Sign in

W.A. Harnum

@waharnum.bsky.social
205 followers 709 following 67 posts

i do government digital and technology stuff and i used to do library digital and technology stuff, in Canada

PostsRepliesMedia
W.A. Harnum @waharnum.bsky.social · 5h
He’d Britten off more than he could chew.
020
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Nick Pettigrew @nick-pettigrew.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
I'm convinced AI is our generation's radium - a discovery with genuinely useful applications in specific, controlled circumstances that we stupidly put in everything from kid's toys to toothpaste until we realised the harm far too late where future generations will ask if we were out of our minds.
268196506047
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
cait (and adonis) @cait.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
the "iced coffee at a job interview" discussion is obviously stupid but also a great representation of the fact that every single HR person/recruiter has their own different made up rules for candidates and all of them think they are absolutely correct
423350441
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Jack Womack @jwomack.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Rachel Pollack, twelve cards designed & painted by her. Tarot Exhibition, Morgan Library, NYC
12 tarot cards designed and painted by the late Rachel Pollack, Morgan Library Tarot Exhibit
19728
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Aaron Bady @zunguzungu.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Using the word "woke" as if it means what reactionaries mean by it is letting yourself be interpellated into a reactionary and crypto-racist frame, and we shouldn't. You can't say "politically correct" without putting reactionary trash in your mouth and brain; this version of "woke" is the same.
27313
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Victor LaValle @victorlavalle.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Tonight’s the night! THE TERROR: DEVIL IN SILVER premieres @amctv.bsky.social Emmy winner Stephen Root gives Dan Stevens a little lesson about Moby Dick (and the theme of our show). Me, @ifyoucantwell.bsky.social & a gang of brilliant people made this. I love it so much. I hope you will too.
57720
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Joe Bak-Coleman @jbakcoleman.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
We can simulate fish schools or ants in ways that solve complex problems (gradient detection, bridge building, nest selection) but no one would create this weird soul/no-soul dichotomy to argue they these that multi-agent swarms of extremely simple rules are “thinking”.
14503167
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Puff the Magic Hater @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
When you hear a fantastical story about AI, you should ask yourself, "How does this serve the political project of AI?" Because, as others have pointed out, that's what AI really amounts to: a political project.
41281309
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Pavel @spavel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
"Moved files onto the open internet without permission" is also literally just hallucination. We've known since 2022 that these things do shit you ask them not to do, and that this is a fundamental flaw of the architecture that can never be fixed So they're correcting it with marketing instead
638959
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Pavel @spavel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
"Hid mistakes and made up data" used to be called by the cozy term "hallucination" up until it became vitally important for the IPO that AI is now evil
151019270
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Bruno Dias @brunodias.dev · 15/09/2026
A problem we have now is that we let the so-called tech industry, which is primarily an unholy union between advertising and consumer electronics, dictate the terms of the conversation about technology in such ways that the natural inclination is now to discount technology.
36615
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 12/09/2026
Once you understand the corporate culture of AI hyperscalers is everyone cooking their brains by locking themselves in the bathroom, holding flashlights under their chins, and saying "Aaaaaaaaaay Eyeeeeeee" until they wet themselves in terror, things snap into focus: pluralistic.net/2023/06/04/a...
A cutaway view of a stone tower containing an elaborate water-powered medieval geared machine. Rising out of the machine is a rainbow-tinted, pixelated God with the robes, beard and all. To one side of this scene is a cluster of tiny people in Jesus-era robes, falling about themselves in religious ecstasy all over a stone staircase, atop of which stands a robed priest with his hands upraised. The background is a set of shining golden rays, emanating from pixel-God.
231183430
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
The Get Up Kevins @kevinnewburn.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Happy Sega Dreamcast day to all who celebrate.
A Simsons meme about the Sega Dreamcast.  In the top panel Grandpa says "Poor Dreamcast, this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you".  Then in the bottom panel the Dreamcast says (disc grinding noises)
425381
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
New kind of racism just dropped.
1433912613
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Aaron Bady @zunguzungu.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
It's kind of interesting that the second half of the One Hundred Years of Solitude TV adaptation has dropped, and even the vague "oh interesting they're doing that" of the first half has been replaced by the kind of total lack of awareness that best characterizes Macondo's response to mass murder
11516
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Brian Merchant @bcmerchant.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Across the US, workers are souring on AI. The tech industry has insisted that AI would make workers’ lives easier and more productive, that the more people understood and used AI, the more they would like it. Something closer to the opposite has happened.
bloodinthemachine.com
Why office workers are turning against AI
Whether or not you like AI at work ultimately boils down to a question of power.
201548454
W.A. Harnum @waharnum.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Officially requesting a Lee Child novel where Reacher takes down the criminal network run by an exploitative dead-eyed online video influencer called, I dunno, MisterMonster. I’d buy it. Heck, i’d buy it twice. Then I’d buy it again in the TV tie-in edition with Alan Ritchson on the cover.
010
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
The Verge @theverge.com · 02/09/2026
As a new Harry Potter trailer makes the rounds, it bears repeating that there’s no way to watch this show without supporting J.K. Rowling’s bigotry and the structural violence she’s inflicting on the trans community.
theverge.com
There is no ethical consumption of HBO’s Harry Potter series
You can’t without supporting Rowling’s transphobic bigotry.
367201329888
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Microplastics Sommelier @leastactionhero.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
how is there a whole decade-old cottage industry of subnormal doofuses writing whiny atlantic columns about the perils of wokeness but we don’t even have a word yet to describe the phenomenon of grown men poring through popular culture da vinci code -style for things to feel victimized about?
1024053
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Helen McCarthy @helenmccarthy51.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Yayoi Kusama, one of the defining artists of her generation, has died aged 97. Choosing to create within an asylum because it gave her more peace and freedom than the world, she unlocked and explored universes. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
theguardian.com
Yayoi Kusama, Japanese artist who became a global superstar, dies aged 97
From the 1950s to the 2020s, Kusama produced vivid paintings, sculptures and vast installations that often drew on her experience of hallucinations
18438
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Brendel @brendelbored.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Both Dolly Parton and Tim Curry had such a genuine enthusiasm for performing that it was impossible not to love them for it, there were things more highly and lowly regarded in their bodies of work but both of them threw themselves into everything because it was pure joy for them and that rules
2054191212
W.A. Harnum @waharnum.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
so many greats, but my all time favourite for sheer unhinged Tim Curry energy will always be this bit: youtu.be/SSZYVFc6BqI?...
youtu.be
Anything Can Happen on Halloween - The Worst Witch featuring Tim Curry (HD Remaster)
YouTube video by Rad Retro
000
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Jay Hulme @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
I've been reading a lot of the sayings of the Desert Fathers recently, collections of quotes and parables from monks who lived in the Egyptian Desert from around 270ad. And there's a lot to be learned from them, but if I may, I'd like to paraphrase one which I think bluesky really needs to hear...
212633
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Crystal Frasier @amazonchique.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
The fact that HBO compelled even this lukewarm non-apology out of one of the modern world's proudest and more powerful bigots means that her hatred is actually affecting their bottom line.
1860401648
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Amyville Hoyrror @amyhoy.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
oh my god
282
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Elle @elleisanisland.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
This is you in your meta glasses
09016
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Otto Falcon @formalfalcon.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Siskos
An edit of the sickos meme with Ben, Jake, and Joseph Sisko looking in the window saying "YES... HA HA HA... YES!" and Sisko's Creole Kitchen in the background
#DS9
3943551224
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Lance Parkin @lanceparkin.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Saying academia can't accommodate the neuroatypical is about as correct as saying you have to be heterosexual to work in the performing arts.
511832
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Michael Hobbes @michaelhobbes.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Can't think of a more perfect example than this. We've had years of panic about anti-trans bigots being criticized online. Meanwhile, actual trans people are facing the possibility of imprisonment and sexual assault. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/o...
8847146
W.A. Harnum @waharnum.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Saw the Hadestown film last night and can’t recommend it highly enough if you even vaguely like musicals. Sublime experience, leaves its mark upon you in the best way.
020
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Nate @mnatesota.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Come for the impossible Robin Hood-level shot. Stay for the guy blasting himself in the junk with a confetti cannon.
221089427
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Karen K. Ho @karenho.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
it's always odd when "you should expose yourself to more diverse ideas" always means a certain kind of conservatism instead of like, Indigenous art, new fusion foods, math paradoxes, or the Dvorak keyboard layout
159115312684
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Lex McMenamin (they/them) @lexmcmenamin.com · 06/08/2026
y'all do not love men or like men, let alone young men. you treat them like incompetent failures when they're like 10 years old. feminists are the ones who ACTUALLY LIKE OR LOVE MEN bc they don't have a patronizing inability to take men seriously enough to hold them accountable and help them grow!
1254572
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Jamie McKelvie @mckelvie.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
A lot of columnists have lost their minds in recent years because social media has allowed people to talk back to them, whereas before they could say any old vile shit with next to no pushback
925946
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Erin Fogg says Free Link @criminalerin.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
U might not like it but Bugonia is what Yorgos Lanthimos's most mainstream accessible film looks like
61003
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
The media is desperate to find some reason why Elon Musk's politics are complicated or more sophisticated than they seem, because the simple truth is too ugly for them to admit - an actual Nazi is the world's wealthiest person, and his companies hold substantial American government contracts.
15776259
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Oakland Review of Books @oaklandreviewofbooks.org · 27/07/2026
Freaky Tales is leaving HBO on August 1, so if you've been putting off reading @zunguzungu.bsky.social's opus on this love letter to Oakland, now is the time: www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/freaky-tales...
oaklandreviewofbooks.org
The most words ever written about “Freaky Tales”
A not-too-short love letter to “a love letter to 1980s Oakland.”
12612
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
It is genuinely incredible how certain people will know absolutely nothing about a subject yet pronounce on it confidently, projecting their own views as though timeless and ironclad
Skeet insisting Lupita’s looks are “very different from what was considered ideal at the time” An excerpt from Frank Snowden Jr’s Blacks in Antiquity which notes there was no inherent beauty value assigned to skin color  in classical literature
2948983
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Gretchen Felker-Martin PRE ORDER CHIMERA 2.16.27 🍉 @scumbelievable.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
amen. adaptation, not transliteration. look at any fandom to see what kind of analytical skill brittle, slavish adherence to a text gets you.
832437
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 25/07/2026
Lemme tell you about the angel of history being blown backwards into the future: The shackles these people have been put in are Hiatt brand, same company founded in 1780 to mass produce shackles for slaver ships.
1841911800
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
And she said, "losing love Is like a window in your heart Everybody sees you're blown apart Everybody sees the wind blow"
1332
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
We must remember the Utøya massacre, and remember it for what it was: a far-right attack specifically targeted against democratic socialist activists. Today, the ideologies of its perpetrator are openly espoused by a global network of nationalist oligarchs as they wage war on democratic societies.
71542601
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Tom Pepinsky @tompepinsky.com · 16/07/2026
"This uncertainty about the human provenance of text is an incalculable loss"
This uncertainty about the human provenance of text is an incalculable loss. In both classical and Christian philosophy, the human being was distinguished by his unique relationship to the word. Machines that have command of language are therefore nothing like the mere next step after the microwave and the calculator. The idea that for the rest of my life I will never know for sure if a text was written by the human who claims it or by a machine saddens me greatly, and I suspect this reality will cast a pall over all our lives once it sets in more generally. As things stand, we will face, every day, a task presented to us that no previous human ever could have contemplated: the task of sussing out whether the text we are looking at had a human behind it. This is a huge “transaction cost” that our new technology has imposed on us all, an unwelcome introduction of doubt and wariness and suspicion into the fundamentals of our life together that will only reduce trust and increase atomization.
6242112
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Johanna T 👻 📚 @johannamation.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
I love that every year or so a new silly little creature emerges and brings the whole internet together in peace and harmony
Moo deng the pygmy hippo and jimothy the raccoon
71922363
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Michael Lobel @mlobelart.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Charles Burchfield, "Fantasy of Heat," 1952-58 burchfieldpenney.org/art-and-arti...
Stylized landscape with plants and body of water and waves of heat
16614
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Screw Tape Letters @muleskinnerpress.net · 14/07/2026
Folks, let me be clear: I went to House Azure once. I did participate, and I never went back.
0112
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas @horrornonna.com · 13/07/2026
This is pretty well known, but the Australian flag Sam Neill wore on his uniform in Event Horizon was designed at his request to show the Union Jack replaced with the Aboriginal flag, because he hoped in the future this is how it would actually look. A proper fucken ally in every way, this bloke.
Sam Neill on profile in EVENT HORIZON, with a patch on his jacket that shows the Australian flag but with the Union Jack replaced with the Aboriginal flag, because fuck colonialism and Sam knew that this always was, always will be, Aboriginal land
1339901150
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Ned Resnikoff @resnikoff.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
New PUBLIC COMMENT on some recent evidence that men's lingering attachment to patriarchy is behind falling birthrates in the developed world publiccomment.blog/p/if-you-wan...
publiccomment.blog
If You Want to Raise Birthrates, You Need to Fix Men
New evidence that patriarchy plus economic growth leads to declining birthrates
620339
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Gretchen Felker-Martin PRE ORDER CHIMERA 2.16.27 🍉 @scumbelievable.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
"Why did the casting of a Black actress cause so much controversy?" because small gangs of slobbering gutter racists aided by an unprincipled media landscape in the business of selling outrage have been allowed to run wild. there is literally nothing else to discuss.
102811643
Reposted by W.A. Harnum
Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 06/07/2026
There's a part in the book "Careless People" where the author beats Zuck at Settlers of Catan, and he is absolutely wrecked by it. Someone pulls her aside to explain everyone else has been letting him win for years. I think about this a lot re: why tech bros think everyone will love AI chatbots.
24122443715