Tom Streeter
@tom-streeter.bsky.social
Prof. at Western in London Ontario. Wrote some books and articles about technology, culture, and politics. https://streeter.fims.uwo.ca/blog/
Reposted by Tom Streeter
Has anyone written the etymological history of “compute” as a noun?
November 17, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Has anyone written the etymological history of “compute” as a noun?
Academic political economists should want to be actively participating in discussions like this excellent one between JS and the former head of the FTC. Maybe coming up with the best definition of which phase of capitalism we're in can wait. thelibertypear.com/2025/11/15/l...
Lina Khan On Zohran Mamdani, Corporate Welfare & the FTC | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
Full conversation with Lina Khan on Zohran Mamdani, corporate welfare, and the FTC — embedded via The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart.
thelibertypear.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Academic political economists should want to be actively participating in discussions like this excellent one between JS and the former head of the FTC. Maybe coming up with the best definition of which phase of capitalism we're in can wait. thelibertypear.com/2025/11/15/l...
Reposted by Tom Streeter
What, exactly, does this string of words mean? Why does everyone who stands to profit from selling "AI" love to repeat it? And what's the value of slogans that masquerade as history?
sonjadrimmer.com/blog-1/2025/...
sonjadrimmer.com/blog-1/2025/...
"The Printing Press Democratized Knowledge": When Slogans Masquerade as History — Sonja Drimmer
The phrase is said so frequently it seems, like the mechanism it celebrates, to mechanically replicate itself. It's become a favorite catchphrase among tech boosters of any sort (see my post on...
sonjadrimmer.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:51 PM
What, exactly, does this string of words mean? Why does everyone who stands to profit from selling "AI" love to repeat it? And what's the value of slogans that masquerade as history?
sonjadrimmer.com/blog-1/2025/...
sonjadrimmer.com/blog-1/2025/...
Reposted by Tom Streeter
@fordhampress.bsky.social is having a 25% off sale, and free shipping to the U.S. AND Peculiar Satisfaction is available! Jefferson and the making of US libraries, archives, and museums. Thinking with Walter Benjamin, Sylvia Wynter, and others. fordhampress.com/peculiar-sat...
Peculiar Satisfaction - Melissa Adler
How Thomas Jefferson’s vision for knowledge shapes what we know and how we access it—and why that matters more than ever As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Ind...
fordhampress.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
@fordhampress.bsky.social is having a 25% off sale, and free shipping to the U.S. AND Peculiar Satisfaction is available! Jefferson and the making of US libraries, archives, and museums. Thinking with Walter Benjamin, Sylvia Wynter, and others. fordhampress.com/peculiar-sat...
Reposted by Tom Streeter
Canadian govt is committing money to recruit researchers from the US and elsewhere to Canadian universities. Includes grad students too!
November 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Canadian govt is committing money to recruit researchers from the US and elsewhere to Canadian universities. Includes grad students too!
Reposted by Tom Streeter
The idea that machines will be as smart as—or smarter than—humans has hijacked an entire industry. But look closely and you’ll see it’s a myth that persists for many of the same reasons conspiracies do.
Read the story: www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1...
Read the story: www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1...
November 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The idea that machines will be as smart as—or smarter than—humans has hijacked an entire industry. But look closely and you’ll see it’s a myth that persists for many of the same reasons conspiracies do.
Read the story: www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1...
Read the story: www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1...
Reposted by Tom Streeter
For the love of God stop calling capitalism “Technofeudalism.” This is not a mutant regression off the track of benign capitalism’s progress to utopia. This is capitalism doing capitalism.
November 2, 2025 at 2:17 PM
For the love of God stop calling capitalism “Technofeudalism.” This is not a mutant regression off the track of benign capitalism’s progress to utopia. This is capitalism doing capitalism.
I found this very moving and thought provoking. Things are happening among the American Jewish community. (FYI it's long, and I had to get deep into it to really appreciate it.) youtu.be/X-eLWZLs8Q8?...
Why Hannah Einbinder Said ‘FREE PALESTINE’ — And What Came Next
YouTube video by Zeteo
youtu.be
November 1, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I found this very moving and thought provoking. Things are happening among the American Jewish community. (FYI it's long, and I had to get deep into it to really appreciate it.) youtu.be/X-eLWZLs8Q8?...
It chills me to the bone how the privileging of white South Africans is so plainly, openly white supremacist. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump caps refugee admissions at 7,500 - mostly white South Africans
The move, which will apply for the next fiscal year, marks a dramatic cut from the previous limit of 125,000.
www.bbc.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:53 PM
It chills me to the bone how the privileging of white South Africans is so plainly, openly white supremacist. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Tom Streeter
“We build our computers the way we build our cities—over time, without a plan, on top of ruins.”
― Ellen Ullman
― Ellen Ullman
September 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
“We build our computers the way we build our cities—over time, without a plan, on top of ruins.”
― Ellen Ullman
― Ellen Ullman
Dear journalism outlets: how about more of this type of explainer and less horse race, he-said/she-said, and inside baseball coverage? Explaining things like video editing should be considered a necessary part of professional reporting, no? (I'm looking at you, NYT.) youtu.be/TKIlZX20f8A?...
Why Trump just ‘terminated’ Canada-U.S. trade talks | About That
YouTube video by CBC News
youtu.be
October 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Dear journalism outlets: how about more of this type of explainer and less horse race, he-said/she-said, and inside baseball coverage? Explaining things like video editing should be considered a necessary part of professional reporting, no? (I'm looking at you, NYT.) youtu.be/TKIlZX20f8A?...
"Poilievre stated . . . Christians . . . “may be the number 1 group that are victims of hate-based violence.”
The political media sphere [acted like] Poilievre wasn’t reading the mood of the nation.
Au contraire.
Poilievre is reading the cards very well." charlieangus.substack.com/p/how-the-ha...
The political media sphere [acted like] Poilievre wasn’t reading the mood of the nation.
Au contraire.
Poilievre is reading the cards very well." charlieangus.substack.com/p/how-the-ha...
How the Hate Card Could Play in Canada
A political storm is coming, and it’s going to hit hard.
charlieangus.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:24 PM
"Poilievre stated . . . Christians . . . “may be the number 1 group that are victims of hate-based violence.”
The political media sphere [acted like] Poilievre wasn’t reading the mood of the nation.
Au contraire.
Poilievre is reading the cards very well." charlieangus.substack.com/p/how-the-ha...
The political media sphere [acted like] Poilievre wasn’t reading the mood of the nation.
Au contraire.
Poilievre is reading the cards very well." charlieangus.substack.com/p/how-the-ha...
Some data: Centrists as the NYT defines them -- pro-corporate, moderate on social issues and silent on class -- lost the Presidency against non-centrist Republicans in 2000, 2004, 2016, 2024. And AOC and Bernie regularly get votes from folks who also voted for Trump. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/o...
Opinion | America Still Has a Political Center, and It’s the Key to Winning
www.nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Some data: Centrists as the NYT defines them -- pro-corporate, moderate on social issues and silent on class -- lost the Presidency against non-centrist Republicans in 2000, 2004, 2016, 2024. And AOC and Bernie regularly get votes from folks who also voted for Trump. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/o...
Reposted by Tom Streeter
Folks we are watching the adjudication of some of the most important constitutional issues of federalism, executive discretion, and judicial review since the 19th c
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Judge issues new broader order barring any National Guard from relocating to Oregon
Judge asked federal government lawyer: 'Do you believe this is an appropriate way to deal with a judge’s order that you disagree with?'
www.oregonlive.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Folks we are watching the adjudication of some of the most important constitutional issues of federalism, executive discretion, and judicial review since the 19th c
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Tom Streeter
I will also note that some of the best work on all the connections between popular culture and radicalization comes from queer, BIPOC, and/or women scholars. I wonder why the media has ignored us? 🧐
September 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I will also note that some of the best work on all the connections between popular culture and radicalization comes from queer, BIPOC, and/or women scholars. I wonder why the media has ignored us? 🧐
Reposted by Tom Streeter
Anyone who researches pop culture (esp. toxic geek spaces, gaming, fandom, etc.) is having a bit of a "told you so" moment as they see mainstream media outlets fall all over themselves to understand stuff we've been screaming about for literally a decade (or more). Y'all didn't wanna listen.
September 13, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Anyone who researches pop culture (esp. toxic geek spaces, gaming, fandom, etc.) is having a bit of a "told you so" moment as they see mainstream media outlets fall all over themselves to understand stuff we've been screaming about for literally a decade (or more). Y'all didn't wanna listen.
There's a substack post circulating that claims "Once fascists win power democratically, they have never been removed democratically. Not once. Ever." But Philippines 1986, Chile 1990, USSR 1991, South Africa 1994, Poland 2023. Just some of the examples. Worth checking out.
September 5, 2025 at 3:13 PM
There's a substack post circulating that claims "Once fascists win power democratically, they have never been removed democratically. Not once. Ever." But Philippines 1986, Chile 1990, USSR 1991, South Africa 1994, Poland 2023. Just some of the examples. Worth checking out.
Reposted by Tom Streeter
US writers in bien-pensent outlets like the Atlantic and the NYT are obsessed with the supposed horrors of Canada's MAID policies. I have many reservations myself. But 1/4
August 25, 2025 at 1:28 PM
US writers in bien-pensent outlets like the Atlantic and the NYT are obsessed with the supposed horrors of Canada's MAID policies. I have many reservations myself. But 1/4
Reposted by Tom Streeter
This is one of the absolute toughest things about predatory inclusion — the predation is often fun or a little useful. Criticism makes a reasonable person sound like an asshole. LowerEd weathered me for this kind of social death.
So I’ll say it: your enjoyment does not matter & should not matter.
So I’ll say it: your enjoyment does not matter & should not matter.
I don't fundamentally disagree with a lot of this, especially the environmental cost/ benefit. I'll just offer that as a maker,tinkerer,experimenter, having access to a LLM has massively decreased the time required to design build and debug relatively sophisticated hw/sw prototypes.
August 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
This is one of the absolute toughest things about predatory inclusion — the predation is often fun or a little useful. Criticism makes a reasonable person sound like an asshole. LowerEd weathered me for this kind of social death.
So I’ll say it: your enjoyment does not matter & should not matter.
So I’ll say it: your enjoyment does not matter & should not matter.
Reposted by Tom Streeter
I'm closely interviewed for this Nieman Lab report that discusses how rural areas will be affected by loss of funding for local NPR reporting. We must not underestimate the importance of equal access to information - we're about to witness a seismic ideological shift in American sense of "place."
With Cuts to Federal Funding, How Will Public Media in the U.S. Survive? - Nieman Reports
With cuts to federal funding, how will public media in the U.S. survive? Gabe Bullard writes, "The closure of the CPB will hurt NPR and PBS, but the most immediate and devastating blow will be to the ...
niemanreports.org
August 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I'm closely interviewed for this Nieman Lab report that discusses how rural areas will be affected by loss of funding for local NPR reporting. We must not underestimate the importance of equal access to information - we're about to witness a seismic ideological shift in American sense of "place."
Reposted by Tom Streeter
I have a new article out: "Do artifacts have political economy?" It's a riff on an old argument by Langdon Winner about the embedding of politics in technology
#STS #sociology #technoscience #technology #innovation
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
#STS #sociology #technoscience #technology #innovation
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Do Artifacts Have Political Economy? - Kean Birch, 2025
Harking back to Langdon Winner's now classic essay “Do artifacts have politics?,” my aim in this article is to ask a very similar question—namely, do artif...
journals.sagepub.com
August 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I have a new article out: "Do artifacts have political economy?" It's a riff on an old argument by Langdon Winner about the embedding of politics in technology
#STS #sociology #technoscience #technology #innovation
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
#STS #sociology #technoscience #technology #innovation
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Tom Streeter
Join us in person or online tomorrow (Jul. 24) to talk about my new book 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵!
I'm thrilled to be in conversation with Ruth Skinner & Judith Rodger at Museum London, hosted by Words, London's literary & creative arts festival.
Register: tinyurl.com/tradingonart
@ubcpress.bsky.social
I'm thrilled to be in conversation with Ruth Skinner & Judith Rodger at Museum London, hosted by Words, London's literary & creative arts festival.
Register: tinyurl.com/tradingonart
@ubcpress.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Join us in person or online tomorrow (Jul. 24) to talk about my new book 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵!
I'm thrilled to be in conversation with Ruth Skinner & Judith Rodger at Museum London, hosted by Words, London's literary & creative arts festival.
Register: tinyurl.com/tradingonart
@ubcpress.bsky.social
I'm thrilled to be in conversation with Ruth Skinner & Judith Rodger at Museum London, hosted by Words, London's literary & creative arts festival.
Register: tinyurl.com/tradingonart
@ubcpress.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Streeter
The replacement of everything with generative AI is NOT inevitable, but it sure is if you all shrug and say "Well, it's inevitable" like your brain was washed in bad predictive SF for decades.
July 6, 2025 at 11:41 AM
The replacement of everything with generative AI is NOT inevitable, but it sure is if you all shrug and say "Well, it's inevitable" like your brain was washed in bad predictive SF for decades.
Reposted by Tom Streeter
It’s a CONCENTRATION CAMP…not a PRISON 🤯
ALLIGATOR AUSCHWITZ 🐊
ALLIGATOR AUSCHWITZ 🐊
July 1, 2025 at 6:46 PM
It’s a CONCENTRATION CAMP…not a PRISON 🤯
ALLIGATOR AUSCHWITZ 🐊
ALLIGATOR AUSCHWITZ 🐊