Erik Ostrom
@erikostrom.com
Musician, improviser, urban biker, web developer, Minneapolitan.
Pinned
Erik Ostrom
@erikostrom.com
· Apr 29
I’m going to try to learn something every day. Or, because humans are always learning: I’m going to try to *be aware of* learning something every day. And to document it here. Let’s see how this goes.
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
Incredible headline here (among other things)
Texas police department ordered closed for failing to provide any benefit to community
Disbanding of department in Trinidad comes after arrest of a resident for posting about issues with local water supply
www.theguardian.com
September 15, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Incredible headline here (among other things)
Seems bad
A lot of people really have no idea what's coming with the energy crisis in the coming months. A lot of the crisis from the start of the war were postponed but those tricks can no longer work. We're about to see the worst energy crisis in 50 years.
September 15, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Seems bad
“unflinching support,” next you’ll be telling me the Dems are backing away from hard-line Trotskyism
An increasing number of Democratic leaders have begun to push back against their party’s unflinching support for the transgender community this midterm season. The shift comes after years of Republican-backed attacks against Democrats on the issue of transgender athletes.
Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power
An increasing number of Democratic leaders have begun to push back against their party’s unflinching support for the transgender community this midterm season.
bit.ly
September 15, 2026 at 12:28 AM
“unflinching support,” next you’ll be telling me the Dems are backing away from hard-line Trotskyism
Listen to Keith, he has a law degree
my take on "the future of AI" is that there should be laws that determine what corporations can do and they should be enforced
September 14, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Listen to Keith, he has a law degree
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
the problem with this is that peter thiel has a degree in philosophy from stanford
PEOPLE WITH LIBERAL ARTS DEGREES: so while i see there is utility to the system, i’m more or less morally opposed to their current constructs and have big concerns over the business structure and environmental impact
WEB CODER: so i met God today,
WEB CODER: so i met God today,
September 8, 2026 at 11:21 PM
the problem with this is that peter thiel has a degree in philosophy from stanford
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
"Surely there must be some way to steer the future of AI to maximally benefit society AND maximize value for my investors." -Dario, basically.
Which, again, is still preferable to Altman and Elon. But let's not pretend this is something it's not.
Which, again, is still preferable to Altman and Elon. But let's not pretend this is something it's not.
September 13, 2026 at 11:24 PM
"Surely there must be some way to steer the future of AI to maximally benefit society AND maximize value for my investors." -Dario, basically.
Which, again, is still preferable to Altman and Elon. But let's not pretend this is something it's not.
Which, again, is still preferable to Altman and Elon. But let's not pretend this is something it's not.
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
Wow!
So cutting traffic makes public transport more reliable and faster, reduces pollution, noise and particulate matter, improves health and benefits local businesses…
…AND reduces crime and violence.
So cutting traffic makes public transport more reliable and faster, reduces pollution, noise and particulate matter, improves health and benefits local businesses…
…AND reduces crime and violence.
Cutting traffic cuts vandalism, burglary and violence, research shows
Researchers analysed data from tens of thousands of households across England, Scotland and Wales to examine how changes in traffic levels relate to how safe people feel in their communities.
www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...
Researchers analysed data from tens of thousands of households across England, Scotland and Wales to examine how changes in traffic levels relate to how safe people feel in their communities.
www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...
Cutting traffic cuts vandalism, burglary and violence, research shows
Lowering traffic on urban streets can cut vandalism, burglary and violence, according to a significant new study by Leeds researchers.
www.leeds.ac.uk
September 13, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Wow!
So cutting traffic makes public transport more reliable and faster, reduces pollution, noise and particulate matter, improves health and benefits local businesses…
…AND reduces crime and violence.
So cutting traffic makes public transport more reliable and faster, reduces pollution, noise and particulate matter, improves health and benefits local businesses…
…AND reduces crime and violence.
Some 20 years ago I sent my best song to a songwriting competition where songs got judged by a panel that supposedly included Tom Waits. Well, first there was an anonymous committee, and then they forwarded the finalists to Tom Waits and the rest of the panel.
September 13, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Some 20 years ago I sent my best song to a songwriting competition where songs got judged by a panel that supposedly included Tom Waits. Well, first there was an anonymous committee, and then they forwarded the finalists to Tom Waits and the rest of the panel.
Sometimes on a bike ride I’ll listen to music on my phone. On my street it blends harmoniously with birds singing, people walking and talking. Then I turn the corner and can’t hear it at all on the bridge over the freeway. Then I’m past the freeway and I can hear music, and birds, and people again.
I think a lot about how quiet my city would be flipping the number of people driving vs walking biking or transit.
From my house I hear two major highways, each a full mile away. They create a continuous background of sound.
From my house I hear two major highways, each a full mile away. They create a continuous background of sound.
i don't think we spend enough imagining how quiet and idyllic life would be if we flipped the ratio of bike/transit : car infrastructure.
September 13, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Sometimes on a bike ride I’ll listen to music on my phone. On my street it blends harmoniously with birds singing, people walking and talking. Then I turn the corner and can’t hear it at all on the bridge over the freeway. Then I’m past the freeway and I can hear music, and birds, and people again.
Just interrupted two strangers talking about billionaires at a cafe to show them eattherichtextformat.github.io/1-pixel-weal..., so that's my social responsibility for the day
Wealth, shown to scale
Wealth inequality in the United States is out of control. Here we visualize the issue in a unique way.
eattherichtextformat.github.io
September 12, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Just interrupted two strangers talking about billionaires at a cafe to show them eattherichtextformat.github.io/1-pixel-weal..., so that's my social responsibility for the day
This is such a good song
Kate Davis - Daisy (Official Video)
YouTube video by Kate Davis
www.youtube.com
September 12, 2026 at 4:44 PM
This is such a good song
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
It’s so fucked up they let Zuck do shit after the Metaverse. You shouldn’t be able to run a company after that shit.
September 11, 2026 at 4:37 AM
It’s so fucked up they let Zuck do shit after the Metaverse. You shouldn’t be able to run a company after that shit.
Applicable to every context
if it took you 5 seconds of contemplation to think of an alternative you should take at least another 5-10 to at least consider the possibility that it at least crossed the minds of 1 or 2 of the people who dedicate their lives and research careers to dealing with the problems we post about on here
September 10, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Applicable to every context
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
taylor schulz was civilly committed as mentally ill in 2021 and released the same year. on nov 9, 2023, his loring park apartment started eviction proceedings and were granted a writ for the recovery of the premises on nov 30
schulz killed robert skafte on dec 8, 2023. this didn't have to happen
schulz killed robert skafte on dec 8, 2023. this didn't have to happen
September 10, 2026 at 6:41 PM
taylor schulz was civilly committed as mentally ill in 2021 and released the same year. on nov 9, 2023, his loring park apartment started eviction proceedings and were granted a writ for the recovery of the premises on nov 30
schulz killed robert skafte on dec 8, 2023. this didn't have to happen
schulz killed robert skafte on dec 8, 2023. this didn't have to happen
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
We really do earnestly believe reading Small Beer books could kill all humans. They're TOO GOOD.
There is a >10% chance they might END THE WORLD within the next decade.
This is definitely not a galaxy-brained marketing stunt.
Of course we're still selling the books—we will until the END OF THE
There is a >10% chance they might END THE WORLD within the next decade.
This is definitely not a galaxy-brained marketing stunt.
Of course we're still selling the books—we will until the END OF THE
This, from an Anthropic employee, either reflects a lack of imagination or is evidence that this is all just lies.
If you were really that scared, you'd pull the plug on all the servers and wipe everything from ARIN, APNIC, LACNIC, AFRINIC, and RIPE NCC. No more internet; problem solved.
If you were really that scared, you'd pull the plug on all the servers and wipe everything from ARIN, APNIC, LACNIC, AFRINIC, and RIPE NCC. No more internet; problem solved.
September 10, 2026 at 6:14 PM
We really do earnestly believe reading Small Beer books could kill all humans. They're TOO GOOD.
There is a >10% chance they might END THE WORLD within the next decade.
This is definitely not a galaxy-brained marketing stunt.
Of course we're still selling the books—we will until the END OF THE
There is a >10% chance they might END THE WORLD within the next decade.
This is definitely not a galaxy-brained marketing stunt.
Of course we're still selling the books—we will until the END OF THE
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
but presenting "an answer" to a question is a fundamentally dishonest way to structure the interaction.
it does not understand questions. it's *presenting a statistical result as though it's a logical one*
and even if you know that, the human interpretation of language is a powerful reflex
it does not understand questions. it's *presenting a statistical result as though it's a logical one*
and even if you know that, the human interpretation of language is a powerful reflex
September 10, 2026 at 6:18 PM
but presenting "an answer" to a question is a fundamentally dishonest way to structure the interaction.
it does not understand questions. it's *presenting a statistical result as though it's a logical one*
and even if you know that, the human interpretation of language is a powerful reflex
it does not understand questions. it's *presenting a statistical result as though it's a logical one*
and even if you know that, the human interpretation of language is a powerful reflex
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
The Minneapolis Art Institute has impeccable vibes - I saw 3 monarchs outside, and admission is free!
September 8, 2026 at 5:07 PM
The Minneapolis Art Institute has impeccable vibes - I saw 3 monarchs outside, and admission is free!
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
“does anyone actually clean their room?”
“Not in my world, brother”
“Not in my world, brother”
September 10, 2026 at 3:13 PM
“does anyone actually clean their room?”
“Not in my world, brother”
“Not in my world, brother”
Remembering when Tucker Carlson was a mainstream figure in political media.
A lot of people asking me how this isn't the New InfoWars and guess what maybe it is?
September 10, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Remembering when Tucker Carlson was a mainstream figure in political media.
What a satisfying read this was!
September 10, 2026 at 2:49 PM
What a satisfying read this was!
I just remembered the person I met in Amsterdam this February who, on learning I was visiting from Minneapolis, told me about the two times she'd visited, and then, after a pause, continued, "It's a very ugly city, I must say."
Every time I’ve gone overseas this year, I didn’t really know how people would react to me as an American. And every time people found out I was from Minnesota, people thanked me for being a good American and said they wished more Americans were like us. Every time.
Finger on the pulse Tafoya, missing that Minnesota has become a world-wide phenomenon, synonyms with "badass".
September 9, 2026 at 12:38 AM
I just remembered the person I met in Amsterdam this February who, on learning I was visiting from Minneapolis, told me about the two times she'd visited, and then, after a pause, continued, "It's a very ugly city, I must say."
I wish this kind of customer survey had an option for “I’m dissatisfied because too much space has been made available for car parking instead of things that might benefit me”
September 9, 2026 at 12:00 AM
I wish this kind of customer survey had an option for “I’m dissatisfied because too much space has been made available for car parking instead of things that might benefit me”
In the middle of the night I woke up and remembered that a lot of parents raise their kids to base their behavior on adherence to an authority rather than understanding the innate consequences of their choices for themselves and others, and then I had trouble getting back to sleep.
September 8, 2026 at 2:13 PM
In the middle of the night I woke up and remembered that a lot of parents raise their kids to base their behavior on adherence to an authority rather than understanding the innate consequences of their choices for themselves and others, and then I had trouble getting back to sleep.
My helmet stories (2):
Twice as an adult I’ve wiped out on bike (well, once was a scooter) and felt the impact as my helmet hit the pavement. Did not enjoy it. Glad I had the helmet.
Once in Amsterdam I biked without a helmet because I didn’t want Dutch people to think I was a nerd. Felt weird.
Twice as an adult I’ve wiped out on bike (well, once was a scooter) and felt the impact as my helmet hit the pavement. Did not enjoy it. Glad I had the helmet.
Once in Amsterdam I biked without a helmet because I didn’t want Dutch people to think I was a nerd. Felt weird.
September 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM
My helmet stories (2):
Twice as an adult I’ve wiped out on bike (well, once was a scooter) and felt the impact as my helmet hit the pavement. Did not enjoy it. Glad I had the helmet.
Once in Amsterdam I biked without a helmet because I didn’t want Dutch people to think I was a nerd. Felt weird.
Twice as an adult I’ve wiped out on bike (well, once was a scooter) and felt the impact as my helmet hit the pavement. Did not enjoy it. Glad I had the helmet.
Once in Amsterdam I biked without a helmet because I didn’t want Dutch people to think I was a nerd. Felt weird.