Paul Cygnus
@swan0ftrumpeter.bsky.social
Trumpeter swan. Love life, love to help others, keep pushing things in the right direction, wanting to start being an artist and keep my head above water in an uncertain world.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
This was my job in the US Air Force and this story was retold often as a cautionary tale. Our (designed in the 90s) system would auto detect “launches” but three humans checked it before a decision was made on the legitimacy.
December 2, 2025 at 1:23 AM
This was my job in the US Air Force and this story was retold often as a cautionary tale. Our (designed in the 90s) system would auto detect “launches” but three humans checked it before a decision was made on the legitimacy.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
Someone who has the supervisor elsewhere, knowing they may have to explain or pay a price later
isn't dealing with that in the moment, in the moment is the bad decision
No lab coat guy in the room telling them they must go on, a lot of people ain't pressing that button.
isn't dealing with that in the moment, in the moment is the bad decision
No lab coat guy in the room telling them they must go on, a lot of people ain't pressing that button.
December 2, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Someone who has the supervisor elsewhere, knowing they may have to explain or pay a price later
isn't dealing with that in the moment, in the moment is the bad decision
No lab coat guy in the room telling them they must go on, a lot of people ain't pressing that button.
isn't dealing with that in the moment, in the moment is the bad decision
No lab coat guy in the room telling them they must go on, a lot of people ain't pressing that button.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
If someone is standing over you, ordering you...people give up any actual authority most of the time
A guy in a white coat saying 'the experiment must continue' was enough for people to feel pressured to give what they thought were electric shocks to people screaming in agony or in medical distress
A guy in a white coat saying 'the experiment must continue' was enough for people to feel pressured to give what they thought were electric shocks to people screaming in agony or in medical distress
December 2, 2025 at 1:27 AM
If someone is standing over you, ordering you...people give up any actual authority most of the time
A guy in a white coat saying 'the experiment must continue' was enough for people to feel pressured to give what they thought were electric shocks to people screaming in agony or in medical distress
A guy in a white coat saying 'the experiment must continue' was enough for people to feel pressured to give what they thought were electric shocks to people screaming in agony or in medical distress
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
HUMANS DO JUST THAT.
Except, they kinda don't.
The key difference here and there, and with that terrible shock experiment is thusly
Is the decision yours to make.
Except, they kinda don't.
The key difference here and there, and with that terrible shock experiment is thusly
Is the decision yours to make.
December 2, 2025 at 1:25 AM
HUMANS DO JUST THAT.
Except, they kinda don't.
The key difference here and there, and with that terrible shock experiment is thusly
Is the decision yours to make.
Except, they kinda don't.
The key difference here and there, and with that terrible shock experiment is thusly
Is the decision yours to make.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
and choosing to be the weak link that stopped the progression into the world's greatest shitshow of destruction
saved humanity from ourselves.
And the movie WAR GAMES is about that weak link, about how humans can't be trusted ... to blindly follow orders.
The weird thing is, most of the time?
saved humanity from ourselves.
And the movie WAR GAMES is about that weak link, about how humans can't be trusted ... to blindly follow orders.
The weird thing is, most of the time?
December 2, 2025 at 1:25 AM
and choosing to be the weak link that stopped the progression into the world's greatest shitshow of destruction
saved humanity from ourselves.
And the movie WAR GAMES is about that weak link, about how humans can't be trusted ... to blindly follow orders.
The weird thing is, most of the time?
saved humanity from ourselves.
And the movie WAR GAMES is about that weak link, about how humans can't be trusted ... to blindly follow orders.
The weird thing is, most of the time?
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
The error was later discovered to have been caused by the sun bouncing off the top of clouds and radar mistaking that heat signature for...nukes.
Common fucking sense, compassion, and a desire not to be a part of the human chain that killed the world, distrusting the common sense of those above
Common fucking sense, compassion, and a desire not to be a part of the human chain that killed the world, distrusting the common sense of those above
December 2, 2025 at 1:24 AM
The error was later discovered to have been caused by the sun bouncing off the top of clouds and radar mistaking that heat signature for...nukes.
Common fucking sense, compassion, and a desire not to be a part of the human chain that killed the world, distrusting the common sense of those above
Common fucking sense, compassion, and a desire not to be a part of the human chain that killed the world, distrusting the common sense of those above
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
There's an old 'joke' that's not a joke and I don't recall who came up with it
but it was said that anyone who decided they must launch weapons of mass destruction, like nuclear weapons
should be required to knife to death the person with the codes to get those codes, because it's that serious.
but it was said that anyone who decided they must launch weapons of mass destruction, like nuclear weapons
should be required to knife to death the person with the codes to get those codes, because it's that serious.
December 2, 2025 at 1:22 AM
There's an old 'joke' that's not a joke and I don't recall who came up with it
but it was said that anyone who decided they must launch weapons of mass destruction, like nuclear weapons
should be required to knife to death the person with the codes to get those codes, because it's that serious.
but it was said that anyone who decided they must launch weapons of mass destruction, like nuclear weapons
should be required to knife to death the person with the codes to get those codes, because it's that serious.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
who were not paid to think.
He felt sure it must be an error, despite it having gone through '30 layers of verification'.
He held off. He was sure it HAD TO BE a mistake...but that was human gut instinct.
He was right. And so the world did not end in 1983.
He felt sure it must be an error, despite it having gone through '30 layers of verification'.
He held off. He was sure it HAD TO BE a mistake...but that was human gut instinct.
He was right. And so the world did not end in 1983.
December 2, 2025 at 1:21 AM
who were not paid to think.
He felt sure it must be an error, despite it having gone through '30 layers of verification'.
He held off. He was sure it HAD TO BE a mistake...but that was human gut instinct.
He was right. And so the world did not end in 1983.
He felt sure it must be an error, despite it having gone through '30 layers of verification'.
He held off. He was sure it HAD TO BE a mistake...but that was human gut instinct.
He was right. And so the world did not end in 1983.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
Machines make mistakes.
In 1983, 5 nuclear missiles from the United States were headed towards the USSR.
Stanislav Petrov had this information. It was his job to inform superiors who would launch a counterstrike.
It was the start of what would have been the Last War.
He pressed X to doubt.
In 1983, 5 nuclear missiles from the United States were headed towards the USSR.
Stanislav Petrov had this information. It was his job to inform superiors who would launch a counterstrike.
It was the start of what would have been the Last War.
He pressed X to doubt.
December 2, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Machines make mistakes.
In 1983, 5 nuclear missiles from the United States were headed towards the USSR.
Stanislav Petrov had this information. It was his job to inform superiors who would launch a counterstrike.
It was the start of what would have been the Last War.
He pressed X to doubt.
In 1983, 5 nuclear missiles from the United States were headed towards the USSR.
Stanislav Petrov had this information. It was his job to inform superiors who would launch a counterstrike.
It was the start of what would have been the Last War.
He pressed X to doubt.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
He knew if he was wrong, that would be his death. Absolute treason.
But ... why would the US only launch five missiles?
He also didn't trust the new system. The other officers who held his shift would've simply called it in, he later said repeatedly. They were 'good soldiers' ...
But ... why would the US only launch five missiles?
He also didn't trust the new system. The other officers who held his shift would've simply called it in, he later said repeatedly. They were 'good soldiers' ...
December 2, 2025 at 1:20 AM
He knew if he was wrong, that would be his death. Absolute treason.
But ... why would the US only launch five missiles?
He also didn't trust the new system. The other officers who held his shift would've simply called it in, he later said repeatedly. They were 'good soldiers' ...
But ... why would the US only launch five missiles?
He also didn't trust the new system. The other officers who held his shift would've simply called it in, he later said repeatedly. They were 'good soldiers' ...
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
The story of how Stanislav Petrov saved the world from Nuclear apocalypse in 1983 always being me to tears.
December 2, 2025 at 1:31 AM
The story of how Stanislav Petrov saved the world from Nuclear apocalypse in 1983 always being me to tears.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
Jay and Ria - Epic Poses
Finally finished it lol ^^
- art 2025
Finally finished it lol ^^
- art 2025
December 2, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Jay and Ria - Epic Poses
Finally finished it lol ^^
- art 2025
Finally finished it lol ^^
- art 2025
Instant follow to @kidscanpress.bsky.social for Standing up to this (and using Alt text while doing so)
December 2, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
This. And if you read past the headline the article still both-sides the claim as though there’s no existing context. The only story here is how deadly RFK’s leadership is and how badly the FDA is compromised. But NYT is fully done with being a reputable publication.
November 29, 2025 at 9:21 PM
This. And if you read past the headline the article still both-sides the claim as though there’s no existing context. The only story here is how deadly RFK’s leadership is and how badly the FDA is compromised. But NYT is fully done with being a reputable publication.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
This is a bad headline. How many people will scroll past & use it to confirm their bias? It’s not just unethical, it’s contributing to disinformation & I question the intent.
November 29, 2025 at 5:24 AM
This is a bad headline. How many people will scroll past & use it to confirm their bias? It’s not just unethical, it’s contributing to disinformation & I question the intent.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
Please don’t ask wheelchair users why they are using a wheelchairs and don’t ask service dogs users why they are service dog users due to your genuine curiosity.
People asking for Alt text don’t have the statistics you are looking for,
Signed, a person who uses alt text due to disability.
People asking for Alt text don’t have the statistics you are looking for,
Signed, a person who uses alt text due to disability.
November 29, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Please don’t ask wheelchair users why they are using a wheelchairs and don’t ask service dogs users why they are service dog users due to your genuine curiosity.
People asking for Alt text don’t have the statistics you are looking for,
Signed, a person who uses alt text due to disability.
People asking for Alt text don’t have the statistics you are looking for,
Signed, a person who uses alt text due to disability.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
This movie deserved a sequel.
Treasure Planet was released 23 years ago today... and literally takes us off in this magnificent shot. ✨
November 28, 2025 at 6:12 AM
This movie deserved a sequel.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
Already tested negative for covid for my first test and no symptoms of anything else. Wearing a mask helps prevents more than just Covid.
Don’t want Con Crud? Wear a mask.
Don’t want Con Crud? Wear a mask.
November 26, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Already tested negative for covid for my first test and no symptoms of anything else. Wearing a mask helps prevents more than just Covid.
Don’t want Con Crud? Wear a mask.
Don’t want Con Crud? Wear a mask.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
A piece of tech explicitly designed to give people the *sensation* they are chatting with another person is functioning as intended …
Its literal mechanics do not allow for Sentience or Sapience
(except when it’s a Mechanical Turk of course (a person pretending to be a machine to scam ppl)
Its literal mechanics do not allow for Sentience or Sapience
(except when it’s a Mechanical Turk of course (a person pretending to be a machine to scam ppl)
November 25, 2025 at 11:56 PM
A piece of tech explicitly designed to give people the *sensation* they are chatting with another person is functioning as intended …
Its literal mechanics do not allow for Sentience or Sapience
(except when it’s a Mechanical Turk of course (a person pretending to be a machine to scam ppl)
Its literal mechanics do not allow for Sentience or Sapience
(except when it’s a Mechanical Turk of course (a person pretending to be a machine to scam ppl)
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
This is the way.
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro begins serving 27-year prison sentence.
November 25, 2025 at 11:58 PM
This is the way.
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
Some people are very good at writing sex and some people are good at believing that they are good at writing sex, the first is a tremendously impressive skill and the second is what makes for deeply uncomfortable author presentations at science fiction conventions
There's nothing wrong with literary porn, but some of the crap those guys wrote was "Have you actuallly ever HAD sex?"
November 25, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Some people are very good at writing sex and some people are good at believing that they are good at writing sex, the first is a tremendously impressive skill and the second is what makes for deeply uncomfortable author presentations at science fiction conventions
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
The thing you have to understand about the white "people" of Alabama is that they will be given a choice between a racist college football coach and a man who prosecuted the Ku Klux Klan and they will choose the racist football coach by 50 points because the other guy is pro-choice
a left-of-center charles murray type who argues that we must stop blaming the myriad problems of southern whites on their diseased culture and instead accept that southern whites are genetically inferior
November 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The thing you have to understand about the white "people" of Alabama is that they will be given a choice between a racist college football coach and a man who prosecuted the Ku Klux Klan and they will choose the racist football coach by 50 points because the other guy is pro-choice
Reposted by Paul Cygnus
COLOR TASTE TEXTURE is in hundreds of libraries all over the world.
Openly autistic written books published by one of the”bigs” for a largely neurodivergent audience is rare. When books like mine are pirated, it’s sending publishers the message we aren’t worth publishing.
Openly autistic written books published by one of the”bigs” for a largely neurodivergent audience is rare. When books like mine are pirated, it’s sending publishers the message we aren’t worth publishing.
November 25, 2025 at 10:21 PM
COLOR TASTE TEXTURE is in hundreds of libraries all over the world.
Openly autistic written books published by one of the”bigs” for a largely neurodivergent audience is rare. When books like mine are pirated, it’s sending publishers the message we aren’t worth publishing.
Openly autistic written books published by one of the”bigs” for a largely neurodivergent audience is rare. When books like mine are pirated, it’s sending publishers the message we aren’t worth publishing.