Simon Frankau
@sgf.bsky.social
SRE manager on Google Compute Engine (only speak for me), ex-quant dev. Fan of maths, Haskell, Rust and retrocomputing. London, UK. CS PhD. Fuck cancer.
First read as "IEDs". Seemed a bit excessive, no recommendations but "don't".
July 25, 2024 at 11:48 AM
First read as "IEDs". Seemed a bit excessive, no recommendations but "don't".
Wow, TIL about the en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_5120 computer. Thanks!
A 5120 - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
July 4, 2024 at 8:50 PM
Wow, TIL about the en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_5120 computer. Thanks!
That is absolutely beautiful, and something that would be disturbingly possible to recreate now. So tempting.
July 2, 2024 at 11:42 AM
That is absolutely beautiful, and something that would be disturbingly possible to recreate now. So tempting.
It's quite possible to separate artist and art. Lots of people like Wagner's music even if he was awful.
So ppl might *want* to experience someone's art without compensating them.
You might think doing so is unethical, but given the prevalence of piracy, it's well within many ppl's norms!
So ppl might *want* to experience someone's art without compensating them.
You might think doing so is unethical, but given the prevalence of piracy, it's well within many ppl's norms!
June 28, 2024 at 10:28 PM
It's quite possible to separate artist and art. Lots of people like Wagner's music even if he was awful.
So ppl might *want* to experience someone's art without compensating them.
You might think doing so is unethical, but given the prevalence of piracy, it's well within many ppl's norms!
So ppl might *want* to experience someone's art without compensating them.
You might think doing so is unethical, but given the prevalence of piracy, it's well within many ppl's norms!
That's got me thinking. I don't find it wholly convincing, since I think there are groups that do that kind of authoritarianism without a history of colonialism, but I don't think it's wrong, either. I'll think more about it!
June 18, 2024 at 5:43 PM
That's got me thinking. I don't find it wholly convincing, since I think there are groups that do that kind of authoritarianism without a history of colonialism, but I don't think it's wrong, either. I'll think more about it!
I think that's very possible, but I'm not sure how best to distinguish incredible delusions of self-importance(/nationalism) from imperialist attitudes without the ability to act on them (well, we still invade places, but only if the US tells us to). Maybe this is more obvious from the outside?
June 17, 2024 at 2:41 PM
I think that's very possible, but I'm not sure how best to distinguish incredible delusions of self-importance(/nationalism) from imperialist attitudes without the ability to act on them (well, we still invade places, but only if the US tells us to). Maybe this is more obvious from the outside?
That same mindset ignores that the European projects were post-war efforts that we were involved in & helped drive.
So, while I think the need for backwards-looking British exceptionalism probably does derive from empire, its expression through ahistorical WW2 takes has really screwed us.
So, while I think the need for backwards-looking British exceptionalism probably does derive from empire, its expression through ahistorical WW2 takes has really screwed us.
June 17, 2024 at 11:58 AM
That same mindset ignores that the European projects were post-war efforts that we were involved in & helped drive.
So, while I think the need for backwards-looking British exceptionalism probably does derive from empire, its expression through ahistorical WW2 takes has really screwed us.
So, while I think the need for backwards-looking British exceptionalism probably does derive from empire, its expression through ahistorical WW2 takes has really screwed us.
The empire mindset might still be present, but it's less in the vocab. Those looking back to an imaginary past prefer pretending we won WW2 single-handedly & that they fought in it personally.
The fact that it was an Allied effort and we were left in debt and rationing for years passes them by.
The fact that it was an Allied effort and we were left in debt and rationing for years passes them by.
June 17, 2024 at 11:46 AM
The empire mindset might still be present, but it's less in the vocab. Those looking back to an imaginary past prefer pretending we won WW2 single-handedly & that they fought in it personally.
The fact that it was an Allied effort and we were left in debt and rationing for years passes them by.
The fact that it was an Allied effort and we were left in debt and rationing for years passes them by.
"They wrote 'less' instead of 'fewer'. 😱😱😱"
:)
:)
June 6, 2024 at 7:49 AM
"They wrote 'less' instead of 'fewer'. 😱😱😱"
:)
:)
"Trump's just doing the billionaire version of the fraud we all do" is right up there with "Trump just says out loud the things we're all thinking" in not sending the message they think it does.
June 6, 2024 at 7:39 AM
"Trump's just doing the billionaire version of the fraud we all do" is right up there with "Trump just says out loud the things we're all thinking" in not sending the message they think it does.
Huh, blocked? Not entirely sure how it works on Bluesky, but I think it means anyone seeing my post can't see the original?
In any case, >100M Americans have the wrong opinion on Trump, one British person has the wrong opinion, and most of the replies focus on them being British.
In any case, >100M Americans have the wrong opinion on Trump, one British person has the wrong opinion, and most of the replies focus on them being British.
June 1, 2024 at 9:13 AM
Huh, blocked? Not entirely sure how it works on Bluesky, but I think it means anyone seeing my post can't see the original?
In any case, >100M Americans have the wrong opinion on Trump, one British person has the wrong opinion, and most of the replies focus on them being British.
In any case, >100M Americans have the wrong opinion on Trump, one British person has the wrong opinion, and most of the replies focus on them being British.
I thought ignoring laws was how you were supposed to run your online taxi company? Disruption!
May 30, 2024 at 6:59 AM
I thought ignoring laws was how you were supposed to run your online taxi company? Disruption!
It's a double-bind, though, right? I mean, he could have taken the flag down, but then he'd be publicly demonstrating that he's against insurrection, and then he'd *have* to recuse himself.
As it is he just has to let his wife be crazy in public. Y' know, for impartiality.
As it is he just has to let his wife be crazy in public. Y' know, for impartiality.
May 29, 2024 at 6:08 PM
It's a double-bind, though, right? I mean, he could have taken the flag down, but then he'd be publicly demonstrating that he's against insurrection, and then he'd *have* to recuse himself.
As it is he just has to let his wife be crazy in public. Y' know, for impartiality.
As it is he just has to let his wife be crazy in public. Y' know, for impartiality.
I particularly enjoyed that "If you exclude lying to and manipulating the board, we couldn't see a problem with him." part.
May 29, 2024 at 5:49 PM
I particularly enjoyed that "If you exclude lying to and manipulating the board, we couldn't see a problem with him." part.
The tube lines running to Comic Con are always my favourite. The gradual build-up of costumes going along the line, and other passengers going from confusion to amusement to appreciation is awesome.
May 29, 2024 at 8:44 AM
The tube lines running to Comic Con are always my favourite. The gradual build-up of costumes going along the line, and other passengers going from confusion to amusement to appreciation is awesome.
Slightly obliquely, on the subject of adventurers making a mess of the place, I recommend the text adventure "Lost Pig". It's pretty short and fun if you're into such things.
May 27, 2024 at 9:03 AM
Slightly obliquely, on the subject of adventurers making a mess of the place, I recommend the text adventure "Lost Pig". It's pretty short and fun if you're into such things.
Looking forward to Biden's "I have a meme" speech.
May 23, 2024 at 4:59 PM
Looking forward to Biden's "I have a meme" speech.
I'd probably take a broad survey of EU country laws and try to build a "best of" approach.
May 22, 2024 at 8:47 PM
I'd probably take a broad survey of EU country laws and try to build a "best of" approach.
The UK libel situation is an absolute horror, but other countries have managed to have better laws without full free speech absolutism, which seems a hefty price.
At the same time Musk has been suing people for defamation. The fact that it gets thrown out eventually doesn't stop the SLAPP effect.
At the same time Musk has been suing people for defamation. The fact that it gets thrown out eventually doesn't stop the SLAPP effect.
May 22, 2024 at 3:53 PM
The UK libel situation is an absolute horror, but other countries have managed to have better laws without full free speech absolutism, which seems a hefty price.
At the same time Musk has been suing people for defamation. The fact that it gets thrown out eventually doesn't stop the SLAPP effect.
At the same time Musk has been suing people for defamation. The fact that it gets thrown out eventually doesn't stop the SLAPP effect.
You don't see the current US media as a result of the US's approach to free speech?
From here, they look very intertwined. I'd be interested to see how you separate them.
(While I hugely disagree about OFCOM, you're clearly very knowledgeable about US free speech, so this is genuine interest!)
From here, they look very intertwined. I'd be interested to see how you separate them.
(While I hugely disagree about OFCOM, you're clearly very knowledgeable about US free speech, so this is genuine interest!)
May 22, 2024 at 3:41 PM
You don't see the current US media as a result of the US's approach to free speech?
From here, they look very intertwined. I'd be interested to see how you separate them.
(While I hugely disagree about OFCOM, you're clearly very knowledgeable about US free speech, so this is genuine interest!)
From here, they look very intertwined. I'd be interested to see how you separate them.
(While I hugely disagree about OFCOM, you're clearly very knowledgeable about US free speech, so this is genuine interest!)
I'm afraid it's sarcasm. When particularly frustrated I sometimes skip the "/s". Sorry!
The Second Amendment is clearly no magic bullet, yet plenty of people who realise this still think the First Amendment is adequate protection against creeping fascism despite ongoing evidence that it isn't.
The Second Amendment is clearly no magic bullet, yet plenty of people who realise this still think the First Amendment is adequate protection against creeping fascism despite ongoing evidence that it isn't.
May 22, 2024 at 10:41 AM
I'm afraid it's sarcasm. When particularly frustrated I sometimes skip the "/s". Sorry!
The Second Amendment is clearly no magic bullet, yet plenty of people who realise this still think the First Amendment is adequate protection against creeping fascism despite ongoing evidence that it isn't.
The Second Amendment is clearly no magic bullet, yet plenty of people who realise this still think the First Amendment is adequate protection against creeping fascism despite ongoing evidence that it isn't.