Geoff Johnson
@geoffthejohnson.bsky.social
History and reading/writing teacher @CUNY. As a student once wrote of me in an evaluation, “CAN BE FUNNY AT TIMES." I believe that we will win.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
This is something about "AI" that I have a hard time putting into words, but creators just love the WORK. It's just fun. Even when it's hard. All the thinking, and all the detail work, and all the struggle, it makes the things we make, I don't know... have weight and value for us.
If the writer’s eyes light up when asked, “why did the character do that?” then it’s real.
December 6, 2025 at 2:13 AM
This is something about "AI" that I have a hard time putting into words, but creators just love the WORK. It's just fun. Even when it's hard. All the thinking, and all the detail work, and all the struggle, it makes the things we make, I don't know... have weight and value for us.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
@heyitsmurad.bsky.social discusses a New York City ICE raid that was thwarted by hundreds of protesters. He says New York police actions during the protest are “a very slippery slope" that could be interpreted as collusion.
December 4, 2025 at 3:04 PM
@heyitsmurad.bsky.social discusses a New York City ICE raid that was thwarted by hundreds of protesters. He says New York police actions during the protest are “a very slippery slope" that could be interpreted as collusion.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Not only that, but we have big plans this afternoon in New York City… 👀
Drop by and make some noise with us!
bsky.app/profile/sbwo...
Drop by and make some noise with us!
bsky.app/profile/sbwo...
December 4, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Not only that, but we have big plans this afternoon in New York City… 👀
Drop by and make some noise with us!
bsky.app/profile/sbwo...
Drop by and make some noise with us!
bsky.app/profile/sbwo...
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Our annual Queens College MFA in Creative Writing and Translation virtual open house is tomorrow, Dec 4, at 5pm EST.
For more info and to register click here:
engmfaqc.commons.gc.cuny.edu
For more info and to register click here:
engmfaqc.commons.gc.cuny.edu
December 3, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Our annual Queens College MFA in Creative Writing and Translation virtual open house is tomorrow, Dec 4, at 5pm EST.
For more info and to register click here:
engmfaqc.commons.gc.cuny.edu
For more info and to register click here:
engmfaqc.commons.gc.cuny.edu
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
On Monday, the University of Alabama suspended two student-run magazines over fears stemming from a July DOJ memo. The student journalists I spoke with yesterday told me that the decision was nonsensical and threatened their First Amendment rights.
www.alreporter.com/2025/12/03/u...
www.alreporter.com/2025/12/03/u...
University of Alabama suspends two student magazines over DEI
The editors of the publications, which focus on women’s wellness and the Black student experience respectively, expressed shock at the decision.
www.alreporter.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:57 PM
On Monday, the University of Alabama suspended two student-run magazines over fears stemming from a July DOJ memo. The student journalists I spoke with yesterday told me that the decision was nonsensical and threatened their First Amendment rights.
www.alreporter.com/2025/12/03/u...
www.alreporter.com/2025/12/03/u...
"Guidance from the US government for those who have decided to self-deport has been confusing and sparse...Some immigrants trying to leave the country voluntarily through government-endorsed mechanisms say they have found themselves in limbo or, worse, detained."
NEW: You've read a lot about immigrants kidnapped, forcibly detained, and held in ICE facilities -- what about the immigrants *trying* to leave the country? Turns out its wildly difficult for them too.
don't miss this from @telliotter.bsky.social:
don't miss this from @telliotter.bsky.social:
The Trump Administration Wants Immigrants to Self-Deport. It’s a Shit Show
The Trump administration has been virtually begging immigrants in the US to self-deport, even offering money. But some immigrants say it’s been nearly impossible.
www.wired.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:28 PM
"Guidance from the US government for those who have decided to self-deport has been confusing and sparse...Some immigrants trying to leave the country voluntarily through government-endorsed mechanisms say they have found themselves in limbo or, worse, detained."
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Shotspotter and its ilk are garbage. It's a plain waste of money at best.
The proposed Chicago city budget has a $5 million line item for a ShotSpotter replacement. Abandoning this failed pursuit would free up the funds needed to maintain 2025 funding levels at our city libraries, which would still leave the libraries underfunded but would avoid disastrous proposed cuts.
December 3, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Shotspotter and its ilk are garbage. It's a plain waste of money at best.
Some useful reporting here. I recognize the dilemmas faced by elected Dems in NY, and behind-the-scenes efforts to avert a full-blown federal invasion of NYC may be worthwhile, but it's important to recognize that folks are organized in NYC and are point-blank not going to "accommodate" this shit.
As New York officials plan for a possible surge of immigration agents and National Guard troops, officials face a stark choice: accommodate or fight back.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/new-yor...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/new-yor...
When To Accommodate, and When To Fight? NY Officials Agonize and Prepare for Federal Escalation
Jackie Bray has been thinking about how quickly things could spiral out...
talkingpointsmemo.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Some useful reporting here. I recognize the dilemmas faced by elected Dems in NY, and behind-the-scenes efforts to avert a full-blown federal invasion of NYC may be worthwhile, but it's important to recognize that folks are organized in NYC and are point-blank not going to "accommodate" this shit.
It's hard to think of much that could actually improve the GOP's electoral position in the course of the next year, which is nice, but it's not hard to think of some ill-advised but still super harmful shit that they might try. These guys aren't all that smart and they think hurting people is good.
a thing to ask yourself re: the GOP's electoral position is what could happen over the next year that could *improve* its position? and what could trump do, plausibly, that might *boost* his numbers with the public?
December 3, 2025 at 3:03 AM
It's hard to think of much that could actually improve the GOP's electoral position in the course of the next year, which is nice, but it's not hard to think of some ill-advised but still super harmful shit that they might try. These guys aren't all that smart and they think hurting people is good.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
What's happening with the Chicago Public Libraries right now is terrible. The proposed budget of the city would CUT 89 CPL positions. Importantly, 78 positions were lost LAST year. That would be 167 positions in 2 YEARS while COPS KEEP GETTING MORE MONEY. ENOUGH. SAY NO.
December 2, 2025 at 10:51 PM
What's happening with the Chicago Public Libraries right now is terrible. The proposed budget of the city would CUT 89 CPL positions. Importantly, 78 positions were lost LAST year. That would be 167 positions in 2 YEARS while COPS KEEP GETTING MORE MONEY. ENOUGH. SAY NO.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
I teach big classes, so I get a lot of accommodation letters and I simply follow them and go on with my day because why the hell wouldn‘t I. If I wanted to be a cop, I would have applied.
We need to be able to see that the line "accommodations have gone too far" is an expression of the ableist notion that disabled students do not belong in higher ed. Its fundamentally an anxiety about the fact that disabled students get an "advantage" over abled students.
December 2, 2025 at 10:31 PM
I teach big classes, so I get a lot of accommodation letters and I simply follow them and go on with my day because why the hell wouldn‘t I. If I wanted to be a cop, I would have applied.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Very similar to the trans-kids panic, where the prestige media narrative is that it's far too easy but you talk to any trans person, expert or parent and it's obvious that it's way too hard.
Once again, no one making these claims seems to understand the enormous hurdles in the way of getting a kid the help they need - in this case - I dare anyone suggesting this to go through an IEP process.
December 2, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Very similar to the trans-kids panic, where the prestige media narrative is that it's far too easy but you talk to any trans person, expert or parent and it's obvious that it's way too hard.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Last week, ICE arrested and separated a father and son after a routine check-in. Six-year-old Yuanxin had just enrolled in the first grade at an elementary school in Astoria. Now he's in custody, alone. ICE won't say where. This cruelty serves no one. It must end.
December 2, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Last week, ICE arrested and separated a father and son after a routine check-in. Six-year-old Yuanxin had just enrolled in the first grade at an elementary school in Astoria. Now he's in custody, alone. ICE won't say where. This cruelty serves no one. It must end.
This is a very chilling development.
NEW: The Trump administration has fired 8 immigration judges in one day in New York City as feds seek to restrict immigration nationwide
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/n...
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/n...
Trump Administration Fires 8 Immigration Judges in New York
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:19 AM
This is a very chilling development.
This is precisely my energy. I hate *chocolate* and never eat it. You don’t think I can hate/never use “AI” until my death? It will be my *pleasure*. I’ve hated much better things my whole life and loved it. I swim in haterade, and doing so makes me immune to accommodating wack shit.
“AI is clearly sticking around so you have to get used to it” wrong. I don’t have to get used to shit. I am a practiced hater and I can keep this going for decades if I am required to
December 2, 2025 at 2:02 AM
This is precisely my energy. I hate *chocolate* and never eat it. You don’t think I can hate/never use “AI” until my death? It will be my *pleasure*. I’ve hated much better things my whole life and loved it. I swim in haterade, and doing so makes me immune to accommodating wack shit.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Sometime last year, a CUNY alum contacted me saying they’d found some photos they took at the 1995 protest against budget cuts and would I please take them so they could clear out their attic?
They arrived today and they DID NOT DISAPPOINT
They arrived today and they DID NOT DISAPPOINT
December 1, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Sometime last year, a CUNY alum contacted me saying they’d found some photos they took at the 1995 protest against budget cuts and would I please take them so they could clear out their attic?
They arrived today and they DID NOT DISAPPOINT
They arrived today and they DID NOT DISAPPOINT
I know plenty of people in this boat as well, and while I empathize with the impulse to "check out" from events, I also find that unacceptable among folks who have the relative privilege to resist--to stay informed and "do things" in this historical moment. We need more people fighting in more ways.
honestly don't know. highly-educated, successful, left-leaning academic friends of mine have just completely checked out of following the news. idk if it's too depressing/overwhelming or what, but i'm baffled.
November 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I know plenty of people in this boat as well, and while I empathize with the impulse to "check out" from events, I also find that unacceptable among folks who have the relative privilege to resist--to stay informed and "do things" in this historical moment. We need more people fighting in more ways.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
We should really retire the term "AI" it's been corrupted beyond redemption. Actual useful applications of machine learning need to be called something else.
The problem is that thanks to techbros "AI" is now the term that describes everything from perverted teddy bears and chatbots that tell you to kill yourself to actually useful ML applications. People hate the former, and by association they hate "AI"-everything.
November 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM
We should really retire the term "AI" it's been corrupted beyond redemption. Actual useful applications of machine learning need to be called something else.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
A simpler way of putting this would be that 1) the D party has not shown itself to be our friend when Palestine speech is on the table and for that reason I wouldn’t expect the next Dem WH to scrutinize or reverse these university deals without significant pressure to do so, and
The Biden dept of education was already on board with using Title VI to punish dissent on Palestine. The only thing the two parties agree on is whether that should invoke a regulatory framework or not and how much other damage they want to do to universities in the process
November 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
A simpler way of putting this would be that 1) the D party has not shown itself to be our friend when Palestine speech is on the table and for that reason I wouldn’t expect the next Dem WH to scrutinize or reverse these university deals without significant pressure to do so, and
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Between diffusion models and LLMs, tech has inflated a trillion dollar bubble around automating activities that have immense social and cultural capital—writing, art, photography—but little actual capital. It’s harmful to education, culture, and society with minimal overall benefit
November 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Between diffusion models and LLMs, tech has inflated a trillion dollar bubble around automating activities that have immense social and cultural capital—writing, art, photography—but little actual capital. It’s harmful to education, culture, and society with minimal overall benefit
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
New resource⚡️ Block it! Don’t Build It. Don’t Fill It. Don’t Fuel It.
A mini-toolkit to take action to slow down and disrupt the government’s kidnapping, detention, and deportation machine.
Info on strategies/tactics, ways to take action, and more:
www.interruptingcriminalization.com/block-it
A mini-toolkit to take action to slow down and disrupt the government’s kidnapping, detention, and deportation machine.
Info on strategies/tactics, ways to take action, and more:
www.interruptingcriminalization.com/block-it
November 21, 2025 at 3:53 PM
New resource⚡️ Block it! Don’t Build It. Don’t Fill It. Don’t Fuel It.
A mini-toolkit to take action to slow down and disrupt the government’s kidnapping, detention, and deportation machine.
Info on strategies/tactics, ways to take action, and more:
www.interruptingcriminalization.com/block-it
A mini-toolkit to take action to slow down and disrupt the government’s kidnapping, detention, and deportation machine.
Info on strategies/tactics, ways to take action, and more:
www.interruptingcriminalization.com/block-it
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
"Democratic board members, including Gustavo Reveles of El Paso, signaled that they would push for the list to include works that reflect various communities in the state, including Black and Hispanic Texans."
jesus christ
jesus christ
November 29, 2025 at 1:52 AM
"Democratic board members, including Gustavo Reveles of El Paso, signaled that they would push for the list to include works that reflect various communities in the state, including Black and Hispanic Texans."
jesus christ
jesus christ
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
I do think formal and informal faculty groups need to be thinking about their boards, how they are constituted, and what routes to change exist. The time of assuming that faculty no-confidence votes mean anything has passed.
November 29, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I do think formal and informal faculty groups need to be thinking about their boards, how they are constituted, and what routes to change exist. The time of assuming that faculty no-confidence votes mean anything has passed.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. as @heidikitrosser.bsky.social has noted, the northwestern faculty had just voted overwhelmingly against exactly this kind of capitulation.
BTW, any story about a possible Northwestern capitulation should include this detail (screenshot is from the oped linked below)
November 29, 2025 at 1:37 AM
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. as @heidikitrosser.bsky.social has noted, the northwestern faculty had just voted overwhelmingly against exactly this kind of capitulation.