Jenn Stevens
@jennmstevens.bsky.social
Early childhood, higher-ed ed tech, creeping dread about the state of the world. She/her
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
Today's AWS outage is causing many sites to load slower than usual. That means images might not be loading as fast as they normally do. But if you've remembered to add alt text to your images, your users will still be able to get the context and content of your images on your site.
One way sighted people can determine what to put in alt text: Imagine you sent the post or article to a friend, and the image didn't load. What would someone need to know to get the equivalent experience and context? This will help you identify the important details.
October 20, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Today's AWS outage is causing many sites to load slower than usual. That means images might not be loading as fast as they normally do. But if you've remembered to add alt text to your images, your users will still be able to get the context and content of your images on your site.
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Boston No Kings rally today, wore the trans pride flag like a scarf draped over his shoulders and included in his speech. "Because here in Massachusetts, we stand for what is right. We stand with trans people because trans rights are human rights."
October 18, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Boston No Kings rally today, wore the trans pride flag like a scarf draped over his shoulders and included in his speech. "Because here in Massachusetts, we stand for what is right. We stand with trans people because trans rights are human rights."
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
"If I’m being honest, I’ve seen a serious dip in your overall performance ever since the beast of the sea emerged."
Don’t Let the Beasts from Revelation Distract You from Your Expense Reports
Thanks for coming in. Have a seat. I realize there’s a lot going on right now between work and the seven-headed dragon that is here to brutally mur...
buff.ly
October 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM
"If I’m being honest, I’ve seen a serious dip in your overall performance ever since the beast of the sea emerged."
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
October 11, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
Not only will AI grading be the end of teaching because of the labor dynamics Marc covers, but it kicks off a process of what I call "self-alienation" where the teachers gradually remove themselves from the essential human experiences of their own work.
October 10, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Not only will AI grading be the end of teaching because of the labor dynamics Marc covers, but it kicks off a process of what I call "self-alienation" where the teachers gradually remove themselves from the essential human experiences of their own work.
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
I strongly urge everyone to not just read this warning from @marcwatkins.bsky.social, but heed it, and be vocal and forceful pushing back against using AI to grade student writing. This must be anathema if we're going to have a world where learning means something. substack.com/inbox/post/1...
The Dangers of using AI to Grade
Nobody Learns, Nobody Gains
substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I strongly urge everyone to not just read this warning from @marcwatkins.bsky.social, but heed it, and be vocal and forceful pushing back against using AI to grade student writing. This must be anathema if we're going to have a world where learning means something. substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
if every democrat doesn’t use the “we took freedom of speech away” on every messaging apparatus they have every single day for the next 4 years assume they want to lose
Trump: "We took the freedom of speech away because that's been through the courts and the courts said you have freedom of speech, but what has happened is when they burn a flag it agitates and irritates crowds."
October 8, 2025 at 10:33 PM
if every democrat doesn’t use the “we took freedom of speech away” on every messaging apparatus they have every single day for the next 4 years assume they want to lose
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
💯 “This compact is a ‘reward’ in exactly the same sense that it is ‘rewarding’ to purchase protection from the Mafia. The compact is an open, explicit threat.” They tried “bespoke negotiated dealmaking with individual schools.” Now, they turn to schools deemed “likeliest” to accept their “overtures”
I thought I'd put the administration's proposed "compact" with universities in context, so I wrote the blog post below.
It's especially for journalists covering this story!
Many details about how the compact itself works and why the administration has retreated to this strategy.
It's especially for journalists covering this story!
Many details about how the compact itself works and why the administration has retreated to this strategy.
Balkinization: The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal
A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics
balkin.blogspot.com
October 5, 2025 at 12:27 PM
💯 “This compact is a ‘reward’ in exactly the same sense that it is ‘rewarding’ to purchase protection from the Mafia. The compact is an open, explicit threat.” They tried “bespoke negotiated dealmaking with individual schools.” Now, they turn to schools deemed “likeliest” to accept their “overtures”
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
A moment that calls for collective action… to reject this transparent attack on academic freedom.
Trump's higher ed ransom note is here - everyone would have to acquiesce to their unprecedented demands or not be "given priority for grants," plus they can demand "reimbursement" for "violations" www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
A mechanism to enforce fealty. An attack on academic freedom and democracy
A mechanism to enforce fealty. An attack on academic freedom and democracy
October 2, 2025 at 2:23 AM
A moment that calls for collective action… to reject this transparent attack on academic freedom.
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
On the Trump administration's cruel disbanding of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium: my op-ed @statnews.com
My 12-year-old son died from brain cancer. This research would have helped children like him
www.statnews.com/2025/09/15/p...
My 12-year-old son died from brain cancer. This research would have helped children like him
www.statnews.com/2025/09/15/p...
The Trump admin’s cruel disbanding of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium
My 12-year-old son died from brain cancer. The defunding of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium will deny treatments to children like him.
www.statnews.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:12 AM
On the Trump administration's cruel disbanding of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium: my op-ed @statnews.com
My 12-year-old son died from brain cancer. This research would have helped children like him
www.statnews.com/2025/09/15/p...
My 12-year-old son died from brain cancer. This research would have helped children like him
www.statnews.com/2025/09/15/p...
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
Opinion | I’ve dedicated my career to promoting free speech on college campuses. Here’s why the murder of a red state college dropout by another red state college dropout means it’s time to fire liberal professors in blue states.
September 15, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Opinion | I’ve dedicated my career to promoting free speech on college campuses. Here’s why the murder of a red state college dropout by another red state college dropout means it’s time to fire liberal professors in blue states.
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
Joy Reid. Karen Attiah. Gene Robinson. Jonathan Capehart. There are lots of others. Circumstances differ. But really sad to see new organizations not keeping super-talented Black staffers. The news industry spent decades talking about diversity, improved some from 2014-2020 and is now going back.
Some personal news:
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...
The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced.
I spoke out against hatred and violence in America — and it cost me my job.
substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Joy Reid. Karen Attiah. Gene Robinson. Jonathan Capehart. There are lots of others. Circumstances differ. But really sad to see new organizations not keeping super-talented Black staffers. The news industry spent decades talking about diversity, improved some from 2014-2020 and is now going back.
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
One of the few good things about early Bluesky culture is the commitment to accessibility.
A lot of people who've been here longer than Nov. 2024. won't share your skeet if you don't use Alt text. Adding #Alt4Me can summon help and many of us will pitch in as we have spoons if you don't that day.
A lot of people who've been here longer than Nov. 2024. won't share your skeet if you don't use Alt text. Adding #Alt4Me can summon help and many of us will pitch in as we have spoons if you don't that day.
September 14, 2025 at 8:19 PM
One of the few good things about early Bluesky culture is the commitment to accessibility.
A lot of people who've been here longer than Nov. 2024. won't share your skeet if you don't use Alt text. Adding #Alt4Me can summon help and many of us will pitch in as we have spoons if you don't that day.
A lot of people who've been here longer than Nov. 2024. won't share your skeet if you don't use Alt text. Adding #Alt4Me can summon help and many of us will pitch in as we have spoons if you don't that day.
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
stop dividing academics between stem and humanities and start dividing them between whether they prefer xkcd or far side
September 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
stop dividing academics between stem and humanities and start dividing them between whether they prefer xkcd or far side
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
Me: this is great, glad to see authors ripped off by AI getting their due.
Me after using the search tool: I am one of these ripped off authors.
Academics, it only takes a minute. Seven of my papers are in this and I had no idea.
Me after using the search tool: I am one of these ripped off authors.
Academics, it only takes a minute. Seven of my papers are in this and I had no idea.
There are tons of graphic novels, academic papers, film and TV scripts, & prose novels/nonfiction on the LibGen list Anthropic used.
As settlement approaches, make it easy for the class action lawyers to contact you! Here’s how
Part 1: is your work in Libgen?
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
As settlement approaches, make it easy for the class action lawyers to contact you! Here’s how
Part 1: is your work in Libgen?
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Me: this is great, glad to see authors ripped off by AI getting their due.
Me after using the search tool: I am one of these ripped off authors.
Academics, it only takes a minute. Seven of my papers are in this and I had no idea.
Me after using the search tool: I am one of these ripped off authors.
Academics, it only takes a minute. Seven of my papers are in this and I had no idea.
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
“The evidence for millionaire tax flight is scant. If high earners were truly fleeing high taxes, low-tax states would be swarming with millionaires. Instead, the highest concentrations of millionaires are found in high-tax states.” [rollingstone.com]
Tax the Rich. They’ll Stay
Mamdani’s plan to tax New York’s millionaires has the penthouse crowd aflutter. History and data show they won’t fly the coop.
www.rollingstone.com
August 27, 2025 at 2:52 PM
“The evidence for millionaire tax flight is scant. If high earners were truly fleeing high taxes, low-tax states would be swarming with millionaires. Instead, the highest concentrations of millionaires are found in high-tax states.” [rollingstone.com]
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
The crux of their argument is that if they're found liable, then the consequences of their own actions that no one forced them to take could ruin them and the rest of their industry that undertakes similar practices.
To which I say motherfucker did you never hear about Napster
To which I say motherfucker did you never hear about Napster
AI industry horrified to face largest copyright class action ever certified
Copyright class actions could financially ruin AI industry, trade groups say.
arstechnica.com
August 9, 2025 at 4:41 AM
The crux of their argument is that if they're found liable, then the consequences of their own actions that no one forced them to take could ruin them and the rest of their industry that undertakes similar practices.
To which I say motherfucker did you never hear about Napster
To which I say motherfucker did you never hear about Napster
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
I’m a member of this class, and I want to be made whole from the theft of my 63 novels used to train AI (millions of words and decades of hard work.) That’s impossible even at 150K/book, so I’ll settle for the complete destruction of the fuckers who stole my work.
fucking hysterical to hear the 'poor little genAI industry' crying about being bullied with "copyright law" as if it's some novel, untested area of jurisprudence.
If you don't want to be sued by 7 million people don't steal from 7 million people, that's a pretty simple legal concept
If you don't want to be sued by 7 million people don't steal from 7 million people, that's a pretty simple legal concept
August 9, 2025 at 11:51 AM
I’m a member of this class, and I want to be made whole from the theft of my 63 novels used to train AI (millions of words and decades of hard work.) That’s impossible even at 150K/book, so I’ll settle for the complete destruction of the fuckers who stole my work.
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
People in Los Angeles have been protesting 24 hours for 2 weeks straight and no news outlet is covering it!
8/8/25
8/8/25
August 9, 2025 at 12:33 AM
People in Los Angeles have been protesting 24 hours for 2 weeks straight and no news outlet is covering it!
8/8/25
8/8/25
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
"Microsoft is cautiously onboarding Grok 4 following Hitler concerns" is one of these headlines happening a dozen times a day that nobody blinks at which for any science fiction novel, movie, comic book, game etc written at any prior point of history but set in 2025 we'd have said nah too cartoonish
August 7, 2025 at 11:48 PM
"Microsoft is cautiously onboarding Grok 4 following Hitler concerns" is one of these headlines happening a dozen times a day that nobody blinks at which for any science fiction novel, movie, comic book, game etc written at any prior point of history but set in 2025 we'd have said nah too cartoonish
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
my town is pretty okay
Somerville Community Path @ Rite-Aid Parking Lot
Somerville Community Path @ Rite-Aid Parking Lot
August 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
my town is pretty okay
Somerville Community Path @ Rite-Aid Parking Lot
Somerville Community Path @ Rite-Aid Parking Lot
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
i'm not voting for any candidate that won't full throatedly support trans kids playing whatever fucking sport they want to.
I'm so irritated with these focus group tested answers about a subject that liberals and Democrats are literally being brainwashed into thinking is a critical issue.
I'm so irritated with these focus group tested answers about a subject that liberals and Democrats are literally being brainwashed into thinking is a critical issue.
July 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
i'm not voting for any candidate that won't full throatedly support trans kids playing whatever fucking sport they want to.
I'm so irritated with these focus group tested answers about a subject that liberals and Democrats are literally being brainwashed into thinking is a critical issue.
I'm so irritated with these focus group tested answers about a subject that liberals and Democrats are literally being brainwashed into thinking is a critical issue.
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
If anyone is curious about the current list of search terms being used by right wing activist organizations to harass university professors, here's a public records request I received today from Mike Howell of the Heritage Foundation. Not intimidating or meant to curtail by my speech at all, right?
August 6, 2025 at 10:03 PM
If anyone is curious about the current list of search terms being used by right wing activist organizations to harass university professors, here's a public records request I received today from Mike Howell of the Heritage Foundation. Not intimidating or meant to curtail by my speech at all, right?
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
*screaming*
"Last year, a New York-based company called NewsGuard released a report finding that there were 1,265 “pink slime” outlets across the nation, more than the number of dwindling daily newspapers."
"Last year, a New York-based company called NewsGuard released a report finding that there were 1,265 “pink slime” outlets across the nation, more than the number of dwindling daily newspapers."
Is it news...or is it "pink slime"? Junk, AI-generated news sites have come to the Boston area, aiming to manipulate you and make money on ads: www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...
Local editors worry ‘pink slime’ journalism poses real danger
Local newspaper editors and journalism experts worry that flimsy news sites that rely almost exclusively on artificial intelligence, known as “pink slime” journalism are making it harder for readers t...
www.wgbh.org
August 5, 2025 at 5:50 PM
*screaming*
"Last year, a New York-based company called NewsGuard released a report finding that there were 1,265 “pink slime” outlets across the nation, more than the number of dwindling daily newspapers."
"Last year, a New York-based company called NewsGuard released a report finding that there were 1,265 “pink slime” outlets across the nation, more than the number of dwindling daily newspapers."
Reposted by Jenn Stevens
Trump and the Republicans allowed hundreds of tons of emergency food, already purchased and staged overseas, to spoil and be destroyed rather than giving them to starving black and brown people.
History will not be kind.
History will not be kind.
Packed with calories and protein, the same magic mixture has successfully treated famine for decades—but due to funding cuts it's now in short supply. www.wired.com/story/whats-...
What’s Inside the Tiny Miracle Food Pouches That Can Save the Lives of Starving Gazans
Packed with calories and protein, the same magic mixture has successfully treated famine for decades—but due to funding cuts it's now in short supply.
www.wired.com
August 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Trump and the Republicans allowed hundreds of tons of emergency food, already purchased and staged overseas, to spoil and be destroyed rather than giving them to starving black and brown people.
History will not be kind.
History will not be kind.