Brian M
@bamnet.bsky.social
Engineer @ Google, Maps + Cloud. Open Sourcer. Privacy practitioner.
November 29, 2025 at 4:32 AM
After 13 solid years, my partner's TiVo Bolt finally died. The replacement options are disappointing.
* Xfinity TV Box + DVR: $22/mo
* Channels HD + praying that "TV Everywhere" works: $8/mo
* Switch to YouTube TV, saving $20/month, but loose access to a few channels
Any recommendations?
* Xfinity TV Box + DVR: $22/mo
* Channels HD + praying that "TV Everywhere" works: $8/mo
* Switch to YouTube TV, saving $20/month, but loose access to a few channels
Any recommendations?
November 18, 2025 at 4:19 AM
After 13 solid years, my partner's TiVo Bolt finally died. The replacement options are disappointing.
* Xfinity TV Box + DVR: $22/mo
* Channels HD + praying that "TV Everywhere" works: $8/mo
* Switch to YouTube TV, saving $20/month, but loose access to a few channels
Any recommendations?
* Xfinity TV Box + DVR: $22/mo
* Channels HD + praying that "TV Everywhere" works: $8/mo
* Switch to YouTube TV, saving $20/month, but loose access to a few channels
Any recommendations?
Halloween-ops report ::
117 trick or treaters. All received treats. Peak traffic 6:15-6:30 PM.
Candy chute experienced two bugs.
1) Screw in position #2 was not flush. Hotfix with tape.
2) A small number of candy bags got stuck. Long pole used to resolve.
RCA tomorrow.
Happy #Halloween!
117 trick or treaters. All received treats. Peak traffic 6:15-6:30 PM.
Candy chute experienced two bugs.
1) Screw in position #2 was not flush. Hotfix with tape.
2) A small number of candy bags got stuck. Long pole used to resolve.
RCA tomorrow.
Happy #Halloween!
November 1, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Halloween-ops report ::
117 trick or treaters. All received treats. Peak traffic 6:15-6:30 PM.
Candy chute experienced two bugs.
1) Screw in position #2 was not flush. Hotfix with tape.
2) A small number of candy bags got stuck. Long pole used to resolve.
RCA tomorrow.
Happy #Halloween!
117 trick or treaters. All received treats. Peak traffic 6:15-6:30 PM.
Candy chute experienced two bugs.
1) Screw in position #2 was not flush. Hotfix with tape.
2) A small number of candy bags got stuck. Long pole used to resolve.
RCA tomorrow.
Happy #Halloween!
November 1, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Did not have "Republicans against Differential Privacy" on my 2025 bingo card.
www.wired.com/story/republ...
www.wired.com/story/republ...
The Republican Plan to Reform the Census Could Put Everyone’s Privacy at Risk
A little-known algorithmic process called “differential privacy” helps keep census data anonymous. Conservatives want it gone.
www.wired.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Did not have "Republicans against Differential Privacy" on my 2025 bingo card.
www.wired.com/story/republ...
www.wired.com/story/republ...
One of the most satisfying feelings of Rails development is successfully upgrading your app to the next release of Rails.
There's no guarantee it's going to go smoothly, it feels like a litmus test for adherence to The Rails Way.
Just landed 8->8.1 for Concerto
github.com/bamnet/conce...
#rails
There's no guarantee it's going to go smoothly, it feels like a litmus test for adherence to The Rails Way.
Just landed 8->8.1 for Concerto
github.com/bamnet/conce...
#rails
Bump rails from 8.0.3 to 8.1.0 (#463) · bamnet/concerto-fresh@1be2e70
* Bump rails from 8.0.3 to 8.1.0
Bumps [rails](https://github.com/rails/rails) from 8.0.3 to 8.1.0.
- [Release notes](https://github.com/rails/rails/releases)
- [Commits](https://github.com/rails/...
github.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:21 AM
One of the most satisfying feelings of Rails development is successfully upgrading your app to the next release of Rails.
There's no guarantee it's going to go smoothly, it feels like a litmus test for adherence to The Rails Way.
Just landed 8->8.1 for Concerto
github.com/bamnet/conce...
#rails
There's no guarantee it's going to go smoothly, it feels like a litmus test for adherence to The Rails Way.
Just landed 8->8.1 for Concerto
github.com/bamnet/conce...
#rails
It's so cute. Someone from Tailscale's sales team is trying to sell me on Tailscale.
In a personal capacity, I've already been using it since 2020.
In a corporate capacity, replacing BeyondCorp @ Google with Tailscale feels a bit too ambitious.
In a personal capacity, I've already been using it since 2020.
In a corporate capacity, replacing BeyondCorp @ Google with Tailscale feels a bit too ambitious.
October 6, 2025 at 3:34 PM
It's so cute. Someone from Tailscale's sales team is trying to sell me on Tailscale.
In a personal capacity, I've already been using it since 2020.
In a corporate capacity, replacing BeyondCorp @ Google with Tailscale feels a bit too ambitious.
In a personal capacity, I've already been using it since 2020.
In a corporate capacity, replacing BeyondCorp @ Google with Tailscale feels a bit too ambitious.
Reposted by Brian M
Gave a talk at #devfest NYC about GMP Code Assist.
You can check out Code Assist @ developers.google.com/maps/ai/mcp
October 3, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Gave a talk at #devfest NYC about GMP Code Assist.
You can check out Code Assist @ developers.google.com/maps/ai/mcp
TIL United has an in-flight map that uses OSM sometimes. Very cool!
Kinda surprised they stuck with the default styling.
Kinda surprised they stuck with the default styling.
September 28, 2025 at 10:13 PM
TIL United has an in-flight map that uses OSM sometimes. Very cool!
Kinda surprised they stuck with the default styling.
Kinda surprised they stuck with the default styling.
And you can bet I overcorrected adding:
- type and value validations on the Rails model
- prop validation in the Vue JS frontend
- squashing the infinite loop JS edge case which was a red herring
- test coverage for all of the above
Very satisfying code to write. Past self is thankful.
- type and value validations on the Rails model
- prop validation in the Vue JS frontend
- squashing the infinite loop JS edge case which was a red herring
- test coverage for all of the above
Very satisfying code to write. Past self is thankful.
2 hours spent debugging to catch an errant comma.
Foo = bar,
vs
Foo = bar
That meant that Rails turned Foo into an array, which then threw the JavaScript into an infinite loop since.
This vibe coding stuff has its pitfalls.
Foo = bar,
vs
Foo = bar
That meant that Rails turned Foo into an array, which then threw the JavaScript into an infinite loop since.
This vibe coding stuff has its pitfalls.
September 23, 2025 at 3:50 AM
And you can bet I overcorrected adding:
- type and value validations on the Rails model
- prop validation in the Vue JS frontend
- squashing the infinite loop JS edge case which was a red herring
- test coverage for all of the above
Very satisfying code to write. Past self is thankful.
- type and value validations on the Rails model
- prop validation in the Vue JS frontend
- squashing the infinite loop JS edge case which was a red herring
- test coverage for all of the above
Very satisfying code to write. Past self is thankful.
2 hours spent debugging to catch an errant comma.
Foo = bar,
vs
Foo = bar
That meant that Rails turned Foo into an array, which then threw the JavaScript into an infinite loop since.
This vibe coding stuff has its pitfalls.
Foo = bar,
vs
Foo = bar
That meant that Rails turned Foo into an array, which then threw the JavaScript into an infinite loop since.
This vibe coding stuff has its pitfalls.
September 22, 2025 at 4:23 AM
2 hours spent debugging to catch an errant comma.
Foo = bar,
vs
Foo = bar
That meant that Rails turned Foo into an array, which then threw the JavaScript into an infinite loop since.
This vibe coding stuff has its pitfalls.
Foo = bar,
vs
Foo = bar
That meant that Rails turned Foo into an array, which then threw the JavaScript into an infinite loop since.
This vibe coding stuff has its pitfalls.
Impeccable timing. Bought a NAS 3 days ago. Yesterday, Ubiquiti announced their new NAS lineup which looks quite nice. 😭
Luckily, the TikTok Shop has free returns. Kinda feel bad for all the new NAS players tho.
Luckily, the TikTok Shop has free returns. Kinda feel bad for all the new NAS players tho.
September 19, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Impeccable timing. Bought a NAS 3 days ago. Yesterday, Ubiquiti announced their new NAS lineup which looks quite nice. 😭
Luckily, the TikTok Shop has free returns. Kinda feel bad for all the new NAS players tho.
Luckily, the TikTok Shop has free returns. Kinda feel bad for all the new NAS players tho.
After a near-miss using `diskpart` to extend a few volumes on a PC, I should finally invest in a NAS. Recommendations welcome.
Also, why don't these commands have confirmations...
Also, why don't these commands have confirmations...
September 14, 2025 at 4:43 AM
After a near-miss using `diskpart` to extend a few volumes on a PC, I should finally invest in a NAS. Recommendations welcome.
Also, why don't these commands have confirmations...
Also, why don't these commands have confirmations...
RSS Feed support ✅
Refreshing Concerto is going smoother than expected, in no small part because LLMs are faster at CSS than I am.
Refreshing Concerto is going smoother than expected, in no small part because LLMs are faster at CSS than I am.
September 4, 2025 at 4:25 AM
RSS Feed support ✅
Refreshing Concerto is going smoother than expected, in no small part because LLMs are faster at CSS than I am.
Refreshing Concerto is going smoother than expected, in no small part because LLMs are faster at CSS than I am.
Is there anyone disrupting AllTrails?
Their desktop planning and discovery gets worse every time I try to use it.
All I really want is to find loop trails that are in areas I haven't already explored. I don't want to see the other 4 slight variations of the hike at Rampo State Park.
Their desktop planning and discovery gets worse every time I try to use it.
All I really want is to find loop trails that are in areas I haven't already explored. I don't want to see the other 4 slight variations of the hike at Rampo State Park.
August 31, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Is there anyone disrupting AllTrails?
Their desktop planning and discovery gets worse every time I try to use it.
All I really want is to find loop trails that are in areas I haven't already explored. I don't want to see the other 4 slight variations of the hike at Rampo State Park.
Their desktop planning and discovery gets worse every time I try to use it.
All I really want is to find loop trails that are in areas I haven't already explored. I don't want to see the other 4 slight variations of the hike at Rampo State Park.
Sometimes TikTok's FYP does an excellent job reviving songs that I completely forgot existed.
I partially blame this on the data loss in the transitions from iTunes -> Grooveshark -> Play Music
music.youtube.com/watch?v=VIKY...
I partially blame this on the data loss in the transitions from iTunes -> Grooveshark -> Play Music
music.youtube.com/watch?v=VIKY...
The Great Escape
YouTube video by Boys Like Girls - Topic
music.youtube.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Sometimes TikTok's FYP does an excellent job reviving songs that I completely forgot existed.
I partially blame this on the data loss in the transitions from iTunes -> Grooveshark -> Play Music
music.youtube.com/watch?v=VIKY...
I partially blame this on the data loss in the transitions from iTunes -> Grooveshark -> Play Music
music.youtube.com/watch?v=VIKY...
Checked out the Lunar Faire @ Jungle Habitat in NJ tonight. Better collection of vendors than expected.
Nice work @lunarfaire.bsky.social!
Nice work @lunarfaire.bsky.social!
August 24, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Checked out the Lunar Faire @ Jungle Habitat in NJ tonight. Better collection of vendors than expected.
Nice work @lunarfaire.bsky.social!
Nice work @lunarfaire.bsky.social!
As vibe coding proliferates, I hope code reviews catch up.
It's great to see tools helping more people contribute.
It's also time consuming to have feedback on 75% of it. Duplicate variables, inconsistent syntax, code smell, etc.
It's not clear to me the costs are well aligned.
It's great to see tools helping more people contribute.
It's also time consuming to have feedback on 75% of it. Duplicate variables, inconsistent syntax, code smell, etc.
It's not clear to me the costs are well aligned.
August 20, 2025 at 4:13 AM
As vibe coding proliferates, I hope code reviews catch up.
It's great to see tools helping more people contribute.
It's also time consuming to have feedback on 75% of it. Duplicate variables, inconsistent syntax, code smell, etc.
It's not clear to me the costs are well aligned.
It's great to see tools helping more people contribute.
It's also time consuming to have feedback on 75% of it. Duplicate variables, inconsistent syntax, code smell, etc.
It's not clear to me the costs are well aligned.
Tech Tip Thursday:
Continuing the #ADK trend, if your agent has prompts that include optional state, use syntax like {state:} instead of {state}.
The trailing colon lets the template fall through to a default, like an empty string.
Super helpful if your agent builds its own state along the way.
Continuing the #ADK trend, if your agent has prompts that include optional state, use syntax like {state:} instead of {state}.
The trailing colon lets the template fall through to a default, like an empty string.
Super helpful if your agent builds its own state along the way.
August 8, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Tech Tip Thursday:
Continuing the #ADK trend, if your agent has prompts that include optional state, use syntax like {state:} instead of {state}.
The trailing colon lets the template fall through to a default, like an empty string.
Super helpful if your agent builds its own state along the way.
Continuing the #ADK trend, if your agent has prompts that include optional state, use syntax like {state:} instead of {state}.
The trailing colon lets the template fall through to a default, like an empty string.
Super helpful if your agent builds its own state along the way.
Beginning. Middle. End.
August 4, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Beginning. Middle. End.
Tech Tip Thursday:
If you're connecting #ADK agents together, you probably want to use agents-as-a-tool instead of sub-agents.
The subagent syntax is appealing and the name _sounds_ intuitive, but it's a complete handoff instead of a parent-child model. Tools keep your parent agent involved.
If you're connecting #ADK agents together, you probably want to use agents-as-a-tool instead of sub-agents.
The subagent syntax is appealing and the name _sounds_ intuitive, but it's a complete handoff instead of a parent-child model. Tools keep your parent agent involved.
August 1, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Tech Tip Thursday:
If you're connecting #ADK agents together, you probably want to use agents-as-a-tool instead of sub-agents.
The subagent syntax is appealing and the name _sounds_ intuitive, but it's a complete handoff instead of a parent-child model. Tools keep your parent agent involved.
If you're connecting #ADK agents together, you probably want to use agents-as-a-tool instead of sub-agents.
The subagent syntax is appealing and the name _sounds_ intuitive, but it's a complete handoff instead of a parent-child model. Tools keep your parent agent involved.
Signs that Google is healing:
VPs/Directors.are taking small teams out to dinner to celebrate projects again.
VPs/Directors.are taking small teams out to dinner to celebrate projects again.
July 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Signs that Google is healing:
VPs/Directors.are taking small teams out to dinner to celebrate projects again.
VPs/Directors.are taking small teams out to dinner to celebrate projects again.