Mark Stuart Day
@markstuartday.bsky.social
Technical leader. Author. Teacher. Fond of scaling up high-potential startup companies.
Pinned
Hello all! I'm interested in the business of technology and the technology of business. My current focus is asking the right questions about using globally-distributed computer systems to secure data and cloud services.
The paradoxical nature of skill:
Sometimes it's okay for things to be easy
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/the-parado...
Sometimes it's okay for things to be easy
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/the-parado...
November 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The paradoxical nature of skill:
Sometimes it's okay for things to be easy
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/the-parado...
Sometimes it's okay for things to be easy
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/the-parado...
Reposted by Mark Stuart Day
Be Not Afraid
open.substack.com/pub/saveamer...
open.substack.com/pub/saveamer...
Be Not Afraid
This morning, the man in the White House proved once again that he is both a weak little baby and a very real threat to the foundation of our republic.
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Be Not Afraid
open.substack.com/pub/saveamer...
open.substack.com/pub/saveamer...
Seeking attention:
On the merits of a small and low-key audience
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/seeking-at...
On the merits of a small and low-key audience
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/seeking-at...
November 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Seeking attention:
On the merits of a small and low-key audience
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/seeking-at...
On the merits of a small and low-key audience
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/seeking-at...
November 9, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Wanting, persisting, accepting:
Thinking about how to handle an unfulfilled desire
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/wanting-pe...
Thinking about how to handle an unfulfilled desire
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/wanting-pe...
November 1, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Wanting, persisting, accepting:
Thinking about how to handle an unfulfilled desire
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/wanting-pe...
Thinking about how to handle an unfulfilled desire
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/wanting-pe...
True, today's LLMs will not do those kinds of things.
But most people raising these concerns are thinking about possible near-future AGIs doing those things.
Today's limitations are no comfort when well-funded people are actively trying to overcome them.
But most people raising these concerns are thinking about possible near-future AGIs doing those things.
Today's limitations are no comfort when well-funded people are actively trying to overcome them.
This crosses my mind every time I see a breathless article about LLMs "developing survival instincts" or "resisting being shut off" or "blackmailing their operator"
That's not how this works. It's not how any of it works.
That's not how this works. It's not how any of it works.
I cannot tell you how many tech journalists at prominent media organizations do not understand this
October 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM
True, today's LLMs will not do those kinds of things.
But most people raising these concerns are thinking about possible near-future AGIs doing those things.
Today's limitations are no comfort when well-funded people are actively trying to overcome them.
But most people raising these concerns are thinking about possible near-future AGIs doing those things.
Today's limitations are no comfort when well-funded people are actively trying to overcome them.
Republicans: We won the last election by huge margins, giving us control of all three branches of government and a mandate to tear up everything we don't like.
Also Republicans: We are powerless to do anything about the bad effects of government shutdown, because of evil radical left Democrats.
Also Republicans: We are powerless to do anything about the bad effects of government shutdown, because of evil radical left Democrats.
October 28, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Republicans: We won the last election by huge margins, giving us control of all three branches of government and a mandate to tear up everything we don't like.
Also Republicans: We are powerless to do anything about the bad effects of government shutdown, because of evil radical left Democrats.
Also Republicans: We are powerless to do anything about the bad effects of government shutdown, because of evil radical left Democrats.
For some time now, I've been pointing out the importance of state and local law enforcement against abuse and lawless behavior by ICE, but I'm not an expert (not even a lawyer).
Happily, in this post the well-known legal expert @stevevladeck.bsky.social largely confirms my amateur assessment.
Happily, in this post the well-known legal expert @stevevladeck.bsky.social largely confirms my amateur assessment.
Today's "One First" explains why Stephen Miller is wrong that ICE officers have "federal immunity" from prosecution for all actions they take in their official duties, and that anyone attempting to prosecute them is committing a felony.
Supremacy Clause immunity is a thing, but it's *not* absolute:
Supremacy Clause immunity is a thing, but it's *not* absolute:
186. When Can States Prosecute Federal Officers?
Stephen Miller claims that ICE officers have "immunity" for anything they do while enforcing immigration law. Even as an argument about *state* criminal prosecutions, that claim is overstated at best.
www.stevevladeck.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:05 PM
For some time now, I've been pointing out the importance of state and local law enforcement against abuse and lawless behavior by ICE, but I'm not an expert (not even a lawyer).
Happily, in this post the well-known legal expert @stevevladeck.bsky.social largely confirms my amateur assessment.
Happily, in this post the well-known legal expert @stevevladeck.bsky.social largely confirms my amateur assessment.
October 26, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Reposted by Mark Stuart Day
ICE targeted an apartment building near my home. Masked agents in unmarked cars. I've said this before. Democratic Governors & Mayors need to order their local police depts to arrest any & all unidentified & masked alleged ICE agents.
This anonymous denial of due process is deadly.
1/2
This anonymous denial of due process is deadly.
1/2
October 14, 2025 at 7:32 PM
ICE targeted an apartment building near my home. Masked agents in unmarked cars. I've said this before. Democratic Governors & Mayors need to order their local police depts to arrest any & all unidentified & masked alleged ICE agents.
This anonymous denial of due process is deadly.
1/2
This anonymous denial of due process is deadly.
1/2
The intellectual emperor has no clothes:
The experience of reading (some) Curtis Yarvin
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/the-intell...
The experience of reading (some) Curtis Yarvin
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/the-intell...
October 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM
The intellectual emperor has no clothes:
The experience of reading (some) Curtis Yarvin
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/the-intell...
The experience of reading (some) Curtis Yarvin
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/the-intell...
I will be participating in a No Kings event on October 18th. I have never met George Soros, I have never broken the law, and I will not be paid to be there. I am going because I am a patriot and will not stand for Trump's fascism.
October 12, 2025 at 3:08 AM
I will be participating in a No Kings event on October 18th. I have never met George Soros, I have never broken the law, and I will not be paid to be there. I am going because I am a patriot and will not stand for Trump's fascism.
Success ensembles:
A systems perspective on the merits of groups
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/success-en...
A systems perspective on the merits of groups
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/success-en...
October 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Success ensembles:
A systems perspective on the merits of groups
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/success-en...
A systems perspective on the merits of groups
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/success-en...
Recommendations:
Considering the process and how to be helpful
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/recommenda...
Considering the process and how to be helpful
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/recommenda...
September 28, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Recommendations:
Considering the process and how to be helpful
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/recommenda...
Considering the process and how to be helpful
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/recommenda...
All models are wrong, some models are useful:
Pragmatic humility vs. theories of everything
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/all-models...
Pragmatic humility vs. theories of everything
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/all-models...
September 20, 2025 at 11:03 PM
All models are wrong, some models are useful:
Pragmatic humility vs. theories of everything
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/all-models...
Pragmatic humility vs. theories of everything
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/all-models...
As usual, I don't think Angry Baby has really thought this through. Even as a non-lawyer, I can see that the NY Times lawyers' depositions of Angry Baby and Mark Burnett in this case will likely be epic.
"Yesterday, the world’s most famous mugger leapt out from the digital bushes and demanded $15 billion from The Gray Lady."
Trump tries to stick up The New York Times with a water gun
The lawsuit is beyond parody, even by Trump's standards.
www.publicnotice.co
September 17, 2025 at 2:15 PM
As usual, I don't think Angry Baby has really thought this through. Even as a non-lawyer, I can see that the NY Times lawyers' depositions of Angry Baby and Mark Burnett in this case will likely be epic.
Some technical arguments against tyranny:
Distributed systems and economics are instructive, if not definitive
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/some-techn...
Distributed systems and economics are instructive, if not definitive
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/some-techn...
September 14, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Some technical arguments against tyranny:
Distributed systems and economics are instructive, if not definitive
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/some-techn...
Distributed systems and economics are instructive, if not definitive
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/some-techn...
Material, details, and maintenance:
Some thoughts prompted by a failed fence
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/material-d...
Some thoughts prompted by a failed fence
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/material-d...
September 7, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Material, details, and maintenance:
Some thoughts prompted by a failed fence
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/material-d...
Some thoughts prompted by a failed fence
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/material-d...
An incredibly weak and misleading headline, suggesting some kind of "two sides." The text then makes clear that (1) masking has absolutely no precedent in US policing, and (2) all the experts cited say it's a bad sign.
Do better, NY Times!
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/u...
Do better, NY Times!
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/u...
ICE Agents Are Wearing Masks. Is That Un-American?
www.nytimes.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:12 PM
An incredibly weak and misleading headline, suggesting some kind of "two sides." The text then makes clear that (1) masking has absolutely no precedent in US policing, and (2) all the experts cited say it's a bad sign.
Do better, NY Times!
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/u...
Do better, NY Times!
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/u...
Fighting the secret police:
A worthy struggle against unworthy adversaries
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/fighting-t...
A worthy struggle against unworthy adversaries
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/fighting-t...
August 31, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Fighting the secret police:
A worthy struggle against unworthy adversaries
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/fighting-t...
A worthy struggle against unworthy adversaries
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/fighting-t...
Fredkin's paradox and mental processes:
Perhaps "monkey mind" is necessary to avoid getting "stuck"
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/fredkins-p...
Perhaps "monkey mind" is necessary to avoid getting "stuck"
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/fredkins-p...
August 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Fredkin's paradox and mental processes:
Perhaps "monkey mind" is necessary to avoid getting "stuck"
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/fredkins-p...
Perhaps "monkey mind" is necessary to avoid getting "stuck"
systemsoflife.substack.com/p/fredkins-p...
This claim is technically true, but practically irrelevant.
Because the environment of the software usually changes over time, the software is eventually no longer correct with respect to the changed environment.
Software "decay" is closer to reality than the idea that it's always OK.
Because the environment of the software usually changes over time, the software is eventually no longer correct with respect to the changed environment.
Software "decay" is closer to reality than the idea that it's always OK.
There is this weird notion among software developers that software goes bad just like milk does.
It literally works and will always work exactly the same way (including all good and bad things about it) as the day it was created. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It literally works and will always work exactly the same way (including all good and bad things about it) as the day it was created. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
August 22, 2025 at 3:49 PM
This claim is technically true, but practically irrelevant.
Because the environment of the software usually changes over time, the software is eventually no longer correct with respect to the changed environment.
Software "decay" is closer to reality than the idea that it's always OK.
Because the environment of the software usually changes over time, the software is eventually no longer correct with respect to the changed environment.
Software "decay" is closer to reality than the idea that it's always OK.
Nice to have Mayor Wu's official rebuttal to the ICE moron's claim.
Actually I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States with my hand on @bpl.boston.gov’s 1782 edition Aitken Bible—also known as the Bible of the Revolution.
August 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Nice to have Mayor Wu's official rebuttal to the ICE moron's claim.
Sadly, I am not surprised that person in charge of ICE in Boston thinks that the Mayor of Boston didn't take an oath.
(Pro tip for any other bozos... even little old me, with my tiny volunteer job on a town advisory committee, had to take an oath) 🙄
(Pro tip for any other bozos... even little old me, with my tiny volunteer job on a town advisory committee, had to take an oath) 🙄
FOX: How do you work within Boston given this situation?
BOSTON ICE ACTING DIRECTOR PATRICIA HYDE: I prefer to say we like to work smarter not harder. But the men and women of ICE, unlike Mayor Wu, we took an oath.
BOSTON ICE ACTING DIRECTOR PATRICIA HYDE: I prefer to say we like to work smarter not harder. But the men and women of ICE, unlike Mayor Wu, we took an oath.
August 21, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Sadly, I am not surprised that person in charge of ICE in Boston thinks that the Mayor of Boston didn't take an oath.
(Pro tip for any other bozos... even little old me, with my tiny volunteer job on a town advisory committee, had to take an oath) 🙄
(Pro tip for any other bozos... even little old me, with my tiny volunteer job on a town advisory committee, had to take an oath) 🙄