J Bean
@jwfbean.bsky.social
random personal feed. Husband and Dad. Into stuff like tech, theater, dogs, politics, sci fi, neurodivergence. Mediocre lukewarm takes.
As a lifelong sci fi enthusiast who values curiosity and learning, I am endlessly fascinated by the tension between the possibilities unlocked by the Information Age and the realities of living in it.
Considering there is a detailed YouTube tutorial on how to correctly do every single task on earth, you would think we would be living in a golden age of human competence. However I am starting to worry that this is not the case
November 9, 2025 at 8:26 PM
As a lifelong sci fi enthusiast who values curiosity and learning, I am endlessly fascinated by the tension between the possibilities unlocked by the Information Age and the realities of living in it.
Reposted by J Bean
The Python Software Foundation rejected a $1.5 million U.S. government grant because it required them to renounce all diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
www.theregister.com/2025/10/27/p...
www.theregister.com/2025/10/27/p...
www.theregister.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:44 PM
The Python Software Foundation rejected a $1.5 million U.S. government grant because it required them to renounce all diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
www.theregister.com/2025/10/27/p...
www.theregister.com/2025/10/27/p...
Reposted by J Bean
the promise of the internet was high-quality information, always available. this video is what people were imagining; it's really terrific. I had no idea how complex the Golden Gate Bridge was.
youtu.be/RjbJwnUd3Pw?...
youtu.be/RjbJwnUd3Pw?...
How the Golden Gate Bridge Works
YouTube video by Animagraffs
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 3:06 PM
the promise of the internet was high-quality information, always available. this video is what people were imagining; it's really terrific. I had no idea how complex the Golden Gate Bridge was.
youtu.be/RjbJwnUd3Pw?...
youtu.be/RjbJwnUd3Pw?...
Reposted by J Bean
This is incredibly powerful and resonant language, to the point of creating genuine emotional religious response in me (a Jewish person).
Chicago priest Fr. Larry Dowling describes procession to ICE facility: “No one had the courage to speak directly to us. No one from Homeland Security could stand in the presence of the Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. No wonder. Evil is repelled, recoils in the presence of Christ.”
October 11, 2025 at 10:05 PM
This is incredibly powerful and resonant language, to the point of creating genuine emotional religious response in me (a Jewish person).
Reposted by J Bean
I had no idea who Bad Bunny was until MAGA lost their shit about him, now I'm listening to his music.
Every time they get their crinolines in a twist over some racist shit, it puts money in the pockets of the people they hate. ¡Felicidades, idiotas!
Every time they get their crinolines in a twist over some racist shit, it puts money in the pockets of the people they hate. ¡Felicidades, idiotas!
October 2, 2025 at 10:00 PM
I had no idea who Bad Bunny was until MAGA lost their shit about him, now I'm listening to his music.
Every time they get their crinolines in a twist over some racist shit, it puts money in the pockets of the people they hate. ¡Felicidades, idiotas!
Every time they get their crinolines in a twist over some racist shit, it puts money in the pockets of the people they hate. ¡Felicidades, idiotas!
If you own Disney stock, you should sell it.
The union representing the musicians from Jimmy Kimmel’s band releases a statement calling the FCC’s pressure on Disney “state censorship.”
September 18, 2025 at 3:25 AM
If you own Disney stock, you should sell it.
Reposted by J Bean
RFK Jr. rolled out that old chestnut again about how healthy Americans were in the 60’s, so here’s a fact check.
In 1965:
-42% of American adults smoked; it’s 11% now.
-The infant morality rate was 24.7/1000; it’s 5.6/1000 now.
-Overall life expectancy was 70 years; it's about 77 years now.
In 1965:
-42% of American adults smoked; it’s 11% now.
-The infant morality rate was 24.7/1000; it’s 5.6/1000 now.
-Overall life expectancy was 70 years; it's about 77 years now.
September 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
RFK Jr. rolled out that old chestnut again about how healthy Americans were in the 60’s, so here’s a fact check.
In 1965:
-42% of American adults smoked; it’s 11% now.
-The infant morality rate was 24.7/1000; it’s 5.6/1000 now.
-Overall life expectancy was 70 years; it's about 77 years now.
In 1965:
-42% of American adults smoked; it’s 11% now.
-The infant morality rate was 24.7/1000; it’s 5.6/1000 now.
-Overall life expectancy was 70 years; it's about 77 years now.
The job market is rough but at least we got rid of the head of labor statistics. I feel better.
August 2, 2025 at 5:13 AM
The job market is rough but at least we got rid of the head of labor statistics. I feel better.
I watched the new Superman movie recently and couldn’t stop thinking about @jasonkpargin.bsky.social. He did a thing on how villains depicted in these movies can’t do their work on their own. The new Superman movie sort of fixes that by showing all of Lex Luthor’s minions in their day to day work.
July 27, 2025 at 3:13 AM
I watched the new Superman movie recently and couldn’t stop thinking about @jasonkpargin.bsky.social. He did a thing on how villains depicted in these movies can’t do their work on their own. The new Superman movie sort of fixes that by showing all of Lex Luthor’s minions in their day to day work.
Reposted by J Bean
I can afford to goto really interesting <conference x>.
I just don’t want to because it’s in America in 2025.
I just don’t want to because it’s in America in 2025.
July 24, 2025 at 11:56 PM
I can afford to goto really interesting <conference x>.
I just don’t want to because it’s in America in 2025.
I just don’t want to because it’s in America in 2025.
Reposted by J Bean
A lot of people get this wrong about parenting autistic children... #autismawareness
July 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
A lot of people get this wrong about parenting autistic children... #autismawareness
Reposted by J Bean
Oh no.
First time a judge has decided a case based on hallucinated case law in the US that I've encountered.
caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ga-cou...
caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ga-cou...
July 4, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Oh no.
Weird feeling about tomorrow.
July 1, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Weird feeling about tomorrow.
Reposted by J Bean
I'm going to try and communicate with my Republican colleagues in a new way.
June 26, 2025 at 9:44 PM
I'm going to try and communicate with my Republican colleagues in a new way.
Reposted by J Bean
Reading about the "software engineering crisis" eta and are you telling me basically as long as software has existed it's been a problem
I mean it tracks, but
I mean it tracks, but
June 17, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Reading about the "software engineering crisis" eta and are you telling me basically as long as software has existed it's been a problem
I mean it tracks, but
I mean it tracks, but
What’s interesting about this one for me is that excelling at 1, 3 and 4 are stereotypically autistic traits.
5 things I struggled with my whole life that I didn't know were because of my autism...
1. Remembering names & birthdates
2. Learning any language other than my native one
3. Geography. My brain literally won't retain 99% of it
4. Using N/S/E/W for directions
5. History & PoliSci
1. Remembering names & birthdates
2. Learning any language other than my native one
3. Geography. My brain literally won't retain 99% of it
4. Using N/S/E/W for directions
5. History & PoliSci
June 14, 2025 at 12:41 PM
What’s interesting about this one for me is that excelling at 1, 3 and 4 are stereotypically autistic traits.
Reposted by J Bean
I don't know who needs to see this but forgetting & losing things excessively to the point of it having an extremely detrimental effect on your life is an example of a DISABILITY, not a cute or funny little quirk.
ADHD is recognized as a disability for a reason.
ADHD is recognized as a disability for a reason.
June 6, 2025 at 12:34 AM
I don't know who needs to see this but forgetting & losing things excessively to the point of it having an extremely detrimental effect on your life is an example of a DISABILITY, not a cute or funny little quirk.
ADHD is recognized as a disability for a reason.
ADHD is recognized as a disability for a reason.
Reposted by J Bean
Lots of wisdom and insight in this article on the use of genAI in a CS class
chelseatroy.com/2025/05/14/t...
chelseatroy.com/2025/05/14/t...
The Homework is the Cheat Code: GenAI Policy in my Computer Science Graduate Classroom
I started teaching at the University of Chicago six years ago. Back then, in the spring of 2019, students had not undergone the trauma of a centennial pandemic. They had so far learned in person, a…
chelseatroy.com
May 20, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Lots of wisdom and insight in this article on the use of genAI in a CS class
chelseatroy.com/2025/05/14/t...
chelseatroy.com/2025/05/14/t...
Reposted by J Bean
I had a similar experience with a bill being proposed in the California Assembly. I asked it to sum up the bill and offer key points. It missed the key point. I asked it about that and it stammered like a middle schooler who hadn't done the reading.
When people talk about AI bullshitting I tend to think they're overstating the case, but I just had an experience with Chat GPT that was kind of shocking. I need to pull a few key points and stats from a dense academic paper. So I figured I'd let Chat GPT pull a few things out...
May 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I had a similar experience with a bill being proposed in the California Assembly. I asked it to sum up the bill and offer key points. It missed the key point. I asked it about that and it stammered like a middle schooler who hadn't done the reading.
Pete is so bad that we're not even arguing about the attacks in Yemen.
At the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at reporters over coverage of him sharing war plans in a second Signal chat that included members of his family and his personal lawyer.
Read more: nyti.ms/3GiswuB
Read more: nyti.ms/3GiswuB
April 22, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Pete is so bad that we're not even arguing about the attacks in Yemen.
I think RFK was trolling Elon with that autism stuff.
April 19, 2025 at 5:12 AM
I think RFK was trolling Elon with that autism stuff.
Reposted by J Bean
I'm putting a tariff on the word "tariff"!
Hooked up an arcade dispenser to give me a ticket every time that god-forsaken word shows up on my computer screen.
20 tickets == 1 beer
Hooked up an arcade dispenser to give me a ticket every time that god-forsaken word shows up on my computer screen.
20 tickets == 1 beer
April 15, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I'm putting a tariff on the word "tariff"!
Hooked up an arcade dispenser to give me a ticket every time that god-forsaken word shows up on my computer screen.
20 tickets == 1 beer
Hooked up an arcade dispenser to give me a ticket every time that god-forsaken word shows up on my computer screen.
20 tickets == 1 beer
I got tired of mulling through feedback tickets and writing up summaries and analyses manually. Someone recommended Glean AI to help me along so I tried it out. The thing responded with verbatim text from my manual summaries and analyses.
March 27, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I got tired of mulling through feedback tickets and writing up summaries and analyses manually. Someone recommended Glean AI to help me along so I tried it out. The thing responded with verbatim text from my manual summaries and analyses.
Reposted by J Bean
just taking tonight to really appreciate all these years of journalistic tut-tut-tutting about how over-the-top it was for anyone to focus on trump's affinity for russia and putin.
March 9, 2025 at 5:09 AM
just taking tonight to really appreciate all these years of journalistic tut-tut-tutting about how over-the-top it was for anyone to focus on trump's affinity for russia and putin.