Joseph Lorenzo Hall, PhD
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josephhall.org
Joseph Lorenzo Hall, PhD
@josephhall.org
9.9K followers 1K following 2.6K posts
Astrophysicist turned advocate; guiding the globe to a safer, stronger Internet (ht APF). Distinguished Technologist @internetsociety.bsky.social https://josephhall.org/ (former CDT, NYU, Princeton CITP, Berkekey iSchool/Astro)
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josephhall.org
Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands
A close-up of a homemade bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on a Kaiser roll, cut in half and resting in crinkled aluminum foil on a dark granite countertop. The cross-section reveals layers of folded egg, melted yellow American cheese, and crispy bacon strips. The top of the roll looks soft and steamed
January 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM
josephhall.org
Cleaning house and found a neat SFS blade
A close-up of a compact Santa Fe Stoneworks Spyderco pocket knife folded shut in an open palm. The handle features a stunning custom inlay of petrified dinosaur bone, displaying a dark, cellular web-like pattern, contrasted by sections of iridescent white mother of pearl. The iconic Spyderco circular thumb hole and spider logo are visible on the folded blade. An open Santa Fe Stoneworks customized Spyderco knife resting in a person's palm. The leaf-shaped stainless steel blade is extended. The handle showcases a mosaic of ancient petrified dinosaur bone and shimmering mother of pearl, separated by thin silver-toned channels. The background is a soft-focus view of a wooden floor and a red patterned rug.
January 2, 2026 at 6:15 PM
josephhall.org
Unreal: "Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 1993 Ready-to-Wear Collection" www.vogue.com/fashion-show...
A close-up, profile shot captures a pair of glossy, reddish-brown ankle boots worn on a runway. The boots feature a lace-up front and a highly distinctive sole design: instead of a traditional heel, multiple slender, teat-like protrusions extend from the bottom, resembling a cow's udder. The wearer is dressed in black trousers that are hemmed above the ankle to showcase the unique footwear. A model walks the runway in a complex layered ensemble mixing dark denim and black lace. She wears a structured denim corset top with visible stitching and a cut-out bust detail, layered over a sheer black lace top with long sleeves that trail dramatically to the floor. On the bottom, a denim mini-skirt with a belt is worn over wide-leg black trousers. Her hair is styled in a high, messy bun with bangs. A model walks forward in a pale lavender dress with a bohemian aesthetic. The bodice is made of intricate, spiderweb-like crochet that becomes sheer and open at the midriff. A cluster of blue fabric flowers adorns the left shoulder. The skirt is composed of long, heavy fringe or shredded fabric strips that hang to the floor. She wears cream-colored platform espadrilles with ribbon ties around her ankles. A model poses in a surreal, multi-colored blazer designed to mimic the texture of braided hair. The jacket features vibrant vertical stripes in purple, orange, teal, and gold, constructed with a thick, zig-zag woven texture. Emphasizing the collection's "hairy" theme, long locks of reddish-brown synthetic hair extend directly from the jacket's hemline, cascading down past the model's thighs like a curtain of hair. The model wears fishnet tights and has her own hair styled in a messy, high-volume updo.
January 2, 2026 at 5:13 PM
josephhall.org
Haha. Trying to use my limited hobbyist lockpicking skills to get the key out of a locked mother-of-pearl inlaid box that Chelle got for Christmas. Turns out, I’ve been at it for an hour, and… it's not even locked.
A hexagonal wooden box with intricate mother-of-pearl geometric inlay sits on a green and red holly-patterned placemat. Spread out in front of the box is a set of steel lockpicking tools, including rakes and tension wrenches, alongside a small red case and a pair of needle-nose pliers.
December 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
josephhall.org
What a fantastic present to end the year! (swear I woke up like this) @mbernhard.com @durumcrustulum.com @sockpuppet.org @dadrian.io @scwpod.bsky.social
A selfie of Joe Hall, a smiling man with a salt-and-pepper beard and glasses, standing in front of a brightly lit Christmas tree. He is wearing a black t-shirt with the text "Security. Cryptography. Whatever." in blue lettering, representing the SCW Podcast. The tree is decorated with colorful ornaments and topped with a glowing gold star.
December 31, 2025 at 2:38 PM
josephhall.org
Giant. Flaming. Zombie. Polar. Bear. 🧟‍♂️🔥💀🐻 10/10 for the name, 10/10 for the taste. 🍻 @AtlasBrewWorks
A close-up of a hand holding a white and lime-green beer can. The illustration features a stylized, roaring polar bear with "zombie" details, revealing mechanical gears inside its torso and limbs. The background is decorated with green gears and industrial patterns. The front of the same can from Atlas Brew Works. The label reads "Giant Flaming Zombie Polar Bear - Double IPA" in distinct serif typography. Text at the top reads "Solar Powered Beer," and the bottom confirms it is "Brewed in the District." The design fits a steampunk aesthetic with green gears and borders.
December 31, 2025 at 1:15 AM
josephhall.org
Oh yeah, Ini Kamoze FTW: "Hail Me Idren (Live 1986)" youtube.com/watch?v=lSyd...
Album cover just reggae colored text
December 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
josephhall.org
Who ya gonna call?
Ghostbusters Headquarters (Hook & Ladder 8): A full exterior shot of the iconic Hook & Ladder Company 8 firehouse in TriBeCa, famously known as the Ghostbusters headquarters. The historic red brick building is decorated with festive holiday garlands and a wreath, with the "Ghostbusters" logo visible on the sidewalk in front of the red bay doors.
December 29, 2025 at 6:15 PM
josephhall.org
Frenchette on Church in NYC definitely has the best croissant I've ever had
Front of Frenchette Bakery: A wide shot of the charming Frenchette Bakery counter at 220 Church St, NYC, featuring warm wood paneling, large glass display cases filled with fresh artisan loaves, and festive green garland decorations. Frenchette Croissant: A close-up of a perfectly golden-brown, flaky butter croissant from Frenchette Bakery, held in a piece of brown parchment paper against a soft-focus city window background. Inside Shot of the Croissant: A cross-section of a Frenchette Bakery croissant, revealing the beautiful, airy, and light honeycomb "crumb" structure inside the buttery, flaky layers.
December 29, 2025 at 4:45 PM
josephhall.org
We have about six inches of snow in 2-3 hours here in New Milford, CT. Fireplace is on fleek
December 27, 2025 at 1:31 AM
josephhall.org
nano banana is pretty fucking awesome
A panoramic photograph captures Joseph and Michelle in a deeply gothic, occult-themed living room for a unique Christmas celebration. Joseph, with a full beard and glasses, stands on the left in a black distressed trench coat, holding a human skull. Michelle stands on the right in a flowing black Victorian gothic gown, also holding a human skull. In the center is a Christmas tree heavily decorated with black spiderwebs, red string lights, bats, and numerous small skulls. The room is dimly lit with purple and blue patterned wallpaper and red velvet armchairs. A mantle on the right holds a candelabra, a lantern, dried roses, and more cobwebs, with a skull on a table to the left. The overall mood is dark, mysterious, and festive in a macabre way.
December 25, 2025 at 3:45 AM
josephhall.org
throw back to the times around when I was a senior in high school... check out the film canisters! "Anna Sui Spring 1995 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show" www.vogue.com/fashion-show...
A full-length fashion photography shot from the Anna Sui Spring 1995 Ready-to-Wear runway. A model walks the catwalk wearing a vintage-inspired blue and white patterned wrap dress with puffed short sleeves and a knee-length skirt. The look is accessorized with a bold red wide-brimmed hat, red gloves, and statement cherry-shaped earrings and brooch. She wears light blue ankle socks with red platform sandals decorated with cherry accents. In the foreground, the edge of the runway is lined with photographers, and several yellow and blue film canisters are visible on the floor, grounding the image in the mid-90s era. In the background, another model in a yellow dress walks away, creating a sense of movement on the lilac-tinted runway. A medium-full shot of musician James Iha walking the Anna Sui Spring 1995 runway. He is wearing an oversized, double-breasted pinstripe suit jacket with a shiny, vinyl-like finish, paired with matching wide-leg pinstripe trousers. Underneath the jacket, he wears a black button-down shirt with a large, pointed collar featuring intricate silver or crystal embroidery. His look is completed with a pale green wide-brimmed fedora tilted down over his eyes, leaving only his nose and mouth visible. His hair is dark with blonde face-framing highlights, and he has deep blue nail polish on his fingernails. The background shows the blurred audience and the soft lilac lighting of the catwalk. A medium shot of Kate Moss walking the Anna Sui Spring 1995 runway. She is wearing a black two-piece ensemble featuring a blue floral print. The top is a lace-trimmed halter bralette, and the matching mini skirt features a tiered black lace ruffle at the hem. Her face is partially covered by a dramatic, wide black lace blindfold or mask tied around her head. She is accessorized with layered chunky black necklaces adorned with small colorful charms, sheer black polka-dot gloves, and dark berry-toned lipstick. The background is softly blurred
December 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
josephhall.org
Holidays are in full effect! 🎄 Leaning into the season with my new @internetsociety vest and using my first-ever knitting project as a coaster for some holiday cheer. 🍺🧶

Wishing everyone a very connected and protected holidays! 🌐✨
A close-up, top-down view of a small, square knitting sample resting on a person's lap. The piece is made with a chunky, multi-colored yarn featuring shades of white, blue, pink, purple, and yellow in a simple garter stitch. The texture is soft and fuzzy. A brown glass Brooklyn Brewery beer bottle and a small shot glass filled with Jim Beam sit on top of the colorful hand-knitted coaster. The coaster is placed on a laptop lid adorned with several stickers, including "Internet Society" branding. In the background, a festive Christmas tree is softly blurred A smiling man (Joe) with glasses and a beard takes a selfie in front of a brightly lit Christmas tree decorated with colorful ornaments and a glowing star topper. He is wearing a dark grey North Face Ridgewall soft-shell vest featuring the "Internet Society" logo on the chest.
December 21, 2025 at 1:15 AM
josephhall.org
Well, I’m just as surprised as y'all are that Wordle accepted this second guess. (Sharing this with the world so everyone knows it’s officially on the Wordle acceptable guess list.)
A screenshot of a Wordle game solved in three guesses using high-contrast mode (where orange indicates a correct letter in the correct spot and blue indicates a correct letter in the wrong spot). The first guess is "PLACE," with "A" marked as correct. The second guess is the slang term "SHART," which shows "A" in the correct spot and "S" and "R" as correct letters in the wrong spots. The third and final guess is "GRASS," with all five letters highlighted in orange, indicating the puzzle is solved.
December 19, 2025 at 3:45 AM
josephhall.org
Executive Summary Internet intermediaries are essential; without them, the Internet would not exist. These entities perform the functions—transmitting, routing, hosting, and moderating—that allow individuals and service providers to communicate. This paper provides a framework for understanding these functions and developing policy that addresses online content responsibility without stifling global communication. We focus on the specific technical and administrative functions intermediaries perform rather than their business labels. This approach recognizes that a single entity may perform multiple roles, and different services often provide equivalent functions that raise similar policy issues. Our goal is to assist policymakers in crafting well-designed regulations. Effective policies can enhance online diversity, security, and privacy. Conversely, poorly crafted laws can weaken security, stifle competition, restrict speech, and fragment the Internet. While the goal is not to exempt intermediaries from all responsibility, we emphasize that liability protections are vital for individual participation. In many cases, existing privacy, consumer protection, and discrimination laws provide better alternatives to new intermediary-specific regulations. This paper examines the evolution of liability protections—such as US Section 230, Brazil’s Marco Civil da Internet, and the EU’s Digital Services Act—explaining why such frameworks are crucial for the growth of the Internet and the empowerment of its users.
December 19, 2025 at 12:04 AM
josephhall.org
"Psychic Sobriety" by Foie Gras youtube.com/watch?v=Yz_7...
Album cover for "Holy Hell" by Foie Gras. A blonde woman in a leopard-print bodysuit and lace-up boots sits on a black Harley-Davidson motorcycle at night. A large snake is draped over her shoulders. The scene is set on a wet city sidewalk with blurred traffic lights in the background. Large yellow text reads "HOLY HELL" at the top and "FOIE GRAS" at the bottom.
December 17, 2025 at 3:45 AM
josephhall.org
"1944" by Audrey Fall youtube.com/watch?v=0y2O...
Album cover, a misty shining valley
December 14, 2025 at 3:45 AM
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totally fucking epic... gotta play this loud: "Post Electronic" by PERMSKY KRAY youtube.com/watch?v=Au89...
Album cover
December 14, 2025 at 1:59 AM
josephhall.org
A dark blue t-shirt illustrating a parody "How to Knit" tutorial in four panels using pink yarn and knitting needles. The steps are: 1. Stab it, 2. Strangle it, 3. Scoop the guts out, and 4. Throw it off a cliff
December 12, 2025 at 3:45 AM
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A bit hooptie but serviceable
December 12, 2025 at 2:35 AM
josephhall.org
A video showing strands of tinsel defying gravity as they reach out and cling to the side of a laundry bin due to static electricity.
December 7, 2025 at 4:30 PM
josephhall.org
When Chelle's mother, Pat Gullett, a prolific artist, passed away, I made this digital art piece to express my feelings. This year, for my birthday, my mother transformed it into an embroidery panel and turned it into a pillow. Very cool.
A close-up photo of a handmade throw pillow held by a hand. The pillow features a computerized embroidery reproduction of the digital art described previously. The abstract sun, colored beams, and black wavy lines are stitched into a white center panel, showing the texture of the thread. The artwork is framed by a thick black fabric border and an outer red fabric border. A piece of digital vector art featuring a stylized, abstract landscape. At the top center is a black, gear-like sun with a blue core. It emits broad beams of red and yellow light horizontally and vertically. Below the sun, wavy black tendrils rise like smoke or charred trees from a bed of green, spiky grass. A cluster of black stars floats in the center space beneath the vertical beam of light.
December 7, 2025 at 1:15 AM
josephhall.org
This dress made from woven knitted strips is very cool. Closing look worn by Beauise Ferwerda for Ulla Johnson Pre-Fall 2026 www.vogue.com/fashion-show...
A model, Beauise Ferwerda, presents the closing look from the Ulla Johnson Pre-Fall 2026 collection, wearing a sleeveless, multicolor dress constructed from woven knitted strips. The dress features a fitted bodice that transitions into a skirt of long, loose fringe that sways dynamically around her legs, revealing a complex palette of pink, blue, teal, and peach tones. She holds an olive green gathered clutch and wears strappy gladiator-style sandals, posing against a soft pink background with a hint of blue curtain.
December 6, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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"Dolwyddelan Tower" by Moa Pillar youtube.com/watch?v=K8Sp...
Cover
December 6, 2025 at 4:46 AM
josephhall.org
Same!
December 4, 2025 at 1:27 AM