Brandon 🤖🔨
@brandontlocke.bsky.social
workers of the world, unite
he/him
Seattle
he/him
Seattle
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
"AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok. We will be excavating it for a generation or more."
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
December 9, 2025 at 2:58 PM
"AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok. We will be excavating it for a generation or more."
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
This has me reflecting on born digital history projects. In recent weeks, I tried to access a few fantastic ones—all less than a decade old—and was met with dead links.
With the death of the open internet and humanities funding more generally, what is going to happen to these projects?
With the death of the open internet and humanities funding more generally, what is going to happen to these projects?
Talking to somebody yesterday about a Cdn oral history archive that disappeared - turns out LLMs were scraping it so much it crashed their servers so it’s offline. Vile vulture technology.
December 9, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This has me reflecting on born digital history projects. In recent weeks, I tried to access a few fantastic ones—all less than a decade old—and was met with dead links.
With the death of the open internet and humanities funding more generally, what is going to happen to these projects?
With the death of the open internet and humanities funding more generally, what is going to happen to these projects?
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
Repositories are going to real quickly move back to the "open to qualified researchers" policy
Folks might not know a lot of people are getting *very* upset that the materials they request are not available in the libraries/archives they're requesting from.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
I wish a notice like this wasn't necessary.
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
December 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Repositories are going to real quickly move back to the "open to qualified researchers" policy
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
One interesting statistic from the article followed by two equally interesting statistics about U Nebraska:
December 7, 2025 at 3:18 AM
One interesting statistic from the article followed by two equally interesting statistics about U Nebraska:
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
#CFP: Our Center for Advances in Libraries, Museums, and Archives (CALMA) invites proposals for the inaugural Black Information Futures Symposium, February 21–23, 2026, in Seattle. Please save the date & reshare!
Submit a proposal by 12/10: #phdchat calma.ischool.uw.edu/uw-news/call...
Submit a proposal by 12/10: #phdchat calma.ischool.uw.edu/uw-news/call...
December 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
#CFP: Our Center for Advances in Libraries, Museums, and Archives (CALMA) invites proposals for the inaugural Black Information Futures Symposium, February 21–23, 2026, in Seattle. Please save the date & reshare!
Submit a proposal by 12/10: #phdchat calma.ischool.uw.edu/uw-news/call...
Submit a proposal by 12/10: #phdchat calma.ischool.uw.edu/uw-news/call...
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
November 29, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
is Microsoft Excel a feminist? Is Gemini a queer ally? Is this graphing calculator my friend
November 28, 2025 at 9:57 PM
is Microsoft Excel a feminist? Is Gemini a queer ally? Is this graphing calculator my friend
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
If you're curious about other potential places to put your ideas online, here's an overview I threw together for a small group of other higher ed folks a couple weeks ago.
It's definitely more of a "where might I…?", not a "how do I…?" overview!
But if that's where you're at, hopefully it'll help?
It's definitely more of a "where might I…?", not a "how do I…?" overview!
But if that's where you're at, hopefully it'll help?
November 28, 2025 at 9:37 PM
If you're curious about other potential places to put your ideas online, here's an overview I threw together for a small group of other higher ed folks a couple weeks ago.
It's definitely more of a "where might I…?", not a "how do I…?" overview!
But if that's where you're at, hopefully it'll help?
It's definitely more of a "where might I…?", not a "how do I…?" overview!
But if that's where you're at, hopefully it'll help?
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
Nick Estes's OUR HISTORY IS THE FUTURE “traces traditions of Indigenous resistance leading to the present campaigns against fossil fuel pipelines.”
Read @haymarketbooks.org nonfiction this fall! #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2214-o...
Read @haymarketbooks.org nonfiction this fall! #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2214-o...
Our History Is the Future
www.haymarketbooks.org
November 28, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Nick Estes's OUR HISTORY IS THE FUTURE “traces traditions of Indigenous resistance leading to the present campaigns against fossil fuel pipelines.”
Read @haymarketbooks.org nonfiction this fall! #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2214-o...
Read @haymarketbooks.org nonfiction this fall! #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2214-o...
Seeking funding for my Hot Ones knockoff. It's exactly the same as Hot Ones, except for every question you eat a pizza roll that was microwaved for 5 seconds longer than the last.
November 28, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Seeking funding for my Hot Ones knockoff. It's exactly the same as Hot Ones, except for every question you eat a pizza roll that was microwaved for 5 seconds longer than the last.
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
Thanks to all the scientists, archivists, and data hoarders mobilizing to defend against the censure of life saving medical research for using accurate descriptions of sex and gender. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
DDoSed by Policy: Website Takedowns and Keeping Information Alive
Who needs a DDoS (Denial of Service) attack when you have a new president? As of February 2nd, thousands of web pages and datasets have been removed from U.S. government agencies following a series
www.eff.org
November 27, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Thanks to all the scientists, archivists, and data hoarders mobilizing to defend against the censure of life saving medical research for using accurate descriptions of sex and gender. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
This webinar on how to negotiate contracts to set better terms around AI and data was one of the best we've done. It's relevant to a number of different communities and creators, not just libraries! @libraryfutures.bsky.social archive.org/details/resi...
Resisting The Vendor Machine: Corporations, Contracts, and Libraries : Library Futures : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Library Futures was pleased to welcome Hayley Park, Samantha Teremi, Stephanie “Cole” Adams, and Layla Maurer in the third installment of our fall...
archive.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
This webinar on how to negotiate contracts to set better terms around AI and data was one of the best we've done. It's relevant to a number of different communities and creators, not just libraries! @libraryfutures.bsky.social archive.org/details/resi...
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
LIBRARIES MAKE BOOKS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, she shouts, apparently inaudibly
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
Just saw someone claim that authors who want to be paid for their work are "class traitors" because we "only let the wealthy" read our books, and I think I need to go into the woods to scream into the night for a bit.
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
LIBRARIES MAKE BOOKS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, she shouts, apparently inaudibly
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
I truly need "AI Won't Stand in Authentic Wonder" swag sold in the Vatican gift shop. Also, I will need it on a tote and shirt.
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I truly need "AI Won't Stand in Authentic Wonder" swag sold in the Vatican gift shop. Also, I will need it on a tote and shirt.
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
“The Software Paper fills a gap for the computational and digital humanities communities...” Thank you to research software engineer extraordinaire @suttonkoeser.bsky.social for leading this initiative for Computational Humanities Research journal. Please share!
Introducing the 'Software Paper': New ways to publish on research software in Computational Humanities Research
When Lauren Tilton first approached me about joining the Computational Humanities Research (CHR) journal’s Editorial Board as an Associate Editor, the thing that made the invitation so compelling and ...
www.cambridge.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
“The Software Paper fills a gap for the computational and digital humanities communities...” Thank you to research software engineer extraordinaire @suttonkoeser.bsky.social for leading this initiative for Computational Humanities Research journal. Please share!
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
"We should measure the impact of actually existing AI rather than worry about terminators or gray goo. And in this respect, while it's early days yet, the labor market effects are mostly justifying layoffs rather than increasing productivity. But there are strong use cases in surveillance fascism."
a painting of a man wearing sunglasses and a scarf with stars on it
ALT: a painting of a man wearing sunglasses and a scarf with stars on it
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
"We should measure the impact of actually existing AI rather than worry about terminators or gray goo. And in this respect, while it's early days yet, the labor market effects are mostly justifying layoffs rather than increasing productivity. But there are strong use cases in surveillance fascism."
Incredible number to end October with.
November 26, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Incredible number to end October with.
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
I saw some horrible copy on a Chili's menu tonight:
HUNGRY? Get ready not to be
HUNGRY? Get ready not to be
November 25, 2025 at 4:59 AM
I saw some horrible copy on a Chili's menu tonight:
HUNGRY? Get ready not to be
HUNGRY? Get ready not to be
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
Jesse Welles is the Andy Borowitz of folk rock
September 20, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Jesse Welles is the Andy Borowitz of folk rock
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
Larry Summers’s co-teacher at Harvard:
“We will miss his insights and his wisdom”
Student:
“NO WE WON’T”
dude pretends he doesn’t hear, then intros Tony Blair lmao
“We will miss his insights and his wisdom”
Student:
“NO WE WON’T”
dude pretends he doesn’t hear, then intros Tony Blair lmao
November 21, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Larry Summers’s co-teacher at Harvard:
“We will miss his insights and his wisdom”
Student:
“NO WE WON’T”
dude pretends he doesn’t hear, then intros Tony Blair lmao
“We will miss his insights and his wisdom”
Student:
“NO WE WON’T”
dude pretends he doesn’t hear, then intros Tony Blair lmao
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
After much deliberation and a grueling interview process, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve accepted a new job and will not need any financial support from my parents to cover the high costs of childcare going forward. #AmericanDream #ThisIsYourCity
November 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
After much deliberation and a grueling interview process, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve accepted a new job and will not need any financial support from my parents to cover the high costs of childcare going forward. #AmericanDream #ThisIsYourCity
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
losing my mind over youtube's suggested reply for this comment
November 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
losing my mind over youtube's suggested reply for this comment
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
Personally, I think the idea that all women should be measured by the failures of Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris is actually a sort of sexist doomerism.
Former first lady Michelle Obama said America is "not ready for a woman" president during a conversation at her New York book event. https://cnn.it/43ApuKZ
November 15, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Personally, I think the idea that all women should be measured by the failures of Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris is actually a sort of sexist doomerism.
Reposted by Brandon 🤖🔨
It’s wild that you can just openly bribe the President of the United States with chunks of gold to get
whatever you want, it’s fine, you don’t have to hide it, just say “I am bribing the President with gold,” zero consequences.
whatever you want, it’s fine, you don’t have to hide it, just say “I am bribing the President with gold,” zero consequences.
"It was tough to beat Apple, but the Swiss did it." said one administration official.
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
It’s wild that you can just openly bribe the President of the United States with chunks of gold to get
whatever you want, it’s fine, you don’t have to hide it, just say “I am bribing the President with gold,” zero consequences.
whatever you want, it’s fine, you don’t have to hide it, just say “I am bribing the President with gold,” zero consequences.