I'd like more attention to this post. It isn't really about a16z or Marc's stupendously high-IQ bonce. It's my theory of the entire AI bubble in all its cheque-kiting not-technically-a-Ponzi glory.

This scam will go much longer than it should, because it *has to*.

https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/04/10/a16z-raising-fresh-20b-for-ai-bubble-investments/

(comic) Temporary fix https://workchronicles.substack.com/p/comic-temporary-fix-efc

I want to say one more thing about LLM/“AI” and the books I wrote.

My books were in LibGen without permission and likely in other places companies were using to get training data. All I wanted was them to ask me permission and I would’ve said “buy 2 copies and I am ok”

Instead they stole them and successfully argued they would not have a viable business if they had to seek permission and/or pay for the training data.

They also successfully convinced a judge stealing stuff like mine is okay because of “fair use”.

This is bullshit but the way techbros operate in 2025. Stealing other people’s stuff is okay but you cannot touch their stuff without permission.

Another bookstore pulls JK Rowling's books and returns them, after Rowling promised to.use the profits from .sales of Harry Potter books to harass and attack trans people.

Throw them out, build the boycott of Rowling products, books movies.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/san-francisco-bookstore-removes-harry-potter-20392417.php

Zohran Mamdani's People-Powered Win Is a Rebuke to Democrat Cowardice
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/zohran-mamdanis-people-powered-win-is-a-rebuke-to-democrat-cowardice?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Teen Vogue @teen-vogue-TeenVogue

delighted to announce that my new zine "The Secret Rules of the Terminal" is out today!!

You can get it for $12 USD here: https://wizardzines.com/zines/terminal

GOP Lawmakers Watch Silently As Trump Strangles Each Of Their Loved Ones In Turn

https://bit.ly/3T2B6AX

Writing with ChatGPT is like sculpting with Play-Doh.

I needed to read this today. Thought someone else might need it too.

Hot take: I think it’s both easier and more impactful to identify and address obstacles to dev productivity in an org than it is to measure dev productivity

@mackensen Truly. And yet, my favorite. I did 3 terms and then ran JLT for my Council twice. “Life-changing” doesn’t do it justice. I almost didn’t make Eagle because I was having too much fun leading & organizing.

Most of the major leadership failures I witness in business were beaten out of me in the Boy Scouts before the age of 18. When you’re in the woods with your peers 10 times a year and they have no financial incentive to follow you, you learn shit real quick.

Fun fact: the last time the Congressional budget process operated as envisioned in the US Constitution (the "orderly" process of passing all the individual budget bills before the start of the next US fiscal year) was 1997.

#AAAS #uspol #funding #science #damage

Teacher Required To Provide Own Salary
https://theonion.com/teacher-required-to-provide-own-salary/

Study begun pre-COVID finds remote work increased sleep by 1/2 hr/night, decreased commute by 4.5 hr/week replaced with work, family & leisure and led to healthier eating. Remote and hybrid employees report higher job satisfaction and well-being. https://farmingdale-observer.com/2025/05/16/scientists-have-been-studying-remote-work-for-four-years-and-have-reached-a-very-clear-conclusion-working-from-home-makes-us-happier/

ICE raiding a crowded supermarket in Rosemead, California with no identification, indistinguishable from cartel hitmen, pulling high caliber rifles on unarmed US citizens trying to ask questions about wtf is going on. #3E #StopICE

Incredible.