Will Barton
@gulielmus.com
I suffer Computer for a living.
Millennial elder, astro/photographer, coder, public servant. Union member ✊🏻. Critical theory politics grad student in another life.
He/him. 🖖🏻
Millennial elder, astro/photographer, coder, public servant. Union member ✊🏻. Critical theory politics grad student in another life.
He/him. 🖖🏻
Pinned
Will Barton
@gulielmus.com
· Sep 24
Been a while since I posted #astrophotography: here's the Heart Nebula, one of my favorite parts of the night sky (I say that about a lot of the sky though)
60x180s exposures (3 hours) with a Ha/Hb/OIII narrowband filter, from Bortle-5 upstate New York.
On AstroBin: app.astrobin.com/i/lll3xa?r=B
60x180s exposures (3 hours) with a Ha/Hb/OIII narrowband filter, from Bortle-5 upstate New York.
On AstroBin: app.astrobin.com/i/lll3xa?r=B
I recognize myself in this *so much*.
I am also mourning the loss of a wider, open community that shares the joy from new discoveries, learnings, mistakes. The world of my profession feels smaller, less interesting, and more alienating.
I am also mourning the loss of a wider, open community that shares the joy from new discoveries, learnings, mistakes. The world of my profession feels smaller, less interesting, and more alienating.
> To those who [...] use fear and intimidation to help sell the agenda of the big tech CEOs who [...] use coal-fired GPUs to capture society’s output and sell it back to us[...]: I not only scold you, I shun you. That goes double if I once admired and respected you.
ratfactor.com/tech-nope2
ratfactor.com/tech-nope2
A programmer's loss of identity - ratfactor
ratfactor.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:20 PM
I recognize myself in this *so much*.
I am also mourning the loss of a wider, open community that shares the joy from new discoveries, learnings, mistakes. The world of my profession feels smaller, less interesting, and more alienating.
I am also mourning the loss of a wider, open community that shares the joy from new discoveries, learnings, mistakes. The world of my profession feels smaller, less interesting, and more alienating.
Reposted by Will Barton
This is a real timelapse video of the Moon transiting in front of the Earth.
It was captured by the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft in November 2022 while flying at it's furthest point from the Earth.
The video covers about 3.75 hours of real time. 🔭🧪
It was captured by the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft in November 2022 while flying at it's furthest point from the Earth.
The video covers about 3.75 hours of real time. 🔭🧪
February 11, 2026 at 3:43 PM
This is a real timelapse video of the Moon transiting in front of the Earth.
It was captured by the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft in November 2022 while flying at it's furthest point from the Earth.
The video covers about 3.75 hours of real time. 🔭🧪
It was captured by the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft in November 2022 while flying at it's furthest point from the Earth.
The video covers about 3.75 hours of real time. 🔭🧪
Reposted by Will Barton
I'm still writing code the hard way. I'm slow. I like to think critically about every line of code and fiddle with variable names until everything looks right. I treat code as a liability and try to ship only what's necessary.
It's hard to imagine writing code any other way.
It's hard to imagine writing code any other way.
February 1, 2026 at 2:52 AM
I'm still writing code the hard way. I'm slow. I like to think critically about every line of code and fiddle with variable names until everything looks right. I treat code as a liability and try to ship only what's necessary.
It's hard to imagine writing code any other way.
It's hard to imagine writing code any other way.
Reposted by Will Barton
Here's a tragedy of DOGE that most people will never know about, even though it has big consequences: no one is left to coordinate the transition to memory safe systems code. 🧵
"Memory Safety for Skeptics," published in the ACM Queue.
Arguing for why memory safety is worth pursuing, even amid competing priorities and limited budgets, and with or without Rust.
Arguing for why memory safety is worth pursuing, even amid competing priorities and limited budgets, and with or without Rust.
Memory Safety for Skeptics - ACM Queue
queue.acm.org
December 30, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Here's a tragedy of DOGE that most people will never know about, even though it has big consequences: no one is left to coordinate the transition to memory safe systems code. 🧵
Reposted by Will Barton
when will the lesson finally get learned? #cloudflare
November 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
when will the lesson finally get learned? #cloudflare
Reposted by Will Barton
November 7, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Reposted by Will Barton
In case anyone is wondering if Watson was really THAT bad, @lpachter.bsky.social compiled a list of quotes that are absolutely not for the faint of heart.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
November 7, 2025 at 10:18 PM
In case anyone is wondering if Watson was really THAT bad, @lpachter.bsky.social compiled a list of quotes that are absolutely not for the faint of heart.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
Reposted by Will Barton
Every time I see a social media meme about being an introvert, which is at least once a week, I think about how the modern conception of introversion was popularized by a book by a woman who worked on Wall Street who felt that she was so different and special compared to her coked up male colleagues
October 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Every time I see a social media meme about being an introvert, which is at least once a week, I think about how the modern conception of introversion was popularized by a book by a woman who worked on Wall Street who felt that she was so different and special compared to her coked up male colleagues
Reposted by Will Barton
⚠️ Google has given you access to The Computer That Lies.
⚠️ You are now required to use The Computer That Lies.
⚠️ You are now required to use The Computer That Lies.
January 29, 2025 at 8:06 PM
⚠️ Google has given you access to The Computer That Lies.
⚠️ You are now required to use The Computer That Lies.
⚠️ You are now required to use The Computer That Lies.
Reposted by Will Barton
I don’t like talking to humans IRL, why would I want a computer talking to me? Dammit.
October 16, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I don’t like talking to humans IRL, why would I want a computer talking to me? Dammit.
Been a while since I posted #astrophotography: here's the Heart Nebula, one of my favorite parts of the night sky (I say that about a lot of the sky though)
60x180s exposures (3 hours) with a Ha/Hb/OIII narrowband filter, from Bortle-5 upstate New York.
On AstroBin: app.astrobin.com/i/lll3xa?r=B
60x180s exposures (3 hours) with a Ha/Hb/OIII narrowband filter, from Bortle-5 upstate New York.
On AstroBin: app.astrobin.com/i/lll3xa?r=B
September 24, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Been a while since I posted #astrophotography: here's the Heart Nebula, one of my favorite parts of the night sky (I say that about a lot of the sky though)
60x180s exposures (3 hours) with a Ha/Hb/OIII narrowband filter, from Bortle-5 upstate New York.
On AstroBin: app.astrobin.com/i/lll3xa?r=B
60x180s exposures (3 hours) with a Ha/Hb/OIII narrowband filter, from Bortle-5 upstate New York.
On AstroBin: app.astrobin.com/i/lll3xa?r=B
Reposted by Will Barton
Q. Who aligns the aligners?
A. alignmentalignment.ai
Today I’m humbled to announce an epoch-defining event: the launch of the 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
A. alignmentalignment.ai
Today I’m humbled to announce an epoch-defining event: the launch of the 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
Center for the Alignment of AI Alignment Centers
We align the aligners
alignmentalignment.ai
September 11, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Q. Who aligns the aligners?
A. alignmentalignment.ai
Today I’m humbled to announce an epoch-defining event: the launch of the 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
A. alignmentalignment.ai
Today I’m humbled to announce an epoch-defining event: the launch of the 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
Reposted by Will Barton
Reposted by Will Barton
if you "don't have any talent at all" and aren't willing to struggle thru this with diligent practice, you're welcome to fuck off & do literally anything else in the world that's easier for you
September 2, 2025 at 1:22 AM
if you "don't have any talent at all" and aren't willing to struggle thru this with diligent practice, you're welcome to fuck off & do literally anything else in the world that's easier for you
I am going to be mean to the computer.
August 31, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I am going to be mean to the computer.
Reposted by Will Barton
🧵 I know it's ridiculous, but when he's talking mitochondrial challenges & inflammation, he's again referring to his idea of vaccine-induced autism. Let me explain.
via @acyn.bsky.social
RFK JR: I’m looking at kids as I walk through the airports today...and I see these kids that are just overburdened with mitochondrial challenges, inflammation—you can tell from their faces, movements, and lack of social connection
RFK JR: I’m looking at kids as I walk through the airports today...and I see these kids that are just overburdened with mitochondrial challenges, inflammation—you can tell from their faces, movements, and lack of social connection
August 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
🧵 I know it's ridiculous, but when he's talking mitochondrial challenges & inflammation, he's again referring to his idea of vaccine-induced autism. Let me explain.
Reposted by Will Barton
"Alexa, show me the most bullshit AWS IAM permission in the world."
August 28, 2025 at 6:34 PM
"Alexa, show me the most bullshit AWS IAM permission in the world."
Pretty much hating any and all spaces where human interaction is algorithmically-mediated anymore.
August 20, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Pretty much hating any and all spaces where human interaction is algorithmically-mediated anymore.
Reposted by Will Barton
This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.
August 13, 2025 at 6:06 AM
This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.
Reposted by Will Barton
If I have to explain to you why it's a bad idea to use a machine that makes shit up 15-80% of the time AND destroys the environment AND contributes to rising fascism and genocide AND puts brilliant skillful creatives out of work by stealing their work, then we're already speaking different languages
August 6, 2025 at 1:01 AM
If I have to explain to you why it's a bad idea to use a machine that makes shit up 15-80% of the time AND destroys the environment AND contributes to rising fascism and genocide AND puts brilliant skillful creatives out of work by stealing their work, then we're already speaking different languages
LMAO. Imagine wanting a planet instead of a bullshit machine.
August 6, 2025 at 12:01 PM
LMAO. Imagine wanting a planet instead of a bullshit machine.
Reposted by Will Barton
What--and I say this with my chest--the hell are we doing here people
AI-assistant caused DATA LOSS, destroyed projects, user files and a production database: issued faulty commands, overwriting data; another ignored freeze directives, fabricated test data, and dropped a live database. anuraag2601.github.io/gemini_cli_d... www.theregister.com/2025/07/21/r...
July 25, 2025 at 12:14 PM
What--and I say this with my chest--the hell are we doing here people
Reposted by Will Barton
What'd you do over the weekend? Public Works began resurfacing the street in front of the Chipotle where Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense
July 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
What'd you do over the weekend? Public Works began resurfacing the street in front of the Chipotle where Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense
Reposted by Will Barton
A Borges story about a guy who gets AI to summarize all the world’s information for him, and then summarize the summary, until the AI has the whole world summarized into a single word. He sits alone at his desk, staring at the word, repeating it endlessly, certain he is experiencing everything
July 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
A Borges story about a guy who gets AI to summarize all the world’s information for him, and then summarize the summary, until the AI has the whole world summarized into a single word. He sits alone at his desk, staring at the word, repeating it endlessly, certain he is experiencing everything
Random thought from a work meeting: I don't need the "AI" to write shitty code for me, I *like* writing shitty code, and I'm good at writing shitty code, I don't want my joy taken from me.
July 8, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Random thought from a work meeting: I don't need the "AI" to write shitty code for me, I *like* writing shitty code, and I'm good at writing shitty code, I don't want my joy taken from me.