hyperrealistic neuroqueer hopepunk; singular they/them
The sigil was drawn in salt and ash, the candles lit at the pentagram points, the incantation declaimed.
There was a shimmer - a demon appeared.
"Curious. What ritual is this?"
"I got it from ChatGPT. I included all protections in my prompt!"
"I see," the demon said and stepped out of the sigil.
"At last!" He held up a simple gold ring. "I have searched for this for years!"
"What is it?"
"A shapeshifting ring. I'll put it on... Imagine myself as... Ah! Wonderful!"
"I see no difference?"
"I have no joint pain!"
"Wow! Can it do other changes?"
"Anything you can imagine. Want to try?"
A spaceship landed in the park. A door dilated and an alien emerged. It skittered to a notice board and carefully studied one of the posters.
It returned to the spaceship and soon came out carrying a cat and a mobile phone.
"Hi, we have found your cat Pebbles...Yes... Our secret base on Ganymede."
"Oh," the unicorn said, "I guess you have caught me. What now?"
"Is it true you can purify anything, and remove poison?" the virgin asked.
"I can."
"How are you at hiding?"
"I can't hide from the innocent, but can evade anyone else."
"Good. I'll need to smuggle you into TV news studios."
You can't kiss in a space suit.
Nor hug or caress.
Of course, that would raise the heart rate, consuming more oxygen, and we have so little, so little left.
There's a chance help will arrive before it runs out.
If it doesn't, I'll regret not defying the vacuum and-
They're here. They're here.
Something much more funny: I was note taker for one of the regional team meetings this week, and two separate people mentioned how much they appreciated my notes, because they felt like a human taking notes, instead of a machine-generated summary.
Admittedly, I am known for deliberate whimsy in relation to various aspects of my job, but it's a lot concerning that people are effusively praising my things for having human touches and mannerisms in our increasingly corporatized workplace culture.
A thing from a outreach event I did:
One person told me they thought it was "smart" that I had on a quality mask with all the children and their germs about.
Another told me that they "loved" that I had a quality mask on.
Neither of them had one on, but they thought it good that I did.
Guess I need to start carrying quality masks in my outreach box? So that when someone tells me how much they think I'm virtuous or intelligent, I can offer them one to use as well and see what happens.
"I heard today," the cat I share a house with said, "that you humans only have one life."
"Most of us have only one, yes," I said.
"And you chose to spend it with me."
"Well, you moved in."
"You chose to spend it with me."
"When you put it like that, yes."
"You are wiser than you look."
Yes, I wanted Dr. Hayden to be more aggressive with copyright exemptions, especially ones where it was clear copyright was being used for rent-seeking or monopolistic behaviors. That's not a reason to fire her, but it would be more justifiable than whatever racist reason the administration used to fire her.
It's equally likely this was "I got told I can't defund IMLS, I'm lashing out at the highest-level librarian I can," as it was "a black woman in a high position is DEI and must be removed."
Apropos of what I found while making sure the computers were ready to meet the adoring public this morning:
I know that some people believe that leaving their proselytizing materials everywhere is an important and vital part of their witness to the unsaved, and I can tell care was taken with this because it was left in a laminated sleeve.
But. Leaving them in the library is mostly going to accomplish the task of *annoying the library workers* and nothing else. Save those papers for elsewhere.
Uuugh. My required cybersecurity training thus time around was fine (although it keeps making it sound like hackers have sophisticated tools that will defeat us all, so why bother?) except the last module, where someone who was rightly skeptical about "AI" ends up being passed over and working harder than he needed to because his companions were all using the tools to defeat their drudgery. So he eventually decides he'll use them and all's well.
Bad security company/library choice, no biscuit!
This comes after or Privacy Policy was revised to include things like "The Library is committed to using Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) reasonably and ethically to enhance the user experience while protecting privacy and security. AI technologies may help personalize recommendations, analyze tends, improve efficiency, and support customer service."
Because they are famously good at any and all of those things, and there are several viable products to chose from for this "service."
Also present:
"When engaging third-party AI services, the library will carefully vet AI providers to ensure they adhere to the Library's privacy and ethical policies. By maintaining oversight, the Library seeks to uphold the integrity, security, and ethical use of AI in its services."
How are you going to know if the thing does what they say? Are they going to let you examine the models? We already have documented failures of automated tools, why do you think you can oversee more complexity?
I opened the door to let my cat in. A minute later, I opened the door to let my cat out.
Soon, there was a meow. I opened the door to let my cat in.
"Look," I said, "it's either this side or the other side, where do you want to be?"
So today I learned about the other other side.
It's amazing.
The wizard finished the incantation, and the demon appeared in the sigil.
"Let us continue."
"Do you really not have any friends who could help," the demon asked
"I cannot show weakness."
"You'd show strength."
"Quiet!"
The demon sat, muttering "I can't wait for the invention of therapists."
Last call! #wla2025 is coming to a close, after an awards luncheon and a final visit to the exhibitor's hall, with a closing session from Shamichael Hallman, who has authored a book called "Meet Me At The Library." It'll be interesting to see what comes out of this last session on the theme of "Building Bridges, Commecting Communities."
Thanks to everyone that's been putting up with the flood for the last couple days, and even more to those of you who have been boosting it elsewhere on Fedi.
Shamichael starts with three quotes:
The first is from Desmond Tutu about Ubuntu (not the OS), translated as "a person is a person through other people," showcasing the interconnectedness of people, even people who believe they are separate from others, or believe themselves fully self-sufficient. The interdependence, the relationships, the cooperation and instruction are essential to the human experience, so the isolation and the lack of social connections hurt people and communities.
Quote two is from Sara Zwedie on the necessity of public spaces for functional democracies, because those public spaces bring people together who are of different classes and opinions to coexist with each other. The retreat from public space, and the destruction of public space exacerbates isolation, lack of social connection, and facilitates the formation and strengthening of echo chambers, stereotypes, and poor opinions of other people.
The space is not enough. The people must be there, too.
The space is still not enough. We have to welcome people of different backgrounds, we have to give the opportunity for people to reconnect with civic resources, and we have to help people see themselves in the work. Not because they are deficient, but because they are potential partners and we want to invite them in.
We have to shift the mindset from those who consume endlessly to those who produce. We have gifts and skills to bring, so how does a library become a host to invite them in?
Quote Three is from Matthew Desmond, on the near inevitability that structures built in a society will be long-lasting. Forecasting the future is a necessity, for the future will exert its influence on us whether we will or no. How do you design for the future, where the future means removing barriers and discouragement, creating cross-culture and cross-class opportunities, and inviting in community partners and groups to the space and work.
Who isn't using your space? Why aren't they there?
