Mark Tomko
@xbsharp.bsky.social
Mostly functional programmer; double bassist in a Beethoven cover band; failed librarian; debugging prince
All views expressed are my own
All views expressed are my own
Reposted by Mark Tomko
Imagine suffering from a level of greed so powerful and venal that, despite having more money than you could spend in several lifetimes, you're willing to oppress and impoverish millions of people just to get a little more money.
December 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Imagine suffering from a level of greed so powerful and venal that, despite having more money than you could spend in several lifetimes, you're willing to oppress and impoverish millions of people just to get a little more money.
Reposted by Mark Tomko
So Bari Weiss’s first real editorial intervention at CBS is to repress coverage of American concentration camps.
December 22, 2025 at 3:05 AM
So Bari Weiss’s first real editorial intervention at CBS is to repress coverage of American concentration camps.
Reposted by Mark Tomko
A few reminders about the SCOTUS immunity decision for Presidents:
It does not provide immunity for prior crimes.
It does not provide immunity to the President's cabinet.
Similar to Roe v. Wade, it can be overturned in the future.
It does not provide immunity for prior crimes.
It does not provide immunity to the President's cabinet.
Similar to Roe v. Wade, it can be overturned in the future.
December 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A few reminders about the SCOTUS immunity decision for Presidents:
It does not provide immunity for prior crimes.
It does not provide immunity to the President's cabinet.
Similar to Roe v. Wade, it can be overturned in the future.
It does not provide immunity for prior crimes.
It does not provide immunity to the President's cabinet.
Similar to Roe v. Wade, it can be overturned in the future.
Reposted by Mark Tomko
It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines.
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
December 20, 2025 at 12:50 AM
It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines.
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
Reposted by Mark Tomko
CIA Realizes It’s Been Using Black Highlighters All These Year
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
December 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM
CIA Realizes It’s Been Using Black Highlighters All These Year
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
I'm heartbroken over the recent actions by the Trump administration to harm trans people (especially trans kids) in this country
December 19, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I'm heartbroken over the recent actions by the Trump administration to harm trans people (especially trans kids) in this country
Reposted by Mark Tomko
check this shit out. gonna write a song contrasting your guy macheath with a shark. that’s right a fuckin shark. whole compare and contrast deal. ppl gonna be singing this shit for a hundred years. see if I lie
—Bertolt Brecht, to Kurt Weill, over drinks, 1927
—Bertolt Brecht, to Kurt Weill, over drinks, 1927
December 18, 2025 at 8:31 PM
check this shit out. gonna write a song contrasting your guy macheath with a shark. that’s right a fuckin shark. whole compare and contrast deal. ppl gonna be singing this shit for a hundred years. see if I lie
—Bertolt Brecht, to Kurt Weill, over drinks, 1927
—Bertolt Brecht, to Kurt Weill, over drinks, 1927
Thanks I hate it
The ACM Digital Library, where a LOT of computing-related research is published (I'd say at least 75% of my own publications), is now not only providing (without consent of the authors and without opt-in by readers) AI-generated summaries of papers, but they appear as the *default* over abstracts.
December 17, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Thanks I hate it
For someone who claims to have ended like 7 wars (despite never mentioning which ones those were), he seems awfully eager to get into a new one with a country despite no apparent grievance nor any real diplomatic efforts in the lead-up
December 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
For someone who claims to have ended like 7 wars (despite never mentioning which ones those were), he seems awfully eager to get into a new one with a country despite no apparent grievance nor any real diplomatic efforts in the lead-up
The Wiles admissions confirm that the president is abusing his power for revenge, which should be grounds for immediate impeachment and removal from office
December 17, 2025 at 1:26 AM
The Wiles admissions confirm that the president is abusing his power for revenge, which should be grounds for immediate impeachment and removal from office
Reposted by Mark Tomko
ICE sprayed a one-year-old in the face with pepper spray.
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
December 15, 2025 at 3:24 AM
ICE sprayed a one-year-old in the face with pepper spray.
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Did I suddenly become a Minnesota Wild fan?
December 13, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Did I suddenly become a Minnesota Wild fan?
Reposted by Mark Tomko
A report published in a CDC journal reaffirms the effectiveness of COVID vaccines at preventing severe disease in children
COVID Vaccines Slashed Kids’ ER Visits by 76 Percent, Study Finds
A report published in a CDC journal reaffirms the effectiveness of COVID vaccines at preventing severe disease in children
www.scientificamerican.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:10 PM
A report published in a CDC journal reaffirms the effectiveness of COVID vaccines at preventing severe disease in children
I just want to point out that the last two posts on my profile represent two sides of the same coin. One is a thread about the greatness of the composer William Grant Still, and the struggles he encountered as an African American. Right after that is a discussion of the attack on DEI from science.
December 12, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I just want to point out that the last two posts on my profile represent two sides of the same coin. One is a thread about the greatness of the composer William Grant Still, and the struggles he encountered as an African American. Right after that is a discussion of the attack on DEI from science.
If you want to hear some gorgeous music by William Grant Still, I can't recommend Ashley Jackson's recording of Ennanga highly enough:
ashleyjackson.bandcamp.com/album/ennanga
ashleyjackson.bandcamp.com/album/ennanga
December 12, 2025 at 7:21 PM
If you want to hear some gorgeous music by William Grant Still, I can't recommend Ashley Jackson's recording of Ennanga highly enough:
ashleyjackson.bandcamp.com/album/ennanga
ashleyjackson.bandcamp.com/album/ennanga
Reposted by Mark Tomko
This…article? … is utterly gross. Removing diversity, equity, and inclusion from our goals as scientists leaves the discipline homogeneous, inequitable, and exclusive—the opposite of why I educate and do research with the next generation of scientists.
December 12, 2025 at 5:52 PM
This…article? … is utterly gross. Removing diversity, equity, and inclusion from our goals as scientists leaves the discipline homogeneous, inequitable, and exclusive—the opposite of why I educate and do research with the next generation of scientists.
I just ran across this symphony in an article from @vanmusicmag.bsky.social and now I'm obsessed
Angels and Visitations
YouTube video by Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I just ran across this symphony in an article from @vanmusicmag.bsky.social and now I'm obsessed
Reposted by Mark Tomko
Secretary of State Rubio has concluded Calibri is a DEI font and orders US diplomats to revert to Times New Roman in official communications. www.devdiscourse.com/article/poli...
Font Wars: Times New Roman vs. Calibri in U.S. Diplomacy | Politics
The U.S. State Department has reverted to using Times New Roman in official communications, reversing the previous administration's choice of Calibri, which was promoted for accessibility. This decisi...
www.devdiscourse.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Secretary of State Rubio has concluded Calibri is a DEI font and orders US diplomats to revert to Times New Roman in official communications. www.devdiscourse.com/article/poli...
Reposted by Mark Tomko
December 10, 2025 at 1:44 AM
My wife and I walked past Jeremy Denk at MSP; for an awkward second it was clear to him we knew who he was, then we all continued on our ways
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
December 8, 2025 at 4:15 AM
My wife and I walked past Jeremy Denk at MSP; for an awkward second it was clear to him we knew who he was, then we all continued on our ways
Commentary on the Netflix deal is sorely lacking in Animaniacs references
December 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Commentary on the Netflix deal is sorely lacking in Animaniacs references
Reposted by Mark Tomko
Frank Gehry, 1929–2025 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/a...
December 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Frank Gehry, 1929–2025 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/a...
Reposted by Mark Tomko
I went to the NYT and this is in fact their lede and like, you know how bad things have to get for NYT of all pubs to call something “unapologetic bigotry”? Infinity alarm fire
NYT: “.. Even for Mr. Trump — who has a long history of insulting Black people, particularly those from African countries — his outburst was shocking in its unapologetic bigotry.”
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
December 3, 2025 at 1:38 AM
I went to the NYT and this is in fact their lede and like, you know how bad things have to get for NYT of all pubs to call something “unapologetic bigotry”? Infinity alarm fire
Reposted by Mark Tomko
Under Trump, the NIH is giving fewer grants to fewer scientists. The grants awarded are smaller and scientists have less time to spend them.
Projects in cancer, diabetes, aging, neurological disorder, and more are going unfunded.
“Make America Healthy Again.”
Projects in cancer, diabetes, aging, neurological disorder, and more are going unfunded.
“Make America Healthy Again.”
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Under Trump, the NIH is giving fewer grants to fewer scientists. The grants awarded are smaller and scientists have less time to spend them.
Projects in cancer, diabetes, aging, neurological disorder, and more are going unfunded.
“Make America Healthy Again.”
Projects in cancer, diabetes, aging, neurological disorder, and more are going unfunded.
“Make America Healthy Again.”
Reposted by Mark Tomko
GitHub should add a 2025 recap, with things like:
"Angriest commit message"
"How often you added a separate commit just to fix linting"
"Number of curse words added to the codebase"
"What file caused the most bug reports"
"Number of abandoned side projects"
"Angriest commit message"
"How often you added a separate commit just to fix linting"
"Number of curse words added to the codebase"
"What file caused the most bug reports"
"Number of abandoned side projects"
December 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM
GitHub should add a 2025 recap, with things like:
"Angriest commit message"
"How often you added a separate commit just to fix linting"
"Number of curse words added to the codebase"
"What file caused the most bug reports"
"Number of abandoned side projects"
"Angriest commit message"
"How often you added a separate commit just to fix linting"
"Number of curse words added to the codebase"
"What file caused the most bug reports"
"Number of abandoned side projects"