Robin Z
@firepile.bsky.social
Professor, Philosopher, Cognitive Scientist, 4e Cognition and Artificial Intelligence; Science Fiction Fan, Cyborgologist, Retired Knitter, Comic Book Reader, 4ad records fanatic. Wanna see me nerd out about music stuff? @musicephemera.bsky.social
Pinned
Robin Z
@firepile.bsky.social
· Jan 9
Rocket just wants to have a talk about your attitude. She isn't mad, she's just disappointed.
Reposted by Robin Z
Final reminder 📢 We are looking for a #philbio or #philphysics postdoc for an interdisciplinary project exploring the boundary between living and nonliving systems through the lens of self-organization & active matter 👇 www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo... #philjobs #philsky #HPS #devbio Please share!
February 5, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Final reminder 📢 We are looking for a #philbio or #philphysics postdoc for an interdisciplinary project exploring the boundary between living and nonliving systems through the lens of self-organization & active matter 👇 www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo... #philjobs #philsky #HPS #devbio Please share!
Absolutely outrageous how many incredible reporters lost their jobs today. I've been teaching about AI for 2 decades and I've used Natasha Tiku's reporting in my classes, including this piece that's on my syllabus again this semester: www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
February 4, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Absolutely outrageous how many incredible reporters lost their jobs today. I've been teaching about AI for 2 decades and I've used Natasha Tiku's reporting in my classes, including this piece that's on my syllabus again this semester: www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Faculty should be able to sue for damages when we receive 3 requests to review in 1 day from 3 different journals
February 4, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Faculty should be able to sue for damages when we receive 3 requests to review in 1 day from 3 different journals
Feeling betrayed because I thought sleeping 22 hours today from sickness would prevent me from having to cancel classes tomorrow but the germs have regrouped
February 4, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Feeling betrayed because I thought sleeping 22 hours today from sickness would prevent me from having to cancel classes tomorrow but the germs have regrouped
Reposted by Robin Z
Never let anyone tell you your little made-up comic and cartoon stories are too silly or out of pocket when real life exists.
February 2, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Never let anyone tell you your little made-up comic and cartoon stories are too silly or out of pocket when real life exists.
My colleague gave me a new pen and I feel seen
February 3, 2026 at 12:15 AM
My colleague gave me a new pen and I feel seen
Reposted by Robin Z
names field artificial intelligence, gets mad when everyone calls it fake
February 2, 2026 at 9:43 PM
names field artificial intelligence, gets mad when everyone calls it fake
Proof that my Bird Rule works: was alerted during class to this hefty bald eagle chilling next to the river
February 2, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Proof that my Bird Rule works: was alerted during class to this hefty bald eagle chilling next to the river
Rocket says goodnight, sleep well, she'll probably kill you in the morning
February 2, 2026 at 5:23 AM
Rocket says goodnight, sleep well, she'll probably kill you in the morning
There is maybe nothing better than bluesky on days Isaac Chotiner drops an interview
February 2, 2026 at 1:49 AM
There is maybe nothing better than bluesky on days Isaac Chotiner drops an interview
Reposted by Robin Z
Chotiner: Tell me what you found interesting about these vampires.
Documentarian: Well, it's just -- the group dynamics, I guess.
Chotiner: I can see that. I can see finding Nandor, Laszlo and Nadia entertaining.
Documentarian: Exactly.
Chotiner: So. How many people did you watch them murder?
Documentarian: Well, it's just -- the group dynamics, I guess.
Chotiner: I can see that. I can see finding Nandor, Laszlo and Nadia entertaining.
Documentarian: Exactly.
Chotiner: So. How many people did you watch them murder?
February 2, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Chotiner: Tell me what you found interesting about these vampires.
Documentarian: Well, it's just -- the group dynamics, I guess.
Chotiner: I can see that. I can see finding Nandor, Laszlo and Nadia entertaining.
Documentarian: Exactly.
Chotiner: So. How many people did you watch them murder?
Documentarian: Well, it's just -- the group dynamics, I guess.
Chotiner: I can see that. I can see finding Nandor, Laszlo and Nadia entertaining.
Documentarian: Exactly.
Chotiner: So. How many people did you watch them murder?
My kid had sniffles for 2 days so of course now my throat feels like someone ran a lawnmower through it
February 2, 2026 at 12:52 AM
My kid had sniffles for 2 days so of course now my throat feels like someone ran a lawnmower through it
Reposted by Robin Z
Epstein’s economic power among academics was made possible by a capitalist system that makes higher education dependent on the charity economy rather than a public good supported by taxing the rich
February 1, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Epstein’s economic power among academics was made possible by a capitalist system that makes higher education dependent on the charity economy rather than a public good supported by taxing the rich
Look, as an undergrad and early grad student in the 90s all I ever dreamed of was one day being in a john brockman book so that whole network being in the files is really eye-opening
Academics vying for a spot in Epstein‘s world. There are so many. I feel the need to make a thread, so I don’t keep confusing them. 1/
February 1, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Look, as an undergrad and early grad student in the 90s all I ever dreamed of was one day being in a john brockman book so that whole network being in the files is really eye-opening
Reposted by Robin Z
Academics vying for a spot in Epstein‘s world. There are so many. I feel the need to make a thread, so I don’t keep confusing them. 1/
January 31, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Academics vying for a spot in Epstein‘s world. There are so many. I feel the need to make a thread, so I don’t keep confusing them. 1/
Aww poor widdle guy
January 31, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Aww poor widdle guy
And "baby"
People will quote a lot of Catherine O'Hara in the next few days and with good reason because she has a lot of quotable lines but I think the main thing she did was permanently change how people say "David"
January 30, 2026 at 9:27 PM
And "baby"
Oh damn!
A New York federal judge dismissed murder and weapons charges against alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione, a major blow to prosecutors that means Mangione no longer faces a possible death penalty if convicted reut.rs/45Fin56
January 30, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Oh damn!
My dog is so good at eyes and ears. Just like, at having them.
January 30, 2026 at 3:20 AM
My dog is so good at eyes and ears. Just like, at having them.
Tomorrow my AI class is discussing @lmsacasas.bsky.social's To Hell With Good Intentions, Silicon Valley Edition. It ended up being the most referenced piece in final projects last year, which took me by surprise! (Good enough to be the exception to my "No Substack Ever" rule).
To Hell With Good Intentions, Silicon Valley Edition
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 14
theconvivialsociety.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Tomorrow my AI class is discussing @lmsacasas.bsky.social's To Hell With Good Intentions, Silicon Valley Edition. It ended up being the most referenced piece in final projects last year, which took me by surprise! (Good enough to be the exception to my "No Substack Ever" rule).
Seems early but if I have to eat pączki for 3 weeks straight I guess I'm up for it
January 29, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Seems early but if I have to eat pączki for 3 weeks straight I guess I'm up for it
Why is Petco selling lego? I just don't think this simulation is very well-programmed
January 29, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Why is Petco selling lego? I just don't think this simulation is very well-programmed
The animal tracks (mostly coyote) in my yard look awesome in the snow but one set are extremely far apart and look like a 7 or 8 foot cloven-hooved monster must've made them
January 29, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The animal tracks (mostly coyote) in my yard look awesome in the snow but one set are extremely far apart and look like a 7 or 8 foot cloven-hooved monster must've made them
I complain about my job a pretty reasonable amount for someone who gets paid in magic beans and never sleeps, but now that we're into week 2 of the semester I can really confidently say my students this semester are once again amazing and I am so lucky I get to teach them things
January 29, 2026 at 4:32 AM
I complain about my job a pretty reasonable amount for someone who gets paid in magic beans and never sleeps, but now that we're into week 2 of the semester I can really confidently say my students this semester are once again amazing and I am so lucky I get to teach them things
Let us take a moment to praise the 3pm student who doesn't need to meet today, they are the best of us and you should all cancel meetings with me, especially on Wednesdays
January 28, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Let us take a moment to praise the 3pm student who doesn't need to meet today, they are the best of us and you should all cancel meetings with me, especially on Wednesdays