S Roy

I feel like we have to wonder - is the money there at all? Maybe they are resisting because they did something else with it.

You sound like ChatGPT AI isn’t just impacting how we write — it’s changing how we speak and interact with others. And there’s only more to come.

three thoughts on AI this morning:

1. AI is changing how we speak. this reminds me of how big systems (countries, religions) tend to end up with everyone within them speaking at least one language in common. (YES THIS IS COMPLEX and sometimes enforced ie bad.)

www.theverge.com/openai/68674...

I've now been allowed and asked to share more details about what's going down at the University of Oregon, which involves imminent announcement of firings, among others, of tenure-track and tenured faculty. Given the units impacted (see below), please share this with your professional networks in related disciplines and start getting ready to put pressure (or begin putting pressure already) on the University of Oregon upper admin to abandon this alleged plan before they finalize it. It appears that, with no prior consultations, the departments of Religion and Classics (two separate units), and the programs in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, German & Scandinavian, Judaic Studies, Arabic Studies, and Holocaust Studies (the latter five all parts of a previously-consolidated mega unit called the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages) are facing imminent announcement of elimination (expected the week of Sept 7), with layoffs of pre-tenure, tenured, and career faculty in these units. The reason given is "financial exigency" -- upper administrations of several universities across the country (and in blue states like Oregon also) appear to be giddy to use the context of Trump attacks on higher ed to dismantle the humanities. Faculty at OU won a faculty union not long ago; this may be, in part, a retaliation for that, I've been told. The union is working with AAUP, etc.; my understanding is that the maximum spotlight is needed at this point.

A massive attack on several humanities units (Arabic Studies, Judaic Studies, Holocaust Studies, Classics, Religion, German & Scandinavian, Russian/East European/Eurasian Studies) *and* tenure now unfolding at the University of Oregon (a blue state!). Closure of units and faculty layoffs threatened.

Our new kitten Bramble!

Someone on here compared AI produced material as "digital asbestos " which in a few decades' time we will have to work out how to eradicate from the fabric of research.

From my own academic research, even pre LLMs there was a huge danger of zombie factoids that begin in a respectable publication by mistake and then get reprinted for decades because no one is backtracing to the original source. Once bad info gets into the system it can take years to clear it out.

Congrats! If I'd known you were looking I'd be pushing you to apply to our provost or dean searches here at Marshall! I know you'll be amazing!

In our new house, we have these fast growing bushy plants I didn't recognize and thought were weeds, but I just discovered that they are dahlias! I've staked them and am waiting for the blooms
#tinyjoys

Seriously. In a moment of anxiety I asked Bill if we had enough duct tape in case we needed to seal off the house. I realize this is weird but couldn't get it out of my mind.

it’s even more demoralizing when the history you’re repeating is history you were around for the first time

On Thursday I had a Kale salad from my garden. In Friday I had a small mixed green salad with cucumbers, both from my garden. Today I made pesto - predominantly basic but with some parsley, mint, and arugula, all from my garden! Cannot wait for the tomatoes and peppers to be ready! #tinyjoys

People holding signs on the corner of major intersection

View from behind the speakers back at crowds learning their rights and the rights of others.

Lots of people out in Huntington, WV!

Um... Herodotus is Mythological?

Ben Franklin at the American Philosophical society:

Popped in to check the news and lam now nauseated and horrified. Slava Ukraine.

This I actually agree with.
apnews.com/article/trum...

that cool foam tongue ad was not cool

Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling – The White House By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.  Purpose and

Here it is. This is abominable.

Hugs from afar

Hey everyone! Incredible news!

Trans Scouts selling GS cookies this year on my list have sold over 50,000 boxes of GS cookies!

If you want girl scout cookies, consider buying from a trans girl scout this year! They'll mail them to you!

This is literally my fav thing to do every year :)

These were the weeks in 1649 when John Milton was writing “The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates”, pointing out that many people love a tyrant because they love “not freedom, but license, which never hath more scope, or more indulgence than under tyrants”

#milton