Stuart Watt
@morungos.bsky.social
Cognitive/social scientist and occasional coder. Umquhile Mancunian. Purveyor of Jurassic Park memes. Writes on modernization and technology. Consciously uncoupling from corporate shenanigans. Halifax, Nova Scotia
https://morungos.com/
https://morungos.com/
Reposted by Stuart Watt
#STS #HSTM #HPS folks who are studying AI in use in scientific contexts...please check out this call! You can apply to get feedback on your work in progress or get 💵 to provide feedback on others' work. I will be workshopping some of my own stuff on cloud labs. datasociety.net/announcement...
The Craft of Science with AI: Evidence, Judgment, and Practice
We invite researchers and practitioners to join us in examining how scientific reasoning and imagination are being reconfigured as AI systems become a part of the everyday practice of science. Learn m...
datasociety.net
December 1, 2025 at 11:13 PM
#STS #HSTM #HPS folks who are studying AI in use in scientific contexts...please check out this call! You can apply to get feedback on your work in progress or get 💵 to provide feedback on others' work. I will be workshopping some of my own stuff on cloud labs. datasociety.net/announcement...
I’ve been involved in a fairly large number of curriculum review projects, and this is patently ridiculous.
But, I think it beautifully illustrates my contention that modern university education has transitioned to an industrial form. This is Fordist, McDonaldsized education.
Good luck with that.
But, I think it beautifully illustrates my contention that modern university education has transitioned to an industrial form. This is Fordist, McDonaldsized education.
Good luck with that.
TX Tech has a flow chat for guidance on what can be taught in the university system. Two things:
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
December 1, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I’ve been involved in a fairly large number of curriculum review projects, and this is patently ridiculous.
But, I think it beautifully illustrates my contention that modern university education has transitioned to an industrial form. This is Fordist, McDonaldsized education.
Good luck with that.
But, I think it beautifully illustrates my contention that modern university education has transitioned to an industrial form. This is Fordist, McDonaldsized education.
Good luck with that.
Reposted by Stuart Watt
December 1, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Stuart Watt
Morning All !
Day 2 of #MyPhotoAdvent2025, a photo a day of my favourite captures of 2025... with an explanation in Alt Text of my reason for choosing it.
#ArtAdventCalendar #BlueSkyMonday #Mull #Staffa #Scotland #Photography #EastCoastKin
Day 2 of #MyPhotoAdvent2025, a photo a day of my favourite captures of 2025... with an explanation in Alt Text of my reason for choosing it.
#ArtAdventCalendar #BlueSkyMonday #Mull #Staffa #Scotland #Photography #EastCoastKin
December 1, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Morning All !
Day 2 of #MyPhotoAdvent2025, a photo a day of my favourite captures of 2025... with an explanation in Alt Text of my reason for choosing it.
#ArtAdventCalendar #BlueSkyMonday #Mull #Staffa #Scotland #Photography #EastCoastKin
Day 2 of #MyPhotoAdvent2025, a photo a day of my favourite captures of 2025... with an explanation in Alt Text of my reason for choosing it.
#ArtAdventCalendar #BlueSkyMonday #Mull #Staffa #Scotland #Photography #EastCoastKin
Well, I finally did it. I watched the Temu Jurassic Park on Prime, and, ye gods it was terrible.
It was all unforgivable really. Over-done allusions, cardboard characters, entirely predictable.
And they forgot one thing I can’t forgive. In canonical JP, Rexy has to save everyone. Rexy is a goody.
It was all unforgivable really. Over-done allusions, cardboard characters, entirely predictable.
And they forgot one thing I can’t forgive. In canonical JP, Rexy has to save everyone. Rexy is a goody.
November 30, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Well, I finally did it. I watched the Temu Jurassic Park on Prime, and, ye gods it was terrible.
It was all unforgivable really. Over-done allusions, cardboard characters, entirely predictable.
And they forgot one thing I can’t forgive. In canonical JP, Rexy has to save everyone. Rexy is a goody.
It was all unforgivable really. Over-done allusions, cardboard characters, entirely predictable.
And they forgot one thing I can’t forgive. In canonical JP, Rexy has to save everyone. Rexy is a goody.
Reposted by Stuart Watt
Reposted by Stuart Watt
There is a direct correlation between how fake your job is and how much value you see in AI
A study by Dayforce shows 87% of executives use AI for work, compared to 57% of managers and just 27% of employees.
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
Execs are embracing AI more than their employees are, new research suggests
Research from HR software company Dayforce suggests that executives are leaning into AI far more than their employees.
www.businessinsider.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
There is a direct correlation between how fake your job is and how much value you see in AI
Reposted by Stuart Watt
America, It's Not You, It's...
November 28, 2025 at 7:11 PM
America, It's Not You, It's...
Reposted by Stuart Watt
Another beautiful example of how archaeology and heritage knowledges and their unique deep time affordances can transform understanding and drive action. 🙌
Working on archaeological landscape regional studies and looking at the evidence over millennia really makes you appreciate the significance of how rivers form and inform how we live in the world. It also makes you passionate about not passing them on to future generations as abused open sewers
November 27, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Another beautiful example of how archaeology and heritage knowledges and their unique deep time affordances can transform understanding and drive action. 🙌
You’ve just died. 6th picture in your gallery is what killed you.
They also disposed of the body. Not a trace will be found.
They also disposed of the body. Not a trace will be found.
November 27, 2025 at 11:53 PM
You’ve just died. 6th picture in your gallery is what killed you.
They also disposed of the body. Not a trace will be found.
They also disposed of the body. Not a trace will be found.
Welcome to Canada, yellow rain alerts.
Canada introduces new colour-coded system for weather alerts
Canada introduces new colour-coded system for weather alerts
Environment and Climate Change Canada is introducing a new colour-coded, tiered weather alert system, the department said in a press release.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 27, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Welcome to Canada, yellow rain alerts.
I miss this already. 🥲 — view from Port Charlotte, Islay.
November 26, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I miss this already. 🥲 — view from Port Charlotte, Islay.
Reposted by Stuart Watt
November 23, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Quick random thought. Is LLM coding “bricolage by proxy”?
I've seen a particular drop in quality of the code produced by my coworkers leaning on LLMs.
Code running is absolutely not the benchmark for code quality. Being able to read and understand the code so that you can fix problems when they arise is.
Any jackass can trial and error into running code.
Code running is absolutely not the benchmark for code quality. Being able to read and understand the code so that you can fix problems when they arise is.
Any jackass can trial and error into running code.
November 23, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Quick random thought. Is LLM coding “bricolage by proxy”?
Those who’ve never read Michael Reddy’s “The Conduit Metaphor” paper — strongly recommend it. First, it influenced Lakoff and Johnson. And second, it offers a completely different framing of language as a shared construction, not an information pipeline. LLMs don’t make sense in that framing.
I think the shortest version of why LLMs are an anti education technology is that education is fundamentally about making shared context to understand ourselves, each other, and the world
And by design LLMs destroy shared context
And by design LLMs destroy shared context
November 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Those who’ve never read Michael Reddy’s “The Conduit Metaphor” paper — strongly recommend it. First, it influenced Lakoff and Johnson. And second, it offers a completely different framing of language as a shared construction, not an information pipeline. LLMs don’t make sense in that framing.
Reposted by Stuart Watt
Such important lenses to apply when planning.
So many useful points that I could see apply to physics teaching.
Thanks @carlhendrick.substack.com
#iteachphysics
carlhendrick.substack.com/p/why-does-t...
So many useful points that I could see apply to physics teaching.
Thanks @carlhendrick.substack.com
#iteachphysics
carlhendrick.substack.com/p/why-does-t...
Why Does Thinking Feel So Hard?
Effort Feels Costly When the Brain Can't Detect Progress
carlhendrick.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Such important lenses to apply when planning.
So many useful points that I could see apply to physics teaching.
Thanks @carlhendrick.substack.com
#iteachphysics
carlhendrick.substack.com/p/why-does-t...
So many useful points that I could see apply to physics teaching.
Thanks @carlhendrick.substack.com
#iteachphysics
carlhendrick.substack.com/p/why-does-t...
Reposted by Stuart Watt
No income tax, no VAT
No money back, no guarantee
Black or white, rich or broke
We'll cut prices at a stroke
God bless Hooky Street
Viva Hooky Street
Long live Hooky Street
C'est magnifique, Hooky Street
Magnifique, Hooky Street
No money back, no guarantee
Black or white, rich or broke
We'll cut prices at a stroke
God bless Hooky Street
Viva Hooky Street
Long live Hooky Street
C'est magnifique, Hooky Street
Magnifique, Hooky Street
November 23, 2025 at 12:05 PM
No income tax, no VAT
No money back, no guarantee
Black or white, rich or broke
We'll cut prices at a stroke
God bless Hooky Street
Viva Hooky Street
Long live Hooky Street
C'est magnifique, Hooky Street
Magnifique, Hooky Street
No money back, no guarantee
Black or white, rich or broke
We'll cut prices at a stroke
God bless Hooky Street
Viva Hooky Street
Long live Hooky Street
C'est magnifique, Hooky Street
Magnifique, Hooky Street
Reposted by Stuart Watt
"Unfortunately, due to a terrible miscalculation of scale, the entire 28-point peace plan was eaten by a small dog."
November 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM
"Unfortunately, due to a terrible miscalculation of scale, the entire 28-point peace plan was eaten by a small dog."
Just made some home-pressed apple juice and it is delicious. But I think I need to up my scratting game.
November 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Just made some home-pressed apple juice and it is delicious. But I think I need to up my scratting game.
Hmmm. To me, the whole thing feels like an infinitely large lottery. The payout is pitched as so unbelievably astronomically immense that nobody can afford not to participate. That’s the “vibe” — a long-shot super-sized risk which can never, even in principle, be calculated on rational terms.
November 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Hmmm. To me, the whole thing feels like an infinitely large lottery. The payout is pitched as so unbelievably astronomically immense that nobody can afford not to participate. That’s the “vibe” — a long-shot super-sized risk which can never, even in principle, be calculated on rational terms.
So tell me again how bread price-fixing isn’t still a thing in Canada when crappy bread in a city store costs nearly double what it does on Islay in Scotland, with a few thousand residents and a three hour boat crossing away from an already remote mainland.
November 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM
So tell me again how bread price-fixing isn’t still a thing in Canada when crappy bread in a city store costs nearly double what it does on Islay in Scotland, with a few thousand residents and a three hour boat crossing away from an already remote mainland.
Reposted by Stuart Watt
this is more christmassy than your poxy ai drinks ad
CCTV captures fox and otter’s tour of Lincoln city centre
A wildlife expert says the footage of the animals wandering past shops and bars is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 7:17 PM
this is more christmassy than your poxy ai drinks ad
My considered opinion is that Halifax’s best first step towards a more livable city would involve enough blasting gelignite to reduce Bedford Commons mall to rubble (it’s 80% there already) and rebuilding it as livable housing.
November 21, 2025 at 7:54 PM
My considered opinion is that Halifax’s best first step towards a more livable city would involve enough blasting gelignite to reduce Bedford Commons mall to rubble (it’s 80% there already) and rebuilding it as livable housing.
Reposted by Stuart Watt
Amazing discussion right now in a small corner of doctor FB about the apparent enshittification of AI scribes. Especially the free versions.
This revolutionary time saver now requires extra time to fact check the note.
Don't lose your note writing skills, friends! Tech will not save us. #medsky
This revolutionary time saver now requires extra time to fact check the note.
Don't lose your note writing skills, friends! Tech will not save us. #medsky
November 21, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Amazing discussion right now in a small corner of doctor FB about the apparent enshittification of AI scribes. Especially the free versions.
This revolutionary time saver now requires extra time to fact check the note.
Don't lose your note writing skills, friends! Tech will not save us. #medsky
This revolutionary time saver now requires extra time to fact check the note.
Don't lose your note writing skills, friends! Tech will not save us. #medsky
Endorsed. And I’ve built AI in education, long time back.
So why skepticism now? Good applications require a pedagogy which is not consistent with today’s scaling of AI in an industrial-style of education. You can’t cut through that.
Wait it out — and learn the pedagogy while you wait.
So why skepticism now? Good applications require a pedagogy which is not consistent with today’s scaling of AI in an industrial-style of education. You can’t cut through that.
Wait it out — and learn the pedagogy while you wait.
if I was advising AI-curious junior folks it'd 100% just don't use it at all, stay out of it, let the whole thing just pass you by. It's much safer (as well as frankly better for one's teaching).
November 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Endorsed. And I’ve built AI in education, long time back.
So why skepticism now? Good applications require a pedagogy which is not consistent with today’s scaling of AI in an industrial-style of education. You can’t cut through that.
Wait it out — and learn the pedagogy while you wait.
So why skepticism now? Good applications require a pedagogy which is not consistent with today’s scaling of AI in an industrial-style of education. You can’t cut through that.
Wait it out — and learn the pedagogy while you wait.