Zhian
@zkamvar.bsky.social
I'm mostly on Mastodon with all the nerds. I'm here to follow people who aren't on Mastodon.
https://hachyderm.io/@zkamvar
https://hachyderm.io/@zkamvar
Reposted by Zhian
Re: the 18F technology team that the Trump administration dissolved (while simultaneously selling Elon Musk's activities on a basis of "uses computer = smart")
The interesting part is that 18F had a coherent mandate that was "government efficiency" in an operative sense- make the government efficient to act and efficient to interact with- but DOGE had an incoherent mandate which amounted to "Seek within the walls for copper pipes to sell at the scrap yard"
November 28, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Re: the 18F technology team that the Trump administration dissolved (while simultaneously selling Elon Musk's activities on a basis of "uses computer = smart")
Reposted by Zhian
This wall is full of bee hives and constantly leaks honey, which brings all the grizzlies to feed. Yes, it's a bear-loading wall.
November 28, 2025 at 4:48 PM
This wall is full of bee hives and constantly leaks honey, which brings all the grizzlies to feed. Yes, it's a bear-loading wall.
Reposted by Zhian
Reposted by Zhian
you just can't have a meaningful conversation about the potential benefits of "AI" while this stuff is happening. it's like trying to talk about how useful an airplane might be during a hijacking
What the leaked AI executive order tells us about the Big Tech power grab
What the leaked AI executive order tells us about the Big Tech power grab
Should states write their own AI laws, or should David Sacks?
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 4:31 PM
you just can't have a meaningful conversation about the potential benefits of "AI" while this stuff is happening. it's like trying to talk about how useful an airplane might be during a hijacking
Reposted by Zhian
I'm thinking about how it now seems clear this particular fascist moment will end, this particular movement will fall, but I'm thinking about all the forms of horrible harm that will be locked-in forever and go uncommented on. I am thinking about this because KOSA has been reintroduced in the House.
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
I'm thinking about how it now seems clear this particular fascist moment will end, this particular movement will fall, but I'm thinking about all the forms of horrible harm that will be locked-in forever and go uncommented on. I am thinking about this because KOSA has been reintroduced in the House.
Reposted by Zhian
DOGE was created for data theft and infrastructure dismantling and it wildly succeeded on both counts within the first few weeks of its existence. It will take a generation to rebuild what it destroyed and the breach of data is unprecedented.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
DOGE was created for data theft and infrastructure dismantling and it wildly succeeded on both counts within the first few weeks of its existence. It will take a generation to rebuild what it destroyed and the breach of data is unprecedented.
Reposted by Zhian
It remains insane to me that DOGE was treated at the time as an impressive shock and awe accomplishment - “you can’t deny he’s getting stuff done!” - and then instantly memory holed by the press once if became clear it was a total failure by every possible standard including Musk’s own
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
It remains insane to me that DOGE was treated at the time as an impressive shock and awe accomplishment - “you can’t deny he’s getting stuff done!” - and then instantly memory holed by the press once if became clear it was a total failure by every possible standard including Musk’s own
Reposted by Zhian
one of the things that makes me most mad about genAI (and there are many) is we've been told there's not enough money for hiring. but there's billions poured into ai.
so not enough money to hire workers. but infinite money to pour into technology whose goal is never having to pay workers again.
so not enough money to hire workers. but infinite money to pour into technology whose goal is never having to pay workers again.
November 23, 2025 at 7:50 PM
one of the things that makes me most mad about genAI (and there are many) is we've been told there's not enough money for hiring. but there's billions poured into ai.
so not enough money to hire workers. but infinite money to pour into technology whose goal is never having to pay workers again.
so not enough money to hire workers. but infinite money to pour into technology whose goal is never having to pay workers again.
Reposted by Zhian
Allllllll righty everyone! You know the drill! DON’T CROSS THAT PICKET LINE!
Remember: If unions didn’t matter, powerful corporations wouldn’t spend millions of dollars every year to stop workers from organizing. Solidarity with the thousands of unionized Starbucks workers who are on strike. Keep up the fight. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/20/s...
Starbucks Workers United escalates strike during busy holiday season
Starbucks Workers United is expanding the strike, but the company says it has not yet disrupted the key holiday season.
www.cnbc.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Allllllll righty everyone! You know the drill! DON’T CROSS THAT PICKET LINE!
Reposted by Zhian
i was literally just looking for that to make this point. More people have been "cancelled" for charlie kirk blasphemy than the during the entire cancel culture panic.
November 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
i was literally just looking for that to make this point. More people have been "cancelled" for charlie kirk blasphemy than the during the entire cancel culture panic.
Reposted by Zhian
I'm moaning about this in public because I want everyone to realize the cost people around you without employer insurance are facing. Which is to say, >40% of Americans.
I made the mistake of deciding to sign up for health insurance via healthcare marketplace this morning, since all hope of a tax break is gone. The plan I had in 2025 will now cost $1,400/MONTH. The cheapest I can get for 2026 will be a bronze plan $973/month. I'll just be lying here like this:
Had Enough Child In Rain GIF
Alt: A child lies down dejectedly on a sidewalk in the rain.
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I'm moaning about this in public because I want everyone to realize the cost people around you without employer insurance are facing. Which is to say, >40% of Americans.
Reposted by Zhian
We're at the next stag of the authors' lawsuit against Anthropic.
Check the link below to see which of your books they raided and then click through to file a claim.
Four of mine were in there.
Check the link below to see which of your books they raided and then click through to file a claim.
Four of mine were in there.
November 18, 2025 at 7:54 PM
We're at the next stag of the authors' lawsuit against Anthropic.
Check the link below to see which of your books they raided and then click through to file a claim.
Four of mine were in there.
Check the link below to see which of your books they raided and then click through to file a claim.
Four of mine were in there.
Reposted by Zhian
I'm reminded of how handy the usethis::browse_*() functions are and thought I'd remind people they exist. Choose from a menu of links or go straight to CRAN or GitHub. #rstats
November 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I'm reminded of how handy the usethis::browse_*() functions are and thought I'd remind people they exist. Choose from a menu of links or go straight to CRAN or GitHub. #rstats
Reposted by Zhian
Grateful to @oregonian.com and @oregoncapitalchronicle.com for sharing our story about Fox News' misleading coverage of Portland before Trump ordered the National Guard.
ICYMI: www.propublica.org/article/port...
ICYMI: www.propublica.org/article/port...
“Riots Raging”: The Misleading Story Fox News Told About Portland Before Trump Sent Troops
After reviewing coverage from the network and hours of social media videos that preceded Trump’s decision, ProPublica found that Fox’s portrayal of “Portland rioters” routinely instigating violence wa...
www.propublica.org
November 17, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Grateful to @oregonian.com and @oregoncapitalchronicle.com for sharing our story about Fox News' misleading coverage of Portland before Trump ordered the National Guard.
ICYMI: www.propublica.org/article/port...
ICYMI: www.propublica.org/article/port...
Reposted by Zhian
Reposted by Zhian
Not Sure How They Deal With Criminals In Your Town, But ’Round Here We Use A Restorative Justice Process
Not Sure How They Deal With Criminals In Your Town, But ’Round Here We Use A Restorative Justice Process
Well, well, well. What have we got here? Another city slicker who thinks he can waltz into my town and start causin’ all sorts of trouble. I’d be careful if I was you, fella. Because however they do t...
theonion.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Not Sure How They Deal With Criminals In Your Town, But ’Round Here We Use A Restorative Justice Process
Reposted by Zhian
information/research/places to donate to:
rainn.org/get-informed... - statistics about rape and CSA and lack of punishment
safer.io/resources/cs... statistics on CSAM and incidents online grooming
www.missingkids.org/blog/2025/sp... - more stats on online grooming/CSA/CSAM
rainn.org/get-informed... - statistics about rape and CSA and lack of punishment
safer.io/resources/cs... statistics on CSAM and incidents online grooming
www.missingkids.org/blog/2025/sp... - more stats on online grooming/CSA/CSAM
Facts and Statistics: The Scope of the Problem - RAINN
The statistics on this page come from the most credible sources available. Collectively, they reveal the reality of sexual violence in America today. WHO Experiences Sexual Violence WHERE Sexual Assa...
rainn.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:21 PM
information/research/places to donate to:
rainn.org/get-informed... - statistics about rape and CSA and lack of punishment
safer.io/resources/cs... statistics on CSAM and incidents online grooming
www.missingkids.org/blog/2025/sp... - more stats on online grooming/CSA/CSAM
rainn.org/get-informed... - statistics about rape and CSA and lack of punishment
safer.io/resources/cs... statistics on CSAM and incidents online grooming
www.missingkids.org/blog/2025/sp... - more stats on online grooming/CSA/CSAM
Reposted by Zhian
Reposted by Zhian
this thread is essential reading on right wing and patriarchal logics that allow CSA to be largely permissible and why calling out the hypocrisy of conservatives doesnt work; AKA pedocon theory
huge huge content warning for CSA; proceed with caution
huge huge content warning for CSA; proceed with caution
when you understand that patriarchy views children as sexual property it all makes sense. there's no hypocrisy. exposure to queerness & transness threatens to "corrupt" the father's property, to "lead them astray" into self-determination, to taint their future sexual value. CSA is permissible as >
Thatcher's government did this with Section 28, banned the "promotion of homosexuality" as a danger to children, while actively protecting Jimmy Savile and who knows how many other pedophiles. It's the same damn playbook.
November 15, 2025 at 10:29 PM
this thread is essential reading on right wing and patriarchal logics that allow CSA to be largely permissible and why calling out the hypocrisy of conservatives doesnt work; AKA pedocon theory
huge huge content warning for CSA; proceed with caution
huge huge content warning for CSA; proceed with caution
Reposted by Zhian
i've already muted as many keywords as i can and don't really actively follow the discourse anymore so i am only hoping this isn't the case and that people are sharing and platforming resources and support for survivors
if that isn't the case, Darkness To Light is a great place to start www.d2l.org
if that isn't the case, Darkness To Light is a great place to start www.d2l.org
Home - Darkness to Light
25 YEARS OF LEADING THE WAY IN PREVENTION Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Through Education & Action Darkness to Light empowers adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse ...
www.d2l.org
November 15, 2025 at 10:32 PM
i've already muted as many keywords as i can and don't really actively follow the discourse anymore so i am only hoping this isn't the case and that people are sharing and platforming resources and support for survivors
if that isn't the case, Darkness To Light is a great place to start www.d2l.org
if that isn't the case, Darkness To Light is a great place to start www.d2l.org
Reposted by Zhian
‘The Owl House’ creator Dana Terrace responds to Disney+ funding AI-generated short form content in new tweet:
“Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don’t care. Fuck gen AI.”
“Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don’t care. Fuck gen AI.”
November 14, 2025 at 2:39 AM
‘The Owl House’ creator Dana Terrace responds to Disney+ funding AI-generated short form content in new tweet:
“Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don’t care. Fuck gen AI.”
“Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don’t care. Fuck gen AI.”
Reposted by Zhian
I wanna somehow locate every person who liked Portishead but doesn't really listen to hip-hop and shake them by the shoulders and tell them to listen to "Mercy" by Armand Hammer (the album this song is from, released last week)
What I'm listening to today: "Scandinavia", Billy Woods, ELUCID and The Alchemist
"Armand Hammer". Woods and clique have this amazing idiom of slowed-down, format-breaking rap music and this is the second all-timer album they've dropped this year
armandhammer.bandcamp.com/track/scandi...
"Armand Hammer". Woods and clique have this amazing idiom of slowed-down, format-breaking rap music and this is the second all-timer album they've dropped this year
armandhammer.bandcamp.com/track/scandi...
Scandinavia, by Armand Hammer & The Alchemist
from the album Mercy
armandhammer.bandcamp.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I wanna somehow locate every person who liked Portishead but doesn't really listen to hip-hop and shake them by the shoulders and tell them to listen to "Mercy" by Armand Hammer (the album this song is from, released last week)
Reposted by Zhian
The cruelty is the point.
Instead of ensuring families are fed after he refused to fund SNAP, the Trump Admin is doubling down on the harm.
They are actively trying to make it harder for people to put food on the table. It's shameful.
Instead of ensuring families are fed after he refused to fund SNAP, the Trump Admin is doubling down on the harm.
They are actively trying to make it harder for people to put food on the table. It's shameful.
The Trump admin to require millions of low-income people to reapply for food stamps as part of an effort to crack down on “fraud," Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said.
Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits
The move is part of USDA chief Brooke Rollins’ effort to overhaul the nation’s largest anti-hunger program and get rid of “fraud.”
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:40 PM
The cruelty is the point.
Instead of ensuring families are fed after he refused to fund SNAP, the Trump Admin is doubling down on the harm.
They are actively trying to make it harder for people to put food on the table. It's shameful.
Instead of ensuring families are fed after he refused to fund SNAP, the Trump Admin is doubling down on the harm.
They are actively trying to make it harder for people to put food on the table. It's shameful.
Reposted by Zhian
i'd love to read a real evolution of "stay woke" - i saw it evolve as:
1. in black culture, a way of pointing out structural racism
2. on black twitter, same thing but often a joke about something silly
3. white people adopt woke to mean generic antiracism
4. conservatives learn a new n-word
1. in black culture, a way of pointing out structural racism
2. on black twitter, same thing but often a joke about something silly
3. white people adopt woke to mean generic antiracism
4. conservatives learn a new n-word
“woke” as i recall originated as a kind of ironic conspiratorial posting thing on black twitter (“stay woke”), and then conservatives decided it was just “political correctness” in the millennial era bsky.app/profile/unst...
I think many of them thought woke is just like clinton-era "political correctness" when the latter was imposed from the top by imbeciles who didn't know anything about anything and woke has always been a genuinely grassroots initiative
November 14, 2025 at 2:39 PM
i'd love to read a real evolution of "stay woke" - i saw it evolve as:
1. in black culture, a way of pointing out structural racism
2. on black twitter, same thing but often a joke about something silly
3. white people adopt woke to mean generic antiracism
4. conservatives learn a new n-word
1. in black culture, a way of pointing out structural racism
2. on black twitter, same thing but often a joke about something silly
3. white people adopt woke to mean generic antiracism
4. conservatives learn a new n-word