcom.bsky.social, I drop the Top 25 horror films of the 2000s just in time for Halloween. decider.com/2025/10/31/t...
The Top 25 horror movies from the first 25 years of the 21st century
Here are some choice picks to fill up your autumn nights with eldritch thrills.
decider.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:42 PM
For @unclegrambo.bsky.social and @deciderdotcom.bsky.social, I drop the Top 25 horror films of the 2000s just in time for Halloween. decider.com/2025/10/31/t...
Reposted by Matt Drance
Twitter/X will delete all heuristics and allow its AI bot Grok to determine what you see on the platform.
This should be a death knell
The chronic illness community have expressed concerns about leaving. The spoons required for migration. Losing networks of care.
My guide to help:
This should be a death knell
The chronic illness community have expressed concerns about leaving. The spoons required for migration. Losing networks of care.
My guide to help:
The Xitter Exodus and What it Means for the Disability Community
Disabled and chronically ill people have long used Twitter/X for community, fundraising, companionship and support. With folks leaving in droves - where will we go and how can we stick together?
www.disabledginger.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Twitter/X will delete all heuristics and allow its AI bot Grok to determine what you see on the platform.
This should be a death knell
The chronic illness community have expressed concerns about leaving. The spoons required for migration. Losing networks of care.
My guide to help:
This should be a death knell
The chronic illness community have expressed concerns about leaving. The spoons required for migration. Losing networks of care.
My guide to help:
"Friends" is a beloved American sitcom that aired from 1994 to 2004, following six young adults—Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe—living in New York City. The show explores their friendships, romances, careers, and personal growth over ten seasons.
October 23, 2025 at 4:46 AM
"Friends" is a beloved American sitcom that aired from 1994 to 2004, following six young adults—Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe—living in New York City. The show explores their friendships, romances, careers, and personal growth over ten seasons.
Reposted by Matt Drance
Outlanders will be available on November 6th with DLCs: Heir of the Roads 🏜️ Flood and Fire 🌊 Life of Yolotli 🌱 and Home is where the heart is 💌
You can get them individually or in the DLC Bundle at 10% off ❤️
Add it to your Wish List if you haven't already: https://loom.ly/gIVQ_Z8
You can get them individually or in the DLC Bundle at 10% off ❤️
Add it to your Wish List if you haven't already: https://loom.ly/gIVQ_Z8
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Outlanders will be available on November 6th with DLCs: Heir of the Roads 🏜️ Flood and Fire 🌊 Life of Yolotli 🌱 and Home is where the heart is 💌
You can get them individually or in the DLC Bundle at 10% off ❤️
Add it to your Wish List if you haven't already: https://loom.ly/gIVQ_Z8
You can get them individually or in the DLC Bundle at 10% off ❤️
Add it to your Wish List if you haven't already: https://loom.ly/gIVQ_Z8
Reposted by Matt Drance
This is your semi-regular reminder that media & social media attention to mass shooters (including people who threaten suicide at prominent events), inspires copycats.
Anyone thinking about covering or amplifying such stories should weigh if and how to do so
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Anyone thinking about covering or amplifying such stories should weigh if and how to do so
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Similarities between copycat mass shooters and their role models: An empirical analysis with implications for threat assessment and violence prevention
Although an important subset of mass shooters has admitted copying previous shooters, there has been almost no empirical research on the similarities …
www.sciencedirect.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
This is your semi-regular reminder that media & social media attention to mass shooters (including people who threaten suicide at prominent events), inspires copycats.
Anyone thinking about covering or amplifying such stories should weigh if and how to do so
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Anyone thinking about covering or amplifying such stories should weigh if and how to do so
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Matt Drance
Vanity Fair asked me to talk about visual effects, and it was my great honor to show off some of ILM’s terrific work over the years.
Todd Vaziri on Vanity Fair VFX
youtu.be/ERKEsIzTFas?...
Todd Vaziri on Vanity Fair VFX
youtu.be/ERKEsIzTFas?...
ILM's VFX Secrets Behind Star Wars, Transformers & More | Vanity Fair
YouTube video by Vanity Fair
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Vanity Fair asked me to talk about visual effects, and it was my great honor to show off some of ILM’s terrific work over the years.
Todd Vaziri on Vanity Fair VFX
youtu.be/ERKEsIzTFas?...
Todd Vaziri on Vanity Fair VFX
youtu.be/ERKEsIzTFas?...
I sincerely believe this is the most important building block of leadership. Giving power or influence to a person without these qualities will yield and entrench bad results.
When I became a manager, I distilled the work to its essence: You take responsibility immediately for anything that goes wrong; you give credit immediately for anything that goes right. You do that because it keeps YOU honest. You do it happily because the money is good.
October 7, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I sincerely believe this is the most important building block of leadership. Giving power or influence to a person without these qualities will yield and entrench bad results.
Reposted by Matt Drance
15 reviews this month and more on the way. I know times are tough and we're lo-pri, but if you like what we've been doing at FFC and can spare it, please consider subscribing to our Patreon - www.patreon.com/flmfrkcentra... - or donating to the site - www.paypal.com/donate?token... Bless.
Get more from Film Freak Central on Patreon
creating in-depth reviews of new films and Blu-rays.
www.patreon.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:11 AM
15 reviews this month and more on the way. I know times are tough and we're lo-pri, but if you like what we've been doing at FFC and can spare it, please consider subscribing to our Patreon - www.patreon.com/flmfrkcentra... - or donating to the site - www.paypal.com/donate?token... Bless.
Reposted by Matt Drance
History repeats itself. Nothing ever changes.
"“AI isn’t magic; it’s a pyramid scheme of human labor,” said @adiod.bsky.social , a researcher at the Distributed AI Research Institute based in Bremen, Germany. “These raters are the middle rung: invisible, essential and expendable.”
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
How thousands of ‘overworked, underpaid’ humans train Google’s AI to seem smart
Contracted AI raters describe grueling deadlines, poor pay and opacity around work to make chatbots intelligent
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:51 PM
History repeats itself. Nothing ever changes.