Several players have flu-like symptoms ahead of their biggest World Cup match ever. While teams often obscure the truth around sickness due to gamesmanship, it's surprising that more high performance athletes don't take simple precautions like wearing a mask.

When people ask me what the phrase "artificial intelligence" means, my short answer is, it means "venture capitalists, give me some money". But OUP asked me for a longer answer, given here and summarized in the section headings: doi.org/10.1093/9780...

Uh, hey there Ellen, they're wearing face masks to conceal their identities. Might as well be hoods. Only bringing that up cause you mention something about 'making common ground impossible.'

New: everything we know about RFK Jr revoking #Covid EUAs for drugs and devices (which treatments, tests), more Ebola violence, Thailand's Covid surge rages on, hard data on Long Covid reducing the workforce, my submission to Parliament on homelessness, and more: www.patreon.com/violetblue/p...

Game consoles and computers have been getting more expensive for months. But it felt like June 2026 was the moment the public really started to see the effects, especially after Apple’s price hikes. Once again, we have the greed of AI and data center companies to thank for it.

My latest on the leaked documents obtained by Bloomberg showing how Russia is trying to manipulate the information AI systems rely on.

Happy Disability Pride Month! Now more than ever we need everyone engaged in disability justice. Fascists target the disabled. If you want to fight fascism, help the disabled. Wear a mask. Get vaccinated. Fight for public health, housing and Medicare for all.

#CriticalAI4.1, Reminder to check out Molly Crabapple's critique of corporate tech's degradation of creative work by producing "vampiric slop"––AI generated mimicries of human artistry! read.dukeupress.edu/critical-ai/...

Israel purposely murdered a woman who dedicated her life to protecting endangered sea turtles and raising a generation of conservationists in Lebanon. skepchick.org/2026/06/isra...

Crimea placed under state of emergency as Ukraine steps up pressure on Putin, Unease deepens in Russia as Ukraine steps up long-range strikes, Russia preparing possible ‘provocation’ in Baltic states or Poland, Russia’s Wiki Warfare, and much, much more...

Trump has turned the White House into a 24/7 corruption operation. This is a national crisis. Trump thinks the public will stop paying attention. So I went to the Senate floor to call his bluff. I told the ENTIRE STORY of his 500 days of corruption. 1/ Here it is - in one🧵

New: I wrote about why we need to fight the calculated forgetting of recent history so we can make a better future. Also: how Musk killed 100's of thousands, details on the new Covid prevention drug, a look inside the fight to restart US Ebola programs, and more: www.patreon.com/violetblue/p...

Six years since the start of COVID and this type of misinformation by omission is still rampant. The best protection against airborne pathogens is wearing a high quality mask.

#CriticalAI4.1, lecturer Kat Brewster gives voice to Alex Monea's work to reveal the many ways generative AI systems and algorithms reinforce structures of heteronormativity. read.dukeupress.edu/critical-ai/...

This week's edition of Talking Climate covers record-breaking battery storage, India's climate impacts, and how to start impact investing. Share one thing you learn with someone else. That conversation matters more than you know ... and you might be surprised where it leads!

New: where we're at with the Ebola outbreak, Covid risk assessment by location, why a new variant is hitting kids hard, trial confirms metformin reduces Long Covid risk, US demands Africa health data for aid money, RFK Jr now runs US disability education, and more. www.patreon.com/violetblue/p...

It's worthwhile to document these impacts, because they are harmful. But also: "When utilized in literature review" ... for this AND MANY OTHER REASONS they shouldn't be used that way.

I think this should be bigger news. www.wired.com/story/leak-e...

#CriticalAI4.1, AI and robotics researcher Andrew Hundt shows how AI-based solutions to eldercare reflect ableism, arguing that such innovations require the perspectives and involvement of the disabled––not blind automation. read.dukeupress.edu/critical-ai/...

3/ That's the model we need. A new elite — not of birth or credentials, but of massive positive impact. Make future historians proud. Full 2025 Reith Lectures: youtube.com/playlist?lis...

1/ The biggest problem in today's world? It's not climate change, pandemics, or democratic collapse. It's that too many brilliant minds are stuck in boring corporate jobs, instead of working on those problems.

New: you're not nuts, your autocorrect has been quietly poisoned by AI. Also, Snowden fronts for the FSB, a burglary suspect successfully fled in a Waymo, ads in New York must now label AI-generated "synthetic performers", this week's infosec arguments, and more: www.patreon.com/violetblue/p...

Russian Digest: Russia’s fuel crisis jumps from 15 to 25 regions in five days—plus six occupied Ukrainian areas, Trump intelligence adviser previously helped father pursue millions from Kremlin-linked bank, German commander warns Russia may take nuclear threat into space and much, much more...

Silicon Valley: Everyone must use AI for everything all the time! It's a miracle! Also Silicon Valley: Please do not use AI, it is too expensive (and we are watching you)

Elon Musk and the Epstein Class Are Exposed And Can No Longer Hide Despite being the world's richest man, Elon Musk is reviled by a majority of Americans, who are rapidly becoming radicalized against an Epstein Class that is profiting off of their pain. thelefthook.substack.com/p/elon-musk-...

New: Ebola updates, the USDA now has a Screwworm Dashboard, Covid ⬆️ as much as 300% in Southeast Asia countries, OBGYNs rebuke US CDC, pop icon Tiffany opens up about Long Covid, a new "Three good pieces" feature, cats losing it for chicken, and more: www.patreon.com/violetblue/p...

(📢) Please RT this 200-post thread on the eve of Elon Musk becoming humanity’s first trillionaire. I’m a Musk biographer, and my opinion—based on my research—is that he’s one of the most dangerous men alive. I urge folks to consider this before aiding in enriching him further.

My latest on new satellite images showing Russia expanding military bases near Norway, Finland, and the Baltic states

Rarely do we see a venture capitalist speak out against fellow VCs. "We Can’t Let My Former V.C. Colleagues Buy Off Our Democracy." Please read and share (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...

The same week Russia approved a registry for every mobile phone in the country, the FCC advanced a proposal that could make burner phones far more difficult to obtain. My latest…

Exploiting boomer humor.

In which I argue that "AI" as we understand it today is a structurally fascist artifact. https://tante.cc/2026/04/21/ai-as-a-fascist-artifact/

PMC Update, June 8, 2026 The CDC reports COVlD levels are "Very Low" across the US. PMC estimates 1 in 300 Americans actively infectious. BUT there's an outbreak in Central/East Texas. We estimate ≈1 in 30 residents in key counties are infectious. Video 👇 THREAD 1/3 🧵

Hey, I broke the news about Adafruit's CFAA lawsuit against a massively funded AI company with FBI ties this morning ⬇️

Remember when Trump said Ukraine had "no cards"? Well, these days, Ukraine is striking supply routes into temporarily occupied Crimea, targeting fuel infrastructure, degrading Russian logistics, and reaching deeper into occupied territory and Russia. My latest…

I don’t think you fully understand the stochastic parrot metaphor. Also, you’re building your argument on hype narratives that have already been debunked. Check Georgetown computer scientist Cal Newports debunking of the METR hype: youtu.be/5GezB1XyiQo. And of the Mythos hype: youtu.be/k-8stQCeQiE

📣 Jun 4's #ThreatModelCovid: Ebola spreading, Hanta still on watch, post-exposure Covid prevention, & more 🦠 Please share & support 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙡 newsletters (𝘛𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 #infosec / 𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 #covid) & their creator, investigative journalist @violetblue.bsky.social www.patreon.com/posts/ebola-... 𝟷/𝟹

Lots of updates from @violetblue.bsky.social also cat pics. www.patreon.com/posts/160101...

One of the main headlines coming out of Russian media is an agreement that will be signed by Putin’s wallet, Dmitriev, for a “Putin-Trump Tunnel” that would connect Russia to Alaska 🤦🏼‍♀️ My latest...

USA PANICS as Norway Joins French Nuclear Umbrella - 9 Nations Sign Up, America SIDELINED Europe is not just questioning American nuclear umbrella anymore. It is building a replacement and nine countries have already stepped under France’s protection. #France #Macron #Trump youtu.be/y5r2o7ovnRw

What do a giant new marine sanctuary, the loss of climate journalism, and plug-in solar panels for apartment balconies have in common? They all show how much the future depends on the choices we make today. Read more in this week's edition of Talking Climate.

Nice work from #valentinodevries in @nytimes.com: the story of how big tech undermined student learning for a generation should be headline news!

Important News from @violetblue.bsky.social along with a good friend could use some help. Oh and Max and Sam doing cat things- look out mom! FFS aliens- give it up, magats.

Violet Affleck has been an amazing advocate. “It is neglect of the highest order to look children in the eyes and say: "We knew how to protect you, and we didn’t do it,"' she told the UN. 'For adults, the relentless beat of "back to normal", ignoring, …🧵 graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/ne...

What's happening to CBS News is what the tech oligarchs call "parallel" strategy. Buy an existing institution, gut it, and convert it into a right-wing zombie version of itself. They are doing this to media, government, education, biotech, defense tech, etc. Some call it the "Network State."

So true it hurts

The Guardian reviews @ghostdoc2026.bsky.social : "The roots of AI in rightwing ideology is examined in Valerie Veatch’s enjoyable doc, including an array of colourful, often crazed, figures" -⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ju...

New: hospital tents burned as Ebola in DRC spirals out of control, cruise ship hantavirus cases increased to 13, Mass General Brigham concluded that US #LongCOVID cases are double that of current estimates, Covid risk levels are rising in some regions, and more: www.patreon.com/posts/ebola-...