Clive Thompson
@clivethompson.bsky.social
Writer, musician, hobbyist coder. Wired / NYT Magazine / Mother Jones, author of "Coders". Blog at clivethompson.medium.com. Free "Linkfest" newsletter ("the opposite of doomscrolling"): https://shorturl.at/XcutG. Built https://www.weirdoldbookfinder.net/
Reposted by Clive Thompson
As @rusty.todayintabs.com pointed out a while back, this is why tech bros need poststructuralism. Language is a tool for thought that we mistake for thought itself
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
November 25, 2025 at 5:55 PM
As @rusty.todayintabs.com pointed out a while back, this is why tech bros need poststructuralism. Language is a tool for thought that we mistake for thought itself
Reposted by Clive Thompson
when we say we want more streets to be pedestrianized, this is what we mean
November 25, 2025 at 4:46 PM
when we say we want more streets to be pedestrianized, this is what we mean
Reposted by Clive Thompson
As the year comes to an end, I'm reposting some of the comics I made this year, including this ridiculous thing.
November 25, 2025 at 3:19 PM
As the year comes to an end, I'm reposting some of the comics I made this year, including this ridiculous thing.
Reposted by Clive Thompson
yes, hello, I would like to place an order for everyone’s funniest stories of holiday food-related family grudges / drama / chaotic incidents / lore
I feel like we need this
I feel like we need this
November 24, 2025 at 11:39 PM
yes, hello, I would like to place an order for everyone’s funniest stories of holiday food-related family grudges / drama / chaotic incidents / lore
I feel like we need this
I feel like we need this
Reposted by Clive Thompson
You don’t want all that peppy commercial nonsense, cmon, you want a choir singing things that may or may not have made it fully out of Latin and into English
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 AM
You don’t want all that peppy commercial nonsense, cmon, you want a choir singing things that may or may not have made it fully out of Latin and into English
Reposted by Clive Thompson
Oh, just realized it’s almost the best time of the year: when I dig up the playlist of creepy medieval Advent hymns that @clivethompson.bsky.social and I collaborated on years ago because it’s the only acceptable music to listen to for most of the season!!! Get excited folks
November 25, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Oh, just realized it’s almost the best time of the year: when I dig up the playlist of creepy medieval Advent hymns that @clivethompson.bsky.social and I collaborated on years ago because it’s the only acceptable music to listen to for most of the season!!! Get excited folks
An argument that we are now in the "Chthulucene" ...
... or the period where, after having dug up and burned so much carbon ...
... "Gaia is responding to our having released such titanic forces from their confinement"
item #10 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
... or the period where, after having dug up and burned so much carbon ...
... "Gaia is responding to our having released such titanic forces from their confinement"
item #10 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
November 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
An argument that we are now in the "Chthulucene" ...
... or the period where, after having dug up and burned so much carbon ...
... "Gaia is responding to our having released such titanic forces from their confinement"
item #10 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
... or the period where, after having dug up and burned so much carbon ...
... "Gaia is responding to our having released such titanic forces from their confinement"
item #10 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
so apparently corningresearch.com ...
... is the new jutktmicronics
this from a terrific WSJ story about Aidan Toner-Rodgers, an MIT student who published a seemingly groundbreaking paper on AI and productivity -- on data that now seems utterly sketchy
(gift link): www.wsj.com/economy/aida...
... is the new jutktmicronics
this from a terrific WSJ story about Aidan Toner-Rodgers, an MIT student who published a seemingly groundbreaking paper on AI and productivity -- on data that now seems utterly sketchy
(gift link): www.wsj.com/economy/aida...
November 22, 2025 at 9:20 PM
so apparently corningresearch.com ...
... is the new jutktmicronics
this from a terrific WSJ story about Aidan Toner-Rodgers, an MIT student who published a seemingly groundbreaking paper on AI and productivity -- on data that now seems utterly sketchy
(gift link): www.wsj.com/economy/aida...
... is the new jutktmicronics
this from a terrific WSJ story about Aidan Toner-Rodgers, an MIT student who published a seemingly groundbreaking paper on AI and productivity -- on data that now seems utterly sketchy
(gift link): www.wsj.com/economy/aida...
Reposted by Clive Thompson
A typical Dutch urban roundabout with full priority for people cycling and walking at all arms
November 21, 2025 at 12:57 PM
A typical Dutch urban roundabout with full priority for people cycling and walking at all arms
apparently half of homebuyers think a seller should be legally required to disclose if the house is haunted
though! 26% would be willing to buy a house "even if they learned the previous homeowners had been murdered in it"
item #9 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
though! 26% would be willing to buy a house "even if they learned the previous homeowners had been murdered in it"
item #9 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
November 21, 2025 at 5:09 PM
apparently half of homebuyers think a seller should be legally required to disclose if the house is haunted
though! 26% would be willing to buy a house "even if they learned the previous homeowners had been murdered in it"
item #9 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
though! 26% would be willing to buy a house "even if they learned the previous homeowners had been murdered in it"
item #9 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
Reposted by Clive Thompson
We don't really know how bicycles work.
November 21, 2025 at 3:13 AM
my procrastination levels today crept into the red zone
i had to break out the big guns
my "text pomodoro"
text-pomodoro.vercel.app
I'm on my fourth 10-minute jag and it is WORKING 👏
i had to break out the big guns
my "text pomodoro"
text-pomodoro.vercel.app
I'm on my fourth 10-minute jag and it is WORKING 👏
November 20, 2025 at 7:51 PM
my procrastination levels today crept into the red zone
i had to break out the big guns
my "text pomodoro"
text-pomodoro.vercel.app
I'm on my fourth 10-minute jag and it is WORKING 👏
i had to break out the big guns
my "text pomodoro"
text-pomodoro.vercel.app
I'm on my fourth 10-minute jag and it is WORKING 👏
Reposted by Clive Thompson
By God, that’s @clivethompson.bsky.social’s music!
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
November 20, 2025 at 6:53 PM
By God, that’s @clivethompson.bsky.social’s music!
dig this
sea slugs eat algae, and they've figured out how incorporate the algae's plastids into their own bodies ...
... so the sea slugs *photosynthesize*
they can live for months off the sun, like a plant/animal
item #6 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
sea slugs eat algae, and they've figured out how incorporate the algae's plastids into their own bodies ...
... so the sea slugs *photosynthesize*
they can live for months off the sun, like a plant/animal
item #6 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
November 20, 2025 at 6:35 PM
dig this
sea slugs eat algae, and they've figured out how incorporate the algae's plastids into their own bodies ...
... so the sea slugs *photosynthesize*
they can live for months off the sun, like a plant/animal
item #6 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
sea slugs eat algae, and they've figured out how incorporate the algae's plastids into their own bodies ...
... so the sea slugs *photosynthesize*
they can live for months off the sun, like a plant/animal
item #6 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
Reposted by Clive Thompson
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Clifford “Buzz” Grambo patrols the streets of Baltimore to keep his neighbors safe—and make federal agents uncomfortable.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Reposted by Clive Thompson
I wrote a piece about a decade ago for Quartz about the impacts sub-orbital flight (Virgin Galactic etc) would have on things like real estate prices. When the access to distance changes, economic follow.
As much as I dislike the NFL, this story is interesting. Basically, League keeping tabs on revival of commercial supersonic flight as a trigger for expansion to Europe. www.wsj.com/sports/footb...
The NFL’s Secret Obsession With Supersonic Flight
With dreams of permanent franchises in Europe, the league has quietly been keeping tabs on companies aiming to bring the technology back—and it could happen sooner than you think.
www.wsj.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I wrote a piece about a decade ago for Quartz about the impacts sub-orbital flight (Virgin Galactic etc) would have on things like real estate prices. When the access to distance changes, economic follow.
parlor parlor parlor
parlor parlor
parlor parlor
parlor
It turns out iPhone voice dictation *really* does not do well with “parlance”
parlor parlor
parlor parlor
parlor
It turns out iPhone voice dictation *really* does not do well with “parlance”
November 19, 2025 at 11:03 PM
parlor parlor parlor
parlor parlor
parlor parlor
parlor
It turns out iPhone voice dictation *really* does not do well with “parlance”
parlor parlor
parlor parlor
parlor
It turns out iPhone voice dictation *really* does not do well with “parlance”
Reposted by Clive Thompson
“A contractor is paying people $300 for every address they verify as belonging to a target of ICE. The gig is being advertised to former law enforcement and military personnel. But, those people are not licensed private investigators. They are essentially members of the public.”
Contractor Paying Random People $300 to Physically Track Immigrants for ICE
“The more I listened to it, the more I’m like, something doesn’t sound right,” a person who was briefed on the pilot plans told 404 Media.
www.404media.co
November 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
“A contractor is paying people $300 for every address they verify as belonging to a target of ICE. The gig is being advertised to former law enforcement and military personnel. But, those people are not licensed private investigators. They are essentially members of the public.”
Reposted by Clive Thompson
Oh hey, I found the war on christmas
"Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, ERO, and CBP intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25."
Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays
The Trump Dept. of Homeland Security is briefing federal agencies on plans for immigration enforcement operations inside churches over holidays.
thisweekinworcester.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Oh hey, I found the war on christmas
Reposted by Clive Thompson
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."
November 18, 2025 at 2:54 AM
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."
Reposted by Clive Thompson
When asked if there was anything "incriminating" in Epstein's emails, Trump pointed a finger in a female reporter's face and snapped. 'Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.'
people.com/donald-trump...
people.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump Snaps at Female Reporter Who Asks About Epstein Files: 'Quiet Piggy'
Donald Trump Says 'Quiet Piggy' to Female Reporter Asking About Epstein Files
people.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:55 AM
When asked if there was anything "incriminating" in Epstein's emails, Trump pointed a finger in a female reporter's face and snapped. 'Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.'
people.com/donald-trump...
people.com/donald-trump...
The evolutionary advantage of getting drunk
trust me, it's *science* 🍸
item #7 in the latest issue of my "Linkfest" newsletter, free here: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
trust me, it's *science* 🍸
item #7 in the latest issue of my "Linkfest" newsletter, free here: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
November 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The evolutionary advantage of getting drunk
trust me, it's *science* 🍸
item #7 in the latest issue of my "Linkfest" newsletter, free here: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
trust me, it's *science* 🍸
item #7 in the latest issue of my "Linkfest" newsletter, free here: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
Behold the "Dawn Chorus", a citizen-science project where people record birdsong in their local neighborhood and upload it
you can listen to birds from around the world by drilling down on the map
item #4 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter, free here: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
you can listen to birds from around the world by drilling down on the map
item #4 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter, free here: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
November 15, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Behold the "Dawn Chorus", a citizen-science project where people record birdsong in their local neighborhood and upload it
you can listen to birds from around the world by drilling down on the map
item #4 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter, free here: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
you can listen to birds from around the world by drilling down on the map
item #4 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter, free here: buttondown.com/clivethompso...
i was trying to type a .com address and was moving so quickly and sloppily I accidentally wrote it as .cmon
and now i'm like
holy crap
that's great
we need that TLD
and now i'm like
holy crap
that's great
we need that TLD
November 14, 2025 at 10:41 PM
i was trying to type a .com address and was moving so quickly and sloppily I accidentally wrote it as .cmon
and now i'm like
holy crap
that's great
we need that TLD
and now i'm like
holy crap
that's great
we need that TLD
Reposted by Clive Thompson
I've been on the road so I'm behind the times—but if you wanted to destroy US science, I can think of no more expedient action.
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
November 14, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I've been on the road so I'm behind the times—but if you wanted to destroy US science, I can think of no more expedient action.
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations