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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 36m

Well both teams flopped on their big chance in the 12th… and the MLB even tried to help the Mariners

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 49m

2nd and 3rd with one out and no runs ouch

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 50m

Now now, that was not a great defensive play. That was a terrible base running error.

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 2h

Skubal had another inning in him…

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 5h

I wasn’t seeing the wrinkle that the Nobel Prize winner, champion of democracy and decrier of election fraud, is apparently politically “conservative” and also a big fan of dt.

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 9h

ICYMI, terrifying gift article, and thread👇

Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 1d

“This month, OpenAI…graced the internet with a technology that most of us probably weren’t ready for. The company released an app called Sora, which lets users instantly generate realistic-looking videos with AI.”

These companies are literally force feeding us (reality-destroying) poison. Gift link

What the Arrival of A.I.-Fabricated Video Means for Us

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Matthew J Kuiper

S.J. Pearce @homophonous.bsky.social · 11h

It also tells you a lot about the way the people in charge view the Christianity that they pretend to wield as a cudgel.

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 11h

Federal agents aren’t trying to keep the peace. They want violence to escalate so that Trump can declare martial law.

They shot a reverend in the head with pepper balls while he was praying in front of an ICE facility. If that doesn’t tell you where we are as a country, nothing will.

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 11h

But then, it must be nice to have oneself featured in articles about “forward looking” “innovation.” It’s also nice to not be lumped together with those awful baddies, aka AI resisters and skeptics.

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 12h

Not to be mean, but I’m referring to being suckers for the AI hype and propaganda. Our training as academics should *at minimum* make us first question the assumptions behind AI boosterism and proceed cautiously before we simply “adopt.”

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 13h

I'm sorry, but looking at the 4 examples of "emerging" classroom "innovations" sent to me in this email, I'm like nope, nope, nope, nope. As for their being "pioneers" who are enhancing student learning... I lean more toward their being "suckers" who are ultimately undermining learning.

What does effective AI integration in college courses actually look like?

The Chronicle conducted a nationwide survey of more than 850 faculty members and academic leaders and conducted in-depth interviews to find out.

The result is a new report: “The Emerging Multimedia Classroom: How AI Is Changing Course Design and Delivery.” Learn how innovative faculty are reimagining instruction with AI, and get practical insights for your own classroom:

An anthropology professor uses AI to generate historical visualizations, turning them into teachable moments about digital literacy.

A language instructor created a virtual conversation partner that gives students 24/7 practice opportunities.

A writing professor employs AI to help students craft audience personas and refine their work using iterative prompting.

A social sciences professor uses AI to generate songs that make complex concepts memorable.

These pioneers aren't just experimenting — they're thoughtfully integrating AI to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

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Reposted by Matthew J Kuiper

Juan Cole @jricole.bsky.social · 14h

I want my money back.

Middle East Eye (Unofficial) @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social · 20h

US taxpayers spent over $33bn on Israel's wars over two years - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/us-taxpayers-spent-over-33bn-israels-wars-over-two-years

US taxpayers spent over $33bn on Israel's wars over two years

<article data-history-node-id="429930" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/us-taxpayers-spent-over-33bn-israels-wars-over-two-years" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/us-taxpayers-spent-over-33bn-israels-wars-over-two-years" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">US taxpayers spent over $33bn on Israel's wars over two years</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>The <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/us" target="_blank">US</a> has spent nearly $34bn supporting <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israel</a> since 7 October 2023, according to a <a href="https://costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/AidToIsrael" target="_blank">report</a> published by Brown University on Tuesday, revealing the staggering cost of Israel’s wars in the region to US taxpayers.</p> <p>The price tag means that the US has spent around $3,400 on defence and military activities for every citizen of Israel since the country launched its devastating assault on Gaza following the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel.</p> <p>The hefty price tag to US taxpayers caught the attention of several commentators on social media. One <a href="https://x.com/Villgecrazylady/status/1975996350253691303" target="_blank">wrote</a>, “A family of 4 in Israel is receiving $577/month in subsidies, courtesy of the American taxpayer, for 2 years now.”</p> <p>"Israelis still have free healthcare and free college and subsidized childcare. They haven’t reduced any of their social welfare programs. Meanwhile Americans are literally paying for groceries with their credit cards,” the post on X added.</p> <p>The report took into account US military spending on Israel and related US military campaigns in the region as part of Brown University’s ongoing Costs of War project.</p> <h3>Read more: <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-taxpayers-spent-33bn-israel-wars-over-two-years">US taxpayers spent over $33bn on Israel's wars over two years</a></h3> <figure role="group" class="media-block"> <div class="group-inner"> <div alt="A billboard displays an image of US President Donald Trump with a message thanking him for reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza, on the side of a building in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square on 9 October 2025 (Jack Guez/AFP)" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="009711ab-9d20-4903-8c8b-c56dfb5da230" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/images-story/Trump-poster-Israel-AFP.jpg" width="1200" height="675" alt="A billboard displays an image of US President Donald Trump with a message thanking him for reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza, on the side of a building in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square on 9 October 2025 (Jack Guez/AFP)" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high"> </div> <figcaption>A billboard displays an image of US President Donald Trump with a message thanking him for reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza, on the side of a building in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square on 9 October 2025 (Jack Guez/AFP)</figcaption> </div> </figure> <p><span style="background: url("https://www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle.png") rgba(220, 220, 220, 0.5); top: -15px; left: 0px;"><img height="15" role="presentation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" loading="lazy"></span></p> </div> </div> </article>

www.middleeasteye.net

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 16h

Again, if the plan holds & ends the violence, I will happily give credit where it is due. And better something (anything!) than nothing. Yet this plan does little more than again kick the main issues down the road and keeps Israel firmly in control as occupying power w/ no real accountability.

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 16h

Diana Buttu: "This entire plan was devised without any Palestinian input... everybody else decides [the future of Palestine/Gaza] especially Israel... it's just such short term thinking... repackag[ing] the occupation."

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 16h

Listen to this on-point interview. Yes, it's good that there is a ceasefire; anything to halt the genocidal destruction is better than nothing at this point. But in so many ways the "deal" it is just a vague recycling of the worst ideas of the past, struck without meaningful Palestinian input.

Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire's first phase, but key challenges still lie ahead

Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of the ceasefire deal, but what challenges could they encounter next? NPR's Leila Fadel talks to former peace talks negotiator Diana Buttu.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by Matthew J Kuiper

Juno Rylee Schultz @junoryleejournalism.com · 2d

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)

SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 1d

In some instances, and the bias would be toward a theologically progressive Xnity. In others, say, interfaith initiatives run by the Gulf countries, the bias would be more toward regime approved Islams.

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 1d

These are really excellent points. 💯

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 1d

There’s also the subtle polemics and exclusivism that play out in interfaith events. The one thing you’re often not allowed to do is actually believe your religion. In the name of combatting exclusivism, participation is often subtly conditioned on a bland all roads up the same mountain theology.

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 1d

I mean seriously who could have a problem with “interfaith”? It’s mostly harmless.

True, but it’s also mostly meaningless. It tends to be a highly self-congratulatory enterprise that preaches to the already convinced and produces little as far as meaningful pay off on its much hyped goals.

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Reposted by Matthew J Kuiper

Heather Randell @heatherrandell.bsky.social · 1d

The thing is, to be able to determine whether AI-generated code is “legit”, you need to know both statistics and coding yourself. If we no longer teach students to learn, think, and struggle—without the help of AI—the next generation will have no clue what is and isn’t legit.

Terry McGlynn @hormiga.bsky.social · 2d

Y'all. I just got ChatGPT to do everything in R for this manuscript. I mean EVERYTHING. And it's all legit and reproducible. I'm shook.

How are we mentoring our trainees in statistics now? Who needs to learn coding in R line by line, and who doesn't?

scienceforeveryone.science/statistics-i...

Statistics in the era of AI

How do we mentor, teach, and do stats when AI can do so much of the work?

scienceforeveryone.science

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 1d

But sure, do go on about how it’s “just a tool” which carries no inherent dangers (like further wrecking our shared sense of reality and facts) and which we should all gleefully embrace without a further thought.

Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 1d

We are so cooked.

*Sora was the most downloaded app this week*. “The upshot is that any video you see [online]… now has a high likelihood of being fake.”

To repeat: *a high likelihood of being fake*. Another tool for bad actors and propagandists to use. Just… great. @brianx.bsky.social

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 1d

“The tech could represent the end of visual fact — the idea that video could serve as an objective record of reality — as we know it.”

This tech will further erode societies’ shared sense of reality. People will have their lives destroyed and some will die because of this.

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Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 1d

“This month, OpenAI…graced the internet with a technology that most of us probably weren’t ready for. The company released an app called Sora, which lets users instantly generate realistic-looking videos with AI.”

These companies are literally force feeding us (reality-destroying) poison. Gift link

What the Arrival of A.I.-Fabricated Video Means for Us

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Matthew J Kuiper

Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 8d

🐅

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