dachte
@dachte.bsky.social
Interests: Neuroscience, programming, teaching, political theory
Originally Texan, also in love with Pittsburgh. Currently in NYC.
Liberal Technocrat, opposed to a lot of Progressivism.
https://unfocused.substack.com
Originally Texan, also in love with Pittsburgh. Currently in NYC.
Liberal Technocrat, opposed to a lot of Progressivism.
https://unfocused.substack.com
There's a claim going around that Musk arranged for Twitter to block links to food banks; I'm trying to verify it's actually the case before writing about it, but I can't find any good links (either proving or debunking).
Anyone have access to info on this?
Anyone have access to info on this?
November 10, 2025 at 10:17 PM
There's a claim going around that Musk arranged for Twitter to block links to food banks; I'm trying to verify it's actually the case before writing about it, but I can't find any good links (either proving or debunking).
Anyone have access to info on this?
Anyone have access to info on this?
I said something that was (accidentally) rather popular on another twitterlike social media platform, and I now regret that the notification system on that platform doesn't have some kind of backoff algorithm for likes.
Responses? Sure, show me those right away. Likes? Bundle those up please.
Responses? Sure, show me those right away. Likes? Bundle those up please.
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
I said something that was (accidentally) rather popular on another twitterlike social media platform, and I now regret that the notification system on that platform doesn't have some kind of backoff algorithm for likes.
Responses? Sure, show me those right away. Likes? Bundle those up please.
Responses? Sure, show me those right away. Likes? Bundle those up please.
More than a little annoyed at the group of congressional Dems that decided that demands are not demands.
November 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
More than a little annoyed at the group of congressional Dems that decided that demands are not demands.
Very cool that Cyndi Lauper and Avril Lavigne sang together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recently; a little sad that Lauper's voice isn't what it was, but at her age it's great she can still perform (and they sang her song).
November 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Very cool that Cyndi Lauper and Avril Lavigne sang together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recently; a little sad that Lauper's voice isn't what it was, but at her age it's great she can still perform (and they sang her song).
I can't comment on the actual why or the mechanisms of it. Maybe there were injustices somewhere in there. But Teen Vogue was a crazy fringe periodical that rarely published anything within 100 miles of reasonable. They were the TPUSA of cultural progressivism.
November 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I can't comment on the actual why or the mechanisms of it. Maybe there were injustices somewhere in there. But Teen Vogue was a crazy fringe periodical that rarely published anything within 100 miles of reasonable. They were the TPUSA of cultural progressivism.
Had an initial screening with a big tech company that may be able to get me to Europe if the later stages go well, which would mean leaving academia again and leaving the US. Although big tech hiring is random enough that what I think went well for this stage could turn into a flop in the next.
November 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Had an initial screening with a big tech company that may be able to get me to Europe if the later stages go well, which would mean leaving academia again and leaving the US. Although big tech hiring is random enough that what I think went well for this stage could turn into a flop in the next.
I don't think my singing voice is all that great, but for amusement's sake I'm considering doing a cover of one of the math-y songs from Outer Worlds 2 and tossing it on Youtube. And never ever listening to it because, like many, I can't stand my voice.
November 7, 2025 at 5:31 AM
I don't think my singing voice is all that great, but for amusement's sake I'm considering doing a cover of one of the math-y songs from Outer Worlds 2 and tossing it on Youtube. And never ever listening to it because, like many, I can't stand my voice.
Reading all this about the Sub-throwing trial unfortunately has me really hankering for a Wawa sub. Which is not great because the nearest Wawa to NYC is not that easy to reach without a car.
November 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reading all this about the Sub-throwing trial unfortunately has me really hankering for a Wawa sub. Which is not great because the nearest Wawa to NYC is not that easy to reach without a car.
There are people where I'm happy they're retiring because I don't like what they're doing, but even for people I like I think it's good they retire eventually because it's part of my notion of the good life - people should find a half-job or something and step back and enjoy their golden years.
November 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
There are people where I'm happy they're retiring because I don't like what they're doing, but even for people I like I think it's good they retire eventually because it's part of my notion of the good life - people should find a half-job or something and step back and enjoy their golden years.
Hoping I'm not making a fool of myself on the oss-security list for expressing concerns over tech companies becoming exclusive CVE Naming Authorities for their products.
November 6, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Hoping I'm not making a fool of myself on the oss-security list for expressing concerns over tech companies becoming exclusive CVE Naming Authorities for their products.
It's mildly interesting that *shrug*, read out loud, probably should be read as "ehh.." rather than as the word shrug. At least in many contexts.
Maybe as a kind of routine translation of meaning.
Maybe as a kind of routine translation of meaning.
November 6, 2025 at 4:59 PM
It's mildly interesting that *shrug*, read out loud, probably should be read as "ehh.." rather than as the word shrug. At least in many contexts.
Maybe as a kind of routine translation of meaning.
Maybe as a kind of routine translation of meaning.
I don't have strong feelings on Nancy Pelosi. I'm glad she's not an ultraprogressive and wasn't involved in pushing divisive social issues, but I also wish she hadn't been so opposed to banning stock trades, which seems an obvious ethical reform for our Legislators.
November 6, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I don't have strong feelings on Nancy Pelosi. I'm glad she's not an ultraprogressive and wasn't involved in pushing divisive social issues, but I also wish she hadn't been so opposed to banning stock trades, which seems an obvious ethical reform for our Legislators.
It's an interesting question; one of the stances I took early in life, as an atheist who isn't keen on maximally disrespectful interactions with religious people as my general practice, is that I'm still going to respect myself in the way I'll respect others.
I attended Catholic elementary school and we actually attended a Jewish Shabbat dinner as part of our religious education.
Heritage Foundation having a normal one
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
November 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
It's an interesting question; one of the stances I took early in life, as an atheist who isn't keen on maximally disrespectful interactions with religious people as my general practice, is that I'm still going to respect myself in the way I'll respect others.
It's deeply disturbing that Trump's admin is just openly murdering people out on the ocean and Hegseth is still walking around free. And he'll keep doing it. Real serial murderer vibes.
And presumably he's giving a lot of families good reason to want to end him personally.
And presumably he's giving a lot of families good reason to want to end him personally.
November 6, 2025 at 12:55 AM
It's deeply disturbing that Trump's admin is just openly murdering people out on the ocean and Hegseth is still walking around free. And he'll keep doing it. Real serial murderer vibes.
And presumably he's giving a lot of families good reason to want to end him personally.
And presumably he's giving a lot of families good reason to want to end him personally.
It's a little wild to me that if Lina Khan's husband had decided to take her last name, he would've become Shah Rukh Khan (and possibly confused with the famous actor).
November 5, 2025 at 8:09 PM
It's a little wild to me that if Lina Khan's husband had decided to take her last name, he would've become Shah Rukh Khan (and possibly confused with the famous actor).
So, a few thoughts on the state/local elections that wrapped up today (in my case, Manhattan/NYC/NYS):
(thread)
(thread)
November 5, 2025 at 5:17 AM
So, a few thoughts on the state/local elections that wrapped up today (in my case, Manhattan/NYC/NYS):
(thread)
(thread)
Having already voted on Sunday (multi-day voting should've been a think years ago), today isn't a voting day for me, it's a "watch results come in" day. Low hopes given that in many slots including the most important I didn't find anyone acceptable for my vote. Still will be interesting.
November 4, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Having already voted on Sunday (multi-day voting should've been a think years ago), today isn't a voting day for me, it's a "watch results come in" day. Low hopes given that in many slots including the most important I didn't find anyone acceptable for my vote. Still will be interesting.
I buy a lot of migraine icepacks that are designed to apply cold to various parts of the head.
November 3, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I buy a lot of migraine icepacks that are designed to apply cold to various parts of the head.
Really loving the geeky filk-y math songs from "The Outer Worlds 2".
If you're possibly into that kind of thing, go check out the two songs "Evidential Confirmation" and "Fibonacci".
If you're possibly into that kind of thing, go check out the two songs "Evidential Confirmation" and "Fibonacci".
November 3, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Really loving the geeky filk-y math songs from "The Outer Worlds 2".
If you're possibly into that kind of thing, go check out the two songs "Evidential Confirmation" and "Fibonacci".
If you're possibly into that kind of thing, go check out the two songs "Evidential Confirmation" and "Fibonacci".
Wanted to vote yesterday to get the sweet Halloween sticker, but a bad migraine consumed most of my waking hours Fri-Sat. Feeling entirely better today; just voted, and heading to my favorite coffeeshop in Brooklyn to do some writing.
November 2, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Wanted to vote yesterday to get the sweet Halloween sticker, but a bad migraine consumed most of my waking hours Fri-Sat. Feeling entirely better today; just voted, and heading to my favorite coffeeshop in Brooklyn to do some writing.
On many topics there are things that don't have the deep linguistic meaning common words give them but which act as a useful shorthand for tactics.
November 2, 2025 at 2:14 PM
On many topics there are things that don't have the deep linguistic meaning common words give them but which act as a useful shorthand for tactics.
There is a joy in writing even when the output is pretty bad, just as there's joy in a game of pick-up soccer (football) where everyone is pretty bad at it.
Soccer is actually made boring (to play and to watch) by expert tactics and expert players.
Soccer is actually made boring (to play and to watch) by expert tactics and expert players.
November 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM
There is a joy in writing even when the output is pretty bad, just as there's joy in a game of pick-up soccer (football) where everyone is pretty bad at it.
Soccer is actually made boring (to play and to watch) by expert tactics and expert players.
Soccer is actually made boring (to play and to watch) by expert tactics and expert players.
I feel a little bad for lawyers and politicians whose first and/or last names have connotations they shouldn't want.
As much as I am amused by how bad these connotations can be.
(my own last name is not a great name to have if I need to say it at an airport or bank - makes people nervous)
As much as I am amused by how bad these connotations can be.
(my own last name is not a great name to have if I need to say it at an airport or bank - makes people nervous)
November 1, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I feel a little bad for lawyers and politicians whose first and/or last names have connotations they shouldn't want.
As much as I am amused by how bad these connotations can be.
(my own last name is not a great name to have if I need to say it at an airport or bank - makes people nervous)
As much as I am amused by how bad these connotations can be.
(my own last name is not a great name to have if I need to say it at an airport or bank - makes people nervous)
Wasn't aware until today that olive oil has a higher freezing temperature than water.
Will never stick it in the fridge again; it just guarantees it's not available when you want it (and I want it to make some fries I'm reheating extra-good)
Will never stick it in the fridge again; it just guarantees it's not available when you want it (and I want it to make some fries I'm reheating extra-good)
November 1, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Wasn't aware until today that olive oil has a higher freezing temperature than water.
Will never stick it in the fridge again; it just guarantees it's not available when you want it (and I want it to make some fries I'm reheating extra-good)
Will never stick it in the fridge again; it just guarantees it's not available when you want it (and I want it to make some fries I'm reheating extra-good)
One of the things they don't tell you about greying/silvering of hair is that the degree of grey/silver changes within a day.
Somehow, when my hair is dry it's much more grey/silver, but right out of the shower it's closer to brown.
Somehow, when my hair is dry it's much more grey/silver, but right out of the shower it's closer to brown.
October 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
One of the things they don't tell you about greying/silvering of hair is that the degree of grey/silver changes within a day.
Somehow, when my hair is dry it's much more grey/silver, but right out of the shower it's closer to brown.
Somehow, when my hair is dry it's much more grey/silver, but right out of the shower it's closer to brown.