Schuyler
@mrtowne.bsky.social
Historian & Anthropologist of security technologies, once great lockpicker, now just a great dad.
Impossible to overstate how much I think about locks...
Impossible to overstate how much I think about locks...
Pinned
Schuyler
@mrtowne.bsky.social
· Jan 2
Hi! I study the history & anthroplogy of security technologies, primarily locks, but have dabbled in door seals, encryption, etc.
Primary periods of focus are pre-history, 1700-1900 in the US/UK & modern era behavioral security in communities of affinity.
Formerly a competitive lockpicker.
Primary periods of focus are pre-history, 1700-1900 in the US/UK & modern era behavioral security in communities of affinity.
Formerly a competitive lockpicker.
@iwritewrongs.bsky.social @drewgmackie.bsky.social it took this many days for me to work up the courage to listen to the announcement.
Thanks for treating it so sincerely. I expected nothing less.
I know it's parasocial and weird, but I love you both. Thank you for everything you gave us.
♡♡
Thanks for treating it so sincerely. I expected nothing less.
I know it's parasocial and weird, but I love you both. Thank you for everything you gave us.
♡♡
January 26, 2026 at 10:17 PM
@iwritewrongs.bsky.social @drewgmackie.bsky.social it took this many days for me to work up the courage to listen to the announcement.
Thanks for treating it so sincerely. I expected nothing less.
I know it's parasocial and weird, but I love you both. Thank you for everything you gave us.
♡♡
Thanks for treating it so sincerely. I expected nothing less.
I know it's parasocial and weird, but I love you both. Thank you for everything you gave us.
♡♡
Reposted by Schuyler
Alex from our time working together, while he was in nursing school. Later, he moved to ICU, working as a nurse to support critically ill Veterans. He had such a great attitude. We’d chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now
January 24, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Alex from our time working together, while he was in nursing school. Later, he moved to ICU, working as a nurse to support critically ill Veterans. He had such a great attitude. We’d chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now
Reposted by Schuyler
hey tech folks!
I'm doing a story that touches on ...
... the job market for computer-science grads
what's it like out there?
if you're a CS grad, love to hear your 2 cents
(or know one? end 'em my way)
hit me up at clive@clivethompson.net
(repost this to anywhere people might see it, too 🤘🤖)
I'm doing a story that touches on ...
... the job market for computer-science grads
what's it like out there?
if you're a CS grad, love to hear your 2 cents
(or know one? end 'em my way)
hit me up at clive@clivethompson.net
(repost this to anywhere people might see it, too 🤘🤖)
January 20, 2026 at 4:45 PM
hey tech folks!
I'm doing a story that touches on ...
... the job market for computer-science grads
what's it like out there?
if you're a CS grad, love to hear your 2 cents
(or know one? end 'em my way)
hit me up at clive@clivethompson.net
(repost this to anywhere people might see it, too 🤘🤖)
I'm doing a story that touches on ...
... the job market for computer-science grads
what's it like out there?
if you're a CS grad, love to hear your 2 cents
(or know one? end 'em my way)
hit me up at clive@clivethompson.net
(repost this to anywhere people might see it, too 🤘🤖)
Reposted by Schuyler
neolithic guys get pissed if you tell them their cultures are organized by the type of pots and jewelry they made. "we called ourselves the blood hunters" "we conquered villages far beyond this horizon" sorry bud you're the western linear pottery culture now
January 17, 2026 at 2:52 PM
neolithic guys get pissed if you tell them their cultures are organized by the type of pots and jewelry they made. "we called ourselves the blood hunters" "we conquered villages far beyond this horizon" sorry bud you're the western linear pottery culture now
I measured my success at Starbucks by how many kids hung out at my stores. If I had to kick someone out, I invited them back the next day.
On hot days we would have dozens of waters lined up on the counter when school let out.
The policy changes CEO Brian Nichol implemented hurt kids the most.
On hot days we would have dozens of waters lined up on the counter when school let out.
The policy changes CEO Brian Nichol implemented hurt kids the most.
I’d point out too that public spaces have now become actively hostile to children - banned from malls, no skateboarding, etc - so children can’t be alone even often if parents are ok with it
An underrated factor in "why don't people in wealthy societies have more kids" is changing societal norms that now expect even older kids to be chaperoned by an adult any time they are in public, and to be chauffeured by a parent as their only means of transportation
January 16, 2026 at 1:44 PM
I measured my success at Starbucks by how many kids hung out at my stores. If I had to kick someone out, I invited them back the next day.
On hot days we would have dozens of waters lined up on the counter when school let out.
The policy changes CEO Brian Nichol implemented hurt kids the most.
On hot days we would have dozens of waters lined up on the counter when school let out.
The policy changes CEO Brian Nichol implemented hurt kids the most.
Thankfully my wife isn't in Bluesky so I'm not blowing up my spot to say I just bought these to give to her this valentine's day :)
Nature valentines. This comic is now available as a set of 6 Valentines cards: topatoco.com/collections/...
January 15, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Thankfully my wife isn't in Bluesky so I'm not blowing up my spot to say I just bought these to give to her this valentine's day :)
Reposted by Schuyler
In the last few months I have changed jobs, graduated from college, and eulogized my father. It has, frankly, been exhausting. On top of that, my daughter's oldest friend was forced out of the country because his mother was targeted by ICE, and the world as a whole is just such a nightmare.
January 14, 2026 at 2:43 PM
In the last few months I have changed jobs, graduated from college, and eulogized my father. It has, frankly, been exhausting. On top of that, my daughter's oldest friend was forced out of the country because his mother was targeted by ICE, and the world as a whole is just such a nightmare.
Reposted by Schuyler
Really interesting piece here about how Dems dunking on MAGA about antifa misses a few important points, such as, If you COULD point to their headquarters on a map, should you? If they WERE in the room, would you defend them?
New for @thenation.com: Liberals keep saying antifa isn’t real - but it is, it knows how to win, & it needs solidarity right now.
Trump admin labeled Renee Good a domestic terrorist to justify her murder - the same label it repeatedly uses for antifa
www.thenation.com?post_type=ar...
Trump admin labeled Renee Good a domestic terrorist to justify her murder - the same label it repeatedly uses for antifa
www.thenation.com?post_type=ar...
Liberals Think Antifa Isn’t Real. But It Is—and It Knows How to Win.
To protect us all from the violence of the Trump administration, we must defend antifa.
www.thenation.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:53 AM
Really interesting piece here about how Dems dunking on MAGA about antifa misses a few important points, such as, If you COULD point to their headquarters on a map, should you? If they WERE in the room, would you defend them?
Delivered my father's eulogy today. It was a reflection on my father as the rare man who genuinely believed he had enough and how remarkable he was as a result of that belief. Here is the text:
Enough
Eulogy for My Father
leaflet.pub
January 12, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Delivered my father's eulogy today. It was a reflection on my father as the rare man who genuinely believed he had enough and how remarkable he was as a result of that belief. Here is the text:
Reposted by Schuyler
A group of young kestrels is startled by the presence of a butterfly. 🤣🤣🤣
January 9, 2026 at 5:36 PM
A group of young kestrels is startled by the presence of a butterfly. 🤣🤣🤣
Reposted by Schuyler
in acknowledgement of the fact that There Is A Lot Going On, the deadline for this CFP has been extended by one week! oddletters.com/tech-money/
hey!
hey!!!
if you are an academic of any rank in the critical tech studies space who cares about how money, finance, and business structures work in science and technology, i want to see your abstracts for a collected volume! they're due tomorrow!!!
https//oddletters.com/tech-money/
hey!!!
if you are an academic of any rank in the critical tech studies space who cares about how money, finance, and business structures work in science and technology, i want to see your abstracts for a collected volume! they're due tomorrow!!!
https//oddletters.com/tech-money/
January 8, 2026 at 2:37 PM
in acknowledgement of the fact that There Is A Lot Going On, the deadline for this CFP has been extended by one week! oddletters.com/tech-money/
This is a very good game and I guess this year I'm ready to share some very loud and very unpopular opinions:
January 2, 2026 at 12:28 AM
This is a very good game and I guess this year I'm ready to share some very loud and very unpopular opinions:
Reposted by Schuyler
A message for you all to carry through the year
January 1, 2026 at 6:32 AM
A message for you all to carry through the year
Hacker friends: my recently deceased father failed to leave the PIN for a Samsung Galaxy phone in his passwords file. We need access for both 2 factor & sentimental reasons.
1: remote unlock wasn't enabled
2: yes I can swap sim to get 2 factor text, but he also had symantic VIP app
3: sentiment!
1: remote unlock wasn't enabled
2: yes I can swap sim to get 2 factor text, but he also had symantic VIP app
3: sentiment!
December 30, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Hacker friends: my recently deceased father failed to leave the PIN for a Samsung Galaxy phone in his passwords file. We need access for both 2 factor & sentimental reasons.
1: remote unlock wasn't enabled
2: yes I can swap sim to get 2 factor text, but he also had symantic VIP app
3: sentiment!
1: remote unlock wasn't enabled
2: yes I can swap sim to get 2 factor text, but he also had symantic VIP app
3: sentiment!
Just to reiterate: INCOMPREHENSIBLY LARGE
When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.
Seems like it's worth posting this one again.
December 22, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Just to reiterate: INCOMPREHENSIBLY LARGE
That's a series wrap on my father. He had been sick for a long time & family were there at the end. It'll be my birthday in a few days & I'll probably write a bit about him on that day, but he was a good man. If y'all like me, a huge part of why you like me is because of his efforts as a parent.
December 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
That's a series wrap on my father. He had been sick for a long time & family were there at the end. It'll be my birthday in a few days & I'll probably write a bit about him on that day, but he was a good man. If y'all like me, a huge part of why you like me is because of his efforts as a parent.
Love this
If your rental has a dual smartlock/keylock, and your landlord won't give you a key, read your lease. If it mentions anything about receiving keys, use that clause to force them to give you a physical key. Then find the router in your home that connects your smartlock to their system and turn it off
December 8, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Love this
Welp. That's it. Just passed my final exam of the bachelor's degree I've been working on for over a decade.
Everyone is asleep in the house, so I'll just do a little cheer for myself on here :)
Everyone is asleep in the house, so I'll just do a little cheer for myself on here :)
a cat is peeking over a wooden table .
Alt: a cat is peeking over a wooden table then reaches out to high five a human hand while mowing. The text below the gif reads "proud of you". The total effect is cute and celebratory.
media.tenor.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Welp. That's it. Just passed my final exam of the bachelor's degree I've been working on for over a decade.
Everyone is asleep in the house, so I'll just do a little cheer for myself on here :)
Everyone is asleep in the house, so I'll just do a little cheer for myself on here :)
The lovely monologue about cream dispersing itself into coffee from this scene is what got me into my theater conservatory some 24 years ago now.
What a wonderful play and extraordinary author and what an incredible, unexpected impact.
What a wonderful play and extraordinary author and what an incredible, unexpected impact.
December 3, 2025 at 2:11 AM
The lovely monologue about cream dispersing itself into coffee from this scene is what got me into my theater conservatory some 24 years ago now.
What a wonderful play and extraordinary author and what an incredible, unexpected impact.
What a wonderful play and extraordinary author and what an incredible, unexpected impact.
Reposted by Schuyler
Amazing - Oleg Artemyev, one of the most frequent recent visitors to the ISS, has been removed from the upcoming Crew-12 mission, reportedly because he violated ITAR by taking photos of SpaceX engines and documents which he then took home with him.
A pochi mesi dalla partenza, il cosmonauta russo Oleg Artemyev è stato rimosso dall'equipaggio della Crew-12 e sostituito. Secondo alcuni avrebbe fotografato documenti di SpaceX per portarli all'esterno. L'agenzia spaziale russa Roscosmos parla solo di un cambio di incarico
theins.ru/news/287330
theins.ru/news/287330
Космонавта Артемьева исключили из экипажа Crew-12. Он фотографировал документы SpaceX и «вынес в телефоне» секретную информацию — источники
Российского космонавта Олега Артемьева исключили из экипажа Crew-12 за несколько месяцев до старта на МКС
theins.ru
December 2, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Amazing - Oleg Artemyev, one of the most frequent recent visitors to the ISS, has been removed from the upcoming Crew-12 mission, reportedly because he violated ITAR by taking photos of SpaceX engines and documents which he then took home with him.
Reposted by Schuyler
"A host of impressive A-list musicians and celebrities are joining forces for a special concert at Wembley Arena aiming to benefit the trans and gender non-confirming community."
Star-Studded Line-Up For Incredible Trans Benefit Concert Unveiled
Olly Alexander has co-organised the Trans Mission event, which will feature incredible performances and appearances from some amazing guests.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 12:15 AM
"A host of impressive A-list musicians and celebrities are joining forces for a special concert at Wembley Arena aiming to benefit the trans and gender non-confirming community."
Ooooo that's a bad bitting
November 28, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Ooooo that's a bad bitting