Ilan Muskat
@calculon.bsky.social
"And then it was now; and then I don't know what happened." It's pronounced *sigh* like it looks. Maybe tomorrow. (He/him)
Pinned
Ilan Muskat
@calculon.bsky.social
· Aug 28
Then what you do, is gather up all the feathers and stuff the pillow again
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
Thread, up and down.
There's an old logic joke I love:
A tee-totalling ship captain carefully writes in his log every time his second gets drunk. "Bob got drunk today."
His second is pissed, the captain's log is gonna fuck over his future promotions because the captain is making him look like an alcoholic.
A tee-totalling ship captain carefully writes in his log every time his second gets drunk. "Bob got drunk today."
His second is pissed, the captain's log is gonna fuck over his future promotions because the captain is making him look like an alcoholic.
December 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Thread, up and down.
Whoa! The movie that predicts my next year is *checks website* Password1234
December 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Whoa! The movie that predicts my next year is *checks website* Password1234
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
First-of-a-kind study shows encouraging data for trans kids who socially transition
Ninety-four percent of participants in a new study stood firm in their trans identity after five years, and "detransitioning" is rare.
www.popsci.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
shout out to the guy behind me at the movies tonight who whispered "CinemaScope" to his date when the screen's aspect ratio changed. real "that's Chappie" energy
December 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM
shout out to the guy behind me at the movies tonight who whispered "CinemaScope" to his date when the screen's aspect ratio changed. real "that's Chappie" energy
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
Another bad day to be a survivor on the internet.
December 20, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Another bad day to be a survivor on the internet.
@rianjohnson.bsky.social the things you don't notice until your tenth rewatch
December 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
@rianjohnson.bsky.social the things you don't notice until your tenth rewatch
Tired: Patent medicines
Wired: Imagined medicines
Wired: Imagined medicines
Incredible @vicmsong.bsky.social banger looking into the wild west of unregulated "GLP-3" weight loss injections being sold on TikTok — bananas that influencers have incremented "GLP-1" like a version number to make it sound newer www.theverge.com/column/84640...
The wellness wild west is back on its bullshit with unapproved weight loss drugs
I bought an unapproved, experimental drug in five minutes on TikTok.
www.theverge.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Tired: Patent medicines
Wired: Imagined medicines
Wired: Imagined medicines
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
as I've said before, a lot of the root problems with LLMs is that they're bad at the things we think computers should be good at, and good at the things we think computers should be bad at.
For some reason, people struggle to understand that indexing is precisely the sort of task LLMs *can’t do*, for the same reason they can’t solve complex equations - rather like cold-reading mediums, they’re good at vibes but fail when exacting precision and accuracy is required
December 19, 2025 at 3:19 PM
as I've said before, a lot of the root problems with LLMs is that they're bad at the things we think computers should be good at, and good at the things we think computers should be bad at.
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
If you don’t live with a disability, then it’s important to recognize that you may not have a very accurate sense of what living with a disability actually looks like.
Travelers bemoan a rise of able-bodied passengers who game the system to skip the lines. on.wsj.com/3N6apva
They Get Wheeled on Flights and Miraculously Walk Off. Praise ‘Jetway Jesus.’
Travelers bemoan a rise of able-bodied passengers who game the system to skip the lines.
on.wsj.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:12 AM
If you don’t live with a disability, then it’s important to recognize that you may not have a very accurate sense of what living with a disability actually looks like.
Desolation Marine resculpt finally looking classy
finally, a solution for the sophisticated warhammer player who wants to spotlight the crown jewel of his fine wine collection
December 19, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Desolation Marine resculpt finally looking classy
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
"they don't know how to express the idea" here's rian johnson's storyboard for knives out
pick up a pencil and a napkin
pick up a pencil and a napkin
December 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
"they don't know how to express the idea" here's rian johnson's storyboard for knives out
pick up a pencil and a napkin
pick up a pencil and a napkin
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
I am reminded of Lincoln's famous letter to Joshua Speed in 1855
quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/li...
quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/li...
![Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that "all men are created equal." We now practically read it "all men are created equal, except negroes." When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics." When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty-to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy [sic].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:kok4aqdr3qnsj6ktfkq76kqz/bafkreibv56orcjfhjc2czd5kkydlzapnuem3xkzbhna4fia27pyajprzvq@jpeg)
December 17, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I am reminded of Lincoln's famous letter to Joshua Speed in 1855
quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/li...
quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/li...
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
was not aware you could do the press release version of crossing your fingers behind your back by putting parts in tiny tiny font
December 17, 2025 at 1:03 PM
was not aware you could do the press release version of crossing your fingers behind your back by putting parts in tiny tiny font
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
Adapting a deeply personal story in a way that makes the person who wrote it experience it all over again is a real kindness and a small miracle. There's been a lot of pain adjacent to this film, a lot of sad stories that touch it. But Reiner seems to have done his part with great kindness.
Stephen King: Why I Hugged Rob Reiner After Watching ‘Stand by Me’ www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/o...
Opinion | Stephen King: Why I Hugged Rob Reiner After Watching ‘Stand by Me’
www.nytimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Adapting a deeply personal story in a way that makes the person who wrote it experience it all over again is a real kindness and a small miracle. There's been a lot of pain adjacent to this film, a lot of sad stories that touch it. But Reiner seems to have done his part with great kindness.
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
Remember, hit www.eff.org/age for a full set of resources about age verification: Why it doesn't (and can't) work, why it hurts everyone's privacy — including kids, and what we can all do to push back.
Age Verification and Age Gating: Resource Hub
Age verification (or age-gating) laws generally require online services to check, estimate, or verify all users’ ages—often through invasive tools like ID checks, biometric scans, or other dubious “ag...
www.eff.org
December 17, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Remember, hit www.eff.org/age for a full set of resources about age verification: Why it doesn't (and can't) work, why it hurts everyone's privacy — including kids, and what we can all do to push back.
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
i deleted my facebook today. other changes are coming, i think.
i read one too many "it's not just X, it's X" AI phrases in "news" and "entertainment" scrolling. and realized I'd much rather decide for myself who and what I want to see.
i read one too many "it's not just X, it's X" AI phrases in "news" and "entertainment" scrolling. and realized I'd much rather decide for myself who and what I want to see.
December 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
i deleted my facebook today. other changes are coming, i think.
i read one too many "it's not just X, it's X" AI phrases in "news" and "entertainment" scrolling. and realized I'd much rather decide for myself who and what I want to see.
i read one too many "it's not just X, it's X" AI phrases in "news" and "entertainment" scrolling. and realized I'd much rather decide for myself who and what I want to see.
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
THE MULE (1985)
Acrylic on Canvas 32” x 20”
For book two of the Foundation series, there was once again a clear choice for the central subject. 1/4
Acrylic on Canvas 32” x 20”
For book two of the Foundation series, there was once again a clear choice for the central subject. 1/4
December 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
THE MULE (1985)
Acrylic on Canvas 32” x 20”
For book two of the Foundation series, there was once again a clear choice for the central subject. 1/4
Acrylic on Canvas 32” x 20”
For book two of the Foundation series, there was once again a clear choice for the central subject. 1/4
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
oh it's the 8 year anniversary of the biggest losers online getting mad at me for enjoying a good movie
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI was released on this day 8 years ago
December 16, 2025 at 4:08 AM
oh it's the 8 year anniversary of the biggest losers online getting mad at me for enjoying a good movie
December 16, 2025 at 12:08 AM
They're just vectors for psychological warfare. Have been for at least 11 years. In some cases, you can goof on there, but community managed bulletin boards have always, always been better for that.
I think it's important not to misunderstand what these social media platforms are. They are not public arenas where we bravely take on reactionary forces in honorable combat. They are apps that expose you to stress and thereby simulate the feeling of having done something useful
December 15, 2025 at 10:12 PM
They're just vectors for psychological warfare. Have been for at least 11 years. In some cases, you can goof on there, but community managed bulletin boards have always, always been better for that.
If you are ever assured about a "smart" device you walk a narrow road
iRobot, the U.S. firm that had robots vacuuming homes, will be taken over by its China-based supplier. It's assuring owners that devices will keep working as usual. n.pr/4oZf4wi
Roomba maker files for bankruptcy, weighed down by debt and tariffs
iRobot, the U.S. firm that had robots vacuuming homes, will be taken over by its China-based supplier. It's assuring owners that devices will keep working as usual.
n.pr
December 15, 2025 at 6:51 PM
If you are ever assured about a "smart" device you walk a narrow road
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
Birdhouse in Your Soul.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdgR...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdgR...
They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse In Your Soul (official music video)
YouTube video by ParticleMen
www.youtube.com
December 15, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Birdhouse in Your Soul.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdgR...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdgR...
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
Rob Reiner made and did a lot of things that mattered a lot to me and I kind of thought for a long time that he was a Type of Guy there were a bunch of and turns out, no, there are like maybe six of that Type of Guy and they just have insane work rates and they all hang out
December 15, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Rob Reiner made and did a lot of things that mattered a lot to me and I kind of thought for a long time that he was a Type of Guy there were a bunch of and turns out, no, there are like maybe six of that Type of Guy and they just have insane work rates and they all hang out
Reposted by Ilan Muskat
Words, I don’t have any more tonight. Maybe tomorrow.
December 15, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Words, I don’t have any more tonight. Maybe tomorrow.