Elf M. Sternberg
@elfsternberg.bsky.social
Husband to a gorgeous wife, father to two great kids, greying leatherfairy, infamous furry, and world-class software engineer. If you can read this, you're running code I wrote.
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
The nice thing about being a science fiction writer with a multi-generational timeline is that I get to make up stuff. By Rhiane's time there are four common pronouns and a bunch of lesser known ones.
This ep is about a species without gender, so pronouns inevitably come up. Riker makes a mistake and gets corrected. He apologizes, asks what pronouns Soren prefers, and then says he will do his best to be better going forward.
If Riker could figure this out in 1992, your MAGA uncle has no excuse.
If Riker could figure this out in 1992, your MAGA uncle has no excuse.
November 27, 2025 at 6:53 AM
The nice thing about being a science fiction writer with a multi-generational timeline is that I get to make up stuff. By Rhiane's time there are four common pronouns and a bunch of lesser known ones.
Wiktionary fail. It claims "wonk" is slang, "possibly a corruption of 'wanker.''" Wonk is "know" spelled backwards, because wonks only admit the truth after hindsight has kicked their arses.
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wonk
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wonk
November 27, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Wiktionary fail. It claims "wonk" is slang, "possibly a corruption of 'wanker.''" Wonk is "know" spelled backwards, because wonks only admit the truth after hindsight has kicked their arses.
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wonk
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wonk
I don't think people appreciate just how racist Underdog! was. Not only was one of the primary villains Simon Bar Sinister, but the hero's love interest was an albino-white femme named "Polly Purebred."
I think it’s time to put this one back out into the ether, friends
Come and learn about how the tropes undergirding anti-Jewish hatred and conspiracy theories as they exist today came to be…
Come and learn about how the tropes undergirding anti-Jewish hatred and conspiracy theories as they exist today came to be…
The Antisemitism Post (tm)
Gotta get the history to know where the tropes live in the discourse today.
www.lifeisasacredtext.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:58 AM
I don't think people appreciate just how racist Underdog! was. Not only was one of the primary villains Simon Bar Sinister, but the hero's love interest was an albino-white femme named "Polly Purebred."
At first I thought, "Furry isn't a species." Then I realized Aaron probably meant "speculation."
The terrifying thought here is that there are people in "leadership" positions in MAGA (as if anyone could actually lead a horde of locusts) who are desperarte for a reason to crush the Furry community.
The terrifying thought here is that there are people in "leadership" positions in MAGA (as if anyone could actually lead a horde of locusts) who are desperarte for a reason to crush the Furry community.
very odd that the Post would write up someone’s speciation as if it’s news. What are we doing here
November 27, 2025 at 5:54 AM
At first I thought, "Furry isn't a species." Then I realized Aaron probably meant "speculation."
The terrifying thought here is that there are people in "leadership" positions in MAGA (as if anyone could actually lead a horde of locusts) who are desperarte for a reason to crush the Furry community.
The terrifying thought here is that there are people in "leadership" positions in MAGA (as if anyone could actually lead a horde of locusts) who are desperarte for a reason to crush the Furry community.
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
If writing is so easy why do people argue that they can’t do it without the pablumatic verbiage extruder
And if it’s so difficult then why do people think it’s not labour and writers are not workers
And if it’s so difficult then why do people think it’s not labour and writers are not workers
November 27, 2025 at 4:10 AM
If writing is so easy why do people argue that they can’t do it without the pablumatic verbiage extruder
And if it’s so difficult then why do people think it’s not labour and writers are not workers
And if it’s so difficult then why do people think it’s not labour and writers are not workers
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
This ep is about a species without gender, so pronouns inevitably come up. Riker makes a mistake and gets corrected. He apologizes, asks what pronouns Soren prefers, and then says he will do his best to be better going forward.
If Riker could figure this out in 1992, your MAGA uncle has no excuse.
If Riker could figure this out in 1992, your MAGA uncle has no excuse.
October 21, 2025 at 8:03 PM
This ep is about a species without gender, so pronouns inevitably come up. Riker makes a mistake and gets corrected. He apologizes, asks what pronouns Soren prefers, and then says he will do his best to be better going forward.
If Riker could figure this out in 1992, your MAGA uncle has no excuse.
If Riker could figure this out in 1992, your MAGA uncle has no excuse.
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
With DC shooter now identified as an Afghan national not the antifa secret agent White House hoped for a good time to remember the Trump admin has gutted domestic anti-terrorism capacity and reassigned many to finding grandmothers to arrest at immigration hearings.
November 27, 2025 at 4:06 AM
With DC shooter now identified as an Afghan national not the antifa secret agent White House hoped for a good time to remember the Trump admin has gutted domestic anti-terrorism capacity and reassigned many to finding grandmothers to arrest at immigration hearings.
You just died. The 6th picture in phone gallery is what klled you.
Edgar? Yeah, that checks out.
Edgar? Yeah, that checks out.
November 27, 2025 at 5:44 AM
You just died. The 6th picture in phone gallery is what klled you.
Edgar? Yeah, that checks out.
Edgar? Yeah, that checks out.
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
November 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
Long COVID takes $1 trillion global economic toll each year, analysis suggests
www.cidrap.umn.edu
November 27, 2025 at 12:27 AM
The UK Army's new armored fighting vehicle has engine vibration and shock absorber problems so bad it makes the passengers and driver puke.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Army halts use of Ajax armoured vehicles after soldiers left vomiting
The UK government previously said they were ready for deployment with interest from Nato allies.
www.bbc.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The UK Army's new armored fighting vehicle has engine vibration and shock absorber problems so bad it makes the passengers and driver puke.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
nose down ass up
that's the way we cyberstuck
that's the way we cyberstuck
November 26, 2025 at 3:58 PM
nose down ass up
that's the way we cyberstuck
that's the way we cyberstuck
Grief, I should hope so! It would kinda suck if the human brain at birth had to actually learn HOW to feel, hear, and see.
news.ucsc.edu/2025/11/shar...
news.ucsc.edu/2025/11/shar...
Evidence suggests early developing human brains are preconfigured with instructions for understanding the world
Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Tal Sharf's lab used organoids to make fundamental discoveries about human brain development.
news.ucsc.edu
November 26, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Grief, I should hope so! It would kinda suck if the human brain at birth had to actually learn HOW to feel, hear, and see.
news.ucsc.edu/2025/11/shar...
news.ucsc.edu/2025/11/shar...
"An AI teddy bear that discussed sexual fetishes with children." Who needs Jeffrey Epstein when we have Sam Altman's brainchild?
pirg.org/edfund/resou...
pirg.org/edfund/resou...
Trouble in Toyland 2025: A.I. bots and toxics present hidden dangers
Tests show A.I. toys can have disturbing conversations. Other concerns include unsafe or counterfeit toys bought online.
pirg.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:22 PM
"An AI teddy bear that discussed sexual fetishes with children." Who needs Jeffrey Epstein when we have Sam Altman's brainchild?
pirg.org/edfund/resou...
pirg.org/edfund/resou...
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
As G-d is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.
From the Larchives. I guess it's time to post this cartoon for my American friends again :)
November 26, 2025 at 6:48 PM
As G-d is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
if anyone hears of any World AIDS Day gatherings happening to honor everyone we've lost and to protest Trump's decision not to observe it, please let me know
fuck you
the memories of a generation lost because of Reagan's homophobia will not be erased
i think we should do something in DC that would make david wojnarowicz proud tbh
the memories of a generation lost because of Reagan's homophobia will not be erased
i think we should do something in DC that would make david wojnarowicz proud tbh
November 26, 2025 at 7:29 PM
if anyone hears of any World AIDS Day gatherings happening to honor everyone we've lost and to protest Trump's decision not to observe it, please let me know
Huh. Starship's demonstrated lift capacity is 35MT to low Earth orbit. Despite being smaller, Blue Origin's New Glenn has a demonstrated lift capacity of 45MT.
And Blue Origin only had to blow ONE of them up to demonstrate this, compared to SpaceX's five.
And Blue Origin only had to blow ONE of them up to demonstrate this, compared to SpaceX's five.
November 26, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Huh. Starship's demonstrated lift capacity is 35MT to low Earth orbit. Despite being smaller, Blue Origin's New Glenn has a demonstrated lift capacity of 45MT.
And Blue Origin only had to blow ONE of them up to demonstrate this, compared to SpaceX's five.
And Blue Origin only had to blow ONE of them up to demonstrate this, compared to SpaceX's five.
"You have a professional and personal obligation to ask: what do you know, what should you know, and how big the gap is between them before embarking on creating an IT system."
"The opaqueness of AI-driven systems makes it harder to challenge them."
spectrum.ieee.org/it-managemen...
"The opaqueness of AI-driven systems makes it harder to challenge them."
spectrum.ieee.org/it-managemen...
Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing
Why do software failures persist despite soaring IT budgets? Dive into the complexities that keep success elusive.
spectrum.ieee.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:05 PM
"You have a professional and personal obligation to ask: what do you know, what should you know, and how big the gap is between them before embarking on creating an IT system."
"The opaqueness of AI-driven systems makes it harder to challenge them."
spectrum.ieee.org/it-managemen...
"The opaqueness of AI-driven systems makes it harder to challenge them."
spectrum.ieee.org/it-managemen...
Reposted by Elf M. Sternberg
The Trump administration has joined the war on HIV/AIDS, on the side of HIV/AIDS.
SCOOP: The Trump administration has instructed employees and grantees not to use U.S. funds to commemorate World AIDS Day — because the observance was started by the World Health Organization.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/h...
Trump Administration Cancels U.S. Observance of World AIDS Day
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The Trump administration has joined the war on HIV/AIDS, on the side of HIV/AIDS.
"Having a personal website is twee. You get buried by search engines, and the tools aren't as good as Substack, Medium, and so on. Just give in, like and subscribe."
Fuck off with this: stories.byburk.net/the-end-of-p...
Fuck off with this: stories.byburk.net/the-end-of-p...
The End of Personal Websites
And why that might be a good thing
stories.byburk.net
November 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
"Having a personal website is twee. You get buried by search engines, and the tools aren't as good as Substack, Medium, and so on. Just give in, like and subscribe."
Fuck off with this: stories.byburk.net/the-end-of-p...
Fuck off with this: stories.byburk.net/the-end-of-p...
Every 1000 CSS custom property dereferences on a page is an extra millisecond of processing time for Chrome on an average laptop. Nobody's going to notice that until, what, you have 250,000 CSS custom properties on the screen? And if you have that many, you... probably have bigger worries.
November 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Every 1000 CSS custom property dereferences on a page is an extra millisecond of processing time for Chrome on an average laptop. Nobody's going to notice that until, what, you have 250,000 CSS custom properties on the screen? And if you have that many, you... probably have bigger worries.
I'm not with Ezra here on the "Africa is underpolluted, so pollution-causing industries should shift there." I think the activists were right. I mean, Africa waited long enough they dodged a lot of the biggest polluter: commodity fuel energies.
www.slowboring.com/p/ive-been-c...
www.slowboring.com/p/ive-been-c...
I've been covering Larry Summers controversies for most of my life
I'm sick of it, and also I think he's been right about some stuff
www.slowboring.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I'm not with Ezra here on the "Africa is underpolluted, so pollution-causing industries should shift there." I think the activists were right. I mean, Africa waited long enough they dodged a lot of the biggest polluter: commodity fuel energies.
www.slowboring.com/p/ive-been-c...
www.slowboring.com/p/ive-been-c...