Amy Isikoff Newell
@amynewell.bsky.social
hope from despair. Forest Witch. Baba Yaga type. Crazy. Artist, Aspiring Activist, Recovering Engineering Leader. bipolar, bisexual, and bitchy AF she/they 🏳️🌈
www.amywriteswords.com
www.amynewell.com
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Amy Isikoff Newell
@amynewell.bsky.social
· Jan 21
Amy Writes Words | Amy Isikoff Newell | Substack
"Amusing at best": I write about software engineering, tech, management, politics, bipolar disorder, mental illness, disability, queerness, gender, books, poetry, fashion, boots, and photography. Also...
amywriteswords.com
new followers! Hello! I'm not on on here much, so I want you to know you can subscribe to my newsletter at amywriteswords.com
2 awesome things about it:
1. arrives irregularly, def not every week, only when I have something to say
2. I like when ppl pay/share/like but I don't hound you for it
2 awesome things about it:
1. arrives irregularly, def not every week, only when I have something to say
2. I like when ppl pay/share/like but I don't hound you for it
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
Talentless frauds close to the White House are making billions by crashing the American economy and selling out America’s allies. Here’s why democratic socialism is unthinkable.
November 30, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Talentless frauds close to the White House are making billions by crashing the American economy and selling out America’s allies. Here’s why democratic socialism is unthinkable.
there should be a ceiling. people should not be able to accumulate billions of dollars, for a bunch of reasons, including that it turns them into out of touch monsters.
November 30, 2025 at 8:57 PM
there should be a ceiling. people should not be able to accumulate billions of dollars, for a bunch of reasons, including that it turns them into out of touch monsters.
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
So much good here, but IMHO the key point is that close reading enables students to believe “that they are capable, that they can do it.” They have been hollowed out, too, denied self-efficacy by modern educational systems. Freire, hooks, so many have taught us how to teach. If we will only do it.
I wrote an essay for @bostonreview.bsky.social about what I learned about close reading when I taught at West Virginia University
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Claims of Close Reading - Boston Review
Literary studies have been starved by austerity, but their core methodology remains radical.
www.bostonreview.net
November 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
So much good here, but IMHO the key point is that close reading enables students to believe “that they are capable, that they can do it.” They have been hollowed out, too, denied self-efficacy by modern educational systems. Freire, hooks, so many have taught us how to teach. If we will only do it.
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
Congratulations to the silicon valley abundance agenda
AI-enabled NIMBYism has come to clean energy deployment. Virtually all the examples mentioned in this piece are wind, solar and transmission projects. 💡🔌
How Scottish campaigners are using AI to battle rural planning applications
Tool allows individuals to send unique, complex objections of about 4,000 words within a couple of minutes
www.ft.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Congratulations to the silicon valley abundance agenda
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
*slams fist on a table* someone should stage a lesbian version of the Nutcracker ballet
November 27, 2025 at 7:02 PM
*slams fist on a table* someone should stage a lesbian version of the Nutcracker ballet
We are watching the burning of the Library of Alexandria.
"Runctitiononal features"? "Medical fymblal"? "1 Tol Line storee"? This gets worse the longer you look at it. But it's got to be good, because it was published in Nature Scientific Reports last week: www.nature.com/articles/s41... h/t @asa.tsbalans.se
November 27, 2025 at 7:39 PM
We are watching the burning of the Library of Alexandria.
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
It's American Thanksgiving, everybody. Here's @thehallucination.bsky.social.
It's that time again.
The Halluci Nation, "Burn Your Village to the Ground (Neon Nativez Remix)"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNi_...
The Halluci Nation, "Burn Your Village to the Ground (Neon Nativez Remix)"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNi_...
The Halluci Nation - Burn Your Village To The Ground (Neon Nativez Remix)
"They have to kill us because they can't break our spirit."- John TrudellFree download: https://bit.ly/2Tn6dpHNeon Nativez:- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.c...
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:05 PM
It's American Thanksgiving, everybody. Here's @thehallucination.bsky.social.
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
Propaganda doesn't work by logic, it works by repeated exposure.
"Oh i know how uv rays work, I won't get sunburned" friends you will still get crispy
"Oh i know how uv rays work, I won't get sunburned" friends you will still get crispy
It’s really funny how a generation will roll its eyes at parents who watch Fox News but doesn’t see why being immersed in Twitter is having the same effect. Lots of serious people show up on Fox News too but that shouldn’t be your primary source on the news.
November 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Propaganda doesn't work by logic, it works by repeated exposure.
"Oh i know how uv rays work, I won't get sunburned" friends you will still get crispy
"Oh i know how uv rays work, I won't get sunburned" friends you will still get crispy
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
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.
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
I'm an "A.i." abolitionist.
No consumer-facing LLMs or generative "A.i." in anything.
Sure, machine learning in science and a few other limited applications is fine.
But consumer-facing LLMs and generative "A.i." that are based on theft, push disinfo, and can be manipulated by billionaires?
No.
No consumer-facing LLMs or generative "A.i." in anything.
Sure, machine learning in science and a few other limited applications is fine.
But consumer-facing LLMs and generative "A.i." that are based on theft, push disinfo, and can be manipulated by billionaires?
No.
July 8, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I'm an "A.i." abolitionist.
No consumer-facing LLMs or generative "A.i." in anything.
Sure, machine learning in science and a few other limited applications is fine.
But consumer-facing LLMs and generative "A.i." that are based on theft, push disinfo, and can be manipulated by billionaires?
No.
No consumer-facing LLMs or generative "A.i." in anything.
Sure, machine learning in science and a few other limited applications is fine.
But consumer-facing LLMs and generative "A.i." that are based on theft, push disinfo, and can be manipulated by billionaires?
No.
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
everyone knows the number one quality of rigorous, responsible journalism is waiting months and months to reveal urgently newsworthy information until it can cause the most harm in your personal vendettas
November 26, 2025 at 10:53 PM
everyone knows the number one quality of rigorous, responsible journalism is waiting months and months to reveal urgently newsworthy information until it can cause the most harm in your personal vendettas
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
As CEO of Mott’s Applesauce I really have to question your mental state if Applesauce isn’t on your plate, in your toilet, in the bedroom, really everywhere that Applesauce could help
November 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
As CEO of Mott’s Applesauce I really have to question your mental state if Applesauce isn’t on your plate, in your toilet, in the bedroom, really everywhere that Applesauce could help
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
This is...sort of brilliant.
November 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This is...sort of brilliant.
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
"It is against the TOS to be talked into suicide by our LLM" is possibly the most evil tech bro thing I've ever read
Additionally, OpenAI argues its not liable because Raine, by using ChatGPT for self-harm, broke its terms of service
November 26, 2025 at 12:29 AM
"It is against the TOS to be talked into suicide by our LLM" is possibly the most evil tech bro thing I've ever read
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
It’s blowing my mind that schools, universities, public services would run headlong into this. We spent 15 years documenting black boxes. This is a black box in a black hole!
I don't understand how anyone can watch how blatantly Grok is manipulated to answer the way ownership desires it to and then act like the other LLM chatbots couldn't possibly be similarly but less obviously compromised to produce responses in whatever way corporate interests and priorities dictate.
November 23, 2025 at 11:16 PM
It’s blowing my mind that schools, universities, public services would run headlong into this. We spent 15 years documenting black boxes. This is a black box in a black hole!
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
We’re offering free vaccine clinics in Boston. Vaccines are safe, effective, and protect against serious illness. Getting vaccinated keeps you healthy and helps protect your family, friends, and community.
Find upcoming vaccine clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Find upcoming vaccine clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Free Vaccine Clinics in Boston
Everyone ages six months and older is encouraged to get the updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Pregnant parents, babies, and older adults should consult their health care professional about RSV vaccin...
boston.gov
November 20, 2025 at 10:06 PM
We’re offering free vaccine clinics in Boston. Vaccines are safe, effective, and protect against serious illness. Getting vaccinated keeps you healthy and helps protect your family, friends, and community.
Find upcoming vaccine clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Find upcoming vaccine clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
November 23, 2025 at 9:42 AM
so i'm watching wicked for the first time, and, uh, are they gonna bang?
November 22, 2025 at 11:38 PM
so i'm watching wicked for the first time, and, uh, are they gonna bang?
I'll just be over here singing "Like A Prayer" over and over to blot out the other thing.
November 22, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I'll just be over here singing "Like A Prayer" over and over to blot out the other thing.
Reposted by Amy Isikoff Newell
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
this is deeply f*cked up. Our students need civic literacy, literacy literacy, research skills, a grounding in science and the scientific method, art, music, etc. They don't need this trash.
Feeling queasy now I've learned that Google is not only now offering Gemini ambassador certificates to teachers but also awarding students and *children* to be corporate AI mascots. Coercive normalization of commercialized digital education. blog.google/outreach-ini...
November 22, 2025 at 8:40 PM
this is deeply f*cked up. Our students need civic literacy, literacy literacy, research skills, a grounding in science and the scientific method, art, music, etc. They don't need this trash.
great news for libraries!
NEWS: Libraries WIN in federal court!
A judge in RI issued a permanent injunction stopping the Administration from dismantling the Institute of Museum & Library Services and nullifying all actions taken to do so.
Read the ruling: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... (More to come from ALA)
A judge in RI issued a permanent injunction stopping the Administration from dismantling the Institute of Museum & Library Services and nullifying all actions taken to do so.
Read the ruling: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... (More to come from ALA)
November 21, 2025 at 11:33 PM
great news for libraries!