Matt Sidor
@mattsidor.org
🏳️🌈 Software/Solutions Architect in Seattle, WA.
I help build silly little boxes on web pages.
I help build silly little boxes on web pages.
Pinned
Reposted by Matt Sidor
A fun thing about purely speculative assets that are totally divorced from any real world factors is that your decision to buy or sell is based only on your perception of other people’s perception of the currency. So if you think everyone else is out, why would there ever be a floor?
February 5, 2026 at 10:00 PM
A fun thing about purely speculative assets that are totally divorced from any real world factors is that your decision to buy or sell is based only on your perception of other people’s perception of the currency. So if you think everyone else is out, why would there ever be a floor?
Reposted by Matt Sidor
Reposted by Matt Sidor
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell
Somewhat devastating news today from the CIA: One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. There's not even a hint as to why they …
simonwillison.net
February 5, 2026 at 12:25 AM
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Reposted by Matt Sidor
When your custom character appears in a cutscene
February 2, 2026 at 10:41 PM
When your custom character appears in a cutscene
Reposted by Matt Sidor
Pop singer Lorde will donate the $204,000 she made on merchandise sales from her sold-out Minneapolis shows last fall to two Minnesota immigrant rights groups.
Lorde donates merchandise proceeds from Minneapolis shows to immigrant rights groups
Pop singer Lorde will donate money she made on merchandise sales from her sold-out Minneapolis shows last fall to two Minnesota immigrant rights groups, she shared in a post on Instagram on Tuesday.
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Pop singer Lorde will donate the $204,000 she made on merchandise sales from her sold-out Minneapolis shows last fall to two Minnesota immigrant rights groups.
Reposted by Matt Sidor
That's the problem with the PS5; it doesn't tell you how many bits it is on the front.
February 3, 2026 at 1:17 AM
That's the problem with the PS5; it doesn't tell you how many bits it is on the front.
Reposted by Matt Sidor
How it started…
February 4, 2026 at 12:29 AM
How it started…
Reposted by Matt Sidor
Ah, yes, the well-known "but it's so inconvenient" exception to constitutional provisions, from the landmark case of Why vs. Because I Said So.
February 3, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Ah, yes, the well-known "but it's so inconvenient" exception to constitutional provisions, from the landmark case of Why vs. Because I Said So.
Reposted by Matt Sidor
This case isn't saying that Google devices have an intentional secret recording mode. It's about Google devices being too sensitive in detecting the "Ok Google" activation phrase and triggering the normal voice assistant feature.
www.googleassistantprivacylitigation.com/docs/4th%20A...
www.googleassistantprivacylitigation.com/docs/4th%20A...
February 2, 2026 at 1:04 AM
This case isn't saying that Google devices have an intentional secret recording mode. It's about Google devices being too sensitive in detecting the "Ok Google" activation phrase and triggering the normal voice assistant feature.
www.googleassistantprivacylitigation.com/docs/4th%20A...
www.googleassistantprivacylitigation.com/docs/4th%20A...
Reposted by Matt Sidor
"in the past year, several lines of evidence have come together to show such a visitor is not impossible. Astronomers have seen clear signs of runaway supermassive black holes tearing through other galaxies, and have uncovered evidence that smaller, undetectable runaways are
New fear unlocked: Runaway black holes
Last year, astronomers were fascinated by a runaway asteroid passing through our solar system from somewhere far beyond. It was moving at around 68 kilometers per second, just over double Earth's spee...
phys.org
January 29, 2026 at 2:14 AM
"in the past year, several lines of evidence have come together to show such a visitor is not impossible. Astronomers have seen clear signs of runaway supermassive black holes tearing through other galaxies, and have uncovered evidence that smaller, undetectable runaways are
Reposted by Matt Sidor
Astronomers puzzled out minuscule distortions in images of faraway galaxies taken by JWST in order to chart the invisible
JWST unveils most intricate map yet of cosmic dark matter
Astronomers puzzled out minuscule distortions in images of faraway galaxies taken by JWST in order to chart the invisible
www.scientificamerican.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Astronomers puzzled out minuscule distortions in images of faraway galaxies taken by JWST in order to chart the invisible
Reposted by Matt Sidor
This came up in my old posts today. Don’t know why, but it feels good to know that Andre 3000 specifically is this kind of guy.
January 26, 2026 at 12:38 PM
This came up in my old posts today. Don’t know why, but it feels good to know that Andre 3000 specifically is this kind of guy.
Reposted by Matt Sidor
i think this attitude — that all opposition is illegitimate and nothing we do can be questioned— is probably pervasive in the white house and helps explain why they keep making terrible political choices
Putin pioneered this. No opposition is legitimate. Regular, decent, “ordinary” people cannot possibly be against us because only we represent “the real people.”
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
January 25, 2026 at 3:02 PM
i think this attitude — that all opposition is illegitimate and nothing we do can be questioned— is probably pervasive in the white house and helps explain why they keep making terrible political choices
Reposted by Matt Sidor
Man, I bet the NRA is going to be furious when they hear that jack-booted thugs from the federal government executed a law-abiding citizen for exercising his Second Amendment right to carry a handgun.
Any second now, I'm sure.
He was a white guy, if that helps?
Hello? NRA?
Any second now, I'm sure.
He was a white guy, if that helps?
Hello? NRA?
January 24, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Man, I bet the NRA is going to be furious when they hear that jack-booted thugs from the federal government executed a law-abiding citizen for exercising his Second Amendment right to carry a handgun.
Any second now, I'm sure.
He was a white guy, if that helps?
Hello? NRA?
Any second now, I'm sure.
He was a white guy, if that helps?
Hello? NRA?
Reposted by Matt Sidor
If ICE truly were targeting "the worst of the worst" and not, you know, deliberately brutalizing innocent families with children, they'd rush to correct all the stories like this one, apologizing and insisting it's not what they're really doing.
They don't because this is deliberate. This is it.
They don't because this is deliberate. This is it.
The parents of a 7 year old, all of whom are in the process of applying for asylum, took their daughter to the ER when her nose wouldn't stop bleeding. ICE picked them up near the hospital and they are now in detention in Texas, presumably awaiting deportation. www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
ICE detains family seeking emergency care for child at Portland hospital
The Venezuelan parents and their 7-year-old daughter entered the U.S. legally.
www.oregonlive.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:33 PM
If ICE truly were targeting "the worst of the worst" and not, you know, deliberately brutalizing innocent families with children, they'd rush to correct all the stories like this one, apologizing and insisting it's not what they're really doing.
They don't because this is deliberate. This is it.
They don't because this is deliberate. This is it.
Reposted by Matt Sidor
Nothing hits harder than the thomas the tank engine beat at the end of chiquitita
January 24, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Nothing hits harder than the thomas the tank engine beat at the end of chiquitita
Reposted by Matt Sidor
The parents of a 7 year old, all of whom are in the process of applying for asylum, took their daughter to the ER when her nose wouldn't stop bleeding. ICE picked them up near the hospital and they are now in detention in Texas, presumably awaiting deportation. www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
ICE detains family seeking emergency care for child at Portland hospital
The Venezuelan parents and their 7-year-old daughter entered the U.S. legally.
www.oregonlive.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:30 PM
The parents of a 7 year old, all of whom are in the process of applying for asylum, took their daughter to the ER when her nose wouldn't stop bleeding. ICE picked them up near the hospital and they are now in detention in Texas, presumably awaiting deportation. www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
Reposted by Matt Sidor
A fresh look at the Helix Nebula captures new details of the cycle of stellar life and death
The Helix Nebula looks like the ‘Eye of God’ in these spectacular new JWST images
A fresh look at the Helix Nebula captures new details of the cycle of stellar life and death
www.scientificamerican.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:55 PM
A fresh look at the Helix Nebula captures new details of the cycle of stellar life and death
Reposted by Matt Sidor
This dude on TikTok is trying to help his wife get a job, so he wrote a song. I've had this stuck in my head for the past couple of days. Source: www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8fQQP8S/
January 22, 2026 at 8:09 PM
This dude on TikTok is trying to help his wife get a job, so he wrote a song. I've had this stuck in my head for the past couple of days. Source: www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8fQQP8S/
Reposted by Matt Sidor
New ALMA astronomical survey reveals teenage years and “growing pains” of new worlds www.tcd.ie/news_events/...
Astronomers have, for the first time, captured a detailed snapshot of planetary systems in an era long shrouded in mystery.
Astronomers have, for the first time, captured a detailed snapshot of planetary systems in an era long shrouded in mystery.
January 21, 2026 at 9:12 AM
New ALMA astronomical survey reveals teenage years and “growing pains” of new worlds www.tcd.ie/news_events/...
Astronomers have, for the first time, captured a detailed snapshot of planetary systems in an era long shrouded in mystery.
Astronomers have, for the first time, captured a detailed snapshot of planetary systems in an era long shrouded in mystery.
Reposted by Matt Sidor
as trump keeps beating up on renewables, a new analysis shows that we can basically offset data center emissions simply by boosting wind and solar a little bit more:
The AI Boom Will Increase US Carbon Emissions—but It Doesn’t Have To
A new analysis finds that data centers’ energy demands will drastically increase power plant emissions over the next decade. Renewables, though, could cut them while helping keep prices from rising.
www.wired.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:25 PM
as trump keeps beating up on renewables, a new analysis shows that we can basically offset data center emissions simply by boosting wind and solar a little bit more:
Reposted by Matt Sidor
Yutu - 2013-01-13 - From Aster Cowart (terrasabaea.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/DKD5Cp
January 20, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Yutu - 2013-01-13 - From Aster Cowart (terrasabaea.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/DKD5Cp
Reposted by Matt Sidor
A distinctive nebula inside the constellation Lyra holds a never-before-seen cloud of iron atoms—and researchers aren’t sure why
Astronomers Spot Mysterious Bar-Shaped Cloud of Iron Inside an Iconic Nebula
A distinctive nebula inside the constellation Lyra holds a never-before-seen cloud of iron atoms—and researchers aren’t sure why
www.scientificamerican.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:58 PM
A distinctive nebula inside the constellation Lyra holds a never-before-seen cloud of iron atoms—and researchers aren’t sure why
Reposted by Matt Sidor
Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic.
The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.
The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.
Breaking news: The Justice Department has issued subpoenas for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as part of an investigation alleging that they are impeding federal law enforcement officers’ abilities to do their jobs in the state.
Justice Dept. launches criminal investigation of Minnesota governor
The Justice Department has issued subpoenas for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as part of an investigation into impeding law enforcement.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic.
The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.
The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.