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Alan Sill

@alansill.bsky.social
373 followers 249 following 918 posts

Physics/cloud/data center energy efficiency/HPC. This one's for personal viewpoints and technical stuff I find cool. Open to questions and try to reply to interesting ones. Also at mast.hpc.social/@AlanSill and hpc.social Slack and Discord.

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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 2h
With all of these AI-generated articles, videos, other media, and even interactive versions of papers, etc.: Who is going to read them? Who is going to watch them? Who is going to interact with them? The core problem of out current time is not lack of "content" generation, but lack of interest.
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Zahra Hirji @zhirji.bsky.social · 3h
What does the Senate permitting deal mean for US climate emissions? Some early modeling and several experts told me + @leslieatlarge.bsky.social the reforms are likely to slash US greenhouse gas emissions. Full story @bloomberg.com, with gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
What the Senate Permitting Deal Means for US Climate Emissions
Experts say the bill, which would speed clean-energy and fossil-fuel projects alike, would probably reduce greenhouse gas emissions overall.
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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Hang your head in shame, @dcdnews.bsky.social.
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Andrew Dessler @andrewdessler.com · 29/09/2026
In Texas, the State is removing climate change courses from the core curriculum. They have decided that climate change is just too dangerous to teach the students. This is indoctrination. I wrote an oped about it in the SA Express-News. Gift link: www.expressnews.com/opinion/comm...
expressnews.com
Texas can’t hide from climate change by stopping students from learning about it
Texas has removed climate change courses from core curriculum at public universities. Ignoring climate change will not serve the state.
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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Am I the only one who thinks this seems like the cute-looking creatures in a Doctor Who episode that turn up later in a huge swarm to try to eat you?
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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Bets for #Supercomputing26 weather? (h/t @hpcnotes.bsky.social) 1️⃣ I should have brought t-shirts 2️⃣ Light coat needed 3️⃣ White Walkers on the Lakeshore 4️⃣ Not going but wish I were 📊 Show results
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John Bistline @bistline.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Every hexagon = 500 MW of data center capacity. Line them up on a grid intensity map and you get a pretty clear picture of where America’s AI buildout is landing on dirty power, and where it isn't.
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Guardian US @us.theguardian.com · 23/09/2026
"If a resurgent movement demands action, we finally have the tools to make that demand matter – a working planet that runs mostly on sun and wind is in tantalizing reach," writes @billmckibben.bsky.social. "At the last possible moment, with backs to the wall, we still have our face to the sun."
theguardian.com
The climate fight has one great ally. You just can’t look at it directly | Bill McKibben
There is hope in solar power. As the UN meets, we are urging leaders to pursue a clear goal: clean energy for all by 2030
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The Register @theregister.com · 23/09/2026
Academic publisher Elsevier hit by LAPSUS$ redirect attack
theregister.com
Academic publisher Elsevier hit by LAPSUS$ redirect attack
Customers got crime crew's calling card instead of access to journals
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OGAWA, Tadashi @ogawa-tadashi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
=> Energy Efficient Interfaces & Co-Packaging Interoperability Demo at ECOC 2026, OIF, 26-09-21-23 www.oiforum.com/wp-content/u... Large Scale-up Systems Benefit from Interconnect Energy Efficiency Next Gen AI Scale-up Connectivity Options Demo Lightmatter: High Efficiency DWDM Optical Interconnect
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hpc.social on BlueSky @hpc.social · 22/09/2026
The HPCwire Readers’ Choice Awards recognize the most outstanding individuals, organizations, products, and technologies in the industry. Polls close on October 2, 2026. Voting is open to HPCwire readers only. www.hpcwire.com/2026-hpcwire...
hpcwire.com
2026 HPCwire Readers’ Choice Awards – Voting is Open! - HPCwire
Welcome to the 2026 HPCwire Readers’ Choice Awards Voting! The HPCwire Readers’ Choice Awards recognize the most outstanding individuals, organizations, products, and technologies in the industry. The...
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ACCESS @accessforci.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
ACCESS received four nominations this year and you can vote once for each nominee through Friday, October 2. Winners will be announced in November at the SC Conference Series in Chicago!
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ACCESS @accessforci.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Voting is underway for the 2026 HPCwire Readers’ Choice Awards, and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) ACCESS program needs your help to continue our winning tradition! #HPC #EnablingDiscoveryForAll www.hpcwire.com/2026-hpcwire...
hpcwire.com
2026 HPCwire Readers’ Choice Awards – Voting is Open! - HPCwire
Welcome to the 2026 HPCwire Readers’ Choice Awards Voting! The HPCwire Readers’ Choice Awards recognize the most outstanding individuals, organizations, products, and technologies in the industry. The...
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Brendan Pierpont @brendan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Neat assessment of power procurement strategies for 21 large data centers in development: energytag.org/wp-content/u...
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CraftComputing @craftcomputing.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
In December 2024, I built a set of Mini PCs for a client. Each PC had 32GB DDR5-5600, which cost $70.99 for each PC. That same kit of memory is $459.99 today.
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Dr. Jonathan Foley @globalecoguy.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Just think of all the talent, time, and treasure that has gone into producing nonsense — NFTs, Bitcoin, “prediction markets”, fast fashion, data brokers, most social media, and a good fraction of AI “solutions” — that could have been used to make the world better instead… What a lost opportunity.
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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Wait, so the Greenland treaty distraction is over already? But I made this meme!
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jae holzman @jael.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Scoop: The Trump administration is flouting a court order ruling their de facto freeze on wind farm height approvals was illegal, the lead plaintiff in the case told @heatmap.news, after an update to court laid out no new approvals since the edict
heatmap.news
Trump Keeps Wind Farms Waiting Despite Court Ruling
The administration told a federal court that it has a “new analytical methodology,” hence the continued delays.
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Jeffrey Mervis @policyhound.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
A deep dive into the memo that marks the end of how NSF has done business for 76 years www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
NSF memo implementing Trump’s ‘golden age’ of science unsettles researchers
New document emphasizes support for White House priorities over curiosity-driven ideas
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Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
US data centers will be use more natural gas than any country except China, Russia, Iran and the United States. It's like we're inventing a huge new nation, just when the climate needs it least billmckibben.substack.com/p/the-two-ho...
billmckibben.substack.com
The Two Horsemen, Riding in Formation
Is There Suddenly an Opening for AI and Climate Sense?
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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Every single step on the way to this energy disaster was caused or made worse by the ridiculous, stupid policies of the current US administration. We need to turn around right away and focus on cheaper, faster, more reliable renewable energy.
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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Whatever you think of the believability of OpenAI's intentions, I'm encouraged by how many senior people have applied to fill this role. If you think you can make a difference there, I encourage you to apply, and the rest of us should encourage doing the right thing. www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/44...
linkedin.com
Clean Energy and New Technology Lead at OpenAI — United States | LinkedIn Jobs
Apply for Clean Energy and New Technology Lead at OpenAI in United States. Full-time Director role. See responsibilities, qualifications, and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
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DatacenterDynamics @dcdnews.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
dlvr.it
OpenAI hiring for clean energy and new technology lead
Position is an individual contributor lead role and will initially have no direct reports
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Brendan Pierpont @brendan.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Nice visualization of US energy system data (mostly EIA data): usenergydata.org
usenergydata.org
Understanding America's energy system
Track and understand the numbers behind US energy — year by year, and state by state.
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Brendan Bouffler ('boof') @boofla.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
OpenHPC is more than just an open source project. It's a career builder for thousands of IT professionals around the globe who now know how to build super computers. And that's quite a trick. #ai #hpc #scientificcomputing #opensource #supercompputer #supercomputing youtu.be/dSFhHjHOaRk
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Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
So very stupid
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Gus Bova @gusbova.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Kind of a lovely story with this one. Judith Moyers (you might know as creative partner/spouse of Bill Moyers, who passed last year) is now a first-time published poet at 91: www.texasobserver.org/poem-beware-...
texasobserver.org
Poem: Beware the Perfect Day
Now is a perfect day, good and fresh, clear and bright...
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Rich Miller @techjournalism.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Why Big Money is Pouring into AI Cooling There's been a surge of acquisitions in the cooling sector. On this week's podcast we take a closer look at Ecolab’s $4.75 billion deal to acquire liquid cooling specialist CoolIT Systems. youtu.be/xVlnulAHR4Y?...
youtu.be
Why Big Money Is Pouring Into AI Cooling
YouTube video by Data Center Richness
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Since becoming president again, Trump has promised: -$5000 stimulus checks via "DOGE dividend" -$2000 stimulus checks via "tariff dividend" -$1000+ checks via "savings" from expiring ACA subsidies -$5000 "dividend" if Rs win midterms No checks have been issued www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-magi...
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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Let's really, really not build out power for giant AI clusters with methane energy sources, please! First of all, the core expertise of data centers is not as grid operators, so it's less reliable, not more. Second, the electrical grid is already prioritizing solar and batteries for new generation.
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Institute of Computing for Climate Science @iccscambridge.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
⏰ Time is running out to register for ICCS Hacktoberfest 2026 – registration closes on Monday 14 September. Join us as part of #Hacktoberfest this October to strengthen your code, enhance your skills and become part of a vibrant open‑source community. 👉 Register now: iccs.cam.ac.uk/events/iccs-...
iccs.cam.ac.uk
ICCS Hacktoberfest 2026 | Institute of Computing for Climate Science
Improve your codebase, sharpen your software skills and connect with the community
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David Savage @dtsavage.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Feels like the whole data centers and utility bills conversation is sidestepping the potential impact of a massive new gas buildout (whether behind the meter or grid-connected) on gas prices themselves--or at least i haven't seen much coverage.
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Mark Riedl @markriedl.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Yann LeCun throwing bombs at the ACM AI Leadership Summit
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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
New Texas Tech research home page: www.myweb.ttu.edu/asill/
myweb.ttu.edu
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✧✦Catherine✦✧ @whitequark.treehouse.systems.ap.brid.gy · 07/09/2026
OH: "Unattended children will be taught CMake."
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Kyle @kyle-pegasus.scalie.club.ap.brid.gy · 06/09/2026
@davidgerard it is 2009. i have splashed out extravagantly, and given my desktop 1TB of storage it is 2026. i have splashed out extravagantly, and given my desktop 1TB of storage
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Brendan Bouffler ('boof') @boofla.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Building sftware in research can feel like a hazing ritual. Spack was created to address that, and so far the results have been amazing. youtu.be/eW0kK4PUKdY
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Brendan Bouffler ('boof') @boofla.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
El Capitan runs on Flux, which should tell you there's something interesting going on there. A lot of banks and core financial institutions should sit up and pay attention to this as well. #ai #hpc #scientificcomputing #opensource #supercomputing youtu.be/kZurarGmuNs
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hpc.social on BlueSky @hpc.social · 03/09/2026
Call for Papers: HPC Asia 2027 - Paper Submission Due: September 13, 2026 (AoE) taking place in Seoul, South Korea (Feb. 17–19, 2027) - Call for Papers Details & Submission: hpcasia2027.org/2027/pages_s... - Conference Homepage: hpcasia2027.org
hpcasia2027.org
HPC Asia 2027 | The International Conference on High Performance Computing in Asia-Pacific Region
HPC Asia 2027: The The International Conference on High Performance Computing in Asia-Pacific Region. / February 17 ~ 19, 2027 / Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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Steve Hayman 🇨🇦 @shayman.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Or Apple Maps could just have a setting ✅ Prefer common names over official names "Common names" gets you "Lake Ontario" and it's on by default. (h/t david harrison for this common sense revision)
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hpc.social on BlueSky @hpc.social · 02/09/2026
Computing Insight UK 2026 with the theme "Grand Challenges for the Next Decade: Software, People, Research and Economic Growth" will take place at Manchester Central Convention Complex from Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 December 2026. www.ukri.org/CIUK
ukri.org
CIUK - Scientific Computing, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
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Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Apparently, one thing that USAID was funding before Elon put it in the woodchipper was an early warning system along those Nepali rivers billmckibben.substack.com/p/two-men?r=...
billmckibben.substack.com
Two Men
One as great as America ever produced, and the other Elon Musk
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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
If you are not measuring energy use per token, IMO, you are doing it wrong.
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Alan Sill @alansill.mast.hpc.social.ap.brid.gy · 31/08/2026
Your llms.txt file and similar are flaming dumpster fires of live opportunities for code-by-visitors vulnerabilities. freeradical.zone/@funnymonkey/11719…
freeradical.zone
funnymonkey (@funnymonkey@freeradical.zone)
It's almost like setting an AI agent loose on your hardware is a bad idea. https://medium.com/@alonhertz1/data-became-code-we-ran-code-inside-fortune-500s-using-files-they-published-for-ai-agents-0cd67ffbbffc
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hpc.social on BlueSky @hpc.social · 31/08/2026
Balancing Sustainable Computing and Computing for Sustainability: Addressing the intertwined goals of sustainability and computational progress requires coordinated multidisciplinary action that spans research, technology development, and governance. cacm.acm.org/opinion/bala...
cacm.acm.org
Balancing Sustainable Computing and Computing for Sustainability – Communications of the ACM
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Kenneth Hoste (boegel) @boegel.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Mark your calendars! #FOSDEM
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IEEFA North America @ieefa-northamerica.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
The cost for new gas-fired capacity is now roughly triple the cost of projects built in the early 2020s. Those costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers, either through local utilities' regulated rates or higher power prices in competitive markets. buff.ly/yXLRTaw
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 27/08/2026
Remember when I said that batteries are eventually going to make the grid abundant, reliable, & boring?
heatmap.news
The Texas Grid Has Had a Boring Summer Thanks to Batteries
Temperatures are high, but electricity drama is low.
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Karen James @kejames.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
A MODEST PROPOSAL: DOLLY PARTON DAY 9/5 THAT IS ALL.
static.klipy.com
9 to 5: Lily Tomlin & Jane Fonda
Alt: Lily Tomlin saying, "It's primo." & Jane Fonda saying, "Well, I love it."
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Alan Sill @alansill.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Dear companies fulfilling online orders: “Label created” is not a meaningful shipping update. Also, having the shipment stay in that status for 2 to 3 business days says more about your company than I think you want it to.
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