Elfie
@elfgrove.bsky.social
Elfie, cat mom to Sylvie, my "gilded tuxedo" calico cat.
🧵 cosplayer, plush maker, ex-Southerner transplanted to SoCali.
✨ https://linktr.ee/elfgrove
🧵 cosplayer, plush maker, ex-Southerner transplanted to SoCali.
✨ https://linktr.ee/elfgrove
Pinned
Reposted by Elfie
As a kid in the early 50s my dad got a bad case of athlete's foot. His parents ignored it. His skin cracked. First infection set in, then sepsis. He was saved by the relatively new wonder drug penicillin.
In 1924, Calvin Coolidge's 16-yr-old son played tennis on the White House grounds w/o wearing socks. He got a blister and was dead from infection a week later.
This is unthinkable today—which is why I wrote this series. Cuz the systems that save us from this kind of fate are in urgent need of care.
This is unthinkable today—which is why I wrote this series. Cuz the systems that save us from this kind of fate are in urgent need of care.
For a yr, I've been working on a series for The New Atlantis about the vast systems that underlie our lives. Our ancestors built them up over decades to fend off hunger, thirst, darkness and disease. But too few of us know about them—and they're all at risk. The conclusion is now available online:
November 26, 2025 at 12:06 AM
As a kid in the early 50s my dad got a bad case of athlete's foot. His parents ignored it. His skin cracked. First infection set in, then sepsis. He was saved by the relatively new wonder drug penicillin.
Reposted by Elfie
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Elfie
3/3 Join us!
The hearing is at the heart of Silicone Valley for a reason. It's meant to damper support and make for an uneven playing field.
Let's show them we're ready to meet them wherever, whenever in support for creatives rights and livelihoods!
bit.ly/44lRMsX
The hearing is at the heart of Silicone Valley for a reason. It's meant to damper support and make for an uneven playing field.
Let's show them we're ready to meet them wherever, whenever in support for creatives rights and livelihoods!
bit.ly/44lRMsX
RSVP: 12/8/25 (10am) Hearing at Stanford - Paul Brest Hall
This hearing to demand transparency for AI models and to protect copyright (as written in the text of AB-412) is being held in the heart of Silicon Valley. We need EVERYONE there! We want the sea of...
bit.ly
November 25, 2025 at 11:25 PM
3/3 Join us!
The hearing is at the heart of Silicone Valley for a reason. It's meant to damper support and make for an uneven playing field.
Let's show them we're ready to meet them wherever, whenever in support for creatives rights and livelihoods!
bit.ly/44lRMsX
The hearing is at the heart of Silicone Valley for a reason. It's meant to damper support and make for an uneven playing field.
Let's show them we're ready to meet them wherever, whenever in support for creatives rights and livelihoods!
bit.ly/44lRMsX
Reposted by Elfie
2/3 AB-412 has a simple ask for tech, if you use copyrighted materials in your dataset, you must let copyright holders know! That’s it!
Simple, efficient and extremely easy for tech companies to do.
People deserve to know whats in those datasets. Our hard work is not their trade secrets!
So-
Simple, efficient and extremely easy for tech companies to do.
People deserve to know whats in those datasets. Our hard work is not their trade secrets!
So-
November 25, 2025 at 11:10 PM
2/3 AB-412 has a simple ask for tech, if you use copyrighted materials in your dataset, you must let copyright holders know! That’s it!
Simple, efficient and extremely easy for tech companies to do.
People deserve to know whats in those datasets. Our hard work is not their trade secrets!
So-
Simple, efficient and extremely easy for tech companies to do.
People deserve to know whats in those datasets. Our hard work is not their trade secrets!
So-
Reposted by Elfie
1/3 Massive efforts are being done to ensure states do not regulate GenAI.
Regulations like CA’s AB-412. A transparency bill that terrifies Big Tech!
On Dec. 8th, there is a major hearing on this bill.
We need as many folks to show up! Come join in support of creatives!
Rsvp link in thread!
Regulations like CA’s AB-412. A transparency bill that terrifies Big Tech!
On Dec. 8th, there is a major hearing on this bill.
We need as many folks to show up! Come join in support of creatives!
Rsvp link in thread!
November 25, 2025 at 11:10 PM
1/3 Massive efforts are being done to ensure states do not regulate GenAI.
Regulations like CA’s AB-412. A transparency bill that terrifies Big Tech!
On Dec. 8th, there is a major hearing on this bill.
We need as many folks to show up! Come join in support of creatives!
Rsvp link in thread!
Regulations like CA’s AB-412. A transparency bill that terrifies Big Tech!
On Dec. 8th, there is a major hearing on this bill.
We need as many folks to show up! Come join in support of creatives!
Rsvp link in thread!
Reposted by Elfie
Whoever at Google thought it was a good idea to make the Gmail mobile app search results default to "most relevant" instead of "most recent":
That was a terrible idea and you should feel bad about yourself for having had it.
That was a terrible idea and you should feel bad about yourself for having had it.
November 25, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Whoever at Google thought it was a good idea to make the Gmail mobile app search results default to "most relevant" instead of "most recent":
That was a terrible idea and you should feel bad about yourself for having had it.
That was a terrible idea and you should feel bad about yourself for having had it.
Reposted by Elfie
I immediately wondered if @thurrott.bsky.social has seen this…
November 24, 2025 at 4:41 AM
I immediately wondered if @thurrott.bsky.social has seen this…
Reposted by Elfie
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
November 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Reposted by Elfie
Hey yall not what I wanted to do on my birthday but let it be clear
"Death of the artist" is all well & good but you cannot Seperate the art from the artist when the artist is still alive, a terf & every penny they recieve reinforces their beliefs & is used to actively harm Trans folks!
Let it Go!
"Death of the artist" is all well & good but you cannot Seperate the art from the artist when the artist is still alive, a terf & every penny they recieve reinforces their beliefs & is used to actively harm Trans folks!
Let it Go!
'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling says 'a ton' of fans are 'still with me' after trans remarks
J.K. Rowling addressed her controversial comments about transgender women on 'The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling' podcast, saying many 'Harry Potter' fans were 'grateful that I'd said what I said,' and ...
share.google
November 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Hey yall not what I wanted to do on my birthday but let it be clear
"Death of the artist" is all well & good but you cannot Seperate the art from the artist when the artist is still alive, a terf & every penny they recieve reinforces their beliefs & is used to actively harm Trans folks!
Let it Go!
"Death of the artist" is all well & good but you cannot Seperate the art from the artist when the artist is still alive, a terf & every penny they recieve reinforces their beliefs & is used to actively harm Trans folks!
Let it Go!
Reposted by Elfie
November 23, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by Elfie
DOGE was created for data theft and infrastructure dismantling and it wildly succeeded on both counts within the first few weeks of its existence. It will take a generation to rebuild what it destroyed and the breach of data is unprecedented.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
DOGE was created for data theft and infrastructure dismantling and it wildly succeeded on both counts within the first few weeks of its existence. It will take a generation to rebuild what it destroyed and the breach of data is unprecedented.
Reposted by Elfie
planned economy but it's just the president dictating what he wants to see on his television
A person directly familiar with the conversations tells Semafor that Donald Trump has personally pressed Larry Ellison to revive Brett Ratner's "Rush Hour" franchise.
www.semafor.com/article/11/2...
www.semafor.com/article/11/2...
Exclusive: How Trump is trying to remake American culture — starting with his favorite buddy-cop franchise
The president is offering some creative input on potential upcoming projects.
www.semafor.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:52 AM
planned economy but it's just the president dictating what he wants to see on his television
Reposted by Elfie
Bonus
It felt about right (and I wanted to draw their crying faces)
#hazbinhotels2 #luciferhazbinhotel #hazbinhotelcharlie #hazbinhotelfanart
It felt about right (and I wanted to draw their crying faces)
#hazbinhotels2 #luciferhazbinhotel #hazbinhotelcharlie #hazbinhotelfanart
November 23, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Bonus
It felt about right (and I wanted to draw their crying faces)
#hazbinhotels2 #luciferhazbinhotel #hazbinhotelcharlie #hazbinhotelfanart
It felt about right (and I wanted to draw their crying faces)
#hazbinhotels2 #luciferhazbinhotel #hazbinhotelcharlie #hazbinhotelfanart
Reposted by Elfie
I'm suspicious of it being called a no-longer "centralized entity." I hate that many members likely still have access to sensitive/confidential stuff, as well as likely getting shuffled to other departments. At least two are glorified government web developers, so those sites'll work worse soon.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 24, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I'm suspicious of it being called a no-longer "centralized entity." I hate that many members likely still have access to sensitive/confidential stuff, as well as likely getting shuffled to other departments. At least two are glorified government web developers, so those sites'll work worse soon.
Reposted by Elfie
Senate Republicans passed a provision that would allow Senators involved in the January 6th investigation to SUE the government for $500,000 EACH.
House Dems led and passed a bill to repeal it.
But Senator Lindsey Graham has chosen THIS of all things to take a stand on and blocked it. Typical.
House Dems led and passed a bill to repeal it.
But Senator Lindsey Graham has chosen THIS of all things to take a stand on and blocked it. Typical.
Lindsey Graham blocks House-passed bill to repeal shutdown deal provision allowing $500,000 lawsuits from senators
Sen. Lindsey Graham blocked a Democrat-led effort to approve a House-passed measure to repeal a controversial provision that allows senators to sue for $500,000 if federal investigators search their p...
www.cbsnews.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Senate Republicans passed a provision that would allow Senators involved in the January 6th investigation to SUE the government for $500,000 EACH.
House Dems led and passed a bill to repeal it.
But Senator Lindsey Graham has chosen THIS of all things to take a stand on and blocked it. Typical.
House Dems led and passed a bill to repeal it.
But Senator Lindsey Graham has chosen THIS of all things to take a stand on and blocked it. Typical.
Reposted by Elfie
and all so he could avoid the consequences of his actions, remember Musk did this cos USAID was investigating him for turning off starlink in the Ukraine during a major operation against Russia.
600,000+ people died so Elon Musk can avoid punishment for his stupid actions.
600,000+ people died so Elon Musk can avoid punishment for his stupid actions.
November 24, 2025 at 2:13 AM
and all so he could avoid the consequences of his actions, remember Musk did this cos USAID was investigating him for turning off starlink in the Ukraine during a major operation against Russia.
600,000+ people died so Elon Musk can avoid punishment for his stupid actions.
600,000+ people died so Elon Musk can avoid punishment for his stupid actions.
Reposted by Elfie
DOGE is disbanding after an estimated 600,000+ people died in other countries because of USAID cuts to lifesaving food and medication.
Elon Musk will go down as one of history's' most prolific mass murderers of children.
Anyone driving a Tesla is supporting a nazi.
Elon Musk will go down as one of history's' most prolific mass murderers of children.
Anyone driving a Tesla is supporting a nazi.
November 24, 2025 at 12:50 AM
DOGE is disbanding after an estimated 600,000+ people died in other countries because of USAID cuts to lifesaving food and medication.
Elon Musk will go down as one of history's' most prolific mass murderers of children.
Anyone driving a Tesla is supporting a nazi.
Elon Musk will go down as one of history's' most prolific mass murderers of children.
Anyone driving a Tesla is supporting a nazi.
Reposted by Elfie
if there's a reason to keep up the "tribunals for all involved" discourse one such reason it is to put in stark relief how far away some of the Dem politicking is from the mood on the ground
eric swalwell said on msnow that a major goal of a dem majority after the midterms would be for ice masks to come off and badges to come out, this is insufficient
November 24, 2025 at 3:30 AM
if there's a reason to keep up the "tribunals for all involved" discourse one such reason it is to put in stark relief how far away some of the Dem politicking is from the mood on the ground
Reposted by Elfie
Slenderman Attempted Murderer Has Escaped Group Home Custody after 7-Year Hospital Stay sure is... a headline
www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/s...
www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/s...
‘Slender Man' stabbing attacker cuts monitoring bracelet, escapes group home
One of the attackers who repeatedly stabbed their friend to please the fictional character ‘Slender Man’ cut off a monitoring bracelet and fled a group home.
www.nbcchicago.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Slenderman Attempted Murderer Has Escaped Group Home Custody after 7-Year Hospital Stay sure is... a headline
www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/s...
www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/s...
Reposted by Elfie
This is the funniest piece imaginable in the dull world of the otherwise sickly sycophantic tech review.
For real. Read it, even if you don’t give a rat’s ass about printers.
For real. Read it, even if you don’t give a rat’s ass about printers.
November 23, 2025 at 1:59 AM
This is the funniest piece imaginable in the dull world of the otherwise sickly sycophantic tech review.
For real. Read it, even if you don’t give a rat’s ass about printers.
For real. Read it, even if you don’t give a rat’s ass about printers.
Reposted by Elfie
No. Abolish. Fire. Prosecute.
This is the *moderate* position.
This is the *moderate* position.
eric swalwell said on msnow that a major goal of a dem majority after the midterms would be for ice masks to come off and badges to come out, this is insufficient
November 24, 2025 at 3:50 AM
No. Abolish. Fire. Prosecute.
This is the *moderate* position.
This is the *moderate* position.
Reposted by Elfie
What I'd really like is new research on whether there've been any improvements in the racial & gender disparities in facial recognition systems in the past 5 yrs. Run the baselines again, see who & what it gets wrong, in what contexts. We know the effects (👇🏾; ≥10, now, btw), & need more process data
Artificial Intelligence is Putting Innocent People at Risk of Being Incarcerated
There are at least seven confirmed cases of misidentification due to facial recognition technology, six of which involve Black people .
innocenceproject.org
November 23, 2025 at 9:15 PM
What I'd really like is new research on whether there've been any improvements in the racial & gender disparities in facial recognition systems in the past 5 yrs. Run the baselines again, see who & what it gets wrong, in what contexts. We know the effects (👇🏾; ≥10, now, btw), & need more process data
Reposted by Elfie
Glitch Prods. is literally making a show about why this is a bad idea...
November 23, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Glitch Prods. is literally making a show about why this is a bad idea...
Reposted by Elfie
So you made a robot stand up and talk... now what? In this over 4-hour journey, Kevin follows the promise of Disney's Living Character Initiative, an effort to populate Disney theme parks with free-roaming, interactive beings. It was touted as the future. How's it going? Watch here: bit.ly/49C6vng
November 23, 2025 at 8:10 PM
So you made a robot stand up and talk... now what? In this over 4-hour journey, Kevin follows the promise of Disney's Living Character Initiative, an effort to populate Disney theme parks with free-roaming, interactive beings. It was touted as the future. How's it going? Watch here: bit.ly/49C6vng