Michael S. Kirkpatrick
@kirkpams.bsky.social
CS prof@JMU (OpenCSF.org, privacy/ethics, CSed). Author (Computer Systems Fundamentals - Franklin & Beedle). Chair, ACM Ethics&Plagiarism Committee. Father. AuDHD. Skiing and Kung Fu fanatic. Signal @kirkpams.13
Reposted by Michael S. Kirkpatrick
Release the boat videos.
Release the Epstein files.
Release the ICE and Border Patrol body-cam footage.
Justice Brandeis: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."
And there's so much the Trump administration's doing that needs disinfecting.
Release the Epstein files.
Release the ICE and Border Patrol body-cam footage.
Justice Brandeis: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."
And there's so much the Trump administration's doing that needs disinfecting.
December 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Release the boat videos.
Release the Epstein files.
Release the ICE and Border Patrol body-cam footage.
Justice Brandeis: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."
And there's so much the Trump administration's doing that needs disinfecting.
Release the Epstein files.
Release the ICE and Border Patrol body-cam footage.
Justice Brandeis: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."
And there's so much the Trump administration's doing that needs disinfecting.
Reposted by Michael S. Kirkpatrick
Everyone: Do something about our healthcare premiums.
Senate Dems: Here is legislation that's going to fuck up the internet.
Senate Dems: Here is legislation that's going to fuck up the internet.
December 12, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Everyone: Do something about our healthcare premiums.
Senate Dems: Here is legislation that's going to fuck up the internet.
Senate Dems: Here is legislation that's going to fuck up the internet.
It’s funny how it all comes back to Bloom’s Two Sigma problem.
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
December 13, 2025 at 2:51 AM
It’s funny how it all comes back to Bloom’s Two Sigma problem.
Reposted by Michael S. Kirkpatrick
So, like, Mark Zuckerberg has plenty to atone for, but at the end of the day, we're not getting fed White Nationalist sludge because that's what he wants. (Well, on Twitter may be it is...) We're getting it because large numbers of us have voted with our clicks and eyeballs to say "more please."
December 12, 2025 at 10:33 PM
So, like, Mark Zuckerberg has plenty to atone for, but at the end of the day, we're not getting fed White Nationalist sludge because that's what he wants. (Well, on Twitter may be it is...) We're getting it because large numbers of us have voted with our clicks and eyeballs to say "more please."
This is an amazing visualization for anyone wanting to get a better understanding of the math of LLMs.
Here's a cool animated walkthrough of what's going on under the hood: bbycroft.net/llm
LLM Visualization
A 3D animated visualization of an LLM with a walkthrough.
bbycroft.net
December 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
This is an amazing visualization for anyone wanting to get a better understanding of the math of LLMs.
Philip K. Dick was, once again, decades ahead of his time.
👀👀
DiffProtect “rewrites a person’s face in a photograph using the same generative technology behind modern image creation tools.
The resulting photo still looks like the person to any human viewer, but to state-of-the-art facial recognition systems, the image becomes something else entirely.”
DiffProtect “rewrites a person’s face in a photograph using the same generative technology behind modern image creation tools.
The resulting photo still looks like the person to any human viewer, but to state-of-the-art facial recognition systems, the image becomes something else entirely.”
A new kind of digital camouflage emerges from DARPA AI research | Biometric Update
The technique, called DiffProtect, quietly rewrites a person’s face in a photograph using the same generative technology behind modern image creation tools.
www.biometricupdate.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Philip K. Dick was, once again, decades ahead of his time.
Setting aside the blanket racism, highlighting *New Zealand* [checks map...] as being insufficiently European is...a choice.
Musk is just straight up white nationalist now.
(And helpfully decoding that Western Civilization=Whites)
(And helpfully decoding that Western Civilization=Whites)
December 11, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Setting aside the blanket racism, highlighting *New Zealand* [checks map...] as being insufficiently European is...a choice.
Later opens file in vi:
:s/^M/s///g
:s/^M/s///g
December 10, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Later opens file in vi:
:s/^M/s///g
:s/^M/s///g
And this is why packing the Court seems to be the only acceptable way forward.
2/ First, when Congress has legislated in response to national problems, the Roberts Court has repeatedly either struck it down or interpreted it into a nullity. Congress gave us the Voting Rights Act and its reauthorizations; the Court gave us Shelby County, Brnovich, etc.
December 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
And this is why packing the Court seems to be the only acceptable way forward.
Reposted by Michael S. Kirkpatrick
“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.”
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
December 9, 2025 at 8:36 PM
“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.”
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Reposted by Michael S. Kirkpatrick
Supreme Court oral argument this morning, in sum
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
December 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Supreme Court oral argument this morning, in sum
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Wow! I knew conservatives had a problem with the Civil Rights era. And the New Deal era. And the Progressive Era. And Reconstruction. But to just come out and say they want to wipe out the 21st, 20th, and half of the 19th centuries of the U.S. government structure...
Soto: you're asking us to destroy the structure of government.
Sauer: no, to return to 1839 status - settled beyond the power of alteration
Sauer: no, to return to 1839 status - settled beyond the power of alteration
December 8, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Wow! I knew conservatives had a problem with the Civil Rights era. And the New Deal era. And the Progressive Era. And Reconstruction. But to just come out and say they want to wipe out the 21st, 20th, and half of the 19th centuries of the U.S. government structure...
The most favored nations doctrine of free expression continues running roughshod over the rest of the country.
Good to know that the Supreme Court is now in the business of protecting our souls
Full orders list: www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
Cert petition: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25...
Religious anti-vaxers have had a very encouraging day at the Supreme Court.
Cert petition: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25...
Religious anti-vaxers have had a very encouraging day at the Supreme Court.
December 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The most favored nations doctrine of free expression continues running roughshod over the rest of the country.
My local K-12 school system: the forecast is for 1/2 of snow so we’re cancelling school for the next week.
My university: there’s currently a 3-inch layer of ice with life-threatening wind chills, so make sure you put on your warmer coat for your commute.
My university: there’s currently a 3-inch layer of ice with life-threatening wind chills, so make sure you put on your warmer coat for your commute.
December 8, 2025 at 1:02 PM
My local K-12 school system: the forecast is for 1/2 of snow so we’re cancelling school for the next week.
My university: there’s currently a 3-inch layer of ice with life-threatening wind chills, so make sure you put on your warmer coat for your commute.
My university: there’s currently a 3-inch layer of ice with life-threatening wind chills, so make sure you put on your warmer coat for your commute.
Reposted by Michael S. Kirkpatrick
Periodically I’m like, “we should all restart nice simple blogs and RSS feeds and start again and do it better this time”.
December 8, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Periodically I’m like, “we should all restart nice simple blogs and RSS feeds and start again and do it better this time”.
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
December 7, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
Reposted by Michael S. Kirkpatrick
This is a fucking nightmare and right now I am very, very angry with the people who put Trump back in office.
More and more kids are going to die from preventable diseases.
As I have said for months, RFK Jr. has more power to singlehandedly kill more Americans than any other cabinet secretary.
More and more kids are going to die from preventable diseases.
As I have said for months, RFK Jr. has more power to singlehandedly kill more Americans than any other cabinet secretary.
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Begins Process to Align U.S. Core Childhood Vaccine Recommendations with Best Practices from Peer, Developed Countries
ALIGNING THE CHILDHOOD VACCINE SCHEDULE WITH INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to begin the
www.whitehouse.gov
December 6, 2025 at 2:12 AM
This is a fucking nightmare and right now I am very, very angry with the people who put Trump back in office.
More and more kids are going to die from preventable diseases.
As I have said for months, RFK Jr. has more power to singlehandedly kill more Americans than any other cabinet secretary.
More and more kids are going to die from preventable diseases.
As I have said for months, RFK Jr. has more power to singlehandedly kill more Americans than any other cabinet secretary.
Reposted by Michael S. Kirkpatrick
If you were a tech company employee who moderated content overseas — say, trying to prevent a repeat of the Myanmar genocide! or maybe policing CSAM! Or hate speech illegal in your country! — you are a “censor” under the definitions of the Republicans in power.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Exclusive: Trump administration orders enhanced vetting for applicants of H-1B visa
An internal State Department memo said that anyone involved in "censorship" of free speech should be considered for rejection.
www.reuters.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:56 PM
If you were a tech company employee who moderated content overseas — say, trying to prevent a repeat of the Myanmar genocide! or maybe policing CSAM! Or hate speech illegal in your country! — you are a “censor” under the definitions of the Republicans in power.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
This is just nuts. Disgusting.
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
December 4, 2025 at 6:08 PM
This is just nuts. Disgusting.
What a mess! If peer reviewers can't trust the systems to be able to maintain anonymity, we're toast.
Academic Circle in Uproar: ICLR Reviewers Reveal Identities, Low Scores Given by Friends
True Open Review: Unveiling Transparent and Authentic Evaluations
eu.36kr.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
What a mess! If peer reviewers can't trust the systems to be able to maintain anonymity, we're toast.
Those annoying rate-me pop-ups are yet another example of the enshittification of tech. It’s a minor, regular tax on attention that we cannot opt out of.
"are you enjoying duo mobile" does a hamburger enjoy being made of quarks. does a fish enjoy linear time. does the mountain enjoy the first taste of a cup of hot chocolate when you get back to the ski lodge. your question means nothing to me. i couldn't enjoy duo mobile even if i tried
December 4, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Those annoying rate-me pop-ups are yet another example of the enshittification of tech. It’s a minor, regular tax on attention that we cannot opt out of.
While we're at it, how about fewer shows where cops are *always* the good guys?
"I am a huge fan of the classic TV series 'Law & Order.' And yet I cannot think of a single episode — among hundreds — in which a journalist is depicted as honorable." www.poynter.org/commentary/2...
Why I’m begging TV showrunners to stop writing journalists as villains - Poynter
I will stop shouting at the TV screen when journalists are portrayed with all their virtues and vices — not as caricatures
www.poynter.org
December 1, 2025 at 5:03 AM
While we're at it, how about fewer shows where cops are *always* the good guys?
Reposted by Michael S. Kirkpatrick
presented without comment
December 1, 2025 at 2:28 AM
presented without comment
As tribute to Tom Stoppard, here’s a clip from the hilarious (if you’ve seen Hamlet) Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead:
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) - Heads Scene (1/11) | Movieclips
YouTube video by Movieclips
youtu.be
November 30, 2025 at 4:06 AM
As tribute to Tom Stoppard, here’s a clip from the hilarious (if you’ve seen Hamlet) Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead:
Reposted by Michael S. Kirkpatrick
The director of the FDA is using unverified submissions to the VAERS database to claim the Covid vaccine resulted in 10 pediatric deaths.
Anyone can submit anything to VAERS. To demonstrate, a doctor famously reported that the flu shot turned him into the Incredible Hulk.
Anyone can submit anything to VAERS. To demonstrate, a doctor famously reported that the flu shot turned him into the Incredible Hulk.
November 30, 2025 at 3:11 AM
The director of the FDA is using unverified submissions to the VAERS database to claim the Covid vaccine resulted in 10 pediatric deaths.
Anyone can submit anything to VAERS. To demonstrate, a doctor famously reported that the flu shot turned him into the Incredible Hulk.
Anyone can submit anything to VAERS. To demonstrate, a doctor famously reported that the flu shot turned him into the Incredible Hulk.