Daniel José Older
@djolder.bsky.social
Writer of books and comics. Story architect for STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC ✨ he/him patreon.com/djolder
https://www.danieljoseolder.net/
https://www.danieljoseolder.net/
Pinned
I wrote about a genAI author scam and where all this catastrophic mess is heading
www.patreon.com/posts/166720...
www.patreon.com/posts/166720...
Reposted by Daniel José Older
my latest essay at @literaryhub.bsky.social, proud of this one:
“The War on Terror Through the Eyes of Queer Afghan Refugees”
Steven W. Thrasher reflects on 9/11 & its aftermath through reading No God But Us by Bobuq Sayed and The Sense of Brown by Jose Esteban Muñoz
lithub.com/the-war-on-t...
“The War on Terror Through the Eyes of Queer Afghan Refugees”
Steven W. Thrasher reflects on 9/11 & its aftermath through reading No God But Us by Bobuq Sayed and The Sense of Brown by Jose Esteban Muñoz
lithub.com/the-war-on-t...
The War on Terror Through the Eyes of Queer Afghan Refugees
As I read Bobuq Sayed’s No God But Us in the waning days of the summer, I realized their debut novel paired well with Jose Esteban Muñoz’s final work, The Sense of Brown (2020). Together, the duo m…
lithub.com
September 11, 2026 at 3:34 PM
my latest essay at @literaryhub.bsky.social, proud of this one:
“The War on Terror Through the Eyes of Queer Afghan Refugees”
Steven W. Thrasher reflects on 9/11 & its aftermath through reading No God But Us by Bobuq Sayed and The Sense of Brown by Jose Esteban Muñoz
lithub.com/the-war-on-t...
“The War on Terror Through the Eyes of Queer Afghan Refugees”
Steven W. Thrasher reflects on 9/11 & its aftermath through reading No God But Us by Bobuq Sayed and The Sense of Brown by Jose Esteban Muñoz
lithub.com/the-war-on-t...
Reposted by Daniel José Older
I interviewed @cara.city about her incredible photography project “Records of Enemy Surveillance.” Topics discussed include Flock, borders, and perceived fugutivity. Up now at @coyotemedia.org.
An Oakland Photographer Surveils the Surveillance State
Cara Esten Hurtle’s drone-based art project shows the difference between being seen and being spotted.
www.coyotemedia.org
September 15, 2026 at 3:58 PM
I interviewed @cara.city about her incredible photography project “Records of Enemy Surveillance.” Topics discussed include Flock, borders, and perceived fugutivity. Up now at @coyotemedia.org.
Reposted by Daniel José Older
Since we're all rightfully shitting on Ed Sheeran, don't forget this gem
September 15, 2026 at 3:27 AM
Since we're all rightfully shitting on Ed Sheeran, don't forget this gem
Reposted by Daniel José Older
Ms. Rachel on losing partnerships and views for showing her support for Palestine:
“That doesn’t faze me because the kids gave me the platform. I’m going to stand with them no matter what. People on the ground in Gaza are risking their lives all the time to help kids. I can do it from Manhattan.”
“That doesn’t faze me because the kids gave me the platform. I’m going to stand with them no matter what. People on the ground in Gaza are risking their lives all the time to help kids. I can do it from Manhattan.”
September 15, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Ms. Rachel on losing partnerships and views for showing her support for Palestine:
“That doesn’t faze me because the kids gave me the platform. I’m going to stand with them no matter what. People on the ground in Gaza are risking their lives all the time to help kids. I can do it from Manhattan.”
“That doesn’t faze me because the kids gave me the platform. I’m going to stand with them no matter what. People on the ground in Gaza are risking their lives all the time to help kids. I can do it from Manhattan.”
Reposted by Daniel José Older
Do you know what really grinds my gears? When billionaire, sex criminal, genocide-defenders tell us what voices we are and aren’t allowed to hear.
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Justice for Macklemore
The rapper has been dumped from Ed Sheeran's tour for saying "free Palestine." That's a disgrace.
www.thenation.com
September 15, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Do you know what really grinds my gears? When billionaire, sex criminal, genocide-defenders tell us what voices we are and aren’t allowed to hear.
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Daniel José Older
100%.
For those unfamiliar, Van Halen had a line in their rider that essentially said “no brown M&Ms.” It was a way to see if the promoter had actually read the contract. They had a shitload of gear to tour with, so if they’re skipping one thing, it’s guaranteed they’re skipping something essential.
For those unfamiliar, Van Halen had a line in their rider that essentially said “no brown M&Ms.” It was a way to see if the promoter had actually read the contract. They had a shitload of gear to tour with, so if they’re skipping one thing, it’s guaranteed they’re skipping something essential.
An AI flyer is a brown M&M test. If your event or business is cutting corners by using an AI flyer, where else are you cutting corners? What else are you cheating out on? Why should I be bothered to go somewhere you couldn't be bothered to promote with a little of your own personality?
September 13, 2026 at 1:33 AM
100%.
For those unfamiliar, Van Halen had a line in their rider that essentially said “no brown M&Ms.” It was a way to see if the promoter had actually read the contract. They had a shitload of gear to tour with, so if they’re skipping one thing, it’s guaranteed they’re skipping something essential.
For those unfamiliar, Van Halen had a line in their rider that essentially said “no brown M&Ms.” It was a way to see if the promoter had actually read the contract. They had a shitload of gear to tour with, so if they’re skipping one thing, it’s guaranteed they’re skipping something essential.
"The University of Chicago’s undergrad social-sciences division will go “analog” this fall, implementing a blanket policy banning technology in class and AI assistance on coursework across the division’s core courses."
www.chronicle.com/article/u-of...
www.chronicle.com/article/u-of...
U. of Chicago Bans Tech, AI in Social Sciences Core Courses
The new restrictions apply to students and faculty members.
www.chronicle.com
September 14, 2026 at 4:31 AM
"The University of Chicago’s undergrad social-sciences division will go “analog” this fall, implementing a blanket policy banning technology in class and AI assistance on coursework across the division’s core courses."
www.chronicle.com/article/u-of...
www.chronicle.com/article/u-of...
Reposted by Daniel José Older
This is almost precisely what Emily was saying when OpenAI had claimed that got-2 was "too dangerous to release" circa 2019-2020 so that you understand how long we've had to fight the press performing propaganda-as-news services.
None of that is "empirical evidence" unless and until the public (and independent, non-AI-enthralled scientists) can review all inputs (including all training data, prompts, etc) and all actual outputs.
>>
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September 13, 2026 at 5:10 PM
This is almost precisely what Emily was saying when OpenAI had claimed that got-2 was "too dangerous to release" circa 2019-2020 so that you understand how long we've had to fight the press performing propaganda-as-news services.
Reposted by Daniel José Older
None of that is "empirical evidence" unless and until the public (and independent, non-AI-enthralled scientists) can review all inputs (including all training data, prompts, etc) and all actual outputs.
>>
>>
September 13, 2026 at 4:41 AM
None of that is "empirical evidence" unless and until the public (and independent, non-AI-enthralled scientists) can review all inputs (including all training data, prompts, etc) and all actual outputs.
>>
>>
Reposted by Daniel José Older
Reposted by Daniel José Older
"if you’re not worried about police brutality, or floods, or warfare—things that can actually kill you—then you can obsess over the machine-god." <---- yup. Q&A w/ @timnitgebru.blacksky.app by @laurengoode.bsky.social @wired.com
One of AI’s Fiercest Critics Says All the Doom Talk Is ‘Meant to Distract Us’ - Timnit Gebru argues that AI companies are stoking fears of extinction to avoid discussing actual harms, like autonomous weapons. | WIRED www.wired.com/story/one-of...
One of AI’s Fiercest Critics Says All the Doom Talk Is ‘Meant to Distract Us’
Timnit Gebru argues that AI companies are stoking fears of extinction to avoid discussing actual harms, like autonomous weapons.
www.wired.com
September 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM
"if you’re not worried about police brutality, or floods, or warfare—things that can actually kill you—then you can obsess over the machine-god." <---- yup. Q&A w/ @timnitgebru.blacksky.app by @laurengoode.bsky.social @wired.com
Reposted by Daniel José Older
God do I fucking feel this in my bones. I recently had to be brutally honest in a room and it was like I set the couch on fire. It was like people couldn't believe what they were seeing. The weird doublespeak is the weirdest and silliest thing about working in Hollywood.
September 11, 2026 at 10:01 PM
God do I fucking feel this in my bones. I recently had to be brutally honest in a room and it was like I set the couch on fire. It was like people couldn't believe what they were seeing. The weird doublespeak is the weirdest and silliest thing about working in Hollywood.
Bird Nerd Sky! Does this feather look familiar to you? Image search was inconclusive. Never seen one like it before. cc @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social
September 10, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Bird Nerd Sky! Does this feather look familiar to you? Image search was inconclusive. Never seen one like it before. cc @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social
Reposted by Daniel José Older
Protect trans kids.
September 9, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Protect trans kids.
NOOOOOO
Damn, Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge is closing. If you were visiting me I probably took you there. Red beans, brass bands, blind eye to weed on the patio for those who partook. End of an era.
September 10, 2026 at 12:33 AM
NOOOOOO
Reposted by Daniel José Older
SF City Attorney's office says Meta's response is "astonishing"
September 9, 2026 at 9:46 PM
SF City Attorney's office says Meta's response is "astonishing"
Reposted by Daniel José Older
The vibe at Anthropic must be incredible. Imagine earnestly believing you’re working on a technology that might end civilization or at the minimum cause mass unemployment but you gotta lock-in for the IPO in October. 😫
September 9, 2026 at 2:50 AM
The vibe at Anthropic must be incredible. Imagine earnestly believing you’re working on a technology that might end civilization or at the minimum cause mass unemployment but you gotta lock-in for the IPO in October. 😫
Reposted by Daniel José Older
“In addition to monitoring activists in the vicinity of Anthropic executives and keeping tabs on protests near physical Anthropic assets, the firm is also implementing a ‘pre-crime’ approach… In some cases, that also means reporting suspects to police before a crime occurs.” @drboguslaw.bsky.social:
Anthropic Is Building a Predictive Surveillance System to Monitor Activists - The American Prospect
New hires and comments in interviews show that the AI giant is using its capabilities against dissenters.
prospect.org
September 9, 2026 at 11:54 AM
“In addition to monitoring activists in the vicinity of Anthropic executives and keeping tabs on protests near physical Anthropic assets, the firm is also implementing a ‘pre-crime’ approach… In some cases, that also means reporting suspects to police before a crime occurs.” @drboguslaw.bsky.social:
Reposted by Daniel José Older
Classics professor Emily Wilson has published a 15,000 word review tearing Nintendo a new hole for including a jump button in Ocarina of Time. "I am going to kill you in real life," she threatens over forty times.
September 8, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Classics professor Emily Wilson has published a 15,000 word review tearing Nintendo a new hole for including a jump button in Ocarina of Time. "I am going to kill you in real life," she threatens over forty times.
Reposted by Daniel José Older
An immeasurable amount of harassment stemmed from this horrible website, including the assault of a professor at Arizona State University. Good fucking riddance.
Charlie Kirk’s nonprofit Turning Point USA’s Professor Watchlist, which claims it uncovers the most radical left wing professors from universities that are known to suppress the conservative voices and advance the progressive agenda," has been taken down.
Turning Point USA's Professor Watchlist is down. Instructors describe its impact
This week marks one year since the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. While the nonprofit he created, Turning Point USA, is still working to engage young conservative voters ahead of the m...
www.nbcwashington.com
September 9, 2026 at 1:34 AM
An immeasurable amount of harassment stemmed from this horrible website, including the assault of a professor at Arizona State University. Good fucking riddance.
Reposted by Daniel José Older
werner herzog on AI filmmaking (from here www.indiewire.com/features/int...)
![Q: A couple years ago at IDFA, I saw this movie "About a Hero," which is this partly Al-generated hybrid documentary that tries to recreate the atmosphere of your films.
A: The intention of this young filmmaker was never to remake any [of my films], but making something in the spirit. And I immediately said, "You will fail. It is such a stupid idea. It's phenomenally, abysmally stupid. I will not take part in it." He wanted me to explain things and have my voice in it.
I said, "You are alone. There's such a thing as free speech, which I respect. So go ahead and fail." And it is a failure, period.
It's so standardized that Al can step in because there's not real storytelling. It's mimicry of something that has happened before. And I welcome Al to replace all the idiots who are into nothing but repeating, repeating, repeating until it's ad nauseam.
When it's ad nauseam, please, please, please let Al step in and do the job.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:v5vphilwcf6nunioeyrpxw6g/bafkreibeadpx66jtqlttglhgbgkew6g65haxqngz5yt6p3ybwyi5zney54)
September 8, 2026 at 8:17 PM
werner herzog on AI filmmaking (from here www.indiewire.com/features/int...)
Reposted by Daniel José Older
“Hundreds protest G20 event at UNC-Chapel Hill as tech billionaires,” including Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) & Alex Karp (CEO of Peter Thiel’s Palantir), talk progress” 9/2/26 … 1/ share.google/zsRgS3S547ui...
Hundreds protest G20 event at UNC-Chapel Hill as tech billionaires talk progress
“[UNC is] rolling out the red carpet,” said one UNC student. “They have Sam Altman at the Carolina Inn. "
share.google
September 6, 2026 at 3:36 PM
“Hundreds protest G20 event at UNC-Chapel Hill as tech billionaires,” including Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) & Alex Karp (CEO of Peter Thiel’s Palantir), talk progress” 9/2/26 … 1/ share.google/zsRgS3S547ui...
Reposted by Daniel José Older
I think the biggest mindfuck about the genocide in Palestine is that we're not even talking about a thin veneer of plausible deniability. The Israeli government is just composed of a group of proud right wing racists bragging about their various war crimes in the Israeli press on a daily basis,
September 8, 2026 at 12:56 AM
I think the biggest mindfuck about the genocide in Palestine is that we're not even talking about a thin veneer of plausible deniability. The Israeli government is just composed of a group of proud right wing racists bragging about their various war crimes in the Israeli press on a daily basis,
Reposted by Daniel José Older
The person who thinks it's fine to have asbestos because it's useful and the person who says hey we shouldn't have asbestos in the wall because it's toxic and terrible aren't talking past each other.
September 8, 2026 at 3:12 AM
The person who thinks it's fine to have asbestos because it's useful and the person who says hey we shouldn't have asbestos in the wall because it's toxic and terrible aren't talking past each other.