Nathan Peck
@nathanpeck.com
Technologist in Software, AI, and Infrastructure Orchestration
Pinned
Nathan Peck
@nathanpeck.com
· Aug 25
It won't happen to me, and other lies we tell ourselves
“Ten decisions shape your life, you’ll be aware of five, about.”
It’s a lyric from The Strokes. It’s also a surprisingly deep description of the relationship between choice, circumstance, and luck.
nathanpeck.com
I spent some time writing another essay in my ongoing series about humanity, consciousness, and AI.
I explore some of my recent thoughts about collapse and the future. I'm also experimenting with a new format designed to "prove" the human provenance of writing: nathanpeck.com/it-wont-happ...
I explore some of my recent thoughts about collapse and the future. I'm also experimenting with a new format designed to "prove" the human provenance of writing: nathanpeck.com/it-wont-happ...
All our soft animal bodies ever wanted was the feeling of strength in numbers. Who knew our progress would come with so much chaos?
December 28, 2025 at 11:08 PM
All our soft animal bodies ever wanted was the feeling of strength in numbers. Who knew our progress would come with so much chaos?
Reposted by Nathan Peck
Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page:
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com
December 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page:
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
This chart is wild, but if accurate, the main things that stand out to me are:
1. House and utility costs are mostly flat, despite widespread belief that housing is getting too expensive.
2. Grocery costs have gone way, way down. Less time equals more takeaway maybe? Again a surprising stat though.
1. House and utility costs are mostly flat, despite widespread belief that housing is getting too expensive.
2. Grocery costs have gone way, way down. Less time equals more takeaway maybe? Again a surprising stat though.
December 28, 2025 at 6:50 AM
This chart is wild, but if accurate, the main things that stand out to me are:
1. House and utility costs are mostly flat, despite widespread belief that housing is getting too expensive.
2. Grocery costs have gone way, way down. Less time equals more takeaway maybe? Again a surprising stat though.
1. House and utility costs are mostly flat, despite widespread belief that housing is getting too expensive.
2. Grocery costs have gone way, way down. Less time equals more takeaway maybe? Again a surprising stat though.
I’d go a step further: video games can help heal your attention span.
I quit most social media and started spending more time playing games that require long term planning and a spreadsheet to keep track of things.
My focus and ability to stay in the flow has healed dramatically.
I quit most social media and started spending more time playing games that require long term planning and a spreadsheet to keep track of things.
My focus and ability to stay in the flow has healed dramatically.
December 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I’d go a step further: video games can help heal your attention span.
I quit most social media and started spending more time playing games that require long term planning and a spreadsheet to keep track of things.
My focus and ability to stay in the flow has healed dramatically.
I quit most social media and started spending more time playing games that require long term planning and a spreadsheet to keep track of things.
My focus and ability to stay in the flow has healed dramatically.
The “domestic terrorist” title from the current US regime is going to be an honorific.
reason.com/2025/12/26/j...
reason.com/2025/12/26/j...
Justice Department says filming immigration raids is 'domestic terrorism'
A leaked Justice Department memo directs federal prosecutors to press “domestic terrorism” charges against individuals who record immigration operations.
reason.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The “domestic terrorist” title from the current US regime is going to be an honorific.
reason.com/2025/12/26/j...
reason.com/2025/12/26/j...
Unfortunately, the idea that you can just eat healthy, consume supplements, and detox to fix your health has also killed a lot of people who can afford health care, and are otherwise pro-science and pro-vaccines.
It's personal for me, as my own mother died to this.
It's personal for me, as my own mother died to this.
I now believe that part of the reason many Americans have embraced anti-science and anti-vaccine beliefs is that healthcare is so expensive.
So there is an attractiveness to the idea of being able to opt out of the healthcare system by eating healthy, consuming supplements and detoxing.
So there is an attractiveness to the idea of being able to opt out of the healthcare system by eating healthy, consuming supplements and detoxing.
December 15, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Unfortunately, the idea that you can just eat healthy, consume supplements, and detox to fix your health has also killed a lot of people who can afford health care, and are otherwise pro-science and pro-vaccines.
It's personal for me, as my own mother died to this.
It's personal for me, as my own mother died to this.
Reposted by Nathan Peck
A million Muslims live in New York City. We belong here, as does every other New Yorker.
This is vile Islamophobia from the Councilwoman and it has no place in our city.
This is vile Islamophobia from the Councilwoman and it has no place in our city.
December 15, 2025 at 10:25 PM
A million Muslims live in New York City. We belong here, as does every other New Yorker.
This is vile Islamophobia from the Councilwoman and it has no place in our city.
This is vile Islamophobia from the Councilwoman and it has no place in our city.
Reposted by Nathan Peck
The Food Farm in Aotearoa NZ shows how permaculture can regenerate land and nourish community 🌱✨. Once overgrazed, it’s now a vibrant, diverse agroecological farm guided by earth care, people care & fair share.
🌱 More: agroecologymap.org/l/the-food-f...
#Agroecology #Permaculture #NZ
🌱 More: agroecologymap.org/l/the-food-f...
#Agroecology #Permaculture #NZ
December 11, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The Food Farm in Aotearoa NZ shows how permaculture can regenerate land and nourish community 🌱✨. Once overgrazed, it’s now a vibrant, diverse agroecological farm guided by earth care, people care & fair share.
🌱 More: agroecologymap.org/l/the-food-f...
#Agroecology #Permaculture #NZ
🌱 More: agroecologymap.org/l/the-food-f...
#Agroecology #Permaculture #NZ
Reposted by Nathan Peck
It’s been two weeks since ICE took Yuanxin Zheng from his father. He is six years old. He’s still not home. This has to end.
December 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM
It’s been two weeks since ICE took Yuanxin Zheng from his father. He is six years old. He’s still not home. This has to end.
So how much longer until US citizens also have to provide their social media logins for entry?
Of course, whether a US citizen or not, they’ve already got a profile on you and your every political belief. They don’t need the logins, it’s just speech suppression
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
Of course, whether a US citizen or not, they’ve already got a profile on you and your every political belief. They don’t need the logins, it’s just speech suppression
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
US plans to order foreign tourists, including Australians, Kiwis, to disclose social media histories
The US government is ramping up curbs on entering the country.
www.rnz.co.nz
December 11, 2025 at 4:44 AM
So how much longer until US citizens also have to provide their social media logins for entry?
Of course, whether a US citizen or not, they’ve already got a profile on you and your every political belief. They don’t need the logins, it’s just speech suppression
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
Of course, whether a US citizen or not, they’ve already got a profile on you and your every political belief. They don’t need the logins, it’s just speech suppression
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
Reposted by Nathan Peck
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
This is actually pretty incredible. Nano Banana Pro combines multi modal understanding of real world objects, their constituent components, and what those components look like.
Here it visually generated a disassembled version of the given reference car. Of course it's not 100% accurate, but wow:
Here it visually generated a disassembled version of the given reference car. Of course it's not 100% accurate, but wow:
December 1, 2025 at 8:31 AM
This is actually pretty incredible. Nano Banana Pro combines multi modal understanding of real world objects, their constituent components, and what those components look like.
Here it visually generated a disassembled version of the given reference car. Of course it's not 100% accurate, but wow:
Here it visually generated a disassembled version of the given reference car. Of course it's not 100% accurate, but wow:
Reposted by Nathan Peck
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Adventures in toddler parenting:
Five minutes of defending myself from a feisty toddler who kept saying “my hair” while attempting to pull the literal hair off my scalp. 😅
He remained unconvinced by all pleas or appeals to logic until I said “okay then you can have my hair and I’ll take your hair”
Five minutes of defending myself from a feisty toddler who kept saying “my hair” while attempting to pull the literal hair off my scalp. 😅
He remained unconvinced by all pleas or appeals to logic until I said “okay then you can have my hair and I’ll take your hair”
November 20, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Adventures in toddler parenting:
Five minutes of defending myself from a feisty toddler who kept saying “my hair” while attempting to pull the literal hair off my scalp. 😅
He remained unconvinced by all pleas or appeals to logic until I said “okay then you can have my hair and I’ll take your hair”
Five minutes of defending myself from a feisty toddler who kept saying “my hair” while attempting to pull the literal hair off my scalp. 😅
He remained unconvinced by all pleas or appeals to logic until I said “okay then you can have my hair and I’ll take your hair”
Lmfao… FT must be trying to compete with The Onion now
November 11, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Lmfao… FT must be trying to compete with The Onion now
It’s time to talk about something personal:
The moment I knew it was time to take a break from big tech was the week I had to do my yearly Amazon assigned anti-bribery and anti-corruption training, while that very same day Amazon decided to make a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund.
The moment I knew it was time to take a break from big tech was the week I had to do my yearly Amazon assigned anti-bribery and anti-corruption training, while that very same day Amazon decided to make a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund.
November 9, 2025 at 5:11 AM
It’s time to talk about something personal:
The moment I knew it was time to take a break from big tech was the week I had to do my yearly Amazon assigned anti-bribery and anti-corruption training, while that very same day Amazon decided to make a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund.
The moment I knew it was time to take a break from big tech was the week I had to do my yearly Amazon assigned anti-bribery and anti-corruption training, while that very same day Amazon decided to make a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund.
Congratulations to NYC, and Zohran Mamdani, the next mayor of NYC.
I'm happy with the results. Billionaire money, and disgustingly racist AI created attack ads have lost today, as they should.
Now let's see if NYC can implement basic quality of life policies that other countries already have.
I'm happy with the results. Billionaire money, and disgustingly racist AI created attack ads have lost today, as they should.
Now let's see if NYC can implement basic quality of life policies that other countries already have.
November 5, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Congratulations to NYC, and Zohran Mamdani, the next mayor of NYC.
I'm happy with the results. Billionaire money, and disgustingly racist AI created attack ads have lost today, as they should.
Now let's see if NYC can implement basic quality of life policies that other countries already have.
I'm happy with the results. Billionaire money, and disgustingly racist AI created attack ads have lost today, as they should.
Now let's see if NYC can implement basic quality of life policies that other countries already have.
I'm thinking about this image. Each generation reduced the distance their kids could roam, despite experiencing broader freedom themselves (or perhaps because of it).
Did the parents remember close calls or scary circumstances that they wanted to protect their kids from?
Did the parents remember close calls or scary circumstances that they wanted to protect their kids from?
October 29, 2025 at 2:53 AM
I'm thinking about this image. Each generation reduced the distance their kids could roam, despite experiencing broader freedom themselves (or perhaps because of it).
Did the parents remember close calls or scary circumstances that they wanted to protect their kids from?
Did the parents remember close calls or scary circumstances that they wanted to protect their kids from?
"It is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (59.3 million in 2022; 23.1% of the U.S. adult population)." (www.nimh.nih.gov/health/stati...)
The mental health epidemic in the US started long before ChatGPT. Glad to see OpenAI trying hard to not make it worse.
The mental health epidemic in the US started long before ChatGPT. Glad to see OpenAI trying hard to not make it worse.
October 28, 2025 at 12:30 AM
"It is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (59.3 million in 2022; 23.1% of the U.S. adult population)." (www.nimh.nih.gov/health/stati...)
The mental health epidemic in the US started long before ChatGPT. Glad to see OpenAI trying hard to not make it worse.
The mental health epidemic in the US started long before ChatGPT. Glad to see OpenAI trying hard to not make it worse.
Reposted by Nathan Peck
The smarter you are, the longer you can postpone being wrong.
Every hour of research delays the moment you have to face the fact that the map and the territory will never match.
www.joanwestenberg.com/p/the-map-i...
Every hour of research delays the moment you have to face the fact that the map and the territory will never match.
www.joanwestenberg.com/p/the-map-i...
The Map Is Not the Territory (and It’s Definitely Not Progress)
How Smart People Stay Stuck
www.joanwestenberg.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:37 PM
The smarter you are, the longer you can postpone being wrong.
Every hour of research delays the moment you have to face the fact that the map and the territory will never match.
www.joanwestenberg.com/p/the-map-i...
Every hour of research delays the moment you have to face the fact that the map and the territory will never match.
www.joanwestenberg.com/p/the-map-i...
Reposted by Nathan Peck
Zohran Mamdani is so scary because he is planting the idea that you can tax billionaires and use the money to help people instead of debating what services to cut to pay for tax cuts. Which is literally why the US government is currently shut down.
He is destroying decades of political messaging.
He is destroying decades of political messaging.
October 27, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Zohran Mamdani is so scary because he is planting the idea that you can tax billionaires and use the money to help people instead of debating what services to cut to pay for tax cuts. Which is literally why the US government is currently shut down.
He is destroying decades of political messaging.
He is destroying decades of political messaging.
When I moved from America to New Zealand the traffic lights bothered me. They were low and positioned at the corners of the intersection.
US traffic lights seemed better: suspended overhead, centered above the lanes.
It wasn't until 6 months later that I realized how stupidly America-brained I was
US traffic lights seemed better: suspended overhead, centered above the lanes.
It wasn't until 6 months later that I realized how stupidly America-brained I was
October 21, 2025 at 8:31 PM
When I moved from America to New Zealand the traffic lights bothered me. They were low and positioned at the corners of the intersection.
US traffic lights seemed better: suspended overhead, centered above the lanes.
It wasn't until 6 months later that I realized how stupidly America-brained I was
US traffic lights seemed better: suspended overhead, centered above the lanes.
It wasn't until 6 months later that I realized how stupidly America-brained I was
Reposted by Nathan Peck
Watching mainstream news sites try to come up with euphemisms for the video where Trump dumped "a brown liquid or sludge" on protestors is a great example of the sane-washing that the media has done for his administration since the the first time around.
News Outlets Won't Describe Trump's AI Video For What It Is: The President Pooping on America
Major outlets said the President dumped "brown liquid" that "appeared to be feces" in an AI-generated video. They refused to call a spade a spade, or poop, poop.
www.404media.co
October 21, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Watching mainstream news sites try to come up with euphemisms for the video where Trump dumped "a brown liquid or sludge" on protestors is a great example of the sane-washing that the media has done for his administration since the the first time around.
Shameful. United States becomes more a criminal enterprise every day: run by criminals, on behalf of criminals. www.commondreams.org/news/trump-p...
'Naked Corruption': Trump Commutes Fraud Sentence of Ex-GOP Congressman George Santos | Common Dreams
"Trump says it plainly: Crimes don’t count if you 'vote Republican,'" said one Democratic congressman. "Just like his pardons of those who violently attacked police."
www.commondreams.org
October 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Shameful. United States becomes more a criminal enterprise every day: run by criminals, on behalf of criminals. www.commondreams.org/news/trump-p...
Let me guess, the Trump admin’s new executive memo about “hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on religion” is probably not going to consider separation of church and state to be a traditional American view on religion?
September 27, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Let me guess, the Trump admin’s new executive memo about “hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on religion” is probably not going to consider separation of church and state to be a traditional American view on religion?