Mark VandeWettering
@mvandewettering.bsky.social
Former Pixar senior technical director, current husband, father and grandfather. Licensed as K6HX, blogging at brainwagon.org, enthusiast for enthusiasm. Geek, telescope maker, cohabiting with cats.
Pinned
Pondering becoming an ex-pat American. Anybody in my circle who have made this transition, and would care to share your experiences with me. I've lived in the same place for the last three decades, and the change seems daunting (but exciting in its possibilities).
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
Happy Obergefell day! On this day in 2015, gay marriage became legal nationwide.
Research subsequently linked marriage equality with drops in adolescent suicidality (Raifman JAMA Pediatrics 2017).
#LGBTQ equality is about public health & America’s youth.
Keep pushing forward.
Research subsequently linked marriage equality with drops in adolescent suicidality (Raifman JAMA Pediatrics 2017).
#LGBTQ equality is about public health & America’s youth.
Keep pushing forward.
June 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Happy Obergefell day! On this day in 2015, gay marriage became legal nationwide.
Research subsequently linked marriage equality with drops in adolescent suicidality (Raifman JAMA Pediatrics 2017).
#LGBTQ equality is about public health & America’s youth.
Keep pushing forward.
Research subsequently linked marriage equality with drops in adolescent suicidality (Raifman JAMA Pediatrics 2017).
#LGBTQ equality is about public health & America’s youth.
Keep pushing forward.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
Sometimes it seems like we're putting more effort into figuring out how to get the best output from LLMs than we are into figuring out how to get the best output from humans.
April 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Sometimes it seems like we're putting more effort into figuring out how to get the best output from LLMs than we are into figuring out how to get the best output from humans.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
Prove it. Bring every single prisoner trafficked to El Salvador back to the US. Have jury trials. Present actual evidence. Get legal judgement.
You know, like what was done for 1600+ J6 insurrections.
You know, like what was done for 1600+ J6 insurrections.
April 20, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Prove it. Bring every single prisoner trafficked to El Salvador back to the US. Have jury trials. Present actual evidence. Get legal judgement.
You know, like what was done for 1600+ J6 insurrections.
You know, like what was done for 1600+ J6 insurrections.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
“I would be lying if I said I don’t worry. I do. But as I wrote last month: “Despite that worry, I cannot stop standing up for what is right. I cannot turn a blind eye to injustice.” — @marcelias.bsky.social (4/5/25). Me too, Marc. In solidarity, LHT
April 5, 2025 at 12:28 PM
“I would be lying if I said I don’t worry. I do. But as I wrote last month: “Despite that worry, I cannot stop standing up for what is right. I cannot turn a blind eye to injustice.” — @marcelias.bsky.social (4/5/25). Me too, Marc. In solidarity, LHT
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
It seem insane for a US Senator to say we've all been subjected to "a relentless bombardment of Marxist propaganda." But what he means by this is 1) there was a Burger King ad with an interracial couple and 2) Star Wars Episodes VII-IX had a female lead.
March 21, 2025 at 1:13 PM
It seem insane for a US Senator to say we've all been subjected to "a relentless bombardment of Marxist propaganda." But what he means by this is 1) there was a Burger King ad with an interracial couple and 2) Star Wars Episodes VII-IX had a female lead.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
I know this first hand. When I was a child, my entire community was branded as spies and sabateurs, justifying our internment inside barbed wire camps for years without due process, trial or charge.
March 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I know this first hand. When I was a child, my entire community was branded as spies and sabateurs, justifying our internment inside barbed wire camps for years without due process, trial or charge.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
March 18, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
These tariff things sound really snazzy. Wonder if I can get in on the action in my neighborhood.
I hear it's paid for by the other guys, so I'm tariffing the grocery store 25%
I hear it's paid for by the other guys, so I'm tariffing the grocery store 25%
March 4, 2025 at 5:32 AM
These tariff things sound really snazzy. Wonder if I can get in on the action in my neighborhood.
I hear it's paid for by the other guys, so I'm tariffing the grocery store 25%
I hear it's paid for by the other guys, so I'm tariffing the grocery store 25%
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
“It’s like switching to a Mercedes so people won’t call you a Nazi” — Alanis Morissette
"Two weeks ago, I was called a Nazi.”
March 3, 2025 at 11:51 PM
“It’s like switching to a Mercedes so people won’t call you a Nazi” — Alanis Morissette
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
(1/3) It needs repeating: in 1994, Ukraine was persuaded to give up its nuclear weapons to Russia in return for the US, the UK, and Russia guaranteeing Ukraine’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
March 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
(1/3) It needs repeating: in 1994, Ukraine was persuaded to give up its nuclear weapons to Russia in return for the US, the UK, and Russia guaranteeing Ukraine’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
I was trying not to doom scroll today but HOLY SHIT.
February 28, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I was trying not to doom scroll today but HOLY SHIT.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
I'm not spending over the financial blackout tomorrow.
So far I've done a pretty good job cutting back ~90% of my Amazon obsession.
It was easy completely cutting out the big box stores that are on the wrong side of history.
So far I've done a pretty good job cutting back ~90% of my Amazon obsession.
It was easy completely cutting out the big box stores that are on the wrong side of history.
February 27, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I'm not spending over the financial blackout tomorrow.
So far I've done a pretty good job cutting back ~90% of my Amazon obsession.
It was easy completely cutting out the big box stores that are on the wrong side of history.
So far I've done a pretty good job cutting back ~90% of my Amazon obsession.
It was easy completely cutting out the big box stores that are on the wrong side of history.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
Let’s face it. Getting rid of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is to make way for less qualified white men to take positions they don’t deserve.
February 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Let’s face it. Getting rid of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is to make way for less qualified white men to take positions they don’t deserve.
Economic disaster is the point. They will survive and buy up all the things that you own in the aftermath.
February 26, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Economic disaster is the point. They will survive and buy up all the things that you own in the aftermath.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
This is probably the most accurate take.
February 15, 2025 at 11:46 PM
This is probably the most accurate take.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
People on X are calling for AOC's arrest for posting this.... so I am posting it everywhere!
February 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM
People on X are calling for AOC's arrest for posting this.... so I am posting it everywhere!
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
Dreading future Star Wars movies because it's going to turn out the stormtroopers were the goodies all along.
February 14, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Dreading future Star Wars movies because it's going to turn out the stormtroopers were the goodies all along.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
BRAVO!!!!!!
January 31, 2025 at 12:15 AM
BRAVO!!!!!!
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
Meta is renewing its threats against employees, telling them today that they will hunt for leakers and tolerate zero leaks.
Want to know how that is going? Three Meta employees who I’ve never spoken to before just cold messaged/emailed me offering me to be sources.
Want to know how that is going? Three Meta employees who I’ve never spoken to before just cold messaged/emailed me offering me to be sources.
January 30, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Meta is renewing its threats against employees, telling them today that they will hunt for leakers and tolerate zero leaks.
Want to know how that is going? Three Meta employees who I’ve never spoken to before just cold messaged/emailed me offering me to be sources.
Want to know how that is going? Three Meta employees who I’ve never spoken to before just cold messaged/emailed me offering me to be sources.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
I think the sum total of life improvement advice I can offer people is (1) buy S&P 500 index funds, as much as you can afford, and (2) use an electric toothbrush. I learnt the second later than the first but I'm hoping the first will help cover what insurance doesn't for the second.
January 23, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I think the sum total of life improvement advice I can offer people is (1) buy S&P 500 index funds, as much as you can afford, and (2) use an electric toothbrush. I learnt the second later than the first but I'm hoping the first will help cover what insurance doesn't for the second.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
Elect a clown, expect a circus. Elect a criminal, expect crimes.
January 21, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Elect a clown, expect a circus. Elect a criminal, expect crimes.
Reposted by Mark VandeWettering
I know it's sounds small, but my grandkid's pet hamster, who was left behind because they were evacuated when out of the house, turned up still alive today when my son-in-law was finally let back in to check. Saved by his fat. So very grateful for the little things.✨
January 19, 2025 at 1:05 AM
I know it's sounds small, but my grandkid's pet hamster, who was left behind because they were evacuated when out of the house, turned up still alive today when my son-in-law was finally let back in to check. Saved by his fat. So very grateful for the little things.✨