Waldo Jaquith
@waldo.net
Thought follower. Public servant. Male software developer. Alumnus of 18F, the Obama White House, Georgetown's Beeck Center, U.S. Digital Response, the Biden-Harris Transition Team, and the Biden administration. He/him. Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Or I can replace the light bulb in my fridge myself, for $89 ($114 with shipping).
I'm not understanding how this is an improvement over light bulbs.
I'm not understanding how this is an improvement over light bulbs.
November 10, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Or I can replace the light bulb in my fridge myself, for $89 ($114 with shipping).
I'm not understanding how this is an improvement over light bulbs.
I'm not understanding how this is an improvement over light bulbs.
The light in my 5-year-old refrigerator has started strobing. "No problem," I thought, "I'll replace the bulb."
Nope! Instead of a $3 bulb, Whirlpool wants me to pay hundreds of dollars for a repair visit. Non-replaceable LEDs are the worst. A proper country would have regulations about this.
Nope! Instead of a $3 bulb, Whirlpool wants me to pay hundreds of dollars for a repair visit. Non-replaceable LEDs are the worst. A proper country would have regulations about this.
November 10, 2025 at 10:57 PM
The light in my 5-year-old refrigerator has started strobing. "No problem," I thought, "I'll replace the bulb."
Nope! Instead of a $3 bulb, Whirlpool wants me to pay hundreds of dollars for a repair visit. Non-replaceable LEDs are the worst. A proper country would have regulations about this.
Nope! Instead of a $3 bulb, Whirlpool wants me to pay hundreds of dollars for a repair visit. Non-replaceable LEDs are the worst. A proper country would have regulations about this.
About 5% of what the Discover tab populates into my feed are nude thirst-trap posts like this. I either need this algorithm to be a lot better or a lot worse, because the status quo is not my favorite.
November 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
About 5% of what the Discover tab populates into my feed are nude thirst-trap posts like this. I either need this algorithm to be a lot better or a lot worse, because the status quo is not my favorite.
I was in a CVS yesterday and saw that one of their point of sale systems was in an update mode. I have so far fought the urge to learn everything about this that I possibly can.
November 9, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I was in a CVS yesterday and saw that one of their point of sale systems was in an update mode. I have so far fought the urge to learn everything about this that I possibly can.
Persimmon season is upon us!
If you pick persimmons and they're still astringent, freeze them for 30 days at ~0°F. That removes most of the astringency without otherwise affecting the flavor.
If you pick persimmons and they're still astringent, freeze them for 30 days at ~0°F. That removes most of the astringency without otherwise affecting the flavor.
November 9, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Persimmon season is upon us!
If you pick persimmons and they're still astringent, freeze them for 30 days at ~0°F. That removes most of the astringency without otherwise affecting the flavor.
If you pick persimmons and they're still astringent, freeze them for 30 days at ~0°F. That removes most of the astringency without otherwise affecting the flavor.
I finally bought PG Tips tea and the tea bags aren't little pyramids, this is bullshit
November 9, 2025 at 4:20 AM
I finally bought PG Tips tea and the tea bags aren't little pyramids, this is bullshit
The American legal system works great! It’s weird that you’d ask.
November 7, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The American legal system works great! It’s weird that you’d ask.
The IRS surveyed people about Direct File, and the results must have been absolutely *glowing* because they're now refusing to release the results. www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
November 7, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The IRS surveyed people about Direct File, and the results must have been absolutely *glowing* because they're now refusing to release the results. www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
And that's how I learned that I was wrong about which end of a walkingstick is which.
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
And that's how I learned that I was wrong about which end of a walkingstick is which.
Judge: You have to feed hungry people.
New York Times: What a victory for [list of groups that does not include hungry people]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
New York Times: What a victory for [list of groups that does not include hungry people]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 6, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Judge: You have to feed hungry people.
New York Times: What a victory for [list of groups that does not include hungry people]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
New York Times: What a victory for [list of groups that does not include hungry people]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Trader Joe’s is out here pissing off the French *and* the Italians with a single product.
November 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Trader Joe’s is out here pissing off the French *and* the Italians with a single product.
Here we see my local Democratic parties teaming up to run a food drive. And on the DNC's website, they're just asking for money, like always, instead of, saying, asking for money for food banks, or showing a national map of party-run food drives. What a squandered opportunity by national Dems.
November 6, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Here we see my local Democratic parties teaming up to run a food drive. And on the DNC's website, they're just asking for money, like always, instead of, saying, asking for money for food banks, or showing a national map of party-run food drives. What a squandered opportunity by national Dems.
I very rarely look at Facebook, so I just spent five minutes scrolling through. Over and over I was shown photo posts by this woman who I am not connected with in any way, all dressed about like this, all full of “hubba hubba” comments from hundreds of dudes. IDK what this is but it’s pathetic.
November 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I very rarely look at Facebook, so I just spent five minutes scrolling through. Over and over I was shown photo posts by this woman who I am not connected with in any way, all dressed about like this, all full of “hubba hubba” comments from hundreds of dudes. IDK what this is but it’s pathetic.
Well, that feels like some careful phrasing. Did they reduce scam ads? Nope. But did they reduce *reports* of scam ads? Apparently! My guess: they made it harder to report a scam ad.
November 6, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Well, that feels like some careful phrasing. Did they reduce scam ads? Nope. But did they reduce *reports* of scam ads? Apparently! My guess: they made it harder to report a scam ad.
Meta demands a cut of any money that’s stolen on their turf.
November 6, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Meta demands a cut of any money that’s stolen on their turf.
At the Cuomo watch party, attendees seem enamored with this guy waving a sign reading "Curtis Wilma is the Spoiler," with stats claiming that Cuomo has 45% of the vote, Mamdani has 44%, and Sliwa has 11%. But if that were true, Cuomo would have won. In fact, Mamdani has a straight majority now.
November 5, 2025 at 3:28 AM
At the Cuomo watch party, attendees seem enamored with this guy waving a sign reading "Curtis Wilma is the Spoiler," with stats claiming that Cuomo has 45% of the vote, Mamdani has 44%, and Sliwa has 11%. But if that were true, Cuomo would have won. In fact, Mamdani has a straight majority now.
A deer ate out the face of my kid’s jack-o-lantern and I think it constitutes an improvement.
November 2, 2025 at 6:56 PM
A deer ate out the face of my kid’s jack-o-lantern and I think it constitutes an improvement.
Our persimmons are so close. Another day or two.
November 1, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Our persimmons are so close. Another day or two.
My eight-year-old is tallying his candy haul, categorized by type, in a spreadsheet.
I can’t imagine where he gets it from.
I can’t imagine where he gets it from.
November 1, 2025 at 12:46 AM
My eight-year-old is tallying his candy haul, categorized by type, in a spreadsheet.
I can’t imagine where he gets it from.
I can’t imagine where he gets it from.
From "A Short Account of the Destruction of the Andes," by Bartolomé de las Casas, a Dominican friar and a Spanish resident of Hispaniola in the 1500s. This is what Christians did to babies in the Americas, in the name of Jesus. (tw: murder, child death, atrocities)
October 31, 2025 at 8:36 PM
From "A Short Account of the Destruction of the Andes," by Bartolomé de las Casas, a Dominican friar and a Spanish resident of Hispaniola in the 1500s. This is what Christians did to babies in the Americas, in the name of Jesus. (tw: murder, child death, atrocities)
The National Museum of African American History & Culture has a virtual exhibit about the social programs of the Black Panther Party, for those who aren't familiar with them. They fed and cared for a lot of people around the country. nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stor...
October 30, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The National Museum of African American History & Culture has a virtual exhibit about the social programs of the Black Panther Party, for those who aren't familiar with them. They fed and cared for a lot of people around the country. nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stor...