Christopher Brown
@skeptomai.bsky.social
Early Amazon EC2. Opscode / Chef. Software Engineer. Roboticist. Traveler. Father. Francophile. Martial Artist. Long-distance cyclist. Runner.
I've recently had similar conversations with some fairly senior FAANG engineers and managers. My concern is that managers specifically, who are pushing very hard for AI usage, are not thinking about these factors as economic externalities, i.e. they think quality comes for free.
January 31, 2026 at 10:19 PM
I've recently had similar conversations with some fairly senior FAANG engineers and managers. My concern is that managers specifically, who are pushing very hard for AI usage, are not thinking about these factors as economic externalities, i.e. they think quality comes for free.
I have basically that same set on my shelf!
January 17, 2026 at 6:19 PM
I have basically that same set on my shelf!
I've read both.. excellent choices in my opinion :). Have you read Gareth Powell's "Embers of War" series?
January 3, 2026 at 8:17 PM
I've read both.. excellent choices in my opinion :). Have you read Gareth Powell's "Embers of War" series?
Play, not a book, but I couldn't resist, on today of all days : “Hypocrisy is a fashionable vice, and all fashionable vices pass for virtue.”
― Moliere
― Moliere
January 3, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Play, not a book, but I couldn't resist, on today of all days : “Hypocrisy is a fashionable vice, and all fashionable vices pass for virtue.”
― Moliere
― Moliere
I'd forgotten about this, and it's funny you asked Vetkoek because I was gonna ask "koeksisters"? :)
December 30, 2025 at 11:42 PM
I'd forgotten about this, and it's funny you asked Vetkoek because I was gonna ask "koeksisters"? :)
Ha! I remember that place. I used to take my kids there. As someone who grew up in Montana, it blew my mind to skate inside, in the summer, in a casino. That was 20+ years ago. I'm surprised it's still there.
December 13, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Ha! I remember that place. I used to take my kids there. As someone who grew up in Montana, it blew my mind to skate inside, in the summer, in a casino. That was 20+ years ago. I'm surprised it's still there.
Wow, you are having the *exact same * experience we are. Just made the orange glazed breakfast rolls and we were commenting on the drug ads. Classic Americana
November 27, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Wow, you are having the *exact same * experience we are. Just made the orange glazed breakfast rolls and we were commenting on the drug ads. Classic Americana
From a bit earlier, but I'm re-reading right now
November 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM
From a bit earlier, but I'm re-reading right now
I'm a huge fan of her whole catalogue!
November 11, 2025 at 12:01 AM
I'm a huge fan of her whole catalogue!
We need more of this.. we need public cameras in "sanctuary" / blue cities for everyone to watch all the time. We also need cameras trained on protests and especially on ICE and gov't agents so everyone can see their behavior in realtime.
October 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
We need more of this.. we need public cameras in "sanctuary" / blue cities for everyone to watch all the time. We also need cameras trained on protests and especially on ICE and gov't agents so everyone can see their behavior in realtime.
I feel the same way about not flying my GU flag in the spring. I'm a jinx.
October 6, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I feel the same way about not flying my GU flag in the spring. I'm a jinx.
SAME! I couldn't get there fast enough.. and I mean that. They really make it hard to find and cancel..
September 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM
SAME! I couldn't get there fast enough.. and I mean that. They really make it hard to find and cancel..
Sadie approves! #blueskydogs #tongueouttuesday
September 9, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Sadie approves! #blueskydogs #tongueouttuesday
Squat little thing on Sussex Gardens #PostBoxSaturday
July 26, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Squat little thing on Sussex Gardens #PostBoxSaturday
It's truly stunning. Yesterday and today... I'm making the most of it. (Of course, I'm also lucky enough to be on medical leave right now and spending a lot of time recuperating sitting under the sun in my back garden).
July 7, 2025 at 4:46 PM
It's truly stunning. Yesterday and today... I'm making the most of it. (Of course, I'm also lucky enough to be on medical leave right now and spending a lot of time recuperating sitting under the sun in my back garden).
Ok, I just about clicked the play button yesterday, and everybody is still talking about it favorably, so today's the day..
July 7, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Ok, I just about clicked the play button yesterday, and everybody is still talking about it favorably, so today's the day..
Luke clearly studied under the same master..
July 4, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Luke clearly studied under the same master..
It's chilly here today. Luke has decided to tunnel under the covers. I'm with him. No need to get up today at all...
June 27, 2025 at 7:56 PM
It's chilly here today. Luke has decided to tunnel under the covers. I'm with him. No need to get up today at all...
I'm convinced we have far too many lawyers and too few engineers / scientists / statisticians in politics. These people don't seem to viscerally understand data at all.
June 16, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I'm convinced we have far too many lawyers and too few engineers / scientists / statisticians in politics. These people don't seem to viscerally understand data at all.
Cannot agree more. I'm 56 and, by genetic lottery, ended up with grade 4 arthritis in both hips. Just had the first of two total hip replacements. Take every opportunity to protect yourself from falls, and from anything that might result in permanent joint damage.
June 2, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Cannot agree more. I'm 56 and, by genetic lottery, ended up with grade 4 arthritis in both hips. Just had the first of two total hip replacements. Take every opportunity to protect yourself from falls, and from anything that might result in permanent joint damage.
Update: I'm 3 weeks post-op for the first of two total hip replacements. Healing amazingly quickly and walking with *no* joint pain, without a cane or other assistance. This is everything I'd hoped it would be. I go in for the other hip in 5 weeks. By next year, I hope to be fully bionic.
May 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Update: I'm 3 weeks post-op for the first of two total hip replacements. Healing amazingly quickly and walking with *no* joint pain, without a cane or other assistance. This is everything I'd hoped it would be. I go in for the other hip in 5 weeks. By next year, I hope to be fully bionic.