Wes
@yesthatwes.bsky.social
Recovering tech exec.
Brooklyn NYC
Baking things, building indie tech, and capturing street photos.
Working on a new way to web because...
👉 Any system that requires dependence cannot ultimately produce independence.
Brooklyn NYC
Baking things, building indie tech, and capturing street photos.
Working on a new way to web because...
👉 Any system that requires dependence cannot ultimately produce independence.
Loving this feature more than I thought I would.
Flock feed creators can now use Bluesky’s "Show less like this" option as a live moderation tool. Turn on the new override in your feed settings, and when you tap "Show less like this" on a post, it's instantly removed from your feed for everyone. It's pretty amazing!
October 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Loving this feature more than I thought I would.
Trying hard to read this as if it's *not* encouraging people to blindly subscribe to something. Tech or otherwise, such conditioning is exactly what we *don’t* want to encourage these days.
i encourage everyone, even if you don't know what it means (i can explain it!), to subscribe to the decentralization PDS labeler, just to get a feel for atproto/bsky's increasing decentralization. it's very exciting stuff:
@pds.labeler.tny.im
@pds.labeler.tny.im
September 28, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Trying hard to read this as if it's *not* encouraging people to blindly subscribe to something. Tech or otherwise, such conditioning is exactly what we *don’t* want to encourage these days.
damn! but, right?!
the curse of decentralization nerds is they keep trying to build tools to do more decentralization instead of more tools to keep normal people interested in being on, engaging with, contributing to a platform that happens to be decentralizable
September 27, 2025 at 1:36 PM
damn! but, right?!
HTTP enabled the World Wide Web -> web. AT Protocol enables apps like Bluesky, [x]sky, etc. Calling that layer "Sky" seems fitting somehow. Connects nicely with all things "cloud" too.
I have a whole folder of ATProto apps on iOS (plus a select few directly on my Home Screen).
Today we call them “ATproto” apps.
In the future … they’re just a better way to build a wide range of apps, where users own their data, login in anywhere, and choose different interfaces.
Today we call them “ATproto” apps.
In the future … they’re just a better way to build a wide range of apps, where users own their data, login in anywhere, and choose different interfaces.
September 27, 2025 at 1:18 PM
HTTP enabled the World Wide Web -> web. AT Protocol enables apps like Bluesky, [x]sky, etc. Calling that layer "Sky" seems fitting somehow. Connects nicely with all things "cloud" too.
Sorting through a few photos from a recent project shoot. Thought it would be neat to work with Lomo Metropolis film loaded in the LC-A. I like the results a lot. The character of the vintage Japanese boro really came through. Def gonna do more studio project work with the LC-A.
September 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Sorting through a few photos from a recent project shoot. Thought it would be neat to work with Lomo Metropolis film loaded in the LC-A. I like the results a lot. The character of the vintage Japanese boro really came through. Def gonna do more studio project work with the LC-A.
Oh Ooni. Why do you do this to me?
I like the versatility and compact size of this new Ooni Volt 2 but unlike the original (and great!) Volt 12, this one's indoor use only.
If you're considering this or any countertop Neapolitan pizza oven, absolutely do yourself a favor and grab a Biscotto stone!
I like the versatility and compact size of this new Ooni Volt 2 but unlike the original (and great!) Volt 12, this one's indoor use only.
If you're considering this or any countertop Neapolitan pizza oven, absolutely do yourself a favor and grab a Biscotto stone!
September 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Oh Ooni. Why do you do this to me?
I like the versatility and compact size of this new Ooni Volt 2 but unlike the original (and great!) Volt 12, this one's indoor use only.
If you're considering this or any countertop Neapolitan pizza oven, absolutely do yourself a favor and grab a Biscotto stone!
I like the versatility and compact size of this new Ooni Volt 2 but unlike the original (and great!) Volt 12, this one's indoor use only.
If you're considering this or any countertop Neapolitan pizza oven, absolutely do yourself a favor and grab a Biscotto stone!
I've been building social tech for a minute and I've long wanted to power feeds via people and context, anchor them on voices that usually fall into the background, and let the *tech* be silent so we can sit back and enjoy the results. And you know what? Now we can thanks in part to the work of...
September 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I've been building social tech for a minute and I've long wanted to power feeds via people and context, anchor them on voices that usually fall into the background, and let the *tech* be silent so we can sit back and enjoy the results. And you know what? Now we can thanks in part to the work of...
Advice to team Bluesky: Nuance matters here in both enforcement *and* framing. "Community Guidelines" reads cushy, but in reality you're establishing *House Rules*. Yes, we are guests in your house. Frame the "guidelines" that way and any pushback will be about the rules not about feeling sidelined.
Thank you to the 14,000+ people who shared feedback on our community guidelines! We’re updating our rules for clarity, strengthening enforcement, and introducing product changes for healthier conversations. New guidelines kick in Oct 15. bsky.social/about/blog/0...
Building Healthier Social Media: Updated Guidelines and New Features - Bluesky
Public discourse on social media has grown toxic and divisive, but unlike other platforms, Bluesky is building a social web that empowers people instead of exploiting them.
bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Advice to team Bluesky: Nuance matters here in both enforcement *and* framing. "Community Guidelines" reads cushy, but in reality you're establishing *House Rules*. Yes, we are guests in your house. Frame the "guidelines" that way and any pushback will be about the rules not about feeling sidelined.
The tension we’re seeing as Bluesky alternatives emerge comes from the same riffs we face offline. We’re still figuring out how communities actually cooperate, interconnect, and bring value to one another. With that unresolved in the physical world, we can’t expect community to slot in cleanly here.
September 16, 2025 at 5:13 PM
The tension we’re seeing as Bluesky alternatives emerge comes from the same riffs we face offline. We’re still figuring out how communities actually cooperate, interconnect, and bring value to one another. With that unresolved in the physical world, we can’t expect community to slot in cleanly here.
I can't help but feel that the idea of decentralized tech is being fetishized to a degree. The potential is real, but if we ignore human tendencies as we build in this space, our great work might end up fueling digital segregation under the flag of "community". *Thoughtful* tech is kinda important.
September 12, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I can't help but feel that the idea of decentralized tech is being fetishized to a degree. The potential is real, but if we ignore human tendencies as we build in this space, our great work might end up fueling digital segregation under the flag of "community". *Thoughtful* tech is kinda important.
Finally upgraded the @flockfeeds.social Bluesky network event ingest architecture. Jetstream makes hashed DID partitioning easy & efficient. MQTT-out because atproto events are just telemetry bits, and @nodered.org because it's built for this. All possible because of Flock’s network effect ethos.
September 11, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Finally upgraded the @flockfeeds.social Bluesky network event ingest architecture. Jetstream makes hashed DID partitioning easy & efficient. MQTT-out because atproto events are just telemetry bits, and @nodered.org because it's built for this. All possible because of Flock’s network effect ethos.
Social tech was never meant to be about chasing scale “because we can.” It should mirror how people connected in the pre-HTTP days (remember then??). Growth should track with community expanding, not infrastructure scaling or capital chasing. The Bluesky folks get this and it’s refreshing.
September 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Social tech was never meant to be about chasing scale “because we can.” It should mirror how people connected in the pre-HTTP days (remember then??). Growth should track with community expanding, not infrastructure scaling or capital chasing. The Bluesky folks get this and it’s refreshing.
Reposted by Wes
Quick Tip: You can control who replies to your post on Bluesky.
Just tap the 🌐 icon on your post to choose: everyone, followers, people you follow, mentioned users - or turn off replies entirely ✨
Just tap the 🌐 icon on your post to choose: everyone, followers, people you follow, mentioned users - or turn off replies entirely ✨
September 8, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Quick Tip: You can control who replies to your post on Bluesky.
Just tap the 🌐 icon on your post to choose: everyone, followers, people you follow, mentioned users - or turn off replies entirely ✨
Just tap the 🌐 icon on your post to choose: everyone, followers, people you follow, mentioned users - or turn off replies entirely ✨
"Boring" is a feature, not a flaw. Social should leave room to live.
**Why** feeds are built makes all the difference but most tools focus on the **how**...the knobs and keywords, not on the human affect. Algorithmic innovation without affective responsibility repeats the big tech problem.
**Why** feeds are built makes all the difference but most tools focus on the **how**...the knobs and keywords, not on the human affect. Algorithmic innovation without affective responsibility repeats the big tech problem.
"Bluesky is boring."
Social media *should* be boring. Being algorithm and dopamine poisoned is bad, actually.
When your feed dries up for the day, that's your cue to go do something else until new stuff shows up later.
Social media *should* be boring. Being algorithm and dopamine poisoned is bad, actually.
When your feed dries up for the day, that's your cue to go do something else until new stuff shows up later.
September 8, 2025 at 12:01 PM
"Boring" is a feature, not a flaw. Social should leave room to live.
**Why** feeds are built makes all the difference but most tools focus on the **how**...the knobs and keywords, not on the human affect. Algorithmic innovation without affective responsibility repeats the big tech problem.
**Why** feeds are built makes all the difference but most tools focus on the **how**...the knobs and keywords, not on the human affect. Algorithmic innovation without affective responsibility repeats the big tech problem.
Not having to deal with websocket noise like backpressure tuning, retries, and dropped frames while consuming the AT Protocol CBOR firehose in Python makes me smile. Feels great to be back on my MQTT topology. websockets are fine for browser<->server but I’m building for efficient event fan-out.
September 7, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Not having to deal with websocket noise like backpressure tuning, retries, and dropped frames while consuming the AT Protocol CBOR firehose in Python makes me smile. Feels great to be back on my MQTT topology. websockets are fine for browser<->server but I’m building for efficient event fan-out.
It's official...autumn in New York is right around the corner!
September 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM
It's official...autumn in New York is right around the corner!
Very much about time. Baby step, all things considered, but this makes me very happy. Acela's probably the most used business travel choice between NYC and DC (certainly is for me) and it's needed an upgrade for over a decade.
The NextGen Acela trains, as Amtrak calls them, are faster and lighter than the current fleet. They're scheduled to start revenue service along the Northeast Corridor on Thursday.
Amtrak's flagship Acela trains get a long-awaited upgrade
The NextGen Acela trains, as Amtrak calls them, are faster and lighter than the current fleet. They're scheduled to start revenue service along the Northeast Corridor on Thursday.
n.pr
August 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Very much about time. Baby step, all things considered, but this makes me very happy. Acela's probably the most used business travel choice between NYC and DC (certainly is for me) and it's needed an upgrade for over a decade.
Laissez-faire parenting is the problem. Encryption, laws, moderation, etc...that stuff's just scaffolding. Kids aren’t protected online without engaged/intentional parenting. Parent->child accounts w/ parental controls (this challenge isn't new) help a lot. Bluesky’s tech could handle that easily.
"If we want to protect children, we should be fighting for privacy laws, protecting encryption, and learning from Bluesky's model, where they allow third party algorithmic feeds and moderation tools."
Analysis | ‘Sammy’s Law’ would help parents monitor kids online. It’s gaining steam.
The parents of a teen fentanyl poisoning victim are finding allies in Congress for a bill intended to save others from the same fate.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Laissez-faire parenting is the problem. Encryption, laws, moderation, etc...that stuff's just scaffolding. Kids aren’t protected online without engaged/intentional parenting. Parent->child accounts w/ parental controls (this challenge isn't new) help a lot. Bluesky’s tech could handle that easily.
I've been putting some polish on the @flockfeeds.social mobile experience and I'm really happy with the look & feel of it as an installable PWA.
I have a redesign for the Template Gallery category filters in the works and a few more dark mode tweaks. Happy to have the main stuff done!
I have a redesign for the Template Gallery category filters in the works and a few more dark mode tweaks. Happy to have the main stuff done!
August 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I've been putting some polish on the @flockfeeds.social mobile experience and I'm really happy with the look & feel of it as an installable PWA.
I have a redesign for the Template Gallery category filters in the works and a few more dark mode tweaks. Happy to have the main stuff done!
I have a redesign for the Template Gallery category filters in the works and a few more dark mode tweaks. Happy to have the main stuff done!
Such a nice afternoon for a photo walk in the city. Wish I could join you @bhphoto.com. When's the next one?!
TODAY! Join us for a photowalk heading east through midtown with our resident street photographer Derek Fahsbender. Learn how to think on the fly to create interesting compositions as we capture the madness and movement of one of NYC’s busiest areas.
Event info ➡️ bhpho.to/3Jsmp8s
Event info ➡️ bhpho.to/3Jsmp8s
August 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Such a nice afternoon for a photo walk in the city. Wish I could join you @bhphoto.com. When's the next one?!
I cannot resist intentional public urban art and these sculptures by SpY in Madrid are no exception.
August 1, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I cannot resist intentional public urban art and these sculptures by SpY in Madrid are no exception.
We talk a lot about community on Bluesky, but most of the tools being built for it don’t really support how community actually forms.
Just shared a quick post on Patreon about why I built Flock (@flockfeeds.social). It’s public. Check it out.
Just shared a quick post on Patreon about why I built Flock (@flockfeeds.social). It’s public. Check it out.
Why I Built Flock | flock feeds
Get more from flock feeds on Patreon
www.patreon.com
July 31, 2025 at 5:53 PM
We talk a lot about community on Bluesky, but most of the tools being built for it don’t really support how community actually forms.
Just shared a quick post on Patreon about why I built Flock (@flockfeeds.social). It’s public. Check it out.
Just shared a quick post on Patreon about why I built Flock (@flockfeeds.social). It’s public. Check it out.
The title alone is so refreshing.
New book: in a conversation with Stine Hebert, I spoke about 'The Politics of Care and Solidarity' — TOGETHER, Blamey, Hebert (eds.), Open Editions, London, 2025.
openeditions.com/product/toge...
Sixteen authors speculate about the benefit of thinking and acting together, as opposed to solitarily.
openeditions.com/product/toge...
Sixteen authors speculate about the benefit of thinking and acting together, as opposed to solitarily.
July 31, 2025 at 11:26 AM
The title alone is so refreshing.