Mastodawn

Karin Dalziel

@nirak@hcommons.social

320 Followers

313 Following

1.5K Posts

Assistant Director, Digital Strategies @ University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
Dev team lead, Center for Digital Research in the Humanities

I also like cats, dogs, bikes, ebikes, roller skating, kayaking, reading, indoor climbing

opinions my own and don't reflect those of my employer

Personal accounts at @nirak (general purpose) and @nirak (Lincoln, Nebraska instance)

CDRH	https://cdrh.unl.edu

Karin Dalziel 2d ago

ksclarke 2d ago

Duke Library implemented Anubis to try to stem the onslaught of AI traffic many libraries are facing, and wrote up a nice report about their experience with it.

https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/items/a99a4736-6542-4ef1-8492-41c80e58e1be

Anubis Pilot Project Report - June 2025

In May & June 2025, Duke University Libraries (DUL) staff successfully implemented Anubis, a configurable open source web application firewall (WAF), in order to stave off persistent onslaughts of AI-related bot scraping activity. During this pilot period (May 1 - June 10, 2025), aggressive bot scraping led to extended outages for three critical library platforms (Duke Digital Repository, Archives & Manuscripts, and the Books & Media Catalog), and in each case, implementing Anubis mitigated the problem.

Karin Dalziel 3d ago

@nirak It’s the AI cheese shop!
“A planner task?”
“Not as such.”
“Calendar event?”
“Well, we don’t get much call for it around here.”

Karin Dalziel 3d ago

I continue to be both amused and annoyed by AI rollouts.

A "copilot" agent appeared in teams chat. OK, I'll try it out. Can I make a planner task? A calendar event? a reminder? No.

There is an agent to connect to asana, but there's no way to connect to any other microsoft app.

I really don't understand what they think the use case is here.

Karin Dalziel Jun 26

After a few days of blessed calm, the bots are back :(

Karin Dalziel Jun 25

I figured there must be and I just had not found it, but no

Karin Dalziel Jun 25

Apparently there is no way to create recovery codes for my work's 2fa in case we forget/lose our recovery device :/

Karin Dalziel Jun 25

I gave up air travel nine years ago, and I wrote about it in this new essay on Substack.

Give it a read and a share. I think I've managed not to sound too self-righteous ;)

'What I’ve realised is that flying isn’t just a seriously carbon-intensive mode of transport, It’s a story we’re sold about what it means to live well.'

https://kristiedegaris.substack.com/p/grounded-what-i-gained-by-giving-up-air-travel

#Environment #Scotland #Writing #Books #Climate #Sustainable #Article #Writingcommunity

Karin Dalziel Jun 25

Ruth [☕️ 👩🏻‍💻📚✍🏻🧵🪡🍵]Jun 24

Finished a new blog post: "My Coworkers Don't Want AI. They Want Macros"

https://ruthtillman.com/post/macros-not-ai/

My Coworkers Don't Want AI. They Want Macros | Ruth Kitchin Tillman

An exploration of how we are using macros in our current system, contrasted with what we're getting pitched by vendors. We want to: enter consistent data, avoid typos, improve system design, add conditional logic, and generally save the user repetitive, mindless work. Right now, that seems to require macros.

Ruth Kitchin Tillman

Karin Dalziel Jun 24

With temperatures reaching 100 today, here is a look back at people escaping the heat at America's first public beach, Revere Beach.
.
#RevereBeach #Postcards #ephemera #Heatwave #Boston #RevereMa #Massachusetts @universalhub

Karin Dalziel Jun 23

As someone who follows the downside of AI this episode of Last Week Tonight on AI slop is well worth a watch: AI Slop: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Warning: NSFW language.

It's the 2,104th piece added to my AI Controversies collection on Zotero. Check it out:

https://www.zotero.org/bjrussell/collections/KU8QQNVC

#AISlop #GenerativeAI

Zotero | Your personal research assistant

×

I gave up air travel nine years ago, and I wrote about it in this new essay on Substack.

Give it a read and a share. I think I've managed not to sound too self-righteous ;)

'What I’ve realised is that flying isn’t just a seriously carbon-intensive mode of transport, It’s a story we’re sold about what it means to live well.'

https://kristiedegaris.substack.com/p/grounded-what-i-gained-by-giving-up-air-travel

#Environment #Scotland #Writing #Books #Climate #Sustainable #Article #Writingcommunity

I gave up flying because of all that it involves @kristiedegaris the costs, the rush, the "security" but mostly because there are those people today who have forgotten how to behave like a decent human being.

@scozmos Yes, that's a whole other side to it that I don't enjoy at all.

I don't think I can cope with the human element any more @kristiedegaris I'm out in the boonies and LOVE the peace and quiet and the lack of others!

@scozmos SAME! I am a proper, happy hermit now. I suits me so well.

ditto @kristiedegaris

Simon Brooke Jun 25

@kristiedegaris I've not flown except for work since 1975, and not at all since 2008. There are lots of places around the world that I've never seen and would like to see, and places I have been I'd like to revisit. But these are not big wants. There are also places within cycling distance I've not seen. I'm not persuaded that flying does enhance life much.

And, as you say, the planet cannot afford it.

#ClimateEmergency
#OverConsumption

@simon_brooke Yep, every day I think I see a photograph or hear of a place I would love to go. But as you say, they are not big enough wants to put other things aside.

I also really want my kids to know I tried. My eldest daughter (19) is really struggling with things at the moment. It's all very heavy.

Jason Horner Jun 25

@kristiedegaris @simon_brooke I have never travelled outside Europe and even then mostly in Spain, Portugal and France, so much to see by boat, train and bike. I never feel I have missed out on further away places.....

Daniil Baturin Jun 25

@Leenorganics @kristiedegaris @simon_brooke When I moved to the city where I live now, I met a certain poet. A few months later, she was about to move away, and she was asking if anyone had a large suitcase for her belongings that they'd be ready to part with.
I gave her the suitcase that I arrived there with, partly as a gesture of friendship and partly in hope that I wouldn't need to move anywhere or travel large distances any soon, so I wouldn't need that suitcase.
So far I haven't needed it, thankfully.

Jason Horner Jun 26

@dmbaturin @kristiedegaris @simon_brooke I never owned a large suitcase but still have a suitably large rucksack from my college days way back

Climate Jenny 2.1 Jun 25

@simon_brooke @kristiedegaris I have a quandary. I don’t intend to fly any more, unless it’s a genuine emergency. But my husband has been waiting until retirement to take a long vacation overseas. I’m anxiously looking at the sail cargo boats, but they are not running regularly scheduled routes as yet.

@ClimateJenny @simon_brooke I hope you find some ease in making a decision. I'm sure a trip will be very lovely to share with your husband but understand your hesitance.

Arratoon Jun 25

@kristiedegaris Eleven years here. Just came back from a trip to Malmö via Brussels, Hamburg, and Copenhagen. First proper long holiday in years. Completely knackered, mind…!

Arratoon Jun 25

@kristiedegaris *train trip, I should have said

@arratoon I already filled in the blanks. And that sounds like a really lovely trip! Maybe it'll change but any travel right now feels beyond me. My youngest self would think I was very boring 😴

Arratoon Jun 25

@kristiedegaris It was exciting; cocktail bars, cafes, new people and experiences, running 13 miles across the Øresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden. But we got back on Sunday, I’m working on two magazines all week, and we have someone staying with us next week. Lying in a field by one of your lochs seems rather appealing right now, midges or no…!

@arratoon I hope the nest couple of weeks passes smoothly and you can lie down in a field ASAP. In the meantime I will lie down in a field and you can live vicariously through me.

Arratoon Jun 25

@kristiedegaris Ha, thanks.

Jonathan Schofield Jun 25

@kristiedegaris what a lovely article 😊

@urlyman Thank you so much for reading and those kind words.

Leah Price Jun 25

@kristiedegaris Not self-righteous, but hopeful -- thanks for putting this so compellingly.

@bookish Thank you so much. Very glad I managed to avoid anything self-righteous, I was hyper aware that it could go in that direction. Thanks for reading and for the lovely comment.

Donald R Noble Jun 25

@kristiedegaris I misread the first line as “I gave up time travel nine years ago” — that would be quite a different essay 😳😆

@drnoble If only I had the lived experience to write it...

Rocketman Jun 25

@kristiedegaris Lovely text. Thank you!

There was a time when I used to fly a lot. Mostly for work, but sometimes for pleasure.

For the past decade, I’ve cut down significantly. Not entirely; but for pretty much any long distance trip where it was feasible, I’ve taken the train.

At the same time, I’ve also found greater joy in staying close to home. Though I’m lucky to live where I do.*

*) I just thought “Vienna’s nice, but it’s too far from the mountains” 😅

@slothrop It's really great to hear how many people are already thinking this way about flying. It's interesting because no one really talks about it, but clearly so many people are thinking like me.

@kristiedegaris I decided not to fly back around 1990, when I read about climate change. I thought I was being reasonable, but I was just weird obviously. Traveled to Scotland by bus a couple of times.

@limpr That shows such an incredible amount of foresight re climate change! I hope Scotland was worth the bus journey!

@kristiedegaris @limpr I just thought it was obvious, and that everyone would come to the same conclusion soon. Lol. Yes, Scotland was worth it and the bus journeys made it even more special.

Anomnomnomaly BSC SSC Jun 25

@kristiedegaris

Last plane I got on, was Around St Paddy's day 2005 when I went to see my friend in the Netherlands.

Last time I went into Europe, was by car/ferry, turns out it's not that much further going from my house to the Nurburgring in Germany... than going from my house to Edinburgh in Scotland.

Matt Chambers Jun 25

@kristiedegaris great piece!

@kristiedegaris
Anyway, individual actions has no efect on systemic issues.

@boss Unless many take that action, but ok...

I don't buy into this way of thinking. Part of me thinks that 'only the corporations can fix it' is exactly what the corporations want us to think.

@kristiedegaris
Yeah! That's it. How many of humans should stop flying? because a huge 80% never flown.
Of course not the corporations will change, need a systemic change, a political one.
Let's see same situation in another critical issue: plastic, where recycling does not make a difference because more and more goes to the environment. Plastic should be forbidden, not recycled.
We need a revolution, I'm afraid. 🙄

@boss I agree re revolution.

Jennifer Moore 😷Jun 26

Re individual actions having "no effect": I don't think that's entirely true. Individual shifts can be _part_ of systemic shifts, and acting according to your own integrity can free up energy to push for systemic change.

But even if it _were_ true, that's a pretty dismissive response to a thoughtful post. Seems kinda sealiony and uncalled-for. Now I'm curious about systemically-detrimental patterns you might be feeling the need to justify in your own life.

@unchartedworlds
(edited, it's difficult to explain!)
Yes, somehow you are right when you say "a pretty dismissive response to a thoughtful post", and I apologize.
But we are in the same side, I guess.
The image explains better what is important in my opinion.

Jennifer Moore 😷Jun 27

Thanks for listening :-)

slow learner, deep feeler Jun 26

@kristiedegaris

I've been trying to find a way to write about the story we've been sold on what makes a well lived life. I like your solution. I get too mad about it and my words dry up.

@melanie Top tip. Get REAL MAD in private for a long time, then write about it

slow learner, deep feeler Jun 26

@kristiedegaris

💜

@melanie It's a pretty huge realisation though, that's it's all just made up. All the things we were told about what creates happiness and a worthwhile life. But also once you're out from under iy you're free to create it on your own, authentic, real happiness creating terms.

Virginie Dewulf Jun 26

@kristiedegaris thanks for those words 🙏
5y without flying here with a decision to fly max once in 10y. It has been easy because I live in Europe: the train network is great and I have the option to put the required budget. Lots of friends do the same, it's nice to see.
The challenging part is business: conferences are organized and people travel from everywhere to meet. We also want to keep real connexion. So it's kind of paradoxal. Dont have a clear position yet. Curious if others face it?

@vdew I see that business is still so tied to air travel. Conferences etc have still not shifted to an inclusive means of having people attend, and neither have most companies changed their attitudes. Attendence in person is often expected.

I find connection everywhere these days. I really enjoy emailing and messaging and if I do see people in person, that can be lovely, but I don't feel like I *need* it. I also understand that's not the same for everyone.

@vdew I also find connection with nature, it sounds cheesy but it's true, and these days, deep connection with myself. I think that last part might be the key to it all.

James Gallagher Jun 26

@kristiedegaris
I’ve been getting the hang of travelling to Dublin and taking the ferry (3 hours) to Wales. The train journey out of Holyhead heading to London is just stunning. I must spend some time in North Wales. Might also head up to Belfast and get a ferry to fair Scotland too 😀
@skinnylatte

@james @skinnylatte North Wales is so beautiful! And I really do recommend Scotland. If you ever want any travel suggestions...just ask!

James Gallagher Jun 26

@kristiedegaris @skinnylatte Thank you so much!

Patrick O'Beirne Jun 28

@james @kristiedegaris @skinnylatte

Going from Ireland to mainland Europe is prohibitively expensive by ferry & trains and extra hotel nights. Unless you enjoy the experience like @MartinJBreen whose journeys I follow while knowing I'll never have the stamina and wealth to do them.