Alex B. Kostiw
@formerlybirds.bsky.social
Draws, writes, designs, makes, teaches: books. Chicago, and elsewhere.
https://tenderly-honestly.com
https://tenderly-honestly.com
At what point do the majority of us just stop using all but a tiny fraction of the internet
NEW: A hacker gained control of 1,100 mobile phones powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok. Then, he shared details of the operation with 404 Media.
A look inside how startup Doublespeed, which is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), is creating AI spam pages on TikTok to promote products.
A look inside how startup Doublespeed, which is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), is creating AI spam pages on TikTok to promote products.
Hack Reveals the a16z-Backed Phone Farm Flooding TikTok With AI Influencers
A hacker gained control of a 1,100 mobile phone farm powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok.
www.404media.co
December 18, 2025 at 1:34 PM
At what point do the majority of us just stop using all but a tiny fraction of the internet
Contending with how antsy and frustrated I get if I'm not on the move.
December 17, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Contending with how antsy and frustrated I get if I'm not on the move.
Tokyo has Christmas season at exactly the volume that I can live with.
December 16, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Tokyo has Christmas season at exactly the volume that I can live with.
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
Gotta admit "the font is DEI" is a stage of absurdity I could not have predicted
Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move
Rubio Stages Font Coup: Times New Roman Ousts Calibri
The secretary of state called it a "wasteful" diversity move, according to an internal department cable seen by Reuters.
www.huffpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Gotta admit "the font is DEI" is a stage of absurdity I could not have predicted
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
Books are power charges for your brain.
December 8, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Books are power charges for your brain.
I'm probably going to treat this as its own book form at some point.
December 8, 2025 at 2:58 AM
I'm probably going to treat this as its own book form at some point.
My proudest music-listening stat: Only 23 people on Tidal listened to Handsome Furs more than I did in 2025.
December 4, 2025 at 3:21 AM
My proudest music-listening stat: Only 23 people on Tidal listened to Handsome Furs more than I did in 2025.
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
I fundamentally do not understand why anyone is interested in these parlor tricks. It's outperformed nothing because recombining word patterns into a text isn't writing. Writing is born out of human experiences filtered through a unique sensibility. Only Han Kang can make more Han Kang.
Put writing high quality literary text on the list of things that AIs used to not be able to do but now can do
With fine-tuning, now outperforming MFA-trained expert writers at emulating award-winning authors when rated blindly by MFA-trained experts papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
With fine-tuning, now outperforming MFA-trained expert writers at emulating award-winning authors when rated blindly by MFA-trained experts papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
November 19, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I fundamentally do not understand why anyone is interested in these parlor tricks. It's outperformed nothing because recombining word patterns into a text isn't writing. Writing is born out of human experiences filtered through a unique sensibility. Only Han Kang can make more Han Kang.
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
man we should bring back the pamphlet
Hey historians 🗃️: Do you know of presses that publish short books (around 30K words / 90 pages plus notes)? I have been working on an article project that could easily turn into an great micro-history of that length, but I'm not sure it would make it to the usual full 60-90K words...
November 19, 2025 at 3:48 AM
man we should bring back the pamphlet
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
November 18, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
the writing of stones. found this online after the exhibition in paris but didn't get around to reading until the flight home. delightful book
November 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
the writing of stones. found this online after the exhibition in paris but didn't get around to reading until the flight home. delightful book
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
After six momentous leaps from a small aircraft, skydiver Gabriel C. Brown completed his mission. He and his photographer friend Andrew McCarthy created this stunning image that shows the adventurous subject falling in front of the sun.
www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/11/andr...
www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/11/andr...
November 15, 2025 at 3:58 PM
After six momentous leaps from a small aircraft, skydiver Gabriel C. Brown completed his mission. He and his photographer friend Andrew McCarthy created this stunning image that shows the adventurous subject falling in front of the sun.
www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/11/andr...
www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/11/andr...
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
Two former editors at The Nib, Shay Mirk and Eleri Harris, have created the only primer on ethical comics reporting.
Two Former Editors at The Nib Have Made the Only Primer On Ethical Comics Reporting
Suzette Smith
www.portlandmercury.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Two former editors at The Nib, Shay Mirk and Eleri Harris, have created the only primer on ethical comics reporting.
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
10/11/25 - nocturn
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
10/11/25 - nocturn
Yes! I've been reading the 1816–17 draft (reconciled with the 1818 version), and Victor put together his creature in his college dorm room. I want to make a short comic from the perspective of his RA.
I don’t understand why every Frankenstein movie has to put the laboratory in a crazy castle instead of in a plain ordinary college student's apartment like the original book.
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Yes! I've been reading the 1816–17 draft (reconciled with the 1818 version), and Victor put together his creature in his college dorm room. I want to make a short comic from the perspective of his RA.
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
It's a variety of things. Some are very conscious about the environmental costs, but more common is a simple desire to do their own work. These have been middle and high school students lately, and I think they truly fear growing up not knowing how to do anything for themselves.
November 10, 2025 at 7:24 PM
It's a variety of things. Some are very conscious about the environmental costs, but more common is a simple desire to do their own work. These have been middle and high school students lately, and I think they truly fear growing up not knowing how to do anything for themselves.
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
At a museum conference and it’s amazing how much this piece is unheeded/still needed in a lot of museum work.
I Make Exhibits
Who are museum exhibits for, and what difference does that make?
contingentmagazine.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
At a museum conference and it’s amazing how much this piece is unheeded/still needed in a lot of museum work.
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
Librarians told 404 Media they're being inundated with new pitches for AI library tech and catalogs are being flooded with AI slop books.
But more broadly, AI maximalism across society is supercharging the ideological war on libraries, schools, government workers, and academics.
But more broadly, AI maximalism across society is supercharging the ideological war on libraries, schools, government workers, and academics.
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Librarians told 404 Media they're being inundated with new pitches for AI library tech and catalogs are being flooded with AI slop books.
But more broadly, AI maximalism across society is supercharging the ideological war on libraries, schools, government workers, and academics.
But more broadly, AI maximalism across society is supercharging the ideological war on libraries, schools, government workers, and academics.
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
“I Thought I Heard Your Voice Just Then” is a new eight-page comic drawn by @jlaguff.bsky.social and written by myself. You can read it below or purchase it on a pay-what-you-want basis on Itch.io (which I recommend, Bluesky compression being what it is):
hagaipalevsky.itch.io/thoughtiheard
(1/2)
hagaipalevsky.itch.io/thoughtiheard
(1/2)
November 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM
“I Thought I Heard Your Voice Just Then” is a new eight-page comic drawn by @jlaguff.bsky.social and written by myself. You can read it below or purchase it on a pay-what-you-want basis on Itch.io (which I recommend, Bluesky compression being what it is):
hagaipalevsky.itch.io/thoughtiheard
(1/2)
hagaipalevsky.itch.io/thoughtiheard
(1/2)
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
The thing that wouldn’t die: why Gothic endures in visual culture > buff.ly/sE2KRgQ
October 30, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The thing that wouldn’t die: why Gothic endures in visual culture > buff.ly/sE2KRgQ
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
The new "Chicago Homes" book details the history of homes in Chicago, from bungalows to greystones. blockclubchi.co/42Wb1ZB
October 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The new "Chicago Homes" book details the history of homes in Chicago, from bungalows to greystones. blockclubchi.co/42Wb1ZB
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
Now is the time and this is the place
digital.hagley.org/08061416_Thi...
digital.hagley.org/08061416_Thi...
October 27, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Now is the time and this is the place
digital.hagley.org/08061416_Thi...
digital.hagley.org/08061416_Thi...
Reposted by Alex B. Kostiw
October 24, 2025 at 8:47 AM