Nocturnal Holly

And a Happy Birthday to Douglas Adams (teenage me's favourite author). He would have turned 74 today.

Back from a Bluesky hiatus to scream into the void. EPA just canceled our union contract. We were the last union standing at EPA. To hell with this bullshit, NTEU has been here since 1938, we’ll be here long after these ghouls are a forgotten footnote in dusty federal records.

Okay, I can see this is not productive. I’m bowing out.

Wooooooe this is WILD.

They are CHANGING PEOPLE'S OUT OF OFFICE MESSAGES.

As you build out instances, think of your poor overworked shop steward, that’s all!

I’m already using my commute to make this case because you seem to have the skills to help make it happen. A lot of people who are genuinely working for a better world in other ways are at capacity, we could use your help with this.

It’s not just convenience, it’s utility. The higher the activation cost, in energy and expertise, the narrower your community will be. It will never be frictionless, I know, but asking me to add more to my plate… what do I give up for it?

The people who have decided that building and maintaining a viable, useful social media platform is their lane… thank you! Please listen to what others need as well. We can’t all be in that lane with you. We have our own.

I’m glad you’re trying not to be an ass about this because it’s important. In this environment there is a ton of organizing work we need to do online and off. I simply do not have time to take from my union work to host anything, but I could really use access to a decent social media platform.

The platforms need to reduce friction if they want a community that includes busy people.

Always have a worksona. Though I realized I had masked too hard when they asked me to MC a baby shower. I am an introvert with tokophobia.

Awwww, I was just reminiscing about a nibling and his determination to be a naked child! Basically had to hand him and a bag of clothes to the preschool and they would reassemble as needed.

It’s everywhere, this is a harrowing time to be sports-blind on Bsky.

Well, a bunch of my friends are furloughed and I will be too at some uncertain point, but at least I have a pantry full of delicious beans that keep well. That’s really not nothing.

Does your vision for Bluesky include people who are not looking for that level of time investment?

They hang out around the gates at Federal Triangle but not on the trains. They look so bored, they have probably named all the rats by now.

Lemon it's Wednesday

Today, more than ever,

Yep. Once they realize we still exist.

SAG-AFTRA Statement on Synthetic Performer LOS ANGELES (Sept. 30, 2025) — SAG-AFTRA has released the following statement on the announcement of “Tilly Norwood,” an A.I.-generated “actor” that is reportedly seeking representation: “SAG-AFTRA believes creativity is, and should remain, human-centered. The union is opposed to the replacement of human performers by synthetics. “To be clear, “Tilly Norwood” is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation. It has no life experience to draw from, no emotion and, from what we’ve seen, audiences aren’t interested in watching computer-generated content untethered from the human experience. It doesn’t solve any “problem” — it creates the problem of using stolen performances to put actors out of work, jeopardizing performer livelihoods and devaluing human artistry. “Additionally, signatory producers should be aware that they may not use synthetic performers without complying with our contractual obligations, which generally require notice and bargaining whenever a synthetic performer is going to be used.”

SAG-AFTRA has released a statement on Tilly Norwood, the AI "performer," saying:

“To be clear, 'Tilly Norwood' is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation."

Close-up photo of a leafy branch bearing a white morning-glory flower. Photo by Scott Zona CCBYNC2.

Photo of a medium-sized, roadside tree in front of a house. A few white flowers are visible on the tips of branches.

Ipomoea spp. are mostly twining climbers (Ipomoea is one of the most common climbers worldwide), but a few species are trees! This is I. murucoides of the seasonally dry forests of Mexico. Habit 📷: Alejandra Zayas CCBYNC4. #Convolvulaceae #Botany 🌾🧪🌱

Solidarity with ILWU Local 5, doing the good work!

They’re selling AI slop? That’s obnoxious.

Well yeah, he also had a giant broad sword. Wait, is that not what we’re talking about?

Kept my partner up late because I wouldn’t stop giggling at Westron puns, too.

"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians not directly taking part in hostilities, even if they are believed to be smuggling drugs."

hey @nytimes.com: there is no counterpoint here. There are no credible legal experts who would EVER say that the US military has any right or authority to blow civilian craft out of the Caribbean and kill their crews from afar without any provocation. There is no other side to this question.

I fully understand how difficult it is to remain focused on any one particular atrocity but this really ought to be a serious scandal and people need to pay heavy prices for this

That’s grim. Good on Glamour for writing it up.

Sharing. Because we need to know. Also because “John Brown Gun Club”.

We've already got hundreds of students and mentors here, sharing how the sudden policy change has derailed plans. We're looking at formally "delivering" results to NSF leadership tomorrow, please do keep sharing and spreading the word: laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

but Orcs and Trolls spoke as they would, without love of words or things; and their language was actually more degraded and filthy than I have shown it. I do not suppose that any will wish for a closer rendering, though models are easy to find. Much the same sort of talk can still be heard among the orc-minded; dreary and repetitive with hatred and contempt, too long removed from good to retain even verbal vigour, save in the ears of those to whom only the squalid sounds strong.

Back on my LotR bullshit and still finding fresh relevance. Deep in Appendix F, an apt description of so much political speech these days.