Sarah Butt
@sarahbutt.bsky.social
Systems thinker. Student of complexity. “Like a moth to the incident flame”. Normally accompanied by 🦮 (she/her)
Reposted by Sarah Butt
OH: "Why are all my LFI / Safety II Nerd friends STILL utterly destroyed this week?"
October 28, 2025 at 9:38 PM
OH: "Why are all my LFI / Safety II Nerd friends STILL utterly destroyed this week?"
The number of people who didn’t know what us-east-1 was on Sunday and are suddenly experts in running multi-region distributed systems at scale today is truly remarkable.
October 22, 2025 at 5:59 AM
The number of people who didn’t know what us-east-1 was on Sunday and are suddenly experts in running multi-region distributed systems at scale today is truly remarkable.
Reposted by Sarah Butt
First rule of distributed systems: don’t build a distributed system if you can avoid it
Second rule of distributed systems: you probably can’t avoid it
Second rule of distributed systems: you probably can’t avoid it
August 6, 2025 at 1:22 AM
First rule of distributed systems: don’t build a distributed system if you can avoid it
Second rule of distributed systems: you probably can’t avoid it
Second rule of distributed systems: you probably can’t avoid it
Reposted by Sarah Butt
Parentheses! Em dashes! Comma splices! Semicolons!
Welcome to ADHD Grammar (since every thought comes with exciting bonus content), friends!
Welcome to ADHD Grammar (since every thought comes with exciting bonus content), friends!
July 1, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Parentheses! Em dashes! Comma splices! Semicolons!
Welcome to ADHD Grammar (since every thought comes with exciting bonus content), friends!
Welcome to ADHD Grammar (since every thought comes with exciting bonus content), friends!
My dog believes, completely and without hesitation, that we can both exist in the exact same spot on the couch. I envy her faith in a reality unburdened by physics.
To be fair, she’s correct… as long as “don’t squish your human” isn’t a requirement.
To be fair, she’s correct… as long as “don’t squish your human” isn’t a requirement.
June 24, 2025 at 12:24 PM
My dog believes, completely and without hesitation, that we can both exist in the exact same spot on the couch. I envy her faith in a reality unburdened by physics.
To be fair, she’s correct… as long as “don’t squish your human” isn’t a requirement.
To be fair, she’s correct… as long as “don’t squish your human” isn’t a requirement.
Reposted by Sarah Butt
I do not know anything about this drug or the reasons for its nonapproval, but this is the exact kind of scenario that shows the failure of making sweeping policy generalizations about evidence that simply cannot account for some scenarios and rare diseases :(
To be sure, the pathway to FDA approval for elamipretide has been challenging.
Because MLS and related conditions are so rare, the patient population is tiny.
That makes it extremely difficult to conduct robust, controlled clinical trials—the kind the FDA usually requires for approval.
Because MLS and related conditions are so rare, the patient population is tiny.
That makes it extremely difficult to conduct robust, controlled clinical trials—the kind the FDA usually requires for approval.
June 23, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I do not know anything about this drug or the reasons for its nonapproval, but this is the exact kind of scenario that shows the failure of making sweeping policy generalizations about evidence that simply cannot account for some scenarios and rare diseases :(
Things I ask @obdue.bsky.social: “does the pencil count as a candle if the tip of the pencil is currently on fire?”
The “what is an incident, really” vibes are strong here 😂
The “what is an incident, really” vibes are strong here 😂
June 23, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Things I ask @obdue.bsky.social: “does the pencil count as a candle if the tip of the pencil is currently on fire?”
The “what is an incident, really” vibes are strong here 😂
The “what is an incident, really” vibes are strong here 😂
Schrödinger’s Incident: that brief moment when you wake up knowing you’re about to take on-call handover, but haven’t checked your work phone yet. The incident both exists and doesn’t— until you unlock your phone and open the handover thread.
June 14, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Schrödinger’s Incident: that brief moment when you wake up knowing you’re about to take on-call handover, but haven’t checked your work phone yet. The incident both exists and doesn’t— until you unlock your phone and open the handover thread.
Reposted by Sarah Butt
Why the hell does everything have to happen at once?
June 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Why the hell does everything have to happen at once?
My thoughts are like race cars today. Bless my husband, who intercepted me physically vibrating on 4 hrs sleep, took my half-full Dr Pepper and said, “Maybe don’t finish this today?” while I rapid-fired through tasks and lectured the dogs on how systemic failure meant no clean spoons.
June 5, 2025 at 2:43 PM
My thoughts are like race cars today. Bless my husband, who intercepted me physically vibrating on 4 hrs sleep, took my half-full Dr Pepper and said, “Maybe don’t finish this today?” while I rapid-fired through tasks and lectured the dogs on how systemic failure meant no clean spoons.
It’s 2:25 a.m. I’m trying to finish a work project. An armadillo has somehow climbed onto our front porch, stranded itself, and is now frantically scratching to get inside. I’m about to wake up my sick husband because he’s the vet in this relationship, and I am not equipped for this.
Texas, y’all.
Texas, y’all.
June 3, 2025 at 7:31 AM
It’s 2:25 a.m. I’m trying to finish a work project. An armadillo has somehow climbed onto our front porch, stranded itself, and is now frantically scratching to get inside. I’m about to wake up my sick husband because he’s the vet in this relationship, and I am not equipped for this.
Texas, y’all.
Texas, y’all.
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve had to flee my house due to a multi-day power outage combined with extreme temps in the last 5 years, I’d have $3. Not enough to buy my favorite Starbucks drink, but up from $2 earlier this week. Which feel like a lot for someone who lives in a major city.
May 30, 2025 at 1:15 PM
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve had to flee my house due to a multi-day power outage combined with extreme temps in the last 5 years, I’d have $3. Not enough to buy my favorite Starbucks drink, but up from $2 earlier this week. Which feel like a lot for someone who lives in a major city.
How many throat lozenges and cups of tea is too many for a human while sick in bed?
Asking for a self who is approaching 20% chamomile at this point.
Asking for a self who is approaching 20% chamomile at this point.
May 28, 2025 at 3:21 PM
How many throat lozenges and cups of tea is too many for a human while sick in bed?
Asking for a self who is approaching 20% chamomile at this point.
Asking for a self who is approaching 20% chamomile at this point.
Reposted by Sarah Butt
Remember, if you EVER need anything, I’m only 5 missed phone calls, three unanswered texts, several unread DMs, and an unaccepted LinkedIn request away
May 28, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Remember, if you EVER need anything, I’m only 5 missed phone calls, three unanswered texts, several unread DMs, and an unaccepted LinkedIn request away
Turbulence: an excellent case study in safety vs. perception.
The data says I’m safe. I trust the system. I trust my friends in aviation who tell me I’m safe.
But my body still braces. Heart races. Panic hits.
Being safe is not necessarily the same as feeling safe. I’m fascinated by this.
The data says I’m safe. I trust the system. I trust my friends in aviation who tell me I’m safe.
But my body still braces. Heart races. Panic hits.
Being safe is not necessarily the same as feeling safe. I’m fascinated by this.
May 27, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Turbulence: an excellent case study in safety vs. perception.
The data says I’m safe. I trust the system. I trust my friends in aviation who tell me I’m safe.
But my body still braces. Heart races. Panic hits.
Being safe is not necessarily the same as feeling safe. I’m fascinated by this.
The data says I’m safe. I trust the system. I trust my friends in aviation who tell me I’m safe.
But my body still braces. Heart races. Panic hits.
Being safe is not necessarily the same as feeling safe. I’m fascinated by this.
Reposted by Sarah Butt
So they made us smarter. The anxiety and depression were side effects.
May 2, 2025 at 9:14 AM
So they made us smarter. The anxiety and depression were side effects.
Just one more day of pushing the limits of chronic illness and back-to-back activity. Just one more. “What’s the worst that could happen?” I ask myself, reaching for the Ibuprofen. (Rasmussen’s dynamic safety model and Dekker’s drift into failure quietly join the group chat.)
April 27, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Just one more day of pushing the limits of chronic illness and back-to-back activity. Just one more. “What’s the worst that could happen?” I ask myself, reaching for the Ibuprofen. (Rasmussen’s dynamic safety model and Dekker’s drift into failure quietly join the group chat.)
Potential 🔥 take: the fact that you’d make a different judgement call now doesn’t mean the original decision was bad. Decisions are made in context, with the information and constraints and signals available then. Judgement is a timestamped event and the past didn’t have your present
April 22, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Potential 🔥 take: the fact that you’d make a different judgement call now doesn’t mean the original decision was bad. Decisions are made in context, with the information and constraints and signals available then. Judgement is a timestamped event and the past didn’t have your present
The dog put herself to bed before 8p tonight and honestly that’s a completely reasonable response to this Monday
April 8, 2025 at 1:41 AM
The dog put herself to bed before 8p tonight and honestly that’s a completely reasonable response to this Monday
Post conference vibes:
- I’m inspired and want to do several hundred things all at once— also I want to do nothing at all please let me sleep
- oh thank goodness introvert quiet time— also oh wait my friends are scattered around the globe again, this feels lonely
- Dogs! I’m home with my dogs!
- I’m inspired and want to do several hundred things all at once— also I want to do nothing at all please let me sleep
- oh thank goodness introvert quiet time— also oh wait my friends are scattered around the globe again, this feels lonely
- Dogs! I’m home with my dogs!
March 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Post conference vibes:
- I’m inspired and want to do several hundred things all at once— also I want to do nothing at all please let me sleep
- oh thank goodness introvert quiet time— also oh wait my friends are scattered around the globe again, this feels lonely
- Dogs! I’m home with my dogs!
- I’m inspired and want to do several hundred things all at once— also I want to do nothing at all please let me sleep
- oh thank goodness introvert quiet time— also oh wait my friends are scattered around the globe again, this feels lonely
- Dogs! I’m home with my dogs!
Reposted by Sarah Butt
Very few know we've (@adaptivecapacity.bsky.social) been developing tools to help support us. After 7 years & 6 patents (!) we realized others were interested in integrating/commercializing "Churchkey."
We’re looking for partners interested in licensing Churchkey's IP. churchkey.info
We’re looking for partners interested in licensing Churchkey's IP. churchkey.info
February 12, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Very few know we've (@adaptivecapacity.bsky.social) been developing tools to help support us. After 7 years & 6 patents (!) we realized others were interested in integrating/commercializing "Churchkey."
We’re looking for partners interested in licensing Churchkey's IP. churchkey.info
We’re looking for partners interested in licensing Churchkey's IP. churchkey.info
I just exploded my second squishy stress ball in a week all over my hands and desk and I really don’t know what this says about my life…
February 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I just exploded my second squishy stress ball in a week all over my hands and desk and I really don’t know what this says about my life…
Reposted by Sarah Butt
this week has been one hell of a year.
February 4, 2025 at 4:44 PM
this week has been one hell of a year.
Is it insomnia or is it my “I’m not our current on call but I think there might be an incident brewing” spidey sense tingling?
(Narrator: it would be both)
(Narrator: it would be both)
January 28, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Is it insomnia or is it my “I’m not our current on call but I think there might be an incident brewing” spidey sense tingling?
(Narrator: it would be both)
(Narrator: it would be both)
Reposted by Sarah Butt
If you're attending #SREcon Americas in March, please consider submitting a Lightning Talk! www.usenix.org/conference/s....
If you've never seen a Lightning Talk, allow me to introduce you to one of my all time favorites by @jpaulreed.com : youtu.be/pavDzPLGVrY?...
If you've never seen a Lightning Talk, allow me to introduce you to one of my all time favorites by @jpaulreed.com : youtu.be/pavDzPLGVrY?...
SREcon24 Americas - Lightning Talks
YouTube video by USENIX
youtu.be
January 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM
If you're attending #SREcon Americas in March, please consider submitting a Lightning Talk! www.usenix.org/conference/s....
If you've never seen a Lightning Talk, allow me to introduce you to one of my all time favorites by @jpaulreed.com : youtu.be/pavDzPLGVrY?...
If you've never seen a Lightning Talk, allow me to introduce you to one of my all time favorites by @jpaulreed.com : youtu.be/pavDzPLGVrY?...