Joelle Maslak
@jmaslak.bsky.social
Just another neurodivergent techie. Expect to see me talk about computer networks, feminism, human rights, and autism--and how they are connected. Delcared un-American by the US government.
Also, "We are currently clean on opsec!"
Three things about the Witkoff tapes:
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
November 25, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Also, "We are currently clean on opsec!"
Does Polis want to be President by being "civil and thoughtful Republican running as a Dem"?
NEW: Colorado's election clerks are increasingly upset that Gov Jared Polis (D) hasn't ruled out releasing Tina Peters to the Trump administration.
On a call today, a bipartisan group of elected clerks said Polis hasn't agreed to meet with them about their concerns.
On a call today, a bipartisan group of elected clerks said Polis hasn't agreed to meet with them about their concerns.
November 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Does Polis want to be President by being "civil and thoughtful Republican running as a Dem"?
Example of the app - It isn't the pinnacle of UI, but it's good enough. I "print" into a directory and when I'm at home I'll batch print them (like I'm doing today). I have a ton to print (around 175 pieces) today, and the date lets me whether to rotate in the stack (staples have a thickness!).
November 25, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Example of the app - It isn't the pinnacle of UI, but it's good enough. I "print" into a directory and when I'm at home I'll batch print them (like I'm doing today). I have a ton to print (around 175 pieces) today, and the date lets me whether to rotate in the stack (staples have a thickness!).
On the positive side, it's my first Textual app. And I'm happy to say I didn't use any AI. I read the docs and some examples. I kind of like the Textual approach although it's quite a bit different from how I usually write Python TUI apps.
November 25, 2025 at 7:40 PM
On the positive side, it's my first Textual app. And I'm happy to say I didn't use any AI. I read the docs and some examples. I kind of like the Textual approach although it's quite a bit different from how I usually write Python TUI apps.
That I needed an application to manage my printing for this project shows how much "debate" and "discussion" a random trans person (me) not looking for debate has to endure on the internet. Other logistical challenges are storage, and, for the future, shipping.
November 25, 2025 at 7:40 PM
That I needed an application to manage my printing for this project shows how much "debate" and "discussion" a random trans person (me) not looking for debate has to endure on the internet. Other logistical challenges are storage, and, for the future, shipping.
The project, ongoing since August, involves me printing out every long-form essay/etc that I come across that I didn't go looking for. I.E. social media posts, random news sites, etc. I then create two piles, one a pile of joy and the other a pile of hate. You know which is bigger.
November 25, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The project, ongoing since August, involves me printing out every long-form essay/etc that I come across that I didn't go looking for. I.E. social media posts, random news sites, etc. I then create two piles, one a pile of joy and the other a pile of hate. You know which is bigger.
I've written my first Python app for my art project (Hate Measured in Inches): Something to manage all the printing I need to do (basically I want to dump a bunch of files in a directory, print them in chronological order, waiting between each one for me to grab it and staple it).
November 25, 2025 at 7:40 PM
I've written my first Python app for my art project (Hate Measured in Inches): Something to manage all the printing I need to do (basically I want to dump a bunch of files in a directory, print them in chronological order, waiting between each one for me to grab it and staple it).
Reposted by Joelle Maslak
I find that allistic people advocate for autistic people to unmask until we do unmask. Then they find every reason why who you are is a problem for them without the mask.
The rules apparently are:
Don't be logical and present it clearly because it feels like you are arguing with me.
The rules apparently are:
Don't be logical and present it clearly because it feels like you are arguing with me.
November 25, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I find that allistic people advocate for autistic people to unmask until we do unmask. Then they find every reason why who you are is a problem for them without the mask.
The rules apparently are:
Don't be logical and present it clearly because it feels like you are arguing with me.
The rules apparently are:
Don't be logical and present it clearly because it feels like you are arguing with me.
After my airport rant yesterday (too much sensory overload!) this is good news to see:
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/25/d...
They didn't mention airport design in this, but their choices in the new parts of the airport are way better than the older parts of the airport, too.
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/25/d...
They didn't mention airport design in this, but their choices in the new parts of the airport are way better than the older parts of the airport, too.
Calling all passengers: DIA seeks to lower noise levels across airport
A mandatory Quiet Airport Policy aims to contain the often-overwhelming cacophony of modern air travel and give people peace and tranquility.
www.denverpost.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 PM
After my airport rant yesterday (too much sensory overload!) this is good news to see:
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/25/d...
They didn't mention airport design in this, but their choices in the new parts of the airport are way better than the older parts of the airport, too.
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/25/d...
They didn't mention airport design in this, but their choices in the new parts of the airport are way better than the older parts of the airport, too.
I really hope the majority of Dems decide that the way to get elected is to stand for something substantially different than "the same things the GOP believes, just more politely and thoughtfully".
November 25, 2025 at 5:10 AM
I really hope the majority of Dems decide that the way to get elected is to stand for something substantially different than "the same things the GOP believes, just more politely and thoughtfully".
FWIW, my passport is "F" (as is all my documentation), and people generally assume I'm a woman, so YMMV, but if you're scared as a US citizen about travel, I did want to give a counter to some of that narrative. That said I'm sick of federal bullshit around this.
While I was on vacation outside the USA, the State Dept updated the passport gender FAQ 3 times with changes saying they could invalidate my passport.
I'm happy to say I came back today, with zero issues (Global Entry, nothing to declare).
I'm happy to say I came back today, with zero issues (Global Entry, nothing to declare).
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 AM
FWIW, my passport is "F" (as is all my documentation), and people generally assume I'm a woman, so YMMV, but if you're scared as a US citizen about travel, I did want to give a counter to some of that narrative. That said I'm sick of federal bullshit around this.
While I was on vacation outside the USA, the State Dept updated the passport gender FAQ 3 times with changes saying they could invalidate my passport.
I'm happy to say I came back today, with zero issues (Global Entry, nothing to declare).
I'm happy to say I came back today, with zero issues (Global Entry, nothing to declare).
November 25, 2025 at 4:13 AM
While I was on vacation outside the USA, the State Dept updated the passport gender FAQ 3 times with changes saying they could invalidate my passport.
I'm happy to say I came back today, with zero issues (Global Entry, nothing to declare).
I'm happy to say I came back today, with zero issues (Global Entry, nothing to declare).
Sounds like we're going to be prosecuting veterans who protest war in Valenzuela.
If you dare to displease the despot, you will be declared an enemy of the state and every lever of it will be deployed against you.
November 25, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Sounds like we're going to be prosecuting veterans who protest war in Valenzuela.
This is the business equivalent of a church saying to members "We're not a cult."
it's happening dot gif
November 25, 2025 at 3:06 AM
This is the business equivalent of a church saying to members "We're not a cult."
Thinking how an entire table of #ActuallyAutistic people walked out of a keynote at a conference like 15-20 years ago when the speaker started talking bullshit about mitochondria and autism. It was bullshit then and it's bullshit now. This makes me sad.
November 25, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Thinking how an entire table of #ActuallyAutistic people walked out of a keynote at a conference like 15-20 years ago when the speaker started talking bullshit about mitochondria and autism. It was bullshit then and it's bullshit now. This makes me sad.
Trans/autism panic has always been connected (and connected to fascists). I.E. Lovaas was a Nazi and wrote papers on autism ABA and anti-trans conversion therapy both. But it goes back well before that too.
November 25, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Trans/autism panic has always been connected (and connected to fascists). I.E. Lovaas was a Nazi and wrote papers on autism ABA and anti-trans conversion therapy both. But it goes back well before that too.
Reposted by Joelle Maslak
One of my favorite things is getting to tell friends who are new to NYC that the subway "stand clear of the closing doors please" voice is a trans woman named Bernie Wagenblast and she's amazing.
November 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
One of my favorite things is getting to tell friends who are new to NYC that the subway "stand clear of the closing doors please" voice is a trans woman named Bernie Wagenblast and she's amazing.
There is a software engineering metaphor in this picture. Particularly the failure of design that required producing what I can only assume is version 1.01 with the "no rubbish" label above the convenient hole for the rope...
November 24, 2025 at 7:16 AM
There is a software engineering metaphor in this picture. Particularly the failure of design that required producing what I can only assume is version 1.01 with the "no rubbish" label above the convenient hole for the rope...
Reposted by Joelle Maslak
May I recommend transiting through Copenhagen if/when you're ever in Europe, for this excellent affordance that lets you skip duty-free
November 24, 2025 at 6:46 AM
May I recommend transiting through Copenhagen if/when you're ever in Europe, for this excellent affordance that lets you skip duty-free
I am interested in hearing from #ActuallyAutistic people who are near their 50s or older if they've noticed some types of sensory sensitivities getting worse as they get older. Is it just me? Particularly when there is a lot of input across multiple senses.
November 24, 2025 at 6:42 AM
I am interested in hearing from #ActuallyAutistic people who are near their 50s or older if they've noticed some types of sensory sensitivities getting worse as they get older. Is it just me? Particularly when there is a lot of input across multiple senses.
I'm picking on AKL airport, but this is not an AKL airport problem. It's a *most big airports* problem. This is an access problem just as making everyone climb a flight of stairs would be.
November 24, 2025 at 6:35 AM
I'm picking on AKL airport, but this is not an AKL airport problem. It's a *most big airports* problem. This is an access problem just as making everyone climb a flight of stairs would be.
Ideally you do these things with a minimum amount of gatekeeping, good staff training, and make the information widely and easily available to everyone who might need it, without needing to interactively talk to a human.
November 24, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Ideally you do these things with a minimum amount of gatekeeping, good staff training, and make the information widely and easily available to everyone who might need it, without needing to interactively talk to a human.
Airports can do better than this. Provide means for autistic folk to skip queues, provide quiet spaces, provide a route that bypasses the shopping malls. Nobody wants an autistic overload in an airport, as it's unpleasant for everyone, so this is in everyone's interest.
November 24, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Airports can do better than this. Provide means for autistic folk to skip queues, provide quiet spaces, provide a route that bypasses the shopping malls. Nobody wants an autistic overload in an airport, as it's unpleasant for everyone, so this is in everyone's interest.
Right now my flight is delayed, but I'm not nearly as stressed as I would normally be because of being able to do that reset. Having a quiet place would have worked too, but sadly that didn't appear to be an option.
November 24, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Right now my flight is delayed, but I'm not nearly as stressed as I would normally be because of being able to do that reset. Having a quiet place would have worked too, but sadly that didn't appear to be an option.
There doesn't appear to be a particularly quiet space in the airport, but I am fortunate enough to have lounge access, and was able to take a quick shower in a nice lounge. It is amazing at how that reset my senses. I probably would have broke down without that.
November 24, 2025 at 6:35 AM
There doesn't appear to be a particularly quiet space in the airport, but I am fortunate enough to have lounge access, and was able to take a quick shower in a nice lounge. It is amazing at how that reset my senses. I probably would have broke down without that.