Rob Hansen
@rob.social.afront.org.ap.brid.gy
For many years I was one of the faceless nerds who helped keep democracy afloat. I studied computer security and electronic voting in graduate school, worked […]
[bridged from https://social.afront.org/@rob on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
[bridged from https://social.afront.org/@rob on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Two years ago, Juan LaLuz and I saw the potential for mass civil unrest on the horizon. He took some notes I wrote on surviving a riot, and turned it into a proper YouTube video. The vast majority of the content is about being able to escape a large-scale civil uprising: it is NOT about how to […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
January 27, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Two years ago, Juan LaLuz and I saw the potential for mass civil unrest on the horizon. He took some notes I wrote on surviving a riot, and turned it into a proper YouTube video. The vast majority of the content is about being able to escape a large-scale civil uprising: it is NOT about how to […]
Thanks to spending several years doing digital forensics for the federal government, a lot of people have asked me for my professional opinion on the homicides in Minneapolis of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. They expect me to have some sort of insight or wisdom, and maybe I do, but it might not be […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
January 26, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Thanks to spending several years doing digital forensics for the federal government, a lot of people have asked me for my professional opinion on the homicides in Minneapolis of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. They expect me to have some sort of insight or wisdom, and maybe I do, but it might not be […]
From therapy today:
"Your brain," she said, "is the highest-performance engine I've ever seen. This is good. But this also means that when other people blow a mental gasket and spend an hour at the side of the road waiting for a tow, you undergo thermonuclear detonation and need U.N […]
"Your brain," she said, "is the highest-performance engine I've ever seen. This is good. But this also means that when other people blow a mental gasket and spend an hour at the side of the road waiting for a tow, you undergo thermonuclear detonation and need U.N […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
April 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM
From therapy today:
"Your brain," she said, "is the highest-performance engine I've ever seen. This is good. But this also means that when other people blow a mental gasket and spend an hour at the side of the road waiting for a tow, you undergo thermonuclear detonation and need U.N […]
"Your brain," she said, "is the highest-performance engine I've ever seen. This is good. But this also means that when other people blow a mental gasket and spend an hour at the side of the road waiting for a tow, you undergo thermonuclear detonation and need U.N […]
I know some people derive joy from reposting the "spotted while roaming in Aotearoa" meme, but I have to say I'm beginning to view it as an antisocial act. At this point it's pure spam and I'm thinking less of people who get kicks from dropping spam in my feed.
March 30, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I know some people derive joy from reposting the "spotted while roaming in Aotearoa" meme, but I have to say I'm beginning to view it as an antisocial act. At this point it's pure spam and I'm thinking less of people who get kicks from dropping spam in my feed.
"Send the robber barons straight to hell
The greedy thieves who came around
And ate the flesh of everything they found
Whose crimes have gone unpunished now
Who walk around as free men now
They brought death to my hometown, boys
Death to my hometown."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsjjE8jXDts
The greedy thieves who came around
And ate the flesh of everything they found
Whose crimes have gone unpunished now
Who walk around as free men now
They brought death to my hometown, boys
Death to my hometown."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsjjE8jXDts
March 29, 2025 at 1:15 AM
"Send the robber barons straight to hell
The greedy thieves who came around
And ate the flesh of everything they found
Whose crimes have gone unpunished now
Who walk around as free men now
They brought death to my hometown, boys
Death to my hometown."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsjjE8jXDts
The greedy thieves who came around
And ate the flesh of everything they found
Whose crimes have gone unpunished now
Who walk around as free men now
They brought death to my hometown, boys
Death to my hometown."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsjjE8jXDts
I have added a new field to my profile (see final row).
March 28, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I have added a new field to my profile (see final row).
Twenty years ago while a young grad student, I was asked to implement an experimental annealing algorithm some boffins in the U cooked up. Along the way I stumbled into one of the cleanest small-project architectures I've ever designed. On its strength, I was invited to speak at CodeCon 2006 […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
March 20, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Twenty years ago while a young grad student, I was asked to implement an experimental annealing algorithm some boffins in the U cooked up. Along the way I stumbled into one of the cleanest small-project architectures I've ever designed. On its strength, I was invited to speak at CodeCon 2006 […]
There are trivial programmers, but no trivial problems.
Today I put together a small bit of WebAssembly for a friend who needed it. I'm not claiming it's great but it might be a useful example of C++-to-WASM transpiling.
https://github.com/rjhansen/smokestack
Today I put together a small bit of WebAssembly for a friend who needed it. I'm not claiming it's great but it might be a useful example of C++-to-WASM transpiling.
https://github.com/rjhansen/smokestack
March 17, 2025 at 11:13 PM
There are trivial programmers, but no trivial problems.
Today I put together a small bit of WebAssembly for a friend who needed it. I'm not claiming it's great but it might be a useful example of C++-to-WASM transpiling.
https://github.com/rjhansen/smokestack
Today I put together a small bit of WebAssembly for a friend who needed it. I'm not claiming it's great but it might be a useful example of C++-to-WASM transpiling.
https://github.com/rjhansen/smokestack
Remember "A Few Good Men", where Lt. Cdr. Galloway stands up to object to a witness who has already fully testified, and upon being refused, moves to reconsider?
The most recent Trump court filing over immigration is *exactly that*. Not kidding […]
The most recent Trump court filing over immigration is *exactly that*. Not kidding […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
March 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Remember "A Few Good Men", where Lt. Cdr. Galloway stands up to object to a witness who has already fully testified, and upon being refused, moves to reconsider?
The most recent Trump court filing over immigration is *exactly that*. Not kidding […]
The most recent Trump court filing over immigration is *exactly that*. Not kidding […]
I love Rust up until the sheer %#$! amateurish, fly-by-night software ecosystem smacks me in the face. "Rust supports WebAssembly! There's a book and everything! Great tutorial projects!"
Stupid me, I fell for it again.
This screencap is the tip of the […]
[Original post on social.afront.org]
Stupid me, I fell for it again.
This screencap is the tip of the […]
[Original post on social.afront.org]
March 17, 2025 at 8:28 AM
I love Rust up until the sheer %#$! amateurish, fly-by-night software ecosystem smacks me in the face. "Rust supports WebAssembly! There's a book and everything! Great tutorial projects!"
Stupid me, I fell for it again.
This screencap is the tip of the […]
[Original post on social.afront.org]
Stupid me, I fell for it again.
This screencap is the tip of the […]
[Original post on social.afront.org]
Computer science has had a bad case of identity disorder since the mid-'90s. I was in undergrad at the time and saw it take root. When I began my degree the only people taking CS were nerds: by graduation the web was beginning to take off, every company wanted to be Netscape.
In '98 I was a […]
In '98 I was a […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
March 12, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Computer science has had a bad case of identity disorder since the mid-'90s. I was in undergrad at the time and saw it take root. When I began my degree the only people taking CS were nerds: by graduation the web was beginning to take off, every company wanted to be Netscape.
In '98 I was a […]
In '98 I was a […]
Facebook descended into a dumpster fire of antisocial behavior, but Mastodon and bsky.app seem to be stagnating in asocial behavior.
Social media's raison d'être is it facilitates communication: but how many conversations do you see? When was the last time you said something and had someone […]
Social media's raison d'être is it facilitates communication: but how many conversations do you see? When was the last time you said something and had someone […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
March 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Facebook descended into a dumpster fire of antisocial behavior, but Mastodon and bsky.app seem to be stagnating in asocial behavior.
Social media's raison d'être is it facilitates communication: but how many conversations do you see? When was the last time you said something and had someone […]
Social media's raison d'être is it facilitates communication: but how many conversations do you see? When was the last time you said something and had someone […]
Breaking:
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25557281/ca1.pdf
Trump gets his ass handed to him sliced thinner than deli ham in the birthright citizenship case.
Note: THIS IS NOT A FINAL DECISION.
This decision is limited to *only* whether the preliminary injunction forbidding him from […]
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25557281/ca1.pdf
Trump gets his ass handed to him sliced thinner than deli ham in the birthright citizenship case.
Note: THIS IS NOT A FINAL DECISION.
This decision is limited to *only* whether the preliminary injunction forbidding him from […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
March 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Breaking:
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25557281/ca1.pdf
Trump gets his ass handed to him sliced thinner than deli ham in the birthright citizenship case.
Note: THIS IS NOT A FINAL DECISION.
This decision is limited to *only* whether the preliminary injunction forbidding him from […]
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25557281/ca1.pdf
Trump gets his ass handed to him sliced thinner than deli ham in the birthright citizenship case.
Note: THIS IS NOT A FINAL DECISION.
This decision is limited to *only* whether the preliminary injunction forbidding him from […]
Writing Paranoia Memos:
Your job as a GM is to make the utterly impersonal bureaucracy feel excruciatingly personal. A trip to your local overworked government office will help. Watch the citizens, especially the angry ones: what did the bureaucracy do that makes them feel unfairly singled […]
Your job as a GM is to make the utterly impersonal bureaucracy feel excruciatingly personal. A trip to your local overworked government office will help. Watch the citizens, especially the angry ones: what did the bureaucracy do that makes them feel unfairly singled […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
March 8, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Writing Paranoia Memos:
Your job as a GM is to make the utterly impersonal bureaucracy feel excruciatingly personal. A trip to your local overworked government office will help. Watch the citizens, especially the angry ones: what did the bureaucracy do that makes them feel unfairly singled […]
Your job as a GM is to make the utterly impersonal bureaucracy feel excruciatingly personal. A trip to your local overworked government office will help. Watch the citizens, especially the angry ones: what did the bureaucracy do that makes them feel unfairly singled […]
The Hansen-Sidran Laws:
1. 90% of programmers are actively dangerous to society.
2. There are no guarantees about the remaining 10%.
3. The 10% shifts from day to day. If you weren't actively dangerous yesterday you might be today.
4. Nothing screams 90% like writing code in memory-unsafe […]
1. 90% of programmers are actively dangerous to society.
2. There are no guarantees about the remaining 10%.
3. The 10% shifts from day to day. If you weren't actively dangerous yesterday you might be today.
4. Nothing screams 90% like writing code in memory-unsafe […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
March 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
The Hansen-Sidran Laws:
1. 90% of programmers are actively dangerous to society.
2. There are no guarantees about the remaining 10%.
3. The 10% shifts from day to day. If you weren't actively dangerous yesterday you might be today.
4. Nothing screams 90% like writing code in memory-unsafe […]
1. 90% of programmers are actively dangerous to society.
2. There are no guarantees about the remaining 10%.
3. The 10% shifts from day to day. If you weren't actively dangerous yesterday you might be today.
4. Nothing screams 90% like writing code in memory-unsafe […]
"One way or another, we're going to get it." — Trump on Greenland
As we speak, some of our oldest allies are now planning for our invasion of their sovereign territory.
I never thought I'd see the annexation of the Sudetenland, much less that we'd be in the role of Germany.
As we speak, some of our oldest allies are now planning for our invasion of their sovereign territory.
I never thought I'd see the annexation of the Sudetenland, much less that we'd be in the role of Germany.
March 5, 2025 at 10:41 AM
"One way or another, we're going to get it." — Trump on Greenland
As we speak, some of our oldest allies are now planning for our invasion of their sovereign territory.
I never thought I'd see the annexation of the Sudetenland, much less that we'd be in the role of Germany.
As we speak, some of our oldest allies are now planning for our invasion of their sovereign territory.
I never thought I'd see the annexation of the Sudetenland, much less that we'd be in the role of Germany.
Hi. I'm Rob, I wrestle with clinical depression, and things are getting worse each day. It's hard to claw your way back into the sunlight even when the world operates at a normal level of dysfunction. The current moment is, well, awful.
Social media makes it so much worse. Everyone has a hot […]
Social media makes it so much worse. Everyone has a hot […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
March 3, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Hi. I'm Rob, I wrestle with clinical depression, and things are getting worse each day. It's hard to claw your way back into the sunlight even when the world operates at a normal level of dysfunction. The current moment is, well, awful.
Social media makes it so much worse. Everyone has a hot […]
Social media makes it so much worse. Everyone has a hot […]
Reposted by Rob Hansen
Once upon a time, the server that actually served as the endpoint for every cash register in the region for the Carmike Cinemas I worked at crashed. This made it impossible to run registers.
The manager popped the cash box on all the registers and busted out several rolls of paper towel so we […]
The manager popped the cash box on all the registers and busted out several rolls of paper towel so we […]
Original post on mastodon.fixermark.com
mastodon.fixermark.com
February 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Once upon a time, the server that actually served as the endpoint for every cash register in the region for the Carmike Cinemas I worked at crashed. This made it impossible to run registers.
The manager popped the cash box on all the registers and busted out several rolls of paper towel so we […]
The manager popped the cash box on all the registers and busted out several rolls of paper towel so we […]
I have just committed the foulest heresy.
I did a real-world physics analysis of the laser from _Real Genius._
tl;dr: sweet Christ they're lucky to be alive.
The declared energy output of the beam is a megajoule per liter, with an output aperture of about 5cm. This means about two megajoules […]
I did a real-world physics analysis of the laser from _Real Genius._
tl;dr: sweet Christ they're lucky to be alive.
The declared energy output of the beam is a megajoule per liter, with an output aperture of about 5cm. This means about two megajoules […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
February 23, 2025 at 7:29 AM
I have just committed the foulest heresy.
I did a real-world physics analysis of the laser from _Real Genius._
tl;dr: sweet Christ they're lucky to be alive.
The declared energy output of the beam is a megajoule per liter, with an output aperture of about 5cm. This means about two megajoules […]
I did a real-world physics analysis of the laser from _Real Genius._
tl;dr: sweet Christ they're lucky to be alive.
The declared energy output of the beam is a megajoule per liter, with an output aperture of about 5cm. This means about two megajoules […]
In serious news: across the United States conditions are right for civil unrest. Not everywhere all at once, but in difficult to predict pockets. Some of this unrest will be well-ordered, but even peaceful protests can turn into riots.
It's important to know how to get out of town in a hurry […]
It's important to know how to get out of town in a hurry […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
February 23, 2025 at 6:35 AM
In serious news: across the United States conditions are right for civil unrest. Not everywhere all at once, but in difficult to predict pockets. Some of this unrest will be well-ordered, but even peaceful protests can turn into riots.
It's important to know how to get out of town in a hurry […]
It's important to know how to get out of town in a hurry […]
You know, I need a break from politics and doom. Don't you? Here, enjoy a truly classic clip of Johnny Carson utterly crashing and burning in his act and _still_ managing to provide world-class entertainment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbhz0e0vVf4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbhz0e0vVf4
February 23, 2025 at 6:23 AM
You know, I need a break from politics and doom. Don't you? Here, enjoy a truly classic clip of Johnny Carson utterly crashing and burning in his act and _still_ managing to provide world-class entertainment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbhz0e0vVf4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbhz0e0vVf4
Have you ever wondered why so few of my nieces and nephews ever ask me, their mathematician uncle, for help with math homework?
Wonder no more!
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rr9g42qrit9w21wcgx5cn/heather.pdf?rlkey=55y6n1ugnbjv3v9tvf0epovti&st=rb68j91t&dl=0
Wonder no more!
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rr9g42qrit9w21wcgx5cn/heather.pdf?rlkey=55y6n1ugnbjv3v9tvf0epovti&st=rb68j91t&dl=0
Dropbox
www.dropbox.com
February 20, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Have you ever wondered why so few of my nieces and nephews ever ask me, their mathematician uncle, for help with math homework?
Wonder no more!
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rr9g42qrit9w21wcgx5cn/heather.pdf?rlkey=55y6n1ugnbjv3v9tvf0epovti&st=rb68j91t&dl=0
Wonder no more!
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rr9g42qrit9w21wcgx5cn/heather.pdf?rlkey=55y6n1ugnbjv3v9tvf0epovti&st=rb68j91t&dl=0
Hot tip: if you're interested in learning the details of world sanctions against Russia, you should attend this free webinar.
I know some of the people involved. They're knowledgeable and violently allergic to bullshit […]
I know some of the people involved. They're knowledgeable and violently allergic to bullshit […]
Original post on social.afront.org
social.afront.org
February 20, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Hot tip: if you're interested in learning the details of world sanctions against Russia, you should attend this free webinar.
I know some of the people involved. They're knowledgeable and violently allergic to bullshit […]
I know some of the people involved. They're knowledgeable and violently allergic to bullshit […]
Today in a nutshell:
"Wow, this is straight-up 1938 Munich."
"Du bist wahnsinnig, Herr Hansen, alles ist gut und der Orangemann ist unsere von Gott-gegebener Führer."
"Wait, why are you speaking German?"
"Ich bin nicht!"
"Yes! Yes you are!"
"Falschmeldungen und Propaganda!"
"Wow, this is straight-up 1938 Munich."
"Du bist wahnsinnig, Herr Hansen, alles ist gut und der Orangemann ist unsere von Gott-gegebener Führer."
"Wait, why are you speaking German?"
"Ich bin nicht!"
"Yes! Yes you are!"
"Falschmeldungen und Propaganda!"
February 20, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Today in a nutshell:
"Wow, this is straight-up 1938 Munich."
"Du bist wahnsinnig, Herr Hansen, alles ist gut und der Orangemann ist unsere von Gott-gegebener Führer."
"Wait, why are you speaking German?"
"Ich bin nicht!"
"Yes! Yes you are!"
"Falschmeldungen und Propaganda!"
"Wow, this is straight-up 1938 Munich."
"Du bist wahnsinnig, Herr Hansen, alles ist gut und der Orangemann ist unsere von Gott-gegebener Führer."
"Wait, why are you speaking German?"
"Ich bin nicht!"
"Yes! Yes you are!"
"Falschmeldungen und Propaganda!"