Jon Udell
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judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Jon Udell
@judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
87 followers 7 following 290 posts
Patron saint of trailing-edge technologies, grateful resident of the nation-state of California.

[bridged from https://social.coop/@judell on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
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judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Just a typical item in today's news that would, as recently as 2015, have seemed like a passage from a work of dystopian fiction.
A Coast Guard official who had seen the new wording called the policy changes chilling. “We don’t deserve the trust of the nation if we’re unclear about the divisiveness of swastikas,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to a fear of reprisal.
November 20, 2025 at 6:38 PM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Well this is the coolest BYTE archive ever.

The home page, a grid with cover pages down the left side, functions as an infographic that charts the rise and fall of the magazine. (I arrived long after the glory days of 450-page issues.)

"This zoomable map shows […]

[Original post on social.coop]
Screenshot
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
"The tractor beam that pulled me in was the special exhibit of Ray Harryhausen’s orginal animatronic models and drawings. Here’s the Kraken from Clash of the Titans."

https://blog.jonudell.net/2025/11/02/release-the-kraken/

#miniatures #harryhausen #dynamation
"The tractor beam that pulled me in was the special exhibit of Ray Harryhausen’s orginal animatronic models and drawings. Here’s the Kraken from Clash of the Titans."
November 3, 2025 at 2:49 PM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
This lovely paean to the roundabouts in my former home town omits the traffic disaster at Keene's core. Central Square (which is a circle) awkwardly combines a roundabout with intersections and traffic lights: the worst of both worlds.

I love you anyway, Keene! […]

[Original post on social.coop]
Keene's Central Square
October 22, 2025 at 2:56 PM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
"There are protests next Saturday. Humanity will be there. The fascists are saying it will be a terrorist gathering, a criminal conspiracy, a violent uprising.

So let's be criminals, by which I mean let's be antifascists, by which I mean let's be humans. Let's […]

[Original post on social.coop]
painting over the dangerous words
October 12, 2025 at 7:40 PM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
I updated the post: we found a 1972 Institut Géographique National map in a drawer. It doesn't show the A20 but who cares, it is a glorious representation of this region.
The missing map: part of the Dordogne valley at 1:25000
October 5, 2025 at 8:53 PM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
"The demonstration is widely considered to be the longest continuous act of political protest in U.S. history. It has survived seven presidents, countless global conflicts, hurricanes and blizzards, heat waves and floods. It has outlasted several U.S. wars […]

[Original post on social.coop]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/11/peace-vigil-congressman-letter/
September 20, 2025 at 3:45 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
@Downes Good point. Let's do both, eh? Punish the cowards and reward the heroes.

That was the idea here, fwiw.

https://jonudell.info/ShopCostcoBoycottTarget
Shop Costco, Boycott Target Support companies that stand by their commitment to diversity
September 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Here's how to make an XMLUI table responsive: https://docs.xmlui.org/howto/make-a-table-responsive

I just added the example to the Howto section in the docs. Now when I ask an agent how to do this, the XMLUI MCP server should guide the agent to the working […]

[Original post on social.coop]
September 17, 2025 at 9:24 PM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
The #pickettfire near Calistoga from Taylor Mountain in Santa Rosa.
Pickett fire
August 23, 2025 at 2:05 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
I asked Claude and ChatGPT to react to this chart.

Both initially applauded.

I told them to read Tufte and reconsider.

Both regurgitated Tufteisms but missed the main flaw.

I told them they missed the main flaw.

Finally they got it: The Lie Factor.

"The […]

[Original post on social.coop]
flawed chartjunk
August 19, 2025 at 4:56 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
At the end of a long ride, low on energy, those blackberries really hit the spot.
blackberries
July 14, 2025 at 1:17 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Write the headline.
side by side carcasses: vulture and deer
June 12, 2025 at 2:28 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Elon Musk is a mass murderer.
"No children are dying on my watch,” said Rubio. It's blatantly false. Credible estimates count 190K deaths so far.
May 25, 2025 at 3:53 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Listening to Jim Croce tunes reminds me of the powerful internal rhythm of his lyrics.

It's impossible to unhear this one but if you could, and just said the words, I bet you'd arrive at a very similar rhythmic pattern.
You don't tug on Superman's cape You don't spit into the wind You don't pull the mask off that old lone ranger And you don't mess around with Jim
May 24, 2025 at 1:44 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Excellent news. This is how to do it: carrot and stick. Reward integrity, shun cowards.

#boycott

https://jonudell.info/ShopCostcoBoycottTarget/
Simpson Thacher reached a deal with the White House last month in which the firm committed to perform $125 million in free legal work for causes acceptable to the Trump administration. In a joint statement with other firms making similar agreements, Simpson Thacher said the pro bono work would be on behalf of “a wide range of underserved populations.” On the same day that the Simpson Thacher lawyers filed paperwork withdrawing from the Microsoft case, at least three partners at the firm Jenner & Block informed the court that they would be representing Microsoft in the case. Jenner is fighting in court to permanently block a Trump administration executive order targeting its business.
May 2, 2025 at 1:34 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
"In the span of some 80 years and five decades, this family emerged from poverty in a hostile country to become a prosperous, educated clan of merchants, scholars, professionals, and, most important, American citizens.

What does this classically American tale […]

[Original post on social.coop]
In the span of some 80 years and five decades, this family emerged from poverty in a hostile country to become a prosperous, educated clan of merchants, scholars, professionals, and, most important, American citizens. What does this classically American tale have to do with Stephen Miller? Well, Izzy Glosser is his maternal grandfather, and Stephen’s mother, Miriam, is my sister.
May 1, 2025 at 7:03 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
This meme photo showed up at today's #teslatakedown.

I can't find the full TikTok username for attribution but @billy.ray.v.. this is outstanding, well done.

#cecot #justice
trump and musk as cecot prisoners
April 26, 2025 at 11:21 PM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Update: And here's the expected retaliation.

Data point: Harvards endowment is > $50 billion, so fuck you wannabe fascists.
Trump Administration Will Freeze $2 Billion After Harvard Refuses Demands Federal officials said they would freeze the money after Harvard said it would not submit to requests to overhaul hiring and report international students who break rules.
April 15, 2025 at 1:31 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Over the weekend I listened to this episode of Radio Open Source. It ended with the question: "Will Harvard do the right thing?"

Today we got the answer: they did!

Looking at you, other major universities and big law firms.

"We must all hang together, or […]

[Original post on social.coop]
We’re tracking President Trump’s squeeze on higher education, and the argument in the Ivy League: whether or not to make a fight of it. First, Columbia surrendered under a Trump threat to cut $400 million in federal funding. Then Princeton said, “No way, we’ll fight your flimsy charges to the end.” And then Harvard, with $9 billion at stake, tried gentle engagement with the Trump inquiry, until 800 of its professors and staff said, “No way, when free expression and democracy are at risk.”
April 15, 2025 at 12:23 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
"It’s not our job to reflect the political ideology of the country. We’re not a Sunday morning talk show.

We’re supposed to be having arguments that get at truth and knowledge, and that’s different from a political debating society. It’s different from what goes […]

[Original post on social.coop]
It’s not our job to reflect the political ideology of the country. We’re not a Sunday morning talk show that has ideological balance on it. We need to be open to conservative views. We need to be a place where conservatives feel they can flourish. But we’re supposed to be doing something different than just reflecting what’s going on in the country. We’re supposed to be having arguments that get at truth and knowledge, and that’s different from a political debating society. It’s different from what goes on in Congress. And it’s different from what goes on in a lot of journalism or from the political distribution in the country.
April 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
I've been looking for a way to build on the #teslatakedown momentum.

Let's reward companies like Costco for holding strong on diversity and encourage companies like Target to get on the right side of history.

In many cities there's a Costco right next to a […]

[Original post on social.coop]
Shop Costco, Boycott Target A tool for mapping Costco and Target stores by state and city.
April 8, 2025 at 5:31 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
@sashajwright When the list is more complete, I'll want to see how various locations track the oft-cited 3.5% rule. My neighboring town of Sonoma overperformed while my hometown of Philly underperformed. (Maybe because those folks joined the NYC or DC crowds?) […]

[Original post on social.coop]
apr 5 hands off attendance estimates
April 6, 2025 at 6:40 PM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
The Handmaids won the Santa Rosa #handsoff.
handmaids protesting
April 6, 2025 at 12:02 AM
judell.social.coop.ap.brid.gy
Arguably it's in a firm's self-interest not to grovel. How does that look to prospective clients who need to hire a fighter?

#courage #honor #enlightentedselfinterest

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/opinion/perkins-coie-trump.html
Our decision to speak out on this issue was an easy one. We believe that one of the noblest things a lawyer can do is to stand up against the government on behalf of a client whom the government seeks to destroy. When Mr. Trump was indicted and sued, he hired lawyers to defend him. They did a good job, keeping him out of jail and preserving his fortune. For his administration to attack lawyers and firms whose members have opposed or annoyed him is a threat to our democracy. Lawyers and big firms: For God’s sake, stand up for the legal profession, and for the Constitution. Defend the oath you took when you became officers of the court. If we stand together and fight, we will win.
March 31, 2025 at 6:37 PM