Cathy Young
@bentbacktulips.co.uk
UK-based software engineer (DevSecOps) she/her | Interested in tech, politics, programming, infosec, photography, #metafilter | Hobbyist photographer, gamer, occasional singer in a band | Beholden to two furry monsters of the feline persuasion
Reposted by Cathy Young
your dead AI mother loves you so much ❤️
November 15, 2025 at 12:50 AM
your dead AI mother loves you so much ❤️
Reposted by Cathy Young
I think it's cute when you charge up an old camera/phone and it's first question is "what year is this?"
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
I think it's cute when you charge up an old camera/phone and it's first question is "what year is this?"
Reposted by Cathy Young
toy company CEOs: "at long last, we have created the Sinister Talking Doll Factory from the acclaimed movie 'Don't Create the Sinister Talking Doll Factory'"
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
AI-Powered Toys Caught Telling 5-Year-Olds How to Find Knives and Start Fires With Matches
AI-powered toys are flying off the shelves -- but they're engaging in horrifically inappropriate conversations with children.
futurism.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
toy company CEOs: "at long last, we have created the Sinister Talking Doll Factory from the acclaimed movie 'Don't Create the Sinister Talking Doll Factory'"
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Reposted by Cathy Young
Winter evenings at Brighton Pier bring one of nature's greatest spectacles - thousands of starlings dancing across the golden sky in mesmerising murmurations.
This is February's entry in the Sussex Calendar 2026:
www.lloydlane.uk/calendars/su...
This is February's entry in the Sussex Calendar 2026:
www.lloydlane.uk/calendars/su...
November 12, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Winter evenings at Brighton Pier bring one of nature's greatest spectacles - thousands of starlings dancing across the golden sky in mesmerising murmurations.
This is February's entry in the Sussex Calendar 2026:
www.lloydlane.uk/calendars/su...
This is February's entry in the Sussex Calendar 2026:
www.lloydlane.uk/calendars/su...
Reposted by Cathy Young
OH: We gaze into the abyss. The abyss gazes back. It refuses to compile
November 11, 2025 at 7:24 PM
OH: We gaze into the abyss. The abyss gazes back. It refuses to compile
Reposted by Cathy Young
Nothing illustrates the arseholery of the IOC and the British Press more than the use of the image of a not-Trans woman to illustrate a story about trans women being banned (because there are no current trans women competing at this level)
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Nothing illustrates the arseholery of the IOC and the British Press more than the use of the image of a not-Trans woman to illustrate a story about trans women being banned (because there are no current trans women competing at this level)
Reposted by Cathy Young
IT HAPPENED TO ME: I stopped faffing about and Did The Thing and it turns out that this is What Gets Things Done.
November 10, 2025 at 8:11 PM
IT HAPPENED TO ME: I stopped faffing about and Did The Thing and it turns out that this is What Gets Things Done.
Reposted by Cathy Young
The distance in time between now and when Microsoft Office replaced drop down menus with the ribbon bar at the top is the same as the distance between then and the fall of the Berlin Wall
November 11, 2025 at 7:23 AM
The distance in time between now and when Microsoft Office replaced drop down menus with the ribbon bar at the top is the same as the distance between then and the fall of the Berlin Wall
Reposted by Cathy Young
This is honestly one of the cleverest lines I’ve ever written and I remain ungodly proud of it.
Because @tkingfisher.com has a new book out, I finally got around to reading "Swordheart ", which led me to "Clockwork Boys", and this ✨absolutely delightful✨ line:
"Hours passed, like a kidney stone."
10/10, no notes.
"Hours passed, like a kidney stone."
10/10, no notes.
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
This is honestly one of the cleverest lines I’ve ever written and I remain ungodly proud of it.
Reposted by Cathy Young
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Cathy Young
Mamdani is going to implement SSHaria law. Communications will be end to end encrypted.
Mamdani is going to implement Shakira law. Hips will no longer be able to lie.
Mamdani is going to implement Shania law. That don't impress me much.
November 9, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Mamdani is going to implement SSHaria law. Communications will be end to end encrypted.
Reposted by Cathy Young
The 30 Rock episode with “how do you do, fellow kids?” is closer to the release of Windows 98 than it is to today.
I made a “how do you do, fellow kids?” joke to someone in their mid 20s who, it turns out, was too young to have heard of that meme.
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
November 8, 2025 at 2:39 PM
The 30 Rock episode with “how do you do, fellow kids?” is closer to the release of Windows 98 than it is to today.
Reposted by Cathy Young
when your sword’s really long,
but you pronounce it wrong
that’s claymore
but you pronounce it wrong
that’s claymore
March 7, 2024 at 4:04 AM
when your sword’s really long,
but you pronounce it wrong
that’s claymore
but you pronounce it wrong
that’s claymore
Reposted by Cathy Young
An Early Modern Way of Having Too Many Browser Tabs Open
An Early Modern Way of Having Too Many Browser Tabs Open
Also: some maps, dropped on other maps.
jonn.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:36 AM
An Early Modern Way of Having Too Many Browser Tabs Open
Reposted by Cathy Young
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
Reposted by Cathy Young
November 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Cathy Young
The number of people between 16 and 34 who died or were injured in a work-related incident increased by 76% between 1939 and 1946
The number of people aged between 16 and 34 who are out of work due to long-term sickness increased by 76% between 2019 and 2024
UK ‘sliding into avoidable crisis’, major review into workplace sickness warns
The number of people aged between 16 and 34 who are out of work due to long-term sickness increased by 76% between 2019 and 2024
www.independent.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 8:50 AM
The number of people between 16 and 34 who died or were injured in a work-related incident increased by 76% between 1939 and 1946
Reposted by Cathy Young
Aaaah one of these is me!
The best new science fiction books of November 2025
From Claire North’s new novel Slow Gods to a 10th anniversary edition of a brilliant Adrian Tchaikovsky book, there’s lots to watch out for in November’s science fiction
www.newscientist.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Aaaah one of these is me!
Reposted by Cathy Young
INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE
SECOND INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE OVER ZOOM TO MEET MORE OF THE TEAM
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL ON THIS OCCASION, BUT WE HOPE YOU'LL APPLY FOR FUTURE POSITIONS WITH THE VAMPIRE
SECOND INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE OVER ZOOM TO MEET MORE OF THE TEAM
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL ON THIS OCCASION, BUT WE HOPE YOU'LL APPLY FOR FUTURE POSITIONS WITH THE VAMPIRE
November 1, 2025 at 6:34 AM
INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE
SECOND INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE OVER ZOOM TO MEET MORE OF THE TEAM
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL ON THIS OCCASION, BUT WE HOPE YOU'LL APPLY FOR FUTURE POSITIONS WITH THE VAMPIRE
SECOND INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE OVER ZOOM TO MEET MORE OF THE TEAM
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL ON THIS OCCASION, BUT WE HOPE YOU'LL APPLY FOR FUTURE POSITIONS WITH THE VAMPIRE
Reposted by Cathy Young
ladies and gentlemen...we got him
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
ladies and gentlemen...we got him
Reposted by Cathy Young
Technology is radically restructuring so many elements of social life, from development and education to dating and politics.
Watch what happens to dating around 2007...
Watch what happens to dating around 2007...
October 30, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Technology is radically restructuring so many elements of social life, from development and education to dating and politics.
Watch what happens to dating around 2007...
Watch what happens to dating around 2007...
Reposted by Cathy Young
May I present to you, the Potsdam Gravity Potato?
Areas of the earth where the gravitational field is mysteriously weaker (blue) or stronger (orange)
via @earthlymission
earthlymission.com/the-potsdam-...
Areas of the earth where the gravitational field is mysteriously weaker (blue) or stronger (orange)
via @earthlymission
earthlymission.com/the-potsdam-...
October 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
May I present to you, the Potsdam Gravity Potato?
Areas of the earth where the gravitational field is mysteriously weaker (blue) or stronger (orange)
via @earthlymission
earthlymission.com/the-potsdam-...
Areas of the earth where the gravitational field is mysteriously weaker (blue) or stronger (orange)
via @earthlymission
earthlymission.com/the-potsdam-...
Reposted by Cathy Young
Cat running for office: But we're going to get rid of the humans because they've been treating us very badly. And our bowls will be full in the morning- perhaps fuller than ever before
October 29, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Cat running for office: But we're going to get rid of the humans because they've been treating us very badly. And our bowls will be full in the morning- perhaps fuller than ever before
Reposted by Cathy Young
Early humans were online an hour, maybe two hours, per day
October 29, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Early humans were online an hour, maybe two hours, per day
Reposted by Cathy Young
VERSAILLES TREATY ENFORCER: Bonjour monseiur! Vous avez un batterie du flaque?
HAMBURG NAZI: Nein!
VTE: Neuf?!
NAZI? Nein! Nein.
VTE: aucun?
NAZI: Ya! Nein!
VTE <points>: Mais...
NAZI: Das ist ein Gartenhut!
VTE: une chapeau?
NAZI: Ya!
HAMBURG NAZI: Nein!
VTE: Neuf?!
NAZI? Nein! Nein.
VTE: aucun?
NAZI: Ya! Nein!
VTE <points>: Mais...
NAZI: Das ist ein Gartenhut!
VTE: une chapeau?
NAZI: Ya!
October 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM
VERSAILLES TREATY ENFORCER: Bonjour monseiur! Vous avez un batterie du flaque?
HAMBURG NAZI: Nein!
VTE: Neuf?!
NAZI? Nein! Nein.
VTE: aucun?
NAZI: Ya! Nein!
VTE <points>: Mais...
NAZI: Das ist ein Gartenhut!
VTE: une chapeau?
NAZI: Ya!
HAMBURG NAZI: Nein!
VTE: Neuf?!
NAZI? Nein! Nein.
VTE: aucun?
NAZI: Ya! Nein!
VTE <points>: Mais...
NAZI: Das ist ein Gartenhut!
VTE: une chapeau?
NAZI: Ya!