Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
@bestonetx.bsky.social
Award-winning community college prof, writer, editor, historian of Texas Jews and the Galveston Movement. Alte kaker in training.
Views expressed here are mine and are protected by the First Amendment.
Books: tinyurl.com/besbks
www.BryanEdwardStone.com
Views expressed here are mine and are protected by the First Amendment.
Books: tinyurl.com/besbks
www.BryanEdwardStone.com
Pinned
The wise man does not break into his fellow's speech. He is not in a rush to reply. He asks what is relevant and replies to the point. Of what he has not heard he says, "I have not heard," and he acknowledges what is true.
-- Talmud (Pirkei Avot)
-- Talmud (Pirkei Avot)
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
Please note that any "centrist" pundit who blithely discusses the "merits" of arguments for eliminating birthright citizenship is either a fascist enabling fascism or a clueless clown enabling fascism.
December 7, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Please note that any "centrist" pundit who blithely discusses the "merits" of arguments for eliminating birthright citizenship is either a fascist enabling fascism or a clueless clown enabling fascism.
Birthright citizenship is the explicit text of the Constitution. It's not open to interpretation. Anyone willing to eliminate it is willing to eliminate anything and everything else the Constitution explicitly provides.
Please note that any "centrist" pundit who blithely discusses the "merits" of arguments for eliminating birthright citizenship is either a fascist enabling fascism or a clueless clown enabling fascism.
December 7, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Birthright citizenship is the explicit text of the Constitution. It's not open to interpretation. Anyone willing to eliminate it is willing to eliminate anything and everything else the Constitution explicitly provides.
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
A neat thing about birthright citizenship is how it tests whether a person cares at all about the Constitution. There's no argument against it, birthright citizenship is the unambitious text, the obvious intent of the drafters, and the undisputed way it was followed for the past 150+ years.
I continue to think that Matty coming out against birthright citizenship a few months ago should have been taken as a major warning sign that the group chats have already decided to surrender on this.
December 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
A neat thing about birthright citizenship is how it tests whether a person cares at all about the Constitution. There's no argument against it, birthright citizenship is the unambitious text, the obvious intent of the drafters, and the undisputed way it was followed for the past 150+ years.
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
did… did the dog write this recipe
December 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
did… did the dog write this recipe
And He brought him forth abroad, and said: "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if thou be able to count them"; and He said unto him: "So shall thy student essays be."
December 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
And He brought him forth abroad, and said: "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if thou be able to count them"; and He said unto him: "So shall thy student essays be."
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
I finally read that Oklahoma state essay rightwingers have embraced as a cause. I'm an English prof. I, too, would have failed it. If I was a conservative Christian, I think I'd be even more offended by this student trying to use faith as a cover for not doing the work.
December 6, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I finally read that Oklahoma state essay rightwingers have embraced as a cause. I'm an English prof. I, too, would have failed it. If I was a conservative Christian, I think I'd be even more offended by this student trying to use faith as a cover for not doing the work.
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
computer going to take my job? no. i’ll pour water on it
December 6, 2025 at 8:05 PM
computer going to take my job? no. i’ll pour water on it
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
They say Democrats need good candidates all the way down the ballot. They say going progressives need to run for office, too.
I checked both those boxes off today.
I just filed to run for Texas's Fourteenth Court of Appeals, an intermediate appellate court here in Houston.
www.adams-hurta.com
I checked both those boxes off today.
I just filed to run for Texas's Fourteenth Court of Appeals, an intermediate appellate court here in Houston.
www.adams-hurta.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
They say Democrats need good candidates all the way down the ballot. They say going progressives need to run for office, too.
I checked both those boxes off today.
I just filed to run for Texas's Fourteenth Court of Appeals, an intermediate appellate court here in Houston.
www.adams-hurta.com
I checked both those boxes off today.
I just filed to run for Texas's Fourteenth Court of Appeals, an intermediate appellate court here in Houston.
www.adams-hurta.com
My local café has a coffee tree.
December 6, 2025 at 7:50 PM
My local café has a coffee tree.
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
written like someone who has never been to fort worth
December 6, 2025 at 5:44 PM
written like someone who has never been to fort worth
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
I’m just a simple country historian w/o a law degree, but it’s more than a ‘long standing tradition’ when its IN THE CONSTITUTION
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration. n.pr/48E1oko
Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments in birthright citizenship challenge
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration.
n.pr
December 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I’m just a simple country historian w/o a law degree, but it’s more than a ‘long standing tradition’ when its IN THE CONSTITUTION
Very smart and insightful thread about why AI's simulation of writing doesn't sound human.
so look, some of the 'tells' of AI in here are things I feel by instinct, and I could be wrong about any individual one, but apart from the obvious stuff (lists of three, 'not this but that') and the less obvious (no personal recollection, all just abstract nouns) there's a *meaning gap*...
Also something like “groundedness”. Not about physical details but a sense of a mind reflecting on its own experiences.
I’m sure Sarah Friar of OpenAI feels it’s great to “write” with ChatGPT so I can explain with hers.
There is no thinking about the person in here.
I’m sure Sarah Friar of OpenAI feels it’s great to “write” with ChatGPT so I can explain with hers.
There is no thinking about the person in here.
December 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Very smart and insightful thread about why AI's simulation of writing doesn't sound human.
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
because it's essentially a v advanced autocorrect, AI writing *starts* with 'word vibe'. humans don't start there, we have something to say. we may say it awkwardly or clumsily but when you look at the words as an editor you can see through to what the person was trying to get at (& ask questions)
December 6, 2025 at 3:44 PM
because it's essentially a v advanced autocorrect, AI writing *starts* with 'word vibe'. humans don't start there, we have something to say. we may say it awkwardly or clumsily but when you look at the words as an editor you can see through to what the person was trying to get at (& ask questions)
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
so look, some of the 'tells' of AI in here are things I feel by instinct, and I could be wrong about any individual one, but apart from the obvious stuff (lists of three, 'not this but that') and the less obvious (no personal recollection, all just abstract nouns) there's a *meaning gap*...
Also something like “groundedness”. Not about physical details but a sense of a mind reflecting on its own experiences.
I’m sure Sarah Friar of OpenAI feels it’s great to “write” with ChatGPT so I can explain with hers.
There is no thinking about the person in here.
I’m sure Sarah Friar of OpenAI feels it’s great to “write” with ChatGPT so I can explain with hers.
There is no thinking about the person in here.
December 6, 2025 at 3:39 PM
so look, some of the 'tells' of AI in here are things I feel by instinct, and I could be wrong about any individual one, but apart from the obvious stuff (lists of three, 'not this but that') and the less obvious (no personal recollection, all just abstract nouns) there's a *meaning gap*...
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
Texas Tech has revived the office of censor. Faculty need pre-clearance to teach their courses. #academicfreedom @aaup.org
December 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Texas Tech has revived the office of censor. Faculty need pre-clearance to teach their courses. #academicfreedom @aaup.org
Every faculty member at Tech needs to submit every single lecture, reading, film, image, and course assignment for review. This is a policy that deserves to be buried in paperwork.
Texas Tech has revived the office of censor. Faculty need pre-clearance to teach their courses. #academicfreedom @aaup.org
December 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Every faculty member at Tech needs to submit every single lecture, reading, film, image, and course assignment for review. This is a policy that deserves to be buried in paperwork.
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
From yesterday: On November 13, surrounded by family and listening to Guy Clark songs in the capital of the state on which he left such an enormous mark, David Richards left us at the age of 92.
A look back at Richards storied life ...
A look back at Richards storied life ...
Remembering David Richards, 1933-2025
“If there’s anything good in Texas—academic freedom, labor, voting rights, education, politics—his litigation facilitated it."
www.texasobserver.org
December 5, 2025 at 8:44 PM
From yesterday: On November 13, surrounded by family and listening to Guy Clark songs in the capital of the state on which he left such an enormous mark, David Richards left us at the age of 92.
A look back at Richards storied life ...
A look back at Richards storied life ...
Very proud to announce that the selection committee has once again honored me with the coveted World's Best Husband Award.
December 6, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Very proud to announce that the selection committee has once again honored me with the coveted World's Best Husband Award.
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
NEW ORLEANS OFFICIALS: “We insist (Trump’s ICE goons) clearly ID themselves… there is no precedent for masked law enforcement… they have ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY… citizens are being racially profiled, chased, hunted… the chaos and lack of professionalism is ALARMING…”
December 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
NEW ORLEANS OFFICIALS: “We insist (Trump’s ICE goons) clearly ID themselves… there is no precedent for masked law enforcement… they have ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY… citizens are being racially profiled, chased, hunted… the chaos and lack of professionalism is ALARMING…”
Truth is whatever you pay it is.
December 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Truth is whatever you pay it is.
You know what's going to be fun? The steady, daily reversal after he leaves office of every single thing he's ever done.
"The Donald Trump administration has changed which holidays qualify for free entrance to national parks, removing two holidays celebrating Black people and adding the president’s birthday."
National parks change prioritizes Trump birthday over days honoring Black people
Free entrance days at national parks no longer include MLK Day and Juneteenth.
www.sfgate.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM
You know what's going to be fun? The steady, daily reversal after he leaves office of every single thing he's ever done.
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
December 5, 2025 at 6:07 AM
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
Absolutely this.
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
December 5, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Absolutely this.
If you've noticed that ChatGPT is improving, it's probably because I've spent so much time grading its work.
December 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
If you've noticed that ChatGPT is improving, it's probably because I've spent so much time grading its work.
Reposted by Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם)
842,000 Americans died from overdoses in the last 25 years, 500,000 from opioids. If we’re hunting narco-terrorists we can probably stop blowing up fishing boats and start blowing up boardrooms.
December 5, 2025 at 4:02 AM
842,000 Americans died from overdoses in the last 25 years, 500,000 from opioids. If we’re hunting narco-terrorists we can probably stop blowing up fishing boats and start blowing up boardrooms.