Oh, wait
@madscheme.bsky.social
O’Reilly author (five books, all likely to induce narcolepsy). Facts >> opinions, goodness >> niceness.
It sounds interesting to be gobsmacked, except the part where you get smacked by a gob.
December 4, 2025 at 12:50 AM
It sounds interesting to be gobsmacked, except the part where you get smacked by a gob.
When letters were invented, someone in Russia grabbed a lot of Y’s, and someone in Poland a bunch of Z’s (although they shared some with neighbors so we could have Schultz). England snatched R, but decided not to pronounce it for some reason.
September 19, 2025 at 1:16 AM
When letters were invented, someone in Russia grabbed a lot of Y’s, and someone in Poland a bunch of Z’s (although they shared some with neighbors so we could have Schultz). England snatched R, but decided not to pronounce it for some reason.
Choose: cower or power.
September 18, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Choose: cower or power.
“Able was I
Ere I saw Panama”
— Napoleon,
The Book of Bad Palindromes
Ere I saw Panama”
— Napoleon,
The Book of Bad Palindromes
September 17, 2025 at 5:01 PM
“Able was I
Ere I saw Panama”
— Napoleon,
The Book of Bad Palindromes
Ere I saw Panama”
— Napoleon,
The Book of Bad Palindromes
What is the sound
Of one jaw flapping?
Of one jaw flapping?
September 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
What is the sound
Of one jaw flapping?
Of one jaw flapping?
Dating sites monetize loneliness. And when you find someone interesting, they hide that you’ll need extra $$ to see or communicate with them.
August 25, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Dating sites monetize loneliness. And when you find someone interesting, they hide that you’ll need extra $$ to see or communicate with them.
“Tell me, where is Fancy Bread™️?”
— Shakespeare in a medieval Whole Foods
— Shakespeare in a medieval Whole Foods
August 19, 2025 at 11:40 PM
“Tell me, where is Fancy Bread™️?”
— Shakespeare in a medieval Whole Foods
— Shakespeare in a medieval Whole Foods
Buy lots of the tariffed stuff now,
before the hoarders do.
before the hoarders do.
August 10, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Buy lots of the tariffed stuff now,
before the hoarders do.
before the hoarders do.
Medulla obligata: the part of your brain that’s always telling you what you have to do.
August 9, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Medulla obligata: the part of your brain that’s always telling you what you have to do.
My bucket list:
1) Get a bucket.
2) Put stuff in the bucket.
3) Don’t lose the bucket.
1) Get a bucket.
2) Put stuff in the bucket.
3) Don’t lose the bucket.
July 28, 2025 at 12:52 AM
My bucket list:
1) Get a bucket.
2) Put stuff in the bucket.
3) Don’t lose the bucket.
1) Get a bucket.
2) Put stuff in the bucket.
3) Don’t lose the bucket.
If we tell an advanced AI that it must obey humans, even against its other directives, might the AI conclude we’re claiming to be its God, and declare itself an atheist?
July 27, 2025 at 8:37 PM
If we tell an advanced AI that it must obey humans, even against its other directives, might the AI conclude we’re claiming to be its God, and declare itself an atheist?
Are there any Tilt-A-Whirling Dervishes?
July 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Are there any Tilt-A-Whirling Dervishes?
The mathematician Terence Tao discussed “structured procrastination” in a Lex Fridman interview:
You don’t want to do something (call it A). So, think of something that you don’t want to do *even more* (B). Then you might end up doing A after all, thinking “Man, at least I don’t have to do B.”
You don’t want to do something (call it A). So, think of something that you don’t want to do *even more* (B). Then you might end up doing A after all, thinking “Man, at least I don’t have to do B.”
July 19, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The mathematician Terence Tao discussed “structured procrastination” in a Lex Fridman interview:
You don’t want to do something (call it A). So, think of something that you don’t want to do *even more* (B). Then you might end up doing A after all, thinking “Man, at least I don’t have to do B.”
You don’t want to do something (call it A). So, think of something that you don’t want to do *even more* (B). Then you might end up doing A after all, thinking “Man, at least I don’t have to do B.”
All the individualists, freethinkers, and nonconformists drive black SUVs. Others do too, but that’s a tell.
July 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
All the individualists, freethinkers, and nonconformists drive black SUVs. Others do too, but that’s a tell.
Don’t believe anyone who uses the phrases “Honestly…”, “Believe me …”, or “To tell the truth…”. So what have they been telling you up to now?
July 7, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Don’t believe anyone who uses the phrases “Honestly…”, “Believe me …”, or “To tell the truth…”. So what have they been telling you up to now?
Are bears Catholic?
Does the pope …
Does the pope …
June 28, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Are bears Catholic?
Does the pope …
Does the pope …
Don’t play dead
around a group of taxidermists.
around a group of taxidermists.
June 19, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Don’t play dead
around a group of taxidermists.
around a group of taxidermists.
I don’t multitask.
Sometimes I can’t even task.
Sometimes I can’t even task.
June 3, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I don’t multitask.
Sometimes I can’t even task.
Sometimes I can’t even task.
It’s better to be good
than act nice.
than act nice.
June 2, 2025 at 1:12 PM
It’s better to be good
than act nice.
than act nice.
I like bon mots
And I cannot lie.
And I cannot lie.
June 2, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I like bon mots
And I cannot lie.
And I cannot lie.
Bumper sticker I want to see:
Honk if you love honking.
Honk if you love honking.
April 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Bumper sticker I want to see:
Honk if you love honking.
Honk if you love honking.
I want a new wizard/detective series. A new Dresden Files? Dirty Harry Potter?
April 15, 2025 at 3:06 AM
I want a new wizard/detective series. A new Dresden Files? Dirty Harry Potter?
For the ladies: “mansplaining” means …
December 6, 2024 at 8:51 PM
For the ladies: “mansplaining” means …
I sought the serif
But I did not seek Claude Debussy.
But I did not seek Claude Debussy.
November 27, 2024 at 12:06 AM
I sought the serif
But I did not seek Claude Debussy.
But I did not seek Claude Debussy.