mrdang 🍥
@mrdang.photos
tech worker, photographer, cosplayer
he/him/they, aro/ace
he/him/they, aro/ace
Slight clarification to my last post:
It's more accurate to say that text is appearing in Google searches that neither I nor the cosplayers pictured wrote. It's mediocre and sounds as if an LLM was involved.
Whether it's generated by Google or Instagram is unclear. But it's problematic either way.
It's more accurate to say that text is appearing in Google searches that neither I nor the cosplayers pictured wrote. It's mediocre and sounds as if an LLM was involved.
Whether it's generated by Google or Instagram is unclear. But it's problematic either way.
December 7, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Slight clarification to my last post:
It's more accurate to say that text is appearing in Google searches that neither I nor the cosplayers pictured wrote. It's mediocre and sounds as if an LLM was involved.
Whether it's generated by Google or Instagram is unclear. But it's problematic either way.
It's more accurate to say that text is appearing in Google searches that neither I nor the cosplayers pictured wrote. It's mediocre and sounds as if an LLM was involved.
Whether it's generated by Google or Instagram is unclear. But it's problematic either way.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
“Bring up AI in a Seattle coffee shop now and people react like you’re advocating asbestos." 🥲 I love this city.
Trending: Viral rant on why ‘everyone in Seattle hates AI’ strikes a nerve, sparks debate over city’s tech vibe https://www.geekwire.com/2025/viral-rant-on-why-everyone-in-seattle-hates-ai-strikes-a-nerve-sparks-debate-over-citys-tech-vibe/
December 5, 2025 at 8:03 PM
“Bring up AI in a Seattle coffee shop now and people react like you’re advocating asbestos." 🥲 I love this city.
This is your regular reminder that execs don't know shit about what their workers actually do and how to make it better.
Do not be afraid to tell your manager and their leaders that they are wrong and are making a mistake if they try to incorporate 'AI' into your workflow. YOU know your work best.
Do not be afraid to tell your manager and their leaders that they are wrong and are making a mistake if they try to incorporate 'AI' into your workflow. YOU know your work best.
In a note to staff, Business Insider EIC Jamie Heller says the publication is launching a pilot program called Business Insider AI News Desk that will use AI to “help publish quick news stories.”
Several stories a day will now be “created by AI and edited by a person.”
Several stories a day will now be “created by AI and edited by a person.”
December 5, 2025 at 12:19 AM
This is your regular reminder that execs don't know shit about what their workers actually do and how to make it better.
Do not be afraid to tell your manager and their leaders that they are wrong and are making a mistake if they try to incorporate 'AI' into your workflow. YOU know your work best.
Do not be afraid to tell your manager and their leaders that they are wrong and are making a mistake if they try to incorporate 'AI' into your workflow. YOU know your work best.
Today I learned that Business Insider is going to have a byline for an 'AI' bot. This throws credibility out the window.
ACTION: Sign this petition to send a signal to newsrooms that you want human journalists for accuracy and accountability.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
ACTION: Sign this petition to send a signal to newsrooms that you want human journalists for accuracy and accountability.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
December 5, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Today I learned that Business Insider is going to have a byline for an 'AI' bot. This throws credibility out the window.
ACTION: Sign this petition to send a signal to newsrooms that you want human journalists for accuracy and accountability.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
ACTION: Sign this petition to send a signal to newsrooms that you want human journalists for accuracy and accountability.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
Over the summer, artists packed the CA statehouse to support a proposed AI transparency law that'd require tech co's to alert creatives and rightsholders when their work is used in AI models and offer a mechanism to remove it.
They forced another hearing. It's next week, at Stanford. I'll be there.
They forced another hearing. It's next week, at Stanford. I'll be there.
December 4, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Over the summer, artists packed the CA statehouse to support a proposed AI transparency law that'd require tech co's to alert creatives and rightsholders when their work is used in AI models and offer a mechanism to remove it.
They forced another hearing. It's next week, at Stanford. I'll be there.
They forced another hearing. It's next week, at Stanford. I'll be there.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
This is the difference between making the park safer and keeping it “in tact” for the preservationists that the Landmarks Board said was just not possible to approve
Before (dangerous). After (safe).
Before (dangerous). After (safe).
December 2, 2025 at 7:56 PM
This is the difference between making the park safer and keeping it “in tact” for the preservationists that the Landmarks Board said was just not possible to approve
Before (dangerous). After (safe).
Before (dangerous). After (safe).
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
People keep saying that driverless cars will end congestion.
In reality, all driverless cars do is change the math so that instead of roads being jammed with cars with just 1-2 people in them, the roads will be jammed with cars with 0-1 people in them.
In reality, all driverless cars do is change the math so that instead of roads being jammed with cars with just 1-2 people in them, the roads will be jammed with cars with 0-1 people in them.
Waymo privatized another public street:
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
November 25, 2025 at 3:57 AM
People keep saying that driverless cars will end congestion.
In reality, all driverless cars do is change the math so that instead of roads being jammed with cars with just 1-2 people in them, the roads will be jammed with cars with 0-1 people in them.
In reality, all driverless cars do is change the math so that instead of roads being jammed with cars with just 1-2 people in them, the roads will be jammed with cars with 0-1 people in them.
Meta is creating and serving these ads for their 'AI' with your own photos.
no sorry you’re right this technology is absolutely worth depleting our water supply
November 23, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Meta is creating and serving these ads for their 'AI' with your own photos.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
THIS is the story.
That the feds are spying on people doing completely legal stuff and characterizing them as “anarchist violent extremists.”
The story is NOT that you need to be afraid to court watch or patrol your neighborhood for ICE activity. DO NOT SELF-REPRESS.
That the feds are spying on people doing completely legal stuff and characterizing them as “anarchist violent extremists.”
The story is NOT that you need to be afraid to court watch or patrol your neighborhood for ICE activity. DO NOT SELF-REPRESS.
"An FBI memo that claims 'anarchist violent extremist actors' are targeting law enforcement cites a private text message chat that included immigration court observers, raising questions about whether the spy agency is monitoring political activity, a copy of the document indicates."
FBI memo indicates online chats of immigration court watchers in NYC were monitored
An FBI memo that claims “anarchist violent extremist actors” are targeting law enforcement cites a private text message chat that included immigration court observers, raising questions about wheth…
www.nydailynews.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:04 AM
THIS is the story.
That the feds are spying on people doing completely legal stuff and characterizing them as “anarchist violent extremists.”
The story is NOT that you need to be afraid to court watch or patrol your neighborhood for ICE activity. DO NOT SELF-REPRESS.
That the feds are spying on people doing completely legal stuff and characterizing them as “anarchist violent extremists.”
The story is NOT that you need to be afraid to court watch or patrol your neighborhood for ICE activity. DO NOT SELF-REPRESS.
Your First Amendment right is being surveilled.
A massive cache of Flock lookups collated by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) shows as many as 50 federal, state, and local agencies used Flock during protests over the last year.
Cops Used Flock to Monitor No Kings Protests Around the Country
A massive cache of Flock lookups collated by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) shows as many as 50 federal, state, and local agencies used Flock during protests over the last year.
www.404media.co
November 21, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Your First Amendment right is being surveilled.
Saw a lawn sign that read "SLOW THE FLOCK DOWN" with an image of a bird on it.
I thought it could be about community resistance to Flock automatic license plate readers, but it's reminding people to slow down on a turn that should be done at 25MPH. 😅
I thought it could be about community resistance to Flock automatic license plate readers, but it's reminding people to slow down on a turn that should be done at 25MPH. 😅
November 20, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Saw a lawn sign that read "SLOW THE FLOCK DOWN" with an image of a bird on it.
I thought it could be about community resistance to Flock automatic license plate readers, but it's reminding people to slow down on a turn that should be done at 25MPH. 😅
I thought it could be about community resistance to Flock automatic license plate readers, but it's reminding people to slow down on a turn that should be done at 25MPH. 😅
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
🚨 Yet again Ted Cruz and Steve Scalise are trying to sneak in a moratorium on state GenAi legislation.
If passed states can no longer enact laws for transparency, child safety, privacy, environmental protection etc.
We got 3 days to stop this. Call now!
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
If passed states can no longer enact laws for transparency, child safety, privacy, environmental protection etc.
We got 3 days to stop this. Call now!
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
November 19, 2025 at 7:07 PM
🚨 Yet again Ted Cruz and Steve Scalise are trying to sneak in a moratorium on state GenAi legislation.
If passed states can no longer enact laws for transparency, child safety, privacy, environmental protection etc.
We got 3 days to stop this. Call now!
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
If passed states can no longer enact laws for transparency, child safety, privacy, environmental protection etc.
We got 3 days to stop this. Call now!
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
ICYMI, state and local cops are NOT supposed to be collaborating with the feds yet they searched Flock ALPR databases on behalf of ICE.
THEN it turned out ICE was doing their own searches in a pilot program with Flock.
@404media.co has been making FOIA requests for stories. Livestream here:
THEN it turned out ICE was doing their own searches in a pilot program with Flock.
@404media.co has been making FOIA requests for stories. Livestream here:
LIVE NOW: 404 Media is gonna teach you how to get records from government agencies through public records requests.
Join us now: www.404media.co/our-new-foia...
Join us now: www.404media.co/our-new-foia...
Our New FOIA Forum! 11/19, 1PM ET
Come learn how researchers and others learned what cops were using Flock's nationwide network of cameras for, including searches for ICE.
www.404media.co
November 19, 2025 at 6:37 PM
ICYMI, state and local cops are NOT supposed to be collaborating with the feds yet they searched Flock ALPR databases on behalf of ICE.
THEN it turned out ICE was doing their own searches in a pilot program with Flock.
@404media.co has been making FOIA requests for stories. Livestream here:
THEN it turned out ICE was doing their own searches in a pilot program with Flock.
@404media.co has been making FOIA requests for stories. Livestream here:
Gen AI is a FastPass to cheapen your brand.
Disney CEO Bob Iger said his company is talking with AI companies about allowing subscribers to create their own short-form videos on Disney+. n.pr/47VGhJE
Disney eyes a future where users help shape the story
Disney CEO Bob Iger said his company is talking with AI companies about allowing subscribers to create their own short-form videos on Disney+.
n.pr
November 14, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Gen AI is a FastPass to cheapen your brand.
Flock should have no business anywhere.
Fuck the surveillance state.
Fuck the surveillance state.
There was no sign ICE accessed Redmond's Flock system before Monday's arrests, but city officials said residents remained concerned about the technology.
Redmond turns off Flock Safety cameras after ICE arrests
www.seattletimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Flock should have no business anywhere.
Fuck the surveillance state.
Fuck the surveillance state.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
Best metaphor I've heard is that using AI is like bringing a forklift to lift the weights at the gym. The point is to build YOUR muscles, not to make the weights go up and down.
I love to see stuff like this because it helps explain to people trapped in tech-sponsored information bubbles the actually obvious fact that universities teach people to know & think things, and AI is a way to produce the effect of knowing & thinking things w/o actually knowing & thinking them.
Opinion | Why Even Basic A.I. Use Is So Bad for Students
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Best metaphor I've heard is that using AI is like bringing a forklift to lift the weights at the gym. The point is to build YOUR muscles, not to make the weights go up and down.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
Just wanna highlight that Seattle Public Schools teacher salaries start at just over $60,000, less than half what a new Seattle police officer will make after six months under the new contract.
Cops get bonuses for two-year associate degrees; teachers, of course, have to have finished college.
Cops get bonuses for two-year associate degrees; teachers, of course, have to have finished college.
Salaries were significantly higher last year, presumably because of inflation:
mysps.seattleschools.org/wp-content/u...
mysps.seattleschools.org/wp-content/u...
mysps.seattleschools.org
October 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Just wanna highlight that Seattle Public Schools teacher salaries start at just over $60,000, less than half what a new Seattle police officer will make after six months under the new contract.
Cops get bonuses for two-year associate degrees; teachers, of course, have to have finished college.
Cops get bonuses for two-year associate degrees; teachers, of course, have to have finished college.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
ICE accessed license plate readers at 30 WA police agencies, including Renton and Auburn.
A month ago, city council voted to expand surveillance despite warnings that something like this would happen.
A month ago, city council voted to expand surveillance despite warnings that something like this would happen.
October 21, 2025 at 5:42 PM
ICE accessed license plate readers at 30 WA police agencies, including Renton and Auburn.
A month ago, city council voted to expand surveillance despite warnings that something like this would happen.
A month ago, city council voted to expand surveillance despite warnings that something like this would happen.
This is like letting an app do the cosplaying for you.
It's outsourcing the fun part to the machines.
It's outsourcing the fun part to the machines.
A new iPhone app, Endless Summer, uses AI to create photorealistic vacation photos starring you — no travel required
Too burned out to travel? This new app fakes your summer vacation photos for you | TechCrunch
A new iPhone app, Endless Summer, uses AI to create photorealistic vacation photos starring you — no travel required
techcrunch.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:13 PM
This is like letting an app do the cosplaying for you.
It's outsourcing the fun part to the machines.
It's outsourcing the fun part to the machines.
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
reminded of when they showed the very first PIXAR short to tech guys and they all asked “what program did you use to make it funny” and they had to very gently explain that it was the people that made it funny, not the code
It’s tiresome at this point, but again, their entire pitch is “wouldn’t it be great if there were no such things as talent, craft, and skill,” and what that means is a bland, slop-filled world. www.businessinsider.com/marc-andrees...
October 17, 2025 at 9:47 PM
reminded of when they showed the very first PIXAR short to tech guys and they all asked “what program did you use to make it funny” and they had to very gently explain that it was the people that made it funny, not the code
The vibe around Windows 10 was that it was supposed to be a final OS and the company would follow Apple in providing free updates.
That did not age well. :/
That did not age well. :/
The end of free Windows 10 support this Wednesday could be an environmental disaster, cutting off 400 million PCs from security updates and dooming millions of still usable computers.
🔗 www.404media.co/the-end-of-w...
🔗 www.404media.co/the-end-of-w...
The End of Windows 10 Support Is an E-Waste Disaster in the Making
In an example of egregious planned obsolescence, as many as 400 million computers will soon hit the waste stream.
www.404media.co
October 15, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The vibe around Windows 10 was that it was supposed to be a final OS and the company would follow Apple in providing free updates.
That did not age well. :/
That did not age well. :/
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
Violent radical transgender leftists
October 13, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Violent radical transgender leftists
Reposted by mrdang 🍥
they spelled his name that way bc that's how the racists say it
CBS News would never put a thinly sourced 'story' by a rookie blogger like this on it's air. Until now. The Free Press isn't a journalism outlet, it's bloggers aren't reporters. This piece is more NYPost than Tiffany Network but I guess that's the goal.
www.cbsnews.com/video/some-n...
www.cbsnews.com/video/some-n...
Some NYPD officers worry about Mandani becoming the NYC mayor, The Free Press reports
The Free Press spoke to several New York City Police Department officers who are worried about Zohran Mamdani becoming mayor. Olivia Reingold joins CBS News with more.
www.cbsnews.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:17 PM
they spelled his name that way bc that's how the racists say it
Woke up and chose hyperfixation
October 9, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Woke up and chose hyperfixation
Lolllllllllllll there are so many memes about Susan Collins being 'concerned' and ineffective. How is our governor's staff so out of touch?? 🤣
Washington stands with Oregon.
I remain concerned by President Trump’s activation of the National Guard in Portland.
I’m continuing to monitor the situation. Over the weekend, we were in communication with Governor Kotek and her team, as well as Mayor Harrell.
I remain concerned by President Trump’s activation of the National Guard in Portland.
I’m continuing to monitor the situation. Over the weekend, we were in communication with Governor Kotek and her team, as well as Mayor Harrell.
September 29, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Lolllllllllllll there are so many memes about Susan Collins being 'concerned' and ineffective. How is our governor's staff so out of touch?? 🤣