Sean Klein
@smklein.bsky.social
I build some things, break others, and always stop to pet the dogs
Engineer living and running in SE PDX
Engineer living and running in SE PDX
I WANT people to be critical of AI companies - they DESERVE criticism. But mindlessly claiming that "all LLMs are bad" seems like a fatally shallow critique, like saying "WiFi is bad because it can cause misinformation".
Critique the control! Critique the overpromises! But be cautious moralizing
Critique the control! Critique the overpromises! But be cautious moralizing
November 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I WANT people to be critical of AI companies - they DESERVE criticism. But mindlessly claiming that "all LLMs are bad" seems like a fatally shallow critique, like saying "WiFi is bad because it can cause misinformation".
Critique the control! Critique the overpromises! But be cautious moralizing
Critique the control! Critique the overpromises! But be cautious moralizing
A little program running on a laptop to generate text or classify data seems like it should be obviously "not that problematic", right? It's not modifying the media landscape, ingesting private data, nor causing environmental destruction.
November 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
A little program running on a laptop to generate text or classify data seems like it should be obviously "not that problematic", right? It's not modifying the media landscape, ingesting private data, nor causing environmental destruction.
It is possible to hold all those critiques and also see how the tools can be useful, in certain contexts.
It's possible to have a nuanced view without absolutist moralizing ("they are always good" / "they are always bad")
It's possible to have a nuanced view without absolutist moralizing ("they are always good" / "they are always bad")
November 26, 2025 at 7:13 PM
It is possible to hold all those critiques and also see how the tools can be useful, in certain contexts.
It's possible to have a nuanced view without absolutist moralizing ("they are always good" / "they are always bad")
It's possible to have a nuanced view without absolutist moralizing ("they are always good" / "they are always bad")
(alternately - if you wanna join for some miles, or throw ramen at my face in the middle of the night, hit me up!)
November 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
(alternately - if you wanna join for some miles, or throw ramen at my face in the middle of the night, hit me up!)
These funds go directly to programs like: The Recovery Gym, Run TRG, and the Recovery Toolkit Series. These are lifelines, and provide not only tools for recovery, but also a critical community for people who need them most.
November 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
These funds go directly to programs like: The Recovery Gym, Run TRG, and the Recovery Toolkit Series. These are lifelines, and provide not only tools for recovery, but also a critical community for people who need them most.
Reposted by Sean Klein
This is the eternal question of a software developer: Am I failing to understand this because it's too clever? Or because it's too dumb?
November 20, 2025 at 7:26 PM
This is the eternal question of a software developer: Am I failing to understand this because it's too clever? Or because it's too dumb?
Totally. I think there are like, two concerns I'd have about the ordinance:
1. Does it have any negative side-effects (e.g. on other businesses)
2. Will it hold up in court
(1) seems like "nah, it's specific enough that this couldn't be a concern"
(2) seems like a "???" but IANAL so i dunno
1. Does it have any negative side-effects (e.g. on other businesses)
2. Will it hold up in court
(1) seems like "nah, it's specific enough that this couldn't be a concern"
(2) seems like a "???" but IANAL so i dunno
November 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Totally. I think there are like, two concerns I'd have about the ordinance:
1. Does it have any negative side-effects (e.g. on other businesses)
2. Will it hold up in court
(1) seems like "nah, it's specific enough that this couldn't be a concern"
(2) seems like a "???" but IANAL so i dunno
1. Does it have any negative side-effects (e.g. on other businesses)
2. Will it hold up in court
(1) seems like "nah, it's specific enough that this couldn't be a concern"
(2) seems like a "???" but IANAL so i dunno
Fortunately, however, Planned Parenthood is not a detention center! So this would not apply to them, even with the (somewhat) vague terms
November 20, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Fortunately, however, Planned Parenthood is not a detention center! So this would not apply to them, even with the (somewhat) vague terms
I agree, this part is a little hairy. I think the statements about chemical deterrents are fortunately specific enough (e.g., Planned Parenthood would presumably not be at risk of gassing out nearby neighborhoods). But it would be a bummer if they were liable to pay for PPB support
November 20, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I agree, this part is a little hairy. I think the statements about chemical deterrents are fortunately specific enough (e.g., Planned Parenthood would presumably not be at risk of gassing out nearby neighborhoods). But it would be a bummer if they were liable to pay for PPB support
All this is to say - if you're a struggling business owner, and you wanna dodge all these beauracratic Portland fees (ugh!) I recommend:
- not taking customers prisoner
- reduce the amount of teargas you deploy onto nearby children
- not taking customers prisoner
- reduce the amount of teargas you deploy onto nearby children
November 20, 2025 at 9:18 PM
All this is to say - if you're a struggling business owner, and you wanna dodge all these beauracratic Portland fees (ugh!) I recommend:
- not taking customers prisoner
- reduce the amount of teargas you deploy onto nearby children
- not taking customers prisoner
- reduce the amount of teargas you deploy onto nearby children
If I could sanction this take, I would - it's literally an oversight. I'm hoping you can back up and drop posts like this.
November 19, 2025 at 7:09 PM
If I could sanction this take, I would - it's literally an oversight. I'm hoping you can back up and drop posts like this.
Air Conditioning Failure at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Adds to Mounting Trouble for Oregon Symphony
www.wweek.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I kinda figured they would have lowered prices to use the venue proportionally with demand, rather than let it sit vacant. Wonder if that was attempted, and there was no revenue-positive price point
November 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I kinda figured they would have lowered prices to use the venue proportionally with demand, rather than let it sit vacant. Wonder if that was attempted, and there was no revenue-positive price point
I guess the summer is hot and not the greatest time to sit inside, but I'm surprised at all that vacancy!
November 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I guess the summer is hot and not the greatest time to sit inside, but I'm surprised at all that vacancy!
The recent city audit estimated that parks maintenance alone would cost at least 500-800 million dollars.
It seemed off to look at venues collectively losing millions and ask: "could their hypothetical profits (???) be used to fill a nearly billion dollar hole?"
I'd love to see how?
It seemed off to look at venues collectively losing millions and ask: "could their hypothetical profits (???) be used to fill a nearly billion dollar hole?"
I'd love to see how?
November 19, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The recent city audit estimated that parks maintenance alone would cost at least 500-800 million dollars.
It seemed off to look at venues collectively losing millions and ask: "could their hypothetical profits (???) be used to fill a nearly billion dollar hole?"
I'd love to see how?
It seemed off to look at venues collectively losing millions and ask: "could their hypothetical profits (???) be used to fill a nearly billion dollar hole?"
I'd love to see how?
hey man, this feels hostile, I dunno why. I was just responding to:
> I wonder if that couldn't be directed to Parks, for example, to shore up their budget?
And I'm saying "I think it would take a lot of money to shore up the parks budget"
> I wonder if that couldn't be directed to Parks, for example, to shore up their budget?
And I'm saying "I think it would take a lot of money to shore up the parks budget"
November 19, 2025 at 5:23 PM
hey man, this feels hostile, I dunno why. I was just responding to:
> I wonder if that couldn't be directed to Parks, for example, to shore up their budget?
And I'm saying "I think it would take a lot of money to shore up the parks budget"
> I wonder if that couldn't be directed to Parks, for example, to shore up their budget?
And I'm saying "I think it would take a lot of money to shore up the parks budget"
oop brain missed your 'non-keller' part.
still though, regardless of how far in the red they currently are, the path to "billions of dollars profitable" for them seems really unlikely?
still though, regardless of how far in the red they currently are, the path to "billions of dollars profitable" for them seems really unlikely?
November 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
oop brain missed your 'non-keller' part.
still though, regardless of how far in the red they currently are, the path to "billions of dollars profitable" for them seems really unlikely?
still though, regardless of how far in the red they currently are, the path to "billions of dollars profitable" for them seems really unlikely?
"Across the five venues, the Keller, the only venue that can host Broadway shows, has been the sole profit center."
November 19, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"Across the five venues, the Keller, the only venue that can host Broadway shows, has been the sole profit center."
Parks maintenance needs are in the billions, there's sadly no way this comes close (and I think the WW article said they are not all profitable?)
November 19, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Parks maintenance needs are in the billions, there's sadly no way this comes close (and I think the WW article said they are not all profitable?)