Eric Sinclair
@esinclai.bsky.social
Chicago based quasi-geek. This and that.
September 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
So, the DOGE kids intend to rewrite the social-security administration's COBOL code-base!
and they want to do it ...
... in *a few months*
I did a huge dive into COBOL a few years ago (www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/magazi...) ...
... so let me explain why DOGE is *way* over its skis here
1/9
and they want to do it ...
... in *a few months*
I did a huge dive into COBOL a few years ago (www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/magazi...) ...
... so let me explain why DOGE is *way* over its skis here
1/9
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www.wealthsimple.com
March 30, 2025 at 6:41 PM
So, the DOGE kids intend to rewrite the social-security administration's COBOL code-base!
and they want to do it ...
... in *a few months*
I did a huge dive into COBOL a few years ago (www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/magazi...) ...
... so let me explain why DOGE is *way* over its skis here
1/9
and they want to do it ...
... in *a few months*
I did a huge dive into COBOL a few years ago (www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/magazi...) ...
... so let me explain why DOGE is *way* over its skis here
1/9
From one album club aficionado to another...
I just shared this with my album club: If you kind of liked at least some of the album, or if you like math, you might like this extensive and enjoyable post: "The Clash’s Sandinista!: A Quantitative Analysis"
Last month, I got 35 people to rank the 36 songs on The Clash's fourth Sandinista! and today I am publishing the results along with a THOROUGH write-up of every single track.
This was a monumental undertaking and I can't believe I did it. PLEASE read it. joeydaniewicz.com/2025/03/24/s...
This was a monumental undertaking and I can't believe I did it. PLEASE read it. joeydaniewicz.com/2025/03/24/s...
March 27, 2025 at 3:32 AM
From one album club aficionado to another...
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
This is an absolutely stunning article on the life and work of William T. Vollman, one of the best writers this country has ever produced. It's what you call a warts-and-all portrait, but man, it has so much to say about both the man and the work, and how art and commerce conflict. A must-read.
The Last Contract
William T. Vollmann's Battle to Publish an American Epic
www.metropolitanreview.org
March 25, 2025 at 3:56 PM
This is an absolutely stunning article on the life and work of William T. Vollman, one of the best writers this country has ever produced. It's what you call a warts-and-all portrait, but man, it has so much to say about both the man and the work, and how art and commerce conflict. A must-read.
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
As I tell my students, being able to actually read and reflect on things gives you an edge if everyone else is relying on AI summaries and YouTube videos.
November 26, 2024 at 7:14 AM
As I tell my students, being able to actually read and reflect on things gives you an edge if everyone else is relying on AI summaries and YouTube videos.
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
Happy Wednesday! You’re halfway there, people!
kermit the frog is standing in front of a sign that says wednesday my dudes
Alt: kermit the frog is standing in front of a sign that says wednesday my dudes
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2024 at 8:13 AM
Happy Wednesday! You’re halfway there, people!
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
Join me tomorrow evening at Chi Hack Night to hear about our bioacoustics network tracking migratory birds from the top of the Sears Tower and 30+ other sites including SAIC, MSI, the forest preserves, and more!
I'll be in-person with Benjamin presenting virtually.
chihacknight.org/events/2024/...
I'll be in-person with Benjamin presenting virtually.
chihacknight.org/events/2024/...
In-person and Online: Wings Over the Windy City and the Chicago Bird Migration Monitoring Network - Chi Hack Night
“Wings Over the Windy City” is a research initiative focused on the unique challenges and opportunities migratory birds face within Chicago’s urban landscape. This three-year project at the Van Doren ...
chihacknight.org
November 11, 2024 at 9:37 PM
Join me tomorrow evening at Chi Hack Night to hear about our bioacoustics network tracking migratory birds from the top of the Sears Tower and 30+ other sites including SAIC, MSI, the forest preserves, and more!
I'll be in-person with Benjamin presenting virtually.
chihacknight.org/events/2024/...
I'll be in-person with Benjamin presenting virtually.
chihacknight.org/events/2024/...
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
My cartoon for Guardian Books’ autumn reading special.
September 14, 2024 at 9:02 AM
My cartoon for Guardian Books’ autumn reading special.
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
About time: if you're in Chicago proper, are into fountain pens & such, but have been frustrated with the Chicago Pen Show being held out in the far burbs, the Andersonville store Paper & Pencil just announced that they are hosting a Chicago Stationery Fest on 3/21-22.
August 4, 2024 at 10:57 PM
About time: if you're in Chicago proper, are into fountain pens & such, but have been frustrated with the Chicago Pen Show being held out in the far burbs, the Andersonville store Paper & Pencil just announced that they are hosting a Chicago Stationery Fest on 3/21-22.
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
If anyone's wondering how things are going on the hellsite: This setting was just turned on by default for everyone. if you still have an account with content, go log in and disable this so Grok can't use your tweets as training data.
Direct link:
twitter.com/settings/gro...
Direct link:
twitter.com/settings/gro...
July 26, 2024 at 2:17 AM
If anyone's wondering how things are going on the hellsite: This setting was just turned on by default for everyone. if you still have an account with content, go log in and disable this so Grok can't use your tweets as training data.
Direct link:
twitter.com/settings/gro...
Direct link:
twitter.com/settings/gro...
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
it more accurately reflects the op-ed, which is by lydia polgreen, who is not right leaning nor conservative
people are just frying their brains with this headline shit
people are just frying their brains with this headline shit
July 21, 2024 at 2:58 PM
it more accurately reflects the op-ed, which is by lydia polgreen, who is not right leaning nor conservative
people are just frying their brains with this headline shit
people are just frying their brains with this headline shit
Somewhat intrigued to learn Diaspora (I got the shirt!) is still around, and after 7 years has a new release! blog.diasporafoundation.org/77-diaspora-...
diaspora* version 0.9.0.0 released!
- The diaspora* Project
blog.diasporafoundation.org
June 16, 2024 at 11:35 PM
Somewhat intrigued to learn Diaspora (I got the shirt!) is still around, and after 7 years has a new release! blog.diasporafoundation.org/77-diaspora-...
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
A crowd sourcing question: I read a sci-fi novella about the collapse of the AMOC back in the late 70s or early 80s, but can’t recall who may have written it. Any idea who may have written such a thing?
Are you ready for the collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation? No, you are not | First Dog on the Moon
Are you ready for the collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation? No, you are not | First Dog on the Moon
It could be next Thursday or maybe Friday
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Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 14, 2024 at 7:36 AM
A crowd sourcing question: I read a sci-fi novella about the collapse of the AMOC back in the late 70s or early 80s, but can’t recall who may have written it. Any idea who may have written such a thing?
I'm a fan, this is a great idea!
ok fellow chicago skeetmeisters, y'all wanna send me something for my harvestime fanzine this winter? i finally made a google form for an idea i've had for 3 years, please like and subscribe docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Google Forms: Sign-in
Access Google Forms with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).
docs.google.com
December 11, 2023 at 4:30 PM
I'm a fan, this is a great idea!
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
Any train is a holiday train if you just believe
x.com/leighgiangre...
x.com/leighgiangre...
December 10, 2023 at 5:24 AM
Any train is a holiday train if you just believe
x.com/leighgiangre...
x.com/leighgiangre...
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
Virginia Woolf, letter to Clive Bell of February 19, 1909z
![A passage from a letter:
I ought to have written before, and you must lay the blame on Mrs Harley Sebright [H. A. L. Fisher] that I didn't. I took pen and paper to Oxford and calculated upon one of those warm confidential hours, when one has slipped one's silk dress off, and huddled one's dressing gown on, when the fire blazes, and all the brilliant talk is over. No wonder that this hour has been dedicated by generations of women to the prosecution of their friendships. The intimate, emotional, and (it must be confessed) often irrational, though entirely delightful nature of their relationships is to be fixed on it. One cant write epigrams, or talk politics or housekeeping in one's dressing gown, with the hair about one's shoulders; one cant part without a kiss.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lhxkgqcfz7fdtslhnhwkc3f3/bafkreifamhqptooofspoo675geilpcrjaqekeic4e7rysej67nikurbcp4@jpeg)
December 10, 2023 at 12:42 PM
Virginia Woolf, letter to Clive Bell of February 19, 1909z
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
Reposted by Eric Sinclair
“The current humanitarian crisis is not the first time that Chicago has received an influx of migrants sent by Southern politicians. In the 1960s, Chicago and other Northern cities were targets of Reverse Freedom Rides, orchestrated by… the White Citizens’ Council.”
Bussing as a Political Pawn: The Reverse Freedom Rides – South Side Weekly
In 1962, Southern segregationists bussed hundreds of Black Americans to Northern cities, hoping to expose liberal hypocrisy. It backfired.
southsideweekly.com
December 3, 2023 at 4:47 PM
“The current humanitarian crisis is not the first time that Chicago has received an influx of migrants sent by Southern politicians. In the 1960s, Chicago and other Northern cities were targets of Reverse Freedom Rides, orchestrated by… the White Citizens’ Council.”