James Aylett
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james.tartarus.org
James Aylett
@james.tartarus.org
650 followers 450 following 4.1K posts
He/him. Working on privacy and responsible AI; usually worried about both. The pandemic isn't over. If I don't follow you it doesn't mean I don't like you. I've built things you've forgotten.
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james.tartarus.org
San Francisco has a new independent bookstore (disclaimer: run by friends) in Union Square

bestbookstore.com
Photo of a bookstore window, taken on an angle like I'm pretending to be cool or something. The store name is in blue, yellow and pink neon style lights: theBestBookstore. Beneath it are display shelves of books, hard to make out because of the reflection in the window of the shops opposite.
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
james.tartarus.org
If you see this, I IMPLORE you to post a picture from whatever device you are using without explanation.
It's a lot of bones. On the right are three skulls, sans jawbone, on a pale background. The ground gets slightly darker to the left where there's just a big pile of bones. Skulls and thigh bones, piled on each other. Someone made this their place. Someone had fun.
November 28, 2025 at 5:12 PM
james.tartarus.org
And creates opportunities for low key hilarious details in Wikipedia entries: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute...

has a helpful photo of a suit of armour that you wouldn't be allowed to wear. In case you were confused.
A photo of a suit of armour, captioned "A suit of armour, not allowed in Parliament". The armour is silver coloured, I'm not an armour specialist but it looks like solid chunks of metal so I'm guessing that's plate armour? It's full body, everything covered in metal. It stands jauntily on a short square black plinth against a white background. Something about the photo makes it look like a tiny model, but Wikipedia says this is 169cm tall (possibly including the plinth) and was made in Milan so less likely to have been worn in the UK much anyway.
November 14, 2025 at 1:11 PM
james.tartarus.org
This is the world that we created: the dull screen of death on a railway station vending machine
A digital screen showing the message 'support.google.com is blocked' with a note that "your organisation doesn't allow you to view this site". The text is black on white, with an information icon (the letter 'i' in a circle) above. Reflected in the screen are some ceiling lights in white and yellow, making it clear this is in at least a communal if not a public space.
November 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
james.tartarus.org
Oh joy, having to figure out which of the two Apple accounts I ended up with when trying to change my email address that time to log in to in order to opt out of something dumb that I don't want done to my podcast.

Also this, which is probably because Apple forgot about the British English l10n:
A configuration setting in Apple Podcast Connect, for a feature called "Timed Links" which is in beta. It doesn't matter what timed links are, which is described in the screenshot (but cut off because that's not the bit that's annoying); what matters is that the checkbox which controls this feature isn't labelled something useful like "Enable Timed Links for this podcast", but "PCC.Show.Availability.MediaLinks.CheckboxMessage".
November 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM
james.tartarus.org
I don't believe anyone would mean that in 2025 and get it wrong, particularly as the domain I actually used was of a remailer.
An email confirmation box asking if I meant the same email but at hotmail.com, a domain I haven't thought of in more than a decade. It has a cherry yellow theme visible as a stripe down the left edge and in the colour of the 'yes' button while 'no' and the rest of the text is black on white
October 18, 2025 at 1:48 PM
james.tartarus.org
Particularly weak that they say the problem is "specifically" ... either one thing or another. Couldn't say which. Just one of them. That they're totally different and one of them is undefined is irrelevant. Totally irrelevant. Not a flag of convenience to wrap our selves in, shivering.
specifically promoting hateful content or being disruptive to other users. We take these guidelines seriously to ensure a safe and respectulf environment for all our users.
October 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
james.tartarus.org
Three little Dinos had roast beef
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with three Dinos in the sand. The angle is low so we can't see the mouths of the front two, a Stegosaurus looking Dino and a Triceratops like one (we don't like to pry). Behind them is a brachiosaur of some description, whose elevated head we can see over the stegosaur but not its mouth which is obscured. Behind all of them, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies.
September 26, 2025 at 9:02 AM
james.tartarus.org
Two together may quarrel
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with two Dinos who seem to be fighting, their heads butted up against each other. The one on the right is smaller and is being pushed from underneath by the larger one who either did rugby or wrestling as a Dinolette. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies.
September 25, 2025 at 9:13 AM
james.tartarus.org
No I absolutely will not, but thanks for reminding me I'm still on your stupid mailing list.
A screenshot from a WashPo promotional email, in black text on a white background, for their automated lying machine. The headline is "Built on facts. Powered by conversation." Then there's a single paragraph: Ask The Post AI is fueled by trusted reporting and your curiosity. Where will your next question take you? And finally the call to action button, which is white on blue: "Start your conversation"
September 24, 2025 at 9:36 PM
james.tartarus.org
Umm.
A concertina interface for FAQs showing just the top question: "How will the two days works?"
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
james.tartarus.org
One Dino is lonely
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with a single Dino in the sand. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dino is coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on its belly. Its head is slightly drooping, not looking at the camera, as if it's sad.
September 24, 2025 at 7:12 AM
james.tartarus.org
Today the Dinos were absent but the octopus was playing around on its own in the sand. And I forgot to take a photo of it. Instead here's a photo of two pigs that live near me.
Two pigs seen through the dark bars of the wire fencing surrounding their paddock. The one close to the camera basks in the sun, it's brown skin glowing. The other is farther away, dark in the shade of trees and is snuffling around for things on the ground.
September 23, 2025 at 8:07 PM
james.tartarus.org
Watch out watch out. There's a sand dragon snake worm thing about.
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with a red and mauve segmented creature in the sandpit, kind of like a small spiny sandworm. It is partly beneath the sand, and has left strange meandering tracks in the sand behind it. Behind it, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. Off to the left, peeking over the edge of the desk toy, a single Dino stands pondering the creature and its sand tracks. It is coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on its belly.
September 22, 2025 at 11:33 AM
james.tartarus.org
And their dog Octopus... (Because four photos in a skeet is enough for anyone)
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with three Dinos approaching on the desk. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools and a flying Dino. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies. In front is an octopus, mauve on its top fading to cyan on the tips of its tentacles. It is looking at you.
September 18, 2025 at 8:53 AM
james.tartarus.org
Dino went to rake,
Went to rake a sand pit,
One Dino, two Dinos, three Dinos, four Dinos
And their dog Octopus,
Went to rake a sand pit.
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with a Dino approaching on the desk. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dino is coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on its belly. A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with two Dinos approaching on the desk. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies. A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with three Dinos approaching on the desk. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies. A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with three Dinos approaching on the desk. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools and a flying Dino. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies.
September 18, 2025 at 8:51 AM
james.tartarus.org
Dinos comin' atcha!
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with three Dinos climbing out of the sand towards you. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies. One is rearing like a horse.
September 5, 2025 at 12:42 PM
james.tartarus.org
Dinos switchin' up
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with two Dinos. The flying one is walking in the sand. The walking one is trying to climb the mountain which forms the back of the desk toy, and which contains sand tools. Behind that are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies.
September 4, 2025 at 10:07 AM
james.tartarus.org
Dinos in the sand. They are listening to Belinda Carlisle.
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with two Dinos either side of a furrough raked in the sand. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies. Both Dinos look towards you, inquisitive and playful.
September 2, 2025 at 12:34 PM
james.tartarus.org
Today: Dino sand angel
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with a Dino lying on the sand which has been spread around by it wriggling back and forth, like a sand angel but it's a dinosaur. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dino is coloured yellow at the top through orange and then green on their belly.
September 1, 2025 at 12:29 PM
james.tartarus.org
If you go down to the sands today...
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with four Dinos, three standing on the sand and one flying Dino dangling off a mountain which is at the back of the desk toy behind the sand. Behind that are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies. There isn't much room.
August 28, 2025 at 12:39 PM
james.tartarus.org
Dinos on the march. Well, one of them. The other may be on the crawl, or having a brief rest before going on the flap. Which is not a euphemism, it's a flying dinosaur.
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with two Dinos and some Dino tracks in the sand. The Dino on the right is tall and looks like it made the tracks, facing right and away from the camera. The Dino on the left is a flying type, currently crouched on the sand and looking more towards the camera. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and cables. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies.
August 27, 2025 at 9:22 AM
james.tartarus.org
There they are.
A desk toy sand garden with a mountain that contains sand tools, sitting on a white desk, with two Dinos walking towards it from the left. Behind the Dinos and the desk toy are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies.
August 26, 2025 at 9:33 AM
james.tartarus.org
Today the Dinos are running late.
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with ripples in the sand but absolutely no Dinos. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and some cables, the edge of a monitor stand at the back on the right.
August 26, 2025 at 9:32 AM
james.tartarus.org
Today the Dinos are just having a drink at a stream flowing through their land.
A desk toy sand garden sitting on a white desk, with two Dinos, one either side of wavey pines raised in the sand suggesting a stream. Behind, part of the desk toy, is a mountain which contains sand tools. Behind that, out of focus, are normal desk things: a laptop and a headset. The Dinos are coloured yellow at the top through orange and the green on their bellies. That's it, that's the photo.
August 22, 2025 at 8:27 AM