Karl Hakkarainen
@roasterboy.bsky.social
Instructor at Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE), teaching courses on AI, Walt Kelly’s Pogo, local history, music, ‘n stuff.
Retired, grateful, and deeply committed to the Oxford comma.
Retired, grateful, and deeply committed to the Oxford comma.
We can pretty well guess why Kushner wanted to be in the room, but we can still wonder who let him in and why. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:50 AM
We can pretty well guess why Kushner wanted to be in the room, but we can still wonder who let him in and why. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Isn’t that how plane crashes usually work?
October 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Isn’t that how plane crashes usually work?
You are now encouraged to say “Fuck” in as many languages as possible.
July 3, 2025 at 8:35 PM
You are now encouraged to say “Fuck” in as many languages as possible.
This seems both very right and very wrong. www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
Newsom sends prepaid phones, aka 'burners,' to tech CEOs
California's governor has employed an unusual outreach initiative to business leaders.
www.politico.com
March 19, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This seems both very right and very wrong. www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
Reposted by Karl Hakkarainen
Trump fires the two Democratic members of the FTC, threatening the independence of the regulator in a decision that is likely to face a legal challenge (New York Times)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
March 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Trump fires the two Democratic members of the FTC, threatening the independence of the regulator in a decision that is likely to face a legal challenge (New York Times)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Reposted by Karl Hakkarainen
Donald Trump just illegally fired two independent commissioners at the FTC who fight big corporations that abuse consumers and workers.
Why? Trump's billionaire donors expect a return on their investment. He works for them, not you.
The courts must reinstate the commissioners.
Why? Trump's billionaire donors expect a return on their investment. He works for them, not you.
The courts must reinstate the commissioners.
March 18, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Donald Trump just illegally fired two independent commissioners at the FTC who fight big corporations that abuse consumers and workers.
Why? Trump's billionaire donors expect a return on their investment. He works for them, not you.
The courts must reinstate the commissioners.
Why? Trump's billionaire donors expect a return on their investment. He works for them, not you.
The courts must reinstate the commissioners.
So, here's a question: how to businesses and non-profits do their SEO if people are opting to use AI chatbots as their paths to finding out stuff.
For example, Perplexity consolidates results from multiple sites when searching for local Ethiopian cuisine.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
For example, Perplexity consolidates results from multiple sites when searching for local Ethiopian cuisine.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
AI search is starting to kill Google’s ‘ten blue links’
New Adobe data reveals AI search referrals are on the rise.
www.theverge.com
March 18, 2025 at 1:42 PM
So, here's a question: how to businesses and non-profits do their SEO if people are opting to use AI chatbots as their paths to finding out stuff.
For example, Perplexity consolidates results from multiple sites when searching for local Ethiopian cuisine.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
For example, Perplexity consolidates results from multiple sites when searching for local Ethiopian cuisine.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Might this lead to Subaru finally allow its Starlink service to work on its newer models? (Subaru's product is not related to that chainsaw-wielding gazillionaire's Starlink.) www.techdirt.com/2025/02/27/m...
Massachusetts Judge Dismisses Auto Industry Lawsuit Over State’s Popular ‘Right To Repair’ Reforms
In late 2020, Massachusetts lawmakers (with overwhelming public support) passed an expansion of the state’s “right to repair” law. The original law was the first in the nation to be passe…
www.techdirt.com
March 13, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Might this lead to Subaru finally allow its Starlink service to work on its newer models? (Subaru's product is not related to that chainsaw-wielding gazillionaire's Starlink.) www.techdirt.com/2025/02/27/m...
Reposted by Karl Hakkarainen
FBI telling Citibank to freeze accounts of Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, and the State of NY Dept of Taxation, among a few dozen others.
And here are more specifics from the FBI letters to Citibank:
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
March 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
FBI telling Citibank to freeze accounts of Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, and the State of NY Dept of Taxation, among a few dozen others.
This is the stuff of nightmares. Imagine these two guys lecturing anyone about manners and trust and warfare.
We are supposed to respect the office, but these knuckleheads ….
[insert stream of bad words here]
We are supposed to respect the office, but these knuckleheads ….
[insert stream of bad words here]
March 1, 2025 at 1:49 AM
This is the stuff of nightmares. Imagine these two guys lecturing anyone about manners and trust and warfare.
We are supposed to respect the office, but these knuckleheads ….
[insert stream of bad words here]
We are supposed to respect the office, but these knuckleheads ….
[insert stream of bad words here]
More than 40 years ago, Ken Thompson, in his Turing Award speech, noted, "The press must learn that misguided use of a
computer is no more amazing than drunk driving of an
automobile."
computer is no more amazing than drunk driving of an
automobile."
February 16, 2025 at 1:54 PM
More than 40 years ago, Ken Thompson, in his Turing Award speech, noted, "The press must learn that misguided use of a
computer is no more amazing than drunk driving of an
automobile."
computer is no more amazing than drunk driving of an
automobile."
A family member recently remarked, “If it doesn’t directly affect me or my family, I’m not going to think about it much.” Others around him nodded in agreement, adding that they don’t watch the news.
This is the Normative State for white folks in 2025.
contrarian.substack.com/p/cruelty-an...
This is the Normative State for white folks in 2025.
contrarian.substack.com/p/cruelty-an...
Cruelty and Loyalty
On zone-flooding fatigue and the tenets of autocracy
contrarian.substack.com
January 28, 2025 at 9:27 AM
A family member recently remarked, “If it doesn’t directly affect me or my family, I’m not going to think about it much.” Others around him nodded in agreement, adding that they don’t watch the news.
This is the Normative State for white folks in 2025.
contrarian.substack.com/p/cruelty-an...
This is the Normative State for white folks in 2025.
contrarian.substack.com/p/cruelty-an...
Of course, he did. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/20/m...
President Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office - The Boston Globe
Dozens of executive orders were prepared for his signature to clamp down on border crossings, increase fossil fuel development, and end diversity and inclusion programs across the federal government.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 21, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Of course, he did. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/20/m...
Perfect Maine headline doesn’t exis…
Maine man gets first moose and bride-to-be the same day
With blood up to his elbows, Jared Lavers of New Gloucester dropped to one knee in the North Maine Woods beside his dead moose.
www.bangordailynews.com
January 13, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Perfect Maine headline doesn’t exis…
While the Worcester Telegram reports on a Tuesday meeting on Friday, the Globe covers the same meeting and brings new, important information. www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/19/m...
‘There are very serious problems’: Federal lawsuits lay out allegations against Worcester police - The Boston Globe
Advocate groups welcomed the report, saying it finally vindicated longstanding complaints they say the city and police have historically refused to acknowledge.
www.bostonglobe.com
December 20, 2024 at 10:13 AM
While the Worcester Telegram reports on a Tuesday meeting on Friday, the Globe covers the same meeting and brings new, important information. www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/19/m...
Reposted by Karl Hakkarainen
News Happening Faster Than Man Can Generate Uninformed Opinions
theonion.com/news-happeni...
theonion.com/news-happeni...
December 19, 2024 at 3:06 PM
News Happening Faster Than Man Can Generate Uninformed Opinions
theonion.com/news-happeni...
theonion.com/news-happeni...
Tried Grok at that old place. Grok did not impress.
December 7, 2024 at 11:43 PM
Tried Grok at that old place. Grok did not impress.
Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää!
December 6, 2024 at 2:18 PM
Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää!