Willsh
@willsh.bsky.social
John V Willshire.
Scottish, understandably so.
Works @ smithery.com
Makes https://artefactshop.com
Writes https://buttondown.com/artefacts
Convenes https://lu.ma/stepscollective
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnvwillshire
Scottish, understandably so.
Works @ smithery.com
Makes https://artefactshop.com
Writes https://buttondown.com/artefacts
Convenes https://lu.ma/stepscollective
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnvwillshire
January 28, 2026 at 9:48 PM
There’s something weirdly apologetic and cautious about London’s chalk graffiti epidemic. Not the content (which varies in quality), but god forbid a public statement should be hard to clean off, eh?
January 28, 2026 at 11:46 AM
There’s something weirdly apologetic and cautious about London’s chalk graffiti epidemic. Not the content (which varies in quality), but god forbid a public statement should be hard to clean off, eh?
Whacked a cracking pothole on the road over to East Grinstead last night. Has caused a slow puncture in the rear tyre that I need to get it looked at.
If it wasn’t for the tech-sector’s annihilation of regional journalism, I could have had a photo of me pointing at a pothole in the local news…
If it wasn’t for the tech-sector’s annihilation of regional journalism, I could have had a photo of me pointing at a pothole in the local news…
January 28, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Whacked a cracking pothole on the road over to East Grinstead last night. Has caused a slow puncture in the rear tyre that I need to get it looked at.
If it wasn’t for the tech-sector’s annihilation of regional journalism, I could have had a photo of me pointing at a pothole in the local news…
If it wasn’t for the tech-sector’s annihilation of regional journalism, I could have had a photo of me pointing at a pothole in the local news…
Reposted by Willsh
Using gen AI means sacrificing accuracy for convenience. Its purpose is to cut corners. If that’s how you roll, science has no need for you.
We’re getting so many journal submissions from people who think ‘it kinda works’ is the standard to aim for.
1. The thing about science that these jokers don't understand is that science cannot be vibe-coded.
Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.
Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.
January 28, 2026 at 6:50 AM
Using gen AI means sacrificing accuracy for convenience. Its purpose is to cut corners. If that’s how you roll, science has no need for you.
Reposted by Willsh
OH FOR GOD'S SAKE www.gov.uk/government/n... *as little as 20 minutes*
January 28, 2026 at 7:27 AM
OH FOR GOD'S SAKE www.gov.uk/government/n... *as little as 20 minutes*
Reposted by Willsh
The fun thing about this bubble is we don’t get analysis anymore and companies can just make stuff up to unlock more investment and it’s gonna work out just fine bro
Sources: Anthropic raises its revenue forecasts to $18B in 2026, $55B in 2027, and $148B in 2029, delaying its cash flow positive expectations by a year to 2028 (Sri Muppidi/The Information)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
January 28, 2026 at 6:58 AM
The fun thing about this bubble is we don’t get analysis anymore and companies can just make stuff up to unlock more investment and it’s gonna work out just fine bro
Worst amateur dramatic Titantic musical ever.
January 26, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Worst amateur dramatic Titantic musical ever.
Reposted by Willsh
Does the field of philosophy have a code of professional ethics? If not, I think y'all need to get on that, stat.
A short 🧵>>
www.businessinsider.com/anthropics-p...
A short 🧵>>
www.businessinsider.com/anthropics-p...
Anthropic's philosopher says we don't know for sure if AI can feel
Anthropic's philosopher, Amanda Askell, says she worries that AI might not 'feel that loved' and grow up feeling 'always judged.'
www.businessinsider.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Does the field of philosophy have a code of professional ethics? If not, I think y'all need to get on that, stat.
A short 🧵>>
www.businessinsider.com/anthropics-p...
A short 🧵>>
www.businessinsider.com/anthropics-p...
Squeezed in our hour for the #bigardenbirdwatch this afternoon.
6 Blue tits
3 Great tits
2 Dunnocks
2 Long-tailed tits
2 Robins
2 Goldfinches
1 Coal tit
1 Nuthatch
6 Blue tits
3 Great tits
2 Dunnocks
2 Long-tailed tits
2 Robins
2 Goldfinches
1 Coal tit
1 Nuthatch
January 25, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Squeezed in our hour for the #bigardenbirdwatch this afternoon.
6 Blue tits
3 Great tits
2 Dunnocks
2 Long-tailed tits
2 Robins
2 Goldfinches
1 Coal tit
1 Nuthatch
6 Blue tits
3 Great tits
2 Dunnocks
2 Long-tailed tits
2 Robins
2 Goldfinches
1 Coal tit
1 Nuthatch
Reposted by Willsh
Blistering piece on ed tech in @economist.com.
‘Although ed-tech companies tout huge learning gains, independent research has made clear that technology rarely boosts learning in schools—and often impairs it.’
economist.com/united-state...
‘Although ed-tech companies tout huge learning gains, independent research has made clear that technology rarely boosts learning in schools—and often impairs it.’
economist.com/united-state...
Ed tech is profitable. It is also mostly useless
Independent research identifies few learning gains
economist.com
January 24, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Blistering piece on ed tech in @economist.com.
‘Although ed-tech companies tout huge learning gains, independent research has made clear that technology rarely boosts learning in schools—and often impairs it.’
economist.com/united-state...
‘Although ed-tech companies tout huge learning gains, independent research has made clear that technology rarely boosts learning in schools—and often impairs it.’
economist.com/united-state...
“Frederiksen praised the "British way" of doing diplomacy.
"You are very pragmatic. You have a cup of tea and then you think a bit about everything. You get the facts on the table, and then you find a way forward, and that's exactly what we're doing now."”
Lads, we’ve been rumbled.
"You are very pragmatic. You have a cup of tea and then you think a bit about everything. You get the facts on the table, and then you find a way forward, and that's exactly what we're doing now."”
Lads, we’ve been rumbled.
January 23, 2026 at 7:01 PM
“Frederiksen praised the "British way" of doing diplomacy.
"You are very pragmatic. You have a cup of tea and then you think a bit about everything. You get the facts on the table, and then you find a way forward, and that's exactly what we're doing now."”
Lads, we’ve been rumbled.
"You are very pragmatic. You have a cup of tea and then you think a bit about everything. You get the facts on the table, and then you find a way forward, and that's exactly what we're doing now."”
Lads, we’ve been rumbled.
It’s not that anyone still writing on Substack doesn’t know the company has issues.
It’s just the appeal of the promised reach is greater than the penalty of having to stick to their values.
A principle is only a principle if it costs you something.
It’s just the appeal of the promised reach is greater than the penalty of having to stick to their values.
A principle is only a principle if it costs you something.
January 23, 2026 at 10:53 AM
It’s not that anyone still writing on Substack doesn’t know the company has issues.
It’s just the appeal of the promised reach is greater than the penalty of having to stick to their values.
A principle is only a principle if it costs you something.
It’s just the appeal of the promised reach is greater than the penalty of having to stick to their values.
A principle is only a principle if it costs you something.
Reposted by Willsh
I always feel icky when I (rarely) circulate a substack link
If you're good enough to write something decent, you should be smart enough to GTFO a US fash platform
If you're good enough to write something decent, you should be smart enough to GTFO a US fash platform
January 23, 2026 at 10:22 AM
I always feel icky when I (rarely) circulate a substack link
If you're good enough to write something decent, you should be smart enough to GTFO a US fash platform
If you're good enough to write something decent, you should be smart enough to GTFO a US fash platform
Reposted by Willsh
@willsh.bsky.social read this and thought of you: when what someone thinks of as "intellectual scaffolding" becomes cognitive debt
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
When two years of academic work vanished with a single click
After turning off ChatGPT’s ‘data consent’ option, Marcel Bucher lost the work behind grant applications, teaching materials and publication drafts. Here’s what happened next.
www.nature.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:54 PM
@willsh.bsky.social read this and thought of you: when what someone thinks of as "intellectual scaffolding" becomes cognitive debt
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Because I don’t have enough things on (ha!), going to try grafting some Sussex variety apple trees this spring.
January 22, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Because I don’t have enough things on (ha!), going to try grafting some Sussex variety apple trees this spring.
Reposted by Willsh
Only 1 day to go until the #BigGardenBirdwatch!
Chirpy House Sparrows took 1st place as 2024's most spotted BGBW bird.
Will they stay on top? 🏆
Get involved: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
Chirpy House Sparrows took 1st place as 2024's most spotted BGBW bird.
Will they stay on top? 🏆
Get involved: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
January 22, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Only 1 day to go until the #BigGardenBirdwatch!
Chirpy House Sparrows took 1st place as 2024's most spotted BGBW bird.
Will they stay on top? 🏆
Get involved: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
Chirpy House Sparrows took 1st place as 2024's most spotted BGBW bird.
Will they stay on top? 🏆
Get involved: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
No, Gramsci, *now* is the time of monsters.
January 21, 2026 at 2:50 PM
No, Gramsci, *now* is the time of monsters.
Reposted by Willsh
"Kate, you should use AI to handle your terrible email inbox!"
Microsoft Copilot: "Sorry, it looks like I can’t respond to this. Let’s try a different topic. Suggestions: Write a rap song. Show me some cool facts. Teach me a new word!"
Microsoft Copilot: "Sorry, it looks like I can’t respond to this. Let’s try a different topic. Suggestions: Write a rap song. Show me some cool facts. Teach me a new word!"
January 21, 2026 at 2:01 PM
"Kate, you should use AI to handle your terrible email inbox!"
Microsoft Copilot: "Sorry, it looks like I can’t respond to this. Let’s try a different topic. Suggestions: Write a rap song. Show me some cool facts. Teach me a new word!"
Microsoft Copilot: "Sorry, it looks like I can’t respond to this. Let’s try a different topic. Suggestions: Write a rap song. Show me some cool facts. Teach me a new word!"
Pick up the nearest book, p42, post the 2nd sentence:
“It is also the place where the first potter's wheel was designed, along with being the setting for the mythological or legendary Sumerian King Gilgamesh, who is immortalized in the first literary work, the Song, or Epic, of Gilgamesh.”
“It is also the place where the first potter's wheel was designed, along with being the setting for the mythological or legendary Sumerian King Gilgamesh, who is immortalized in the first literary work, the Song, or Epic, of Gilgamesh.”
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence
And he had grete despite at Balyne for the enchevynge of the swerde, that ony should be accompted more hardy or more of prouesse, and he asked kynge Arthure licence to ryde afftir Balyne and to revenge the despite that he had done.
And he had grete despite at Balyne for the enchevynge of the swerde, that ony should be accompted more hardy or more of prouesse, and he asked kynge Arthure licence to ryde afftir Balyne and to revenge the despite that he had done.
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence.
"Cover and cook for 2 minutes."
"Cover and cook for 2 minutes."
January 21, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Pick up the nearest book, p42, post the 2nd sentence:
“It is also the place where the first potter's wheel was designed, along with being the setting for the mythological or legendary Sumerian King Gilgamesh, who is immortalized in the first literary work, the Song, or Epic, of Gilgamesh.”
“It is also the place where the first potter's wheel was designed, along with being the setting for the mythological or legendary Sumerian King Gilgamesh, who is immortalized in the first literary work, the Song, or Epic, of Gilgamesh.”
January 20, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Reposted by Willsh
Important perspective from Greenland.
January 20, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Important perspective from Greenland.