Robert Lin
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robertl.in
Robert Lin
@robertl.in
3.5K followers 550 following 2.1K posts
One day, my tweets are all I'll leave behind.

Building #atproto stuff in public bc I believe in an open web.

🧬 robertl.in/xna 📝 robertlin.substack.com
🕰️ @now.robertl.in 📜 @history.robertl.in

🦋 Joined: Feb 6, 2024 📍 Cincinnati, Ohio - USA 🍄 Chaga
Posts Replies Media Videos
robertl.in
I read Lauren Hillenbrand's "Unbroken" over a decade ago and one fact has stuck with me: In WWII, the Japanese held approximately 350,000 prisoners, while Western Allied and Chinese forces captured around 38,000 Japanese soldiers. This means the Japanese held roughly a 9:1 ratio of prisoners."
From Google Gemini: "In World War II, the Japanese held approximately 350,000 prisoners, while Western Allied and Chinese forces captured around 38,000 Japanese soldiers. This means the Japanese held roughly a 9:1 ratio of prisoners from the Allied side compared to the number of Japanese prisoners held by the Allies."
November 11, 2025 at 11:51 AM
robertl.in
Yes! Absolutely! Centuries of wisdom is well put!! I love America (we are the country that gave the world McDonalds and Michael Bay! 🥳) but Chinese culture is phenomenal. China has the world's longest continuous history with written records dating back 3,500 years! Lots to learn from China. 🙂
Screenshot of Google Gemini: "China has the world's longest continuous history with written records dating back 3,500 years."
November 11, 2025 at 11:36 AM
robertl.in
I have a Q for all bsky ppl - can anyone help with this? ( @danabra.mov - I'm tagging you bc you're the only person on the bsky team who I know can see my posts! I'm on a bunch of lists for some reason that block me). But what does it mean if I see I have a reply but I can't see it? I've opened this
Screenshot showing one of my bsky posts - it shows I have one comment but I can't see it? 🤔
November 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
robertl.in
I ❤️ public libraries! I believe you can tell a ton ab a town by its 圖書館. The way it treats its library is a reflection of its values. Is the 圖書館 a dilapidated building or a monument to knowledge+learning?

I'm gonna start sharing every single library I visit!📚

Yesterday: Westerville 圖書館, Ohio

#圖書館
An Innovation Lab at the Westerville Public Library! The gift shop at the Westerville Public Library The Westerville Public Library offers Culture Passes to visit places like the Columbus Art museum for free with your library card! The exterior of the Westerville Public Library at night.
November 9, 2025 at 1:16 PM
robertl.in
Hi @jdahl.bsky.social! Big fan of Dialectic! I was listening to your latest ep w/ Chris Sacca & noticed there is no "transcript" option on the podcast ep tho? I think it's because there is video in the podcast? Even when I toggle the "audio-only" mode though, I still don't see a "transcript" option.
There is no "transcript" option on the podcast episode? I think it's because there is video in the podcast? Even when I toggle the "audio-only" mode though, I still don't see a "transcript" option.
November 8, 2025 at 1:12 PM
robertl.in
David Sacks on @a16z.bsky.social:

'Colorado, Illinois, and California have all passed legislation banning "algorithmic discrimination". ie. If algorithms disparately impact a protected class, that is illegal.'

Can someone please help me understand this better? eg. Does that mean if I ask ChatGPT,
Colorado, Illinois, and California have all passed legislation banning "algorithmic discrimination". ie. If the algorithm disparately impacts a protected class, that is illegal. Colorado, Illinois, and California have all passed legislation banning "algorithmic discrimination". ie. If the algorithm disparately impacts a protected class, that is illegal. Colorado, Illinois, and California have all passed legislation banning "algorithmic discrimination". ie. If the algorithm disparately impacts a protected class, that is illegal. Colorado, Illinois, and California have all passed legislation banning "algorithmic discrimination". ie. If the algorithm disparately impacts a protected class, that is illegal.
November 6, 2025 at 1:28 PM
robertl.in
@a16z.bsky.social this morning:

"Ronald Regan had a line about this, which is: 'If it moves, tax it; if it keeps moving, regulate it; if it stops moving, subsidize it.'

"The Europeans are definitely at the 'subsidize it' stage."
"Ronald Regan had a line about this, which is, 'If it moves, tax it; if it keeps moving, regulate it; if it stops moving, subsidize it.' The Europeans are definitely at the 'subsidize it' stage."
November 6, 2025 at 12:57 PM
robertl.in
@planetmoney.bsky.social:

Oregon needs to get its "error rate" for SNAP down to <6% or they'll owe $250m/yr. Historically, the federal gov paid the entire tab for SNAP. But the BBB implements a new rule to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.

OR's current error rate for SNAP is 14.06% as of FY 2024.
Oregon needs to get its "error rate" for SNAP down to under 6% or they'll owe $250 million a year. Historically, the federal government paid the entire tab for SNAP. But the BBB implements a new rule to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. Oregon's current error rate for SNAP is 14.06% as of 2024 fiscal year.
November 5, 2025 at 12:07 PM
robertl.in
From @nytimes.com's The Daily this morning:

By 2033, 75% of Amazon's operations will be fully automated. They have also already put into motion to stop hiring 500,000 humans immediately. Amazon is the second largest employer in the US. Where Amazon goes, the rest of the world (eg. Walmart) follows.
By 2033, 75% of Amazon's operations will be automated.
November 4, 2025 at 1:53 AM
robertl.in
An idea I've been slowly making peace w/: despite humanity's dreams to colonize the stars/galaxy/universe, what if it's instead the end of the line of our species? Not driven to extinction bc of destruction but bc of a lack of desire to propagate?🤔

Vision: "But a thing isn't beautiful bc it lasts."
Vision: "But a thing isn't beautiful bc it lasts." Credit: Vision and Ultron - Avengers: Age of Ultron https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmokingSkull https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhGPvE43aAM
November 2, 2025 at 1:38 PM
robertl.in
@ayesharascoe.bsky.social dropping truth bombs on the pending global population collapse on @npr.org this morning! 🙂

Ayesha Rascoe: "One thing you think about, it's like, is this really a problem?

"Okay, well, eventually maybe nothing will be left, but maybe that's what the Lord intended."
Ayesha Rascoe: "One thing you think about, it's like, is this really a problem?" Ayesha Rascoe: "Okay, well, eventually maybe nothing will be left, but maybe that's what the Lord intended."
November 2, 2025 at 12:31 PM
robertl.in
Walked around the Dublin Community Recreation Center Dublin, Ohio today. It was super-nice! There are houses that abut the park. S & I walked around for ~90 minutes today and the weather was gorgeous. I really love driving up to Columbus though. I find its vibe very different - feels more affluent!!
My Strava map showing me walking around the Dublin Rec Center in Dublin, OH today.
November 1, 2025 at 10:33 PM
robertl.in
Friday - October 31, 2025

You see, gentlemen, reason is an excellent thing, there’s no disputing that, but reason is nothing but reason and satisfies only the rational side of man’s nature, while will is a manifestation of the whole life...

Notes from Underground (1864) - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Friday - October 31, 2025 You see, gentlemen, reason is an excellent thing, there’s no disputing that, but reason is nothing but reason and satisfies only the rational side of man’s nature, while will is a manifestation of the whole life, that is, of the whole human life including reason and all the impulses. And although our life, in this manifestation of it, is often worthless, yet it is life and not simply extracting square roots. Here I, for instance, quite naturally want to live, in order to satisfy all my capacities for life, and not simply my capacity for reasoning, that is, not simply one twentieth of my capacity for life. What does reason know? Reason only knows what it has succeeded in learning (some things, perhaps, it will never learn; this is a poor comfort, but why not say so frankly?) and human nature acts as a whole, with everything that is in it, consciously or unconsciously, and, even if it goes wrong, it lives. Notes from Underground (1864) - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
November 1, 2025 at 1:31 AM
robertl.in
Kudos to @cincylibrary.bsky.social - I love how bibliocommons.com shows me if there are ppl waiting for a book I've currently borrowed. I'm the kinda person who simultaneously borrows multiple books 🫣 so knowing if someone's waiting for a specific title definitely guides what I finish first! 🔥 UX!!👍
Screenshot showing "1 person waiting" for the book, "Never Let Me Go" on my Cincinnati Public Library account.
October 31, 2025 at 11:45 AM
robertl.in
Thursday - October 30, 2025

“It’s the Halley Concerto,” he answered, smiling.

“Which one?”

“The Fifth.”

She let a moment pass, before she said slowly and very carefully, “Richard Halley wrote only four concertos.”

Atlas Shrugged (1957) - Ayn Rand
Thursday - October 30, 2025 A few steps away, at the end of the car, a brakeman was adjusting the controls of the air-conditioner. He was blond and young. He was whistling the theme of the symphony. She realized that he had been whistling it for some time and that this was all she had heard. She watched him incredulously for a while, before she raised her voice to ask, “Tell me please, what are you whistling?” The boy turned to her. She met a direct glance and saw an open, eager smile, as if he was sharing a confidence with a friend. She liked his face—its lines were tight and firm, it did not have that look of loose muscles evading the responsibility of a shape, which she had learned to expect in people’s faces. “It’s the Halley Concerto,” he answered, smiling. “Which one?” “The Fifth.” She let a moment pass, before she said slowly and very carefully, “Richard Halley wrote only four concertos.” Atlas Shrugged (1957) - Ayn Rand
October 31, 2025 at 12:22 AM
robertl.in
spotify.link/tIxihG7CRXb

Loved listening to this Tech Dirt ep from @mmasnick.bsky.social this morning where he spoke w/ Catherine Bracy. VCs are not to blame. Limited Partners are (the people who fund VCs). VCs are just the middlemen. Instead of always going for homers, try for singles+doubles.
Screenshot of transcript from Tech Dirt podcast.
October 29, 2025 at 3:49 PM
robertl.in
Wed-Oct 29, 2025

Three months after Sandy passed, Steve Cain sold the house and moved to Arizona with a smile as wide as Interstate 10 plastered on his skull.

Old Man’s War (2005) - @scalzi.com
Wednesday - October 29, 2025 I suppose Sandy’s headstone could be considered the last word in the matter, a final show-up that could not be rebutted, because, after all, Kathy was already dead. On the other hand, I don’t actually recall anyone visiting Sandy. Three months after Sandy passed, Steve Cain sold the house and moved to Arizona with a smile as wide as Interstate 10 plastered on his skull. Old Man’s War (2005) - John Scalzi
October 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
robertl.in
Tue-Oct 28, 2025

…and scattered around it—near-misses—I see a dozen identical red T-shirts.

“That was my theory,” I say.

“Yeah,” Kat says, “I decided I didn’t want to waste brain cycles” —she yawns— “figuring out what to wear every morning.”

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore (2012) - Robin Sloan
Tuesday - October 28, 2025 Trevor is gone. Kat is alone. In fact, she’s somewhere completely different now. “This is my room,” she says softly. “Like it?” It’s spartan, not much more than a bed and a desk and a heavy black trunk. It looks like a cabin on an ocean liner. No: a pod on a spaceship. In the corner of the room, there’s a white plastic laundry basket, and scattered around it—near-misses—I see a dozen identical red T-shirts. “That was my theory,” I say. “Yeah,” Kat says, “I decided I didn’t want to waste brain cycles” —she yawns— “figuring out what to wear every morning.” Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore (2012) - Robin Sloan
October 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
robertl.in
Mon-Oct 27, 2025

I want to argue... everything she tells me is to build this marketing image, but I can’t resist it. I know Coke is one part faintly repulsive black syrup, seven parts water and forty-two pars marketing, but I still drink it. Perception is reality.

Syrup (1999) - @maxbarry.com
Monday - October 27, 2025 “I went to Stanford,” 6 says steadily. I curse silently, because I usually lie about having gone to Stanford and she’s beaten me to it. “I graduated from high school at fifteen, courtesy of an advanced learning program. I did four years at UCLA, an M.B.A. at Stanford, and now, after six weeks at Coca-Cola, I am twenty-one years of age. I want to argue, but she gets to me. I know what she’s doing: that everything she tells me is to build this marketing image, but I can’t resist it. I know Coke is one part faintly repulsive black syrup, seven parts water and forty-two pars marketing, but I still drink it. Perception is reality. Syrup (1999) - Max Barry
October 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
robertl.in
Sun-Oct 26, 2025

“What I do, which you call ‘word voodoo,’ is I bribe the committee... With me so far?”

“Yes.”

“All right. What’s in Broken Hill is a bareword. A bareword, in this analogy, is me getting out my chainsaw and cutting down the tree.”

Lexicon (2013) - @maxbarry.com
Sunday - October 26, 2025 “I still don’t understand how it’s a word. Words can’t kill people.” “Sure they can. Words kill people all the time.” He wrestled the gearshift. “Granted, this one is more direct about it.” “What makes this one special?” “Well, that’s difficult to explain without referencing some fairly advanced linguistics and neurochemistry.” “Give me an analogy.” “There’s a tree in a park. A tree you want cut down, for some reason. You phone the city and ask which department you need to contact and which forms you need to fill out. Your application goes to a committee, which decides whether it makes a good case, and if so, they send out a guy to cut down the tree. That’s the brain’s regular decision-making process. What I do, which you call ‘word voodoo,’ is I bribe the committee. It’s the same process. But I’m neutralizing the parts that can say no. With me so far?” “Yes.” “All right. What’s in Broken Hill is a bareword. A bareword, in this analogy, is me getting out my chainsaw and cutting down the tree.” Lexicon (2013) - Max Barry
October 26, 2025 at 12:16 PM
robertl.in
Hi @ma.tt! QQ: I love @pocketcasts.com and pay for it but noticed that when I click on parts of the transcript, it doesn't jump me to the relevant section of audio like it does in Spotify. Are you releasing this feature soon? TY! Keep up the great work!!
Screenshot of the transcription feature in Pocketcasts
October 25, 2025 at 1:06 PM
robertl.in
Sat-Oct 25, 2025

“That, precisely, is the deadliness of second-handers. They have no concern for facts, ideas, work. They’re concerned only with people. They don’t ask: ‘Is this true?’ They ask: ‘Is this what others think is true?’ Not to judge, but to repeat.”

The Fountainhead (1943) - Ayn Rand
Saturday - October 25, 2025 “That, precisely, is the deadliness of second-handers. They have no concern for facts, ideas, work. They’re concerned only with people. They don’t ask: ‘Is this true?’ They ask: ‘Is this what others think is true?’ Not to judge, but to repeat. Not to do, but to give the impression of doing. Not creation, but show. Not ability, but friendship. Not merit, but pull. What would happen to the world without those who do, think, work, produce? Those are the egotists. You don’t think through another’s brain and you don’t work through another’s hands. When you suspend your faculty of independent judgment, you suspend consciousness. To stop consciousness is to stop life… The second-hander acts, but the source of his actions is scattered in every other living person. It’s everywhere and nowhere and you can’t reason with him. He’s not open to reason. You can’t speak to him—he can’t hear. You’re tried by an empty bench. The Fountainhead (1943) - Ayn Rand
October 25, 2025 at 12:09 PM
robertl.in
spotify.link/PlfuIWDTIXb

@jack.bsky.social: "Any public company is for sale to the highest bidder. That is the fiduciary responsibility of the board to return to shareholders that by law. So if they get a crazy offer, any public company, they must take it. They must. It doesn't matter who it is."
"Any public company is for sale to the highest bidder like the fiduciary responsibility of the board is to return to shareholders that by law so if they get a crazy offer any public law company they must take it by law they must it doesn't matter who it is."
October 24, 2025 at 9:33 AM
robertl.in
Fri-Oct 24, 2025

“The creators were not selfless. It is the whole secret of their power-that it was self-sufficient, self-motivated, self-generated. A first cause, a fount of energy, a life force, a Prime Mover."

The Fountainhead (1943) - Ayn Rand
Friday - October 24, 2025 “No creator was prompted by a desire to serve his brothers, for his brothers rejected the gift he offered and that gift destroyed the slothful routine of their lives. His truth was his only motive. His own truth, and his own work to achieve it in his own way. A symphony, a book, an engine, a philosophy, an airplane or a building-that was his goal and his life. Not those who heard, read, operated, believed, flew or inhabited the thing he had created. The creation, not its users. The creation, not the benefits others derived from it. The creation which gave form to his truth. He held his truth above all things and against all men. “His vision, his strength, his courage came from his own spirit. A man’s spirit, however, is his self. That entity which is his consciousness. To think, to feel, to judge, to act are functions of the ego. “The creators were not selfless. It is the whole secret of their power-that it was self-sufficient, self-motivated, self-generated. A first cause, a fount of energy, a life force, a Prime Mover. The creator served nothing and no one. He had lived for himself. “And only by living for himself was he able to achieve the things which are the glory of mankind. Such is the nature of achievement. “Man cannot survive except through his mind. He comes on earth unarmed. His brain is his only weapon. Animals obtain food by force. Man has no claws, no fangs, no horns, no great strength of muscle. He must plant his food or hunt it. To plant, he needs a process of thought. To hunt, he needs weapons, and to make weapons-a process of thought. From this simplest necessity to the highest religious abstraction, from the wheel to the skyscraper, everything we are and everything we have comes from a single attribute of man-the function of his reasoning mind. The Fountainhead (1943) - Ayn Rand
October 24, 2025 at 8:29 AM
robertl.in
spotify.link/ObXRjDe8HXb

@jack.bsky.social retweeted the Russian troll, Crystal Johnson, 18x.

Love revolution.social from @rabble.nz! Love the deep dives with the ppl who are actually in the trenches!!

(Big thanks to @mmasnick.bsky.social at Tech Dirt! That's how I discovered the pod yesterday!🙏)
Jack Dorsey retweeted the Russian troll, Crystal Johnson, 18 times.
October 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM