Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
@iainrb.bsky.social
Fights cancer with computers in Toronto, Canada. Fan of SF, cinema and various sports. Sort of an ominous robed figure pointing and saying "BEWARE" in a hoarse voice every time AI is mentioned. 🇨🇦/🇬🇧 citizen. Parent, husband, cat servant. He/him.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Links related to humans on Mars, with some prefatory remarks
If you clicked over and started reading that thread, you'll notice that Pethokoukis appears to be another one of those people whose view of humans in space is "Musk says. It must be so."
For most of my life, I was a big fan of the 1/9
If you clicked over and started reading that thread, you'll notice that Pethokoukis appears to be another one of those people whose view of humans in space is "Musk says. It must be so."
For most of my life, I was a big fan of the 1/9
February 14, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Links related to humans on Mars, with some prefatory remarks
If you clicked over and started reading that thread, you'll notice that Pethokoukis appears to be another one of those people whose view of humans in space is "Musk says. It must be so."
For most of my life, I was a big fan of the 1/9
If you clicked over and started reading that thread, you'll notice that Pethokoukis appears to be another one of those people whose view of humans in space is "Musk says. It must be so."
For most of my life, I was a big fan of the 1/9
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Yep. I was reading a book (which I will not name) with a prophet who supposedly inspired nations by the power of her words. Unfortunately her words were about on the level of Alanis Morissette lyrics.
Writing a character who is smarter than you are is very, very hard.
Writing a character who is smarter than you are is very, very hard.
Alien: Earth suffers from the common problem of writers trying to write geniuses who pontificate on genius matters. Boy Kavalier is meant to be the world's greatest genius, but his philosophical musings are thin and, well, not at all genius. Undergrad level stuff, maybe.
February 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Yep. I was reading a book (which I will not name) with a prophet who supposedly inspired nations by the power of her words. Unfortunately her words were about on the level of Alanis Morissette lyrics.
Writing a character who is smarter than you are is very, very hard.
Writing a character who is smarter than you are is very, very hard.
A sure sign of bad writing: "This widely admired dead guy, who is unable to speak for himself, would surely agree with everything I'm saying!"
Oh this is gonna be rough.
The preface opens with Carl Sagan’s “pale blue dot” photo of earth from deep outer space.
Pethokoukis wants to reimagine the dot, not as the fragile planet we inhabit together, but as the past two centuries of technological and economic progress.
This guy sucks.
The preface opens with Carl Sagan’s “pale blue dot” photo of earth from deep outer space.
Pethokoukis wants to reimagine the dot, not as the fragile planet we inhabit together, but as the past two centuries of technological and economic progress.
This guy sucks.
February 14, 2026 at 5:40 PM
A sure sign of bad writing: "This widely admired dead guy, who is unable to speak for himself, would surely agree with everything I'm saying!"
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Executive at massive tech company: The time of the AI God is at hand. Soon you peons will be useful only for the protein content of your bodies.
Random Bluesky user: AI sounds really shit.
Very Serious Commentators: Why is AI discourse so bad? I, for one, blame random Bluesky users.
Random Bluesky user: AI sounds really shit.
Very Serious Commentators: Why is AI discourse so bad? I, for one, blame random Bluesky users.
February 13, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Executive at massive tech company: The time of the AI God is at hand. Soon you peons will be useful only for the protein content of your bodies.
Random Bluesky user: AI sounds really shit.
Very Serious Commentators: Why is AI discourse so bad? I, for one, blame random Bluesky users.
Random Bluesky user: AI sounds really shit.
Very Serious Commentators: Why is AI discourse so bad? I, for one, blame random Bluesky users.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
iconic shot of Lucas Pinheiro Braathen on the podium
February 14, 2026 at 4:15 PM
iconic shot of Lucas Pinheiro Braathen on the podium
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
God forbid a woman have a hobby.
February 14, 2026 at 3:45 PM
God forbid a woman have a hobby.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Happy birthday to one of the greatest, Frederick Douglass. Born into slavery, he didn't know his actual birthday, but chose to celebrate it on this day.
Please read his books and essays; please teach your children his story when they are old enough to understand.
Please read his books and essays; please teach your children his story when they are old enough to understand.
February 14, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Happy birthday to one of the greatest, Frederick Douglass. Born into slavery, he didn't know his actual birthday, but chose to celebrate it on this day.
Please read his books and essays; please teach your children his story when they are old enough to understand.
Please read his books and essays; please teach your children his story when they are old enough to understand.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
There's no end to the irony of the "fans" complaining about canon in newer Star Trek because if you know anything about the series you know that shit was always stitched together with duct tape and prayer.
Did you know the Klingon Bird-of-Prey in Star Trek III was originally intended to be Romulan?
Did you know the Klingon Bird-of-Prey in Star Trek III was originally intended to be Romulan?
February 14, 2026 at 3:11 PM
There's no end to the irony of the "fans" complaining about canon in newer Star Trek because if you know anything about the series you know that shit was always stitched together with duct tape and prayer.
Did you know the Klingon Bird-of-Prey in Star Trek III was originally intended to be Romulan?
Did you know the Klingon Bird-of-Prey in Star Trek III was originally intended to be Romulan?
I finally watched the Stranger Things finale last night.
Feels like the end of an era. Everyone grumbles about how ridiculously old the actors are now. But more striking for me is, *my* kid has grown from a baby to... almost the same age as the kids in Season 1.
Feels like the end of an era. Everyone grumbles about how ridiculously old the actors are now. But more striking for me is, *my* kid has grown from a baby to... almost the same age as the kids in Season 1.
February 14, 2026 at 3:35 PM
I finally watched the Stranger Things finale last night.
Feels like the end of an era. Everyone grumbles about how ridiculously old the actors are now. But more striking for me is, *my* kid has grown from a baby to... almost the same age as the kids in Season 1.
Feels like the end of an era. Everyone grumbles about how ridiculously old the actors are now. But more striking for me is, *my* kid has grown from a baby to... almost the same age as the kids in Season 1.
Good thread.
My kid really struggled with reading. We persisted, reading to him at bedtime; encouraging him to pick up graphic novels, audiobooks, any kind of long form prose.
It took years. It's still hard sometimes. But yesterday he was excited to go to the bookshop and buy a YA novel. 😊
My kid really struggled with reading. We persisted, reading to him at bedtime; encouraging him to pick up graphic novels, audiobooks, any kind of long form prose.
It took years. It's still hard sometimes. But yesterday he was excited to go to the bookshop and buy a YA novel. 😊
I have done a lot of thinking about “the reading crisis”. And I mean a lot. Both as a student kind of stunned by what younger classmates don’t know or care to do, and as someone REALLY INVESTED IN EARLY LITERACY.
I almost pitched a proposal for a dissertation on this exact topic.
I almost pitched a proposal for a dissertation on this exact topic.
February 14, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Good thread.
My kid really struggled with reading. We persisted, reading to him at bedtime; encouraging him to pick up graphic novels, audiobooks, any kind of long form prose.
It took years. It's still hard sometimes. But yesterday he was excited to go to the bookshop and buy a YA novel. 😊
My kid really struggled with reading. We persisted, reading to him at bedtime; encouraging him to pick up graphic novels, audiobooks, any kind of long form prose.
It took years. It's still hard sometimes. But yesterday he was excited to go to the bookshop and buy a YA novel. 😊
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
I have done a lot of thinking about “the reading crisis”. And I mean a lot. Both as a student kind of stunned by what younger classmates don’t know or care to do, and as someone REALLY INVESTED IN EARLY LITERACY.
I almost pitched a proposal for a dissertation on this exact topic.
I almost pitched a proposal for a dissertation on this exact topic.
February 14, 2026 at 2:18 AM
I have done a lot of thinking about “the reading crisis”. And I mean a lot. Both as a student kind of stunned by what younger classmates don’t know or care to do, and as someone REALLY INVESTED IN EARLY LITERACY.
I almost pitched a proposal for a dissertation on this exact topic.
I almost pitched a proposal for a dissertation on this exact topic.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Lord of the Rings and the Spider-Man trilogy both rule, because we took some absolute freak horror directors, gave them infinite budgets and never-before-seen CGI tech, and told them to make an all-quadrant family blockbuster based on the most beloved characters of the 20th century.
Whenever I rewatch the original Spider-Man movie I remember how much parts of it scared me, especially the Green Goblin jumpscares, and how it might have been my first exposure to this style of horror filmmaking, that combo of intensity and camp that I came to love Raimi for
February 14, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Lord of the Rings and the Spider-Man trilogy both rule, because we took some absolute freak horror directors, gave them infinite budgets and never-before-seen CGI tech, and told them to make an all-quadrant family blockbuster based on the most beloved characters of the 20th century.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Like, you know how you get pissed when somebody says the Moon landing was fake because "I can't see stars in the photos" and you know they literally didn't even try to reason? That's what you're doing. Cynicism is not wisdom!
February 13, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Like, you know how you get pissed when somebody says the Moon landing was fake because "I can't see stars in the photos" and you know they literally didn't even try to reason? That's what you're doing. Cynicism is not wisdom!
Yep. I was reading a book (which I will not name) with a prophet who supposedly inspired nations by the power of her words. Unfortunately her words were about on the level of Alanis Morissette lyrics.
Writing a character who is smarter than you are is very, very hard.
Writing a character who is smarter than you are is very, very hard.
Alien: Earth suffers from the common problem of writers trying to write geniuses who pontificate on genius matters. Boy Kavalier is meant to be the world's greatest genius, but his philosophical musings are thin and, well, not at all genius. Undergrad level stuff, maybe.
February 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Yep. I was reading a book (which I will not name) with a prophet who supposedly inspired nations by the power of her words. Unfortunately her words were about on the level of Alanis Morissette lyrics.
Writing a character who is smarter than you are is very, very hard.
Writing a character who is smarter than you are is very, very hard.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Happy Valentine's day, folks. Here's my favorite story about the nerd and the honeypot.
I vaguely recall @megelison.bsky.social telling a story from her fintech days about a shlubby engineer realizing several drinks in that he was being honeypotted by a model and climbing out the bathroom window to escape
February 13, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Happy Valentine's day, folks. Here's my favorite story about the nerd and the honeypot.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Honestly don't think there's been a star wars project I've been less excited for
Din Djarin acquires “the same model” of Razor Crest in THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU as he had previously, confirms Jon Favreau.
“He's in a Razor Crest now, which is the ship that he originally had. He's in the same model of ship.”
(Source: www.polygon.com/mandalorian-...)
“He's in a Razor Crest now, which is the ship that he originally had. He's in the same model of ship.”
(Source: www.polygon.com/mandalorian-...)
February 13, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Honestly don't think there's been a star wars project I've been less excited for
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Someone told me lately "Bluesky is just like Twitter." I argued that was untrue on the basis that last time I had a Twitter account most times I got a new follower their bio said "single & looking for fun" & here when I get a new follower it tends to say something like "professor of rare moths".
February 12, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Someone told me lately "Bluesky is just like Twitter." I argued that was untrue on the basis that last time I had a Twitter account most times I got a new follower their bio said "single & looking for fun" & here when I get a new follower it tends to say something like "professor of rare moths".
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
I have a friend who said, of Starfleet Academy, that this took them out of it - that seeing a person in a wheelchair in the 32nd century seemed unrealistic, since medicine in Star Trek "should be able to cure whatever was wrong with them."
That's not the case, for any number of possible reasons.
That's not the case, for any number of possible reasons.
February 12, 2026 at 9:52 PM
I have a friend who said, of Starfleet Academy, that this took them out of it - that seeing a person in a wheelchair in the 32nd century seemed unrealistic, since medicine in Star Trek "should be able to cure whatever was wrong with them."
That's not the case, for any number of possible reasons.
That's not the case, for any number of possible reasons.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Happy birthday, Chuck.
Proud to carry on your legacy of studying evolutionary biology while going through it
Proud to carry on your legacy of studying evolutionary biology while going through it
February 12, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Happy birthday, Chuck.
Proud to carry on your legacy of studying evolutionary biology while going through it
Proud to carry on your legacy of studying evolutionary biology while going through it
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
it scares me to imagine a LLM-economy driven future in which we have even fewer people working on preserving stuff like nearly-dead languages and cultures than we already do
I had a professor from that part of the world (Eritrean iirc) who spoke several languages, two of which were under 500 speakers each even 20 years ago. There aren’t any books or documents in them. They exist, not many speakers but still living languages. Nothing recorded
February 12, 2026 at 8:59 PM
it scares me to imagine a LLM-economy driven future in which we have even fewer people working on preserving stuff like nearly-dead languages and cultures than we already do
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Turning up at Chernobyl in May 1986 and lecturing people on how nuclear power has its good points, actually, is not technically incorrect but it's a massive failure to read the room.
The major players in the LLM industry make Soviet nuclear power policy look sane and responsible.
The major players in the LLM industry make Soviet nuclear power policy look sane and responsible.
February 12, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Turning up at Chernobyl in May 1986 and lecturing people on how nuclear power has its good points, actually, is not technically incorrect but it's a massive failure to read the room.
The major players in the LLM industry make Soviet nuclear power policy look sane and responsible.
The major players in the LLM industry make Soviet nuclear power policy look sane and responsible.
Strawman.
Machine learning is very useful in specific contexts. But LLMs as an all-purpose knowledge processor are not fit for their advertised purpose.
LLMs are not going away, but investors wrongly assumed they'll be outrageously profitable, so there's a bubble waiting to pop.
Machine learning is very useful in specific contexts. But LLMs as an all-purpose knowledge processor are not fit for their advertised purpose.
LLMs are not going away, but investors wrongly assumed they'll be outrageously profitable, so there's a bubble waiting to pop.
The predominent anti-AI position on bsky is that AI is useless, fake, shit and basically the same as NFTs, destined to collapse in months once everyone sees how poor it is. So anyone who suggests that it could improve or be useful to any boss in any situation in the future must be evil.
February 12, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Strawman.
Machine learning is very useful in specific contexts. But LLMs as an all-purpose knowledge processor are not fit for their advertised purpose.
LLMs are not going away, but investors wrongly assumed they'll be outrageously profitable, so there's a bubble waiting to pop.
Machine learning is very useful in specific contexts. But LLMs as an all-purpose knowledge processor are not fit for their advertised purpose.
LLMs are not going away, but investors wrongly assumed they'll be outrageously profitable, so there's a bubble waiting to pop.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Feb 12th 1809 - Abraham Lincoln was born.
📽️📅 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
📽️📅 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
February 12, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Feb 12th 1809 - Abraham Lincoln was born.
📽️📅 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
📽️📅 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Everybody and their monkey's uncle has a theory about mass market paperbacks.
Once far outstripping every other format - a 4:1 ratio at its peak - the 4.25" x 7" paperback sold millions of copies, not just of Louis L'Amour, but of journalism, science, movie tie-ins, and more.
So what happened? 🧵
Once far outstripping every other format - a 4:1 ratio at its peak - the 4.25" x 7" paperback sold millions of copies, not just of Louis L'Amour, but of journalism, science, movie tie-ins, and more.
So what happened? 🧵
January 29, 2026 at 5:12 AM
Everybody and their monkey's uncle has a theory about mass market paperbacks.
Once far outstripping every other format - a 4:1 ratio at its peak - the 4.25" x 7" paperback sold millions of copies, not just of Louis L'Amour, but of journalism, science, movie tie-ins, and more.
So what happened? 🧵
Once far outstripping every other format - a 4:1 ratio at its peak - the 4.25" x 7" paperback sold millions of copies, not just of Louis L'Amour, but of journalism, science, movie tie-ins, and more.
So what happened? 🧵