Lists colonise the mind and impoverish the imagination.

Elena Gorfinkel’s clarion “Against Lists” remains critically relevant.

Trump administration demands Columbia University:

  • put an outside Chair in charge of Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies
  • adopt a new definition of antisemitism
  • reform admissions
  • ban masks
  • overhaul student discipline
  • comply immediately or risk funding.

U.S. researchers consider

“Last week, Aix Marseille University, France’s largest university, invited American scientists who believe their work is at risk of being censored by Donald Trump administration’s anti-science policies to continue their research in France. Today, the university announced that it is already seeing great interest from scientists at NASA, Yale, Stanford, and other American schools and government agencies, and that it wants to expand the program to other schools and European countries to absorb all the researchers who want to leave the United States."

This is a generous gesture but PACA is the heartland of the French far right, and the academy is a perpetual whipping boy for politicians. Anyone who moved would face another set of difficulties.

Hairdressing sign that instils confidence

A hairdresser shop sign with a decidedly odd (but maybe weird enough to be cool?) iconic description of a male and female appearing pair of people with some genuinely odd looking haircuts. Alt text fails me.

General practice use of A.I. scribes is already much more widespread than people realise

Legal expert warns patients' medical data at risk as GPs adopt AI scribes - ABC

Excellent points in this article. I’ve directly observed some cavalier attitudes about the use of A.I. scribes, and consent processes aren’t what they’re cracked up to be. I’ve also seen this issue dismissed as “table stakes” in a pollyannaish rush towards imaginary uses for patient recall and enhanced practice profitability.

Health data is amongst the most sensitive data there is. Data governance and data security are major issues with these apps. We shouldn’t be forced into using scribes based on the decisions of practice owners or individual GPs.

Cockatoos in a palm tree beside a river

Bit of an experiment tonight. I tired to imagine what Moroccan influenced pasta might look like. I think it worked pretty well - there’s the core of a good dish here.

A bowl of pasta with a fairly thick sauce, mint and pine nuts and pistachios on top.

Is a calculator a learning tool?

I’m not being rhetorical. The AI-and-calculator metaphor is everywhere in educational assessment discussions at the moment but I’m not convinced it’s a relevant or helpful one.

A better metaphor is probably plastics. A transformative technology that disrupts whole sectors and enables new ones, while also creating problems we don’t envisage or fully appreciate and the impacts of which will be around for centuries.

“Should Australia’s GPs and patients be excited about the Medicare pledge? Yes and no” - by Mariam Tokhi, via onekind

I keep hearing nobody comes to campus any more

Lots of students walking past a building - it’s the UNSW library.

I don’t know if I like intermissions. A break is often welcome, but I’d rather it was on my terms (and timing).

A large, old cinema. On the screen is a greyscale photo of a family and the word Intermission. It’s from the intermission in The Brutalist (2024).

“The result of Rehberger’s attack is the permanent planting of long-term memories that will be present in all future sessions, opening the potential for the chatbot to act on false information or instructions in perpetuity.” - Ars Technica

Brainrot, 1860s edition

The Bridge

Greyscale image of an elevated bridge (for a pipe I think) surrounded by trees.
A hand-drawn and photocopied poster for a Fugazi, Def FX and Hellmenn all ages gig at Manly on 26 Oct 1991.

A wonderful, detailed article about Fugazi’s music and legacy. They were the first band I every saw live (someone dug up the poster but sadly not the recording) and they remain unparalelled. I’m looking forward to seeing the new We Are Fugazi from Washington D.C. doco.

Another busy night under the flight path

😳😳😳 Bonkers

The Labs also lead a comprehensive program in nuclear security, focused on reducing the risk of nuclear war and securing nuclear materials and weapons worldwide. This use case is highly consequential, and we believe it is critical for OpenAI to support it as part of our commitment to national security. Our partnership will support this work, with careful and selective review of use cases and consultations on AI safety from OpenAI researchers with security clearances. Open A.I. - Strengthening America’s AI leadership with the U.S. National Laboratories

Living under the flight path

Runner

A smiling toddler running with raised hands.

Take care of yourself, stay cool, and don’t be a numbnut. Check out HeatWatch for evidence-based ways to cool down.

<img src=“uploads/2025/screenshot-2025-01-28-at-3.38.55pm.png” width=“595” height=“600” alt=“Screenshot of HeatWatch web page, showing my risk of heat health risk is currently extreme. It suggests “drink water, wear light clothing, rest in the shade, wet your skin, ice in wet towel”.">