Andrew
@andrewdavies.bsky.social
Interested in the information ecosystem (especially in difficult places) AI's impacts, politics all over the place, and cat photos. Strongly convinced that bad pizza is still better than no pizza.
Reposted by Andrew
It's a mixed bag. Sure, you get useful improvements to some features. But the fine print promises "AI-powered camera enhancements."
I'll be keeping this KB update off my personal machine for as long as possible — ideally until ShutUp10 gains the capability to disable it.
I'll be keeping this KB update off my personal machine for as long as possible — ideally until ShutUp10 gains the capability to disable it.
Windows 11 KB5070311 update fixes File Explorer freezes, search issues
Windows 11 KB5070311 update fixes File Explorer freezes, search issues
Microsoft has released the KB5070311 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 systems, which includes 49 changes, including fixes for File Explorer freezes and search issues.
www.bleepingcomputer.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:49 AM
It's a mixed bag. Sure, you get useful improvements to some features. But the fine print promises "AI-powered camera enhancements."
I'll be keeping this KB update off my personal machine for as long as possible — ideally until ShutUp10 gains the capability to disable it.
I'll be keeping this KB update off my personal machine for as long as possible — ideally until ShutUp10 gains the capability to disable it.
Reposted by Andrew
Arendt on Hegseth: McCarthyism destroyed the “reliable and devoted civil service” built under Roosevelt: “in the aftermath of this period the ‘ugly American’ appeared on the scene of foreign relations” but less so in domestic life, “except in a growing inability to correct errors and repair damages”
December 2, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Arendt on Hegseth: McCarthyism destroyed the “reliable and devoted civil service” built under Roosevelt: “in the aftermath of this period the ‘ugly American’ appeared on the scene of foreign relations” but less so in domestic life, “except in a growing inability to correct errors and repair damages”
Reposted by Andrew
"Emerging research indicates that content poking at two main emotions — anger and anxiety — gets more customer engagement than other approaches, according to Wendy Moe, a professor at University of Maryland who studies social media marketing."
You might hate these companies’ ads. That’s the point.
Corporate marketers are embracing a strategy perfected by online influencers: Stoke rage and watch the attention roll in.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM
"Emerging research indicates that content poking at two main emotions — anger and anxiety — gets more customer engagement than other approaches, according to Wendy Moe, a professor at University of Maryland who studies social media marketing."
Reposted by Andrew
WTF
India demands installation of government app on all smartphones
“The ministry-developed app, called Sanchar Saathi, will have access to the phone’s call log, memory and camera, according to the app’s privacy statement.”
“The ministry-developed app, called Sanchar Saathi, will have access to the phone’s call log, memory and camera, according to the app’s privacy statement.”
India demands installation of government app on all smartphones
Privacy advocates raise concerns about potential snooping
on.ft.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
WTF
Reposted by Andrew
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
Reposted by Andrew
Just imagining how much better it would be if ALL news stories about vaccine-preventable illnesses were illustrated with pictures of people with the disease, not pictures of needle injections. If you must show something that people will find scary & unpleasant, make it the disease, not the cure.
I'm so tired of measles.
I'm also tired of people using needle shots on stories like this.
Show what measles looks like.
I'm also tired of people using needle shots on stories like this.
Show what measles looks like.
Gallatin Co. reports 2nd measles case, warns of exposure sites nbcmontana.com/news/local/g...
December 2, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Just imagining how much better it would be if ALL news stories about vaccine-preventable illnesses were illustrated with pictures of people with the disease, not pictures of needle injections. If you must show something that people will find scary & unpleasant, make it the disease, not the cure.
Reposted by Andrew
The critical thing here is that Leavitt is distancing Hegseth from the final act of delivering the ultimate order for the strike that killed the two men in the water. She only acknowledges that Hegseth directed the initial destroying of the boat.
That raises new Qs:
newrepublic.com/article/2037...
That raises new Qs:
newrepublic.com/article/2037...
December 1, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The critical thing here is that Leavitt is distancing Hegseth from the final act of delivering the ultimate order for the strike that killed the two men in the water. She only acknowledges that Hegseth directed the initial destroying of the boat.
That raises new Qs:
newrepublic.com/article/2037...
That raises new Qs:
newrepublic.com/article/2037...
Reposted by Andrew
For the record, it is 100% fine to 'openly and freely get others to disobey the President of the United States!' if said President is giving illegal orders. Image & article, @thedailybeast.bsky.social www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump... 'Trump Posts Once a Minute in Unhinged Late-Night Spree'
December 2, 2025 at 12:40 PM
For the record, it is 100% fine to 'openly and freely get others to disobey the President of the United States!' if said President is giving illegal orders. Image & article, @thedailybeast.bsky.social www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump... 'Trump Posts Once a Minute in Unhinged Late-Night Spree'
Reposted by Andrew
Indiana Republicans have unveiled their proposal to re-gerrymander the congressional map & expand their current 7-2 majority to 9-0.
The Dem-held 1st would flip to Trump+12 & the 7th to Trump+19. All 7 GOP seats would be at least Trump+18.
Interactive map:
davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap...
The Dem-held 1st would flip to Trump+12 & the 7th to Trump+19. All 7 GOP seats would be at least Trump+18.
Interactive map:
davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap...
December 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Indiana Republicans have unveiled their proposal to re-gerrymander the congressional map & expand their current 7-2 majority to 9-0.
The Dem-held 1st would flip to Trump+12 & the 7th to Trump+19. All 7 GOP seats would be at least Trump+18.
Interactive map:
davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap...
The Dem-held 1st would flip to Trump+12 & the 7th to Trump+19. All 7 GOP seats would be at least Trump+18.
Interactive map:
davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap...
Reposted by Andrew
This is what happens when you have the least qualified Secretary of Defense in our country’s history.
December 2, 2025 at 3:36 AM
This is what happens when you have the least qualified Secretary of Defense in our country’s history.
Reposted by Andrew
The definition of insanity is opening and closing the doors on a Hewlett Packard printer 20 times and expecting to get a print.
December 2, 2025 at 6:11 AM
The definition of insanity is opening and closing the doors on a Hewlett Packard printer 20 times and expecting to get a print.
Reposted by Andrew
Authorities in Georgia, the former Soviet republic, used a World War One-era chemical weapon to quell anti-government protesters last year, evidence gathered by the BBC suggests. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrk7g50e1po
December 1, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Authorities in Georgia, the former Soviet republic, used a World War One-era chemical weapon to quell anti-government protesters last year, evidence gathered by the BBC suggests. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrk7g50e1po
Reposted by Andrew
who decided to call it Secret Santa when Nondisclosure Claus was right there
December 1, 2025 at 10:55 PM
who decided to call it Secret Santa when Nondisclosure Claus was right there
Reposted by Andrew
UW and Fred Hutch researchers, and many others, are bringing us closer to a cure for HIV.
In Washington state, we're proud to thank our scientists today on World AIDS Day.
In Washington state, we're proud to thank our scientists today on World AIDS Day.
Path to HIV cure includes Seattle scientists
Two new studies provide insights into a possible cure for HIV, and feature the work of researchers from the UW and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
www.seattletimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:41 AM
UW and Fred Hutch researchers, and many others, are bringing us closer to a cure for HIV.
In Washington state, we're proud to thank our scientists today on World AIDS Day.
In Washington state, we're proud to thank our scientists today on World AIDS Day.
Reposted by Andrew
FDA official Vinay Prasad proposes ‘impossible’ standards for vaccine testing that could curtail access to immunizations.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
My latest story for @cidrap.bsky.social.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
My latest story for @cidrap.bsky.social.
FDA official proposes ‘impossible’ standards for vaccine testing that could curtail access to immunizations
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
FDA official Vinay Prasad proposes ‘impossible’ standards for vaccine testing that could curtail access to immunizations.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
My latest story for @cidrap.bsky.social.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
My latest story for @cidrap.bsky.social.
Reposted by Andrew
We first note that hand-wringing about the decline in US college enrollments has mistakenly linked such declines to the price of four-year colleges.
But the decline is entirely driven by two-year community colleges (and by for-profit colleges). The four-year sector is the dog that didn't bark.
But the decline is entirely driven by two-year community colleges (and by for-profit colleges). The four-year sector is the dog that didn't bark.
December 1, 2025 at 1:34 PM
We first note that hand-wringing about the decline in US college enrollments has mistakenly linked such declines to the price of four-year colleges.
But the decline is entirely driven by two-year community colleges (and by for-profit colleges). The four-year sector is the dog that didn't bark.
But the decline is entirely driven by two-year community colleges (and by for-profit colleges). The four-year sector is the dog that didn't bark.
Reposted by Andrew
The “enrollment cliff” is a myth peddled by everyone from the NYT to the Chronicle as a justification to cancel tenure lines, disinvest public resources in colleges, and push private for-profit online degree mills. It’s quoted to us regularly by our university administration. It’s also a lie
We first note that hand-wringing about the decline in US college enrollments has mistakenly linked such declines to the price of four-year colleges.
But the decline is entirely driven by two-year community colleges (and by for-profit colleges). The four-year sector is the dog that didn't bark.
But the decline is entirely driven by two-year community colleges (and by for-profit colleges). The four-year sector is the dog that didn't bark.
December 2, 2025 at 6:23 AM
The “enrollment cliff” is a myth peddled by everyone from the NYT to the Chronicle as a justification to cancel tenure lines, disinvest public resources in colleges, and push private for-profit online degree mills. It’s quoted to us regularly by our university administration. It’s also a lie
Reposted by Andrew
this. and also Felix Gonzalez-Torres’ “Perfect Lovers”.
(Two identical wall clocks synced at the beginning of the exhibition but which eventually fall out of sync as one runs down.)
(Two identical wall clocks synced at the beginning of the exhibition but which eventually fall out of sync as one runs down.)
December 2, 2025 at 6:20 AM
this. and also Felix Gonzalez-Torres’ “Perfect Lovers”.
(Two identical wall clocks synced at the beginning of the exhibition but which eventually fall out of sync as one runs down.)
(Two identical wall clocks synced at the beginning of the exhibition but which eventually fall out of sync as one runs down.)
Reposted by Andrew
This is really good, nuanced reporting about pricing climate risks - and the groups who do it - that gets at why Zillow removing its climate scores is a complicated story.
Hi, in case you're curious, we looked at the performance of different models last year:
🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
The Risky Business of Predicting Where Climate Disaster Will Hit
Climate tech companies can calculate the chances that a flood or wildfire will ravage your home. But what if their odds are all different?
www.bloomberg.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:24 PM
This is really good, nuanced reporting about pricing climate risks - and the groups who do it - that gets at why Zillow removing its climate scores is a complicated story.
Reposted by Andrew
This is also good: Rep Adam Smith calls for public release of the DOJ memo supposedly justifying Trump's bombings. And he says he'll push Republicans to start using subpoena power to get testimony from top officials, both military and civilian:
newrepublic.com/article/2037...
newrepublic.com/article/2037...
December 1, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This is also good: Rep Adam Smith calls for public release of the DOJ memo supposedly justifying Trump's bombings. And he says he'll push Republicans to start using subpoena power to get testimony from top officials, both military and civilian:
newrepublic.com/article/2037...
newrepublic.com/article/2037...
Reposted by Andrew
Pub crawls may be all the rage, I truly believe there could be an immense market for library crawls, bakery crawls, museum crawls, café crawls, bookstore crawls, and greenhouse crawls.
December 1, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Pub crawls may be all the rage, I truly believe there could be an immense market for library crawls, bakery crawls, museum crawls, café crawls, bookstore crawls, and greenhouse crawls.
Reposted by Andrew
White supremacy is a helluva drug.
Leavitt: "Refugee admissions into the country right now are essentially at 0, with the exception of Afrikaners fleeing persecution in South Africa."
December 1, 2025 at 6:55 PM
White supremacy is a helluva drug.
Reposted by Andrew
How do people not see that the entire OU essay thing is just an attempt by this girl and the Turning Point chapter to turn her into another Riley Gaines grifting on trying to push trans people out of society?
December 1, 2025 at 5:17 PM
How do people not see that the entire OU essay thing is just an attempt by this girl and the Turning Point chapter to turn her into another Riley Gaines grifting on trying to push trans people out of society?
Reposted by Andrew
Tremendous and important reporting by NYT Visual Investigations team shows that Trump administration made false or misleading statements to US Supreme Court as it attempted to federal justify intervention in Chicago. Accountability matters. (Free link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Times Analysis Finds Errors in Trump’s Supreme Court Filing That Calls for National Guard in Chicago
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Tremendous and important reporting by NYT Visual Investigations team shows that Trump administration made false or misleading statements to US Supreme Court as it attempted to federal justify intervention in Chicago. Accountability matters. (Free link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Reposted by Andrew
The Pew Research 2025 poll on Social Media use of adults in the US is out - Bluesky is up, in-between Threads and Truth Social, while Mastodon does not exist at all 😅
November 23, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The Pew Research 2025 poll on Social Media use of adults in the US is out - Bluesky is up, in-between Threads and Truth Social, while Mastodon does not exist at all 😅