Ben Fry
@benfry.com
Delighted that there's an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to the concept of “spherical cows.”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spheric...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spheric...
November 16, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Delighted that there's an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to the concept of “spherical cows.”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spheric...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spheric...
We just shipped a desktop version of Rowboat that runs fully offline: rowboat.net
It's silly fast, the app loads almost instantly, and you can plunk a multiple gigabyte dataset into it and it just starts spilling out answers.
Lots more in the pipeline; try it out and send us your feedback!
It's silly fast, the app loads almost instantly, and you can plunk a multiple gigabyte dataset into it and it just starts spilling out answers.
Lots more in the pipeline; try it out and send us your feedback!
We just launched a desktop version of Rowboat!
* Open much larger files (offline!)
* Own Desktop as a one-time purchase.
* Use a double-clickable app that’s even faster than the web version.
Browser or desktop, your data never leaves your machine.
Read more: www.fathom.info/notebook/251...
* Open much larger files (offline!)
* Own Desktop as a one-time purchase.
* Use a double-clickable app that’s even faster than the web version.
Browser or desktop, your data never leaves your machine.
Read more: www.fathom.info/notebook/251...
November 11, 2025 at 1:01 PM
We just shipped a desktop version of Rowboat that runs fully offline: rowboat.net
It's silly fast, the app loads almost instantly, and you can plunk a multiple gigabyte dataset into it and it just starts spilling out answers.
Lots more in the pipeline; try it out and send us your feedback!
It's silly fast, the app loads almost instantly, and you can plunk a multiple gigabyte dataset into it and it just starts spilling out answers.
Lots more in the pipeline; try it out and send us your feedback!
Nice!
And images, you say… That would be fun, wouldn't it?
And images, you say… That would be fun, wouldn't it?
The enhanced data from @metmuseum.org (github.com/graslowsnail...) looks great in rowboat.net by @fathom.info. 🤩 I can't wait to see the images from primary_image directly inside Rowboat. 😃
November 11, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Nice!
And images, you say… That would be fun, wouldn't it?
And images, you say… That would be fun, wouldn't it?
The installer for macOS Sequoia version 15.7.1 is… 15.71 GB.
Well done, everyone. A++
Well done, everyone. A++
November 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The installer for macOS Sequoia version 15.7.1 is… 15.71 GB.
Well done, everyone. A++
Well done, everyone. A++
Reposted by Ben Fry
Sometimes you have an idea so dumb that you HAVE to do it (I didn’t get this up in time for Halloween though)
November 9, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Sometimes you have an idea so dumb that you HAVE to do it (I didn’t get this up in time for Halloween though)
actual lol
if democrats are serious about winning they need to learn from tonight and convert to islam
November 5, 2025 at 11:42 AM
actual lol
👏
this is the most successful a CIA officer has been at toppling a government in years.
November 5, 2025 at 11:41 AM
👏
Reposted by Ben Fry
Zohran at the rally for trans youth on february 8 ❣️ he was polling single digits.
June 25, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Zohran at the rally for trans youth on february 8 ❣️ he was polling single digits.
Nice to see a positive counterpoint to the spineless behavior of the largest tech companies.
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Nice to see a positive counterpoint to the spineless behavior of the largest tech companies.
“Limiting the platforms’ take also creates incentives to build and can effectively subsidize innovation… The golden ages of American building — the canal age, the railroad age, the electricity age — all featured flourishing economies that ran on neutral network infrastructure.”
NY Times essay adapted from my new book, "The Age of Extraction." Gift link here: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/o...
Opinion | Big Tech’s Predatory Platform Model Doesn’t Have to Be Our Future
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:33 PM
“Limiting the platforms’ take also creates incentives to build and can effectively subsidize innovation… The golden ages of American building — the canal age, the railroad age, the electricity age — all featured flourishing economies that ran on neutral network infrastructure.”
The organist for the Red Sox, ladies and gentlemen, rocketing his way into the top 10 of “most Massachusetts halloween costumes ever” as the pride of Amherst. 💚
My Halloween costume this year is J Mascis fronting a one-man John Carpenter tribute band.
October 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The organist for the Red Sox, ladies and gentlemen, rocketing his way into the top 10 of “most Massachusetts halloween costumes ever” as the pride of Amherst. 💚
Finally an excuse to purchase: the Playdate is now a work expense.
October 23, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Finally an excuse to purchase: the Playdate is now a work expense.
Reposted by Ben Fry
In my opinion @liyuan6.bsky.social is the most insightful writer on contemporary China today. In this essay, she reflects on Silicon Valley's misconceptions (it doesn't help that tech bros mostly stay in 5-star hotels in Shanghai as their idea of "China"):
Silicon Valley Has China Envy, and That Reveals a Lot About America
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:22 AM
In my opinion @liyuan6.bsky.social is the most insightful writer on contemporary China today. In this essay, she reflects on Silicon Valley's misconceptions (it doesn't help that tech bros mostly stay in 5-star hotels in Shanghai as their idea of "China"):
Love it when my crew makes things like this… beautiful, high utility information design work from them, and even a custom typeface from Paul, all to support Mark's Finnish habit.
Voitko sanoa uudelleen? Outside of the studio, Mark’s been studying Finnish and Paul’s learning type design. We’re delighted by these unique Finnish cheatsheets they designed using Paul’s work-in-progress font Lilliput.
#typedesign #finnish #typography #languagelearning #liliput
#typedesign #finnish #typography #languagelearning #liliput
October 22, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Love it when my crew makes things like this… beautiful, high utility information design work from them, and even a custom typeface from Paul, all to support Mark's Finnish habit.
On Friday's we often end the day with a short workshop taught by someone in the studio. Recently, my 8yo came by the office to teach a (very entertaining) workshop on building stop motion animations with LEGO. Somehow, he was completely unfazed by doing this for people several times his age.
October 21, 2025 at 6:06 PM
On Friday's we often end the day with a short workshop taught by someone in the studio. Recently, my 8yo came by the office to teach a (very entertaining) workshop on building stop motion animations with LEGO. Somehow, he was completely unfazed by doing this for people several times his age.
Reposted by Ben Fry
This is 2.5 minutes of insider-driven clarity from @alondra.bsky.social on an admin that increasingly rewards ideology over principles and elevates individuals without subject matter expertise into decision making roles, further undermining the mission of independent federal agencies.
Alondra Nelson Former Director White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, talked about how her military family and background always instilled the duty to serve — no matter the political party. Then she explained why she ultimately ended up having to leave.
#STATSummit
#STATSummit
October 17, 2025 at 2:04 AM
This is 2.5 minutes of insider-driven clarity from @alondra.bsky.social on an admin that increasingly rewards ideology over principles and elevates individuals without subject matter expertise into decision making roles, further undermining the mission of independent federal agencies.
Our 80s-obsessed President executing on the right-wing fever dream found in Tom Clancy's 1989 novel “Clear and Present Danger” (later a movie starring Harrison Ford)
…but missing the part of the story where these actions were blatantly illegal & the President loses his office for them.
…but missing the part of the story where these actions were blatantly illegal & the President loses his office for them.
Breaking: At least one US military strike in the Caribbean targeted Colombians on a boat leaving from Colombia, sources tell us.
The deliberate targeting of Colombians suggests the US military’s campaign is wider than previously believed www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/p...
The deliberate targeting of Colombians suggests the US military’s campaign is wider than previously believed www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/p...
At least one US military strike on alleged drug trafficking boat in Caribbean targeted Colombians | CNN Politics
At least one US military strike in the Caribbean over the last two months targeted Colombian nationals on a boat that had left from Colombia, according to two people briefed by the Pentagon about the ...
www.cnn.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Our 80s-obsessed President executing on the right-wing fever dream found in Tom Clancy's 1989 novel “Clear and Present Danger” (later a movie starring Harrison Ford)
…but missing the part of the story where these actions were blatantly illegal & the President loses his office for them.
…but missing the part of the story where these actions were blatantly illegal & the President loses his office for them.
Reposted by Ben Fry
Major media outlet falling down on the job of explaining that political influencers are the new propagandists in a take that could illustrate a class on Manufacturing Consent.
Should the New York Times be sold to Pennysaver and its editors sent to work in Amazon warehouses? It depends on who you ask.
October 11, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Major media outlet falling down on the job of explaining that political influencers are the new propagandists in a take that could illustrate a class on Manufacturing Consent.
Relieved to read that MIT has rejected the “Compact for Higher Education” proposed by the Trump administration
orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
“The document includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression & our independence as an institution.”
orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
“The document includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression & our independence as an institution.”
Regarding the Compact | MIT Organization Chart
orgchart.mit.edu
October 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Relieved to read that MIT has rejected the “Compact for Higher Education” proposed by the Trump administration
orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
“The document includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression & our independence as an institution.”
orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
“The document includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression & our independence as an institution.”
Reposted by Ben Fry
New music video just dropped! www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKfM...
We had so much fun in the hall making this. Can't wait to share the album with you and tour it next year!
We had so much fun in the hall making this. Can't wait to share the album with you and tour it next year!
You, Me, Everybody - The Rest of Us - [Official Music Video]
YouTube video by You, Me, Everybody Band
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
New music video just dropped! www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKfM...
We had so much fun in the hall making this. Can't wait to share the album with you and tour it next year!
We had so much fun in the hall making this. Can't wait to share the album with you and tour it next year!
Oh my god… our studio is the top floor of this building. Had no idea this was being filmed just downstairs, directly below my office.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED0-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED0-...
‘Another Failed Heist’ starring Matt Damon & Casey Affleck
YouTube video by Dunkin'
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Oh my god… our studio is the top floor of this building. Had no idea this was being filmed just downstairs, directly below my office.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED0-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED0-...
Reading a bedtime story to my 8yo and was not expecting to find @djpatil.bsky.social as one of the characters in his Wayside School book… 💜
October 8, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Reading a bedtime story to my 8yo and was not expecting to find @djpatil.bsky.social as one of the characters in his Wayside School book… 💜
The “you're holding it wrong” fiasco was partly fueled by using poorly chosen ranges for the bars that show signal, causing slight shifts to make the phone drop from 5 bars to 2.
Neat thread on disassembling the iOS source to figure it out…
Neat thread on disassembling the iOS source to figure it out…
hey wanna see something kinda interesting? this was the entire fix to the iPhone Antennagate in 2010. 20 bytes.
(this is going to be a very long thread 🧵)
(this is going to be a very long thread 🧵)
October 7, 2025 at 9:56 AM
The “you're holding it wrong” fiasco was partly fueled by using poorly chosen ranges for the bars that show signal, causing slight shifts to make the phone drop from 5 bars to 2.
Neat thread on disassembling the iOS source to figure it out…
Neat thread on disassembling the iOS source to figure it out…