Shawn Freebern
@smf.bsky.social
Freelance overthinker
He/him, raising kids & cats in Vermont
Great at starting projects, not great at completing them
He/him, raising kids & cats in Vermont
Great at starting projects, not great at completing them
Parsnip! Hope your eyes are better by now.
December 24, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Parsnip! Hope your eyes are better by now.
I had to go find it myself - the original twit thread is linked from Solomon’s webpage but here’s an unrolled version if you want to avoid that pit:
threadreaderapp.com/thread/14299...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/14299...
Thread by @solomonmissouri on Thread Reader App
@solomonmissouri: Bud ... Let me tell y'all something... You don't wanna be out here You think you wanna be out here cause you not out here When you get out here... You ain't gonna want to...
threadreaderapp.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I had to go find it myself - the original twit thread is linked from Solomon’s webpage but here’s an unrolled version if you want to avoid that pit:
threadreaderapp.com/thread/14299...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/14299...
Certainly didn’t anticipate Excel going “Oh you typed a number that started with a zero, clearly that zero wasn’t meaningful, I’ll remove it for you”
no, you automated dingbat, when someone adds extra zeros that seem meaningless for math purposes, you should ask if the column is actually text
no, you automated dingbat, when someone adds extra zeros that seem meaningless for math purposes, you should ask if the column is actually text
December 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Certainly didn’t anticipate Excel going “Oh you typed a number that started with a zero, clearly that zero wasn’t meaningful, I’ll remove it for you”
no, you automated dingbat, when someone adds extra zeros that seem meaningless for math purposes, you should ask if the column is actually text
no, you automated dingbat, when someone adds extra zeros that seem meaningless for math purposes, you should ask if the column is actually text
This post convinced me to pick up the game a couple weeks ago - now nearing the end of my first (less flawed) run & excited to replay with your strategy.
Thinking I may need to plan in advance… feels like some flaws might block others? Probably spreadsheet time. I definitely know how to have fun.
Thinking I may need to plan in advance… feels like some flaws might block others? Probably spreadsheet time. I definitely know how to have fun.
December 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This post convinced me to pick up the game a couple weeks ago - now nearing the end of my first (less flawed) run & excited to replay with your strategy.
Thinking I may need to plan in advance… feels like some flaws might block others? Probably spreadsheet time. I definitely know how to have fun.
Thinking I may need to plan in advance… feels like some flaws might block others? Probably spreadsheet time. I definitely know how to have fun.
my brain: I don't get it, how do the watch and hammer represent collaboration and/or listening
this is how I realize I didn't have any caffeine yet today
this is how I realize I didn't have any caffeine yet today
December 10, 2025 at 4:04 PM
my brain: I don't get it, how do the watch and hammer represent collaboration and/or listening
this is how I realize I didn't have any caffeine yet today
this is how I realize I didn't have any caffeine yet today
Not all! Stay strong! Like me, I'm saving my creative energy for baking holiday cookies. Yeah that's it.
December 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Not all! Stay strong! Like me, I'm saving my creative energy for baking holiday cookies. Yeah that's it.
I think we read "Beloved" in sophomore year of highschool, so I was probably 16 - definitely a child, too young to hear about naughty things, also definitely NOT a child, old enough to consent to hooking up with politicians. It makes perfect sense.
December 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I think we read "Beloved" in sophomore year of highschool, so I was probably 16 - definitely a child, too young to hear about naughty things, also definitely NOT a child, old enough to consent to hooking up with politicians. It makes perfect sense.
Tangentially related: what're your thoughts (for publishing, or just in general) on this "hyperlegible" font: www.brailleinstitute.org/freefont/
I think it's great that it exists & was tempted to start using it everywhere, but my kids reacted like it made their brains itch...
I think it's great that it exists & was tempted to start using it everywhere, but my kids reacted like it made their brains itch...
Atkinson Hyperlegible Font - Braille Institute
Read easier with Atkinson Hyperlegible Font, crafted for low-vision readers. Download for free and enjoy clear letters and numbers on your computer!
www.brailleinstitute.org
December 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Tangentially related: what're your thoughts (for publishing, or just in general) on this "hyperlegible" font: www.brailleinstitute.org/freefont/
I think it's great that it exists & was tempted to start using it everywhere, but my kids reacted like it made their brains itch...
I think it's great that it exists & was tempted to start using it everywhere, but my kids reacted like it made their brains itch...
Today is my last day at this company, finally caught in a "resource action" after 26 years. Seems good for my mental health, less good for putting kids through college. I'm privileged enough to not be immediately worried about what's next... we'll see how long that feeling lasts.
How're you?
How're you?
December 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Today is my last day at this company, finally caught in a "resource action" after 26 years. Seems good for my mental health, less good for putting kids through college. I'm privileged enough to not be immediately worried about what's next... we'll see how long that feeling lasts.
How're you?
How're you?
Ok yup, that's exactly what I'm looking at. Wishing there was secret knowledge to be had but I think it's a pretty straightforward cherry on the top of the package.
December 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Ok yup, that's exactly what I'm looking at. Wishing there was secret knowledge to be had but I think it's a pretty straightforward cherry on the top of the package.
On one hand, glad I didn’t have to actually go back to the office because ugh, that sort of thing would absolutely kill my productivity.
On the other hand… were any of the severance package tax strategies winners? Because… ugh.
On the other hand… were any of the severance package tax strategies winners? Because… ugh.
December 8, 2025 at 8:29 PM
On one hand, glad I didn’t have to actually go back to the office because ugh, that sort of thing would absolutely kill my productivity.
On the other hand… were any of the severance package tax strategies winners? Because… ugh.
On the other hand… were any of the severance package tax strategies winners? Because… ugh.
Gee, I bet they could avoid having to heat/cool that entire office if they'd just let people work from home.
December 8, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Gee, I bet they could avoid having to heat/cool that entire office if they'd just let people work from home.
Let's make this happen, Burlington could use a combination cat cafe / reading room / tea service / open mic for cat-friendly musicians on a tiny stage
Step 1, find affordable property in Burlington...
Step 1, find affordable property in Burlington...
December 8, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Let's make this happen, Burlington could use a combination cat cafe / reading room / tea service / open mic for cat-friendly musicians on a tiny stage
Step 1, find affordable property in Burlington...
Step 1, find affordable property in Burlington...
Ahhhh, there’s an element of willpower along with the technique!
Pretty sure mine would go in the fridge to chill and chunks would disappear overnight :)
Pretty sure mine would go in the fridge to chill and chunks would disappear overnight :)
December 4, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Ahhhh, there’s an element of willpower along with the technique!
Pretty sure mine would go in the fridge to chill and chunks would disappear overnight :)
Pretty sure mine would go in the fridge to chill and chunks would disappear overnight :)
How do you cut those so cleanly? That looks like something that would immediately make a sticky mess of the knife
(which of course is not a problem, exactly…)
(which of course is not a problem, exactly…)
December 4, 2025 at 9:07 PM
How do you cut those so cleanly? That looks like something that would immediately make a sticky mess of the knife
(which of course is not a problem, exactly…)
(which of course is not a problem, exactly…)
Saying that immediately disqualifies him as a valid speaker on the topic.
Like, come on dude, it's 100% regurgitating information that existed before! It might be creating never-before-seen grammar patterns or new and surprising misspellings, but by design, it's not creating new information!
Like, come on dude, it's 100% regurgitating information that existed before! It might be creating never-before-seen grammar patterns or new and surprising misspellings, but by design, it's not creating new information!
December 4, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Saying that immediately disqualifies him as a valid speaker on the topic.
Like, come on dude, it's 100% regurgitating information that existed before! It might be creating never-before-seen grammar patterns or new and surprising misspellings, but by design, it's not creating new information!
Like, come on dude, it's 100% regurgitating information that existed before! It might be creating never-before-seen grammar patterns or new and surprising misspellings, but by design, it's not creating new information!
ok, I'm sometimes guilty of assuming others want me to do certain things, then being annoyed when they don't value the effort I put in, that's a pattern I should work to correct in myself
if I claimed all women did that always, that'd be a different problem best solved by throwing me from a train
if I claimed all women did that always, that'd be a different problem best solved by throwing me from a train
December 4, 2025 at 5:44 PM
ok, I'm sometimes guilty of assuming others want me to do certain things, then being annoyed when they don't value the effort I put in, that's a pattern I should work to correct in myself
if I claimed all women did that always, that'd be a different problem best solved by throwing me from a train
if I claimed all women did that always, that'd be a different problem best solved by throwing me from a train
This is how I feel about apple's setup too. With spotify I knew what friends were listening to, could find their shared playlists, end of year wrapup was great... apple music fails at them all. These are not complicated patterns, just copy them! It's morally justifiable to steal ideas from spotify!
December 4, 2025 at 12:00 AM
This is how I feel about apple's setup too. With spotify I knew what friends were listening to, could find their shared playlists, end of year wrapup was great... apple music fails at them all. These are not complicated patterns, just copy them! It's morally justifiable to steal ideas from spotify!
glad I'm not the only one who does this... since 2015 I've had a yearly "what the crap" playlist, when I hear something fun it gets added... now when I want those sweet sweet pre-pandemic music vibes I can put on my WTC2019 playlist etc
the pattern does feel very attention-deficit coded, though
the pattern does feel very attention-deficit coded, though
December 3, 2025 at 6:01 PM
glad I'm not the only one who does this... since 2015 I've had a yearly "what the crap" playlist, when I hear something fun it gets added... now when I want those sweet sweet pre-pandemic music vibes I can put on my WTC2019 playlist etc
the pattern does feel very attention-deficit coded, though
the pattern does feel very attention-deficit coded, though
We absolutely cannot adopt another cat right now, but did I immediately open the hscc site after hearing that purring? Yes I did.
December 1, 2025 at 9:32 PM
We absolutely cannot adopt another cat right now, but did I immediately open the hscc site after hearing that purring? Yes I did.
Not an expert, just a guy, but when we did our system ~20 years ago we chose the 5" thick filter (not even HEPA, only MERV 13) and that meant paying for a more powerful fan. Guessing any major filter upgrade would have similar requirements - might work ok, but might burn out your motor.
December 1, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Not an expert, just a guy, but when we did our system ~20 years ago we chose the 5" thick filter (not even HEPA, only MERV 13) and that meant paying for a more powerful fan. Guessing any major filter upgrade would have similar requirements - might work ok, but might burn out your motor.