Brian Smith
@ambientrelish.bsky.social
Librarian who builds websites with Drupal. Museum enthusiast. Skeets not on behalf of and not the views of MPOW. I don't expect to be followed back. He/Him
Reposted by Brian Smith
OBVIOUSLY do not use AI, at all. AT ALL, for anything. I don’t wanna hear about the theoretical good version, it’s not what they’re pushing on us. The absolute worst people in the world have gone all in on this shit, and it needs to be starved out as much as possible. AI: not even once!
Sec. Hegseth rolled out the U.S. military’s new AI platform, GenAi.Mil, with a link to an empty website. trib.al/tbCJAkT
Predictably, the platform can’t actually be accessed from external networks, but the wonky rollout triggered eyerolls across the internet.
Predictably, the platform can’t actually be accessed from external networks, but the wonky rollout triggered eyerolls across the internet.
December 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
OBVIOUSLY do not use AI, at all. AT ALL, for anything. I don’t wanna hear about the theoretical good version, it’s not what they’re pushing on us. The absolute worst people in the world have gone all in on this shit, and it needs to be starved out as much as possible. AI: not even once!
Reposted by Brian Smith
Billionaires shouldn’t have to work so hard to get rid of money. Tax them instead and make it easy peasy.
NEW YORK (AP) — Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott increased her donations to nonprofits in 2025, giving $7.1 billion.
December 9, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Billionaires shouldn’t have to work so hard to get rid of money. Tax them instead and make it easy peasy.
Reposted by Brian Smith
“Why are folks getting dumber?” Because they don’t read. “Why aren’t men as romantic & poetic as they used to be?” Because they don’t read. “Why are people so vulnerable to propaganda?” “Why is everyone a conspiracy theorist?” Because they don’t read. Because they don’t read.
December 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
“Why are folks getting dumber?” Because they don’t read. “Why aren’t men as romantic & poetic as they used to be?” Because they don’t read. “Why are people so vulnerable to propaganda?” “Why is everyone a conspiracy theorist?” Because they don’t read. Because they don’t read.
Reposted by Brian Smith
it's 2025 and the gangly guy who appeared on a few seasons of The Office is now our only mirror to society
December 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM
it's 2025 and the gangly guy who appeared on a few seasons of The Office is now our only mirror to society
Reposted by Brian Smith
If every Muslim voter in Dearborn voted for Harris, she still would have lost Michigan.
If she had won Michigan, she STILL WOULD HAVE LOST THE ELECTION.
If you want to blame voters for current conditions, feel free to blame the actual demographic responsible for Trump and that is WHITE PEOPLE.
If she had won Michigan, she STILL WOULD HAVE LOST THE ELECTION.
If you want to blame voters for current conditions, feel free to blame the actual demographic responsible for Trump and that is WHITE PEOPLE.
December 9, 2025 at 4:20 PM
If every Muslim voter in Dearborn voted for Harris, she still would have lost Michigan.
If she had won Michigan, she STILL WOULD HAVE LOST THE ELECTION.
If you want to blame voters for current conditions, feel free to blame the actual demographic responsible for Trump and that is WHITE PEOPLE.
If she had won Michigan, she STILL WOULD HAVE LOST THE ELECTION.
If you want to blame voters for current conditions, feel free to blame the actual demographic responsible for Trump and that is WHITE PEOPLE.
Reposted by Brian Smith
Krishnamoorthi, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly are the most well-known names in a 14-candidate primary to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.
Here's how they say they plan to make life more affordable for Americans.
https://to.wttw.com/4iL7jsv
Here's how they say they plan to make life more affordable for Americans.
https://to.wttw.com/4iL7jsv
How the Democrats Running for U.S. Senate in Illinois Plan to Address Economic Issues
The three top Democrats vying to become the party’s nominee for U.S. senator in Illinois have released proposals detailing how they plan to make life more affordable for Americans.
to.wttw.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Krishnamoorthi, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly are the most well-known names in a 14-candidate primary to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.
Here's how they say they plan to make life more affordable for Americans.
https://to.wttw.com/4iL7jsv
Here's how they say they plan to make life more affordable for Americans.
https://to.wttw.com/4iL7jsv
Reposted by Brian Smith
My colleague points out here that possibly one in seven requests to our library now may be assisted by LLMs.
When those point to fictional documents, that's a huge staff time drain. There's often no quick way to check if an undigitized primary source doc exists beyond physically pulling some boxes.
When those point to fictional documents, that's a huge staff time drain. There's often no quick way to check if an undigitized primary source doc exists beyond physically pulling some boxes.
December 9, 2025 at 2:06 AM
My colleague points out here that possibly one in seven requests to our library now may be assisted by LLMs.
When those point to fictional documents, that's a huge staff time drain. There's often no quick way to check if an undigitized primary source doc exists beyond physically pulling some boxes.
When those point to fictional documents, that's a huge staff time drain. There's often no quick way to check if an undigitized primary source doc exists beyond physically pulling some boxes.
Y'all who are coming to ALA annual next year might wanna bookmark this...
The Ultimate Guide To Chicago Pizza 🍕 🍕
Here are 31 pizzerias — categorized by style of pizza they’re known for and listed geographically north to south — where you can have a moment of joy and togetherness over a slice: blockclubchi.co/4pXjTap
Here are 31 pizzerias — categorized by style of pizza they’re known for and listed geographically north to south — where you can have a moment of joy and togetherness over a slice: blockclubchi.co/4pXjTap
December 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Y'all who are coming to ALA annual next year might wanna bookmark this...
Reposted by Brian Smith
All of the ingenuity of corporate America has not produced an infant formula that is superior in nutrition and all the qualities that we want to the infant formula that God made, which is a refreshing can of Coke Zero
December 9, 2025 at 1:02 PM
All of the ingenuity of corporate America has not produced an infant formula that is superior in nutrition and all the qualities that we want to the infant formula that God made, which is a refreshing can of Coke Zero
Reposted by Brian Smith
I was visited by three spirits last night.
The first, peppermint schnapps, showed me an image of Christmas past, when I made the mistake of imbibing peppermint schnapps.
The second, cachaça, showed me an image of what I'll be drinking on the 25th.
The third, mead, showed me the future.
Ow.
The first, peppermint schnapps, showed me an image of Christmas past, when I made the mistake of imbibing peppermint schnapps.
The second, cachaça, showed me an image of what I'll be drinking on the 25th.
The third, mead, showed me the future.
Ow.
December 9, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I was visited by three spirits last night.
The first, peppermint schnapps, showed me an image of Christmas past, when I made the mistake of imbibing peppermint schnapps.
The second, cachaça, showed me an image of what I'll be drinking on the 25th.
The third, mead, showed me the future.
Ow.
The first, peppermint schnapps, showed me an image of Christmas past, when I made the mistake of imbibing peppermint schnapps.
The second, cachaça, showed me an image of what I'll be drinking on the 25th.
The third, mead, showed me the future.
Ow.
Reposted by Brian Smith
Yes, and what if your access to affordable healthcare was considered a right guaranteed to everyone by the government and not a bauble of certain types of employment or friggin club store membership? What then?
Rand Paul on his healthcare plan: "What if you could join Costco? Costco has 44m members and if one person negotiated for all 44 and they bought a group plan like Toyota or General Motors does, they would be the largest collective entity in the country. They would drive prices down by sheer might."
December 9, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Yes, and what if your access to affordable healthcare was considered a right guaranteed to everyone by the government and not a bauble of certain types of employment or friggin club store membership? What then?
Reposted by Brian Smith
"Today’s microwave can cook a frozen burrito. Tomorrow’s microwave will be able to cook an entire Thanksgiving Dinner. Ten years from now a microwave may even be able to run the country."
December 7, 2025 at 5:32 PM
"Today’s microwave can cook a frozen burrito. Tomorrow’s microwave will be able to cook an entire Thanksgiving Dinner. Ten years from now a microwave may even be able to run the country."
Reposted by Brian Smith
Reposted by Brian Smith
me dressed up and exercising at the airport before my 8 hour flight
December 9, 2025 at 3:20 AM
me dressed up and exercising at the airport before my 8 hour flight
Reposted by Brian Smith
Books are power charges for your brain.
December 8, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Books are power charges for your brain.
Reposted by Brian Smith
Pretty common thing I get told when I point out an accessibility fail: "They mean well, so give them a break."
Unfortunately, that's not how this works. Accessibility is about what is and isn't, not what's intended. Giving people breaks for half-assing accessibility just normalizes inaccessibility.
Unfortunately, that's not how this works. Accessibility is about what is and isn't, not what's intended. Giving people breaks for half-assing accessibility just normalizes inaccessibility.
September 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Pretty common thing I get told when I point out an accessibility fail: "They mean well, so give them a break."
Unfortunately, that's not how this works. Accessibility is about what is and isn't, not what's intended. Giving people breaks for half-assing accessibility just normalizes inaccessibility.
Unfortunately, that's not how this works. Accessibility is about what is and isn't, not what's intended. Giving people breaks for half-assing accessibility just normalizes inaccessibility.
Reposted by Brian Smith
Reposted by Brian Smith
Once I stayed up all night drawing actual illustrations for a spot that ran nationally on short notice and I would like to tell the people who “hardly slept” because they were “writing prompts” that they are soft pathetic babies who can go to baby hell.
McDonald's has released an AI-generated Christmas ad
The studio behind it says they 'hardly slept' for several weeks while writing AI prompts and refining the shots — 'AI didn't make this film. We did'
Comments have been turned off on YouTube
The studio behind it says they 'hardly slept' for several weeks while writing AI prompts and refining the shots — 'AI didn't make this film. We did'
Comments have been turned off on YouTube
December 9, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Once I stayed up all night drawing actual illustrations for a spot that ran nationally on short notice and I would like to tell the people who “hardly slept” because they were “writing prompts” that they are soft pathetic babies who can go to baby hell.
Reposted by Brian Smith
If you just put a picture of your kids on your Christmas card, I'm going to assume you look *awful* these days.
December 9, 2025 at 1:14 AM
If you just put a picture of your kids on your Christmas card, I'm going to assume you look *awful* these days.
Reposted by Brian Smith
This moment will not last and the important thing now is to figure out how we can build a better system/society. Central to that is making sure everyone from the top to the bottom is brought to actual justice.
December 9, 2025 at 1:45 AM
This moment will not last and the important thing now is to figure out how we can build a better system/society. Central to that is making sure everyone from the top to the bottom is brought to actual justice.
Reposted by Brian Smith
I came across *the* example I have been hammering with these food delivery robots.
A man with a mobility aid is forced to step aside because there is not room for him because the robot will not make room for a person (esp. those with a mobility aid who need addditional room)
A man with a mobility aid is forced to step aside because there is not room for him because the robot will not make room for a person (esp. those with a mobility aid who need addditional room)
December 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I came across *the* example I have been hammering with these food delivery robots.
A man with a mobility aid is forced to step aside because there is not room for him because the robot will not make room for a person (esp. those with a mobility aid who need addditional room)
A man with a mobility aid is forced to step aside because there is not room for him because the robot will not make room for a person (esp. those with a mobility aid who need addditional room)
Reposted by Brian Smith
Let me tell you bout my BEST FRIEND
November 20, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Let me tell you bout my BEST FRIEND
Reposted by Brian Smith
I'm the king of kings
I'm not the king of kings
but I'm the wreckage of a king
but really I'm not actually a king
but I am...
Shattered visage in the desert by the stone legs
wrinkles its lip at you.
See my works, ye mighty, and despair!
I'm not the king of kings
but I'm the wreckage of a king
but really I'm not actually a king
but I am...
Shattered visage in the desert by the stone legs
wrinkles its lip at you.
See my works, ye mighty, and despair!
October 31, 2025 at 12:34 PM
I'm the king of kings
I'm not the king of kings
but I'm the wreckage of a king
but really I'm not actually a king
but I am...
Shattered visage in the desert by the stone legs
wrinkles its lip at you.
See my works, ye mighty, and despair!
I'm not the king of kings
but I'm the wreckage of a king
but really I'm not actually a king
but I am...
Shattered visage in the desert by the stone legs
wrinkles its lip at you.
See my works, ye mighty, and despair!
Reposted by Brian Smith
🎶beeen through the desert on a
December 8, 2025 at 12:12 PM
🎶beeen through the desert on a
Reposted by Brian Smith
The only good AI art.
June 24, 2024 at 10:22 PM
The only good AI art.