Jack Norton
@jackhistorynorton.bsky.social
Faculty in History, Normandale Community College. Digital Humanities, Water and World History, SOTL. Pro-student, against-fascism.
Black, trans, gay, and women's rights are human rights. Posts are my own.
Black, trans, gay, and women's rights are human rights. Posts are my own.
My college has been muddle-headed with Gen Ai. Mostly it's Ai washing (as long as you're informed of the risks) or bewildered faculty. Here's what I'm up against: our faculty developer posting four links to "How to Use Ai" talks above my talk, which was critical of Ai.
November 18, 2025 at 2:32 AM
My college has been muddle-headed with Gen Ai. Mostly it's Ai washing (as long as you're informed of the risks) or bewildered faculty. Here's what I'm up against: our faculty developer posting four links to "How to Use Ai" talks above my talk, which was critical of Ai.
I’ll see your sunset and raise you a Lake Harriet sunrise.
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I’ll see your sunset and raise you a Lake Harriet sunrise.
A heavy set bald man in a silver SUV tried to run me off the road at 76th and Upton in Bloomington Minnesota today. Be careful out there.
October 29, 2025 at 10:24 PM
A heavy set bald man in a silver SUV tried to run me off the road at 76th and Upton in Bloomington Minnesota today. Be careful out there.
Let’s celebrate the achievement of the Civilian Conservation Corps with a statue.
Yeah, but make it sexy, like the nipples can cut glass.
Also he needs something
phallic in his hands, like an axe.
That’s the stuff.
Yeah, but make it sexy, like the nipples can cut glass.
Also he needs something
phallic in his hands, like an axe.
That’s the stuff.
October 19, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Let’s celebrate the achievement of the Civilian Conservation Corps with a statue.
Yeah, but make it sexy, like the nipples can cut glass.
Also he needs something
phallic in his hands, like an axe.
That’s the stuff.
Yeah, but make it sexy, like the nipples can cut glass.
Also he needs something
phallic in his hands, like an axe.
That’s the stuff.
Faculty, is it just me or did Microsoft just put CoPilot at the top of Word online, right in the mid
September 26, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Faculty, is it just me or did Microsoft just put CoPilot at the top of Word online, right in the mid
I’ve been impressed with the durability of these sign. Lots of space for words too. And they are more damaging when run over than flappy sticks.
September 24, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I’ve been impressed with the durability of these sign. Lots of space for words too. And they are more damaging when run over than flappy sticks.
I have seen this image many times in history. There's nothing just about genocide and displacement, in any period.
September 16, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I have seen this image many times in history. There's nothing just about genocide and displacement, in any period.
Yesterday‘s bike commute was magical.
September 11, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Yesterday‘s bike commute was magical.
Discovered new benefit of rental scooters/bike. When parked close to roads people slow down to look at them. Not sure who left this bike here a week ago, but it’s slowing people to under 15 mph. 5 stars
August 8, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Discovered new benefit of rental scooters/bike. When parked close to roads people slow down to look at them. Not sure who left this bike here a week ago, but it’s slowing people to under 15 mph. 5 stars
If this gets built in Hopkins, it would be very cool. Right on one of my favorite trails (limestone chipped!) with easy access to lots of services.
www.hopkinsmn.com/AgendaCenter...
www.hopkinsmn.com/AgendaCenter...
August 2, 2025 at 10:09 PM
If this gets built in Hopkins, it would be very cool. Right on one of my favorite trails (limestone chipped!) with easy access to lots of services.
www.hopkinsmn.com/AgendaCenter...
www.hopkinsmn.com/AgendaCenter...
The incline is considerable, but no more than the rest of Tangletown. My memory (confirmed by map view) is that there's some type of city utility access structure behind 5101 Harriet that would preclude building on that part of the land. The area is ~.22 acres, above the 5000 sq ft minimum.
July 30, 2025 at 4:58 PM
The incline is considerable, but no more than the rest of Tangletown. My memory (confirmed by map view) is that there's some type of city utility access structure behind 5101 Harriet that would preclude building on that part of the land. The area is ~.22 acres, above the 5000 sq ft minimum.
Came across this beauty while visiting St. Paul. Somebody thought about how to make this bike work. Lugged trek 330.
July 18, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Came across this beauty while visiting St. Paul. Somebody thought about how to make this bike work. Lugged trek 330.
On the northern side, in an area protected by bollards. The racks are the weird wave ones, but there's abundant, safe space behind bollards.
July 14, 2025 at 9:37 PM
On the northern side, in an area protected by bollards. The racks are the weird wave ones, but there's abundant, safe space behind bollards.
I know of minor uses in which "Ai" useful, but most of what I see is just energy-sucking nonsense. Witness the Redfin "redesign your room" Ai. For this we're burning coal to power data centers? Original image is to the right, Ai generated image is to the left.
July 9, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I know of minor uses in which "Ai" useful, but most of what I see is just energy-sucking nonsense. Witness the Redfin "redesign your room" Ai. For this we're burning coal to power data centers? Original image is to the right, Ai generated image is to the left.
At Kingfield farmers market today I learned Five Watt Cycles services all e-bikes. They’re in Minneapolis.
June 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
At Kingfield farmers market today I learned Five Watt Cycles services all e-bikes. They’re in Minneapolis.
Rockstar of a parent picked up our deconstructed climbing gym today on a short-bed e-bike. Kid was in the rear seat box, and stepped out so we could load the 100lbs of metal poles in the back. Kid showed me & named her stuffy, and showed me her toys. I showed her the fairy garden my kid made.
June 2, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Rockstar of a parent picked up our deconstructed climbing gym today on a short-bed e-bike. Kid was in the rear seat box, and stepped out so we could load the 100lbs of metal poles in the back. Kid showed me & named her stuffy, and showed me her toys. I showed her the fairy garden my kid made.
Even businesses that sell bikes do not always have bike racks.
May 19, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Even businesses that sell bikes do not always have bike racks.
2. Adding bike parking is cheap and easy, even in suburban parking lots. This colossal parking lot has bike racks spaced about 50 meters apart along the length of the strip mall wide sidewalk. This is in Richfield Minnesota.
May 19, 2025 at 5:41 PM
2. Adding bike parking is cheap and easy, even in suburban parking lots. This colossal parking lot has bike racks spaced about 50 meters apart along the length of the strip mall wide sidewalk. This is in Richfield Minnesota.
Hey Sysco foods, the parking lane is right there. So close. Blocking this bike lane made me less safe.
May 15, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Hey Sysco foods, the parking lane is right there. So close. Blocking this bike lane made me less safe.
Today in nonsense photo-illustrations of Gen Ai. Do the photo-editors who use these illustrations, or the myriad of robot-touching-an-object illustrations actually understand what Ai is? The text of the article isn't worth reading.
May 7, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Today in nonsense photo-illustrations of Gen Ai. Do the photo-editors who use these illustrations, or the myriad of robot-touching-an-object illustrations actually understand what Ai is? The text of the article isn't worth reading.
The American Historical Association, Modern Language Association, and American Council of Learned Societies have filed a suit against the federal government for illegally terminating NEH grants.
Americans deserve to learn our full history.
www.historians.org/news/america...
Americans deserve to learn our full history.
www.historians.org/news/america...
May 1, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The American Historical Association, Modern Language Association, and American Council of Learned Societies have filed a suit against the federal government for illegally terminating NEH grants.
Americans deserve to learn our full history.
www.historians.org/news/america...
Americans deserve to learn our full history.
www.historians.org/news/america...
"Don't bulldoze this house."
If you didn't live the MPLS 2040 saga, this joke is not for you :)
If you didn't live the MPLS 2040 saga, this joke is not for you :)
May 1, 2025 at 2:51 AM
"Don't bulldoze this house."
If you didn't live the MPLS 2040 saga, this joke is not for you :)
If you didn't live the MPLS 2040 saga, this joke is not for you :)
All of the wheeled vehicles in this picture carried four or fewer grocery bags away from the grocery store.
April 26, 2025 at 4:34 PM
All of the wheeled vehicles in this picture carried four or fewer grocery bags away from the grocery store.
Leaving from Longfellow is tough for hills. Tangletown loop can put in some good uphills, say up Nicollet from the creek to Washburn?
Of possible interest. arcgis.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/mntopo/
Of possible interest. arcgis.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/mntopo/
April 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Leaving from Longfellow is tough for hills. Tangletown loop can put in some good uphills, say up Nicollet from the creek to Washburn?
Of possible interest. arcgis.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/mntopo/
Of possible interest. arcgis.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/mntopo/
Bike parking is beautiful in a way no car parking can be.
April 6, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Bike parking is beautiful in a way no car parking can be.