Dan Chibnall
@bookowl.bsky.social
STEM Librarian & Associate Professor - I post on #SciComm, #STLCards, progressive politics, astronomy, owls, beer, & pretzels.
Pinned
Ah, ye olde technocapital hyperobject…
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
December 1, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Ah, ye olde technocapital hyperobject…
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Or maybe there’s another reason…
December 1, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Or maybe there’s another reason…
I love the Des Moines Public Library's Kid Librarian program. Such a great idea.
Meet our December Kid Librarian: Brooklyn
"I like reading because it calms me down. When I read it cancels our the rest of the world because I'm focused on the book and not anything else."
Check out Brooklyn's book recommendations in her curated display at Central Library: buff.ly/bwC2UVn
"I like reading because it calms me down. When I read it cancels our the rest of the world because I'm focused on the book and not anything else."
Check out Brooklyn's book recommendations in her curated display at Central Library: buff.ly/bwC2UVn
December 1, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I love the Des Moines Public Library's Kid Librarian program. Such a great idea.
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
Anything related to the Dewey Decimal System is my nightmare
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Anything related to the Dewey Decimal System is my nightmare
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
'So much of it is indistinguishable from 4chan, just on a larger, more influential scale than ever before. I worry what that’s doing to the brains of people who don’t realize how little of it reflects reality outside of X.'
It has now been a year since I stopped posting on X. For @spitfirenews.com, I wrote about watching the platform I loved become a conduit for the worst extremism I've ever witnessed. I don't regret leaving. In fact, I wish I'd left even earlier.
spitfirenews.com/p/x-bluesky-...
spitfirenews.com/p/x-bluesky-...
I'm glad I stopped posting on X
A year ago, I abandoned my account. It was the right thing to do.
spitfirenews.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:36 PM
'So much of it is indistinguishable from 4chan, just on a larger, more influential scale than ever before. I worry what that’s doing to the brains of people who don’t realize how little of it reflects reality outside of X.'
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
libraries afford many opportunities for this kind of serendipitous discovery too! 📚
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Bookselling is like the most "people go to the store and buy what looks cool to them without a particular agenda" type business left, and your purchases have a huge influence on what is ordered, what is displayed, and what is recommended.
November 30, 2025 at 1:39 PM
libraries afford many opportunities for this kind of serendipitous discovery too! 📚
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
conservatives basically want to implement the caricature of affirmative action for conservative students. acceptance without meeting qualifications, good grades and degrees without having to do the work.
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
December 1, 2025 at 1:29 AM
conservatives basically want to implement the caricature of affirmative action for conservative students. acceptance without meeting qualifications, good grades and degrees without having to do the work.
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
JFC Oklahoma you fuckin cowards. Now every Jesus-freak right-wing student who can't get a passing grade for a bunch of bible quotes masquerading as an essay is going to file a 1st amendment complaint. You gonna suspend the whole Biology department for teaching about evolution? (Don't answer that)
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
November 30, 2025 at 9:37 PM
JFC Oklahoma you fuckin cowards. Now every Jesus-freak right-wing student who can't get a passing grade for a bunch of bible quotes masquerading as an essay is going to file a 1st amendment complaint. You gonna suspend the whole Biology department for teaching about evolution? (Don't answer that)
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
The most precious commodity you have is your attention. You don’t have to waste it on poor-faith debates or arguments with strangers if you don’t think they’ll be productive. You can prioritize the things that matter to you and make your life richer.
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The most precious commodity you have is your attention. You don’t have to waste it on poor-faith debates or arguments with strangers if you don’t think they’ll be productive. You can prioritize the things that matter to you and make your life richer.
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
Strong Floor, No Ceiling is considerably worse than No Rules, Just Right. Can’t believe we’re gonna lose the messaging war to Outback Steakhouse.
November 30, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Strong Floor, No Ceiling is considerably worse than No Rules, Just Right. Can’t believe we’re gonna lose the messaging war to Outback Steakhouse.
That oughta do the trick
December 1, 2025 at 12:01 AM
That oughta do the trick
Got to visit Wiley & Eddie today
November 30, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Got to visit Wiley & Eddie today
A classic I've always enjoyed
theonion.com/five-or-six-...
theonion.com/five-or-six-...
Five Or Six Dudes Jump Out Of Nowhere And Just Start Whaling On This One Guy
BOULDER, CO–Shock and disbelief were the prevailing reactions Monday, when pizza-delivery guy Lyle Kelso, 24, reported to roommates that at around 2 or 3 a.m., he personally witnessed, like, five or s...
theonion.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:59 PM
A classic I've always enjoyed
theonion.com/five-or-six-...
theonion.com/five-or-six-...
Here’s your regular reminder to wash your water bottle. Those things get gross fast so go give it a good scrub & stay hydrated!
November 30, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Here’s your regular reminder to wash your water bottle. Those things get gross fast so go give it a good scrub & stay hydrated!
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
The second #art poster inspired by the works of Walter Crane, "Labour is Entitled" (2024) is another three cat portrait commission. The slogan itself was first used in the early 19th century. It features three workers in industries vital to cats: fishing, biscuit making, and catnip production.
November 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The second #art poster inspired by the works of Walter Crane, "Labour is Entitled" (2024) is another three cat portrait commission. The slogan itself was first used in the early 19th century. It features three workers in industries vital to cats: fishing, biscuit making, and catnip production.
November 30, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
Larry loves ear scritches
November 30, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Larry loves ear scritches
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
Anecdotally (but I guess reflected in broader research) I was just talking to two friends who both work in software, and they complained that recent hires are so dependent on ChatGPT that these hires' own problem-solving skills are almost non-existent.
We can't really say this enough...
> Anastasia Berg [at UCL Irvine] said that new research — and what she's hearing directly from colleagues across various industries — shows that employees who heavily rely on AI are losing core skills at a startling rate.
www.businessinsider.com/ai-tools-are...
> Anastasia Berg [at UCL Irvine] said that new research — and what she's hearing directly from colleagues across various industries — shows that employees who heavily rely on AI are losing core skills at a startling rate.
www.businessinsider.com/ai-tools-are...
AI tools are 'deskilling' workers, philosophy professor says
A philosophy professor warns that AI reliance is weakening workers' judgment, creativity, and problem-solving.
www.businessinsider.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Anecdotally (but I guess reflected in broader research) I was just talking to two friends who both work in software, and they complained that recent hires are so dependent on ChatGPT that these hires' own problem-solving skills are almost non-existent.
Late-night snow photos before heading off to bed. The Moon was especially beautiful last night.
November 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Late-night snow photos before heading off to bed. The Moon was especially beautiful last night.
Reposted by Dan Chibnall
"I keep thinking that evil would like nothing better than to have us feel awful about who we are."
November 29, 2025 at 7:32 PM
"I keep thinking that evil would like nothing better than to have us feel awful about who we are."
"Displays Contradictions"?
Oh come the fuck on.
Oh come the fuck on.
November 30, 2025 at 3:45 AM
"Displays Contradictions"?
Oh come the fuck on.
Oh come the fuck on.
St. Louis friends: how much snow did you get?
November 30, 2025 at 1:28 AM
St. Louis friends: how much snow did you get?