j4
@jaffa.bsky.social
Mostly badger, occasionally mermaid. Terminally online.
Every day has a million things to do & sometimes I get things done & sometimes I don't & nobody cares. I guess they're all the little things that if I was a housewife I'd want to tell my husband when he got home from his important city job, so he could not care either. Sometimes I tell the cat.
November 27, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Every day has a million things to do & sometimes I get things done & sometimes I don't & nobody cares. I guess they're all the little things that if I was a housewife I'd want to tell my husband when he got home from his important city job, so he could not care either. Sometimes I tell the cat.
Reposted by j4
Long shot but do I know anyone who knows anyone doing reproductive rights work/activism in 🇫🇷 France?
(For an abortion funding project).
Boosts appreciated!
(For an abortion funding project).
Boosts appreciated!
November 27, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Long shot but do I know anyone who knows anyone doing reproductive rights work/activism in 🇫🇷 France?
(For an abortion funding project).
Boosts appreciated!
(For an abortion funding project).
Boosts appreciated!
Reposted by j4
Reposted by j4
You may have seen some headlines about welfare spending going up to £406.2bn by 2030/31.
That is correct, it is the OBR figure.
Here is what you may not have seen.
Of the £406.2bn
A) £195.4bn goes to pensioners
B) £13.9bn goes on child benefit.
Facts matter.
That is correct, it is the OBR figure.
Here is what you may not have seen.
Of the £406.2bn
A) £195.4bn goes to pensioners
B) £13.9bn goes on child benefit.
Facts matter.
November 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
You may have seen some headlines about welfare spending going up to £406.2bn by 2030/31.
That is correct, it is the OBR figure.
Here is what you may not have seen.
Of the £406.2bn
A) £195.4bn goes to pensioners
B) £13.9bn goes on child benefit.
Facts matter.
That is correct, it is the OBR figure.
Here is what you may not have seen.
Of the £406.2bn
A) £195.4bn goes to pensioners
B) £13.9bn goes on child benefit.
Facts matter.
Reposted by j4
People talk shit about Gen X but only we respond with apoplectic rage to stuff like "your refrigerator is sending you a text" or "your desk lamp's AI would like access to your credit card data" instead of complete bafflement (previous generations) or grudging acceptance (subsequent generations)
November 26, 2025 at 10:24 PM
People talk shit about Gen X but only we respond with apoplectic rage to stuff like "your refrigerator is sending you a text" or "your desk lamp's AI would like access to your credit card data" instead of complete bafflement (previous generations) or grudging acceptance (subsequent generations)
Reposted by j4
![van haley (@vanhaley_yt) posted on twitter: "friends w benefiits [sic] implies the existence of friends w consequences"
Jonathan Edward Durham (@thisoneØverhere) quotes: "In many cases they are in fact the very same thing"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4djfp3b27soxcfkxhirydi6d/bafkreign3r2s2gstxbbycfsuub5bz5rvlnpfcujeio5y2dt773kqi7ar4m@jpeg)
Reposted by j4
nose down ass up
that's the way we cyberstuck
that's the way we cyberstuck
November 26, 2025 at 3:58 PM
nose down ass up
that's the way we cyberstuck
that's the way we cyberstuck
I don't actually care if people get plastic surgery, even for frivolous reasons, even to give them features that I personally think are ugly or ridiculous. Their body, their choice. I would care VERY MUCH if every interaction came with enforced plastic surgery, however elegantly or subtly executed.
AI use is gonna be like plastic surgery: when it's obvious and over the top will incur some stigma, when done well, you won't even know.
You can, but it's going to be demo and social network based. There's definitely going to be a major stigma towards being a Clippy addict in a lot of white collar professional circles.
November 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I don't actually care if people get plastic surgery, even for frivolous reasons, even to give them features that I personally think are ugly or ridiculous. Their body, their choice. I would care VERY MUCH if every interaction came with enforced plastic surgery, however elegantly or subtly executed.
Fuck OpenAI, fuck it all the way into the flaming fires of hell, and fuck every institution that embraces and supports and encourages it.
OpenAI says they aren't liable for the suicide of a user their chat bot urged to kill himself because suicide is a violation of the TOS
Additionally, OpenAI argues its not liable because Raine, by using ChatGPT for self-harm, broke its terms of service
November 26, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Fuck OpenAI, fuck it all the way into the flaming fires of hell, and fuck every institution that embraces and supports and encourages it.
Reposted by j4
Nobody should go hungry in Oxford this winter. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/nobody-sho...
Nobody should go hungry in Oxford this winter.
Ensure nobody goes hungry this christmas. Emergency food requests are surging this winter: we need your help to feed our neighbours in need.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Nobody should go hungry in Oxford this winter. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/nobody-sho...
Reposted by j4
Generative AI is convenient and useful in the same way the Broad Street water pump was convenient and useful in 1854
November 26, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Generative AI is convenient and useful in the same way the Broad Street water pump was convenient and useful in 1854
Reposted by j4
To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.
November 26, 2025 at 3:47 PM
To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.
Buried at the bottom of a FAQ behind a 'beware of the leopard' sign etc, it turns out Wordery (who used to be a good alternative to bookshop monoliths but whose website has been 'under construction' for about 6mo) are being borged into Blackwells (Waterstones): support.wordery.com/hc/en-gb/art...
November 26, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Buried at the bottom of a FAQ behind a 'beware of the leopard' sign etc, it turns out Wordery (who used to be a good alternative to bookshop monoliths but whose website has been 'under construction' for about 6mo) are being borged into Blackwells (Waterstones): support.wordery.com/hc/en-gb/art...
Reposted by j4
also if I can Stoicism post just a bit: this is also what memento mori is for. you are going to die someday - do you really imagine than one of your regrets will be that you didn't organize more of your life around what random Redditors think is gay?
bsky.app/profile/maxk...
bsky.app/profile/maxk...
So many men go through life like that. You can play poker because it's right-coded, you can't enjoy fruity alcoholic drinks because they're women-coded, you can't lick an ice cream cone because it's gay-coded. All day, every day, choosing and judging things based on coding for narrow norms.
November 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
also if I can Stoicism post just a bit: this is also what memento mori is for. you are going to die someday - do you really imagine than one of your regrets will be that you didn't organize more of your life around what random Redditors think is gay?
bsky.app/profile/maxk...
bsky.app/profile/maxk...
Reposted by j4
the genAI bubble relies on you conflating the genuinely tremendous potential of using machine learning for e.g. image recognition in radiotherapy, protein folding, simulations in power systems etc with the child abuse image generators and schizophrenic delusions generators
People on BlueSky: AI is useless! A stochastic parrot!
Mathematicians/biologists/physicists: It is already helping us do frontier technical research and in some cases solve open problems arxiv.org/pdf/2511.16072
(There are of course, as always, many caveats, but the paper is genuinely remarkable)
Mathematicians/biologists/physicists: It is already helping us do frontier technical research and in some cases solve open problems arxiv.org/pdf/2511.16072
(There are of course, as always, many caveats, but the paper is genuinely remarkable)
arxiv.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
the genAI bubble relies on you conflating the genuinely tremendous potential of using machine learning for e.g. image recognition in radiotherapy, protein folding, simulations in power systems etc with the child abuse image generators and schizophrenic delusions generators
Reposted by j4
Rachel Reeves says she’s ending “Motability tax breaks”.
Sounds like she’s cracking down on luxury cars, right?
That’s not what’s happening.
These changes raise costs for all disabled people on the scheme, including those with the cheapest cars.
Here’s how. 👇🧵
Sounds like she’s cracking down on luxury cars, right?
That’s not what’s happening.
These changes raise costs for all disabled people on the scheme, including those with the cheapest cars.
Here’s how. 👇🧵
November 26, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Rachel Reeves says she’s ending “Motability tax breaks”.
Sounds like she’s cracking down on luxury cars, right?
That’s not what’s happening.
These changes raise costs for all disabled people on the scheme, including those with the cheapest cars.
Here’s how. 👇🧵
Sounds like she’s cracking down on luxury cars, right?
That’s not what’s happening.
These changes raise costs for all disabled people on the scheme, including those with the cheapest cars.
Here’s how. 👇🧵
Reposted by j4
Great to hear Rachel Reeves acknowledge that "there are many reasons why people choose to have children then find themselves in difficult times. The death of a partner. Separation. Ill health. A lost job. I don’t believe that children should bear the brunt of that."
So why should migrant children?
So why should migrant children?
November 26, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Great to hear Rachel Reeves acknowledge that "there are many reasons why people choose to have children then find themselves in difficult times. The death of a partner. Separation. Ill health. A lost job. I don’t believe that children should bear the brunt of that."
So why should migrant children?
So why should migrant children?
Reposted by j4
An open letter: stop spreading outdated advice about internet security
m.cje.io/4p58d5o
All this is BAD ADVICE. Don't…
• Avoid public WiFi
• Never scan QR codes
• Never charge devices from public USB ports
• Turn off Bluetooth & NFC
• Regularly “clear cookies”
• Regularly change passwords
m.cje.io/4p58d5o
All this is BAD ADVICE. Don't…
• Avoid public WiFi
• Never scan QR codes
• Never charge devices from public USB ports
• Turn off Bluetooth & NFC
• Regularly “clear cookies”
• Regularly change passwords
The Letter — Stop Hacklore!
Released Nov-24-2025
m.cje.io
November 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM
An open letter: stop spreading outdated advice about internet security
m.cje.io/4p58d5o
All this is BAD ADVICE. Don't…
• Avoid public WiFi
• Never scan QR codes
• Never charge devices from public USB ports
• Turn off Bluetooth & NFC
• Regularly “clear cookies”
• Regularly change passwords
m.cje.io/4p58d5o
All this is BAD ADVICE. Don't…
• Avoid public WiFi
• Never scan QR codes
• Never charge devices from public USB ports
• Turn off Bluetooth & NFC
• Regularly “clear cookies”
• Regularly change passwords
Reposted by j4
Every question headline should end like this
“Is Trump’s cognition in decline? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer”
“Will there be a third WICKED movie? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer”
“Who will go 1st in the NBA draft? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons” etc
“Is Trump’s cognition in decline? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer”
“Will there be a third WICKED movie? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer”
“Who will go 1st in the NBA draft? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons” etc
Why do we find our pets so cute? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer | Helen Pilcher
Why do we find our pets so cute? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer | Helen Pilcher
Known for bold raids on urban bins, raccoons are becoming more domesticated – so how they look will gradually change, says science writer Helen Pilcher
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Every question headline should end like this
“Is Trump’s cognition in decline? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer”
“Will there be a third WICKED movie? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer”
“Who will go 1st in the NBA draft? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons” etc
“Is Trump’s cognition in decline? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer”
“Will there be a third WICKED movie? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons may have a surprising answer”
“Who will go 1st in the NBA draft? Bold, bin-raiding raccoons” etc
Reposted by j4
It'd be cool if the "increasing the cost of motoring hurts poor people" people cared anything like as much about cost to people who rely on public transport - who are disproportionately likely to be poor and disabled, and who consistently face far greater increases in cost.
November 26, 2025 at 12:11 PM
It'd be cool if the "increasing the cost of motoring hurts poor people" people cared anything like as much about cost to people who rely on public transport - who are disproportionately likely to be poor and disabled, and who consistently face far greater increases in cost.
Reposted by j4
Is Santa Real? Many users feel they're getting presents from him. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Is Santa Real? Many users feel they're getting presents from him. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
An older cynical colleague once said that you could shoot 1 in 4 people in central University admin and it wouldn't make any difference. I thought that was a bit of an exaggeration. 20 years later I reckon you could cull 1 in 2 without anything significant changing, & I'd volunteer to be among them.
November 26, 2025 at 9:32 AM
An older cynical colleague once said that you could shoot 1 in 4 people in central University admin and it wouldn't make any difference. I thought that was a bit of an exaggeration. 20 years later I reckon you could cull 1 in 2 without anything significant changing, & I'd volunteer to be among them.
I would absolutely love to do something actually useful for a small amount of money if I knew I already had enough to cover the basics without worrying. Would quit my university job in a heartbeat. Got a long list of stuff I would cheerfully do that currently wouldn't pay enough to cover my bills.
Always grinds my gears when people say "No one would work drudge jobs if there was a UBI"
But even staying completely capitalist, I disagree. If I received a baseline living-wage UBI, and then I was offered REWARDS for drudge jobs, I'd take it! I want to save up for treats and travel and hobbies!
But even staying completely capitalist, I disagree. If I received a baseline living-wage UBI, and then I was offered REWARDS for drudge jobs, I'd take it! I want to save up for treats and travel and hobbies!
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I would absolutely love to do something actually useful for a small amount of money if I knew I already had enough to cover the basics without worrying. Would quit my university job in a heartbeat. Got a long list of stuff I would cheerfully do that currently wouldn't pay enough to cover my bills.
Reposted by j4
I posit 3 things:
1) We can vastly reduce the "Drudge Work" needed to maintain this living standard with only minor adjustment,
2) humans are social animals that actually enjoy cooperation when their own needs are met,
and 3) people will still want (and therefore make) money for Little Treats
1) We can vastly reduce the "Drudge Work" needed to maintain this living standard with only minor adjustment,
2) humans are social animals that actually enjoy cooperation when their own needs are met,
and 3) people will still want (and therefore make) money for Little Treats
Always grinds my gears when people say "No one would work drudge jobs if there was a UBI"
But even staying completely capitalist, I disagree. If I received a baseline living-wage UBI, and then I was offered REWARDS for drudge jobs, I'd take it! I want to save up for treats and travel and hobbies!
But even staying completely capitalist, I disagree. If I received a baseline living-wage UBI, and then I was offered REWARDS for drudge jobs, I'd take it! I want to save up for treats and travel and hobbies!
November 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I posit 3 things:
1) We can vastly reduce the "Drudge Work" needed to maintain this living standard with only minor adjustment,
2) humans are social animals that actually enjoy cooperation when their own needs are met,
and 3) people will still want (and therefore make) money for Little Treats
1) We can vastly reduce the "Drudge Work" needed to maintain this living standard with only minor adjustment,
2) humans are social animals that actually enjoy cooperation when their own needs are met,
and 3) people will still want (and therefore make) money for Little Treats
Reposted by j4
When people say there is an "overdiagnosis of X" (neurodivergence, mental health, trans people, disability), what they mean is that we've got by for a long time not giving a toss & oppressing these groups of people* and now you expect us to care & invest in support.
*who have always existed
*who have always existed
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 AM
When people say there is an "overdiagnosis of X" (neurodivergence, mental health, trans people, disability), what they mean is that we've got by for a long time not giving a toss & oppressing these groups of people* and now you expect us to care & invest in support.
*who have always existed
*who have always existed