Steve Ely
@stevereally.bsky.social
Longtime librarian, currently unaffiliated.
whole thread is valuable
this is why AI manufactures bullshit and just throws random words and phrases in with seemingly no context or relation, what professionals are spinning as "hallucinations"
according to its own valuing system, all of those pieces of misinformation it creates are exactly as "real" and "accurate"
according to its own valuing system, all of those pieces of misinformation it creates are exactly as "real" and "accurate"
December 22, 2025 at 2:58 PM
whole thread is valuable
Reposted by Steve Ely
so here's a very serious misunderstanding of how AI works
when you summarize a book, you are taking in all of the information in context, assessing what is important to understanding the broad strokes of the work, which requires reading comprehension and critical thinking
AI can't do either
when you summarize a book, you are taking in all of the information in context, assessing what is important to understanding the broad strokes of the work, which requires reading comprehension and critical thinking
AI can't do either
What about this is controversial? Beginning an inquiry by using AI to survey material is a very normal and appropriate use.
December 21, 2025 at 7:26 PM
so here's a very serious misunderstanding of how AI works
when you summarize a book, you are taking in all of the information in context, assessing what is important to understanding the broad strokes of the work, which requires reading comprehension and critical thinking
AI can't do either
when you summarize a book, you are taking in all of the information in context, assessing what is important to understanding the broad strokes of the work, which requires reading comprehension and critical thinking
AI can't do either
Reposted by Steve Ely
"Mele Kalikimaka" was written by R. Alex Anderson, a popular songwriter in the 'Hapa haole' fusion genre, in 1949.
So it's a white guy, born in Honolulu, transliterating "Merry Christmas" into the Hawaiian alphabet.
A controversial context 😬 but still a pretty song.
So it's a white guy, born in Honolulu, transliterating "Merry Christmas" into the Hawaiian alphabet.
A controversial context 😬 but still a pretty song.
"Mele Kalikimaka" was first recorded in 1950 by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters, 9 years before Hawaiian statehood.
'Mele Kalikimaka' isn't a Hawaiian phrase, it's a transliteration of 'Merry Christmas' using phonological structure of the Hawaiian language, which lacks 's' and 'r' sounds.
'Mele Kalikimaka' isn't a Hawaiian phrase, it's a transliteration of 'Merry Christmas' using phonological structure of the Hawaiian language, which lacks 's' and 'r' sounds.
Mele Kalikimaka
YouTube video by Bing Crosby - Topic
youtu.be
December 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
"Mele Kalikimaka" was written by R. Alex Anderson, a popular songwriter in the 'Hapa haole' fusion genre, in 1949.
So it's a white guy, born in Honolulu, transliterating "Merry Christmas" into the Hawaiian alphabet.
A controversial context 😬 but still a pretty song.
So it's a white guy, born in Honolulu, transliterating "Merry Christmas" into the Hawaiian alphabet.
A controversial context 😬 but still a pretty song.
Reposted by Steve Ely
Imagine if just by refusing to comment, you could stop any story from running. You would literally never find out anything unflattering about anybody. It amounts to asking people for their blessing to publish your reporting about them.
CBS News chief Bari Weiss pulls 60 Minutes story
Weiss said investigation had to include comments from Trump administration
60M's Sharyn Alfonsi said multiple US agencies refused to comment - and this lets WH veto coverage
My NPR story
www.npr.org/2025/12/22/g...
Weiss said investigation had to include comments from Trump administration
60M's Sharyn Alfonsi said multiple US agencies refused to comment - and this lets WH veto coverage
My NPR story
www.npr.org/2025/12/22/g...
CBS News chief Bari Weiss pulls '60 Minutes' story, sparking outcry
CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled a 60 Minutes segment on allegations of abuses at an El Salvador detention center where the Trump administration sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants.
www.npr.org
December 22, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Imagine if just by refusing to comment, you could stop any story from running. You would literally never find out anything unflattering about anybody. It amounts to asking people for their blessing to publish your reporting about them.
Some musical artists have all, some, or none of their stuff very available through Bandcamp, and any proportion is pretty understandable. What's weird, though, is when album can be bought there but can't be added to your Bandcamp wishlist. I do not understand that choice by the artist (or label).
December 20, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Some musical artists have all, some, or none of their stuff very available through Bandcamp, and any proportion is pretty understandable. What's weird, though, is when album can be bought there but can't be added to your Bandcamp wishlist. I do not understand that choice by the artist (or label).
Reposted by Steve Ely
Mark Kelly is being targeted by the administration for pointing out a clear facet of military tradition and American law. Kelly then voted to support a nomination offered up by the administration that is trying to censor and prosecute him. And people wonder why there’s so much cynicism.
December 19, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Mark Kelly is being targeted by the administration for pointing out a clear facet of military tradition and American law. Kelly then voted to support a nomination offered up by the administration that is trying to censor and prosecute him. And people wonder why there’s so much cynicism.
So many album reviews on Qobuz show the review copyright belongs to TiVo. Weird. The makers of digital video recorders? Apparently, the AllMusic website, a very unsurprising source of album reviews, was sold to TiVo Inc. in 2007. Oof, capitalism; what a mess.
December 17, 2025 at 3:23 PM
So many album reviews on Qobuz show the review copyright belongs to TiVo. Weird. The makers of digital video recorders? Apparently, the AllMusic website, a very unsurprising source of album reviews, was sold to TiVo Inc. in 2007. Oof, capitalism; what a mess.
Reposted by Steve Ely
The AI slop at @openevidence.bsky.social catches @jama.com out, adding to problems involving top journals. @emilybender.bsky.social @olivia.science @irisvanrooij.bsky.social @anitachan.bsky.social
www.the-geyser.com/openevidence...
www.the-geyser.com/openevidence...
OpenEvidence Is Also AI Slop
JAMA joins NEJM on the AI Fever Train, and it’s another pileup of nonsense
www.the-geyser.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The AI slop at @openevidence.bsky.social catches @jama.com out, adding to problems involving top journals. @emilybender.bsky.social @olivia.science @irisvanrooij.bsky.social @anitachan.bsky.social
www.the-geyser.com/openevidence...
www.the-geyser.com/openevidence...
Reposted by Steve Ely
Guillot’s openness about the potential for unprecedented military action in the U.S. comes as the White House, Pentagon, and Justice Department continue to refuse to rule out summary executions of Americans on Trump’s secret enemies list, after weeks of requests for clarifications from The Intercept
NEW: U.S. Military Willing to Attack “Designated Terrorist Organizations” Within America, General Says
“That is one of the concerns with the administration asserting that the President essentially has a license to kill outside the law,” says expert.
theintercept.com/2025/12/16/t...
“That is one of the concerns with the administration asserting that the President essentially has a license to kill outside the law,” says expert.
theintercept.com/2025/12/16/t...
U.S. Military Willing to Attack “Designated Terrorist Organizations” Within America, General Says
“If I had no concerns and I was confident in the lawful order, I would definitely execute that order.”
theintercept.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Guillot’s openness about the potential for unprecedented military action in the U.S. comes as the White House, Pentagon, and Justice Department continue to refuse to rule out summary executions of Americans on Trump’s secret enemies list, after weeks of requests for clarifications from The Intercept
Reposted by Steve Ely
In one of my classes I teach how to write abstracts. Students *always* say that the experience of writing an abstract forces them to know their work differently, to see it anew & understand its contribution.
Like so much AI, the product isn’t the point. Struggling & learning to make a thing is key.
Like so much AI, the product isn’t the point. Struggling & learning to make a thing is key.
The ACM Digital Library, where a LOT of computing-related research is published (I'd say at least 75% of my own publications), is now not only providing (without consent of the authors and without opt-in by readers) AI-generated summaries of papers, but they appear as the *default* over abstracts.
December 17, 2025 at 2:16 AM
In one of my classes I teach how to write abstracts. Students *always* say that the experience of writing an abstract forces them to know their work differently, to see it anew & understand its contribution.
Like so much AI, the product isn’t the point. Struggling & learning to make a thing is key.
Like so much AI, the product isn’t the point. Struggling & learning to make a thing is key.
Reposted by Steve Ely
The ACM Digital Library, where a LOT of computing-related research is published (I'd say at least 75% of my own publications), is now not only providing (without consent of the authors and without opt-in by readers) AI-generated summaries of papers, but they appear as the *default* over abstracts.
December 16, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The ACM Digital Library, where a LOT of computing-related research is published (I'd say at least 75% of my own publications), is now not only providing (without consent of the authors and without opt-in by readers) AI-generated summaries of papers, but they appear as the *default* over abstracts.
Reposted by Steve Ely
I use Vivaldi, which is an early chromium fork, if you're looking for a replacement that's good.
You can change almost everything, even right click menus. It can use Chrome add-ons but also has native adblockers which work very well. No ads, no AI, no bullshit 😌
You can change almost everything, even right click menus. It can use Chrome add-ons but also has native adblockers which work very well. No ads, no AI, no bullshit 😌
December 16, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I use Vivaldi, which is an early chromium fork, if you're looking for a replacement that's good.
You can change almost everything, even right click menus. It can use Chrome add-ons but also has native adblockers which work very well. No ads, no AI, no bullshit 😌
You can change almost everything, even right click menus. It can use Chrome add-ons but also has native adblockers which work very well. No ads, no AI, no bullshit 😌
Reposted by Steve Ely
NCAR is foundational scientific infrastructure. This is escalating the assault on climate science, and there is a direct line between this step and the loss of many human lives.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:33 AM
NCAR is foundational scientific infrastructure. This is escalating the assault on climate science, and there is a direct line between this step and the loss of many human lives.
Reposted by Steve Ely
I've tried and failed a couple times to write a post explaining how serious this would be. NCAR is globally essential to our climate change response. This can't just be replaced. Every scientist in the world will be doing climate research with one hand tied behind their back for at least a decade
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I've tried and failed a couple times to write a post explaining how serious this would be. NCAR is globally essential to our climate change response. This can't just be replaced. Every scientist in the world will be doing climate research with one hand tied behind their back for at least a decade
Reposted by Steve Ely
No. No. No!
This is critical research. It's not even centered on climate. It's solar physics! It's geomagnetic storms! It's space weather! It's sunspots!
It's a research center needed for satellites and spaceflight!
This is critical research. It's not even centered on climate. It's solar physics! It's geomagnetic storms! It's space weather! It's sunspots!
It's a research center needed for satellites and spaceflight!
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
No. No. No!
This is critical research. It's not even centered on climate. It's solar physics! It's geomagnetic storms! It's space weather! It's sunspots!
It's a research center needed for satellites and spaceflight!
This is critical research. It's not even centered on climate. It's solar physics! It's geomagnetic storms! It's space weather! It's sunspots!
It's a research center needed for satellites and spaceflight!
Reposted by Steve Ely
it's actually kinda funny in a way to get to the finish line of curing cancer and having the government go eh you know what. never mind
A tiny trial in New York has shown that personalized mRNA vaccines can provoke massive, lasting immune responses against pancreatic cancer, even as sweeping federal cuts now threaten the fragile labs required to produce them.
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/a-breakthr...
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/a-breakthr...
December 13, 2025 at 2:50 AM
it's actually kinda funny in a way to get to the finish line of curing cancer and having the government go eh you know what. never mind
Reposted by Steve Ely
As someone whose life was fundamentally altered by Lyme, RFK Jr. can go to hell. It has been increasingly hard to get diagnosed and treated for Lyme because grifters have flocked to the area. There are countless "specialists" who diagnose Lyme w/out testing and suggest ridiculous "treatments." 1/
RFK, Jr.–Backed Lyme Disease Conspiracy Theory May Be Probed under New Bill
www.scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-...
President Donald Trump is expected to sign a defense bill this week that orders an investigation into whether the U.S. military bioengineered Lyme disease
www.scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-...
President Donald Trump is expected to sign a defense bill this week that orders an investigation into whether the U.S. military bioengineered Lyme disease
RFK, Jr.–Backed Lyme Disease Conspiracy Theory May Be Probed under New Bill
President Donald Trump is expected to sign a defense bill this week that orders an investigation into whether the U.S. military bioengineered Lyme disease
www.scientificamerican.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:15 PM
As someone whose life was fundamentally altered by Lyme, RFK Jr. can go to hell. It has been increasingly hard to get diagnosed and treated for Lyme because grifters have flocked to the area. There are countless "specialists" who diagnose Lyme w/out testing and suggest ridiculous "treatments." 1/
Reposted by Steve Ely
Spoke with @nickturse.bsky.social.
“That is one of the concerns with the administration asserting that the President essentially has a license to kill outside the law based on his own say so. That prerogative might be wielded elsewhere — including inside the US.”
theintercept.com/2025/12/16/t...
“That is one of the concerns with the administration asserting that the President essentially has a license to kill outside the law based on his own say so. That prerogative might be wielded elsewhere — including inside the US.”
theintercept.com/2025/12/16/t...
U.S. Military Willing to Attack “Designated Terrorist Organizations” Within America, General Says
“If I had no concerns and I was confident in the lawful order, I would definitely execute that order.”
theintercept.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Spoke with @nickturse.bsky.social.
“That is one of the concerns with the administration asserting that the President essentially has a license to kill outside the law based on his own say so. That prerogative might be wielded elsewhere — including inside the US.”
theintercept.com/2025/12/16/t...
“That is one of the concerns with the administration asserting that the President essentially has a license to kill outside the law based on his own say so. That prerogative might be wielded elsewhere — including inside the US.”
theintercept.com/2025/12/16/t...
Reposted by Steve Ely
"Guillot’s openness about the potential for unprecedented military action within U.S. borders comes as the White House, Pentagon, and Justice Department continue to refuse to rule out summary executions of Americans on Trump’s secret enemies list, after weeks of requests for clarifications"
NEW: U.S. Military Willing to Attack “Designated Terrorist Organizations” Within America, General Says
“That is one of the concerns with the administration asserting that the President essentially has a license to kill outside the law,” says expert.
theintercept.com/2025/12/16/t...
“That is one of the concerns with the administration asserting that the President essentially has a license to kill outside the law,” says expert.
theintercept.com/2025/12/16/t...
U.S. Military Willing to Attack “Designated Terrorist Organizations” Within America, General Says
“If I had no concerns and I was confident in the lawful order, I would definitely execute that order.”
theintercept.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:43 PM
"Guillot’s openness about the potential for unprecedented military action within U.S. borders comes as the White House, Pentagon, and Justice Department continue to refuse to rule out summary executions of Americans on Trump’s secret enemies list, after weeks of requests for clarifications"
Reposted by Steve Ely
Originalism taken to the limit just sucks every universal aspiration and value out of the constitution and turns it into, essentially, Johnson vs McIntosh's courts of the conqueror.
December 16, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Originalism taken to the limit just sucks every universal aspiration and value out of the constitution and turns it into, essentially, Johnson vs McIntosh's courts of the conqueror.
Reposted by Steve Ely
Another example of how fucked originalism is as a methodology. Basically directly imports schmittian colonialism into the constitution, like hey there were some white guys who made an apartheid state and hoarded the weapons for themselves and so we have to read it like a settler colonial hoard law
NEW: 6th Cir upholds the fed law barring undocumented immigrants from having guns.
What's shocking, though, is Judge Thapar's separate opinion arguing that noncitizens lack not only 2nd Am rights, but likely 1st, 4th & other const'l rights! 🧵
www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf...
What's shocking, though, is Judge Thapar's separate opinion arguing that noncitizens lack not only 2nd Am rights, but likely 1st, 4th & other const'l rights! 🧵
www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf...
www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov
December 16, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Another example of how fucked originalism is as a methodology. Basically directly imports schmittian colonialism into the constitution, like hey there were some white guys who made an apartheid state and hoarded the weapons for themselves and so we have to read it like a settler colonial hoard law
Reposted by Steve Ely
Just so I'm clear on this, computer memory has tripled in price because a bunch of it that hasn't been produced yet has been ordered to populate GPUs that aren't installed in data centers that aren't built yet in order to service a demand that doesn't exist to make profits that don't happen.
December 15, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Just so I'm clear on this, computer memory has tripled in price because a bunch of it that hasn't been produced yet has been ordered to populate GPUs that aren't installed in data centers that aren't built yet in order to service a demand that doesn't exist to make profits that don't happen.
Reposted by Steve Ely
Under proposed new rules, aside from having to turn over your social media & possibly your DNA to visit the US, if you install the Electronic System for Travel Authorization app, it'll collect & send your location data to the US government as a means to confirm that you have indeed left the country.
While most reporters focused on the 5yrs social media disclosure to visit the US, few noticed that US Customs and Border Protection could soon also demand your DNA as part of an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) application just to visit the US. www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...
DNA and family history: What US authorities could demand you hand over at the border
Exclusive: US Customs and Border Protection could soon demand your DNA as part of an Esta application
www.independent.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Under proposed new rules, aside from having to turn over your social media & possibly your DNA to visit the US, if you install the Electronic System for Travel Authorization app, it'll collect & send your location data to the US government as a means to confirm that you have indeed left the country.
Reposted by Steve Ely
There’s a specific mechanism in authoritarian movements that we’re seeing play out in real-time across American media and tech. It’s a simple rule: "If we cannot co-opt it, we must destroy it."
It is the logic of "scorched earth." It's the logic of the Nero Decree and it's happening right now. 🧵
It is the logic of "scorched earth." It's the logic of the Nero Decree and it's happening right now. 🧵
December 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
There’s a specific mechanism in authoritarian movements that we’re seeing play out in real-time across American media and tech. It’s a simple rule: "If we cannot co-opt it, we must destroy it."
It is the logic of "scorched earth." It's the logic of the Nero Decree and it's happening right now. 🧵
It is the logic of "scorched earth." It's the logic of the Nero Decree and it's happening right now. 🧵
Reposted by Steve Ely
Armed ICE agents trapped US citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers. Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN. They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers. Every person present was a US citizen.
Federal agents use chemical irritant on crowd in Somali neighborhood of Minneapolis amid Trump crackdown
Federal agents have used chemical irritant to disperse a crowd in a heavily Somali neighborhood in Minneapolis. This happened Tuesday during a identification checks amid the Trump administration's cra...
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Armed ICE agents trapped US citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers. Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN. They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers. Every person present was a US citizen.