Bill MacKenty

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When it comes to questions concerning the nature of Reality, philosophers and theologians have the answers. Philosophers have the answers that can't be proven right. Theologians have the answers that can't be proven wrong. Whatever the natures of Reality and the human condition may be, our understanding can only be improved by thinking about them. I therefore invite you to do so.

Automation Has Made Programming Less Fun.

Posted in Computer Science Teaching Diary on 26 - October 2024 at 05:10 PM (6 days ago)

I still remember the flicker of excitement I felt when I wrote my first line of code at 14...

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That musical thing

Posted in Writing on 24 - October 2024 at 05:58 PM (one week ago)

The flow, once entered, is a delightful space; a trance-like transcendence...

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AI Is a Language Microwave

Posted in Blogging Educational Tech Design Gifted Leadership platform Security Smartboards Support on 01 - October 2024 at 08:28 AM (one month ago)

An article in The Atlantic adds to our important conversation about chatGPT and education. My (non-chatGPT generated) reaction below...

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ASW school use of AI

Posted in Blogging Educational Tech Design Gifted Leadership platform Security Smartboards Support Writing on 08 - September 2024 at 10:34 AM (one month ago)

My school (American School of Warsaw) has developed an excellent guide for use of AI in education

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The changing nature of conflict in an era of drones

Posted in Blogging Personal Historical Simulation on 27 - August 2024 at 10:31 AM (2 months ago)

I am an amateur historian, and have found a thoughtful analysis entitled "UKRAINE AND THE PROBLEM OF
RESTORING MANEUVER IN CONTEMPORARY WAR". I have been quite curious how drones have been used to the east...

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Another substantiative treatment of AI in education

Posted in Educational Tech Design Teaching Diary on 16 - July 2024 at 12:46 PM (3 months ago)

Today and in the future, a growing array of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models and capabilities will be incorporated into the products that specifically serve educational settings. The U.S. Department of Education is committed to encouraging innovative advances in educational technology improve teaching and learning across the nation’s education systems and to supporting developers as they create products and services using AI for the educational market (source).

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The future of NATO

Posted in Blogging Update on 07 - July 2024 at 12:30 PM (about 4 months ago)

An excellent opinion piece in the NYT by Farah Stockman on the future of the NATO alliance...

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Some questions and answers

Posted in Personal Update on 04 - July 2024 at 02:39 PM (about 4 months ago)

Czuję się bardzo szczęśliwy, że grupa polskich studentów, którzy uczą się o Ameryce, zadała mi kilka pytań. Ich pytania i moje odpowiedzi znajdują się poniżej.



I feel very fortunate to be asked some questions by a group of Polish students who are learning about America. Their questions, and my answers, are below.

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How much is a place?

Posted in Blogging Writing on 22 - June 2024 at 10:02 AM (4 months ago)

The Quantara Nexus lay within a very interesting intersection which isn't really an intersection...

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Exciting changes in IB computer science

A new IB computer science curriculum is being released! Read more about it here....

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The making…

Posted in Blogging Writing on 19 - May 2024 at 03:39 PM (5 months ago)

The making, the building of a thing...

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As things go….

Posted in Blogging Writing on 17 - May 2024 at 10:08 PM (5 months ago)

Far and away the easiest thing to do is be lazy and not give a shit. a retreat into the nothing...

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Primitive us, God-like tech. Part 3

Posted in Blogging Writing on 15 - May 2024 at 08:01 PM (5 months ago)

The Rise of God-Like Technology includes tools which significantly enhance or surpass our scope...

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Primitive us, God-like tech. Part 2

Posted in Blogging Writing on 14 - May 2024 at 08:04 PM (5 months ago)

The primary evolutionary purpose of the reptilian brain is to ensure survival through basic mechanisms, but that part of our brain isn't everything we are only part of who we are.

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Primitive us, God-like tech. Part 1

Posted in Blogging Writing on 13 - May 2024 at 05:09 PM (5 months ago)

As we evolve, everything that comes before stays. There are no "clean breaks" in human growth. That is the fucking problem...

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Genres of science fiction

Posted in Writing on 09 - May 2024 at 08:42 PM (5 months ago)

I've been re-reading "Microworlds" by Stanislaw Lem. He has a very opinionated perspective about science fiction...

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Archetypes

Posted in Writing on 07 - May 2024 at 11:39 AM (about 6 months ago)

Helpful list of archetypes, courtesy of chatGPT

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A lot of writing lately

Posted in Blogging Computer Science Personal Writing on 02 - May 2024 at 09:38 PM (6 months ago)

I've been doing a ton of writing for an interesting project. I can't wait to share it with you. I've also been developing setting for a far-future science fiction...

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The volume of the fringe…more science fiction

Posted in Blogging Writing on 04 - March 2024 at 08:52 PM (about 8 months ago)

Regular technology users are easier to sequester, easier to understand. Control? Maybe not. But if you are a heavy technology user, you can be nudged...

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Transcend and Include - the future will have part of the past in it….

Posted in Blogging Writing on 02 - March 2024 at 08:41 PM (8 months ago)

When we think about science fiction, or our futures, we should include Ken Wilber's ideas that evolution and growth transcend and include that which came before...

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What about the future, what about science fiction?

Posted in Blogging Writing on 01 - March 2024 at 02:47 PM (8 months ago)

What is our future in 100 years? 1000 years?

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Sabbatical update 2

Posted in Blogging Personal Teaching Diary Update on 01 - December 2023 at 06:58 AM (11 months ago)

More people should do this...

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Sabbatical update 1

Posted in Personal Teaching Diary on 31 - August 2023 at 03:05 PM (one year ago)

I'm currently on sabbatical and have been deeply immersed in professional development and research. I intend to post these updates about once a month, sharing interesting learnings.

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The future of high school computing

Posted in Computer Science Teaching Diary Writing on 03 - July 2023 at 11:00 AM (one year ago)

Large language models like ChatGPT mandate we change the way we approach high school computing.

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Project management tools

Posted in Blogging Personal Teaching Diary Writing on 10 - April 2023 at 08:35 AM (one year ago)

What a mess. Pricing models are all wrong. Trello seems to have the most common sense...

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Sabbatical planning

Posted in Blogging Teaching Diary Writing on 03 - April 2023 at 05:02 AM (one year ago)

A rare and welcome opportunity to deeply recharge, learn and reflect...

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A mostly terrible time

Posted in Blogging Writing on 26 - March 2023 at 09:49 PM (one year ago)

On being a parent to a teenager...

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Regular Update

Posted in Update on 12 - March 2023 at 09:36 AM (one year ago)

The latest curiosities, projects, and workings. This is a semi-regular update of things I am currently working on / learning about / curious about...

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on postfix…

Posted in Blogging Personal on 24 - February 2023 at 11:05 AM (one year ago)

Setting up a dedicated email server, capable of sending and receiving email on behalf of other domains is not easy for those not accustomed to such matters...

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The faltering

Posted in Writing on 20 - February 2023 at 08:33 AM (one year ago)

Steady and true. Steady and true?

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