Angela
@bourb.xyz
New here, just looking around and trying things out. @AngelaInBold on twtr
PhD in math. Moved to computer science + data science. Recently left academia.
Lover of: FFXIV, mechanical keyboards, karaoke
PhD in math. Moved to computer science + data science. Recently left academia.
Lover of: FFXIV, mechanical keyboards, karaoke
The end of that Steelers game was so intense! I turned it off when it looked like the Lions got a TD with like 40 sec left, but turned it back on. Heart is still racing!
December 22, 2025 at 1:07 AM
The end of that Steelers game was so intense! I turned it off when it looked like the Lions got a TD with like 40 sec left, but turned it back on. Heart is still racing!
Reposted by Angela
a required skill for being able to use an LLM in any professional capacity is discernment, essentially already being an expert in the field so you know when (and why) its outputs are incorrect.
now, LLMs are being deployed to non-expert groups in a way that ensures they will never *be* experts
now, LLMs are being deployed to non-expert groups in a way that ensures they will never *be* experts
suspect a big reason why many academics and others who work in areas where getting facts RIGHT is key are disinterested in using LLMs for research:
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
December 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM
a required skill for being able to use an LLM in any professional capacity is discernment, essentially already being an expert in the field so you know when (and why) its outputs are incorrect.
now, LLMs are being deployed to non-expert groups in a way that ensures they will never *be* experts
now, LLMs are being deployed to non-expert groups in a way that ensures they will never *be* experts
I think my goal for the new year is to start writing with more regularity again.
I've been finding inspiration more and more frequently in the last few months, both for informational / instructive pieces and for fiction. I am approaching the inflection point that turns ideas into action. Let's go!
I've been finding inspiration more and more frequently in the last few months, both for informational / instructive pieces and for fiction. I am approaching the inflection point that turns ideas into action. Let's go!
December 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I think my goal for the new year is to start writing with more regularity again.
I've been finding inspiration more and more frequently in the last few months, both for informational / instructive pieces and for fiction. I am approaching the inflection point that turns ideas into action. Let's go!
I've been finding inspiration more and more frequently in the last few months, both for informational / instructive pieces and for fiction. I am approaching the inflection point that turns ideas into action. Let's go!
Reposted by Angela
The atomic ensemble time scale at the NIST Boulder campus has failed.
December 20, 2025 at 10:53 PM
The atomic ensemble time scale at the NIST Boulder campus has failed.
Reading through replies to this guy today, it seems evenly divided between (1) smart replies with valid Qs and (2) great jokes & insults. He doesn't reply to the 2nd group, and only replies to the 1st group with "Everyone is being mean to me!"
December 20, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Reading through replies to this guy today, it seems evenly divided between (1) smart replies with valid Qs and (2) great jokes & insults. He doesn't reply to the 2nd group, and only replies to the 1st group with "Everyone is being mean to me!"
Reposted by Angela
"i figured out how to make 8 balls reason; i decompose the query you're asking and shake a bunch of 8 balls in sequence until i arrive at an answer."
December 20, 2025 at 9:37 PM
"i figured out how to make 8 balls reason; i decompose the query you're asking and shake a bunch of 8 balls in sequence until i arrive at an answer."
Reposted by Angela
I love when new snack companies include their personal story on the packaging. Turns out the people behind these pretzels decided one day to make and sell pretzels.
December 19, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I love when new snack companies include their personal story on the packaging. Turns out the people behind these pretzels decided one day to make and sell pretzels.
Reposted by Angela
I've been thinking about why it bothered me so much that I felt my weird skillset was not fully utilized in my academic career - why does it matter? I think I've settled on: our skills reflect our values, what we care enough to work on. So skill misalignment can also be values misalignment.
December 19, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I've been thinking about why it bothered me so much that I felt my weird skillset was not fully utilized in my academic career - why does it matter? I think I've settled on: our skills reflect our values, what we care enough to work on. So skill misalignment can also be values misalignment.
I kind of love that no amount of therapy or meds can contain my rage monster when I have been deeply wronged. I've grown up a lot the past few decades, learned to let some grudges go. I'm not always about to snap anymore. But I'm always glad that part of me is still in there when I need it.
December 19, 2025 at 9:03 AM
I kind of love that no amount of therapy or meds can contain my rage monster when I have been deeply wronged. I've grown up a lot the past few decades, learned to let some grudges go. I'm not always about to snap anymore. But I'm always glad that part of me is still in there when I need it.
Reposted by Angela
One of my favorite lines about AI — not LLMs but human-like digital intelligence — was said to me almost a decade ago by @galaxykate.bsky.social for a piece I wrote for Vice. www.vice.com/en/article/w...
December 19, 2025 at 3:23 AM
One of my favorite lines about AI — not LLMs but human-like digital intelligence — was said to me almost a decade ago by @galaxykate.bsky.social for a piece I wrote for Vice. www.vice.com/en/article/w...
I just looked up Rory McCann's filmography (actor who plays The Hound) and it's a lot more small parts in action/adventure stuff. Somebody cast him in a rom com! An indie drama! Please and thank you.
I'm doing a Game of Thrones re-watch because I make bad decisions. So far, I'm enjoying it against my better judgment.
December 19, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I just looked up Rory McCann's filmography (actor who plays The Hound) and it's a lot more small parts in action/adventure stuff. Somebody cast him in a rom com! An indie drama! Please and thank you.
The one time I visited Minneapolis was for a conference during a February snowstorm. I have so many fond memories of walking down the abandoned snow-covered streets, exploring the city late at night, stopping at any open bars for a drink to momentarily warm up, on my way back to my hotel. Stay safe!
Heads up Twin Cities, the roads and sidewalks are terrible right now! Be careful out there
December 18, 2025 at 11:37 PM
The one time I visited Minneapolis was for a conference during a February snowstorm. I have so many fond memories of walking down the abandoned snow-covered streets, exploring the city late at night, stopping at any open bars for a drink to momentarily warm up, on my way back to my hotel. Stay safe!
Reposted by Angela
My response to anything over the next two weeks
December 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
My response to anything over the next two weeks
I absolutely trust and believe rahaeli on this because she is the one who would know. But I am flabbergasted it's only 1-2% of users who prefer chronological social media feeds. I literally do not find *anything* about algorithmic, non-chronological feeds appealing.
December 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I absolutely trust and believe rahaeli on this because she is the one who would know. But I am flabbergasted it's only 1-2% of users who prefer chronological social media feeds. I literally do not find *anything* about algorithmic, non-chronological feeds appealing.
Might I suggest everyone still using Chrome or Firefox to switch to Vivaldi? Great features, great performance, no spying or data stealing. @vivaldi.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Might I suggest everyone still using Chrome or Firefox to switch to Vivaldi? Great features, great performance, no spying or data stealing. @vivaldi.com
I'm doing a Game of Thrones re-watch because I make bad decisions. So far, I'm enjoying it against my better judgment.
December 17, 2025 at 12:10 AM
I'm doing a Game of Thrones re-watch because I make bad decisions. So far, I'm enjoying it against my better judgment.
Reposted by Angela
Another way to restart the world’s idea machine is to restore funding and grants to universities, researchers, and artists.
America, you have spoken loud and clear: You do not like AI. But what if AI is the way to restart the world’s idea machine?
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?
www.vox.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Another way to restart the world’s idea machine is to restore funding and grants to universities, researchers, and artists.
The expert panels ARE the work of the NSF. This is stupid and harmful to science in the US.
🧵 NSF is reducing external review requirements and eliminating routine expert panels, citing staff shortages that this administration implemented. This change expands program officer authority. But the solution to flawed accountability isn't less public accountability.
NSF plans to streamline merit review to heal self-inflicted staffing wound www.science.org/content/arti...
December 16, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The expert panels ARE the work of the NSF. This is stupid and harmful to science in the US.
20/20 but a lot of these are not old timey. It's just a list of things 98% of US millenials used as kids.
December 14, 2025 at 3:51 AM
20/20 but a lot of these are not old timey. It's just a list of things 98% of US millenials used as kids.
Reposted by Angela
the most “ok boomer” sentence ever written
December 13, 2025 at 6:19 PM
the most “ok boomer” sentence ever written
Who will still be teaching at the end of the semester then? Admin always told me that almost every faculty member gets at least one complaint filed against them almost every semester. This was at the small private school and the 2 large state schools I taught at. Stupid, unsustainable policy.
From the Oklahoma U student paper: the school is now saying it will automatically suspend faculty (with pay) in response to student complaints
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
December 13, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Who will still be teaching at the end of the semester then? Admin always told me that almost every faculty member gets at least one complaint filed against them almost every semester. This was at the small private school and the 2 large state schools I taught at. Stupid, unsustainable policy.
I'm really fucking proud of my search skills. I got the catchy "do do do do" part of Tom's Diner in my head but couldn't remember the artist, song title, or any real lyrics. I found the original song PLUS the remix that I remember hearing on the radio a lot in the early/mid 90s. All in under 10 min.
December 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I'm really fucking proud of my search skills. I got the catchy "do do do do" part of Tom's Diner in my head but couldn't remember the artist, song title, or any real lyrics. I found the original song PLUS the remix that I remember hearing on the radio a lot in the early/mid 90s. All in under 10 min.
Hey instead of broken tech that will never work for the advertised use cases due to fundamental limitations of the underlying mathematical model, can we fix the shit we already have?
Anytime I do a deep dive on a type of app I need and look at the available options, they're all shit.
Anytime I do a deep dive on a type of app I need and look at the available options, they're all shit.
December 11, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Hey instead of broken tech that will never work for the advertised use cases due to fundamental limitations of the underlying mathematical model, can we fix the shit we already have?
Anytime I do a deep dive on a type of app I need and look at the available options, they're all shit.
Anytime I do a deep dive on a type of app I need and look at the available options, they're all shit.
Reposted by Angela
The Louvre of Bluesky is gone? We really can't have nice things anywhere, huh?
in case anyone was wondering wtf happened to @thelouvreof.bsky.social/Louvre of Bluesky: the creator got doxxed, bsky did nothing, and they decided to go out in a blaze of glory
December 11, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The Louvre of Bluesky is gone? We really can't have nice things anywhere, huh?