Stu Barrow
@functionary.bsky.social
Stu. Nerd and wonk. Neurodivergent.
Strong professional interest in science, science policy, knowledge systems, philosophy, communication modes.
Strong personal interest in history, mythology, politics, speculative fiction, roleplaying, more besides.
Strong professional interest in science, science policy, knowledge systems, philosophy, communication modes.
Strong personal interest in history, mythology, politics, speculative fiction, roleplaying, more besides.
Tell me your tales of victory and glory, of your triumphs for truth and justice.
December 1, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Tell me your tales of victory and glory, of your triumphs for truth and justice.
I think Katie Mack is one of the best science communicators in the world, but to be fair I haven't performed a rigorous analysis.
Regardless, this is a deep and important truth.
Regardless, this is a deep and important truth.
The most precious commodity you have is your attention. You don’t have to waste it on poor-faith debates or arguments with strangers if you don’t think they’ll be productive. You can prioritize the things that matter to you and make your life richer.
November 30, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I think Katie Mack is one of the best science communicators in the world, but to be fair I haven't performed a rigorous analysis.
Regardless, this is a deep and important truth.
Regardless, this is a deep and important truth.
People in senior positions make most of their decisions on relatively shallow information - summaries, precis, briefs, talking points.
They may not know the difference between good advice and words from the word machine, because to them it looks the same.
www.businessinsider.com/executives-a...
They may not know the difference between good advice and words from the word machine, because to them it looks the same.
www.businessinsider.com/executives-a...
Execs are embracing AI more than their employees are, new research suggests
Research from HR software company Dayforce suggests that executives are leaning into AI far more than their employees.
www.businessinsider.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:55 PM
People in senior positions make most of their decisions on relatively shallow information - summaries, precis, briefs, talking points.
They may not know the difference between good advice and words from the word machine, because to them it looks the same.
www.businessinsider.com/executives-a...
They may not know the difference between good advice and words from the word machine, because to them it looks the same.
www.businessinsider.com/executives-a...
There's a note on some APS jobs listings saying "Are you sure you're not qualified? Studies show that men apply for jobs when they meet 60% of criteria; women and people in marginalised groups feel they need to tick every box."
...I'm definitely a tick-every-box kind of guy, FWIW.
...I'm definitely a tick-every-box kind of guy, FWIW.
November 26, 2025 at 11:59 PM
There's a note on some APS jobs listings saying "Are you sure you're not qualified? Studies show that men apply for jobs when they meet 60% of criteria; women and people in marginalised groups feel they need to tick every box."
...I'm definitely a tick-every-box kind of guy, FWIW.
...I'm definitely a tick-every-box kind of guy, FWIW.
There may or may not be better uses of my time, but Tactical Breach Wizards is still one of the best (cleverest, funniest) games I've ever played.
November 26, 2025 at 10:35 PM
There may or may not be better uses of my time, but Tactical Breach Wizards is still one of the best (cleverest, funniest) games I've ever played.
Cannot stress enough the importance of process for learning and understanding.
If you can't explain it (on your own) you don't understand it.
If you can't explain it (on your own) you don't understand it.
Agree. I strongly believe that using AI to summarize information is a strong form of outsourcing your thinking.
Summarization is crystallizing your thoughts, and -- at least for topics you are still trying to learn -- you can't afford to let an LLM do that in your stead.
Summarization is crystallizing your thoughts, and -- at least for topics you are still trying to learn -- you can't afford to let an LLM do that in your stead.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 22, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Cannot stress enough the importance of process for learning and understanding.
If you can't explain it (on your own) you don't understand it.
If you can't explain it (on your own) you don't understand it.
This is a deep horror.
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 8:52 PM
This is a deep horror.
Today is transgender day of remembrance, and it's a sad and solemn kind of thing.
I have trans folk in my life who I love more than words can say.
I want a kinder and more just world for them.
A day of remembrance reminds us of the deep, vast cost of unkindness and injustice.
I have trans folk in my life who I love more than words can say.
I want a kinder and more just world for them.
A day of remembrance reminds us of the deep, vast cost of unkindness and injustice.
November 20, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Today is transgender day of remembrance, and it's a sad and solemn kind of thing.
I have trans folk in my life who I love more than words can say.
I want a kinder and more just world for them.
A day of remembrance reminds us of the deep, vast cost of unkindness and injustice.
I have trans folk in my life who I love more than words can say.
I want a kinder and more just world for them.
A day of remembrance reminds us of the deep, vast cost of unkindness and injustice.
Neophilia is a bit of a thing with neurodivergent types so I am always terribly disappointed when "tips for dealing with your ADHD!" turn out to be things I am already doing.
November 20, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Neophilia is a bit of a thing with neurodivergent types so I am always terribly disappointed when "tips for dealing with your ADHD!" turn out to be things I am already doing.
Great to be job hunting and receiving an email that the deputy CEO of wikipedia is stepping down. Sky's the limit, yeah?
November 19, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Great to be job hunting and receiving an email that the deputy CEO of wikipedia is stepping down. Sky's the limit, yeah?
Happy International Men's Day, for all the international men and others who celebrate.
I recommend a contemplative approach to masculinity rather than a performative one (while noting that I am saying that out loud on the internet).
I recommend a contemplative approach to masculinity rather than a performative one (while noting that I am saying that out loud on the internet).
November 19, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Happy International Men's Day, for all the international men and others who celebrate.
I recommend a contemplative approach to masculinity rather than a performative one (while noting that I am saying that out loud on the internet).
I recommend a contemplative approach to masculinity rather than a performative one (while noting that I am saying that out loud on the internet).
One of my forever frustrations with public policy is that reality is complicated and evidence is often ambiguous. As soon as you find yourself saying "Well, technically..." you've lost the argument.
Which is not the same as being wrong...
Which is not the same as being wrong...
November 16, 2025 at 11:58 PM
One of my forever frustrations with public policy is that reality is complicated and evidence is often ambiguous. As soon as you find yourself saying "Well, technically..." you've lost the argument.
Which is not the same as being wrong...
Which is not the same as being wrong...
With the primary schools closed today, a lot of folks are out and about with their kids.
It's honestly pretty delightful. Excitement and smiles all around - although with a strained element on the part of the adults.
It's honestly pretty delightful. Excitement and smiles all around - although with a strained element on the part of the adults.
November 16, 2025 at 11:49 PM
With the primary schools closed today, a lot of folks are out and about with their kids.
It's honestly pretty delightful. Excitement and smiles all around - although with a strained element on the part of the adults.
It's honestly pretty delightful. Excitement and smiles all around - although with a strained element on the part of the adults.
There is zero reason to put fall-to-your-death platforming bits in an open world game.
There is less than zero reason to make it a gate to your dlc content.
Designer purgatory for these people.
(Cyberpunk 2077)
There is less than zero reason to make it a gate to your dlc content.
Designer purgatory for these people.
(Cyberpunk 2077)
November 13, 2025 at 1:34 AM
There is zero reason to put fall-to-your-death platforming bits in an open world game.
There is less than zero reason to make it a gate to your dlc content.
Designer purgatory for these people.
(Cyberpunk 2077)
There is less than zero reason to make it a gate to your dlc content.
Designer purgatory for these people.
(Cyberpunk 2077)
This is important, I feel. I've seen the ALP relentlessly learn the wrong lessons from politics.
I'm an analyst, not a prophet. But if your only goal is to maintain the status quo, you can only lose in the long run.
www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2025...
I'm an analyst, not a prophet. But if your only goal is to maintain the status quo, you can only lose in the long run.
www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2025...
Australian politics 101: Getting the lessons wrong every time
If one thing is true for all mainstream political parties, it’s that they will always learn the wrong lessons.
www.thenewdaily.com.au
November 9, 2025 at 1:10 AM
This is important, I feel. I've seen the ALP relentlessly learn the wrong lessons from politics.
I'm an analyst, not a prophet. But if your only goal is to maintain the status quo, you can only lose in the long run.
www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2025...
I'm an analyst, not a prophet. But if your only goal is to maintain the status quo, you can only lose in the long run.
www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2025...
When they were trying to section me out the public service, I hit a very low point.
As fate would have it, I found a book of poetry which had a translation of the poem Deor, where a scop (poet, bard) laments that they'd lost their job and position in court.
As fate would have it, I found a book of poetry which had a translation of the poem Deor, where a scop (poet, bard) laments that they'd lost their job and position in court.
November 8, 2025 at 8:01 AM
When they were trying to section me out the public service, I hit a very low point.
As fate would have it, I found a book of poetry which had a translation of the poem Deor, where a scop (poet, bard) laments that they'd lost their job and position in court.
As fate would have it, I found a book of poetry which had a translation of the poem Deor, where a scop (poet, bard) laments that they'd lost their job and position in court.
After my experience in my dad's car I was delighted to discover that my own car has an archeotech interface that lets me listen to signals encoded on electromagnetic waves like a twentieth century person.
November 8, 2025 at 3:39 AM
After my experience in my dad's car I was delighted to discover that my own car has an archeotech interface that lets me listen to signals encoded on electromagnetic waves like a twentieth century person.
I am going to spend some time with some old friends.
November 7, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I am going to spend some time with some old friends.
I expressed some joy and comfort on my return to work after some long-service leave last week.
It turned out that fate, as P. G. Wodehouse would say, was slipping the lead in the boxing glove.
My position has been made redundant; as of Friday I am no longer at the Australian Academy of Science.
It turned out that fate, as P. G. Wodehouse would say, was slipping the lead in the boxing glove.
My position has been made redundant; as of Friday I am no longer at the Australian Academy of Science.
November 5, 2025 at 6:11 AM
I expressed some joy and comfort on my return to work after some long-service leave last week.
It turned out that fate, as P. G. Wodehouse would say, was slipping the lead in the boxing glove.
My position has been made redundant; as of Friday I am no longer at the Australian Academy of Science.
It turned out that fate, as P. G. Wodehouse would say, was slipping the lead in the boxing glove.
My position has been made redundant; as of Friday I am no longer at the Australian Academy of Science.
Reposted by Stu Barrow
posted this four months ago but tonight as buckaroos like mamdani sweep elections i will post again. hope this is sign to all establishment goofs that trotting to the center is not the move. protect the buckaroos who are in perilous circumstances and do not give an inch
November 5, 2025 at 3:14 AM
posted this four months ago but tonight as buckaroos like mamdani sweep elections i will post again. hope this is sign to all establishment goofs that trotting to the center is not the move. protect the buckaroos who are in perilous circumstances and do not give an inch
Thinking a lot about the doorman fallacy, and how reducing human roles to their simplest components is, in fact, massively dehumanising.
The ‘doorman fallacy’: why careless adoption of AI backfires so easily
Human roles are often rich and complex, and not easily reduced to a technological solution.
theconversation.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Thinking a lot about the doorman fallacy, and how reducing human roles to their simplest components is, in fact, massively dehumanising.
When I discovered how job service providers actually worked, I became massively disillusioned with the Australian government.
This is a cruel and evil system. It purports to help the vulnerable, but victimises them instead. It should be abolished.
This is a cruel and evil system. It purports to help the vulnerable, but victimises them instead. It should be abolished.
Nearly 90% of jobseekers unable to get long-term work despite millions spent on private job agencies
Nearly 90% of jobseekers unable to get long-term work despite millions spent on private job agencies
Employment department’s annual report shows just 11.7% of jobseekers ended up with jobs lasting at least 26 weeks last year
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Australia’s private employment services are failing to get jobseekers into long-term work, despite costing taxpayers millions of dollars each year, department documents show.
Just 11.7% of jobseekers in Australia found long-term employment through a job provider in the latest financial year, according to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’ annual report. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:59 PM
When I discovered how job service providers actually worked, I became massively disillusioned with the Australian government.
This is a cruel and evil system. It purports to help the vulnerable, but victimises them instead. It should be abolished.
This is a cruel and evil system. It purports to help the vulnerable, but victimises them instead. It should be abolished.
Reposted by Stu Barrow
And released today, a metascience project featuring AIMOS board member @jasonchin.bsky.social, former AIMOS prez Matt Page, Merryn McKinnon, Rachel Searston, Kaye Ballantyne, Stephanie Summersby, Anna Heavey, Carolyne Bird, and Anna-Maria Arabia.
October 29, 2025 at 3:04 AM
And released today, a metascience project featuring AIMOS board member @jasonchin.bsky.social, former AIMOS prez Matt Page, Merryn McKinnon, Rachel Searston, Kaye Ballantyne, Stephanie Summersby, Anna Heavey, Carolyne Bird, and Anna-Maria Arabia.
Good. Policy should follow evidence. Health policy has been following evidence for decades, and is generally pretty good at it. Arbitrary decisions by the government of the day are almost always bad ones.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Court overturns Queensland's controversial puberty blocker ban
Queensland controversially barred public doctors from prescribing puberty blockers to patients aged under 18 earlier this year.
www.abc.net.au
October 28, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Good. Policy should follow evidence. Health policy has been following evidence for decades, and is generally pretty good at it. Arbitrary decisions by the government of the day are almost always bad ones.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...