Nicholas "phi" Shectman
@totient.bsky.social
Professional generalist. Four season cyclist. Conrunner. Photographer. Process geek.
BU Bridge: an edge case where a bike/ped bridge makes sense | "Amateur" Planner Blog
ariofsevit.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Reposted by Nicholas "phi" Shectman
A helpful list of protests planned for today: www.answercoalition.org/venezuela
No War on Venezuela! National Day of Action Saturday, Jan. 3
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
www.answercoalition.org
January 3, 2026 at 3:54 PM
A helpful list of protests planned for today: www.answercoalition.org/venezuela
Introduce yourself as what almost killed you:
Hi, my name is Cadiz Summit.
Hi, my name is Cadiz Summit.
Introduce yourself as what almost killed you:
Hi there, I'm an oxyacetylene torch setup with no flashback arrestor and junky old valves whose fuel lines have just been introduced to molten steel!
Hi there, I'm an oxyacetylene torch setup with no flashback arrestor and junky old valves whose fuel lines have just been introduced to molten steel!
Introduce yourself as what almost killed you:
Hey! I'm a vestigial meaty organ that was on the wrong side of my body when it went time-bomby and the doctors didn't realise.
Hey! I'm a vestigial meaty organ that was on the wrong side of my body when it went time-bomby and the doctors didn't realise.
January 2, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Introduce yourself as what almost killed you:
Hi, my name is Cadiz Summit.
Hi, my name is Cadiz Summit.
Going into 2026 like
January 1, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Going into 2026 like
When I was eight years old, NASA ran an ad in the newspaper advertising for astronauts. A friend of my dad's was one of 8000 people to apply for 35 slots and made it to the final round. My dad drove him and another applicant up to Edwards to watch a drop test. I didn't go, so I never met Sally Ride.
Please quote this from the time you didn't interact with someone famous.
I was visiting with family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the same time that Mother Theresa was there visiting her Missionaries of Charity. The bishop held a Mass for her at the church where I was baptized. I didn't go.
I was visiting with family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the same time that Mother Theresa was there visiting her Missionaries of Charity. The bishop held a Mass for her at the church where I was baptized. I didn't go.
Catching a train from Bristol Temple Meads, but they shifted the service along the platform because a scene from THE OUTLAWS was being shot where it would usually come in. The scene featured Christopher Walken and Stephen Merchant, but my train came before they shot it so I didn't see either of 'em.
December 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM
When I was eight years old, NASA ran an ad in the newspaper advertising for astronauts. A friend of my dad's was one of 8000 people to apply for 35 slots and made it to the final round. My dad drove him and another applicant up to Edwards to watch a drop test. I didn't go, so I never met Sally Ride.
30 years ago I was getting ready to chair my first Arisia and working at the MIT AI lab as a direct report to its then assistant director Rod Brooks. He had a lot of wrong ideas but it was a place of lively discourse. The most incontrovertible fact I learned then was:
"AI" is not a technical term.
"AI" is not a technical term.
December 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
30 years ago I was getting ready to chair my first Arisia and working at the MIT AI lab as a direct report to its then assistant director Rod Brooks. He had a lot of wrong ideas but it was a place of lively discourse. The most incontrovertible fact I learned then was:
"AI" is not a technical term.
"AI" is not a technical term.
Reposted by Nicholas "phi" Shectman
THE FIVE FLAVORS:
*sweet
*salty
*sour
*bitter
*nostalgia
*sweet
*salty
*sour
*bitter
*nostalgia
December 28, 2025 at 1:52 AM
THE FIVE FLAVORS:
*sweet
*salty
*sour
*bitter
*nostalgia
*sweet
*salty
*sour
*bitter
*nostalgia
Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't nirvana, soundgarden, pearl jam, or alice in chains.
December 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't nirvana, soundgarden, pearl jam, or alice in chains.
Reposted by Nicholas "phi" Shectman
Had we but falcons enough, and time,
This widening gyre would be no crime.
Yet the blood-dimmed tide shall flow,
Vaster than empires, far less slow.
And if the center cannot hold—
Well then, lady, let’s be bold!
This widening gyre would be no crime.
Yet the blood-dimmed tide shall flow,
Vaster than empires, far less slow.
And if the center cannot hold—
Well then, lady, let’s be bold!
December 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Had we but falcons enough, and time,
This widening gyre would be no crime.
Yet the blood-dimmed tide shall flow,
Vaster than empires, far less slow.
And if the center cannot hold—
Well then, lady, let’s be bold!
This widening gyre would be no crime.
Yet the blood-dimmed tide shall flow,
Vaster than empires, far less slow.
And if the center cannot hold—
Well then, lady, let’s be bold!
There was a meme context for this and I am even following it, but it's kind of better without.
December 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
There was a meme context for this and I am even following it, but it's kind of better without.
This feels like one of those moments towards the end of The Expanse where we see Avasarala's wisdom but also how wisdom is a burden.
childhood questions I haven’t appreciated learning the answers to:
-how could people just let the Holocaust happen??
-how could siblings fight each other in the Civil War?
-why can’t anyone say/agree about when the Roman Empire fell?
-how could people just let the Holocaust happen??
-how could siblings fight each other in the Civil War?
-why can’t anyone say/agree about when the Roman Empire fell?
December 18, 2025 at 2:33 AM
This feels like one of those moments towards the end of The Expanse where we see Avasarala's wisdom but also how wisdom is a burden.
Reposted by Nicholas "phi" Shectman
At the Arisia corporate meeting on December 9th, the membership voted to take a gap year from holding the convention for 2027, with plans to return in 2028. There will be opportunities at the 2026 convention to learn more and engage in the process. Full text of the resolution in the image/alt text.
December 12, 2025 at 7:04 PM
At the Arisia corporate meeting on December 9th, the membership voted to take a gap year from holding the convention for 2027, with plans to return in 2028. There will be opportunities at the 2026 convention to learn more and engage in the process. Full text of the resolution in the image/alt text.
It begins.
This year's garam masala *is* better than Laxmi, even without having rested yet. I still have a lot to learn but I have found the hill I am going to climb.
This year's garam masala *is* better than Laxmi, even without having rested yet. I still have a lot to learn but I have found the hill I am going to climb.
Ok, now that the flavors have had a day to incorporate it is... still not better than Laxmi. But I like it better than Penzeys.
November 25, 2025 at 5:05 AM
It begins.
This year's garam masala *is* better than Laxmi, even without having rested yet. I still have a lot to learn but I have found the hill I am going to climb.
This year's garam masala *is* better than Laxmi, even without having rested yet. I still have a lot to learn but I have found the hill I am going to climb.
A movie that takes place where you’re from.
November 23, 2025 at 8:48 PM
A movie that takes place where you’re from.
My longest standing and probably most extreme political opinion, formed in a high school Great Books philosophy class: reopen the Golden Door. Has side effect of stymieing exploitation by status and the exportation of pollution and abuse. Woke in the 80s during the grape boycott, still woke today.
"my least woke opinion is---"
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
November 16, 2025 at 3:12 PM
My longest standing and probably most extreme political opinion, formed in a high school Great Books philosophy class: reopen the Golden Door. Has side effect of stymieing exploitation by status and the exportation of pollution and abuse. Woke in the 80s during the grape boycott, still woke today.
An album cover with a motor vehicle on it.
November 8, 2025 at 7:13 PM
An album cover with a motor vehicle on it.
Reposted by Nicholas "phi" Shectman
Here are the latest incomplete initial results of tonight's election. 3 precincts are still outstanding and delayed- full results to come as soon as available.
November 5, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Here are the latest incomplete initial results of tonight's election. 3 precincts are still outstanding and delayed- full results to come as soon as available.
Looks like the final count is going to be 1026
November 1, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Looks like the final count is going to be 1026