emmatonkin.bsky.social
@emmatonkin.bsky.social
Researcher, sometimes lecture - currently digital health, data ethics, misc other. Charity swimathons. Ink, fiction, occasional yarn. Zombologiste à temps partiel. Citoyenne de nulle part. Franglaise. πόλλ’ ἠπίστατο ἔργα, κακῶς δ’ ἠπίστατο πάντα.
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
I regret to inform everyone that my pedantic brain couldn’t let me live until I knew whether or not dodger blue and blue jays blue are the same blue. They are ONE PANTONE NUMBER APART.
October 29, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I regret to inform everyone that my pedantic brain couldn’t let me live until I knew whether or not dodger blue and blue jays blue are the same blue. They are ONE PANTONE NUMBER APART.
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
I’m really starting to suspect that most of the tech bros haven’t actually read Tolkien, as they certainly don’t understand it.
The gentle hobbits save the “hard men” of Gondor, largely through compassion and selflessness. Not the other way around. The Christian parable is barely hidden!
The gentle hobbits save the “hard men” of Gondor, largely through compassion and selflessness. Not the other way around. The Christian parable is barely hidden!
Elon Musk: "It is time for the English to ally with the hard men, like Tommy Robinson, and fight for their survival or they shall surely all die" 29th October 2025. 2 million views in its first hour.
October 29, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I’m really starting to suspect that most of the tech bros haven’t actually read Tolkien, as they certainly don’t understand it.
The gentle hobbits save the “hard men” of Gondor, largely through compassion and selflessness. Not the other way around. The Christian parable is barely hidden!
The gentle hobbits save the “hard men” of Gondor, largely through compassion and selflessness. Not the other way around. The Christian parable is barely hidden!
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
BREAKING | Truck hauling monkeys carrying hepatitis C, herpes and Covid overturns in Mississippi
Truck hauling monkeys carrying hepatitis C, herpes and Covid overturns in Mississippi
www.independent.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 9:24 PM
BREAKING | Truck hauling monkeys carrying hepatitis C, herpes and Covid overturns in Mississippi
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
I know nothing about Dr Who, but, for Londoners, the phrase "Going For Dinner With Billie Piper" is the absolute best way to remember the order of the vertical streets running east to west in Soho (Greek, Frith, Dean, Wardour, Berwick, Poland) and has saved many a late night out
October 28, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I know nothing about Dr Who, but, for Londoners, the phrase "Going For Dinner With Billie Piper" is the absolute best way to remember the order of the vertical streets running east to west in Soho (Greek, Frith, Dean, Wardour, Berwick, Poland) and has saved many a late night out
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Emma Thompson expressing my feelings absolutely perfectly here (love her)
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"
October 28, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Emma Thompson expressing my feelings absolutely perfectly here (love her)
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Took a look at the entry they have for me in Elon's Grokipedia.
There are some surprisingly deep details, dredged up from interviews I'd long ago forgotten about, and then there are some incredibly big points that are completely wrong.
Let's roll the tape.
There are some surprisingly deep details, dredged up from interviews I'd long ago forgotten about, and then there are some incredibly big points that are completely wrong.
Let's roll the tape.
October 28, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Took a look at the entry they have for me in Elon's Grokipedia.
There are some surprisingly deep details, dredged up from interviews I'd long ago forgotten about, and then there are some incredibly big points that are completely wrong.
Let's roll the tape.
There are some surprisingly deep details, dredged up from interviews I'd long ago forgotten about, and then there are some incredibly big points that are completely wrong.
Let's roll the tape.
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
I am pleased to unleash upon the world my latest attempt to persuade people that the French Revolution was a very complex set of events that happened to a very complex society in ways it's best to try to understand as such.
The Language of confiance and the French cahiers de doléances of 1789 | The Historical Journal | Cambridge Core
The Language of confiance and the French cahiers de doléances of 1789
www.cambridge.org
October 28, 2025 at 11:19 AM
I am pleased to unleash upon the world my latest attempt to persuade people that the French Revolution was a very complex set of events that happened to a very complex society in ways it's best to try to understand as such.
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Ofering no evidence, Sam Altman says OpenAI has 'mitigated' mental health challenges its products present.
"I have major questions — informed by my four years at OpenAI and my independent research since leaving the company last year — about whether these mental health issues are actually fixed."
"I have major questions — informed by my four years at OpenAI and my independent research since leaving the company last year — about whether these mental health issues are actually fixed."
Opinion | I Worked at OpenAI. It’s Not Doing Enough to Protect People.
www.nytimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Ofering no evidence, Sam Altman says OpenAI has 'mitigated' mental health challenges its products present.
"I have major questions — informed by my four years at OpenAI and my independent research since leaving the company last year — about whether these mental health issues are actually fixed."
"I have major questions — informed by my four years at OpenAI and my independent research since leaving the company last year — about whether these mental health issues are actually fixed."
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Still flogging the dead horse of my folklore / folk horror starter pack. If you can't flog a dead horse this time of year, when can you?!
UK & Ireland suggestions welcome. Who am I missing?
UK & Ireland suggestions welcome. Who am I missing?
Anyone craving more folklore and folk horror in their bluesky lives might like the starter pack I made. I'm always adding to it, especially trying to include artists, musicians, performers, morris dancers, mummers, etc. Let me know if I'm missing anyone :) go.bsky.app/LXSZqSM
October 28, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Still flogging the dead horse of my folklore / folk horror starter pack. If you can't flog a dead horse this time of year, when can you?!
UK & Ireland suggestions welcome. Who am I missing?
UK & Ireland suggestions welcome. Who am I missing?
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
“The research shows that doctors who primarily rely on generative AI for decision-making face considerable skepticism from fellow clinicians, who correlate their use of AI with a lack of clinical skill and overall competence, resulting in a diminished perceived quality of patient care.”
Doctors who use AI viewed negatively by their peers, study shows
Hopkins researchers find that despite pressure on clinicians to be early adopters of AI, many face skepticism from peers for using it
hub.jhu.edu
October 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
“The research shows that doctors who primarily rely on generative AI for decision-making face considerable skepticism from fellow clinicians, who correlate their use of AI with a lack of clinical skill and overall competence, resulting in a diminished perceived quality of patient care.”
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
The CPPA just published the final version of the CCPA Regulation. This update includes the regulations covering cybersecurity audits, risk assessments, ADMT, insurance companies, and updates to existing CCPA regulations. See lnkd.in/dyaeHWwd.
October 27, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The CPPA just published the final version of the CCPA Regulation. This update includes the regulations covering cybersecurity audits, risk assessments, ADMT, insurance companies, and updates to existing CCPA regulations. See lnkd.in/dyaeHWwd.
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
I write middle-grade whodunnits, so you might want to dismiss my opinion out of hand. But I think cosy games/crime sometimes miss the fact that blankets are only cosy when it's cold outside. A world without conflict / a story without stakes isn't cosy, it's just safe.
We need to talk about the cozyfication of games because it’s a serious disease, possibly as bad as the edgyfication of the 90s and the grittyfication of the 00s.
October 27, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I write middle-grade whodunnits, so you might want to dismiss my opinion out of hand. But I think cosy games/crime sometimes miss the fact that blankets are only cosy when it's cold outside. A world without conflict / a story without stakes isn't cosy, it's just safe.
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Super spookytime sale! All four seasons of ROADTRIP Z are $1.99-$2.99 (USD & CAD) apiece in ebook until 10/31. Come get your competence and community amid zombie apocalypse!
books2read.com/cottoncrossing
books2read.com/intheruins
books2read.com/pocalypseroad
books2read.com/atlantabound
books2read.com/cottoncrossing
books2read.com/intheruins
books2read.com/pocalypseroad
books2read.com/atlantabound
October 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Super spookytime sale! All four seasons of ROADTRIP Z are $1.99-$2.99 (USD & CAD) apiece in ebook until 10/31. Come get your competence and community amid zombie apocalypse!
books2read.com/cottoncrossing
books2read.com/intheruins
books2read.com/pocalypseroad
books2read.com/atlantabound
books2read.com/cottoncrossing
books2read.com/intheruins
books2read.com/pocalypseroad
books2read.com/atlantabound
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Was just reading about the history of BST, clocks changing etc, and discovered that the dude who campaigned for it in the early 20th century, a builder called William Willett, is the great-great grandfather of Chris Martin from Coldplay, which is what the song “Clocks” should be about, but isn’t
October 27, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Was just reading about the history of BST, clocks changing etc, and discovered that the dude who campaigned for it in the early 20th century, a builder called William Willett, is the great-great grandfather of Chris Martin from Coldplay, which is what the song “Clocks” should be about, but isn’t
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
In huge positive news, the Australian government just ruled out handing the work of their country’s creatives to AI companies for free 🙌
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
October 27, 2025 at 6:35 AM
In huge positive news, the Australian government just ruled out handing the work of their country’s creatives to AI companies for free 🙌
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Thank you to the NES and specifically to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link for introducing me to the concept of getting uncontrollably angry at a television screen
I got to write this nice piece for @theguardian.com about the birthday of the Nintendo Entertainment System. Something that at least isn't full sorrow and horror, you know.
Happy birthday to the NES, companion to millions of Nintendo childhoods
Forty years ago today, the Nintendo Entertainment System was released in the US – and a generation of kids were sucked into video games for life
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Thank you to the NES and specifically to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link for introducing me to the concept of getting uncontrollably angry at a television screen
#ARDUOUS2025 at #ECAI today! Keynote by Stefan Lüdtke on Coping with Label Scarcity in Sensor-based HAR, followed by the best paper presentation by Hoan Tran et al, Towards Practical, Best Practice Video Annotation to support HAR, on development of a silver standard for video annotation.
October 26, 2025 at 9:38 AM
#ARDUOUS2025 at #ECAI today! Keynote by Stefan Lüdtke on Coping with Label Scarcity in Sensor-based HAR, followed by the best paper presentation by Hoan Tran et al, Towards Practical, Best Practice Video Annotation to support HAR, on development of a silver standard for video annotation.
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
"Since when did we become Big Tech's free PR department?"
I'm really pleased to see an article like this pushing back on the uncritical adoption of (gen)AI by our universities. It hits all the major concerns.
I'm really pleased to see an article like this pushing back on the uncritical adoption of (gen)AI by our universities. It hits all the major concerns.
Belgian AI scientists are advocating *against* the use of AI in academia. “If independent thinking is no longer encouraged at university, where would it?” apache.be/2025/10/24/b...
Belgian AI scientists resist the use of AI in academia
Several AI scientists have published an open letter calling for a ban on AI use by students.
apache.be
October 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
"Since when did we become Big Tech's free PR department?"
I'm really pleased to see an article like this pushing back on the uncritical adoption of (gen)AI by our universities. It hits all the major concerns.
I'm really pleased to see an article like this pushing back on the uncritical adoption of (gen)AI by our universities. It hits all the major concerns.
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Silicon Valley company (of course!) responsible for mystery object that crashed into commercial plane, forcing emergency landing.
"WindBorne Systems, a Palo Alto startup, uses atmospheric balloons to collect weather data for AI-based forecast models"
www.sfgate.com/travel/artic...
"WindBorne Systems, a Palo Alto startup, uses atmospheric balloons to collect weather data for AI-based forecast models"
www.sfgate.com/travel/artic...
Bay Area tech CEO says test project likely struck United flight at 36,000 feet
Speculation grew because the plane was hit at an unusually high altitude.
www.sfgate.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Silicon Valley company (of course!) responsible for mystery object that crashed into commercial plane, forcing emergency landing.
"WindBorne Systems, a Palo Alto startup, uses atmospheric balloons to collect weather data for AI-based forecast models"
www.sfgate.com/travel/artic...
"WindBorne Systems, a Palo Alto startup, uses atmospheric balloons to collect weather data for AI-based forecast models"
www.sfgate.com/travel/artic...
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Preliminary findings:
🚫TikTok & Meta failed to grant researchers adequate access to public data.
🚫Meta failed to provide simple ways to notify illegal content and to allow users to challenge moderation decisions.
This is a duty, not a choice.
link.europa.eu/JYQrBX
🚫TikTok & Meta failed to grant researchers adequate access to public data.
🚫Meta failed to provide simple ways to notify illegal content and to allow users to challenge moderation decisions.
This is a duty, not a choice.
link.europa.eu/JYQrBX
October 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Preliminary findings:
🚫TikTok & Meta failed to grant researchers adequate access to public data.
🚫Meta failed to provide simple ways to notify illegal content and to allow users to challenge moderation decisions.
This is a duty, not a choice.
link.europa.eu/JYQrBX
🚫TikTok & Meta failed to grant researchers adequate access to public data.
🚫Meta failed to provide simple ways to notify illegal content and to allow users to challenge moderation decisions.
This is a duty, not a choice.
link.europa.eu/JYQrBX
Reminds me of how Lovecraft's characters occasionally babble about geometry being "abnormal, non-Euclidean, and loathsomely redolent of spheres and dimensions apart from ours".
Shoggoths in the wainscoting, probably.
Shoggoths in the wainscoting, probably.
Oh my god some fucking tech dingdong posted this on Twitter with the caption "AI games are going to be amazing" totally seriously, you have to watch it. You have to. In full screen.
October 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reminds me of how Lovecraft's characters occasionally babble about geometry being "abnormal, non-Euclidean, and loathsomely redolent of spheres and dimensions apart from ours".
Shoggoths in the wainscoting, probably.
Shoggoths in the wainscoting, probably.
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
“Any politician who seriously doubts that the current US government could use AWS, Azure, and Google as a political lever is deceiving themselves and the public. … If Europe doesn't finally get moving, the AWS outage was just a mild breeze compared to what the old world can predictably expect.”
Comment on the total outage at AWS: Learned nothing in the last 30 years
After the recent AWS outage, multi-cloud is supposedly the answer. But that's misleading – US dependency is the core problem, argues Martin Loschwitz.
www.heise.de
October 24, 2025 at 3:40 PM
“Any politician who seriously doubts that the current US government could use AWS, Azure, and Google as a political lever is deceiving themselves and the public. … If Europe doesn't finally get moving, the AWS outage was just a mild breeze compared to what the old world can predictably expect.”
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
Subscription service where the cockpit gets set to max heat with the door stuck open unless the mech can connect to AWS us-east-1
October 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Subscription service where the cockpit gets set to max heat with the door stuck open unless the mech can connect to AWS us-east-1
Reposted by emmatonkin.bsky.social
this is a weirdly specific thing but what would you think would be more likely to see on a fictional giant combat robot?
1. Middleware as glue to different services
2. Hard real-time operating system kernel as integrating layer
3. Something else
1. Middleware as glue to different services
2. Hard real-time operating system kernel as integrating layer
3. Something else
October 24, 2025 at 1:30 PM
this is a weirdly specific thing but what would you think would be more likely to see on a fictional giant combat robot?
1. Middleware as glue to different services
2. Hard real-time operating system kernel as integrating layer
3. Something else
1. Middleware as glue to different services
2. Hard real-time operating system kernel as integrating layer
3. Something else