Jonathan Alters
@pangelico.bsky.social
Software developer, songwriter, parent. Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.
I’ve long been a fan of the idea that little injustices are microcosms of bigger ones, and sure enough, when you investigate or try to solve them, they blow up, exposing the same patterns. Maybe if we could just solve the smaller problems, the bigger ones would follow.
February 4, 2026 at 12:07 PM
I’ve long been a fan of the idea that little injustices are microcosms of bigger ones, and sure enough, when you investigate or try to solve them, they blow up, exposing the same patterns. Maybe if we could just solve the smaller problems, the bigger ones would follow.
That’s Russia’s fight after all.
February 4, 2026 at 11:33 AM
That’s Russia’s fight after all.
National supporters are saying how the current 5.4% unemployment rate was forecast by treasury in 2023, and that’s true, but they also forecast a bunch of things that were too optimistic, and these charts show the outlook is more hopeless.
February 4, 2026 at 10:31 AM
National supporters are saying how the current 5.4% unemployment rate was forecast by treasury in 2023, and that’s true, but they also forecast a bunch of things that were too optimistic, and these charts show the outlook is more hopeless.
Magical thinking is up.
February 4, 2026 at 4:39 AM
Magical thinking is up.
In that case the programmer role becomes much more like a business analyst’s, until AI can do that too for whoever has the intent or loose idea to create something.
February 1, 2026 at 11:30 AM
In that case the programmer role becomes much more like a business analyst’s, until AI can do that too for whoever has the intent or loose idea to create something.
Maybe programming is one of those tasks that humans really should be liberated from. It was always a bit clunky.
February 1, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Maybe programming is one of those tasks that humans really should be liberated from. It was always a bit clunky.
I wonder if there were fake machines at the start of the Industrial Revolution. But there was no VC funding then to scam I guess.
February 1, 2026 at 9:53 AM
I wonder if there were fake machines at the start of the Industrial Revolution. But there was no VC funding then to scam I guess.
I haven’t, but so many industries have been disrupted, for the sake of cheap convenience, gig workers… undercutting.
February 1, 2026 at 9:18 AM
I haven’t, but so many industries have been disrupted, for the sake of cheap convenience, gig workers… undercutting.
Coding seemed like a good career choice to me in the ‘90s, but you have to constantly adapt as your knowledge is outmoded, unlike almost any other career I can think of. The latest insult is that any uneducated hick can vibe code an app now. It’s just more enshittification.
February 1, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Coding seemed like a good career choice to me in the ‘90s, but you have to constantly adapt as your knowledge is outmoded, unlike almost any other career I can think of. The latest insult is that any uneducated hick can vibe code an app now. It’s just more enshittification.
Compare that to Noam Chomsky’s public hostility to private concentrations of power, and the new revelation that he was a friend of Epstein’s and dined with billionaires. Crickets from the Left? Not so much.
January 31, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Compare that to Noam Chomsky’s public hostility to private concentrations of power, and the new revelation that he was a friend of Epstein’s and dined with billionaires. Crickets from the Left? Not so much.
Next he’ll be politicising the cost of living or unemployment
January 27, 2026 at 6:37 AM
Next he’ll be politicising the cost of living or unemployment
But who could’ve possibly seen this rainfall coming?
January 24, 2026 at 10:54 AM
But who could’ve possibly seen this rainfall coming?
Turkish chicken and lamb on a bed of salad with humus, garlic
yogurt, beetroot dip, pita bread and tabouleh
yogurt, beetroot dip, pita bread and tabouleh
January 24, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Turkish chicken and lamb on a bed of salad with humus, garlic
yogurt, beetroot dip, pita bread and tabouleh
yogurt, beetroot dip, pita bread and tabouleh
Increased precipitation. It’s an inescapable reality of warming that everyone was told about and will only get worse. Wouldn’t it be great if politicians and the media could acknowledge that?
January 24, 2026 at 6:35 AM
Increased precipitation. It’s an inescapable reality of warming that everyone was told about and will only get worse. Wouldn’t it be great if politicians and the media could acknowledge that?
Thank goodness we won’t be spied on by an authoritarian government
January 24, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Thank goodness we won’t be spied on by an authoritarian government
I’m not sure, but if we copy LLMs, they could be directed to make us think more one way or another, like putting something psychoactive in the water we drink.
January 23, 2026 at 10:21 AM
I’m not sure, but if we copy LLMs, they could be directed to make us think more one way or another, like putting something psychoactive in the water we drink.
Makes me wonder when Google will appear in Killed By Google.
January 23, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Makes me wonder when Google will appear in Killed By Google.
AI doesn’t get humour. I just asked it “would it be nice to visit North Korea in the summertime?” and got an earnest “not really, unless…”
January 23, 2026 at 3:33 AM
AI doesn’t get humour. I just asked it “would it be nice to visit North Korea in the summertime?” and got an earnest “not really, unless…”
People were saying “we like your people, just not your government” way back during the Iraq war. It’s time you did something about that though!
January 21, 2026 at 9:08 PM
People were saying “we like your people, just not your government” way back during the Iraq war. It’s time you did something about that though!
Honest question: is the president’s role performative or is he the brain making the big decisions?
January 20, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Honest question: is the president’s role performative or is he the brain making the big decisions?
At least Hipkins like many others has observed that they have no plan. It’s unbelievable stuff though really.
January 19, 2026 at 9:09 AM
At least Hipkins like many others has observed that they have no plan. It’s unbelievable stuff though really.
It’s possible to be non-violent and carry an assault rifle
January 19, 2026 at 6:16 AM
It’s possible to be non-violent and carry an assault rifle
Those ancient emperors are semi-mythical though, and Japan hasn’t continually been a unified kingdom
January 18, 2026 at 6:17 AM
Those ancient emperors are semi-mythical though, and Japan hasn’t continually been a unified kingdom
Denmark is also the oldest kingdom in the world, almost as if they know what they’re doing
January 18, 2026 at 5:34 AM
Denmark is also the oldest kingdom in the world, almost as if they know what they’re doing