James Andrew Smith
@drsmith.bsky.social
Engineering professor at York University
Another week and another sick TA. This time with COVID.
Thankfully he tested himself and is staying away to not spread it.
But really, I wish that I didn't have so many TAs getting sick.
Thankfully he tested himself and is staying away to not spread it.
But really, I wish that I didn't have so many TAs getting sick.
November 26, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Another week and another sick TA. This time with COVID.
Thankfully he tested himself and is staying away to not spread it.
But really, I wish that I didn't have so many TAs getting sick.
Thankfully he tested himself and is staying away to not spread it.
But really, I wish that I didn't have so many TAs getting sick.
But their noodles are.
Really, when you think about it, the extruding process for noodles is basically 3D printing — in one dimension.
Really, when you think about it, the extruding process for noodles is basically 3D printing — in one dimension.
Campbell’s promises its soups are not made with 3D printed meat
Campbell’s promises its soups are not made with 3D printed meat
Welcome to 2025.
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 11:43 PM
But their noodles are.
Really, when you think about it, the extruding process for noodles is basically 3D printing — in one dimension.
Really, when you think about it, the extruding process for noodles is basically 3D printing — in one dimension.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
I will add the following: our students lack the research skills required to audit an LLM essay for errors. They don’t arrive on campus with these skills; we teach it to them over four long years. So throwing freshmen in the deep end and saying “swim your way to a shore of rectitude” is folly.
November 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I will add the following: our students lack the research skills required to audit an LLM essay for errors. They don’t arrive on campus with these skills; we teach it to them over four long years. So throwing freshmen in the deep end and saying “swim your way to a shore of rectitude” is folly.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
J'en ai assez des pubs du vendredi fou. Je vis au Québec et vous n'avez pas besoin d'une fête américaine pour proposer des rabais si ça vous chante.
November 25, 2025 at 11:01 PM
J'en ai assez des pubs du vendredi fou. Je vis au Québec et vous n'avez pas besoin d'une fête américaine pour proposer des rabais si ça vous chante.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
This absenteeism is concerning, lament schools and workplaces who’ve been past tensing the pandemic since 2021 or 2022 while everyone lives in perpetual sickness.
November 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
This absenteeism is concerning, lament schools and workplaces who’ve been past tensing the pandemic since 2021 or 2022 while everyone lives in perpetual sickness.
“Post pandemic” discussion about RSV and problems with getting vaccines — on 6pm CBC radio news with @laurenpelley.bsky.social .
The shots are “keeping babies out of hospital”
Me: Great! Vaccines are great! What about additional measures for this apparently airborne virus?
The shots are “keeping babies out of hospital”
Me: Great! Vaccines are great! What about additional measures for this apparently airborne virus?
November 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
“Post pandemic” discussion about RSV and problems with getting vaccines — on 6pm CBC radio news with @laurenpelley.bsky.social .
The shots are “keeping babies out of hospital”
Me: Great! Vaccines are great! What about additional measures for this apparently airborne virus?
The shots are “keeping babies out of hospital”
Me: Great! Vaccines are great! What about additional measures for this apparently airborne virus?
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Patient came in with sore throat. While waiting for rapid Strep test result we glanced back at the Covid-19 RAT result: positive. Reminder that masking in health care makes sense, if you don’t want everyone in your waiting room to go home sick, your staff to get sick, and physicians to get sick.
November 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Patient came in with sore throat. While waiting for rapid Strep test result we glanced back at the Covid-19 RAT result: positive. Reminder that masking in health care makes sense, if you don’t want everyone in your waiting room to go home sick, your staff to get sick, and physicians to get sick.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
90% of deep fake images online are non-consensual pornographic images of women and girls.
And yet, these images are not yet illegal in Canada.
And yet, these images are not yet illegal in Canada.
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This year's theme is digital abuse.
Fewer than 40% of countries have laws protecting women from cyber harassment or cyber stalking. This leaves 44% of the world’s women and girls without access to legal protection.
Fewer than 40% of countries have laws protecting women from cyber harassment or cyber stalking. This leaves 44% of the world’s women and girls without access to legal protection.
November 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
90% of deep fake images online are non-consensual pornographic images of women and girls.
And yet, these images are not yet illegal in Canada.
And yet, these images are not yet illegal in Canada.
It won’t be long before professional engineers blame their AI tools for a bridge collapse.
We need regulators to get ahead of this.
Because it’s clear that this is coming.
We need regulators to get ahead of this.
Because it’s clear that this is coming.
Prosecutors in California used A.I. to argue that a 57-year-old man should be held without bail, his lawyers say, filing a brief that included wholesale misinterpretations of the law, as well as quotations that do not actually appear in the cited texts. nyti.ms/3M1bVye
Prosecutor Used Flawed A.I. to Keep a Man in Jail, His Lawyers Say
The case is among the first in which a prosecutor is accused of filing court papers marred by A.I.-generated mistakes.
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
It won’t be long before professional engineers blame their AI tools for a bridge collapse.
We need regulators to get ahead of this.
Because it’s clear that this is coming.
We need regulators to get ahead of this.
Because it’s clear that this is coming.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
disbar
Prosecutors in California used A.I. to argue that a 57-year-old man should be held without bail, his lawyers say, filing a brief that included wholesale misinterpretations of the law, as well as quotations that do not actually appear in the cited texts. nyti.ms/3M1bVye
Prosecutor Used Flawed A.I. to Keep a Man in Jail, His Lawyers Say
The case is among the first in which a prosecutor is accused of filing court papers marred by A.I.-generated mistakes.
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
disbar
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
I couldn't agree more
There are so many problems like this that are easy on paper, but in practice, there is a lot of nuance
Having a kid in kindergarten means constant colds, any reduction in disease spread would be welcome by everyone!
There are so many problems like this that are easy on paper, but in practice, there is a lot of nuance
Having a kid in kindergarten means constant colds, any reduction in disease spread would be welcome by everyone!
November 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I couldn't agree more
There are so many problems like this that are easy on paper, but in practice, there is a lot of nuance
Having a kid in kindergarten means constant colds, any reduction in disease spread would be welcome by everyone!
There are so many problems like this that are easy on paper, but in practice, there is a lot of nuance
Having a kid in kindergarten means constant colds, any reduction in disease spread would be welcome by everyone!
Grading midterms in my programming class and loving how students have come up with solutions that are correct but don't match my answer guide. Well done!
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Grading midterms in my programming class and loving how students have come up with solutions that are correct but don't match my answer guide. Well done!
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Imagine if there was a way of reducing daycare illness by half or more? Better for families, better for everyone. Cleaning the air would make a big difference.
For instance, shouldn’t we be requiring, by law, that all daycares and kindergartens have supplementary air cleaners?
Shouldn’t employees be, at minimum, be supplied with and encouraged to use KN95, Q100 or N95 respirators? I’m not even saying to require them to be used. Just supplied.
Shouldn’t employees be, at minimum, be supplied with and encouraged to use KN95, Q100 or N95 respirators? I’m not even saying to require them to be used. Just supplied.
November 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Imagine if there was a way of reducing daycare illness by half or more? Better for families, better for everyone. Cleaning the air would make a big difference.
Historians will call this transition to AI-fueled stupidity The Great Enshitification.
Who thought that SkyNet turn out to be this?
Who thought that SkyNet turn out to be this?
It's weird to not only have lived through an information revolution but also now living through its undoing, all within less than a generation.
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Historians will call this transition to AI-fueled stupidity The Great Enshitification.
Who thought that SkyNet turn out to be this?
Who thought that SkyNet turn out to be this?
On CBC news they're talking about the rise of RSV season. Yes, they're recommending vaccines. That's great!
No other suggestions to _help_ stop the spread of RSV. If it's airborne, which it appears to be, then, we should talk about that.
Reference: publications.ersnet.org/content/erj/...
No other suggestions to _help_ stop the spread of RSV. If it's airborne, which it appears to be, then, we should talk about that.
Reference: publications.ersnet.org/content/erj/...
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 AM
On CBC news they're talking about the rise of RSV season. Yes, they're recommending vaccines. That's great!
No other suggestions to _help_ stop the spread of RSV. If it's airborne, which it appears to be, then, we should talk about that.
Reference: publications.ersnet.org/content/erj/...
No other suggestions to _help_ stop the spread of RSV. If it's airborne, which it appears to be, then, we should talk about that.
Reference: publications.ersnet.org/content/erj/...
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
The tale of two pita breads: made in EU 🇪🇺 vs US 🇺🇸
7 ingredients vs 20+ 🤯
7 ingredients vs 20+ 🤯
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
The tale of two pita breads: made in EU 🇪🇺 vs US 🇺🇸
7 ingredients vs 20+ 🤯
7 ingredients vs 20+ 🤯
AI Slop and bots are ruining music streaming by @venustheory.bsky.social.
It's a one example of the enshitification of knowledge and art.
I think that the rise of AI-based tools is going to make vetted knowledge and art more and more valuable.
youtu.be/plleJ0Zv0Ww?...
It's a one example of the enshitification of knowledge and art.
I think that the rise of AI-based tools is going to make vetted knowledge and art more and more valuable.
youtu.be/plleJ0Zv0Ww?...
It's Not Just You: Music Streaming Is Broken Now
YouTube video by Venus Theory
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 10:59 AM
AI Slop and bots are ruining music streaming by @venustheory.bsky.social.
It's a one example of the enshitification of knowledge and art.
I think that the rise of AI-based tools is going to make vetted knowledge and art more and more valuable.
youtu.be/plleJ0Zv0Ww?...
It's a one example of the enshitification of knowledge and art.
I think that the rise of AI-based tools is going to make vetted knowledge and art more and more valuable.
youtu.be/plleJ0Zv0Ww?...
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Ah - here I am actually smiling with my eyes open!
November 25, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Ah - here I am actually smiling with my eyes open!
Apparently 12 kids were absent from my kid's class today.
Maybe it was the lice, right? Or maybe it was the thing that parents were chatting about on the Facebook group.
Maybe it was the lice, right? Or maybe it was the thing that parents were chatting about on the Facebook group.
Another week, another outbreak of head lice at the school. How do we know? Because the school emailed us about it.
As for the cases of sickness that have kids coming down with fever that are going around? Not a peep.
As for the cases of sickness that have kids coming down with fever that are going around? Not a peep.
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Apparently 12 kids were absent from my kid's class today.
Maybe it was the lice, right? Or maybe it was the thing that parents were chatting about on the Facebook group.
Maybe it was the lice, right? Or maybe it was the thing that parents were chatting about on the Facebook group.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
I’m sure I’m gonna get dragged for this, but I think AI is bad. AI has completely ruined Google search and it’s created a lot more slop that needs to be avoided on the Internet.
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I’m sure I’m gonna get dragged for this, but I think AI is bad. AI has completely ruined Google search and it’s created a lot more slop that needs to be avoided on the Internet.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
There's more pressure than ever to publish. Academic staff are massively overworked. Pay is poor. Precarity is rife. There's little genuine care for one-another's wellbeing, nor accommodations offered. And, instead of addressing systemic harms or demands for free labour, we turn against ourselves.
25 no response out of 30 requests to review!
Drives me mad this selfish behaviour, which I also see as a journal editor. And it's almost always established folk with secure jobs, not least those endlessly brandishing their right-on-ness on social media
Drives me mad this selfish behaviour, which I also see as a journal editor. And it's almost always established folk with secure jobs, not least those endlessly brandishing their right-on-ness on social media
Recently did around 30 requests to ppl who'd published very similar papers to the one I needed reviews for. 3 declines, 25 no response. Please at least decline guys it slows stuff down so much otherwise.
November 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
There's more pressure than ever to publish. Academic staff are massively overworked. Pay is poor. Precarity is rife. There's little genuine care for one-another's wellbeing, nor accommodations offered. And, instead of addressing systemic harms or demands for free labour, we turn against ourselves.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
JFC. The Atlantic, folks.
Over many interviews, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Michael Scherer about how he plans to remake America’s public-health system. Can he lead the scientific establishment he’s spent much of his life crusading against?
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
November 24, 2025 at 7:19 PM
JFC. The Atlantic, folks.
Any high speed rail in Canada will need to have protected tracks with no level crossings.
Nov 23, 1999: a westbound CN freight train collides with a tractor trailer stuck at a crossing in Bowmanville, Ontario. The CN train pushed the burning wreckage almost a kilometre before it was hit by eastbound VIA Rail Train 68 en route from Toronto to Montreal. 1/3
November 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Any high speed rail in Canada will need to have protected tracks with no level crossings.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Weird how outbreaks are handled differently depending on whether they make public health look bad.
Another week, another outbreak of head lice at the school. How do we know? Because the school emailed us about it.
As for the cases of sickness that have kids coming down with fever that are going around? Not a peep.
As for the cases of sickness that have kids coming down with fever that are going around? Not a peep.
November 24, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Weird how outbreaks are handled differently depending on whether they make public health look bad.