Classic engineering mistake is to attack the hard problem of +preventing+ a Bad Thing when it’s typically easier and often better to +monitor and recover+ from a Bad Thing. Examples in thread…

Let’s see… a shambolic wreck bearing some traces of originally noble goals but overwhelmed by inexorable state level concerns, ineptly implemented with no care or understanding of the people it purportedly serves. Yes, this sign is a fitting memorial to the Vietnam War

Me: what's new?
Niece (ten year old whose activist moms have near-zero sportsball interest): I joined a flag football league!
Me:
…
…
OK, I have *so* many questions…
How'd you choose that?
Niece: Well, it seemed like the best way to fight the patriarchy.
Me: I have so many fewer questions

If you want to downsize your or the kids' book collection but despair of a place they'll be appreciated — see if there's a little free library at the hospital. This is 2/3 reduced from the first boxes about two weeks ago; for health reasons patrons cannot return books so it's hard to keep it stocked

"I subscribe to the belief that internet trends are defined by a ratio of laziness to social reward. Users will always do the laziest possible thing to achieve the maximum amount clout." — from @ryanbroderick.bsky.social on https://www.garbageday.email/

twitter and reddit beginning down the paths of self-destruction in the name of preventing scraping and AI abuse demonstrates that the solution to that problem is not going to be a primarily technological one

It's still not clear to me why the highlight of my viewing week is an hour long PowerPoint on defense economics, https://youtu.be/EVqGEtPj0M0 but hilariously it's also still not clear to Perun either. 15 months in and I understand a great deal more about geopolitical and economic sausage making tho.

Makerspace health index, in priority order: regular classes with paid teachers, CoC & member hdbk, diverse board, dust clxn, volunteer coordination is job #1, bought-not-built machines, manuals, gurus trust but advise board, BYO supplies but all tools provided, guru office hours, Discourse msg board

It's 2008 and I can hand-build a follow list of thoughtful startup folks. Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies amirite Jimmy?