J. Arendt
@uwwoman.bsky.social
RVA librarian working at a local university and riding my bike there
https://my-year-of.ghost.io/ is the home of my blog / newsletter.
https://my-year-of.ghost.io/ is the home of my blog / newsletter.
Reposted by J. Arendt
One Laptop Per Child, 10 years later: "we find no significant effects on academic performance but some evidence of negative effects on grade progression... computer access significantly improved students’ computer skills but not their cognitive skills" www.nber.org/papers/w34495
Laptops in the Long Run: Evidence from the One Laptop per Child Program in Rural Peru
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
December 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
One Laptop Per Child, 10 years later: "we find no significant effects on academic performance but some evidence of negative effects on grade progression... computer access significantly improved students’ computer skills but not their cognitive skills" www.nber.org/papers/w34495
"Only 25% explicitly stated HIPAA compliance, and just 18% mentioned GDPR compliance. Most alarmingly, 79% lacked breach notification protocols, which means that the users may never find out if their data was compromised." They don't feel safe because there isn't evidence that they are safe.
34% of adults over 50 list privacy as a primary barrier to adopting health technology. That represents millions of people who could benefit from monitoring tools but avoid them because they don't feel safe.
Are Health Apps Failing Older Adults on Privacy?
How safe is your health data? Many older adults aren't using vital devices due to privacy concerns. Learn why trust is an engineering issue.
spectrum.ieee.org
December 8, 2025 at 3:20 PM
"Only 25% explicitly stated HIPAA compliance, and just 18% mentioned GDPR compliance. Most alarmingly, 79% lacked breach notification protocols, which means that the users may never find out if their data was compromised." They don't feel safe because there isn't evidence that they are safe.
In just a few years, "liberal" has gone from a toxic word to send Democrats cowering during presidential campaigns to a virtue signal for anyone to the left of Mussolini to use in their opinion columns to try to get taken seriously. When was the last time it had a generally-understood meaning?
December 6, 2025 at 6:13 PM
In just a few years, "liberal" has gone from a toxic word to send Democrats cowering during presidential campaigns to a virtue signal for anyone to the left of Mussolini to use in their opinion columns to try to get taken seriously. When was the last time it had a generally-understood meaning?
Reposted by J. Arendt
There's a lot of animosity against US Senator Warner (D-VA) in this Ask Me Anything Reddit thread.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Virginia/comments/1pe2b5p/im_mark_warner_us_senator_from_virginia_im_vice/
It would be absolutely savage if someone launched a primary bid against Warner in this thread […]
https://www.reddit.com/r/Virginia/comments/1pe2b5p/im_mark_warner_us_senator_from_virginia_im_vice/
It would be absolutely savage if someone launched a primary bid against Warner in this thread […]
Original post on dmv.community
dmv.community
December 4, 2025 at 8:41 PM
There's a lot of animosity against US Senator Warner (D-VA) in this Ask Me Anything Reddit thread.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Virginia/comments/1pe2b5p/im_mark_warner_us_senator_from_virginia_im_vice/
It would be absolutely savage if someone launched a primary bid against Warner in this thread […]
https://www.reddit.com/r/Virginia/comments/1pe2b5p/im_mark_warner_us_senator_from_virginia_im_vice/
It would be absolutely savage if someone launched a primary bid against Warner in this thread […]
I wonder if the liquor store break-in was a Giving Tuesday ploy from the shelter all along. 😄 www.bonfire.com/trashed-panda/
Trashed Panda | Bonfire
Proceeds from this campaign will directly support shelter animal care and enrichment.. While this raccoon gave us all a much-needed laugh, our officers handle hundreds...
www.bonfire.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I wonder if the liquor store break-in was a Giving Tuesday ploy from the shelter all along. 😄 www.bonfire.com/trashed-panda/
Not The Onion
A raccoon was found passed out in the bathroom of the Virginia ABC Store in Ashland after breaking in and ransacking shelves, according to Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter.
Raccoon found passed out in bathroom of Virginia ABC Store after breaking in, ransacking shelves
A raccoon was found passed out in the bathroom of the Virginia ABC Store in Ashland after breaking in and ransacking shelves, according to Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter.
www.wtvr.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Not The Onion
First cut down on the number of librarians and replace them with automated acquisitions plans, then replace the books with computerized text generation. What could possibly go wrong?
Our acquisitions person has been checking every book that comes in. This is the fourth AI-generated book in four weeks. I’m willing to admit that I bought this, mistakenly thinking I could trust what GOBI highlighted on their book lists.
December 2, 2025 at 4:20 PM
First cut down on the number of librarians and replace them with automated acquisitions plans, then replace the books with computerized text generation. What could possibly go wrong?
For whatever value users get out of chatGPT, stage 2 of enshitification has begun.
This will age even worse than businesses’ virtual storefronts in Second Life.
Target quietly adds ChatGPT to its cart
Target’s ChatGPT experience rolls out in beta just before Thanksgiving.
www.retailbrew.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:08 PM
For whatever value users get out of chatGPT, stage 2 of enshitification has begun.
Reposted by J. Arendt
How it started / How it’s going
November 30, 2025 at 12:49 AM
How it started / How it’s going
Reposted by J. Arendt
Not saviors, but shy enough to know sometimes you don't want to ask
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Not saviors, but shy enough to know sometimes you don't want to ask
Reposted by J. Arendt
DOT is on an unprecedented deregulatory blitz. The Trump admin calls this cutting red tape. Left unmentioned is just how many of the targeted rules sought to prevent deaths/injuries.
"The regulations are written in blood," one former official told me. www.propublica.org/article/trum...
"The regulations are written in blood," one former official told me. www.propublica.org/article/trum...
How Trump’s Transportation Department Is Loosening Safety Rules Meant to Protect the Public
ProPublica has identified dozens of instances in which the Trump administration’s DOT has moved to cut, soften or delay safety regulations for cars, trucks, planes, trains and even oil pipelines. Expe...
www.propublica.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM
DOT is on an unprecedented deregulatory blitz. The Trump admin calls this cutting red tape. Left unmentioned is just how many of the targeted rules sought to prevent deaths/injuries.
"The regulations are written in blood," one former official told me. www.propublica.org/article/trum...
"The regulations are written in blood," one former official told me. www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by J. Arendt
Mike Pence: oUr FoUnDiNg FaThErS cHaMpIoNeD tHe ReTuRn OfThE jEwIsH pEoPlE tO iSrAeL
The Founding Fathers:
The Founding Fathers:
Founders Online: George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode …
George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, 18 August 1790
founders.archives.gov
November 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Mike Pence: oUr FoUnDiNg FaThErS cHaMpIoNeD tHe ReTuRn OfThE jEwIsH pEoPlE tO iSrAeL
The Founding Fathers:
The Founding Fathers:
Who was the smart aleck who put it on World Toilet Day?
November 19, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Who was the smart aleck who put it on World Toilet Day?
For the handful of archivists who follow me, minutes 7-19 are complaints about archival work not being done, if you want to hear your work appreciated in the wild, with the word "dusty" never uttered.
We talk the terrible format of the latest Epstein dump; how a contractor is hiring randos on LinkedIn to physically track immigrants for $300; and a new code of conduct in the adult industry.
Podcast: The Epstein Email Dump Is a Mess
We talk the terrible format of the latest Epstein dump; how a contractor is hiring randos on LinkedIn to physically track immigrants for $300; and a new code of conduct in the adult industry.
www.404media.co
November 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
For the handful of archivists who follow me, minutes 7-19 are complaints about archival work not being done, if you want to hear your work appreciated in the wild, with the word "dusty" never uttered.
As nice as this sounds, "quickly" is not the librarian way when it's outside our range of expertise.
Put librarians in charge. They would very quietly and quickly just figure it out and then take no credit.
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
As nice as this sounds, "quickly" is not the librarian way when it's outside our range of expertise.
Reposted by J. Arendt
Long story short: Don't use TurboTax
TurboTax is about to be integrated into ChatGPT, where customers will be guided through tasks tied to their tax filings or financial profile by the AI chatbot.
TurboTax owner Intuit is also paying OpenAI more than $100 million a year to power AI agents.
TurboTax owner Intuit is also paying OpenAI more than $100 million a year to power AI agents.
November 18, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Long story short: Don't use TurboTax
Reposted by J. Arendt
Lyft's 2016 projection vs Lyft's 2025 reality
November 18, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Lyft's 2016 projection vs Lyft's 2025 reality
Reposted by J. Arendt
Apparently, every "journalist" in the country completely forgot about this.
www.politico.com/news/2022/11...
www.politico.com/news/2022/11...
November 17, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Apparently, every "journalist" in the country completely forgot about this.
www.politico.com/news/2022/11...
www.politico.com/news/2022/11...
Because this piece came out today, I infer that he agrees with Megyn Kelly and thinks it's morally sanctimonious to use the word "pedophile" for middle-aged men who have sex with high schoolers.
I love writing one single article over and over again every month
November 14, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Because this piece came out today, I infer that he agrees with Megyn Kelly and thinks it's morally sanctimonious to use the word "pedophile" for middle-aged men who have sex with high schoolers.
The keep it "spiffy and clean" terminology could have come from a humble building manager, but I suspect it came from a particular associate dean. commonwealthtimes.org/2025/11/12/c...
Cabell Library has a microwave now
A microwave was installed inside Cabell Library for public use earlier this month — a small addition that provides a sizable convenience, according to students. The microwave, located just outside the...
commonwealthtimes.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The keep it "spiffy and clean" terminology could have come from a humble building manager, but I suspect it came from a particular associate dean. commonwealthtimes.org/2025/11/12/c...
About that mayor's wife who is a VCU Alum: commonwealthtimes.org/2025/11/12/n...
NYC’s new first lady Rama Duwaji got her start at VCU
As Virginia elected their next governor on Nov. 4, New Yorkers chose Zohran Mamdani to become their next mayor. His wife, Rama Duwaji, is a Syrian illustrator, animator, ceramist — and she studied at ...
commonwealthtimes.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
About that mayor's wife who is a VCU Alum: commonwealthtimes.org/2025/11/12/n...
Based on this ad, it looks like Anthropic is the Costco to Grok's Sam's Club.
feel like some things got lost along the way but i guess that's the creative process for you
November 12, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Based on this ad, it looks like Anthropic is the Costco to Grok's Sam's Club.
Chronicle of Higher Ed. regularly publishes essays that I think are poorly thought out rehashes of worn-out arguments that I roll my eyes at.
Today had one that really got under my skin. Now I'm wasting time deciding what to DO about it, instead of just saying, "That's dumb," and moving on.
Today had one that really got under my skin. Now I'm wasting time deciding what to DO about it, instead of just saying, "That's dumb," and moving on.
November 11, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Chronicle of Higher Ed. regularly publishes essays that I think are poorly thought out rehashes of worn-out arguments that I roll my eyes at.
Today had one that really got under my skin. Now I'm wasting time deciding what to DO about it, instead of just saying, "That's dumb," and moving on.
Today had one that really got under my skin. Now I'm wasting time deciding what to DO about it, instead of just saying, "That's dumb," and moving on.
Reposted by J. Arendt
"If discovery tools return hallucinated results, the credibility of the library itself could be undermined. Students may come to see the library’s systems as just another unreliable search engine."
BINGO
BINGO
November 7, 2025 at 9:06 PM
"If discovery tools return hallucinated results, the credibility of the library itself could be undermined. Students may come to see the library’s systems as just another unreliable search engine."
BINGO
BINGO