Byron Calver
@byronosaurusrex.bsky.social
39, he/him but they/them works too (I’m cis, to be clear, but I want to normalize usage of those pronouns more generally). Opinions expressed are mine, not representative of employers. Canada.
Reposted by Byron Calver
“in a model where clicks are king to maintain the industry, fact-checking is less and less common as publications focus on breaking the story first, rather than dedicating resources to fact-checking and accuracy. This leads to the rapid spread of misinformation and erodes public trust in the media”
Today on @theflytrapmedia.com the incredible @nicolefroio.bsky.social talking about why the current journalism model is so broken, and how much it harms all of us. I keep coming back to the ways we get trapped in cycles of writing superficial quick hits just to pay rent.
The Current Journalism Model Isn't Working.
One journalist reflects on how easy it is to burn out in her industry.
the-flytrap.ghost.io
December 2, 2025 at 8:00 PM
“in a model where clicks are king to maintain the industry, fact-checking is less and less common as publications focus on breaking the story first, rather than dedicating resources to fact-checking and accuracy. This leads to the rapid spread of misinformation and erodes public trust in the media”
Reposted by Byron Calver
Think there’s been a shift in how year end lists are presented over time
“Everyone knows the best stuff, let’s remind you”
“Normies don’t get it but you and I know better, dear readers”
“Our readers don’t get it, luckily we’re here for them”
“Here’s the best fish we caught but it’s a big ocean”
“Everyone knows the best stuff, let’s remind you”
“Normies don’t get it but you and I know better, dear readers”
“Our readers don’t get it, luckily we’re here for them”
“Here’s the best fish we caught but it’s a big ocean”
I know I bring this up often as one of those personal irritations I don't really see shared by others, but I do think the general anti-hipster sentiment of the mid-late '00s has a lot to do with this unmoored feeling: how many people have been convinced that early adoption of niche work is bad?
December 2, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Think there’s been a shift in how year end lists are presented over time
“Everyone knows the best stuff, let’s remind you”
“Normies don’t get it but you and I know better, dear readers”
“Our readers don’t get it, luckily we’re here for them”
“Here’s the best fish we caught but it’s a big ocean”
“Everyone knows the best stuff, let’s remind you”
“Normies don’t get it but you and I know better, dear readers”
“Our readers don’t get it, luckily we’re here for them”
“Here’s the best fish we caught but it’s a big ocean”
Reposted by Byron Calver
I think we have to come to terms with shifting our perspective from "I wish there was more good stuff being made" to "I wish the good stuff being made got more attention" because from where I'm standing the first one isn't as much of a problem as people think
December 2, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I think we have to come to terms with shifting our perspective from "I wish there was more good stuff being made" to "I wish the good stuff being made got more attention" because from where I'm standing the first one isn't as much of a problem as people think
Reposted by Byron Calver
This is key, I find, and is the distinction between the willfully incurious reaction @tomewing.bsky.social just described which I shared along -- boiled down to "I never heard of it so clearly you're just joking or fooling me" -- and the sense of "Oh dang, there's more to look into? Great!" here.
I don't think it's cluelessness, I think it's how things are. I also listen to new music all the time and I know maybe slightly more than a quarter, and I bet it's a mostly different quarter to what Lee does. But yeah this is the era of abundance. I think the impossibility of keeping up is exciting.
Despite listening to new music constantly this year, The Quietus albums of the year chart once more demonstrates that I'm clueless. I own eight of these albums, I heard maybe 15 more. So barely a quarter 🙄
thequietus.com/tq-charts/al...
thequietus.com/tq-charts/al...
December 2, 2025 at 5:11 PM
This is key, I find, and is the distinction between the willfully incurious reaction @tomewing.bsky.social just described which I shared along -- boiled down to "I never heard of it so clearly you're just joking or fooling me" -- and the sense of "Oh dang, there's more to look into? Great!" here.
Reposted by Byron Calver
I don’t really get the “lol I haven’t heard of any of these must be made up” response to a best of 2025 song list. Why would you boast about that?
December 2, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I don’t really get the “lol I haven’t heard of any of these must be made up” response to a best of 2025 song list. Why would you boast about that?
Reposted by Byron Calver
I see folks who want Magic IP supported and given breathing space.
Lorwyn Eclipsed stories start Monday, then Tuesday WeeklyMTG is showing Marvel Super Heroes previews.
Now, I don't expect story to be sole community focus for a full week. But can you try NOT stomping out your own story with UB?
Lorwyn Eclipsed stories start Monday, then Tuesday WeeklyMTG is showing Marvel Super Heroes previews.
Now, I don't expect story to be sole community focus for a full week. But can you try NOT stomping out your own story with UB?
December 2, 2025 at 6:51 PM
I see folks who want Magic IP supported and given breathing space.
Lorwyn Eclipsed stories start Monday, then Tuesday WeeklyMTG is showing Marvel Super Heroes previews.
Now, I don't expect story to be sole community focus for a full week. But can you try NOT stomping out your own story with UB?
Lorwyn Eclipsed stories start Monday, then Tuesday WeeklyMTG is showing Marvel Super Heroes previews.
Now, I don't expect story to be sole community focus for a full week. But can you try NOT stomping out your own story with UB?
Reposted by Byron Calver
She has the moral clarity that a lot of elected Dems could use: what is happening today is evil.
You don’t need to analyze it much more closely than that
You don’t need to analyze it much more closely than that
Sabrina Carpenter slams the White House for using her song ‘Juno’ for a pro-ICE video:
“this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
“this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
December 2, 2025 at 4:58 PM
She has the moral clarity that a lot of elected Dems could use: what is happening today is evil.
You don’t need to analyze it much more closely than that
You don’t need to analyze it much more closely than that
Reposted by Byron Calver
the other side of "to keep functioning, society has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities" is "to keep functioning, society has to circulate accurate information, especially information that constrains authorities"
2/ Every cause you care about — housing, education, safety, transit, arts — depends on trustworthy information.
Without independent reporting, who’s tracking needs, solutions, and accountability?
Here's more on what our people-powered newsroom has achieved so far:
Without independent reporting, who’s tracking needs, solutions, and accountability?
Here's more on what our people-powered newsroom has achieved so far:
A first birthday worth recapping
Celebrating the wins of the last 12 months and scheming for the future
51st.news
December 2, 2025 at 7:10 PM
the other side of "to keep functioning, society has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities" is "to keep functioning, society has to circulate accurate information, especially information that constrains authorities"
Reposted by Byron Calver
I wrote about the dirty, demeaning, absolutely booming business of turning something like a shitty bigoted college essay into a shitty public career as a bigot, and also estimated how old Marine Todd would be today. defector.com/the-conserva...
The Conservative Grievance Business Is Always Hiring | Defector
Given his age when he first came to the world’s attention and assuming continued good health in the intervening decade and change, Marine Todd would be in his late 30s today. That would be if he was a...
defector.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I wrote about the dirty, demeaning, absolutely booming business of turning something like a shitty bigoted college essay into a shitty public career as a bigot, and also estimated how old Marine Todd would be today. defector.com/the-conserva...
Reposted by Byron Calver
WotC sponsoring competitive content like this rules and is hopefully a good sign going forward.
More of that, please.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=20_a...
More of that, please.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=20_a...
Who You Should Watch At this Year's MTG World Championship
YouTube video by Hungry On Plane
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM
WotC sponsoring competitive content like this rules and is hopefully a good sign going forward.
More of that, please.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=20_a...
More of that, please.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=20_a...
Reposted by Byron Calver
Yeah another thing the article never establishes is whether extra time actually confers much of an advantage.
What is the actual claim here? That some students are "cheating" by getting extra time on tests?
I invigilate exams for students with accessibility needs. At a certain point, extra time only helps if you actually know the material.
I invigilate exams for students with accessibility needs. At a certain point, extra time only helps if you actually know the material.
December 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Yeah another thing the article never establishes is whether extra time actually confers much of an advantage.
Reposted by Byron Calver
I would rather have a world where we all trust each other and accept that a few people will take advantage of it than a world where folks have to perform disability constantly in order to get the help they need. Let kids have an extra 30 minutes on the test, jesus fucking christ
December 2, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I would rather have a world where we all trust each other and accept that a few people will take advantage of it than a world where folks have to perform disability constantly in order to get the help they need. Let kids have an extra 30 minutes on the test, jesus fucking christ
Reposted by Byron Calver
This is what frustrates me so much about these articles: Propagating the narrative that large numbers of kids are faking disabilities is just going to result in a world where disabled people are *even more* scrutinized when they ask for accommodations!
My kids go to a "rich" public school. My daughter is 7 and cannot read; she is a sweet, caring, intelligent child, but if you spend a moment with her it is clear that she has ADHD an order of magnitude more serious than what you think of when you hear "ADHD." Anybody questioning her IEP can fuck off
"Rich kids are gaming disability accommodations to gain an unfair advantage" is actually very different from "America has an extra-time-on-tests problem" — and the author hasn't proved that either! Rich kids might just be more likely to be diagnosed.
December 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
This is what frustrates me so much about these articles: Propagating the narrative that large numbers of kids are faking disabilities is just going to result in a world where disabled people are *even more* scrutinized when they ask for accommodations!
Reposted by Byron Calver
If you like really long video essays about interesting topics like "What is a Predator movie?"... then @darrenmooney.bsky.social has you covered today with a 50 min whopper of an essay on that very subject.
What Even is a Predator Movie? | The Backdrop
YouTube video by Second Wind
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 4:02 PM
If you like really long video essays about interesting topics like "What is a Predator movie?"... then @darrenmooney.bsky.social has you covered today with a 50 min whopper of an essay on that very subject.
Reposted by Byron Calver
Saturday, December 6th is Canada's National Day of Action and Remembrance on Violence against Women. It commemorates the '89 Montreal Massacre where 14 women were targeted & killed for daring to study engineering.
Attend your local vigil & come learn community care with me
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Attend your local vigil & come learn community care with me
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
December 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Saturday, December 6th is Canada's National Day of Action and Remembrance on Violence against Women. It commemorates the '89 Montreal Massacre where 14 women were targeted & killed for daring to study engineering.
Attend your local vigil & come learn community care with me
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Attend your local vigil & come learn community care with me
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Byron Calver
Trump Announces 5,000% Increase In All Numbers https://theonion.com/trump-announces-5000-increase-in-all-numbers/
December 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Trump Announces 5,000% Increase In All Numbers https://theonion.com/trump-announces-5000-increase-in-all-numbers/
Reposted by Byron Calver
the way bbc news’ impartiality seems to work is that they’re softer on the right to avoid accusations of left-wing bias, and they’re harder on the left to avoid accusations of left-wing bias
December 1, 2025 at 10:09 AM
the way bbc news’ impartiality seems to work is that they’re softer on the right to avoid accusations of left-wing bias, and they’re harder on the left to avoid accusations of left-wing bias
Reposted by Byron Calver
Reposted by Byron Calver
"Rich kids are gaming disability accommodations to gain an unfair advantage" is actually very different from "America has an extra-time-on-tests problem" — and the author hasn't proved that either! Rich kids might just be more likely to be diagnosed.
December 2, 2025 at 4:38 PM
"Rich kids are gaming disability accommodations to gain an unfair advantage" is actually very different from "America has an extra-time-on-tests problem" — and the author hasn't proved that either! Rich kids might just be more likely to be diagnosed.
Reposted by Byron Calver
What do the editors of this magazine think their job is?
"Too many kids are getting extra time on tests!" should immediately be followed by "how many kids are getting extra time on tests?" If you don't know, either find out or write about something you do know.
"Too many kids are getting extra time on tests!" should immediately be followed by "how many kids are getting extra time on tests?" If you don't know, either find out or write about something you do know.
December 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
What do the editors of this magazine think their job is?
"Too many kids are getting extra time on tests!" should immediately be followed by "how many kids are getting extra time on tests?" If you don't know, either find out or write about something you do know.
"Too many kids are getting extra time on tests!" should immediately be followed by "how many kids are getting extra time on tests?" If you don't know, either find out or write about something you do know.
Reposted by Byron Calver
No matter how hard people try to convince us having empathy is wrong,
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
November 4, 2025 at 2:55 AM
No matter how hard people try to convince us having empathy is wrong,
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
Reposted by Byron Calver
What a sleazy defense of honest critiques, a transparent attempt at a validation of the editorial dept.'s sins. A lot of us share a view that groveling before power, sanewashing, elitism, etc. is a challenge to our values, not our views.
For my part, I would say that questioning the framing of some Times stories—for example, the highlighting of Trump’s putative emotions or the foregrounding of what he says (even when, as is often the case, what he says is false)—is not an indication that I want my “views validated.”
December 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
What a sleazy defense of honest critiques, a transparent attempt at a validation of the editorial dept.'s sins. A lot of us share a view that groveling before power, sanewashing, elitism, etc. is a challenge to our values, not our views.
Reposted by Byron Calver
Sabrina Carpenter slams the White House for using her song ‘Juno’ for a pro-ICE video:
“this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
“this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
December 2, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Sabrina Carpenter slams the White House for using her song ‘Juno’ for a pro-ICE video:
“this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
“this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
Reposted by Byron Calver
The real question is not "Why is Bluesky so left-coded," the real question is "Why can't the right exist in a social media environment without algorithmic assistance, where people can ignore them"
December 2, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The real question is not "Why is Bluesky so left-coded," the real question is "Why can't the right exist in a social media environment without algorithmic assistance, where people can ignore them"
Reposted by Byron Calver
when someone tells me not to use em dashes because AI uses em dashes
November 30, 2025 at 7:48 PM
when someone tells me not to use em dashes because AI uses em dashes