Matt Austern
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austern.bsky.social
Matt Austern
@austern.bsky.social
350 followers 330 following 280 posts
Computer programmer, ex-physicist, husband and father, reader. I live in Palo Alto and work at Google, where my focus is large scale data.

Interested in various things, including science, food and wine, science fiction, politics, and cute cat pictures.
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austern.bsky.social
The sign I carried at today's #NoKings protest.
A black background. On the left the words "DISOBEY ILLEGAL ORDERS" in pale blue and on the right a black-and-white photograph of Nuremberg defendants in the dock, surrounded by Allied troops.
October 18, 2025 at 11:16 PM
austern.bsky.social
Blue sky in Mountain View
Most of the picture is a deep blue sky, with small clouds in an almost regular pattern that seems to converge to a point near the lower left. There's a small strip of trees and rooftops toward the bottom of the picture.
September 6, 2025 at 1:44 AM
austern.bsky.social
Sea Lion Docks, in Newport OR.

I wouldn't like it if a sea lion started walking on top of me while I was just lying there. I don't think sea lions like it either.
September 3, 2025 at 11:36 PM
austern.bsky.social
These gulls were sitting on our balcony when we were getting ready to have our breakfast. They clearly had hopes.
September 2, 2025 at 12:01 AM
austern.bsky.social
Here's a video of the juvenile being loud.
September 1, 2025 at 11:55 PM
austern.bsky.social
Breakfast in Ashland
Two adult deer and two fawns, standing in front of a house. Three of them are in the dry grassy strip between the sidewalk and street. There's a tree and shrub in front of the house, and one of the fawns is nibbling it. The other fawn is further back, nibbling something else. One of the adults is looking at me.
August 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
austern.bsky.social
Overheard conversation at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, in front of the Japanese Porcupine Crab tank in the Into The Deep exhibit:
[excitedly] “That's so cool!”
[decisively] “Steamed. With butter.”
Very spiny orange crab (a Japanese porcupine crab, to be specific), behind some rocks and above a sand floor, with a black background.
August 10, 2025 at 3:55 AM
austern.bsky.social
I've been working with computers long enough that even when it says ON TIME, I still find it ominous to see the train number listed as 404.
Outdoor train station with tracks on the right and wires overhead, receding into the distance, blue sky above, a tree to the left. In the center an overhead display with two upcoming departures, the first listed as 404 7:36 AM ON TIME
August 7, 2025 at 2:35 PM
austern.bsky.social
On my commute yesterday morning, I saw this hawk watching the bike path like, well, a hawk.

In probably related news, I also saw four bunnies (at least two obviously juveniles) running across the path, and lots of ground squirrels.
Large hawk (not sure which species) standing on top of a chain link fence post, in profile facing right. Most of the background is grey sky, with a step of dry grass at the bottom.
July 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
austern.bsky.social
Just returned from my third visit to see the Ruth Asawa retrospective at SFMOMA. Highly recommended if you're anywhere near here. Even if you know her work well, there will probably be something new to you.
Hanging woven wire sculpture with three lobes and forms within them. You can see the shadow of the sculpture, and also another shadow next to it.
June 21, 2025 at 6:07 AM
austern.bsky.social
You can't see her in this video, but you can hear her: Joan Baez at today's #nokings rally in Palo Alto.
June 15, 2025 at 2:21 AM
austern.bsky.social
For those of you in #PaloAlto, here are some protest opportunities for you this coming Saturday.

indivisiblepaloaltoplus.org/no-kings-day
www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
Scan of a flyer, black text on yellow paper NO KINGS 7X7k 7 miles of resistance, 7000 resisters Flag Day June 14, 2025 12-2PM El Camino Real (south side of the street) from Tesla Palo Alto to Tesla Sunnyvale Pick your spot and help stretch this historic protest! Bring flags, signs, lawn chairs and friends! Rally 2:30PM, El Camino and Castro, Mountain View Scan of a flyer, black text on white paper NO KINGS IN PALO ALTO SATURDAY, JUNE 14 Parade 2-3 PM, El Camino Real & Embarcadero Rd. Democracy Fair 3-5 PM Rinconada Park, Palo Alto
June 9, 2025 at 1:24 AM
austern.bsky.social
Seen in Pittsburgh, under the Fortieth Street Bridge.
Street art on a concrete bridge pylon: a genderfluid monster with turquoise skin, and the caption DEATH BEFORE DE-TRANSITION.
May 31, 2025 at 7:07 PM
austern.bsky.social
And seen in Palo Alto, right next to a Peet's.
Sign with a Palo Alto Police logo and a picture of a duck. Text: Please do not feed ducks in this area. We are aware of the seemingly friendly mallards hanging around this shopping center. They have coming around for years and appear to be healthy. Please do not offer them any food. Feeding wildlife affects the health and natural patterns of animals and can create conflicts with humans and may help spread disease.
May 26, 2025 at 9:48 PM
austern.bsky.social
Seen in Bay Farm Island in Alameda, where there are a lot of ducks.
Cartoon style poster of what you should and shouldn't feed ducks (rice: yes. Peas: yes. Slugs: yes. Popcorn: no. Bread: absolutely no), with a lagoon and houses in the background and red roses in the foreground.
May 26, 2025 at 8:51 PM
austern.bsky.social
Yesterday I realized (1) matzo brei is similar to chilaquiles, and (2) I'm probably not the first person to have noticed. Sure enough, there are tons of matzo chilaquiles recipes online and even a Wikipedia page: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matzoqu...

This was my breakfast this morning. Pretty good!
Plate with matzo simmered in salsa roja, with grated cheese on top and sour cream on the side.
April 19, 2025 at 5:35 PM
austern.bsky.social
Quinn has plans for the remainder of Caturday evening.
Long hair dilute tortie with big green eyes looking nearly into the camera, sitting on the lap of a human wearing blue jeans. Blurry bookshelves in the background.
March 23, 2025 at 2:42 AM
austern.bsky.social
Caturday evening is a good time for a nap. Of course, it's usually a good time for a nap.
Tortoiseshell cat curled up in a ball, with her tail under her head and her eyes closed, lying on a green bed.
March 16, 2025 at 2:07 AM
austern.bsky.social
Tonight's vegan dinner included this plant-based koji-foie gras, or, as we call it, faux gras. Not bad!
Food label reading "Prime roots, Three Little Pigs, plant-based koji-foie gras. Rich, smooth, and buttery, koji-foie gras makes the classiest addition to your dinner party."
January 21, 2025 at 4:07 AM
austern.bsky.social
Breaking news: Quinn isn't completely immobile. She stood up and walked around in a circle before taking her place again.
Close up of a long hair dilute tortoiseshell cat, sitting up on my lap. Her face is partly in profile, but both of her big green eyes are visible. There are blurry bookshelves and a range hood in the background.
November 17, 2024 at 8:22 PM
austern.bsky.social
Quinn has a plan for the remainder of today.
Close-up of the two-toned face of a long-hair dilute tortoiseshell cat with green eyes, looking at the camera. The cat is sitting on the lap of a human wearing blue jeans, and there's a wood chair, books, and a window in the background.
November 17, 2024 at 6:57 PM
austern.bsky.social
STOP

THIS IS A CUTE ANIMAL PIC CHECKPOINT. PLEASE SHARE A MINIMUM OF ONE (1) CUTE ANIMAL PIC BEFORE PROCEEDING.

THIS IS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE TO PRESERVE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THIS SITE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
Close-up of a tortoiseshell cat's face. The cat is sitting on my leg (although it's hard to tell that it's a leg), and there are stacks of books and a brandy snifter in the background.
November 5, 2024 at 6:52 PM
austern.bsky.social
I've now seen this bird two evenings in a row on my ride home from work, on the Bay Trail near Shoreline Lake. Maybe I should start thinking of it as a friend, or at least a friendly acquaintance. Any suggestions for a name?
Hawk sitting on a post, seen from the back but with its head turned to the left so we get close-up side view. Water in the background at the top of the picture.
October 31, 2024 at 5:04 AM
austern.bsky.social
It's that time of year again. I just dropped off my ballot, so now I get to wear my snazzy I VOTED sticker.
Selfie of me with my "I voted" sticker, blue sky and wispy clouds in the background.
October 27, 2024 at 11:27 PM
austern.bsky.social
Breaking news: on closer examination, it turns out that they aren't goats.
A bunch of sheep on a slope with dry grass behind a fence, grey sky above.
October 16, 2024 at 4:35 PM