Jack Mitcham, Ph.D.
@jackmitcham.bsky.social
👨💼 Risk analyst / Operations researcher
🚀 Sci-fi writer working to become a sci-fi *author*
📖 Writing a novel set on a tidally-locked iceball planet, where wealth inequality follows the temperature gradient
👱♂️ Dad to the sweetest boy in the world
🚀 Sci-fi writer working to become a sci-fi *author*
📖 Writing a novel set on a tidally-locked iceball planet, where wealth inequality follows the temperature gradient
👱♂️ Dad to the sweetest boy in the world
They won't name the contractor, which doesn't surprise me. They probably aren't even allowed to say the contractor's name in internal communications, let alone with the press.
The British government admits it is now monitoring VPNs use by UK residents. Regulator Ofcom has contracted with an AI-powered surveillance service to detect the number of citizens using VPNs to evade the Online Safety Act.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
Exclusive: Ofcom is monitoring VPNs following Online Safety Act. Here's how
Ignoring VPNs risks creating ineffective laws, but tracking them threatens people's privacy
www.techradar.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM
They won't name the contractor, which doesn't surprise me. They probably aren't even allowed to say the contractor's name in internal communications, let alone with the press.
Even in the Northeast?
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Even in the Northeast?
Reposted by Jack Mitcham, Ph.D.
GET YOUR DIGITIAL CALIPERS OUT, BOYS, WE'RE GOING MEASUREHEAD MODE !
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
Should facial analysis help determine whom companies hire?
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
econ.st
November 6, 2025 at 8:42 PM
GET YOUR DIGITIAL CALIPERS OUT, BOYS, WE'RE GOING MEASUREHEAD MODE !
Apparently, elementary schools now have yearbooks they want us to buy. And the photo company forced my pre-K kid to do some kind of serious professional pose because "it's for the yearbook."
November 3, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Apparently, elementary schools now have yearbooks they want us to buy. And the photo company forced my pre-K kid to do some kind of serious professional pose because "it's for the yearbook."
I've been posting a lot in this thread about building houses, and I just don't think it's as simple as people make it out to be. I can't think of a single major city in the world that has figured out how to be both broadly affordable and desirable to live in.
More housing helps, but only a bit.
More housing helps, but only a bit.
Build housing for the city you want, not the city you have. If you do the first, you get the amenities AND housing, along with the tax dollars and agglomeration effects of having more people.
November 2, 2025 at 3:18 AM
I've been posting a lot in this thread about building houses, and I just don't think it's as simple as people make it out to be. I can't think of a single major city in the world that has figured out how to be both broadly affordable and desirable to live in.
More housing helps, but only a bit.
More housing helps, but only a bit.
Reposted by Jack Mitcham, Ph.D.
Tonight’s the night we disguise ourselves and threaten our neighbors for candy!
October 31, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Tonight’s the night we disguise ourselves and threaten our neighbors for candy!
Hey #econsky
Is there anybody out there talking about how systemic use of the S&P500 as a benchmark in models (e.g., CAPM, VaR, monte carlo portfolio simulations, etc) is creating inefficiencies and fragility in the market?
The S&P500 is not a broad market index like it used to be.
Is there anybody out there talking about how systemic use of the S&P500 as a benchmark in models (e.g., CAPM, VaR, monte carlo portfolio simulations, etc) is creating inefficiencies and fragility in the market?
The S&P500 is not a broad market index like it used to be.
October 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Hey #econsky
Is there anybody out there talking about how systemic use of the S&P500 as a benchmark in models (e.g., CAPM, VaR, monte carlo portfolio simulations, etc) is creating inefficiencies and fragility in the market?
The S&P500 is not a broad market index like it used to be.
Is there anybody out there talking about how systemic use of the S&P500 as a benchmark in models (e.g., CAPM, VaR, monte carlo portfolio simulations, etc) is creating inefficiencies and fragility in the market?
The S&P500 is not a broad market index like it used to be.
First Christmas decorations up at 4:25pm on October 29th.
a man in armor with the words so it begins
Alt: "so it begins" gif
media.tenor.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:27 PM
First Christmas decorations up at 4:25pm on October 29th.
9 if you don't count layovers, 11 if you do.
October 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM
9 if you don't count layovers, 11 if you do.
Hey, it's my advisor's advisor's advisor's advisor's...(X20) advisor.
October 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Hey, it's my advisor's advisor's advisor's advisor's...(X20) advisor.
Reposted by Jack Mitcham, Ph.D.
![Comic. Confusion matrix showing renditions of different combinations, colored yellow, tan, or gray. [Air: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles G, light Y, sound Y, heat Y, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio Y, sharks G] [Lead: gamma rays G, neutrons T, alpha particles G, light G, Sound Y, heat Y, swords G, toxic dust T, radio G, sharks G] [Water: gamma rays T, neutrons G, alpha particles G, light T, sound Y, heat Y, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio G, sharks Y] [Vacuum: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles Y, light Y, sound G, heat T, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio Y, sharks G] [Oven mitts: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles G, light G, sound T, heat G, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio Y, sharks Y] [Armor: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles G, light G, sound Y, heat Y, swords G, toxic dust Y, radio G, sharks T] [Biohazard suit: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles G, light G, sound Y, heat Y, swords Y, toxic dust G, radio Y, sharks Y] [Faraday cage: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles Y, light Y, sound Y, heat Y, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio G, sharks Y] [Shark cage: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles Y, light Y, sound Y, heat Y, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio Y, sharks G]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreib7rzofmrqb5cvnyccnb7ftj6qroxtp55i4dqqnbp2ozun6gaxbkm@jpeg)
October 23, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by Jack Mitcham, Ph.D.
Absolutely blindsided by the death of GM Daniel Naroditsky.
Horrible horrible news.
RIP
Horrible horrible news.
RIP
October 21, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Absolutely blindsided by the death of GM Daniel Naroditsky.
Horrible horrible news.
RIP
Horrible horrible news.
RIP
Reposted by Jack Mitcham, Ph.D.
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
October 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
When the current authoritarian takeover of the US end (and it will eventually, they always do), there are three options:
1) Prosecutions and purges
2) Truth commissions and possible reparations
3) Amnesty & forgetting
A short thread with examples of each:
1) Prosecutions and purges
2) Truth commissions and possible reparations
3) Amnesty & forgetting
A short thread with examples of each:
October 4, 2025 at 2:56 AM
When the current authoritarian takeover of the US end (and it will eventually, they always do), there are three options:
1) Prosecutions and purges
2) Truth commissions and possible reparations
3) Amnesty & forgetting
A short thread with examples of each:
1) Prosecutions and purges
2) Truth commissions and possible reparations
3) Amnesty & forgetting
A short thread with examples of each:
If Democrats ever get back in charge, they should consider ratifying the Rome Treaty, and filing an Article 12(3) declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC in relation to these crimes.
Don’t believe anyone who tells you that intelligence shows anything “without a doubt,” but even if the intelligence was water-tight, this strike was still murder. No law permits the deliberate, premeditated killing of civilians.
October 3, 2025 at 5:46 PM
If Democrats ever get back in charge, they should consider ratifying the Rome Treaty, and filing an Article 12(3) declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC in relation to these crimes.
I've never really gotten into Critical Role, but I'm giving Campaign 4 a shot. It's just so... overproduced.
October 3, 2025 at 2:15 AM
I've never really gotten into Critical Role, but I'm giving Campaign 4 a shot. It's just so... overproduced.
September 29, 2025 at 10:49 PM
He really is a Bad Bunny. Where is his fur? Look at those tiny ears.
September 29, 2025 at 7:40 PM
He really is a Bad Bunny. Where is his fur? Look at those tiny ears.
Reposted by Jack Mitcham, Ph.D.
The collapsing cost of publishing to the whole world - written, audio, video - has given rise to an extraordinarily fragmented information space, creating an ideas market where audiences have the ability to select their own narratives and publishers have an incentive to flatter audiences' biases.
September 29, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The collapsing cost of publishing to the whole world - written, audio, video - has given rise to an extraordinarily fragmented information space, creating an ideas market where audiences have the ability to select their own narratives and publishers have an incentive to flatter audiences' biases.
Reposted by Jack Mitcham, Ph.D.
Talking about 2028 is dangerously naive; the danger is now. Trump is directing the military and justice department to go to "war" on US cities and his enemies, from TV hosts to former FBI directors. Keeping the 2026 midterms fair may be the last stand. My latest: www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
The Race to Save America’s Democracy
Trump’s administration may seem chaotic, but Americans should not take the integrity of next year’s elections for granted.
www.theatlantic.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Talking about 2028 is dangerously naive; the danger is now. Trump is directing the military and justice department to go to "war" on US cities and his enemies, from TV hosts to former FBI directors. Keeping the 2026 midterms fair may be the last stand. My latest: www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Looking at the news today was a grievous mistake.
September 28, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Looking at the news today was a grievous mistake.
Just watched All Of You on Apple TV+. I was promised a romance with sci-fi elements. It's... not that.
Mild spoilers below.
Mild spoilers below.
September 28, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Just watched All Of You on Apple TV+. I was promised a romance with sci-fi elements. It's... not that.
Mild spoilers below.
Mild spoilers below.
When I joined BlueSky, I didn't really eant to talk about politics. I was writing a novel, and wanted to talk about that. I also worked for a federal contractor, so I had to be careful about what I said.
Then, the Trump administration took off on it's authoritarian speedrun and I lost my job. 1/
Then, the Trump administration took off on it's authoritarian speedrun and I lost my job. 1/
September 24, 2025 at 2:28 PM
When I joined BlueSky, I didn't really eant to talk about politics. I was writing a novel, and wanted to talk about that. I also worked for a federal contractor, so I had to be careful about what I said.
Then, the Trump administration took off on it's authoritarian speedrun and I lost my job. 1/
Then, the Trump administration took off on it's authoritarian speedrun and I lost my job. 1/
It's been months since I last worked on my novel, because of, you know, the state of the world? Anyway, I finally forced myself to sit down and write a few hundred words. I'm going to make an effort to more seriously get back on track.
#writingcommunity #WIPsnips
#writingcommunity #WIPsnips
September 22, 2025 at 2:30 AM
It's been months since I last worked on my novel, because of, you know, the state of the world? Anyway, I finally forced myself to sit down and write a few hundred words. I'm going to make an effort to more seriously get back on track.
#writingcommunity #WIPsnips
#writingcommunity #WIPsnips