N Sims
@copyrightlibn.bsky.social
Copyright specialist at UMN Libs, JD/MLIS. IP & techlaw, leftishness. Random pets/bugs/crafts/hyperlocal politics, etc. Gender-ambivalent, any pronouns fine.
Reposted by N Sims
The warming center at MIWRC is open this weekend (Fri Dec 12 at 6PM through Sun Dec 14 at 11AM). This work is currently entirely volunteer led & NOT funded, so we need your support! Please consider a gift and note in the "in honor of" section that your gift is for the warming center.
Thank you!
Thank you!
December 13, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The warming center at MIWRC is open this weekend (Fri Dec 12 at 6PM through Sun Dec 14 at 11AM). This work is currently entirely volunteer led & NOT funded, so we need your support! Please consider a gift and note in the "in honor of" section that your gift is for the warming center.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Reposted by N Sims
When this "AI" bubble pops, the men pretending they weren't pushing the hype, like "critics" whose position is "AGI is real but LLMs aren't the way," who were in eugenicist and "AI existential risk"🙄 circles, will get specials discussing what they saw coming, when its the women who told you so.
December 10, 2025 at 8:52 PM
When this "AI" bubble pops, the men pretending they weren't pushing the hype, like "critics" whose position is "AGI is real but LLMs aren't the way," who were in eugenicist and "AI existential risk"🙄 circles, will get specials discussing what they saw coming, when its the women who told you so.
Reposted by N Sims
WOW. So this is obviously a huge violation of this man's rights, and it illustrates a few things we're seeing broadly:
- DHS officers are ignoring peoples' IDs and instead requiring screening through their own systems
- Confirms @404media.co's reports of use of DHS's facial recognition app.
- DHS officers are ignoring peoples' IDs and instead requiring screening through their own systems
- Confirms @404media.co's reports of use of DHS's facial recognition app.
December 11, 2025 at 12:35 AM
WOW. So this is obviously a huge violation of this man's rights, and it illustrates a few things we're seeing broadly:
- DHS officers are ignoring peoples' IDs and instead requiring screening through their own systems
- Confirms @404media.co's reports of use of DHS's facial recognition app.
- DHS officers are ignoring peoples' IDs and instead requiring screening through their own systems
- Confirms @404media.co's reports of use of DHS's facial recognition app.
Reposted by N Sims
Why don’t we declare a snow emergency tonight 12/9? Good question. Some thoughts below, but go to www.stpaul.gov/snow for more. 1) “Why don’t we plow?” We brought in extra crews today; they are staying longer; & night crews came in early. We’ve been plowing all day, & will plow all night. 🧵
Snow Emergency
When a Snow Emergency is declared, residents are asked to follow specific parking guidelines to allow for efficient snow removal operations. Vehicles in violation of parking restrictions will be ticke...
www.stpaul.gov
December 10, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Why don’t we declare a snow emergency tonight 12/9? Good question. Some thoughts below, but go to www.stpaul.gov/snow for more. 1) “Why don’t we plow?” We brought in extra crews today; they are staying longer; & night crews came in early. We’ve been plowing all day, & will plow all night. 🧵
Reposted by N Sims
👀 Education Department spokesperson confirmed Palantir is a subcontractor to update the foreign funding portal, to monitor potential foreign influence in American schools...in a time when Federal funding is being revoked and watchwords are in place...👇
fedscoop.com/palantir-edu...
fedscoop.com/palantir-edu...
Palantir quietly lands in Education Department through foreign funding portal
The company is not publicly listed as part of the new portal project in federal spending records.
fedscoop.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:03 PM
👀 Education Department spokesperson confirmed Palantir is a subcontractor to update the foreign funding portal, to monitor potential foreign influence in American schools...in a time when Federal funding is being revoked and watchwords are in place...👇
fedscoop.com/palantir-edu...
fedscoop.com/palantir-edu...
Reposted by N Sims
This technology that people in school administrations and higher education are demanding everyone get behind because it's "the future" and "we just have to accept it," which is, nfn, the language of abuse.
The rise of deepfake pornography in schools: ‘One girl was so horrified she vomited’ www.theguardian.com/society/ng-i...
The rise of deepfake pornography in schools: ‘One girl was so horrified she vomited’
The use of ‘nudify’ apps is becoming more and more prevalent, with hundreds of teachers having seen images created by pupils, often of their peers. The fallout is huge – and growing fast
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:59 AM
This technology that people in school administrations and higher education are demanding everyone get behind because it's "the future" and "we just have to accept it," which is, nfn, the language of abuse.
Reposted by N Sims
the law is real until it gets to SCOTUS at which point it becomes fake, which doesn't bother the six reactionaries at the top but does undermine literally everyone else in the profession
September 30, 2025 at 5:17 PM
the law is real until it gets to SCOTUS at which point it becomes fake, which doesn't bother the six reactionaries at the top but does undermine literally everyone else in the profession
A user (not me) is forced to use ChatGPT at work, finds outputs unhelpful, the tool complains about the feedback, and then -this- happens.
December 5, 2025 at 4:41 PM
A user (not me) is forced to use ChatGPT at work, finds outputs unhelpful, the tool complains about the feedback, and then -this- happens.
Also, as an educator, Somali-American kids are way overrepresented among the most engaged and engaging, thoughtful and driven students that I meet. They make me proud to be Minnesotan along with them!
December 4, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Also, as an educator, Somali-American kids are way overrepresented among the most engaged and engaging, thoughtful and driven students that I meet. They make me proud to be Minnesotan along with them!
As a Minnesotan, I enjoy and appreciate my Somali neighbors, and deeply value the skills, compassion, and work of my elected representatives from Somali backgrounds.
December 4, 2025 at 3:54 AM
As a Minnesotan, I enjoy and appreciate my Somali neighbors, and deeply value the skills, compassion, and work of my elected representatives from Somali backgrounds.
Reposted by N Sims
Absolutely cracking blog post from @simonxix.com calling for collective investment in staff and community-owned, open-source infrastructures in place of costly proprietary systems, based on the BL incident. blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Don’t rely on government to save the British Library - Impact of Social Sciences
Following a catastrophic hack British Library remains in crisis. Can it recover by refocusing on the people, skills and systems that enable it to function?
blogs.lse.ac.uk
December 3, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Absolutely cracking blog post from @simonxix.com calling for collective investment in staff and community-owned, open-source infrastructures in place of costly proprietary systems, based on the BL incident. blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Had an interesting conversation today where someone asked me to distinguish respondeat superior from the Nuremberg Defense.
I feel like it's pretty easy to draw a line on worker protections vs crimes against humanity, but i hadn't put the two together like that, and concede they are kinda connected.
I feel like it's pretty easy to draw a line on worker protections vs crimes against humanity, but i hadn't put the two together like that, and concede they are kinda connected.
December 3, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Had an interesting conversation today where someone asked me to distinguish respondeat superior from the Nuremberg Defense.
I feel like it's pretty easy to draw a line on worker protections vs crimes against humanity, but i hadn't put the two together like that, and concede they are kinda connected.
I feel like it's pretty easy to draw a line on worker protections vs crimes against humanity, but i hadn't put the two together like that, and concede they are kinda connected.
Reposted by N Sims
I mean the funny story here is "all the kids of your friends are faking disabilities" (i am not saying this is true, i am saying this is why they are having a hard time figuring out what to be mad about)
December 2, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I mean the funny story here is "all the kids of your friends are faking disabilities" (i am not saying this is true, i am saying this is why they are having a hard time figuring out what to be mad about)
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So here’s the thing: I, a certified Disabled™️ Person, do not actually care if anyone fakes for an extra 20 minutes on the test. I care deeply about how the fear of that very thing puts up flaming hoops disabled people have to jump through.
Maybe listen to disabled folk on this one.
Maybe listen to disabled folk on this one.
Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.
December 2, 2025 at 9:21 PM
So here’s the thing: I, a certified Disabled™️ Person, do not actually care if anyone fakes for an extra 20 minutes on the test. I care deeply about how the fear of that very thing puts up flaming hoops disabled people have to jump through.
Maybe listen to disabled folk on this one.
Maybe listen to disabled folk on this one.
Reposted by N Sims
December 3, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by N Sims
Lesson 6: If you have a theory of the Supreme Court that does not include political ideology, its going to be wrong. During the Biden administration it was all major questions because they did not like his policies, and during Trump it is mostly unitary executive, because they do.
December 3, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Lesson 6: If you have a theory of the Supreme Court that does not include political ideology, its going to be wrong. During the Biden administration it was all major questions because they did not like his policies, and during Trump it is mostly unitary executive, because they do.
On the rare days I check FB, it often serves me up "Memories" that include chats with Sherwin. It's sad, but also not. What a delightful person he was.
December 3, 2025 at 3:08 PM
On the rare days I check FB, it often serves me up "Memories" that include chats with Sherwin. It's sad, but also not. What a delightful person he was.
Reposted by N Sims
It’s time to hang up the holiday GAR-land 🎄
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
December 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
It’s time to hang up the holiday GAR-land 🎄
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
Reposted by N Sims
The only purpose of "REAL ID" is to restrict the freedom of poor people and exclude them from traveling and eventually from voting.
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/g...
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/g...
U.S. air travelers without REAL IDs will be charged a $45 fee
The TSA has announced that U.S. air travelers without a REAL ID will face a $45 fee starting in February. The Department of Homeland Security says 94% of passengers are already compliant.
www.npr.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The only purpose of "REAL ID" is to restrict the freedom of poor people and exclude them from traveling and eventually from voting.
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/g...
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/g...
Reposted by N Sims
And we're off with SCOTUS arguments in Sony v Cox. The question at issue: whether ISPs can be liable for the copyright infringement committed by their users.
December 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
And we're off with SCOTUS arguments in Sony v Cox. The question at issue: whether ISPs can be liable for the copyright infringement committed by their users.
Reposted by N Sims
Sony: well just don't let them use BitTorrent
Me: ...
Sony: also we've never sued universities
Me: (stares directly at the camera like we're on the office)
Me: ...
Sony: also we've never sued universities
Me: (stares directly at the camera like we're on the office)
December 1, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Sony: well just don't let them use BitTorrent
Me: ...
Sony: also we've never sued universities
Me: (stares directly at the camera like we're on the office)
Me: ...
Sony: also we've never sued universities
Me: (stares directly at the camera like we're on the office)
Reposted by N Sims
In light of record submission rates and a large volume of AI-generated slop, SocArXiv recently implemented a policy requiring ORCIDs linked in the OSF profile of submitting authors, and narrowing our focus to social science subjects. Today we are taking two more steps:
/1
/1
November 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
In light of record submission rates and a large volume of AI-generated slop, SocArXiv recently implemented a policy requiring ORCIDs linked in the OSF profile of submitting authors, and narrowing our focus to social science subjects. Today we are taking two more steps:
/1
/1
Reposted by N Sims
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Howard University AI Panel
YouTube video by Tiera Tanksley
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Heated cat bed time.
November 27, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Heated cat bed time.
Reposted by N Sims
I connected surveillance, misogynoir , platform governance, immigration and the failures of journalism to properly document ElevenYEARS ago .. yes yes I did and are we seeing how targeting Black women first has speed run our destruction by in action also yes modelviewculture.com/pieces/every...
Everyone Watches, Nobody Sees: How Black Women Disrupt Surveillance Theory
Our picture of surveillance needs to factor in not just tech developments, but the cultural standards that have bred surveillance, especially towards black culture, as part and parcel in our world.
modelviewculture.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I connected surveillance, misogynoir , platform governance, immigration and the failures of journalism to properly document ElevenYEARS ago .. yes yes I did and are we seeing how targeting Black women first has speed run our destruction by in action also yes modelviewculture.com/pieces/every...