dachte
@dachte.bsky.social
Interests: Neuroscience, programming, teaching, political theory
Originally Texan, also in love with Pittsburgh. Currently in NYC.
Liberal Technocrat, opposed to a lot of Progressivism.
https://unfocused.substack.com
Originally Texan, also in love with Pittsburgh. Currently in NYC.
Liberal Technocrat, opposed to a lot of Progressivism.
https://unfocused.substack.com
I love the tradition of stupid wordplay we have in Unix, and hope the younger generations are carrying it on.
Many years ago I wrote a CLI manager for Redis (a common simple database often used for caches), and so naturally I called it "notgreen" because red is not green.
Many years ago I wrote a CLI manager for Redis (a common simple database often used for caches), and so naturally I called it "notgreen" because red is not green.
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I love the tradition of stupid wordplay we have in Unix, and hope the younger generations are carrying it on.
Many years ago I wrote a CLI manager for Redis (a common simple database often used for caches), and so naturally I called it "notgreen" because red is not green.
Many years ago I wrote a CLI manager for Redis (a common simple database often used for caches), and so naturally I called it "notgreen" because red is not green.
Navigating the twin calls of principle and pragmatism is something most adults do occasionally to some degree, but it's rarely talked about. Situations of choice on these matters are not constant, most humans in general (in all ways) go through life on autopilot (relying on habit) for most hours.
November 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Navigating the twin calls of principle and pragmatism is something most adults do occasionally to some degree, but it's rarely talked about. Situations of choice on these matters are not constant, most humans in general (in all ways) go through life on autopilot (relying on habit) for most hours.
Spent about 2 hours today remotely attending a (NYC local) community board meeting, which was interesting as an experience (likely just once), largely to talk about the rat problem in my neighbourhood.
I did get to push back against someone saying that parking spots in NYC are worth preserving.
I did get to push back against someone saying that parking spots in NYC are worth preserving.
November 14, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Spent about 2 hours today remotely attending a (NYC local) community board meeting, which was interesting as an experience (likely just once), largely to talk about the rat problem in my neighbourhood.
I did get to push back against someone saying that parking spots in NYC are worth preserving.
I did get to push back against someone saying that parking spots in NYC are worth preserving.
This week I did peer review for a scientific paper, like a lot of scientists are obliged to do occasionally. I'm not the sort to resent it either in the sense of believing we need to find alternatives to peer review, or to even dislike it as a duty. Personally, I find it satisfying.
November 14, 2025 at 4:20 AM
This week I did peer review for a scientific paper, like a lot of scientists are obliged to do occasionally. I'm not the sort to resent it either in the sense of believing we need to find alternatives to peer review, or to even dislike it as a duty. Personally, I find it satisfying.
I normally am cool as a cucumber in most online arguments, at most getting a bit tetchy no matter what the other person is doing.
Finding myself in an intensely stupid argument with a conspiracy theorist who thinks Stephen Hawking in 2006 did a sex tour on Epstein's island, and FFS that's wow.
Finding myself in an intensely stupid argument with a conspiracy theorist who thinks Stephen Hawking in 2006 did a sex tour on Epstein's island, and FFS that's wow.
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I normally am cool as a cucumber in most online arguments, at most getting a bit tetchy no matter what the other person is doing.
Finding myself in an intensely stupid argument with a conspiracy theorist who thinks Stephen Hawking in 2006 did a sex tour on Epstein's island, and FFS that's wow.
Finding myself in an intensely stupid argument with a conspiracy theorist who thinks Stephen Hawking in 2006 did a sex tour on Epstein's island, and FFS that's wow.
Ending all coin minting in the US at denominations smaller than the quarter, and ending DST shifts (one way or the other, I don't care) would be nice, achievable things for congress that are not particularly partisan.
November 12, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Ending all coin minting in the US at denominations smaller than the quarter, and ending DST shifts (one way or the other, I don't care) would be nice, achievable things for congress that are not particularly partisan.
Ooh, the song "Dignity" from Ender Magnolia is fun (and quite difficult) to play on piano.
November 12, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Ooh, the song "Dignity" from Ender Magnolia is fun (and quite difficult) to play on piano.
Thought Experiment: If you were moving through time in a time machine, 500 years passing with every stop, and you were looking for a time/place to stay where you might live a decent life, what 10 questions (not necessarily short-form) would you ask people of each time to vet that society?
November 12, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Thought Experiment: If you were moving through time in a time machine, 500 years passing with every stop, and you were looking for a time/place to stay where you might live a decent life, what 10 questions (not necessarily short-form) would you ask people of each time to vet that society?
I consider it a mark of (a certain small angle of) good character if someone can enjoy:
A) Works by someone that has critiqued or made fun of them
or, better yet, even enjoy:
B) Works where they're made fun of or being critiqued, whether they accept the criticism or not
As a kind of anti-pettiness.
A) Works by someone that has critiqued or made fun of them
or, better yet, even enjoy:
B) Works where they're made fun of or being critiqued, whether they accept the criticism or not
As a kind of anti-pettiness.
November 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I consider it a mark of (a certain small angle of) good character if someone can enjoy:
A) Works by someone that has critiqued or made fun of them
or, better yet, even enjoy:
B) Works where they're made fun of or being critiqued, whether they accept the criticism or not
As a kind of anti-pettiness.
A) Works by someone that has critiqued or made fun of them
or, better yet, even enjoy:
B) Works where they're made fun of or being critiqued, whether they accept the criticism or not
As a kind of anti-pettiness.
Deeply disturbing to see the US Government embrace speech codes around criticism of Israel: www.reuters.com/world/uk-pro...
www.reuters.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Deeply disturbing to see the US Government embrace speech codes around criticism of Israel: www.reuters.com/world/uk-pro...
There's a claim going around that Musk arranged for Twitter to block links to food banks; I'm trying to verify it's actually the case before writing about it, but I can't find any good links (either proving or debunking).
Anyone have access to info on this?
Anyone have access to info on this?
November 10, 2025 at 10:17 PM
There's a claim going around that Musk arranged for Twitter to block links to food banks; I'm trying to verify it's actually the case before writing about it, but I can't find any good links (either proving or debunking).
Anyone have access to info on this?
Anyone have access to info on this?
I said something that was (accidentally) rather popular on another twitterlike social media platform, and I now regret that the notification system on that platform doesn't have some kind of backoff algorithm for likes.
Responses? Sure, show me those right away. Likes? Bundle those up please.
Responses? Sure, show me those right away. Likes? Bundle those up please.
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
I said something that was (accidentally) rather popular on another twitterlike social media platform, and I now regret that the notification system on that platform doesn't have some kind of backoff algorithm for likes.
Responses? Sure, show me those right away. Likes? Bundle those up please.
Responses? Sure, show me those right away. Likes? Bundle those up please.
More than a little annoyed at the group of congressional Dems that decided that demands are not demands.
November 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
More than a little annoyed at the group of congressional Dems that decided that demands are not demands.
Very cool that Cyndi Lauper and Avril Lavigne sang together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recently; a little sad that Lauper's voice isn't what it was, but at her age it's great she can still perform (and they sang her song).
November 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Very cool that Cyndi Lauper and Avril Lavigne sang together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recently; a little sad that Lauper's voice isn't what it was, but at her age it's great she can still perform (and they sang her song).
I can't comment on the actual why or the mechanisms of it. Maybe there were injustices somewhere in there. But Teen Vogue was a crazy fringe periodical that rarely published anything within 100 miles of reasonable. They were the TPUSA of cultural progressivism.
November 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I can't comment on the actual why or the mechanisms of it. Maybe there were injustices somewhere in there. But Teen Vogue was a crazy fringe periodical that rarely published anything within 100 miles of reasonable. They were the TPUSA of cultural progressivism.
Had an initial screening with a big tech company that may be able to get me to Europe if the later stages go well, which would mean leaving academia again and leaving the US. Although big tech hiring is random enough that what I think went well for this stage could turn into a flop in the next.
November 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Had an initial screening with a big tech company that may be able to get me to Europe if the later stages go well, which would mean leaving academia again and leaving the US. Although big tech hiring is random enough that what I think went well for this stage could turn into a flop in the next.
I don't think my singing voice is all that great, but for amusement's sake I'm considering doing a cover of one of the math-y songs from Outer Worlds 2 and tossing it on Youtube. And never ever listening to it because, like many, I can't stand my voice.
November 7, 2025 at 5:31 AM
I don't think my singing voice is all that great, but for amusement's sake I'm considering doing a cover of one of the math-y songs from Outer Worlds 2 and tossing it on Youtube. And never ever listening to it because, like many, I can't stand my voice.
Reading all this about the Sub-throwing trial unfortunately has me really hankering for a Wawa sub. Which is not great because the nearest Wawa to NYC is not that easy to reach without a car.
November 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reading all this about the Sub-throwing trial unfortunately has me really hankering for a Wawa sub. Which is not great because the nearest Wawa to NYC is not that easy to reach without a car.
There are people where I'm happy they're retiring because I don't like what they're doing, but even for people I like I think it's good they retire eventually because it's part of my notion of the good life - people should find a half-job or something and step back and enjoy their golden years.
November 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
There are people where I'm happy they're retiring because I don't like what they're doing, but even for people I like I think it's good they retire eventually because it's part of my notion of the good life - people should find a half-job or something and step back and enjoy their golden years.
Hoping I'm not making a fool of myself on the oss-security list for expressing concerns over tech companies becoming exclusive CVE Naming Authorities for their products.
November 6, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Hoping I'm not making a fool of myself on the oss-security list for expressing concerns over tech companies becoming exclusive CVE Naming Authorities for their products.
It's mildly interesting that *shrug*, read out loud, probably should be read as "ehh.." rather than as the word shrug. At least in many contexts.
Maybe as a kind of routine translation of meaning.
Maybe as a kind of routine translation of meaning.
November 6, 2025 at 4:59 PM
It's mildly interesting that *shrug*, read out loud, probably should be read as "ehh.." rather than as the word shrug. At least in many contexts.
Maybe as a kind of routine translation of meaning.
Maybe as a kind of routine translation of meaning.
I don't have strong feelings on Nancy Pelosi. I'm glad she's not an ultraprogressive and wasn't involved in pushing divisive social issues, but I also wish she hadn't been so opposed to banning stock trades, which seems an obvious ethical reform for our Legislators.
November 6, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I don't have strong feelings on Nancy Pelosi. I'm glad she's not an ultraprogressive and wasn't involved in pushing divisive social issues, but I also wish she hadn't been so opposed to banning stock trades, which seems an obvious ethical reform for our Legislators.
It's an interesting question; one of the stances I took early in life, as an atheist who isn't keen on maximally disrespectful interactions with religious people as my general practice, is that I'm still going to respect myself in the way I'll respect others.
I attended Catholic elementary school and we actually attended a Jewish Shabbat dinner as part of our religious education.
Heritage Foundation having a normal one
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
November 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
It's an interesting question; one of the stances I took early in life, as an atheist who isn't keen on maximally disrespectful interactions with religious people as my general practice, is that I'm still going to respect myself in the way I'll respect others.
It's deeply disturbing that Trump's admin is just openly murdering people out on the ocean and Hegseth is still walking around free. And he'll keep doing it. Real serial murderer vibes.
And presumably he's giving a lot of families good reason to want to end him personally.
And presumably he's giving a lot of families good reason to want to end him personally.
November 6, 2025 at 12:55 AM
It's deeply disturbing that Trump's admin is just openly murdering people out on the ocean and Hegseth is still walking around free. And he'll keep doing it. Real serial murderer vibes.
And presumably he's giving a lot of families good reason to want to end him personally.
And presumably he's giving a lot of families good reason to want to end him personally.