D. Hicks
@danhicks.bsky.social
philosopher turned data scientist turned philosopher. enviro policy, data science, phil sci/STS, lefty stuff. UC Merced. they/them. Signal: danhicks.50
Pinned
D. Hicks
@danhicks.bsky.social
· Nov 30
This is a thread to illustrate the nuclear block. I'm going to reply with a throwaway account, then block it, and screenshot the results from my alt account.
Reposted by D. Hicks
journalists really should stop baring their entire asses like this
"I have no idea how this technology actually works but my editor is mostly interested in engagement clicks so we proceeded anyway"
"I have no idea how this technology actually works but my editor is mostly interested in engagement clicks so we proceeded anyway"
November 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
journalists really should stop baring their entire asses like this
"I have no idea how this technology actually works but my editor is mostly interested in engagement clicks so we proceeded anyway"
"I have no idea how this technology actually works but my editor is mostly interested in engagement clicks so we proceeded anyway"
Reposted by D. Hicks
It's Thanksgiving so do NOT post fuzzy kitty cat butt
November 25, 2025 at 11:27 PM
It's Thanksgiving so do NOT post fuzzy kitty cat butt
Reposted by D. Hicks
Latenite archival BabbyGonz time!
November 26, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Latenite archival BabbyGonz time!
Reposted by D. Hicks
The problem with conspiracy theorists is far more complex than just getting people to "trust science." And tackling it requires more complex tools.
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The problem with conspiracy theorists is far more complex than just getting people to "trust science." And tackling it requires more complex tools.
Reposted by D. Hicks
I had a long discussion with a conspiracy theorist (vaccine cause autism, chemtrails, the whole nine yards). He kept sending me scientific papers as evidence for his claims. He wasn't anti-science... exactly the opposite. He was better informed about vaccines than I was.
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I had a long discussion with a conspiracy theorist (vaccine cause autism, chemtrails, the whole nine yards). He kept sending me scientific papers as evidence for his claims. He wasn't anti-science... exactly the opposite. He was better informed about vaccines than I was.
Reposted by D. Hicks
Good night my friends.
Remember there is joy to be found in family, but that you do not have to tolerate or welcome anyone into your life that you do not want to.
Protect your joy, find your family of choice, and you will find a strength you never thought possible.
I love you all.
Remember there is joy to be found in family, but that you do not have to tolerate or welcome anyone into your life that you do not want to.
Protect your joy, find your family of choice, and you will find a strength you never thought possible.
I love you all.
November 26, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Good night my friends.
Remember there is joy to be found in family, but that you do not have to tolerate or welcome anyone into your life that you do not want to.
Protect your joy, find your family of choice, and you will find a strength you never thought possible.
I love you all.
Remember there is joy to be found in family, but that you do not have to tolerate or welcome anyone into your life that you do not want to.
Protect your joy, find your family of choice, and you will find a strength you never thought possible.
I love you all.
me for twenty goddamn minutes: where tf is the yeast? did I run out and forget to buy more?!
me two hours earlier: I'll put the yeast here in plain view on the counter so it's ready to go when I need it
me two hours earlier: I'll put the yeast here in plain view on the counter so it's ready to go when I need it
November 26, 2025 at 1:41 AM
me for twenty goddamn minutes: where tf is the yeast? did I run out and forget to buy more?!
me two hours earlier: I'll put the yeast here in plain view on the counter so it's ready to go when I need it
me two hours earlier: I'll put the yeast here in plain view on the counter so it's ready to go when I need it
Reposted by D. Hicks
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Reposted by D. Hicks
“How did you get into ttrpgs?”
Using a pair of tiny silver scissors, I unpicked the hem and climbed inside, where I proceeded to refashion the various pieces until they became a comfortable nest for my own dreams, then I cut star-shaped holes to let my dreams fly. Sometimes there’s a flamethrower.
Using a pair of tiny silver scissors, I unpicked the hem and climbed inside, where I proceeded to refashion the various pieces until they became a comfortable nest for my own dreams, then I cut star-shaped holes to let my dreams fly. Sometimes there’s a flamethrower.
“How did you get into ttrpgs”
After receiving a full pardon from the governor I found a great deal on a trailer in Malibu and just haven’t had a good reason to get a real job yet.
After receiving a full pardon from the governor I found a great deal on a trailer in Malibu and just haven’t had a good reason to get a real job yet.
"how did you get into ttrpgs"
i got hit by a truck and woke up here
i got hit by a truck and woke up here
November 25, 2025 at 11:36 PM
“How did you get into ttrpgs?”
Using a pair of tiny silver scissors, I unpicked the hem and climbed inside, where I proceeded to refashion the various pieces until they became a comfortable nest for my own dreams, then I cut star-shaped holes to let my dreams fly. Sometimes there’s a flamethrower.
Using a pair of tiny silver scissors, I unpicked the hem and climbed inside, where I proceeded to refashion the various pieces until they became a comfortable nest for my own dreams, then I cut star-shaped holes to let my dreams fly. Sometimes there’s a flamethrower.
It's Thanksgiving so do NOT post fuzzy kitty cat butt
November 25, 2025 at 11:27 PM
It's Thanksgiving so do NOT post fuzzy kitty cat butt
Reposted by D. Hicks
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by D. Hicks
As the year comes to an end, I'm reposting some of the comics I made this year, including this ridiculous thing.
November 25, 2025 at 3:19 PM
As the year comes to an end, I'm reposting some of the comics I made this year, including this ridiculous thing.
Reposted by D. Hicks
Nearly-perfect printed and handwritten text recognition is the most consequential technical contribution to the study of human culture of the last fifteen years, and it's not even close.
It fundamentally changes our (both lay and expert) relationship with the written past.
It fundamentally changes our (both lay and expert) relationship with the written past.
New issue of my newsletter: "The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition" — One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved, and it's a good use of AI newsletter.dancohen.org/archive/the-...
The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition
One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved
newsletter.dancohen.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Nearly-perfect printed and handwritten text recognition is the most consequential technical contribution to the study of human culture of the last fifteen years, and it's not even close.
It fundamentally changes our (both lay and expert) relationship with the written past.
It fundamentally changes our (both lay and expert) relationship with the written past.
Reposted by D. Hicks
(A) stop feeling pressure to be perfect;
(B) normalize asking questions, because that is normalizing learning;
(C) do not ask AI if your turkey is done; ask a meat thermometer
(B) normalize asking questions, because that is normalizing learning;
(C) do not ask AI if your turkey is done; ask a meat thermometer
This is so soulless, I can't stand it. We have BRAINS. We can USE THEM.
November 25, 2025 at 5:56 PM
(A) stop feeling pressure to be perfect;
(B) normalize asking questions, because that is normalizing learning;
(C) do not ask AI if your turkey is done; ask a meat thermometer
(B) normalize asking questions, because that is normalizing learning;
(C) do not ask AI if your turkey is done; ask a meat thermometer
Reposted by D. Hicks
What to do about this fourth kind of stories, about mundane-sounding policies that could be a nothingburger or could be opening the door to abuse? I don't really have a good answer—my own reporting is as fraught with the uncertainty of whether a policy like gold standard science will matter at all.
Trump called for ‘gold-standard science’: how the NIH, NSF and others are answering
Some researchers say that US-agency policies provide opportunities for political interference.
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
What to do about this fourth kind of stories, about mundane-sounding policies that could be a nothingburger or could be opening the door to abuse? I don't really have a good answer—my own reporting is as fraught with the uncertainty of whether a policy like gold standard science will matter at all.
Reposted by D. Hicks
Do you ever wish you had a tool that would allow you to combine your mind with others? In this *just published* paper @mainomenous.bsky.social and I argue that AI is a tool that enables collective attention, rejecting the idea that it is a standalone agent + philosophymindscience.org/index.php/ph...
View of Attention and collective interests in artificial intelligence: In search of a regulatory framework
| Philosophy and the Mind Sciences
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences (PhiMiSci) focuses on the interface between philosophy of mind, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. PhiMiSci is a peer-reviewed, not-for-profit open-access journal...
philosophymindscience.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Do you ever wish you had a tool that would allow you to combine your mind with others? In this *just published* paper @mainomenous.bsky.social and I argue that AI is a tool that enables collective attention, rejecting the idea that it is a standalone agent + philosophymindscience.org/index.php/ph...
Reposted by D. Hicks
Here are my top 10 dogs carrying big sticks!
November 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Here are my top 10 dogs carrying big sticks!
Reposted by D. Hicks
Reposted by D. Hicks
Look, we all agree this is amazing. But we used to live comfortable in the understanding that you had to invite Chotiner in, like a vampire.
Now we know that Chotiner might strike at any time, like a velociraptor.
Now we know that Chotiner might strike at any time, like a velociraptor.
my goodness:
Chotiner: who funds this shit
Ben Smith: How dare you ask such a question. Check your facts!
Chotiner: I have now checked my facts. A thread (1/381)
Ben Smith:
Chotiner: who funds this shit
Ben Smith: How dare you ask such a question. Check your facts!
Chotiner: I have now checked my facts. A thread (1/381)
Ben Smith:
a man in a hospital gown with the words i 've made a huge mistake behind him
ALT: a man in a hospital gown with the words i 've made a huge mistake behind him
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Look, we all agree this is amazing. But we used to live comfortable in the understanding that you had to invite Chotiner in, like a vampire.
Now we know that Chotiner might strike at any time, like a velociraptor.
Now we know that Chotiner might strike at any time, like a velociraptor.
Reposted by D. Hicks
Eh, I doubt this, though it's possibly that XTwitter may no longer be a useful or fruitful platform for influence operations targeting the left.
Anyway.
Anyway.
November 24, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Eh, I doubt this, though it's possibly that XTwitter may no longer be a useful or fruitful platform for influence operations targeting the left.
Anyway.
Anyway.
Reposted by D. Hicks
If you like an author's work, the best thing you can do is buy it. The second best thing you can do is ask your local library to buy it. Or, do both!
A reminder that the median book deal for a debut author in the UK is £7000, paid over 12-18 months. (from 2022 Society of Authors report). Some of your favourite writers are struggling. societyofauthors.org/2022/12/06/a....
A profession struggling to sustain itself - The Society of Authors
ALCS report on author incomes shows 60% drop in median incomes since 2006
societyofauthors.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
If you like an author's work, the best thing you can do is buy it. The second best thing you can do is ask your local library to buy it. Or, do both!
Reposted by D. Hicks
RELEASE ME.
AM NOT CRIMBINAL.
DO NOT DESERVE JAIL.
AM NOT CRIMBINAL.
DO NOT DESERVE JAIL.
November 25, 2025 at 12:14 AM
RELEASE ME.
AM NOT CRIMBINAL.
DO NOT DESERVE JAIL.
AM NOT CRIMBINAL.
DO NOT DESERVE JAIL.
Reposted by D. Hicks
One of my favorite things is getting to tell friends who are new to NYC that the subway "stand clear of the closing doors please" voice is a trans woman named Bernie Wagenblast and she's amazing.
November 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
One of my favorite things is getting to tell friends who are new to NYC that the subway "stand clear of the closing doors please" voice is a trans woman named Bernie Wagenblast and she's amazing.
Reposted by D. Hicks
Welcome to the world premier of Marcel's Beans.
November 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Welcome to the world premier of Marcel's Beans.
Reposted by D. Hicks
Ok, that's enough Star Wars discourse for today. Time to move on to more important things. Who should voice ART in Murderbot S2?
I cannot wait to meet ART on the next season of Murderbot. It's a real make-or-break casting.
“So, you have a relationship with this transport.” I was horrified. Humans are disgusting. “No!” Ratthi persisted, “You have a friendship.” I settled back in the corner and hugged my jacket. “No. Not—No.”
November 24, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Ok, that's enough Star Wars discourse for today. Time to move on to more important things. Who should voice ART in Murderbot S2?