Shy Aberman (he/him)
@aberman.com
More pastries, empathy, coffee, gender + reproductive liberty, punk rock, board games, TTRPGs, kick-ass people, chill, enjoying life, and choco. Did I mention pastries?
If you think it is too hot in Seattle, just remember how humid it is everywhere else.
If you think it is too hot in Seattle, just remember how humid it is everywhere else.
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
When Camille, Monet’s first wife, died in 1879, he painted her on her deathbed. It’s not polished — it’s raw grief on canvas.
Art historians have called it one of the most intimate and honest paintings of loss in art history.
Art historians have called it one of the most intimate and honest paintings of loss in art history.
December 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM
When Camille, Monet’s first wife, died in 1879, he painted her on her deathbed. It’s not polished — it’s raw grief on canvas.
Art historians have called it one of the most intimate and honest paintings of loss in art history.
Art historians have called it one of the most intimate and honest paintings of loss in art history.
I once, for a $1 bet (aka, bragging rights), drank 5 Rockstar energy drinks in 1 day. This was a bad decision: Nothing permanent resulted, but I felt horrible after the 3rd one. Let my bad experience be a warning: DON’T DRINK >3 ENERGY DRINKS!!
December 14, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I once, for a $1 bet (aka, bragging rights), drank 5 Rockstar energy drinks in 1 day. This was a bad decision: Nothing permanent resulted, but I felt horrible after the 3rd one. Let my bad experience be a warning: DON’T DRINK >3 ENERGY DRINKS!!
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
December 13, 2025 at 1:07 PM
While most of the announcement was typically untethered to reality, one DoD official’s call out to Manifest Destiny made me 🤯🤯🤯. I can’t even think of how to comment: It’s so mind-bogglingly removed from Now. It’s as if someone was nostalgic for the Irish Potato Famine, but worse!
The Department of War aims to put Google Gemini 'directly into the hands of every American warrior.'
Pete Hegseth Says the Pentagon's New Chatbot Will Make America 'More Lethal'
The Department of War aims to put Google Gemini 'directly into the hands of every American warrior.'
www.404media.co
December 10, 2025 at 7:03 AM
While most of the announcement was typically untethered to reality, one DoD official’s call out to Manifest Destiny made me 🤯🤯🤯. I can’t even think of how to comment: It’s so mind-bogglingly removed from Now. It’s as if someone was nostalgic for the Irish Potato Famine, but worse!
I think >2 parties in the US _could_ be a good thing, in the long run, but I am skeptical of it now.
On top of that, this article doesn’t meaningfully discuss any criticisms, risks, or context of the project, which makes me even more dubious.
Lastly, it isn’t “AI”, it’s just statistics.
On top of that, this article doesn’t meaningfully discuss any criticisms, risks, or context of the project, which makes me even more dubious.
Lastly, it isn’t “AI”, it’s just statistics.
Using artificial intelligence to identify Congressional districts where independent candidates could win, an organization called the Independent Center is aiming to disrupt the two-party system. n.pr/48mmSlu
An independent effort says AI is the secret to topple 2-party power in Congress
Using artificial intelligence to identify congressional districts where independent candidates could win, an organization called the Independent Center is aiming to disrupt the two-party system.
n.pr
December 1, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I think >2 parties in the US _could_ be a good thing, in the long run, but I am skeptical of it now.
On top of that, this article doesn’t meaningfully discuss any criticisms, risks, or context of the project, which makes me even more dubious.
Lastly, it isn’t “AI”, it’s just statistics.
On top of that, this article doesn’t meaningfully discuss any criticisms, risks, or context of the project, which makes me even more dubious.
Lastly, it isn’t “AI”, it’s just statistics.
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:58 AM
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
I think this is the crazy cherry on top of the crazy cake of these crazy times: www.npr.org/2025/11/23/n...
Texas men indicted in plot to take over Haitian island and enslave women and children
Gavin Weisenburg, 21, and Tanner Thomas, 20, planned to take over Gonave Island and murder all men on the island, prosecutors alleged.
www.npr.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I think this is the crazy cherry on top of the crazy cake of these crazy times: www.npr.org/2025/11/23/n...
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
Fascinating read on how a suspicious pitch highlighted a growing problem in freelance journalism: A flood of generative AI that even prestige publications don't catch, complete with fabricated quotes, from scammers who see opportunity in a field so many real humans are struggling to survive in.
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 23, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Fascinating read on how a suspicious pitch highlighted a growing problem in freelance journalism: A flood of generative AI that even prestige publications don't catch, complete with fabricated quotes, from scammers who see opportunity in a field so many real humans are struggling to survive in.
Highly recommended!
In addition to the usual topics, this edition also recommended a really great article: lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
It was maddening, entertaining, and crystallized my issues with the NYT.
In addition to the usual topics, this edition also recommended a really great article: lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
It was maddening, entertaining, and crystallized my issues with the NYT.
November 20, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Highly recommended!
In addition to the usual topics, this edition also recommended a really great article: lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
It was maddening, entertaining, and crystallized my issues with the NYT.
In addition to the usual topics, this edition also recommended a really great article: lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
It was maddening, entertaining, and crystallized my issues with the NYT.
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
🇨🇦Signaling a new chapter in her career, pop star Katy Perry released a new single Monday about the superiority of Canadian manufacturing. “When I learned about the strength of Canadian automotive and aerospace manufacturing, I knew I had to put it in a song,” 😉 theonion.com/katy-perry-r...
Katy Perry Releases New Single About Superiority Of Canadian Manufacturing
MONTECITO, CA—Signaling a new chapter in her career, pop star Katy Perry released a new single Monday about the superiority of Canadian manufacturing. “When I learned about the strength of Canadian au...
theonion.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:43 PM
🇨🇦Signaling a new chapter in her career, pop star Katy Perry released a new single Monday about the superiority of Canadian manufacturing. “When I learned about the strength of Canadian automotive and aerospace manufacturing, I knew I had to put it in a song,” 😉 theonion.com/katy-perry-r...
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
October 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
#Murderbot as a trans journey:
🤖💗🤍💙🏳️⚧️
"Life Lessons From a Murderbot"
By Anya Johanna DeNiro
Published on June 26, 2023, about the #books
🪐📚
reactormag.com/life-lessons...
🤖💗🤍💙🏳️⚧️
"Life Lessons From a Murderbot"
By Anya Johanna DeNiro
Published on June 26, 2023, about the #books
🪐📚
reactormag.com/life-lessons...
Life Lessons From a Murderbot - Reactor
I was tearing up at the end of All Systems Red, and I wasn’t sure why. Yes, it was sad that Murderbot was leaving its friends and colleagues, and a promised life of safety, behind. But there was somet...
reactormag.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:33 AM
#Murderbot as a trans journey:
🤖💗🤍💙🏳️⚧️
"Life Lessons From a Murderbot"
By Anya Johanna DeNiro
Published on June 26, 2023, about the #books
🪐📚
reactormag.com/life-lessons...
🤖💗🤍💙🏳️⚧️
"Life Lessons From a Murderbot"
By Anya Johanna DeNiro
Published on June 26, 2023, about the #books
🪐📚
reactormag.com/life-lessons...
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America
A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:25 AM
The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
It only took me a decade or three to notice that Benicio del Toro and Guillermo del Toro share the same last name (but are not related).
October 4, 2025 at 1:39 AM
It only took me a decade or three to notice that Benicio del Toro and Guillermo del Toro share the same last name (but are not related).
Absolutely fascinating!
What happens if you ask men to shave their body hair as part of a university course in sexuality studies?
www.breannefahs.com/uploads/1/0/...
A long read, but a fascinating one.
www.breannefahs.com/uploads/1/0/...
A long read, but a fascinating one.
www.breannefahs.com
August 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Absolutely fascinating!
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
[writing the constitution]
Benjamin Franklin: Write down "no dumb fucks as president"
Alexander Hamilton: Stop saying that
Benjamin Franklin: I'm tellin' you. You're gonna regret not writing that down
Benjamin Franklin: Write down "no dumb fucks as president"
Alexander Hamilton: Stop saying that
Benjamin Franklin: I'm tellin' you. You're gonna regret not writing that down
August 15, 2025 at 10:54 PM
[writing the constitution]
Benjamin Franklin: Write down "no dumb fucks as president"
Alexander Hamilton: Stop saying that
Benjamin Franklin: I'm tellin' you. You're gonna regret not writing that down
Benjamin Franklin: Write down "no dumb fucks as president"
Alexander Hamilton: Stop saying that
Benjamin Franklin: I'm tellin' you. You're gonna regret not writing that down
No worries! All good here!
www.theregister.com/2025/07/22/w...
The researchers call the technique “privacy preserving”, but it seems more like it will add more signal to identification processes, reducing privacy measures more.
www.theregister.com/2025/07/22/w...
The researchers call the technique “privacy preserving”, but it seems more like it will add more signal to identification processes, reducing privacy measures more.
WhoFi: Unique 'fingerprint' based on Wi-Fi interactions
: Wi-Fi spy with my little eye that same guy I saw at another hotspot
www.theregister.com
July 25, 2025 at 8:21 AM
No worries! All good here!
www.theregister.com/2025/07/22/w...
The researchers call the technique “privacy preserving”, but it seems more like it will add more signal to identification processes, reducing privacy measures more.
www.theregister.com/2025/07/22/w...
The researchers call the technique “privacy preserving”, but it seems more like it will add more signal to identification processes, reducing privacy measures more.
Agreed!!
> The real takeaway is that Thiel desperately needs to stop besmirching Tolkien’s legacy by naming all of his nefarious projects after stuff from The Lord of the Rings.
1/2
> The real takeaway is that Thiel desperately needs to stop besmirching Tolkien’s legacy by naming all of his nefarious projects after stuff from The Lord of the Rings.
1/2
Peter Thiel and His Goons Are Launching Their Own Bank (Yes, It has a Tolkien-Inspired Name) https://gizmodo.com/peter-thiel-and-his-goons-are-launching-their-own-bank-yes-it-has-a-tolkien-inspired-name-2000623443
Peter Thiel and His Goons Are Launching Their Own Bank (Yes, It has a Tolkien-Inspired Name)
They're trolling us, right?
gizmodo.com
July 3, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Agreed!!
> The real takeaway is that Thiel desperately needs to stop besmirching Tolkien’s legacy by naming all of his nefarious projects after stuff from The Lord of the Rings.
1/2
> The real takeaway is that Thiel desperately needs to stop besmirching Tolkien’s legacy by naming all of his nefarious projects after stuff from The Lord of the Rings.
1/2
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
I reshare this essay once in a while because it’s just that good
The Crane Wife by CJ Hauser
July 16, 2019 – Ten days after calling off her engagement, CJ Hauser travels to the Gulf Coast to live among scientists and whooping cranes.
www.theparisreview.org
June 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I reshare this essay once in a while because it’s just that good
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
EXCLUSIVE — The Onion has a full-page ad in today’s NYT featuring part of an editorial calling out congressional fecklessness towards Trump. They also sent a copy of their latest issue to every lawmaker.
My report, with an excerpt from the full editorial: www.thehandbasket.co/p/exclusive-...
My report, with an excerpt from the full editorial: www.thehandbasket.co/p/exclusive-...
June 22, 2025 at 1:32 PM
EXCLUSIVE — The Onion has a full-page ad in today’s NYT featuring part of an editorial calling out congressional fecklessness towards Trump. They also sent a copy of their latest issue to every lawmaker.
My report, with an excerpt from the full editorial: www.thehandbasket.co/p/exclusive-...
My report, with an excerpt from the full editorial: www.thehandbasket.co/p/exclusive-...
I try not to be judgy, but these noisy people sat down near me in a slightly removed grassy area of the park I’m lying down in, AND one of them is SOOOOO idiotic. Thankfully, the other is quieter and maybe more thoughtful, because the first seems to be describing Catholics as an alien-loving cult. 😩
June 16, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I try not to be judgy, but these noisy people sat down near me in a slightly removed grassy area of the park I’m lying down in, AND one of them is SOOOOO idiotic. Thankfully, the other is quieter and maybe more thoughtful, because the first seems to be describing Catholics as an alien-loving cult. 😩
Reposted by Shy Aberman (he/him)
Has your boss ever tried to boost morale only to have it fail spectacularly?
Here's my story. What's yours?
shkspr.mobi/blog/2019/06...
Here's my story. What's yours?
shkspr.mobi/blog/2019/06...
The worst morale boosting gesture I've experienced
I promise you this story is true. Many years ago, when I was very young and you were even younger... Work was not going well. Our recently launched product was a flop. Rumours of job cuts were sw...
shkspr.mobi
June 15, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Has your boss ever tried to boost morale only to have it fail spectacularly?
Here's my story. What's yours?
shkspr.mobi/blog/2019/06...
Here's my story. What's yours?
shkspr.mobi/blog/2019/06...
