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Rohini Lakshané

@aldebaran14.bsky.social
801 followers 1K following 1.5K posts

Engineer, interdisciplinary researcher, Wikimedian, polyglot, dopamine enthusiast. Writing. Teaching. Gaia is god. Personal views. The personal is political. about.me/rohini (She/ her)

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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 19h
Mongabay India (Hindi edition) published this badass story & got my name correct in the Devanagari script. 😄 The IPA transliteration & Devanagari transliteration of my name are publicly available, but media outlets tend get it wrong. I once I had to request that it be rectified in 4 languages.
hindi.mongabay.com
सोशल मीडिया पर आपराधिक सामग्री से खतरे में वन्यजीव
भारत में साइबर के जरिए होने वाले वन्यजीव अपराध के पैमाने को किसी भी अध्ययन ने व्यवस्थित रूप से नहीं मापा है।
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Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
If rapists actually faced consequences for their actions we wouldn’t have nearly as many rapists. In reality many rapists actually benefit from their actions
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The motorcycle isn't mine. The suitcase is.
An outdoor scene featuring a large, leafy tree, a black motorcycle, and a white suitcase on a grassy area. The central, dense green tree is surrounded by a background of taller, slender trees and thick foliage. To the left, a black motorcycle is parked on the green grass. In front of the large tree, a white, upright suitcase stands next to a low stone bench. A thin, light-colored wire stretches horizontally across the upper portion of the frame.
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Pookleblinky @pookleblinky.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Reminder that in Canada upon becoming an engineer you get an iron ring made of a collapsed bridge, purposely designed to be uncomfortable, to remind you that your ethics demand you give a fuck even about the boring grudgework of such as double-checking your math. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Ring
en.wikipedia.org
Iron Ring - Wikipedia
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
One of my recent discoveries has been that cussing at an AI chatbot for customer service makes it involve a human or give you the output you want.
A screenshot of a mobile chat interface showing a conversation between a customer and a support service. At 4:06 PM, the service asks, "How can we help you with your order?" and the customer responds, "Where is my order?". order?". A message states, "[blurred name] is at the restaurant right now collecting your food, and it should reach you by 04:15 pm.", followed by a customer message at 4:09 PM saying, "Aap chutiye hain". After a message says, "I am escalating your concern to a senior support executive to assist you on priority.", a system notification appears stating, "Support executive [blurred name] will be assisting you now". The chat concludes at 4:11 PM with a new agent saying, "[blurred name] Hey, I'll quickly review your concern and get back to you in just a moment.", a customer reply of "Ok", and a bottom bar that reads "Agent On Call With Delivery Partner 00:1 00:13s".
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Unionised bank employees striking for incentives promised to them 2 years ago, and a 5-day work week instead of working some Saturdays. Good to see this, and the advance information to customers to spare them any inconveniences. These are government employees. We need more of this in every sector.
A text-based announcement on a dark grey background. The text begins, "Dear Customers, Please be advised that the United Forum of Bank Unions (UF (UFBU) has proposed a three-day strike from 28th September 2026 to 30th September 2026." It continues, "While Bank of India will make all possible efforts to provide essential banking services during the strike period, customers are requested to:" followed by a list including: "Complete important banking transactions in advance of the strike dates," "Use ATMS/C ATMS/CRMs for cash requirements," "Use BC Points," and "Prefer Internet Banking, BOI Mobile Banking, UPI and other digital channels." The notice concludes, "We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding and cooperation."
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PenPencilDraw @penpencildraw.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Guide.
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Sanho Tree @sanho.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
“Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.” —Robert Frost
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I haven't tried the app yet. Full marks for its name. www.wired.com/story/zuckof...
wired.com
ZuckOff Is a Free App That Sees Meta Glasses Before They See You
You can’t always tell if someone is recording you with their smart glasses, but your phone can help.
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Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
One year later, a TikTok influencer deciphers the manuscript. Turns out the reason no *men* could decipher it for 125 years is it’s a period tracker plus instructions for using menstrual blood to improve vegetable garden crops
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Milestones. This one is on #Wikidata. #openness #openknowledge
A screenshot from Wikidata showing the notice, 'You just made your hundred thousandth edit; thank you for your amazing contributions!'
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I laughed so hard at the second bullet point in these guidelines for submitting pitches to a magazine. Some people hate editors and reviewers for doing the job they are paid for (or in an unpaid capacity), and for following the process that everyone involved is aware of.
A screenshot of a webpage from the Aeon website. The top navigation bar displays "MENU /", a magnifying glass icon, the "aeon" logo, "NEWSLETTER", and a person icon. Below the header is the heading "The editing process:". The first bullet point reads, "We're known for our exacting, intensive editing process. If you write for us, you can expect to write 3-5 drafts of your essay, which will also be professionally factchecked and copyedited." The second bullet point reads, "If you don't feel comfortable with being edited and responding to factchecking queries, then it's probably better not to pitch to us."
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Going to a writer's residency this month and taking a stop in Madikeri for a night or two. I last went there over a decade ago. Please send recommendations my way. Places to stay, eat and things to do. #travel #Kodagu #India #Madikeri
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
मराठीत तंत्रज्ञानविषयक धोरणांवर सार्वजनिक पातळीवर फारच कमी चर्चा होते. त्यामुळे जनजागृती व्हावी आणि ही माहिती अधिक लोकांपर्यंत पोहोचावी, या उद्देशाने मी माझ्या एका इंग्रजी ब्लॉगलेखाचे भाषांतर करण्याचे ठरवले. aarohini.medium.com/%E0%A4%A4%E0... इंग्रजी आवृत्ती aarohini.medium.com/policy-work-... #तंत्रज्ञानविषयकधोरण #डिजिटलधोरण #सामाजिकधोरण #भारत #मराठी
aarohini.medium.com
तंत्रज्ञानाविषयीच्या नैतिक घबराटीपलीकडील धोरणविषयक कार्य
तंत्रज्ञानविषयक आणि सामाजिक धोरणांच्या आखणीवरील चिंतन, नैतिक घबराटीची समीक्षा आणि तंत्रज्ञानाधारित उपायवाद, विषमता व अपंगत्वविषयक दृष्टिकोन
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
There is very little public discourse on #TechPolicy in my native language. So I decided to translate one of my blog posts from English in the interest of public awareness and access. English version: aarohini.medium.com/policy-work-beyond-technological-moral-panic-4fdd2eb0b0aa
aarohini.medium.com
तंत्रज्ञानाविषयीच्या नैतिक घबराटीपलीकडील धोरणविषयक कार्य
तंत्रज्ञानविषयक आणि सामाजिक धोरणांच्या आखणीवरील चिंतन, नैतिक घबराटीची समीक्षा आणि तंत्रज्ञानाधारित उपायवाद, विषमता व अपंगत्वविषयक दृष्टिकोन
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A dopamine hit in the morning.
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
One of my colleagues teamed up with a rainforest conservation site in a mountain range to hold a writing residency this month. Super chuffed about participating in it.
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Goodnews @goodnews.computer · 04/09/2026
Take a break from being depressed that everything you love is being destroyed by slop for a moment and let me tell you about the beautiful symbiotic relationship between graffiti writers, train yard workers, and model train enthusiasts.
A hand holding a model train with a replica of the same graffiti on the full scale train car behind it.A model train with two graffiti pieces on opposite sides.
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
My favourite WhatsApp screenies of all time. (Shared by other people, of course.)
A screenshot of a WhatsApp chat. A green message bubble on the right side contains the text "Gm" with two blue checkmarks. A white message bubble on the left side contains the text "Tu apni gm."A screenshot of a WhatsApp chat. At the top, a header contains the word "Today". Below this, a single message bubble displays a small arrow icon, the word "Forwarded", the text "Good morning babe."
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Evan Greer @evangreer.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Age verification makes everyone less safe. Age verification makes everyone less safe. Age verification makes everyone less safe. Age verification makes everyone less safe. Age verification makes everyone less safe. Age verification makes everyone less safe.
techdirt.com
Hackers Had A Live Feed Of Every ID This Verification Company Scanned. For Over A Year.
From the very beginning of this recent obsession with identifying everyone online (yes, they like to call it "age" verification, but it always ends up as identity verification), we've been pointing out that it was a huge privacy nightmare waiting to happen. Or maybe it wasn't waiting. Maybe it was already happening. This week a...
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
www.medianama.com/2026/09/223-...
medianama.com
Delhi Police FRS flagged 25 jailed people at Jantar Mantar
Delhi Police FRS flagged 25 Jantar Mantar protesters who were actually in jail, raising concerns over facial recognition accuracy.
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I finally read the famed blog post. This dude is the Mastaram of writing about AI.
A screenshot of a social media post by Dwarkesh Patel ([@]dwarkesh_sp). The text in the post reads: "Over the course of 3 months at OpenAI, 3 consecutive secret AI civilizations got started, then got wiped out, only to reemerge from the predecessor’s ashes. This culminated in the third one taking over part of OpenAI itself. All this happened while humans remained more-or-less in the dark about the scope of the conspiracy. I’ve spent the last three days reading through these reports and trying to understand exactly what happened. Here is my attempt to tell the whole story in plain English: dwarkesh.com/p/openai-huggi...". Below the text is a painting depicting an expansive landscape with many figures and large stone structures. A large, light-colored, muscular statue is visible on the right side of the painting. An overlay at the bottom of the painting reads, reads, "The Rise and Fall of Agent Civilizations
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I see AI-generated images of food in food-delivery apps, lose my appetite, and close the app. That's a good thing.
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Am I the only one who wants to read something on the internet, sees a clearly AI-generated illustrative image at the start of the page, gets ticked off, and closes the tab?
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Internet cat with opinions… @im-just-sayin.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
It’s hilarious watching the wealthy cry about what he’s doing & he just keeps going. He’s proving through action that govt can actually work for the people & making it look really easy & obvious just how much everyone else in govt has been screwing the people. Cry harder. Keep going Mr. Mayor!
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Such an awesomesauce mayor. I wish I could move to New York.
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
It is so satisfying to see the outrage of the manosphere over this court judgement: lawbeat.in/amp/news-upd...
lawbeat.in
Wife Need Not Take Permission To Visit Parents; Can't Be Forced To Look After In-Laws: Karnataka HC | Wife Need Not Take Permission To Visit Parents; Can't Be Forced To Look After In-Laws: Karnataka H...
The Karnataka High Court said that a husband cannot command and demand his wife to do the household activities and to look after his parents. It added that the wife’s dedication to family can never be...
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
One of my colleagues is facing challenges while applying for an ISBN in India for some of our works. If someone can help, please DM or email me. (First name last name @ pm . me) We'll compensate you for your time, of course. #ISBN
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Aparna Nair @disabilitystor1.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I love the internet, where else can someone who spent nearly a decade working on becoming an expert in their field offer an expert opinion based on that time, training and knowledge, and you have people coming out to well akshually like this
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Elise A. Mitchell @bydreamphd.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I’ve had this convo privately enough times in the last week to go public: I don’t think there is any valuable way to use AI in a history classroom.
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In Otter News @in-otter-news.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Good philosophy when you think about it.
A warm, lighthearted photo of two otters with their eyes closed in a tender embrace.  
Text on image: “Snuggles, not struggles.” (top) and “In Öter News” (bottom right)
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Auties, see #4 to #6, along with #1 to #3, of course.
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In Otter News @in-otter-news.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
.
Description: A photo of Steve the otter reaching his paw through a small round hole in a glass barrier to gently touch a person’s outstretched hand in a softly focused, naturalistic setting.

Text in image: “When you’re trying to love people but you’re also an introvert and have boundaries”
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
X has taken down Xcancel. This is such a bummer: xcancel.com
xcancel.com
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
The sort of spam I look forward to. I also get unsolicited emails from vanity journals addressed to Dr Lakshané. (I have neither station.)
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
When the reporter Vandana K. reached out to me for this story, it was heartbreaking to learn how easy and how commonplace it was to sell equipment on social media for illegal hunting of wildlife. india.mongabay.com/2026/08/crim... #wildlife #EnvironmentalCrime #India
india.mongabay.com
Crime content on social media threatens wildlife safety
Social media platforms in India are becoming hubs for content on wildlife hunting and exploitation with a high number of reels on Instagram.
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Thread: A hack to survive noisy and overwhelming Indian cities. I got the Loop Switch2 a few weeks ago. I now wear it all the time, even while sleeping. It works as described. Totally recommended. loopearplugs.in/products/swi... I also suggest investing in the connector cord (Loop Link).
loopearplugs.in
Loop Switch™ 2
Discover the convenience of 3 earplugs in 1, controlled by a single switch. With the power to shift between Engage, Experience, and Quiet modes depending on your environment, Loop Switch takes noise c...
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In Otter News @in-otter-news.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Sgt. Otter reporting in, Sir. Ready to fire fish bazooka on your command!
Short description: A photograph of Steve the otter standing upright behind the glass of an indoor enclosure, clutching a gray plastic tube toy with a small fish attached.  
Embedded text: None.
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Happening today. Moderated by Barsha Chakraborty
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I 💙 Dogs @dogs100.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Another busy day….
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
I finally got around to creating #Wikidata entries for one of my favourite films. It was way ahead of its times. It's unlikely that a film like this will be made in present-day India. (1/2) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q141136... www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7881238
wikidata.org
Umbartha
1982 Marathi film by Jabbar Patel
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Uncle Duke @uncleduke1969.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Includes: Great Danish Wiener Schnitzel German Shepherd's Pie Chow Chowder Roasted Collieflower Baked Alaskan Malamute Ramen Poodles Cream of Wheaten Pit Roast Cockapoo Pu Platter Baby Ridgeback Ribs Yorkshire Terrier Pudding Whippet Cream
copy of book "cooking with your dog" with price sticker covering the word "with"
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I made a fingerprint recognition system for my undergrad thesis. It is unfortunate that some of the stuff debated in the *apex court* over crowd-surveillance on public protests in the *national capital* in *2026* is so basic that I had to learn it for my thesis. www.medianama.com/2026/08/223-...
Screenshot showing the text from the Medianama article: 

"Delhi Police treats an 80% match as a “positive” result. 

Lakshané said the figure “means almost nothing” on its own. An 80% similarity score does not mean the identification is 80% accurate, or that the error rate is 20%. Scores are algorithm-specific and shift with the model, its calibration, image quality, threshold, gallery size and operational population. The measure that matters is the false-positive identification rate at that threshold, which Delhi Police has not published. She added that earlier RTI responses indicated police could still pursue sub-80% results through “corroborative evidence.”
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Jennifer Crispin || Dancing Star Press @greeniezona.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
THIS ART by @bydhiyanah.bsky.social THO!
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GP @generalplanet.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
"Have you ever considered being nice to the people who hate you and want everyone like you dead?"
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Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton coined the term “software engineer.” She directed the Software Engineering Division at MIT’s Instrumentation Lab & led development of the on-board flight software for NASA’s Apollo Guidance Computer. She was born #OTD in 1936 & turns 90 today! #WomenInSTEM
Two side-by-side black-and-white photographs of pioneering computer scientist Margaret Hamilton (born August 17, 1936). The left panel features a mature, close-up portrait where Hamilton gazes directly at the viewer with a serene, confident, and reflective expression, framed by her long, dark, slightly silvering hair. The right panel is a famous archival photograph showing a younger Hamilton standing indoors next to a towering stack of bound paper binders containing the Apollo Guidance Computer source code, which she led the development of at MIT. She is smiling broadly and wears a striped, long-sleeved mini dress with dark Mary Jane shoes and glasses, resting her hand proudly on top of the massive column of printed code. The overall composition contrasts her youthful triumph with her enduring legacy, capturing an optimistic, intellectually rigorous mood that highlights her monumental contributions to space exploration.
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Dope
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Looking forward to this TFGBV Community of Practice discussion on “Defining Intimacy, Consent and Harm in the Digital Age" hosted by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI). 25 August 2026 9 am EDT | 6 pm IST | 3 pm SAST Register at www.svri.org/webinars/def... #TFGBV #DigitalSafety #OGBV
Pink webinar flyer titled **“Defining Intimacy, Consent and Harm in the Digital Age,”** hosted by the **SVRI TFGBV Community of Practice**. The event takes place **25 August 2026 at 9am EDT / 3pm SAST**. Four speaker portraits appear across the flyer: **Rohini Lakshané**, Independent Researcher, Technologist, and Wikimedian; **Dr. Olga Marques**, Associate Professor of Criminology and Justice at Ontario Tech University; **Kenya Fairley**, Associate Director of Safety Partnerships at Bumble Inc.; and **Hyra Basit**, Program Manager for the Cyber Harassment Helpline at the Digital Rights Foundation. Decorative abstract symbols appear at the top and a geometric pattern runs along the bottom.
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Rohini Lakshané @aldebaran14.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Bullshit-as-a-service
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