Charles Ofria
@ofria.bsky.social
Prof of Computer Science and Ecology, Evolution & Behavior @ Michigan State University. I study the evolution of complexity, major transitions, genetic programming, artificial life, and algorithm design (and do lots of open source C++ development.)
BUT - I’m going to stay hopeful! I mean up to 20 will make it to round two…
October 15, 2025 at 1:45 PM
BUT - I’m going to stay hopeful! I mean up to 20 will make it to round two…
Oh - that is a good idea! We’ll have to think about if there’s something else we can do with ours as well. Blog entry if nothing else. ;-)
October 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Oh - that is a good idea! We’ll have to think about if there’s something else we can do with ours as well. Blog entry if nothing else. ;-)
Huh - for me it’s Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi! Some interesting biology in there.
August 24, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Huh - for me it’s Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi! Some interesting biology in there.
It does also allow us to learn about those few companies who try to stick to their values despite political winds.
June 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
It does also allow us to learn about those few companies who try to stick to their values despite political winds.
A couple of years later, my dad mentioned that the only reason his small business could afford someone so incredibly skilled is that no one else would hire her. I remember being so confused by that and then frustrated on her behalf when I learned why. (2/2)
April 19, 2025 at 2:49 PM
A couple of years later, my dad mentioned that the only reason his small business could afford someone so incredibly skilled is that no one else would hire her. I remember being so confused by that and then frustrated on her behalf when I learned why. (2/2)
Early 1980's, my dad hired a (clearly trans) programmer who was amazing. I got to know her before I even knew transphobia was a thing. My parents were the least judgemental people I've ever known so as a kid I never even had reason to think about it beyond "huh, that's different". (1/2)
April 19, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Early 1980's, my dad hired a (clearly trans) programmer who was amazing. I got to know her before I even knew transphobia was a thing. My parents were the least judgemental people I've ever known so as a kid I never even had reason to think about it beyond "huh, that's different". (1/2)
The goal is for liberal education to teach you how to critically think. That helps with both A and B, but they're not the only point of it. Critical thinking helps in all parts of your life.
And counterexamples will always exist. No form of education (or anything else) will help universally.
And counterexamples will always exist. No form of education (or anything else) will help universally.
April 15, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The goal is for liberal education to teach you how to critically think. That helps with both A and B, but they're not the only point of it. Critical thinking helps in all parts of your life.
And counterexamples will always exist. No form of education (or anything else) will help universally.
And counterexamples will always exist. No form of education (or anything else) will help universally.
Wow, those are really gorgeous.
April 5, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Wow, those are really gorgeous.
I agree 100%. And yet I would take him back right now with hearty enthusiasm.
March 5, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I agree 100%. And yet I would take him back right now with hearty enthusiasm.
The interesting part is that Musk is putting a lot of trust in Trump here. If the two of them have a serious falling out, Musk will likely end up going to jail for a very long time.
February 8, 2025 at 1:21 AM
The interesting part is that Musk is putting a lot of trust in Trump here. If the two of them have a serious falling out, Musk will likely end up going to jail for a very long time.
Indeed, I don't post a lot about politics, but I do try to stay as informed as I can. Here's a NYTimes article (gift link) that sums up the current situation well: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/u...
Trump Brazenly Defies Laws in Escalating Executive Power Grab (Gift Article)
In the radical opening weeks of his second term, President Trump has appeared to feel little constraint by any need to show respect for the rule of law.
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Indeed, I don't post a lot about politics, but I do try to stay as informed as I can. Here's a NYTimes article (gift link) that sums up the current situation well: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/u...
Same. But even then, it's really hard to have a sense of which other economies are going to hold up the best in the face of the U.S. economy sliding. It might make sense to spread the money around, but that is even more of a hassle.
February 2, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Same. But even then, it's really hard to have a sense of which other economies are going to hold up the best in the face of the U.S. economy sliding. It might make sense to spread the money around, but that is even more of a hassle.
They have already paused research funding and (I think?) student financial aid, while laying the groundwork to scale back H1B visas (needed to recruit international faculty) and overhaul accreditation. I worry that universities are too passive, though I'm not sure how they might effectively respond.
January 28, 2025 at 4:17 PM
They have already paused research funding and (I think?) student financial aid, while laying the groundwork to scale back H1B visas (needed to recruit international faculty) and overhaul accreditation. I worry that universities are too passive, though I'm not sure how they might effectively respond.
That's what I was trying to figure out. We're not near any trees, so I assume it was something with how the light glinted off the ice?
January 15, 2025 at 1:14 PM
That's what I was trying to figure out. We're not near any trees, so I assume it was something with how the light glinted off the ice?