Generic white guy SysAdmin
@westbynoreaster.bsky.social
#HPC #SysAdmin & aspiring #DevOps headed to Charlotte in the new year. #dHTC evangelist, and labor history nerd. #BLM! Opinions my own. he/him
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
sycophancy as product strategy is the almost inevitable outcome of organizational leadership that is intolerant of dissent
December 9, 2025 at 5:37 PM
sycophancy as product strategy is the almost inevitable outcome of organizational leadership that is intolerant of dissent
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
This post (+ the one after it, but starting with this one because context is important) has gotten surprising amounts of attention from folks who think that students are necessarily lazy and malicious.
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In early 2024, I got to speak to Deans from up & down the West Coast of the US & Canada about "AI". I told them that the only value of ChatGPT for university administrators is as a contrast-dye test to show where resources are lacking.
December 9, 2025 at 8:26 PM
This post (+ the one after it, but starting with this one because context is important) has gotten surprising amounts of attention from folks who think that students are necessarily lazy and malicious.
>>
>>
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
"AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok. We will be excavating it for a generation or more."
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
December 9, 2025 at 2:58 PM
"AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok. We will be excavating it for a generation or more."
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
The Department of Education shared data today on IHEs where, 4 years after earning a credential, graduates earned less than peers with only a high school diploma.
What ED didn't shout out was just how many of those institutions are for-profits. So I got the data. jamessmurphy.com/2025/12/09/w...
What ED didn't shout out was just how many of those institutions are for-profits. So I got the data. jamessmurphy.com/2025/12/09/w...
FAFSA Reveals Earnings Data for Colleges and Graduates
The Department of Education's new FAFSA changes highlight the alarming number of for-profit institutions where graduates earn less than high school completers.
jamessmurphy.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:42 AM
The Department of Education shared data today on IHEs where, 4 years after earning a credential, graduates earned less than peers with only a high school diploma.
What ED didn't shout out was just how many of those institutions are for-profits. So I got the data. jamessmurphy.com/2025/12/09/w...
What ED didn't shout out was just how many of those institutions are for-profits. So I got the data. jamessmurphy.com/2025/12/09/w...
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
My grandpa was born in the US to German parents. He had younger cousins who were in Hitler youth in Germany. Decades later I talked with some of them about it (with the ruthless candor of youth). Why did you do that? What were you thinking? What they described was a lot like this.
Happening now: Texas leaders announcing a rollout of a statewide program to put TPUSA chapters in high schools and colleges across the state. Gov. Abbott adds that schools that stand in the way should be reported to the Texas Education Agency.
December 9, 2025 at 2:26 AM
My grandpa was born in the US to German parents. He had younger cousins who were in Hitler youth in Germany. Decades later I talked with some of them about it (with the ruthless candor of youth). Why did you do that? What were you thinking? What they described was a lot like this.
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
"The rapid, largely unregulated rise of datacenters to fuel the AI and crypto frenzy is disrupting communities across the country and threatening Americans’ economic, environmental, climate and water security."
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
More than 200 environmental groups demand halt to new US datacenters
Exclusive: Congress urged to act against energy-hungry facilities blamed for increasing bills and worsening climate crisis
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:35 AM
"The rapid, largely unregulated rise of datacenters to fuel the AI and crypto frenzy is disrupting communities across the country and threatening Americans’ economic, environmental, climate and water security."
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
👋 Breastfeeding & infant feeding expert here! All babies need safe, accessible nutrition. Most people already want to breastfeed and 84% start out doing so but can’t realize their goals. What we need are *policies* that make it possible to breastfeed for all who desire to do so and…
RFK Jr: "All of the ingenuity of corporate America has not produced an infant formula that is superior in nutrition and all the qualities that we want to the infant formula that God made, which is the infant formula in a mother's breast."
December 8, 2025 at 9:27 PM
👋 Breastfeeding & infant feeding expert here! All babies need safe, accessible nutrition. Most people already want to breastfeed and 84% start out doing so but can’t realize their goals. What we need are *policies* that make it possible to breastfeed for all who desire to do so and…
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
My life would had gone very differently if anyone had picked up on and encouraged my talent for coding or electrical engineering.
Instead, I got told in high school that "girls don't do science."
My BA is in English. Not a total regret, I wouldn't be where I am. But sometimes I wonder...
Instead, I got told in high school that "girls don't do science."
My BA is in English. Not a total regret, I wouldn't be where I am. But sometimes I wonder...
This tweet in 2021 inspired a very early entry in my blog “The Hacker Ethic” actually the first piece of writing specifically for the blog.
I have many friends who are women hackers or are women in tech, and I have seen or listened to the experiences of misogyny in those communities and fields.
🧵⏬
I have many friends who are women hackers or are women in tech, and I have seen or listened to the experiences of misogyny in those communities and fields.
🧵⏬
December 8, 2025 at 7:05 AM
My life would had gone very differently if anyone had picked up on and encouraged my talent for coding or electrical engineering.
Instead, I got told in high school that "girls don't do science."
My BA is in English. Not a total regret, I wouldn't be where I am. But sometimes I wonder...
Instead, I got told in high school that "girls don't do science."
My BA is in English. Not a total regret, I wouldn't be where I am. But sometimes I wonder...
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
It is very concerning. If you're interested in the details behind our comments on both 404 pieces, we wrote a report that breaks down these arguments (as two nuclear safety experts who work on AI):
ainowinstitute.org/publications...
ainowinstitute.org/publications...
Fission for Algorithms: The Undermining of Nuclear Regulation in Service of AI - AI Now Institute
A report examining nuclear “fast-tracking” initiatives on their feasibility and their impact on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards.
ainowinstitute.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:16 PM
It is very concerning. If you're interested in the details behind our comments on both 404 pieces, we wrote a report that breaks down these arguments (as two nuclear safety experts who work on AI):
ainowinstitute.org/publications...
ainowinstitute.org/publications...
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
We get there when we have the power to take money from rich people to pay for teaching and research. We get partway there at the state level, going back to postwar taxation levels for millionaires like MA. But ultimately we must force the federal question.
Join @aaup.org or watch our schools die.
Join @aaup.org or watch our schools die.
Ready to start a movement that argues universities should spend money on their core functions, rather than flashy nonsense. Such as teaching and research for example.
December 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
We get there when we have the power to take money from rich people to pay for teaching and research. We get partway there at the state level, going back to postwar taxation levels for millionaires like MA. But ultimately we must force the federal question.
Join @aaup.org or watch our schools die.
Join @aaup.org or watch our schools die.
A large majority Labour party voters accurately assess why the UK economy has been and currently still is in the toilet. And yet...
Three quarters of Labour members identified the Conservative-Lib Dem Coalition’s austerity policies (75%) and Brexit (74%) as being responsible for the ongoing problems faced by the Treasury.
labourlist.org/2025/12/aust...
labourlist.org/2025/12/aust...
Labour members blame austerity and Brexit for economic problems – poll - LabourList
Labour members believe Coalition-era austerity and Britain's departure from the EU are the two main factors behind the UK's economic woes.
labourlist.org
December 8, 2025 at 8:02 PM
A large majority Labour party voters accurately assess why the UK economy has been and currently still is in the toilet. And yet...
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
Here’s the thing, emerging scientists aren’t going to flee to do science elsewhere…they just won’t do the science.
We will lose at least one, if not two generations of knowledge if we don’t get this shit sorted out immediately.
We will lose at least one, if not two generations of knowledge if we don’t get this shit sorted out immediately.
My teen, who had dreamt of being an astrophysicist, just told me he wants to go to law school because, “Science isn’t going to be a priority in the US in the future…I don’t want a job where I’ll be constantly worried my funding will be taken away.”
Gutting. How many future scientists have we lost?
Gutting. How many future scientists have we lost?
December 7, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Here’s the thing, emerging scientists aren’t going to flee to do science elsewhere…they just won’t do the science.
We will lose at least one, if not two generations of knowledge if we don’t get this shit sorted out immediately.
We will lose at least one, if not two generations of knowledge if we don’t get this shit sorted out immediately.
I shall take this moment to say that Boris Johnson should be banished from the country to live out the rest of his days in a shed on some god-forsaken island that somehow the crown still owns. And he should be joined by his best buddy David Cameron because they deserve each others company.
Please get #NHS England to clarify what is meant in those planning assumptions in Appendix 5. Also whether the relevant ministry views that #Covid-19 wasn't an HCID in the UK as of 19th March, 2020! 4 🤬 days later the PM reluctantly announced a nationwide lockdown!
www.gov.uk/guidance/hig...
www.gov.uk/guidance/hig...
High consequence infectious diseases (HCID)
Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England.
www.gov.uk
December 8, 2025 at 8:50 AM
I shall take this moment to say that Boris Johnson should be banished from the country to live out the rest of his days in a shed on some god-forsaken island that somehow the crown still owns. And he should be joined by his best buddy David Cameron because they deserve each others company.
“I have told trees your true name and what you have done, for they have long memories.” - if you want to be mystical about it using an homage to a few of your favorite fantasy writers.
"I'll burn down your house" - legally actionable, boring, common
"I told the trees about you" - legally acceptable, foreboding, unsettling, the plants know your name and hate you
"I told the trees about you" - legally acceptable, foreboding, unsettling, the plants know your name and hate you
December 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
“I have told trees your true name and what you have done, for they have long memories.” - if you want to be mystical about it using an homage to a few of your favorite fantasy writers.
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
nb - this includes the SWP itself.
In the entire history of human organization, the number of collective enterprises which have been improved by allowing SWP members in is quite literally zero
November 29, 2025 at 8:30 AM
nb - this includes the SWP itself.
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
This is from the last Tory #DeathDrive government. Please do not present this as current policy.
December 8, 2025 at 2:43 AM
This is from the last Tory #DeathDrive government. Please do not present this as current policy.
Please note that this report was generated in the literal dying days of the last Tory government. The gov of a PM, who when Chancellor championed a restaurant funding scheme recognized to have generated super-spreader events in the summer of fucking 2020!
By Nate Bear @natebear1.bsky.social
"The UK says it won't even bother when the next pandemic hits. The lesson most countries have drawn from covid is that letting the old and weak die is better for capitalism. The pandemic was a waymarker on our journey to a harsher, crueller world"
"The UK says it won't even bother when the next pandemic hits. The lesson most countries have drawn from covid is that letting the old and weak die is better for capitalism. The pandemic was a waymarker on our journey to a harsher, crueller world"
December 8, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Please note that this report was generated in the literal dying days of the last Tory government. The gov of a PM, who when Chancellor championed a restaurant funding scheme recognized to have generated super-spreader events in the summer of fucking 2020!
Can anyone recommend a quality analysis of Marx’s work (included posthumous) that puts his theory of political economic in its proper *historical period* context? I almost don’t trust a Marxist to be themselves capable of this task.
This is fresh in mind because I got labeled a Luddite (derogatory) at a reading group discussion recently based on “print is a rent strike” & the idea that technofeudalism periodization is somehow anti-Marxist.
December 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Can anyone recommend a quality analysis of Marx’s work (included posthumous) that puts his theory of political economic in its proper *historical period* context? I almost don’t trust a Marxist to be themselves capable of this task.
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
It’s that time of year: what was the piece of writing about AI that stuck with you the most this year, pop press or academic? A few of mine in the thread. ⬇️
December 3, 2025 at 10:54 PM
It’s that time of year: what was the piece of writing about AI that stuck with you the most this year, pop press or academic? A few of mine in the thread. ⬇️
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
You only have to go back a few generations in my family to find Irish people forced to leave their homeland because British colonialism manufactured a famine and made it impossible to stay. It destroyed the region I descend from.
It's the literal reason I'm English.
It's the literal reason I'm English.
December 7, 2025 at 11:18 AM
You only have to go back a few generations in my family to find Irish people forced to leave their homeland because British colonialism manufactured a famine and made it impossible to stay. It destroyed the region I descend from.
It's the literal reason I'm English.
It's the literal reason I'm English.
Given how many individual branches across the country have passed thresholds for industrial action, it should be obvious why this failed. 🤔But the righteous vanguard can never fail, 🙄 only BE failed by counter-revolutionary saboteurs from within. 🤡 UCULeft are fucking clowns.
December 7, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Given how many individual branches across the country have passed thresholds for industrial action, it should be obvious why this failed. 🤔But the righteous vanguard can never fail, 🙄 only BE failed by counter-revolutionary saboteurs from within. 🤡 UCULeft are fucking clowns.
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
Here's an idea: Any Democrat who wants to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate in 2028 must pledge to rip this cabal of anti-democracy tech fascists out of our government.
Anyone who won't make that pledge is for the billionaires, not the people. This must be a deal-breaking litmus test.
Anyone who won't make that pledge is for the billionaires, not the people. This must be a deal-breaking litmus test.
A Palantir billionaire just called for public hangings.
“It's time to bring back masculine leadership to protect our most vulnerable,” writes Joe Lonsdale.
This is where Silicon Valley authoritarianism is heading:
www.thenerdreich.com/joe-lonsdale...
“It's time to bring back masculine leadership to protect our most vulnerable,” writes Joe Lonsdale.
This is where Silicon Valley authoritarianism is heading:
www.thenerdreich.com/joe-lonsdale...
Joe Lonsdale Calls For Public Hangings
Silicon Valley radicalization escalates
www.thenerdreich.com
December 7, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Here's an idea: Any Democrat who wants to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate in 2028 must pledge to rip this cabal of anti-democracy tech fascists out of our government.
Anyone who won't make that pledge is for the billionaires, not the people. This must be a deal-breaking litmus test.
Anyone who won't make that pledge is for the billionaires, not the people. This must be a deal-breaking litmus test.
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
i think to understand the meaning of the birthright citizenship clause to the framers of the 14th amendment, you have to understand significance of dred scott to the civil war republican party. dred scott wasn't just a bad ruling, it was understood as a rejection of the declaration itself.
December 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
i think to understand the meaning of the birthright citizenship clause to the framers of the 14th amendment, you have to understand significance of dred scott to the civil war republican party. dred scott wasn't just a bad ruling, it was understood as a rejection of the declaration itself.
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
DC Public Library with a friendly reminder 📚
December 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
DC Public Library with a friendly reminder 📚
Reposted by Generic white guy SysAdmin
Every time I get the notification to renew the domain grimoire.computer I'm tickled by the little jokes
The Realm of Rough Telepathy
a grimoire
grimoire.computer
December 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Every time I get the notification to renew the domain grimoire.computer I'm tickled by the little jokes