DaemonSky
@dsky.bsky.social
Biosecurity, outbreaks, apocalypses, language & conspiracy. Former Fed. Intellectual magpie. Dogs, SciFi, nerdery. Views my own.
In case you need a little historical strangeness in your day. I love weird patents!
Presenting: A masterthread of our spotlights on old-timey patents for weird objects that interface with vaginas. We regret to inform you we'll probably update it occasionally. Links are Mastodon up until the point where we started posting these on here, too.
November 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
In case you need a little historical strangeness in your day. I love weird patents!
It's great. Really. My computer is so secure between all the 2FAs and VPN and security software that eats 30% RAM that it just doesn't work as a laptop. I'm going to super-soaker my IT department's pet server next time I'm in the office for this evening.
The person who designed my company's 2FA system need to encounter only the most enraging situations for the rest of their lives. May they suffer every enraging inconvenience, inkless pens, unstable internet, etc.
November 25, 2025 at 12:25 AM
It's great. Really. My computer is so secure between all the 2FAs and VPN and security software that eats 30% RAM that it just doesn't work as a laptop. I'm going to super-soaker my IT department's pet server next time I'm in the office for this evening.
The person who designed my company's 2FA system need to encounter only the most enraging situations for the rest of their lives. May they suffer every enraging inconvenience, inkless pens, unstable internet, etc.
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 AM
The person who designed my company's 2FA system need to encounter only the most enraging situations for the rest of their lives. May they suffer every enraging inconvenience, inkless pens, unstable internet, etc.
I'm fascinated by how mad people are about an idea that's been discussed for 20+ years. It's an artificial volcano that buys time to decarbonize - do y'all not understand that we have to cool much faster than we have to not kill tens of thousands? How do you plan on achieving that?
A 25-person startup is developing technology to block the sun and turn down the planet’s thermostat.
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
November 24, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I'm fascinated by how mad people are about an idea that's been discussed for 20+ years. It's an artificial volcano that buys time to decarbonize - do y'all not understand that we have to cool much faster than we have to not kill tens of thousands? How do you plan on achieving that?
Yeah this is "Cool. Can I get you something else? We have tea, coffee, sparkling water, etc..."
Don't be a jerk about other people's choices.
Don't be a jerk about other people's choices.
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
November 24, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Yeah this is "Cool. Can I get you something else? We have tea, coffee, sparkling water, etc..."
Don't be a jerk about other people's choices.
Don't be a jerk about other people's choices.
Some good news for the day!
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
"The humanities really are a resource — a confidence for living in our times.” Dean Sara Guyer on the modern utility of humanities degrees
This interview originally appeared on the Division of Arts
bit.ly
November 23, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Some good news for the day!
In all these movies where they send out the National Guard to keep people calm, I wonder how people would react in future. All the little kids in my life who've asked if the soldiers are going to hurt us or their friends won't see them as peace keepers ever again.
November 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
In all these movies where they send out the National Guard to keep people calm, I wonder how people would react in future. All the little kids in my life who've asked if the soldiers are going to hurt us or their friends won't see them as peace keepers ever again.
This thread is a perfect morning read to correct history and undo the injustice of films that demonize people who don't have the power to stop them and. Oliver Stone should be ashamed.
Surprisingly, this post got traction last night. So now I want to tell you about Clay Shaw, and Jim Garrison's horrific homophobic prosecution of him, a nightmare of Les Miserables-like proportions.
This thread may be long, but there are lessons for us today in knowing what happened. Here goes...
This thread may be long, but there are lessons for us today in knowing what happened. Here goes...
That Oliver Stone made a movie lionizing Jim Garrison's ludicrous prosecution of an innocent man (Clay Shaw) is one of the most egregious historical transmogrifications in cinema. Imagine in 20 yrs a Stephen Miller hagiography starring Chalamet, that's the artistic crime level we're talking.
November 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
This thread is a perfect morning read to correct history and undo the injustice of films that demonize people who don't have the power to stop them and. Oliver Stone should be ashamed.
One of the best parts of my county's holiday parade is all the dance clubs and schools from a bunch of countries/regions. It's a parade of "here's a cool place you haven't been and out awesome traditions" and I love it. Mixed with the very good marching bands and the troops of various things.
November 22, 2025 at 4:03 PM
One of the best parts of my county's holiday parade is all the dance clubs and schools from a bunch of countries/regions. It's a parade of "here's a cool place you haven't been and out awesome traditions" and I love it. Mixed with the very good marching bands and the troops of various things.
Absolutely this. I'd add that many conspiracy movements focused on women's health exist because the medical establishment has completely failed women. I know so many people whose doctors drove them to strange behavior in desperation.
Please hear me when I say that
1) these anti-medical woo birth movements have been a primary feeder into anti-vaxx eugenic movements
2) they pre-date the age of social media
3) they exist because we have not addressed medical sexism and specifically obstetric violence
1) these anti-medical woo birth movements have been a primary feeder into anti-vaxx eugenic movements
2) they pre-date the age of social media
3) they exist because we have not addressed medical sexism and specifically obstetric violence
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
November 22, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Absolutely this. I'd add that many conspiracy movements focused on women's health exist because the medical establishment has completely failed women. I know so many people whose doctors drove them to strange behavior in desperation.
This makes me so happy. I would 100% go to a Vatican rave.
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 21, 2025 at 10:10 PM
This makes me so happy. I would 100% go to a Vatican rave.
Every now and then a day is so weird, I just repeat the convo with my old Marine shrink that goes:
M: are you going to drink about that?
Me: yup
M: is that a GOOD idea?
Me: oh definitely not
M: and so...
Me: to the bar, lol!
M: 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ dammit why are you an 18 yo dumbass at 40????
M: are you going to drink about that?
Me: yup
M: is that a GOOD idea?
Me: oh definitely not
M: and so...
Me: to the bar, lol!
M: 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ dammit why are you an 18 yo dumbass at 40????
November 20, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Every now and then a day is so weird, I just repeat the convo with my old Marine shrink that goes:
M: are you going to drink about that?
Me: yup
M: is that a GOOD idea?
Me: oh definitely not
M: and so...
Me: to the bar, lol!
M: 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ dammit why are you an 18 yo dumbass at 40????
M: are you going to drink about that?
Me: yup
M: is that a GOOD idea?
Me: oh definitely not
M: and so...
Me: to the bar, lol!
M: 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ dammit why are you an 18 yo dumbass at 40????
Researchers might be worse? I think our DM almost flipped the board after 30+ minutes of questions about what *exactly* we could and could not take through a portal into the realm of the gods and how the physics of that worked. 😂
Also, many, many language questions on how we were talking to who.
Also, many, many language questions on how we were talking to who.
It must be hard for DMs to have journalists in your D&D party because we’re professionally trained question askers and probably grill you on a bunch of shit you weren’t prepared to think about.
November 19, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Researchers might be worse? I think our DM almost flipped the board after 30+ minutes of questions about what *exactly* we could and could not take through a portal into the realm of the gods and how the physics of that worked. 😂
Also, many, many language questions on how we were talking to who.
Also, many, many language questions on how we were talking to who.
I am dreading this election. It took years of work and volunteers and building to get her elected and I'm still pissed she sold us out to become governor this soon. This is going to be such a mess.
November 19, 2025 at 3:55 AM
I am dreading this election. It took years of work and volunteers and building to get her elected and I'm still pissed she sold us out to become governor this soon. This is going to be such a mess.
Of all the things I want to do tonight, fixing a dress so I can wear it to work tomorrow is basically right below seriously injuring myself and trying to read Twighlight without screaming.
Why must I look like a respectable adult?! Ugh.
Why must I look like a respectable adult?! Ugh.
November 19, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Of all the things I want to do tonight, fixing a dress so I can wear it to work tomorrow is basically right below seriously injuring myself and trying to read Twighlight without screaming.
Why must I look like a respectable adult?! Ugh.
Why must I look like a respectable adult?! Ugh.
Well this seems like a privacy nightmare that's going to blow up in their faces soon.
Intuit said its tools, such as TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and Mailchimp, will be accessible through ChatGPT, allowing users to ask questions and complete tasks such as estimating tax refunds, reviewing credit options, or managing business finances.
Intuit signs $100M+ deal with OpenAI to bring its apps to ChatGPT | TechCrunch
Intuit said its tools, such as TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and Mailchimp, will be accessible through ChatGPT, allowing users to ask questions and complete tasks such as estimating tax refunds, reviewing credit options, or managing business finances.
techcrunch.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Well this seems like a privacy nightmare that's going to blow up in their faces soon.
Good God. The tech bros are just doing full phrenology and eugenics now out in the open.
These technologies need to be outlawed. The ones that judge based on voice, these - all of them. They are all just ways for white guys to justify hiring white guys and a sigle type of white woman.
These technologies need to be outlawed. The ones that judge based on voice, these - all of them. They are all just ways for white guys to justify hiring white guys and a sigle type of white woman.
"The research built on some other ethically dubious scholarship, which posits that personality traits can be sussed out just based on a person’s facial features."
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Scientists Say Their AI System Can Scan Your Face to Detect Whether a Company Should Hire You
New research suggests that an algorithm which scans your face could accurately predict financial, academic, and job success.
futurism.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Good God. The tech bros are just doing full phrenology and eugenics now out in the open.
These technologies need to be outlawed. The ones that judge based on voice, these - all of them. They are all just ways for white guys to justify hiring white guys and a sigle type of white woman.
These technologies need to be outlawed. The ones that judge based on voice, these - all of them. They are all just ways for white guys to justify hiring white guys and a sigle type of white woman.
Well that's a bit too on the nose for the day.
I don’t know what I was going to tell them, but it was going to involve the words “I can’t do my job if none of you fucking listen to me”
November 18, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Well that's a bit too on the nose for the day.
Every year, I forget how terrible raised metro platforms are in the windy cold. Dear God that's terrible.
November 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Every year, I forget how terrible raised metro platforms are in the windy cold. Dear God that's terrible.
Walking around DC, I'm realizing my vague respect for the military has been replaced by visceral anger and rejection seeing those uniforms on my streets.
Maybe this is the end of the US's creepy worship of the military and assumption of competence. Cause man those look like collaborators not heros.
Maybe this is the end of the US's creepy worship of the military and assumption of competence. Cause man those look like collaborators not heros.
November 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Walking around DC, I'm realizing my vague respect for the military has been replaced by visceral anger and rejection seeing those uniforms on my streets.
Maybe this is the end of the US's creepy worship of the military and assumption of competence. Cause man those look like collaborators not heros.
Maybe this is the end of the US's creepy worship of the military and assumption of competence. Cause man those look like collaborators not heros.
What a way to just admit publicly that your users are embarrassed by their dependence on these tools. And like good - they should be embarrassed. Laziness and the refusal to learn are embarrassing and hallmarks of the people who insist on writing with these and hiding it.
Scamtech will now help you better hide the fact you're using scamtech to lie to people.
OpenAI has a fix for a telltale sign that you used ChatGPT
For some writers, the em dash had become tarnished because it could indicate ChatGPT use — could an OpenAI update help it lose the stigma?
www.businessinsider.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:44 PM
What a way to just admit publicly that your users are embarrassed by their dependence on these tools. And like good - they should be embarrassed. Laziness and the refusal to learn are embarrassing and hallmarks of the people who insist on writing with these and hiding it.
It seems like there's an interesting divide in cyberpunk about privacy and what people can hide from government. It's a solid framework for thinking about surveillance though. Do you care if the gov sees:
Communications
Money flows
Online activity
Movement
Video/facial recognition
Medical
Communications
Money flows
Online activity
Movement
Video/facial recognition
Medical
November 15, 2025 at 4:39 PM
It seems like there's an interesting divide in cyberpunk about privacy and what people can hide from government. It's a solid framework for thinking about surveillance though. Do you care if the gov sees:
Communications
Money flows
Online activity
Movement
Video/facial recognition
Medical
Communications
Money flows
Online activity
Movement
Video/facial recognition
Medical
Can we please just not? The number of people that are going to do something terrible "because Jesus told me to" because of syncophantic chat bots is just obviously non-zero. What is wrong with people?!
The app Text With Jesus uses artificial intelligence and chatbots to offer spiritual guidance to users who are looking to connect with a higher power: on.nbc10.com/7XM8xrf
People can text with Jesus on a controversial new app. How does it work?
Artificial intelligence app Text With Jesus lets users chat with biblical figures and it is raising debate over faith and technology.
on.nbc10.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Can we please just not? The number of people that are going to do something terrible "because Jesus told me to" because of syncophantic chat bots is just obviously non-zero. What is wrong with people?!
My neighbor was cracking jokes about 40 days in the wilderness while telling me she's back at work. My brain decided the thing to do with that was play EVERY SINGLE LENT HYMN EVER for me.
Send help. These are all very depressing ear worms. (Though at least the most metal section of the hymnal?)
Send help. These are all very depressing ear worms. (Though at least the most metal section of the hymnal?)
November 14, 2025 at 10:56 PM
My neighbor was cracking jokes about 40 days in the wilderness while telling me she's back at work. My brain decided the thing to do with that was play EVERY SINGLE LENT HYMN EVER for me.
Send help. These are all very depressing ear worms. (Though at least the most metal section of the hymnal?)
Send help. These are all very depressing ear worms. (Though at least the most metal section of the hymnal?)
This applies to at least 80% of The Discourse at any given moment and I can't imagine how sad and isolating it must be to be afraid of everyone all the time. Maybe I'm optimistic, but most places are fine if you get to know your neighbors. Cities just mostly aren't that scary*.
Dork reference incoming: I think Blue Lantern (DC comics) Saint Walker had it right when he said "Rage is the orphan child of fear and despair." These people are so, so afraid of literally everything, so much of it entirely imaginary.
November 13, 2025 at 1:03 AM
This applies to at least 80% of The Discourse at any given moment and I can't imagine how sad and isolating it must be to be afraid of everyone all the time. Maybe I'm optimistic, but most places are fine if you get to know your neighbors. Cities just mostly aren't that scary*.