Ben Miller
@transitive.bsky.social
digital humanities, natural language processing, writing for games and social change. associate teaching professor, writing and quantitative theory and methods at Emory University. #AIAInetwork
I'd wait an hour in the rain for a lecture half as good as Peter Caviello's grounded, informed, scathing, funny takedown not of a single NYT author, but of the whole rhetorical framework on which lazy Crossfire journalism is built. Didn't Jon Stewart demolish that mode ages ago?
What an amazing essay from the former chair of Africana Studies at Bowdoin. I'll share a few sections in the reply but seriously, read the whole thing. It's all insightful and beautifully written.
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I'd wait an hour in the rain for a lecture half as good as Peter Caviello's grounded, informed, scathing, funny takedown not of a single NYT author, but of the whole rhetorical framework on which lazy Crossfire journalism is built. Didn't Jon Stewart demolish that mode ages ago?
Reposted by Ben Miller
I just finished "There Is No Place for Us" by @brian-goldstone.bsky.social It's a modern, non-fiction, "The Jungle", about the purposely designed-to-fail housing system in this country - an unholy abomination of government & corporations - and the resulting dystopia www.goodreads.com/en/book/show...
There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in Ameri…
Through the unforgettable stories of five Atlanta famil…
www.goodreads.com
August 17, 2025 at 2:26 AM
I just finished "There Is No Place for Us" by @brian-goldstone.bsky.social It's a modern, non-fiction, "The Jungle", about the purposely designed-to-fail housing system in this country - an unholy abomination of government & corporations - and the resulting dystopia www.goodreads.com/en/book/show...
Reposted by Ben Miller
We knew in our guts while hiding that the shooter was targeting us. This violence is driven by anti-vaccine propaganda. And the rot start at the top.
Just this week RFK Jr canceled all mRNA vaccine research while lying about the technologies safety and effectiveness.
Just this week RFK Jr canceled all mRNA vaccine research while lying about the technologies safety and effectiveness.
“The shooter was either sick or believed he was sick, and blamed his illness on COVID vaccine — which is why he was targeting the CDC.”
August 9, 2025 at 1:28 AM
We knew in our guts while hiding that the shooter was targeting us. This violence is driven by anti-vaccine propaganda. And the rot start at the top.
Just this week RFK Jr canceled all mRNA vaccine research while lying about the technologies safety and effectiveness.
Just this week RFK Jr canceled all mRNA vaccine research while lying about the technologies safety and effectiveness.
How did we so quickly go from the GDPR's Right to Be Forgotten (2014) to the (2025) EU AI Act's solution to bias being more data in the system?
Yes, each approach deals with a different problem, privacy and algorithmic violence by administrative regimes.
Did we cede the finacialization of speech?
Yes, each approach deals with a different problem, privacy and algorithmic violence by administrative regimes.
Did we cede the finacialization of speech?
August 7, 2025 at 2:22 AM
How did we so quickly go from the GDPR's Right to Be Forgotten (2014) to the (2025) EU AI Act's solution to bias being more data in the system?
Yes, each approach deals with a different problem, privacy and algorithmic violence by administrative regimes.
Did we cede the finacialization of speech?
Yes, each approach deals with a different problem, privacy and algorithmic violence by administrative regimes.
Did we cede the finacialization of speech?
Reposted by Ben Miller
My Stanford Journal of International Law article, the Silicon Valley Effect, argues that Silicon Valley operates like a fourth digital empire, shaping the transnational legal order to protect its business interests.
law.stanford.edu/publications...
law.stanford.edu/publications...
May 1, 2025 at 1:57 AM
My Stanford Journal of International Law article, the Silicon Valley Effect, argues that Silicon Valley operates like a fourth digital empire, shaping the transnational legal order to protect its business interests.
law.stanford.edu/publications...
law.stanford.edu/publications...
Reposted by Ben Miller
The penguin is quilted and ready to protest! It’s a bit crooked, but I have had vertigo off and on all week, so I’m okay with crooked.
April 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The penguin is quilted and ready to protest! It’s a bit crooked, but I have had vertigo off and on all week, so I’m okay with crooked.
Reposted by Ben Miller
👉 👈 Meta announced that they're changing their models to reduce "left-leaning [political] bias"--that means leaning them to the political "right". Lots to unpack about what that might mean. So I ran a quick "shot in the dark" study...and found a *political right* bias in Meta models. Some notes.🧵
April 22, 2025 at 12:39 AM
👉 👈 Meta announced that they're changing their models to reduce "left-leaning [political] bias"--that means leaning them to the political "right". Lots to unpack about what that might mean. So I ran a quick "shot in the dark" study...and found a *political right* bias in Meta models. Some notes.🧵
Reposted by Ben Miller
I don't know how I could have misses the launch of this initiative by @carlbergstrom.com & @jevinwest.bsky.social but it's absolutely a must for anyone confused about what LLMs are and can do, as well as for anyone not skeptical enough about this technology:
thebullshitmachines.com
thebullshitmachines.com
April 21, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I don't know how I could have misses the launch of this initiative by @carlbergstrom.com & @jevinwest.bsky.social but it's absolutely a must for anyone confused about what LLMs are and can do, as well as for anyone not skeptical enough about this technology:
thebullshitmachines.com
thebullshitmachines.com
Spending the day at the Africana DH convening at Clark Atlanta U. Panel 1, @drtonieshat.bsky.social, Rico Chapman, Marco Robinson, Charmayne Patterson.
So much good work on sharing local knowledge, imagining the future, and why Starbucks needed to think before putting a slogan on a coffee cup.
So much good work on sharing local knowledge, imagining the future, and why Starbucks needed to think before putting a slogan on a coffee cup.
April 16, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Spending the day at the Africana DH convening at Clark Atlanta U. Panel 1, @drtonieshat.bsky.social, Rico Chapman, Marco Robinson, Charmayne Patterson.
So much good work on sharing local knowledge, imagining the future, and why Starbucks needed to think before putting a slogan on a coffee cup.
So much good work on sharing local knowledge, imagining the future, and why Starbucks needed to think before putting a slogan on a coffee cup.
Reposted by Ben Miller
A newsletter for folks interested in cities, housing, affordable housing, and urban political economy. Please subscribe! Free!
First up: "WHAT DO HOUSERS DO NOW?"
I expect most entries to be more focused on a particular housing policy debate or an important piece of research I read.
First up: "WHAT DO HOUSERS DO NOW?"
I expect most entries to be more focused on a particular housing policy debate or an important piece of research I read.
What Do (U.S.) Housers Do Now?
This crisis is so different from others that housing folks have been through. A bit about some previous crises, and some initial thoughts about being a houser in the face of authoritarianism and hosti...
dans-newsletter-cfccf2.beehiiv.com
April 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
A newsletter for folks interested in cities, housing, affordable housing, and urban political economy. Please subscribe! Free!
First up: "WHAT DO HOUSERS DO NOW?"
I expect most entries to be more focused on a particular housing policy debate or an important piece of research I read.
First up: "WHAT DO HOUSERS DO NOW?"
I expect most entries to be more focused on a particular housing policy debate or an important piece of research I read.
Reposted by Ben Miller
There are just nine days left to get the World SF Bundle! storybundle.com/scifi Supporting independent publishers, benefiting authors directly, and also supporting non-profit Locus Magazine! Re-posts much appreciated!
April 1, 2025 at 11:33 AM
There are just nine days left to get the World SF Bundle! storybundle.com/scifi Supporting independent publishers, benefiting authors directly, and also supporting non-profit Locus Magazine! Re-posts much appreciated!
Reposted by Ben Miller
NarraScope news: we have keynote speakers and a schedule!
narrascope.org/schedule
We have registration open!
narrascope2025.eventbrite.com
We have other info on the web site too.
narrascope.org
Join us in Philadelphia in June. Hope to see you there.
narrascope.org/schedule
We have registration open!
narrascope2025.eventbrite.com
We have other info on the web site too.
narrascope.org
Join us in Philadelphia in June. Hope to see you there.
March 26, 2025 at 11:56 PM
NarraScope news: we have keynote speakers and a schedule!
narrascope.org/schedule
We have registration open!
narrascope2025.eventbrite.com
We have other info on the web site too.
narrascope.org
Join us in Philadelphia in June. Hope to see you there.
narrascope.org/schedule
We have registration open!
narrascope2025.eventbrite.com
We have other info on the web site too.
narrascope.org
Join us in Philadelphia in June. Hope to see you there.
Reposted by Ben Miller
"It’s not that OpenAI picked something cute and accidentally the co-founder of that studio hates. OAI picked Ghibli because Miyazaki hates their approach
It is display of power: You, as artist, animator, illustrator, writer are powerless. We will take what we want & do what we want. Because we can"
It is display of power: You, as artist, animator, illustrator, writer are powerless. We will take what we want & do what we want. Because we can"
OpenAI's move to allow generating "Ghibly stlye" images isn't just a cute PR stunt. It is an expression of dominance and the will to reject and refuse democratic values. It is a vulgar display of power.
https://tante.cc/2025/03/28/vulgar-display-of-power/
https://tante.cc/2025/03/28/vulgar-display-of-power/
Vulgar Display of Power
Hayao Miyasaki is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation studio known worldwide for their stunning, emotional, beautiful stories and movies. At the core of Studio Ghibli’s work is a deep engagement with questions of humanity. About what it means to be a human, about how to care for one another and the world […]
tante.cc
March 28, 2025 at 1:22 PM
"It’s not that OpenAI picked something cute and accidentally the co-founder of that studio hates. OAI picked Ghibli because Miyazaki hates their approach
It is display of power: You, as artist, animator, illustrator, writer are powerless. We will take what we want & do what we want. Because we can"
It is display of power: You, as artist, animator, illustrator, writer are powerless. We will take what we want & do what we want. Because we can"
Reposted by Ben Miller
🚨 Our Call for Papers is out! 🚨
We continue our tradition of providing a dedicated platform for presenting computational work that bridges formal methods and traditional inquiry in the arts and humanities.
Check out the website for all details: 2025.computational-humanities-research.org/cfp/
We continue our tradition of providing a dedicated platform for presenting computational work that bridges formal methods and traditional inquiry in the arts and humanities.
Check out the website for all details: 2025.computational-humanities-research.org/cfp/
March 26, 2025 at 1:36 PM
🚨 Our Call for Papers is out! 🚨
We continue our tradition of providing a dedicated platform for presenting computational work that bridges formal methods and traditional inquiry in the arts and humanities.
Check out the website for all details: 2025.computational-humanities-research.org/cfp/
We continue our tradition of providing a dedicated platform for presenting computational work that bridges formal methods and traditional inquiry in the arts and humanities.
Check out the website for all details: 2025.computational-humanities-research.org/cfp/
Reposted by Ben Miller
Atlanta friends!
I'll be launching my book this Wednesday, 3/26, at Decatur Library, 7pm.
I’m honored to be joined in conversation by the brilliant journalist and author Malaika Jabali. The event is free and open to the public.
Hope to see you there.
I'll be launching my book this Wednesday, 3/26, at Decatur Library, 7pm.
I’m honored to be joined in conversation by the brilliant journalist and author Malaika Jabali. The event is free and open to the public.
Hope to see you there.
March 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Atlanta friends!
I'll be launching my book this Wednesday, 3/26, at Decatur Library, 7pm.
I’m honored to be joined in conversation by the brilliant journalist and author Malaika Jabali. The event is free and open to the public.
Hope to see you there.
I'll be launching my book this Wednesday, 3/26, at Decatur Library, 7pm.
I’m honored to be joined in conversation by the brilliant journalist and author Malaika Jabali. The event is free and open to the public.
Hope to see you there.
Reposted by Ben Miller
Join me on Reddit for an AMA about housing precarity and homelessness in the U.S. Why are so many people—even those with multiple jobs—unable to afford a place to live?
The AMA is live now, and I’ll be answering questions starting Monday at 1pm ET.
The AMA is live now, and I’ll be answering questions starting Monday at 1pm ET.
From the povertyfinance community on Reddit: I’m Brian Goldstone, author of "There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America," about why millions of Americans with jobs still can’t afford a ...
Explore this post and more from the povertyfinance community
www.reddit.com
March 22, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Join me on Reddit for an AMA about housing precarity and homelessness in the U.S. Why are so many people—even those with multiple jobs—unable to afford a place to live?
The AMA is live now, and I’ll be answering questions starting Monday at 1pm ET.
The AMA is live now, and I’ll be answering questions starting Monday at 1pm ET.
On regulating AI absent fed oversight, my take on Kevin Frazier's grounded, practical, www.lawfaremedia.org/article/amid...
"UDAP [Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices] enforcement ... [is an] important means of protecting consumers amid the rapid adoption of AI.”
(1/2)
"UDAP [Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices] enforcement ... [is an] important means of protecting consumers amid the rapid adoption of AI.”
(1/2)
Amid Federal Push for AI Innovation, Who Will Look Out for Consumers?
With AI innovation bound to accelerate under new federal policies, state attorneys general emerge as vital consumer protectors.
www.lawfaremedia.org
March 18, 2025 at 5:38 PM
On regulating AI absent fed oversight, my take on Kevin Frazier's grounded, practical, www.lawfaremedia.org/article/amid...
"UDAP [Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices] enforcement ... [is an] important means of protecting consumers amid the rapid adoption of AI.”
(1/2)
"UDAP [Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices] enforcement ... [is an] important means of protecting consumers amid the rapid adoption of AI.”
(1/2)
Yes, and laid the model for disparate bailouts post-2007-2010 foreclosure crisis that enabled the subsequent rise of institutional single family home investors. Some recent related work.
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2023/02/08/4...
quantitative.emory.edu/images/11-4-...
doi.org/10.1080/0735...
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2023/02/08/4...
quantitative.emory.edu/images/11-4-...
doi.org/10.1080/0735...
March 14, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Yes, and laid the model for disparate bailouts post-2007-2010 foreclosure crisis that enabled the subsequent rise of institutional single family home investors. Some recent related work.
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2023/02/08/4...
quantitative.emory.edu/images/11-4-...
doi.org/10.1080/0735...
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2023/02/08/4...
quantitative.emory.edu/images/11-4-...
doi.org/10.1080/0735...
I'm deeply sorry and upset that the wonderful people at the NEH who have spent careers helping people tell essential American stories are being anything but praised and rewarded. "Appalachia Youth," "Up from the Dust," HiPSTAS. Nationwide library programs. The NEH made public humanities possible.
I’m so sorry, to my brilliant, talented, devoted friends at NEH, and for all of us.
I hear DOGE has come to NEH. NEH Chair Shelly C. Lowe (of the Navajo Nation) is out, and acting chair is Michael McDonald, best known for his legal career fighting affirmative action.
March 13, 2025 at 7:03 AM
I'm deeply sorry and upset that the wonderful people at the NEH who have spent careers helping people tell essential American stories are being anything but praised and rewarded. "Appalachia Youth," "Up from the Dust," HiPSTAS. Nationwide library programs. The NEH made public humanities possible.
Reposted by Ben Miller
They adopted a posture of total submission and it bought them precisely nothing. A lesson for the Trump era www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03...
The Trump administration cancels $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia University.
www.nytimes.com
March 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
They adopted a posture of total submission and it bought them precisely nothing. A lesson for the Trump era www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03...
Went to the capital w/ my son and a few 100 others to #StandUpForScience. He talked to two geneticists, a political scientist, an academic union rep, a mass spec salesperson w/ a PhD, a computational biologist, a behavioral biologist, and a person in a frog costume who 100% studies frogs in a lab.
March 7, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Went to the capital w/ my son and a few 100 others to #StandUpForScience. He talked to two geneticists, a political scientist, an academic union rep, a mass spec salesperson w/ a PhD, a computational biologist, a behavioral biologist, and a person in a frog costume who 100% studies frogs in a lab.
I wish all of our institutions would have an equally forceful rebuttal as unqualified Republicans (often illegally) try to tell us what to teach. These people are the inheritors of TN in State of TN v. Scopes. They continue to be wrong, reactionary, repressive, and regressive.
With his permission, I'm sharing Dean Treanor's response to Ed Martin's letter:
March 6, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I wish all of our institutions would have an equally forceful rebuttal as unqualified Republicans (often illegally) try to tell us what to teach. These people are the inheritors of TN in State of TN v. Scopes. They continue to be wrong, reactionary, repressive, and regressive.
This year's tourney is a bit different: which Division I NCAA team will be the first to go under b/c their institution and students are casualties of Republicans' assault on Federal government and higher ed? Grand Canyon w/ $1.3b in debt? Clemson and their $194m athletics program? Place your bets!
March 4, 2025 at 6:12 PM
This year's tourney is a bit different: which Division I NCAA team will be the first to go under b/c their institution and students are casualties of Republicans' assault on Federal government and higher ed? Grand Canyon w/ $1.3b in debt? Clemson and their $194m athletics program? Place your bets!
Reposted by Ben Miller
📣The CFP for #ACH2025, our virtual #DigitalHumanities conference, is now available! The conference will be held June 11-13. Proposals due March 23.
11 June - 13 June 2025, Virtual Conference
ach2025.ach.org
March 3, 2025 at 5:53 PM
📣The CFP for #ACH2025, our virtual #DigitalHumanities conference, is now available! The conference will be held June 11-13. Proposals due March 23.
Reposted by Ben Miller
Vermont understood the assignment.
Take notes, America.
Take notes, America.
March 2, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Vermont understood the assignment.
Take notes, America.
Take notes, America.