Biblioeclectica
@biblioeclectica.bsky.social
Ex-librarian. Interests: SFF, nature photography, climate & social justice, language & communication, information literacy. They/them.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
When the trans person or immigrant becomes “niche”,
When the person demanding racial, gender, religious or economic equality becomes “niche”
You have removed their humanity.
And it’s easy to remove human rights from those who aren’t listed as human.
And it gets easier to keep expanding that list.
When the person demanding racial, gender, religious or economic equality becomes “niche”
You have removed their humanity.
And it’s easy to remove human rights from those who aren’t listed as human.
And it gets easier to keep expanding that list.
January 8, 2026 at 1:27 PM
When the trans person or immigrant becomes “niche”,
When the person demanding racial, gender, religious or economic equality becomes “niche”
You have removed their humanity.
And it’s easy to remove human rights from those who aren’t listed as human.
And it gets easier to keep expanding that list.
When the person demanding racial, gender, religious or economic equality becomes “niche”
You have removed their humanity.
And it’s easy to remove human rights from those who aren’t listed as human.
And it gets easier to keep expanding that list.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Let's talk about generative AI, contaminated information, and rhubarb.
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
January 6, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Let's talk about generative AI, contaminated information, and rhubarb.
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
🚨 WA and other vote-by-mail states:
The post office changed its postmark policy and no longer guarantees a postmark will be given on the date mail is received.
For deadline sensitive mail, like ballots, this means that you need to mail far in advance (10+ days before) or use a drop box. #waelex
The post office changed its postmark policy and no longer guarantees a postmark will be given on the date mail is received.
For deadline sensitive mail, like ballots, this means that you need to mail far in advance (10+ days before) or use a drop box. #waelex
This is important, especially for people who vote by mail and for tax filers.
www.currentfederaltaxdevelopments.com/blog/2025/12...
www.currentfederaltaxdevelopments.com/blog/2025/12...
USPS Changes to Postmark Date System Taking Effect December 24, 2025 — Current Federal Tax Developments
Summary of the Final Rule The United States Postal Service (USPS) has adopted a final rule ( FR Doc. 2025-20740 ) adding Section 6 08.11, "Postmarks and Postal Possession," to the Domestic Mail Manu...
www.currentfederaltaxdevelopments.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
🚨 WA and other vote-by-mail states:
The post office changed its postmark policy and no longer guarantees a postmark will be given on the date mail is received.
For deadline sensitive mail, like ballots, this means that you need to mail far in advance (10+ days before) or use a drop box. #waelex
The post office changed its postmark policy and no longer guarantees a postmark will be given on the date mail is received.
For deadline sensitive mail, like ballots, this means that you need to mail far in advance (10+ days before) or use a drop box. #waelex
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
IF YOU ARE READING SOMETHING AND IT IS HARD BUT YOU HAVE TO READ IT
1. use a thing that will sit right under the line you're reading, so you know where you are in the text
2. read it out loud because your active participation will help
3. get a definition of a weird word and WRITE IT DOWN
1. use a thing that will sit right under the line you're reading, so you know where you are in the text
2. read it out loud because your active participation will help
3. get a definition of a weird word and WRITE IT DOWN
December 29, 2025 at 12:32 AM
IF YOU ARE READING SOMETHING AND IT IS HARD BUT YOU HAVE TO READ IT
1. use a thing that will sit right under the line you're reading, so you know where you are in the text
2. read it out loud because your active participation will help
3. get a definition of a weird word and WRITE IT DOWN
1. use a thing that will sit right under the line you're reading, so you know where you are in the text
2. read it out loud because your active participation will help
3. get a definition of a weird word and WRITE IT DOWN
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
A fucking LLM trained on the collective insanity that is the internet cannot do useful things without going off the rails in weird and unpredictable ways that make it a HAZARD for anything even semi-serious.
They’re a goddamn toy and I will die on this hill
They’re a goddamn toy and I will die on this hill
December 21, 2025 at 11:27 PM
A fucking LLM trained on the collective insanity that is the internet cannot do useful things without going off the rails in weird and unpredictable ways that make it a HAZARD for anything even semi-serious.
They’re a goddamn toy and I will die on this hill
They’re a goddamn toy and I will die on this hill
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Yes hello, former senior dev here:
Every time someone says “AI does [useful thing]” you can place a safe bet that what they actually mean is “a machine learning algorithm trained on very specific high quality data does [useful thing]”
Every time someone says “AI does [useful thing]” you can place a safe bet that what they actually mean is “a machine learning algorithm trained on very specific high quality data does [useful thing]”
This is specifically about AI use in humanities disciplines within academia, which is clear from context- this crap is extremely harmful in that setting. Inevitably, people show up to be like "AI finds cancer cells tho".
NOT THE SUBJECT, and that conflation has been inflicted upon us intentionally.
NOT THE SUBJECT, and that conflation has been inflicted upon us intentionally.
You absolutely will not convince a bunch of historians and sociologists and whoever else is in this thread that you know more than we do about this and we should use it. I wish you AI enthusiasts would stop wading into our conversations. You have nothing helpful to contribute and are snarky.
December 21, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Yes hello, former senior dev here:
Every time someone says “AI does [useful thing]” you can place a safe bet that what they actually mean is “a machine learning algorithm trained on very specific high quality data does [useful thing]”
Every time someone says “AI does [useful thing]” you can place a safe bet that what they actually mean is “a machine learning algorithm trained on very specific high quality data does [useful thing]”
@flowerhorne.com hope it’s ok to ask directly - couldn’t reply to your comment about passkeys (prob so the other person wouldn’t get tagged). I'm pretty good w computers but have not found a good explanation for how passkeys work. How to use w accounts where you need to log on with 2+ devices? Halp!
December 19, 2025 at 8:48 PM
@flowerhorne.com hope it’s ok to ask directly - couldn’t reply to your comment about passkeys (prob so the other person wouldn’t get tagged). I'm pretty good w computers but have not found a good explanation for how passkeys work. How to use w accounts where you need to log on with 2+ devices? Halp!
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Good and cogent piece about who owns food culture
An excellent piece by Yasmin Khan in @theguardian.com – and I’m very relieved the preposterous case against her has been dropped. www.theguardian.com/food/comment...
I called my recipe book Sabzi – vegetables. But the name was trademarked. And my legal ordeal began
The granting of patents and trademarks to foods and words from the global south is part of a long colonial grab. It’s time to realise we share what we cook, and what we call it
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Good and cogent piece about who owns food culture
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
This is an excellent thread, and if I might add, with care, that I think our academic staff are also all exhausted as well, by so many things that were not always a part of their role, as well as the pressure and precariousness of academia. Students feel that, too - the whole environment is fraught.
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
November 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
This is an excellent thread, and if I might add, with care, that I think our academic staff are also all exhausted as well, by so many things that were not always a part of their role, as well as the pressure and precariousness of academia. Students feel that, too - the whole environment is fraught.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Kate makes an excellent argument here.
Also trauma plays heck with your memory formation and recall and these kids have been through a lot without adult resources to help.
Also trauma plays heck with your memory formation and recall and these kids have been through a lot without adult resources to help.
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
November 29, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Kate makes an excellent argument here.
Also trauma plays heck with your memory formation and recall and these kids have been through a lot without adult resources to help.
Also trauma plays heck with your memory formation and recall and these kids have been through a lot without adult resources to help.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
November 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
it is absolutely the tech companies fault that people now assume they’re doing something evil and sneaky even when they actually aren’t (regarding the latest Google kerfuffle)
like, no kidding that people have zero willingness to cut big tech the benefit of the doubt anymore
like, no kidding that people have zero willingness to cut big tech the benefit of the doubt anymore
November 23, 2025 at 8:33 AM
it is absolutely the tech companies fault that people now assume they’re doing something evil and sneaky even when they actually aren’t (regarding the latest Google kerfuffle)
like, no kidding that people have zero willingness to cut big tech the benefit of the doubt anymore
like, no kidding that people have zero willingness to cut big tech the benefit of the doubt anymore
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Medicare for All would save $450B a year.
Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.
Each dollar going to low-wage workers adds $1.20 to the economy overall.
It’s not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.
Each dollar going to low-wage workers adds $1.20 to the economy overall.
It’s not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
November 18, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Medicare for All would save $450B a year.
Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.
Each dollar going to low-wage workers adds $1.20 to the economy overall.
It’s not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.
Each dollar going to low-wage workers adds $1.20 to the economy overall.
It’s not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
I’ve always found it interesting how much microblogging character limits streamline language use. No room for weasel words, purple prose, digression.
But I think it’s also part of how extremism ramps up.
Because neither is there room for nuance, citation, qualifiers, any softening or mitigation.
But I think it’s also part of how extremism ramps up.
Because neither is there room for nuance, citation, qualifiers, any softening or mitigation.
November 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I’ve always found it interesting how much microblogging character limits streamline language use. No room for weasel words, purple prose, digression.
But I think it’s also part of how extremism ramps up.
Because neither is there room for nuance, citation, qualifiers, any softening or mitigation.
But I think it’s also part of how extremism ramps up.
Because neither is there room for nuance, citation, qualifiers, any softening or mitigation.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
November 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Stretch every couple of hours.
Exercise regularly.
Eat better.
Drink less booze.
Stop using your phone in bed.
Do the impossible task that you keep putting off and is weighing you down: it'll probably take you under thirty minutes.
Touch grass more than your phone.
Exercise regularly.
Eat better.
Drink less booze.
Stop using your phone in bed.
Do the impossible task that you keep putting off and is weighing you down: it'll probably take you under thirty minutes.
Touch grass more than your phone.
Those who are 35+, what advice do you have for people just entering their 30s?
October 5, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Stretch every couple of hours.
Exercise regularly.
Eat better.
Drink less booze.
Stop using your phone in bed.
Do the impossible task that you keep putting off and is weighing you down: it'll probably take you under thirty minutes.
Touch grass more than your phone.
Exercise regularly.
Eat better.
Drink less booze.
Stop using your phone in bed.
Do the impossible task that you keep putting off and is weighing you down: it'll probably take you under thirty minutes.
Touch grass more than your phone.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
I see your, "remove sound description from closed captions that annoy me, a hearing person" and I counter w/ put more details in the CC. I want the sound descriptions. I want the lyrics. I read 4 languages so miss me with the “speaks foreign lang." Give me exhaustive and insufferable deaf-ass CC 😂
September 23, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I see your, "remove sound description from closed captions that annoy me, a hearing person" and I counter w/ put more details in the CC. I want the sound descriptions. I want the lyrics. I read 4 languages so miss me with the “speaks foreign lang." Give me exhaustive and insufferable deaf-ass CC 😂
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
have been also learning lately that data centers primarily draw water from public drinking water systems
with huge implications for access, infrastructure quality, cost of buildout, and water rates for residential customers who already usually subsidize industrial use, in addition to capex
with huge implications for access, infrastructure quality, cost of buildout, and water rates for residential customers who already usually subsidize industrial use, in addition to capex
Thanks to Karen Hao's brilliant book Empire of AI, I learned that potable water is the only type of water that can be used to cool data centers.
Saltwater or wastewaster isn't useable.
Saltwater or wastewaster isn't useable.
August 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
have been also learning lately that data centers primarily draw water from public drinking water systems
with huge implications for access, infrastructure quality, cost of buildout, and water rates for residential customers who already usually subsidize industrial use, in addition to capex
with huge implications for access, infrastructure quality, cost of buildout, and water rates for residential customers who already usually subsidize industrial use, in addition to capex
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Doing GOOD historical research is very complex. It’s not gate keeping to say that out loud & expect other scholars to recognize it. It’s not gate keeping to expect epidemiologists to engage in the already existing scholarly conversation about these complexities.
"Interdisciplinary" means collaborating across disciplinary boundaries--not swanning in without doing the reading or consulting existing experts.
August 30, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Doing GOOD historical research is very complex. It’s not gate keeping to say that out loud & expect other scholars to recognize it. It’s not gate keeping to expect epidemiologists to engage in the already existing scholarly conversation about these complexities.
This is NOT good. Disease monitoring and testing and surveillance of food borne diseases are no longer reliably available. Very good article - I recommend reading the whole thing. And source your food carefully and cook it completely. www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
Crisis within CDC is spilling into real world, experts say
"I’ve never heard as many colleagues saying things like 'CDC is dead’ as I have today," an agency employee told STAT.
www.statnews.com
August 30, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This is NOT good. Disease monitoring and testing and surveillance of food borne diseases are no longer reliably available. Very good article - I recommend reading the whole thing. And source your food carefully and cook it completely. www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
To the person angry we weren't "neutral" in our AI Ethics panel:
We absolutely should be saying no to technology that poisons the environment. We absolutely should be making moral choices about who we give money to.
There is nothing neutral about librarianship. Never has been, never will be.
We absolutely should be saying no to technology that poisons the environment. We absolutely should be making moral choices about who we give money to.
There is nothing neutral about librarianship. Never has been, never will be.
August 19, 2025 at 4:07 PM
To the person angry we weren't "neutral" in our AI Ethics panel:
We absolutely should be saying no to technology that poisons the environment. We absolutely should be making moral choices about who we give money to.
There is nothing neutral about librarianship. Never has been, never will be.
We absolutely should be saying no to technology that poisons the environment. We absolutely should be making moral choices about who we give money to.
There is nothing neutral about librarianship. Never has been, never will be.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
"Isn't it amazing? In the information society, nobody thinks. We expected to banish paper, but we actually banished thought."
~ Dr. Ian Malcolm
(Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton)
~ Dr. Ian Malcolm
(Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton)
August 19, 2025 at 1:21 AM
"Isn't it amazing? In the information society, nobody thinks. We expected to banish paper, but we actually banished thought."
~ Dr. Ian Malcolm
(Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton)
~ Dr. Ian Malcolm
(Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton)
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
Doesn’t matter if it’s awful
Doesn’t matter if it’s nice
If it confirms your bias, check it twice!
::clap clap::
::clap clap::
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
Doesn’t matter if it’s awful
Doesn’t matter if it’s nice
If it confirms your bias, check it twice!
::clap clap::
if the rage-bait works too well it might be fake
::clap clap::
if the rage-bait works too well it might be fake
::clap clap::
look, we’ve all been fooled before
when a deep-fake makes us sore
but kindly doublecheck your source, it might be fake
::clap clap::
::clap clap::
if the rage-bait works too well it might be fake
::clap clap::
look, we’ve all been fooled before
when a deep-fake makes us sore
but kindly doublecheck your source, it might be fake
::clap clap::
August 18, 2025 at 6:08 AM
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
Doesn’t matter if it’s awful
Doesn’t matter if it’s nice
If it confirms your bias, check it twice!
::clap clap::
::clap clap::
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
Doesn’t matter if it’s awful
Doesn’t matter if it’s nice
If it confirms your bias, check it twice!
::clap clap::
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Assume, like many do, that AI *is* the future.
Most advocates, those attempting to act responsibly, still say the key is human interpretation and decision-making.
That means we still need to teach students and early careers AS IF they cannot rely on these tools. They still NEED to become experts.
Most advocates, those attempting to act responsibly, still say the key is human interpretation and decision-making.
That means we still need to teach students and early careers AS IF they cannot rely on these tools. They still NEED to become experts.
August 13, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Assume, like many do, that AI *is* the future.
Most advocates, those attempting to act responsibly, still say the key is human interpretation and decision-making.
That means we still need to teach students and early careers AS IF they cannot rely on these tools. They still NEED to become experts.
Most advocates, those attempting to act responsibly, still say the key is human interpretation and decision-making.
That means we still need to teach students and early careers AS IF they cannot rely on these tools. They still NEED to become experts.