Stephen McCarthy
@misterjabsticks.bsky.social
Latin, Epicureanism, data protection and AI, dogs, photography, legislation, science fiction. (he/him). Fervently #TransRightsAreHumanRights.
📷 photography is currently without a home, having left Meta's evil influence.
📷 photography is currently without a home, having left Meta's evil influence.
Pinned
The Copilot Delusion
#HackerNews
<a href="https://deplet.ing/the-copilot-delusion/" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">https://deplet.ing/the-copilot-delusion/
#HackerNews
<a href="https://deplet.ing/the-copilot-delusion/" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">https://deplet.ing/the-copilot-delusion/
"When you outsource the thinking, you outsource the learning."
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
Remember: It ys okaye to be lonelye. It ys okaye to feel lost. It ys okaye to be sad. It ys okaye yf nobody ys arounde. It ys okaye to have no plannes or just small plannes. It ys okaye to have big plannes that seem exhausting. It ys okaye to be a mess. Take care of thyself. Thou art amazinge.
December 23, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Remember: It ys okaye to be lonelye. It ys okaye to feel lost. It ys okaye to be sad. It ys okaye yf nobody ys arounde. It ys okaye to have no plannes or just small plannes. It ys okaye to have big plannes that seem exhausting. It ys okaye to be a mess. Take care of thyself. Thou art amazinge.
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
May the Ents march forth and tear your data centres to the ground
December 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
May the Ents march forth and tear your data centres to the ground
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
This is what sand looks like under a microscope. Amazing.
December 22, 2025 at 10:17 PM
This is what sand looks like under a microscope. Amazing.
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
to be susceptible to atmospheric distension and contraction
December 22, 2025 at 9:47 PM
to be susceptible to atmospheric distension and contraction
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
From what I remember as a kid, it's about going around in space in a cool-looking ship.
December 22, 2025 at 8:49 PM
From what I remember as a kid, it's about going around in space in a cool-looking ship.
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
The housing problem doesn’t have shit to do with immigrants literally nothing does it’s 100% a result of resource hoarding & eons of social engineering by capitalists. You can kick as many people out as you want & tons of folk still won’t be able to afford a house cuz rich people don’t want them to
December 21, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The housing problem doesn’t have shit to do with immigrants literally nothing does it’s 100% a result of resource hoarding & eons of social engineering by capitalists. You can kick as many people out as you want & tons of folk still won’t be able to afford a house cuz rich people don’t want them to
I've seen the trailer for Nolan's Odyssey.
I am not particularly whelmed.
I am not particularly whelmed.
December 22, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I've seen the trailer for Nolan's Odyssey.
I am not particularly whelmed.
I am not particularly whelmed.
Good golly, just came across this and it shouted out to me.
"The modern man thinks that everything ought to be done for the sake of something else, and never for its own sake."
—BERTRAND RUSSELL, “In Praise of Idleness,” 1932
"The modern man thinks that everything ought to be done for the sake of something else, and never for its own sake."
—BERTRAND RUSSELL, “In Praise of Idleness,” 1932
December 21, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Good golly, just came across this and it shouted out to me.
"The modern man thinks that everything ought to be done for the sake of something else, and never for its own sake."
—BERTRAND RUSSELL, “In Praise of Idleness,” 1932
"The modern man thinks that everything ought to be done for the sake of something else, and never for its own sake."
—BERTRAND RUSSELL, “In Praise of Idleness,” 1932
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
The complete Bayeux Tapestry has finally been released and proves that Bishop Odo had absolutely nothing to do with the illegal Norman invasion of England.
December 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The complete Bayeux Tapestry has finally been released and proves that Bishop Odo had absolutely nothing to do with the illegal Norman invasion of England.
Sometimes I wish certain people could have a migraine. Not out of badness! But so that they would finally understand that it's not just a headache.
December 21, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Sometimes I wish certain people could have a migraine. Not out of badness! But so that they would finally understand that it's not just a headache.
This piece is more worth reading than any number of stories about politicians and anti this and that. It's lovely. And it's the way it should be all over the country.
I spent time in a hospice in Roscommon and it was very sad but also moving and strangely life affirming.
www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...
www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...
Inside a hospice at Christmas: ‘I didn’t know it was going to be like this. It’s beautiful here’
Patients and staff describe a day in the life inside Roscommon Hospice
www.irishtimes.com
December 21, 2025 at 11:13 AM
This piece is more worth reading than any number of stories about politicians and anti this and that. It's lovely. And it's the way it should be all over the country.
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
Dude whose literal job is to enshittify MS Word and force Copilot down everyone’s throat, like-it-or-not:
“Have you considered that if you don’t like my product and happen to find it ethically reprehensible, that you aren’t being ‘entirely objective’?”
“Have you considered that if you don’t like my product and happen to find it ethically reprehensible, that you aren’t being ‘entirely objective’?”
December 20, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Dude whose literal job is to enshittify MS Word and force Copilot down everyone’s throat, like-it-or-not:
“Have you considered that if you don’t like my product and happen to find it ethically reprehensible, that you aren’t being ‘entirely objective’?”
“Have you considered that if you don’t like my product and happen to find it ethically reprehensible, that you aren’t being ‘entirely objective’?”
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
the eyes themselves seem clear, eternal, tideless mountain lakes
December 20, 2025 at 1:47 PM
the eyes themselves seem clear, eternal, tideless mountain lakes
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
Too much breaking news
December 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Too much breaking news
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
🎅 Make sure you’re on the DPC nice list this year and know your data protection obligations as an organisation!
Take a look at our chart for the legal bases for processing personal data 👉 https://dataprotection.ie/en/organisations/data-protection-basics/principles-data-protection
Take a look at our chart for the legal bases for processing personal data 👉 https://dataprotection.ie/en/organisations/data-protection-basics/principles-data-protection
December 19, 2025 at 1:23 PM
🎅 Make sure you’re on the DPC nice list this year and know your data protection obligations as an organisation!
Take a look at our chart for the legal bases for processing personal data 👉 https://dataprotection.ie/en/organisations/data-protection-basics/principles-data-protection
Take a look at our chart for the legal bases for processing personal data 👉 https://dataprotection.ie/en/organisations/data-protection-basics/principles-data-protection
I think I hate fan trailers more than ads on YouTube.
December 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I think I hate fan trailers more than ads on YouTube.
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
“I already ‘knew’ it, but this article made me actually understand it.”
Clear thinking encoded in clear writing gives a name and a shape to fuzzy experiences and feelings, making them being real and actionable.
Exposition is a valuable contribution.
Clear thinking encoded in clear writing gives a name and a shape to fuzzy experiences and feelings, making them being real and actionable.
Exposition is a valuable contribution.
December 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
“I already ‘knew’ it, but this article made me actually understand it.”
Clear thinking encoded in clear writing gives a name and a shape to fuzzy experiences and feelings, making them being real and actionable.
Exposition is a valuable contribution.
Clear thinking encoded in clear writing gives a name and a shape to fuzzy experiences and feelings, making them being real and actionable.
Exposition is a valuable contribution.
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
December 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
"I refuse." This is it. There's no reason we should accept a narrative of an already settled future which marginalizes humans and individual agency. No one wants this. No one asked for it.
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
December 19, 2025 at 1:21 PM
"I refuse." This is it. There's no reason we should accept a narrative of an already settled future which marginalizes humans and individual agency. No one wants this. No one asked for it.
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
📻 Listen back: Dr Niamh Wycherley of the Dept of Early Irish (Sean-Ghaeilge) was on Newstalk's Let Me Explain With Sean Defoe, talking about what medieval Christmas was like in Ireland and whether pagans had similar festivals around the same time of year 🎄
www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/206...
www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/206...
206. Christmas before Christians
This week the wonderful Dr Niamh Wycherly from Maynooth University joins us to discuss what medieval Christmas was like in Ireland and whether pagans had similar festivals around the same time of year
www.goloudplayer.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:36 PM
📻 Listen back: Dr Niamh Wycherley of the Dept of Early Irish (Sean-Ghaeilge) was on Newstalk's Let Me Explain With Sean Defoe, talking about what medieval Christmas was like in Ireland and whether pagans had similar festivals around the same time of year 🎄
www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/206...
www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/206...
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
HOW WILL WE LEARNE THINGES?
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
HOW ABOUT WE MAKE A MACHYNE THAT DOTH KNOWE STUFFE
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
AND IT DOTH STEALE & HURT THE EARTHE
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
YEAH THE MACHYNE
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
HOW ABOUT WE MAKE A MACHYNE THAT DOTH KNOWE STUFFE
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
AND IT DOTH STEALE & HURT THE EARTHE
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
YEAH THE MACHYNE
December 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
HOW WILL WE LEARNE THINGES?
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
HOW ABOUT WE MAKE A MACHYNE THAT DOTH KNOWE STUFFE
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
AND IT DOTH STEALE & HURT THE EARTHE
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
YEAH THE MACHYNE
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
HOW ABOUT WE MAKE A MACHYNE THAT DOTH KNOWE STUFFE
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
AND IT DOTH STEALE & HURT THE EARTHE
Uh, what about bookes, filmes, teachinge, educacioun?
YEAH THE MACHYNE
This is a good read. The inaction of the Democrats is astonishing.
December 19, 2025 at 10:54 AM
This is a good read. The inaction of the Democrats is astonishing.
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
Remember how I said I have it written into my foreign-language contracts that my work has to be translated by an actual human? This shit is why.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
French publishing house Harlequin decided to use AI translation instead of human translations.
All their freelance translators (some of whom had been working with Harlequin for +30y!!!) were told they would no longer receive work from Harlequin
All their freelance translators (some of whom had been working with Harlequin for +30y!!!) were told they would no longer receive work from Harlequin
December 18, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Remember how I said I have it written into my foreign-language contracts that my work has to be translated by an actual human? This shit is why.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
A reminder that women's bodily autonomy will always be politically restricted in a way that men's will never.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Dáil votes by narrow margin not to restore abortion Bill that ends three-day wait for termination
Legislation passed second stage in previous Dáil but TDs decided by 73 to 71 to reject Bill
www.irishtimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM
A reminder that women's bodily autonomy will always be politically restricted in a way that men's will never.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Stephen McCarthy
“It is easy for me to imagine that the next great division of the world will be between people who wish to live as creatures and people who wish to live as machines.” ~ Wendell Berry
December 19, 2025 at 8:35 AM
“It is easy for me to imagine that the next great division of the world will be between people who wish to live as creatures and people who wish to live as machines.” ~ Wendell Berry