John Breen

Psychohistorian, Bad Bunny

Give Ukraine the Nimitz, fully loaded, they will figure it out.

Also, I build things, play music, and write software. Have too many things.
#NoBots

Public Key

npub1xcflnh7w7fzdxmh2rcvlnug6q50yh9v9kknweme9xdm8j5cmx2nqajdlv8

NIP-05 Address

jab01701mid@mastodon-social.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsrvyleml80y3xndm4pux0e7ydq28jtjkzmtfhvaujnxane2vdn9fspz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsxh3zdn

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1xcflnh7w7fzdxmh2rcvlnug6q50yh9v9kknweme9xdm8j5cmx2nqajdlv8

Show more details

Last Notes

2026-09-05 23:36:47 UTC

WTF is wrong with the internet - is this some kind of defense against AI agents and LLM scraping bots ? Because it also keeps actual people from visiting their website...which seems bad...
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/117/221/057/244/079/484/original/489eeb008900ec83.png

2026-07-23 17:37:56 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…kqqu Or, she's giving the photographer the finger ?

2026-05-23 14:53:56 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…gf9n I love your content, but subscriptions that accumulate in my email inbox are my new Satan.
Let me know when I can subscribe with just my Mastodon account follow, and all your posts show up here (or your own website), not my email inbox.

2026-05-15 21:57:18 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…xwug See also : Fetterman

2026-05-11 21:21:25 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…7278 I can tell you as a guitar player, vacuum tubes are very much still in use ! I'm not trying to make my own though.
#12AX7 #6L6GC

2026-05-03 15:30:47 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…l70y @nprofile…sr4y I can recommend this instance (mastodon.social), and if I ever learned they were blocking your posts silently (or anyone else without good, transparent cause) they would lose my small monthly support and go on blast !
My only complaint following you is you post too much great content - please keep it up !

2026-05-02 04:15:52 UTC

This is a really cool photo taken by a friend, of a rare full moonrise.
This is not a sunrise or sunset. That's the moon !
At about 8pm near 04046 at the beach looking East.
#Photography #Moonrise
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/503/039/394/101/728/original/662d84f964ed90ff.jpg

2026-04-27 11:39:41 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…3src I suspect a lot of this is due to the way web devs are hired. I've seen managers ask their recruiter to find "somebody with at least 3 years Angular or React experience". That's it.
You would not hire for OS-level or even any part of the native code stack by recruiting for "at least 3 years as a C++ programmer".

2026-04-20 01:29:35 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…fe8w Keep Patreon out of it, just post your content here.

2026-04-13 23:08:28 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…l70y Serious question for Catholic Law experts (Douthat ?)
If you and your boss have proclaimed yourselves above the Pope, Jesus, and God, and you have said nothing to confess and repent, is accepting Communion acceptable ?
Is Excommunication on the table ?
I'm trying to think back to my own Catholic upbringing, and I'm pretty sure this is not OK.

2026-04-09 02:46:39 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…ny8g Some of us in the US recall when Putin helped elect Trump.
Disagreements occur between Democracies. But leaders of Democracies do not tell the citizens of another Democracy how they should vote.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/372/448/791/937/056/original/d4c4ca2aa3f62b63.png

2026-03-26 16:31:47 UTC

Stunning, if true, and I'm assuming so.
"According to a Pakistani official who spoke to Reuters, Israel had targeting coordinates for both men and intended to eliminate them. Pakistan told Washington: “If they are killed, there is no one left to talk to.” The US told Israel to stand down."
#nevent1q…c2nf

2026-03-03 15:24:25 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…gu7x I just wake up at 6,7

2026-02-04 19:20:40 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…gu7x Seriously, I don't understand why the ex-pats don't form an enity called "realWashingtonPost".
I would pay.
I'm already paying some of them.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-killing-of-the-post

2025-12-30 15:25:28 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…va7c Closer to 40 years ago, I saw a few great shows while it was still called the Civic Arena. BOSTON and METALLICA got the big bucks above $17 !
DIO, RATT, KISS, IRON MAIDEN, TWISTED SISTER
I don't remember any of it.
Never got to see ZEPPELIN
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/809/195/389/830/033/original/d1dd9410dcd4f480.jpg

2025-12-12 03:02:11 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…jljv I recall arguments on Twitter about 10-15 years ago about "We should stop using FB", and the pushback was "but many depend on FB for their only way to access the internet. You are too privileged to demand people leave FB".
I thought it was BS. No water is better than poisoned water.
The #fediverse does not allow these accounts to be silenced.

2025-10-20 21:03:32 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…va7c Lizzy Borden for POTUS.

2025-10-15 22:01:42 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…3u5w
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/380/433/310/056/833/original/0e2aea3aa08baa8f.png

2025-10-15 21:49:11 UTC

In the old days, people could rightly assume that uneven wear on the front tires was due to bad alignment.
With front wheel drive and a turbo 290HP motor, and a driver who enjoys carving up the occasional bend in the road, I'm not sure it's an explanation I accept without substantiation.

2025-10-06 12:25:53 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…s0v8 @nprofile…vlvm @nprofile…cltd FWIW, I don't know what you refer to, as I can see your profile just fine.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/327/208/367/282/280/original/37d491adf509af74.png

2025-05-23 21:39:56 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…x9mm Thank you for the excerpt - do you know where I can find a copy of this letter without needing to visit Bezo's website ?

2025-04-08 01:24:15 UTC

Found this AGFA Photographic paper going through some old stacks.
It's completely unopened, but about 30 years old.
If anyone has a good use for it, and can convince me to spend 5 or 10 bucks to send it to you, it's yours.
#photography
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/299/718/092/495/782/original/6b7c110dedb14643.jpg

2025-04-06 02:58:25 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…dtk0 Today while I was out with #HandsOff, a U.S. MAIL truck with 18-wheels passed by and gave us the horn in support.
I commented to the person next to me "Go Postal !", then recalled the original context and connotation of that phrase.
Then I thought, "No, we should be as mad as the people who work for OUR Post Office !!!"
#GoPostalOnTrump

2025-04-05 23:29:10 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…3r43 Representing for Wells, Maine, population "11,314 at the 2020 census."
We had at least 400 people out I'd say.
Even a Quebec license plate drove by, I think I heard a honk.
https://rankett.net/w/p/tLXZJiQQiaqnLr6QJF2WHo
#HandsOff #Indivisible #DeportMusk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells,_Maine

2025-03-30 11:32:35 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…cl5w The good news is that there will be a new "Golden Age" for old folks like me who still have a printed copy of the 80286, 386, Pentium, and ARM instruction sets, and knows what they mean. And a soldering iron.

2025-03-29 23:31:18 UTC

I'm not exactly a novice user of webapps, and I can't figure out how to search for stuff (by keyword) I've seen from people I follow, in my own feed, in the past few days, on this Mastodon instance. It seems like a pretty basic thing, but I see no search widget designed to do this.
#feditips

2025-03-23 20:59:51 UTC

I insist on trying to repair my own things, even if the manufacturer does not cooperate.
Today, it was the fuel pump for a John Deere 350-series lawn tractor with a 21.5hp Kawasaki engine. It was sputtering, low power, even after changing fuel and air filters, and spark plugs. Only 40hrs use, practically brand new.
The advice for consumers suspecting fuel pump problems is "replace it - not serviceable.
Ha...
#RightToRepair
1/x
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/213/750/616/574/716/original/4a85b71338090850.jpg

2025-03-23 17:38:31 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…fynq Also, Maine is absolutely not anything near a Blue state, though the current State Gov is in Dem hands. There are LOTS of Trump signs, even in District 1 where I live. Sen "Concerned" Collins is already having to beg Trump/Musk to stop hurting her peeps.

2025-03-23 17:23:38 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…fynq I already hear that Maine coastal rental businesses are seeing 90% of their Canadian visitors cancel summer plans, threatening the survival of their business. We all blame Trump, but many will not acknowledge it in public because of fear and shame.

2025-03-23 01:42:26 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…7klc My problem is that my mom used it, so I'm pretty much half in there even without ever using it myself.

2025-03-13 15:13:59 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…0nz2 Mine got a Black Heritage stamp to improve the mood over there at DOGE.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/155/757/280/697/199/original/e399ef6523c94aee.png

2025-03-11 13:24:46 UTC

I'm somewhat captivated by this pattern of mud streaks on my car, and this would also make a good entry into the "Reflections" category of #photography
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/144/007/835/235/080/original/e4cb5e541646d5d3.jpg

2025-03-10 13:40:56 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…4w33 I don't even want to fly from a blue state to a blue state at this point, not (only) because plane crashes, but the risk of a stopover in a red state, and TSA/federal authority at all airports. If you are in the EU, best to stay there is my advice. And prepare a room for me please. I will sing, do the dishes, all the chores in fact. Even fix your computer !

2025-02-27 15:20:12 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…280z No I disagree with "Those dumping it are self-defeating."
I will not pay a penny to the owners of NYT or WaPo. Let those great journalists go to another platform, and I will support them with my attention and money.
Stop with the framing that we have to pay oligarchs because some good people work for them.

2025-02-19 16:26:52 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…fle4 However, when I grew up, it was popular to use the shorthand that "Executive Orders have the force of law", so I'm sure there are many people who are not clear on this. As I understand it, EOs can constrain Executive Branch behavior, but cannot constrain citizens where that conflicts with, you know, actual laws and the Constitution.
Like Trump can declare Pepe will replace Pride flags on all Federal buildings, but not on my building.

2025-02-15 00:40:01 UTC

I have to send my expression of shame to my friends outside the US who have had to listen to our lunatic SecDef and VP in Munich.
He represents, I hope, less than 30% of the US people, but that's bad enough.
We have a lot of work to do over here, but don't forget there are some good US people too.

2025-02-06 01:20:42 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…qz4x I can't help thinking of the term "dialectic" as I read your thread.

2025-01-21 01:47:35 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…6gnj @nprofile…qz4x I'm ready to join the software engineering counter-revolution. Jail-break is my middle name, and I have some rusty skills.

2025-01-18 15:00:35 UTC

The idea that people want to be "independent content creators", but then also insist that the only way to do that is on some tech oligarch's proprietary platform, does not make a great deal of sense to me.
#Mastodon and #Pixelfed are here, and whatever federated successor to #tiktok we choose to develop and use. Those closed platforms hold no magic, other than that which draws moths to a flame.

2025-01-14 02:23:20 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…vrl0 I've got Ubuntu 24.04 running on it, with Privacy Badger and Firefox browser. Unfortunately the linux drivers still don't seem to support the touchscreen-as-mouse properly by default.

2025-01-13 19:34:15 UTC

I'm contemplating giving my mom a Surface Book configured to run linux instead of Windows, and I'm relishing the thought.

2024-12-27 04:35:43 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…qtsx ProPublica is interested in an engineer to help with tasks "especially for platforms like Salesforce" ?
That bothers me a bit - maybe just an AI-generated job posting.
But you are right, they are good people doing good work.

2024-12-23 05:10:38 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…qz4g So I happen to use Firefox on Ubuntu, but google search, and it shows up for me right now.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/700/413/934/017/933/original/7c01b7220bb528a7.png

2024-12-22 21:48:11 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…mpks Nice Planet of the Apes reference. Don't sleep that long.

2024-12-20 22:55:00 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…0tvd One of my secret fantasies is watching somebody who has implemented their stack on AWS, and then wants to move to another provider. And all the engineers on your staff are contractors...
Go !

2024-12-20 22:51:51 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…6gnj I will donate to the fund to send Elon Musk to Mars, permanently.
That's my mood.

2024-12-20 02:10:03 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…t7w4 This is awesome ! I do this to my hair with the air compressor nozzle sometimes on hot summer days on Earth too, but without the "product" 😎

2024-12-19 21:21:51 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…6gnj FWIW, if you have not seen Dan Kennedy's work, there is a related item with a local journalist harassed with government power.
https://dankennedy.net/2024/12/19/fighting-back-against-official-harassment-plus-bidens-fitness-and-more-on-that-everett-libel-case/

2024-12-19 21:16:35 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…vvfe "big privacy powers" ? Really ?

2024-12-19 01:16:50 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…6gnj I enjoy Josh's content, but it's almost like he's saying we should have the ACLU, or Marc Elias/Democracy Docket. And we have those things. And they are funded, probably not enough.
But if people with billions of spare dollars are free to outspend us, there is no winning that battle. Other methods are necessary, and they mostly involve action, and even NOT spending money to support the oligarchs.
IMHO.

2024-12-16 17:27:05 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…0tvd I was just happy to move beyond Microsoft FrontPage, which was not actually that bad, to publish internal documents. And bugzilla was better than JIRA.

2024-12-12 18:47:38 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…vvfe I recall thinking back in about 2010, as I was working on a device that could play both BluRay and HD DVD media (that never came to market) that it was a waste of time, both would be obsolete within 10 years as streaming takes over.
Still, I like to own copies of content that I value. My PS4 is my BluRay player, and I own a still-operational Toshiba HD-DVD player !

2024-12-12 00:58:53 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…evrs Someday, I will get in trouble for liking this post.

2024-12-11 06:15:48 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…6gnj On the Colbert show tonight, he could not even say the name on air at CBS/Paramount.
There is some really weird prior-restraint stuff going on in corporate media.

2024-12-11 02:50:37 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…e6ql I feel like the AltText does not capture the full essence of this artwork.

2024-12-06 20:09:32 UTC

I feel like people are missing the plan. JD Vance is the new POTUS, funded by Musk, Thiel, Putin, KSA, and cohorts.
Trump is irrelevant.

2024-12-04 18:50:27 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…vvfe Time to get a job writing embedded software for LTE network router infrastructure. Send your job offers here.

2024-12-04 18:45:29 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…vvfe Let's stop with the "Trump may have done something non-stupid" framing.
I'm a private astronaut too.

2024-12-01 05:40:49 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…6gnj FWIW, I observe that the Substack owners are not seen as in the same league with Musk/Twitter, yet. Even I can not convince myself they are that bad, and people with ethics who I respect still publish there.
Tech is not the issue, I hope there are alt blogging platforms like Ghost available in 2024.

2024-11-27 17:46:25 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…vvfe Musk in charge of my cell phone service ? No, thanks...

2024-11-27 17:29:17 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…vvfe Was back in the day, big customers would require that our proprietary software be kept in an "escrow account" just in case we became unable to support the product we sold them, they could take over.
Seems like a good pattern.

2024-11-27 04:55:30 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…6gnj One of the best descriptions I've read on the US regulalatory approach, compared with the EU especially, is that we wait for actual harm, then act.
And then not unless it affects somebody "important"...
What would be nice is to anticipate problems and put up defenses.
Can we just start is_it_safe.com rather than waiting for regulations from (checks notes) the Musk administration ?
CR does good work, but are they the cybersecurity experts we need ?

2024-11-27 04:28:18 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…6gnj I love the "Continue without supporting us ?" nags from websites when I use Privacy Badger. No, I'm supporting you, show me whatever ads you want. You get no cookies here - deal with it.
Don't make me write a bot to feed you random cookies...

2024-11-25 21:51:20 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…vvfe What a complete and total waste of time. You are contributing to AI hype. Who in the fuck would want to listen to a pretend screaming sax ?
Because something can be done, does not mean it has any value to anybody, other than as clickbait.

2024-11-25 02:11:23 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…6gnj @nprofile…6y4w @nprofile…qz4x One thing I took away from reading "The Nazi Seizure of Power" about the 1930's German experience was a failure to defend imperfect institutions.
Nobody sane would defend the lines at the DMV when you need to renew your registration or license.
But nobody sane should be saying we should just get rid of the DMV.

2024-11-24 03:23:23 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…9nj5 I've contacted my Senators King and Collins with the message you suggest.
Patent trolls are an abomination to all people who actually create things.

2024-11-18 17:49:35 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…vvfe Yeah, I'm sure it always goes well to go to your boss with "here's some fake child porn on my phone".

2024-11-15 03:47:41 UTC

- reply

@nprofile…6gnj This is the only place I will see your posts, and I appreciate it !

2024-11-12 00:05:49 UTC

- reply

@npub1lrv…tth9 Somewhere, Michael Burry is shorting a market.

2024-11-10 19:56:57 UTC

- reply

@npub1vqm…ccpx "Do not signal your politics on social media"
Too late for that.
Come for me - you may be surprised about how passive liberals actually are.
And I cultivate good relations with my neighbors.

2024-11-10 01:54:49 UTC

- reply

@npub15x4…3p3l I'm going to push back on this framing "Democrats become more comfortable embracing denialism"
You can wonder, for example, the effect of various voter suppression efforts. People who voted for an Abortion-rights question but not Harris ?
But there is not to my perception any denialism about what just happened.
It's clear. Half our neighbors, on average, wanted this. Deal with it.

2024-11-08 23:01:38 UTC

- reply

@npub1su4…a0dw Many are expected to be offerred cabinet positions in the Trump administration.

2024-11-01 17:31:31 UTC

- reply

@npub1su4…a0dw It's actually more about attention than "eyes", in my experience.
One time, I drove for miles at highway speed, on a very familiar route, on a 15min voice call that required attention.
At the end, I could not recall anything about my driving experience for the past 15min, which was VERY scary and I decided not to ever do that again, even "hands free".

2024-10-24 22:07:06 UTC

- reply

@npub1su4…a0dw There's very little you have to say but this to explain that.
"The present corporation is the result of the merger of Boeing with McDonnell Douglas on August 1, 1997."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing

2024-10-16 18:09:06 UTC

- reply

@npub1lrv…tth9 I have heard for years the excuse that "that's where the people are who we need to reach" and "we can't abandon it because people with no money from poor countries use this as their only internet/news". I include Facebook in this category, not just "X".
What unmitigated BS.
You rename a popular social media site "X" and expect people to just adapt to that, because it's "free" ?

2024-10-14 02:27:27 UTC

- reply

@npub1vqm…ccpx Fixed it for you
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/303/410/694/384/216/original/0c1bd33e96958327.png

2024-10-12 16:42:01 UTC

- reply

@npub1sqf…5skr I've never used their "service", but my mom has, and I'm just as worried that I have no way to prevent them misusing/selling that data in ways that impact me, without my consent.

2024-09-30 16:43:11 UTC

It's surprising to me that it's not more commonly recognized that the (for lack of a better term) "oligarch class" wants to convert life-critical healthcare systems into for-profit, marginalizing, no-pre-existing-conditions-or-poor-people-need apply" systems.
No better business to be in than "pay or die".
That's why few civilized countries other than the USA do it that way.

2024-09-28 16:42:19 UTC

- reply

@npub1lrv…tth9 Maybe the golf cart industry could be encouraged to move agressively into the market, and not just for retirement community residents. If I have to deal with bicycles on the road, adding fast street-legal golf carts are no worse, share-the-road wise.