Reposted by Harold UnderdownRyan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026George Saunders on using AI: "Writing is the most precious way one person can communicate their essence to another person. I’ve spent a lifetime trying to get better at making myself present in my writing. Why would I want to sacrifice even one iota of that?" 5497138
Reposted by Harold UnderdownEmily M. Bender @emilymbender.bsky.social · 6hNew from @timnitgebru.blacksky.app and me: "It is high time for us to regulate usage of systems sold as “AI”, not because they are magical machines, but because they are error-prone products that shouldn’t be used in high stakes scenarios." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comForget ‘superintelligence’: error-prone AI nearly sparked world war three this month | Timnit Gebru and Emily M BenderThe risks of AI aren’t what we think they are, as a recent security incident between China and the United States reveals 8765329
Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 5hICYMI re updates to the Anthropic claims: "If you already updated the allocation for a work, then you do not need to submit those updates again. Any changes you submitted previously through the online portal are recorded, but the portal is not being updated in real time." 111
Reposted by Harold UnderdownJane Rosenzweig @janerosenzweig.bsky.social · 5hThat "the google one" was easiest to access because it was available on their school computers is interesting paired with this response from Google:"Google focuses on encouraging critical thinking and has specific protections for users under 18, she added" 1106
Reposted by Harold UnderdownAuthors Against Book Bans @authorsabb.bsky.social · 6hSo many different people, groups, and organizations have come together to push back against the attack on the freedom to read, including students themselves. Read more about what students in Florida are doing here:theguardian.comNo more book bans: how Florida students are pushing rightwingers out of school boardsLocal communities are fighting back against the influence of conservative groups like Moms for Liberty in education 4419156
Reposted by Harold UnderdownDon Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 5hAmerica today is a country where regulators won't allow private companies to air interviews of the opposition on TV, but declare that taxpayer funded propaganda is fine. 401746597
Reposted by Harold UnderdownEl Brento @andbrent.bsky.social · 21h"There is no longer a public sphere, but there is a public flat earth." Slop, memes, conspiracy and misinformation run rampantly free while factual news from reputable sources comes with a fee. @sarahkendzior.bsky.social sums up the dark societal costs. sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/a-public-f...sarahkendzior.substack.comA Public Flat EarthHow paywalls killed the public sphere. 14120
Reposted by Harold UnderdownK.L.Going @klgoing.bsky.social · 7hOne Good Thing: Thankful Thursday klgoing.substack.com/p/one-good-t...klgoing.substack.comOne Good Thing: Thankful ThursdayBoyds Mills Retreat Center 011
Reposted by Harold UnderdownOlivia Messer @oliviamesser.bsky.social · 17hThis 33-year-old nurse told the FBI she knew she was “going to set him free” after border patrol agents brought in a man whose face was bloodied and seriously injured. She treated him and helped him escape, and she faces charges now. He got away, and they never relocated him. 17576901678
Reposted by Harold UnderdownBrian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 20h"Those in attendance...received a book called “The War Department Field Manual,” a compilation of Hegseth’s past speeches. In a forward written by President Trump, the troops were told: “As your commander in chief, I will not ask you to fight dumb wars.” Perfect www.wsj.com/politics/nat...wsj.comFive Takeaways From Hegseth’s SpeechThe defense secretary gave a “State of the Force” address to hundreds of officers and enlisted servicemembers at a Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va. 70896236
Reposted by Harold UnderdownMayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 22hWe’re addressing these critical capital needs and more with a $607 million renovation — every dollar guided by residents. 990193
Reposted by Harold UnderdownVictoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 23hYour 3rd dose today of Anthropic settlement madness (at least from me). Authors, CHECK YOUR CLAIMS! Your situation may have changed, per this email from the settlement administrator that some authors are receiving (subject heading: Anthropic Copyright Settlement: Allocation Updates) 1610279
Reposted by Harold UnderdownVictoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 30/09/2026More Anthropic settlement stuff: here's the email Wiley is sending For Dummies authors to explain the percentages it's claiming. Also note that they're saying payment for the author share will go to agencies rather than directly to authors. 41515
Reposted by Harold UnderdownThe Author, Séamas O'Reilly @seamas.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Every time a discourse kicks off over whether AI music, literature or art will be "as good as" the real thing, I'm always amazed more people don't cite that **there already are** creative pursuits where human-free spectacles have been available for decades, and nobody has ever wanted to watch them. 391552291
Reposted by Harold UnderdownJeff VanderMeer @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026They quoted me in this New Yorker piece about AI today. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-... 112106312623
Reposted by Harold UnderdownKate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 30/09/2026I could write a whole book about what comparable titles are when you're trying to sell your book, what they aren't, and why most of yours are wrong. But I won't because that would be the most boring book ever. This post, however, is just the right length. www.agentsandbooks.com/gizmo-vs-lilo/ 4223
Reposted by Harold UnderdownKaren Leader @proftinkerbell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Fall of Freedom is a call to action against censorship. Timed with Banned Books Week, creative activations are happening all over the country. Join us. www.falloffreedom.com/fall-of-free... 053
Reposted by Harold UnderdownAnne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026This is *the* piece. Kate Manne, professor of philosophy at Cornell, speaks truth to the totality of failures at the university — and why students protesting the war in Gaza have faced far harsher consequences than any of the Cornell 7: www.thecut.com/article/what...thecut.comWhat It Feels Like at Cornell Right NowAs a professor at the Ivy League school, Kate Manne has known many, many victims. There’s a palpable feeling on campus, she writes, that this is big. 4830381069
Reposted by Harold UnderdownChildren's Bookshelf @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Literary agent Edite Kroll, known for her passion for mentoring and supporting authors, and her keen eye for talent, has died at age 87. See our tribute buff.ly/78cQ0J2 034
Reposted by Harold UnderdownJosh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 29/09/2026The funniest thing about the Schmitt rake stomp is that if it'd been a Dem we'd have a week of think pieces about how Dems lack of hoops literacy was alienating them from real America. 412644391
Reposted by Harold UnderdownMatthew Gertz @mattgertz.bsky.social · 29/09/2026The underlying theory Senate Republicans are going with is that Joe Biden secretly ordered DOJ to investigate Trump, something they have produced no evidence to support and also they're all fine with Trump publicly ordering DOJ to investigate his enemies. 25599169
Reposted by Harold UnderdownVictoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 29/09/2026A win on fair use: court rejects fair use defense of AI training 411643
Reposted by Harold UnderdownWalker Bragman @walkerbragman.bsky.social · 29/09/2026NEW from @accountabilityji.bsky.social and @assignedmedia.org: Reporter @billiejsweeney.bsky.social has an important story on the changing dynamics of the politics around transgender rights and issues. www.importantcontext.news/democrats-lo...importantcontext.newsDemocrats Lose by Punching Down on Trans Issues, Strategists SayInsiders, including at centrist think tank Third Way, are cautioning Democratic candidates against echoing Republican talking points on trans rights. 621867
Reposted by Harold UnderdownJim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 29/09/2026as a satire on so-called late stage capitalism how could one beat investors pouring a trillion into a company offering to wipe out humankind 992123746
Reposted by Harold UnderdownVictoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 28/09/2026Be careful, friends—this scam is everywhere writerbeware.blog/2026/03/27/w...writerbeware.blogWatch Out For This Scam Impersonating Editors at Major Publishing Houses - Writer BewareI’ve recently gotten a slew of reports of emails purporting to be from editors at Big 5 and other large publishers, in which the supposed editor expresses interest in the writer’s work and asks whethe... 3204140
Reposted by Harold UnderdownIndivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 29/09/2026Stopping the fascists from sabotaging the midterms is what the next No Kings is all about. On October 17, we need millions of people in the streets putting the regime on notice that We The People won’t accept any of Trump’s bullshit: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i... 11459232
Reposted by Harold UnderdownVictoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 28/09/2026Dystel, Goderich & Bourret resigns from AALA over changes to the Canon of Ethics they deem conflict of interest--namely, new rules allowing agents "to charge editorial fees with the potential to then sign those authors as clients and retain those fees". www.dystel.com/aala-statementdystel.comAALA Statement — Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC 2245
Reposted by Harold UnderdownEvan Bernick, a finite mode with a smol hooman and a lorg floof @evanbernick.bsky.social · 28/09/2026States can and have banned 287 agreements within their borders. There’s a template for this, and any state that hasn’t done so is choosing not to do so. 219172
Reposted by Harold UnderdownAnna Holmes @annabookwriter.bsky.social · 27/09/2026That said, the fact that there is so much interest makes me feel like I should mention them at least a little. This thread in no way can stand in place of working with a sensitivity consultant with lived experience! Here is a brief, nonexhaustive list of harmful disability tropes in fiction. 3237106
Reposted by Harold UnderdownDr. K. Lotterhos @drk-lo.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Scientists - be careful what ideas and data you share with chatbots in the name of "productivity" 🧪 13519
Reposted by Harold UnderdownRebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 28/09/2026@jkbjournalist.bsky.social reopened the Epstein case; Heidi Blake seems to have restarted the UK prosecuting Andrew Tate; Ronan Farrow, Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor made the system finally go after Weinstein for real. Journalism has again and again made the justice system do its job. 111599388
Reposted by Harold UnderdownMore Perfect University @mpuniversity.bsky.social · 28/09/2026@aoc.bsky.social: The best thing that we can do to rein in runaway costs at private institutions is by having tuition free public colleges and universities. “For anyone who wants to say that that’s pie in the sky and unrealistic… this is literally what baby boomers gave themselves.” 291199268
Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Gift link: share.inquirer.com/pQJhI2share.inquirer.comWe need to find the words for Trump’s madness before things blow up | Will BunchThe media and politicians haven’t pinned down anything resembling a suitable description for a president’s downward spiral or the looming battle for U.S. democracy. 074
Reposted by Harold Underdowntagerai.bsky.social @tagerai.bsky.social · 27/09/2026It’s interesting to think about this fake award on the same day that nature published the story on fake academic societies. Billionaires creating new awards for ideological capture and to launder their reputations is also a scam, but its not treated as such and gets a ‘Newsvertisement‘ in the WSJ 020864
Reposted by Harold UnderdownJonah Blank @jonahblank.bsky.social · 27/09/2026I worked in government for 12 years, and in journalism for another 6: I've seen a lot of politicians lying. ♦️There's absolutely no comparison between Trump's lying and that of any other politician. Indeed, any other human. It's just not even the same universe. Truth isn't a concept he understands. 045
Reposted by Harold Underdown@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 27/09/2026I think it’s fair to say that the student journalists at Cornell are braver than the news networks who just gave up on their WH pool ban even though CNN is still being denied access. www.cornellsun.com/article/2026...cornellsun.comEDITORIAL | Cornell Won’t, We WillThe Editorial Board demands that Cornell stops protecting the alleged Chi Phi rapists through the University's opaque sexual assault policies. 342498773
Reposted by Harold UnderdownJane Rosenzweig @janerosenzweig.bsky.social · 27/09/2026"Anything worth remembering came from a person who did not know where she or he was going until arriving. No shortcut gets you there: the process leaves a trace" 0234
Reposted by Harold UnderdownDan O’Sullivan @osullyville.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Today I saw the new 4 hour documentary Musk, directed by Alex Gibney. There were too many times to count that a sold out theater burst out laughing at Elon Musk, something he said or did, even sometimes just how he looked. I believe that is his worst nightmare come to life. 14195052194
Reposted by Harold UnderdownNaomi Kritzer @naomikritzer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026The thing that's infuriating about our squeamishness about consequences for traitors and corrupt officials is that we are one of the most punitive countries in the world in most other respects. 914139
Reposted by Harold UnderdownJessica Ellis @baddestmamajama.bsky.social · 27/09/2026I don’t even know what to say anymore. The only thing Covid conscious people are trying to do, truly, is not get sick. That we’ve become the country’s newest freak show is predictable given the pandemic, but truly despicable on a base human level. 14836186
Reposted by Harold UnderdownPatrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 26/09/2026A couple quick observations here, which should be obvious. 1) insurance “risk pools” work by requiring younger/healthier people who make few or no claims to sign up and pay premiums alongside older/less healthy people who do, essentially covering their costs. 1262050493
Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Fascinating Philly food story--gift link: share.inquirer.com/M9dSz2share.inquirer.comWhat’s in a pepper pot? Black chefs gather to celebrate, revive, and update Philadelphia’s signature soup.In a year full of historical reflections for America's 250th anniversary, the time is ripe to consider an iconic Philadelphia soup that has nearly disappeared — and attempt to revive it. 041
Reposted by Harold UnderdownHope For The Planet @h4tp.bsky.social · 24/09/2026We now have rigorous pooled data showing that even without active restoration efforts, cleared rainforest can rebound to 75% of their former species composition and 90% of species diversity within just thirty years. #goodnewsoptimistdaily.comRainforest biodiversity rebounds within a single generation | The Optimist DailyA major Ecuador study finds cleared rainforests can recover 90 percent of their species diversity in just 30 years, as long as humans leave the land alone. 61046458
Reposted by Harold UnderdownAparna Nair @disabilitystor1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026"There is also a “natural link between cuteness and deception … I call it ‘charming and disarming’, because one of the things cuteness does to us unconsciously, it’s just how our brain processes it, is lets down our guard. We can’t really help it.” 105420
Reposted by Harold UnderdownProPublica @propublica.org · 26/09/2026In response to our reporting, Susan Collins has mustered a defense that is full of incorrect and misleading claims. We’ve reviewed FBI evidence, examined thousands of pages of records and interviewed dozens of people. Here are the receipts.propublica.orgProPublica Debunks Susan Collins’ Claims About FBI Anti-Corruption ProbeProPublica revealed that the FBI was circling Sen. Collins over a defense contractor’s donations — until President Trump gutted the unit in charge. Collins has since mustered a defense with a series o... 10838351751
Reposted by Harold UnderdownKatie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 25/09/2026I have blamed The agents That hacked Your website And which You probably Reasonably thought I controlled Forgive me I am rich And unaccustomed To taking responsibility 5776162110
Reposted by Harold UnderdownCarol Hinz @carolhinz.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Love this chatty & informative thread, much as I love Danna's book about Jeanne, THE LADY AND THE OCTOPUS! 184
Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Watch out for the framing of headlines like this. AI programs don't "go rogue"--they are computer programs built by humans, doing what the humans designed them to do, or failed to design for properly. OpenAI is responsible for what the programs it builds do. 150
Reposted by Harold UnderdownUrsula K. Le Guin Bot @leguinbot.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice may be a hard one. 05619
Reposted by Harold UnderdownVictoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 25/09/2026New #WriterBeware blog post: If you're a writer, you've probably gotten one (or more) of those AI-generated scam marketing emails or book club invites that make it seem like the sender really read your book. Here's a little peek at how it's done. writerbeware.blog/2026/09/25/h...writerbeware.blogHow Those Personalized Generative AI Scam Emails Are Built - Writer BewareOne of the things I often hear from writers whose inboxes are crammed with incredibly personalized marketing or book club or editor impersonation emails–you know, the ones that make it seem the sender... 38359