dachte
@dachte.bsky.social
Interests: Neuroscience, programming, teaching, political theory
Originally Texan, also in love with Pittsburgh. Currently in NYC.
Liberal Technocrat, opposed to a lot of Progressivism.
https://unfocused.substack.com
Originally Texan, also in love with Pittsburgh. Currently in NYC.
Liberal Technocrat, opposed to a lot of Progressivism.
https://unfocused.substack.com
Feels a little weird to see politicians set some good long-useful policy very late in their stay in office; good policy often requires a steady hand in implementation to work out and if there's no time, a good idea can flop.
abc7ny.com/post/mayor-e...
abc7ny.com/post/mayor-e...
Adams orders city agencies to use language technologies for enhanced communication with New Yorkers
Mayor Eric Adams issued a directive to city agencies on Monday to identify ways to improve communications with all New Yorkers by utilizing language technologies.
abc7ny.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Feels a little weird to see politicians set some good long-useful policy very late in their stay in office; good policy often requires a steady hand in implementation to work out and if there's no time, a good idea can flop.
abc7ny.com/post/mayor-e...
abc7ny.com/post/mayor-e...
This is very important. Write to your representatives.
December 9, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This is very important. Write to your representatives.
Part of the reason Unix has a lorekeeping culture is to pass along interesting information on where given technology came from. Today at lunch I talked about Solaris Zones and how they laid groundwork for a lot of containerization of apps (on Linux done with cgroups at a low level)
December 9, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Part of the reason Unix has a lorekeeping culture is to pass along interesting information on where given technology came from. Today at lunch I talked about Solaris Zones and how they laid groundwork for a lot of containerization of apps (on Linux done with cgroups at a low level)
Today's NASA-APOD is stunningly pretty and something you shouldn't miss:
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25120...
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25120...
APOD: 2025 December 9 – The Heart of the Soul Nebula
A different astronomy and space science
related image is featured each day, along with a brief explanation.
apod.nasa.gov
December 9, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Today's NASA-APOD is stunningly pretty and something you shouldn't miss:
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25120...
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25120...
The abrupt cancellation of the final step of naturalisation the Trump admin has done to nationals of 19 countries is unpredictable and dickish. Sometimes law has hard edges. It must. But it should not be designed with that as a goal, and law/administration should not be unpredictable.
December 9, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The abrupt cancellation of the final step of naturalisation the Trump admin has done to nationals of 19 countries is unpredictable and dickish. Sometimes law has hard edges. It must. But it should not be designed with that as a goal, and law/administration should not be unpredictable.
This long after I'm still unsure if it was the right thing to move from a Fitbit Charge to a Google Watch.
It is nice to get a quick summary of texts, responses on social media, and emails from my watch, but it's not like my phone was ever distant. I still resent needing to charge my watch daily.
It is nice to get a quick summary of texts, responses on social media, and emails from my watch, but it's not like my phone was ever distant. I still resent needing to charge my watch daily.
December 9, 2025 at 5:09 PM
This long after I'm still unsure if it was the right thing to move from a Fitbit Charge to a Google Watch.
It is nice to get a quick summary of texts, responses on social media, and emails from my watch, but it's not like my phone was ever distant. I still resent needing to charge my watch daily.
It is nice to get a quick summary of texts, responses on social media, and emails from my watch, but it's not like my phone was ever distant. I still resent needing to charge my watch daily.
Reposted by dachte
Opinion 1: Just because something has a cost does not mean it's not worthwhile.
Opinion 2: Just because something is worthwhile does not mean it does not have a cost.
Opinion 2: Just because something is worthwhile does not mean it does not have a cost.
December 9, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Opinion 1: Just because something has a cost does not mean it's not worthwhile.
Opinion 2: Just because something is worthwhile does not mean it does not have a cost.
Opinion 2: Just because something is worthwhile does not mean it does not have a cost.
Recently I've been enjoying learning about the digestive quirks and habits of sled dogs. There's a lot to learn about; also cool that they're the one other mammal (from humans) that has long-distance running as one of their main tricks.
December 9, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Recently I've been enjoying learning about the digestive quirks and habits of sled dogs. There's a lot to learn about; also cool that they're the one other mammal (from humans) that has long-distance running as one of their main tricks.
Reposted by dachte
The last few months, I’ve been working on a major project: analyzing the Trump admin’s hostile treatment of the First Amendment. That has led to today’s release of our @freepress.bsky.social report “Chokehold.” @brianstelter.bsky.social @cnn.com details our findings: www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/m...
Analysis: Trump’s first year back in office contradicts his ‘free speech’ commitments | CNN Business
Nora Benavidez of the nonprofit advocacy group Free Press set out to catalog the Trump administration’s First Amendment infringements. She soon had a list of almost 200.
www.cnn.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The last few months, I’ve been working on a major project: analyzing the Trump admin’s hostile treatment of the First Amendment. That has led to today’s release of our @freepress.bsky.social report “Chokehold.” @brianstelter.bsky.social @cnn.com details our findings: www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/m...
Presently deeply irritated to have just seen someone shoplift quite a lot of things from my local Duane Reade and to have seen her just stroll right out (store employees yelling at her) without anyone detaining her until police arrived.
December 6, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Presently deeply irritated to have just seen someone shoplift quite a lot of things from my local Duane Reade and to have seen her just stroll right out (store employees yelling at her) without anyone detaining her until police arrived.
There are things in life that are both a remarkable technical achievement and a really bad idea. If you are an engineer, be prepared to tame your instincts/excitement around these and to watch out for them.
Same, by analogy, with things other than technical and other groups than engineers.
Same, by analogy, with things other than technical and other groups than engineers.
December 6, 2025 at 7:23 PM
There are things in life that are both a remarkable technical achievement and a really bad idea. If you are an engineer, be prepared to tame your instincts/excitement around these and to watch out for them.
Same, by analogy, with things other than technical and other groups than engineers.
Same, by analogy, with things other than technical and other groups than engineers.
Applying for a job (in Europe) where I'd be entering engineering leadership, at a company that has a lot of ideas what that actually means, and preparing for an interview on the topic this coming Monday actually has me both scared and really judging myself in an all new way.
December 6, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Applying for a job (in Europe) where I'd be entering engineering leadership, at a company that has a lot of ideas what that actually means, and preparing for an interview on the topic this coming Monday actually has me both scared and really judging myself in an all new way.
Got the yearly Youtube offer to do a "year in review" for 2025, and why yes those are videos I watched a lot. Not sure why I expected anything different. About 80% of them I had already put into a playlist that I keep automatically downloaded onto my tablet.
December 6, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Got the yearly Youtube offer to do a "year in review" for 2025, and why yes those are videos I watched a lot. Not sure why I expected anything different. About 80% of them I had already put into a playlist that I keep automatically downloaded onto my tablet.
My faith in the Supreme Court has been in sharp decline based on how precedent has bent to conservative activism over the last decade, but FFS if the SC somehow manages to talk itself into supporting Trump's declaration on birthright citizenship despite clear Constitutional text, I will lose my shit
December 6, 2025 at 12:08 AM
My faith in the Supreme Court has been in sharp decline based on how precedent has bent to conservative activism over the last decade, but FFS if the SC somehow manages to talk itself into supporting Trump's declaration on birthright citizenship despite clear Constitutional text, I will lose my shit
One message from the Trump era, and various other societies in a time of crisis, is that the public finds it far easier to respond appropriately to criminals that show shame and cover their acts than to criminals who do their acts proudly, in full daylight, with a victory dance afterwards.
December 5, 2025 at 9:15 PM
One message from the Trump era, and various other societies in a time of crisis, is that the public finds it far easier to respond appropriately to criminals that show shame and cover their acts than to criminals who do their acts proudly, in full daylight, with a victory dance afterwards.
Now wondering if a POTUS could recall any retired military personnel in congress into active services in order to effectively force them to vacate their seat.
December 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Now wondering if a POTUS could recall any retired military personnel in congress into active services in order to effectively force them to vacate their seat.
What I think our legislators and news orgs are getting wrong is the focus on the second-strike, and not on the boatmurder.
Blowing up civilian boats on the ocean should be seen as the scandal. That's what we need to stop. That's what breaks critical norms. The second-strike is not the red line.
Blowing up civilian boats on the ocean should be seen as the scandal. That's what we need to stop. That's what breaks critical norms. The second-strike is not the red line.
"Bradley told lawmakers he ordered a second strike [because] survivors could hypothetically have floated to safety, been rescued, and carried on with trafficking the drugs.
The other source with direct knowledge of the briefing called that rationale “f**king insane.”
www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/p...
The other source with direct knowledge of the briefing called that rationale “f**king insane.”
www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/p...
Exclusive: Survivors clinging to capsized boat didn’t radio for backup, admiral overseeing double-tap strike tells lawmakers | CNN Politics
The two men killed as they floated holding onto their capsized boat in a secondary strike against a suspected drug vessel in early September did not appear to have radio or other communications device...
www.cnn.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
What I think our legislators and news orgs are getting wrong is the focus on the second-strike, and not on the boatmurder.
Blowing up civilian boats on the ocean should be seen as the scandal. That's what we need to stop. That's what breaks critical norms. The second-strike is not the red line.
Blowing up civilian boats on the ocean should be seen as the scandal. That's what we need to stop. That's what breaks critical norms. The second-strike is not the red line.
Tiers of things I care about in terms of the US government having gone feral:
A) Free speech
B) Foreign policy, international norms
C) Rule of law, political pluralism, civics
D) Actual normal value-driven policy
A) Free speech
B) Foreign policy, international norms
C) Rule of law, political pluralism, civics
D) Actual normal value-driven policy
December 5, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Tiers of things I care about in terms of the US government having gone feral:
A) Free speech
B) Foreign policy, international norms
C) Rule of law, political pluralism, civics
D) Actual normal value-driven policy
A) Free speech
B) Foreign policy, international norms
C) Rule of law, political pluralism, civics
D) Actual normal value-driven policy
A quick comment on why political liberalism might include an instinct not to be maximalist or even bold in all cases: substack.com/profile/9890...
Improv (@unfocused)
I think it’s important not to read this too broadly; liberal neutrality is soemthing to be prized in many areas. We really are trying to create a society for pluralism, freedom of conscience, a rules-...
substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:42 PM
A quick comment on why political liberalism might include an instinct not to be maximalist or even bold in all cases: substack.com/profile/9890...
Sometimes weird to see the halfway-in-character bows for fantasy of various sort, where characters that are truly horrible (in fictional behaviour) join the more decent characters on stage, all in costume and maybe even talking in character.
December 4, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Sometimes weird to see the halfway-in-character bows for fantasy of various sort, where characters that are truly horrible (in fictional behaviour) join the more decent characters on stage, all in costume and maybe even talking in character.
Reposted by dachte
I think we may practically agree on this, but I would focus on judging from a virtue ethics perspective - the results are important, but the way you get good results is show good character & competence character is easier to judge than being zoomed in on particular results (where chance has a role).
December 4, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I think we may practically agree on this, but I would focus on judging from a virtue ethics perspective - the results are important, but the way you get good results is show good character & competence character is easier to judge than being zoomed in on particular results (where chance has a role).
It's a pity that "Strangely Unenthusiastic Backup Dancer" is a bit of a mouthful, because it'd be a good band name.
December 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
It's a pity that "Strangely Unenthusiastic Backup Dancer" is a bit of a mouthful, because it'd be a good band name.
Wishing I found it easier to enjoy the company of others without some whiskey in me. Chances are if I'm invited to a party without whiskey I'll stand in a corner and not talk to anyone, but with some whiskey I'll have a number of good 1:1 conversations and spend no time alone.
December 3, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Wishing I found it easier to enjoy the company of others without some whiskey in me. Chances are if I'm invited to a party without whiskey I'll stand in a corner and not talk to anyone, but with some whiskey I'll have a number of good 1:1 conversations and spend no time alone.
Hoping someday I have a chance to see an in-person talk by Tilly Lockey talk about her life with robotic arms. She's a great spokesperson for the ability of technology to fix defects in and improve upon the basic human form.
December 2, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Hoping someday I have a chance to see an in-person talk by Tilly Lockey talk about her life with robotic arms. She's a great spokesperson for the ability of technology to fix defects in and improve upon the basic human form.
If, for some reason, you ever need to backup a large amount of stuff on Slack, and you find slackdump to not do the job (maybe because some security setting logs you out whenever you try to auth), this is one (unpleasant) way to get it done:
December 1, 2025 at 6:28 AM
If, for some reason, you ever need to backup a large amount of stuff on Slack, and you find slackdump to not do the job (maybe because some security setting logs you out whenever you try to auth), this is one (unpleasant) way to get it done: