Steve Downey
@sdowney.org
It's my fault "throw 💩;" is no longer valid C++. In penance, I worked to make optional<T&> happen.
Parody of a real software engineer and grown up.
Software engineer at Bloomberg LP
Views are my own
he/him
@[email protected]
Parody of a real software engineer and grown up.
Software engineer at Bloomberg LP
Views are my own
he/him
@[email protected]
Reposted by Steve Downey
My talk about "nothing" (what does a computer do when it has nothing to do?) is now online! 👨🏻💻
I had a lot of fun with this one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgl0...
I had a lot of fun with this one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgl0...
January 2, 2026 at 10:59 PM
My talk about "nothing" (what does a computer do when it has nothing to do?) is now online! 👨🏻💻
I had a lot of fun with this one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgl0...
I had a lot of fun with this one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgl0...
Loki is suggesting I not move for a little while.
January 2, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Loki is suggesting I not move for a little while.
Reposted by Steve Downey
lol I just came across this post by Zoharn’s wife Rama Duwaji’s stylist and the boots were…. on loan
open.substack.com/pub/brainmat...
open.substack.com/pub/brainmat...
January 2, 2026 at 3:17 AM
lol I just came across this post by Zoharn’s wife Rama Duwaji’s stylist and the boots were…. on loan
open.substack.com/pub/brainmat...
open.substack.com/pub/brainmat...
Reposted by Steve Downey
Fun fact, Metropolis is set in 2026
January 1, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Fun fact, Metropolis is set in 2026
Reposted by Steve Downey
Software taketh away faster than hardware giveth: Why C++ programmers keep growing fast despite competition, safety, and AI
herbsutter.com/2025/12/30/s...
#cpp
#cplusplus
herbsutter.com/2025/12/30/s...
#cpp
#cplusplus
Software taketh away faster than hardware giveth: Why C++ programmers keep growing fast despite competition, safety, and AI
2025 was another great year for C++. It shows in the numbers Before we dive into the data below, let’s put the most important question up front: Why have C++ and Rust been the fastest-growing major…
herbsutter.com
January 1, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Software taketh away faster than hardware giveth: Why C++ programmers keep growing fast despite competition, safety, and AI
herbsutter.com/2025/12/30/s...
#cpp
#cplusplus
herbsutter.com/2025/12/30/s...
#cpp
#cplusplus
Reposted by Steve Downey
Just like every year, a friendly PSA:
“Feliz ano nuevo” means “happy new anus.”
“Feliz año nuevo” means “happy new year.”
Wishing folks either one is nice, but make sure you’re using the one you mean.
“Feliz ano nuevo” means “happy new anus.”
“Feliz año nuevo” means “happy new year.”
Wishing folks either one is nice, but make sure you’re using the one you mean.
December 31, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Just like every year, a friendly PSA:
“Feliz ano nuevo” means “happy new anus.”
“Feliz año nuevo” means “happy new year.”
Wishing folks either one is nice, but make sure you’re using the one you mean.
“Feliz ano nuevo” means “happy new anus.”
“Feliz año nuevo” means “happy new year.”
Wishing folks either one is nice, but make sure you’re using the one you mean.
<feedback squeal>
Hey!
We're the Ramones, this one's called "Rockaway Beach"
One, two, three, four....
album changed my life a few years later
Hey!
We're the Ramones, this one's called "Rockaway Beach"
One, two, three, four....
album changed my life a few years later
December 31, 2025 at 5:37 PM
<feedback squeal>
Hey!
We're the Ramones, this one's called "Rockaway Beach"
One, two, three, four....
album changed my life a few years later
Hey!
We're the Ramones, this one's called "Rockaway Beach"
One, two, three, four....
album changed my life a few years later
The white shoe in White Shoe Law Firm is the white buckskin, and it was the equivalent signal as the Patagonia Vest in 2015. "Casual" but in an expensive way that shows status and being above the dress code rules.
December 31, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The white shoe in White Shoe Law Firm is the white buckskin, and it was the equivalent signal as the Patagonia Vest in 2015. "Casual" but in an expensive way that shows status and being above the dress code rules.
Reposted by Steve Downey
I’ve spent this morning morbidly watching the MTV channels close down and the final songs played were:
MTV Music - Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
Club MTV - Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna)
MTV 90s - Goodbye (Spice Girls)
MTV 80s - Together in Electric Dreams (Oakey and Moroder)
MTV Music - Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
Club MTV - Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna)
MTV 90s - Goodbye (Spice Girls)
MTV 80s - Together in Electric Dreams (Oakey and Moroder)
December 31, 2025 at 10:34 AM
I’ve spent this morning morbidly watching the MTV channels close down and the final songs played were:
MTV Music - Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
Club MTV - Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna)
MTV 90s - Goodbye (Spice Girls)
MTV 80s - Together in Electric Dreams (Oakey and Moroder)
MTV Music - Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
Club MTV - Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna)
MTV 90s - Goodbye (Spice Girls)
MTV 80s - Together in Electric Dreams (Oakey and Moroder)
I didn't watch the first MTv broadcast. Basically no one did because it wasn't carried anywhere yet. Just Northern New Jersey.
But it did explode, it was important, in good and bad ways, and someone remembered to finish as they began.
youtu.be/W8r-tXRLazs?...
But it did explode, it was important, in good and bad ways, and someone remembered to finish as they began.
youtu.be/W8r-tXRLazs?...
December 31, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I didn't watch the first MTv broadcast. Basically no one did because it wasn't carried anywhere yet. Just Northern New Jersey.
But it did explode, it was important, in good and bad ways, and someone remembered to finish as they began.
youtu.be/W8r-tXRLazs?...
But it did explode, it was important, in good and bad ways, and someone remembered to finish as they began.
youtu.be/W8r-tXRLazs?...
Reposted by Steve Downey
30 years ago today
IT'S A MAGICAL WORLD, HOBBES, OL' BUDDY...
-LET'S GO EXPLORING
IT'S A MAGICAL WORLD, HOBBES, OL' BUDDY...
-LET'S GO EXPLORING
December 31, 2025 at 3:20 PM
30 years ago today
IT'S A MAGICAL WORLD, HOBBES, OL' BUDDY...
-LET'S GO EXPLORING
IT'S A MAGICAL WORLD, HOBBES, OL' BUDDY...
-LET'S GO EXPLORING
Reposted by Steve Downey
Something that I've noticed in #yeg that's different from other cities in Canada I've lived in (MTL, Waterloo, Ottawa, Toronto) is how they clear snow on arterials.
They push the snow to the centre, creating a median out of snow. Slows cars down and more accessible curbs.
They push the snow to the centre, creating a median out of snow. Slows cars down and more accessible curbs.
December 30, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Something that I've noticed in #yeg that's different from other cities in Canada I've lived in (MTL, Waterloo, Ottawa, Toronto) is how they clear snow on arterials.
They push the snow to the centre, creating a median out of snow. Slows cars down and more accessible curbs.
They push the snow to the centre, creating a median out of snow. Slows cars down and more accessible curbs.
No "Big Design Up Front" tends to work best if the person not designing this system has successfully designed a lot of others.
December 31, 2025 at 3:07 PM
No "Big Design Up Front" tends to work best if the person not designing this system has successfully designed a lot of others.
Reposted by Steve Downey
MAGA media illiteracy.
Springsteen and Born in the USA.
Rage Against the Machine and Killing in the Name.
Norman Rockwell.
Springsteen and Born in the USA.
Rage Against the Machine and Killing in the Name.
Norman Rockwell.
"Norman Rockwell was antifa," his granddaughter says. (Fact check: literally true.)
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
The MAGAfication of Norman Rockwell
Trump uses the artist’s work—like other cultural icons—to promote Gestapo tactics and nativist ideas.
www.thebulwark.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
MAGA media illiteracy.
Springsteen and Born in the USA.
Rage Against the Machine and Killing in the Name.
Norman Rockwell.
Springsteen and Born in the USA.
Rage Against the Machine and Killing in the Name.
Norman Rockwell.
Reposted by Steve Downey
"Norman Rockwell was antifa," his granddaughter says. (Fact check: literally true.)
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
The MAGAfication of Norman Rockwell
Trump uses the artist’s work—like other cultural icons—to promote Gestapo tactics and nativist ideas.
www.thebulwark.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:54 AM
"Norman Rockwell was antifa," his granddaughter says. (Fact check: literally true.)
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
Reposted by Steve Downey
Inkvents Past: Every Diamine Inkvent Calendar Compared (2019–2025)
Inkvents Past: Every Diamine Inkvent Calendar Compared (2019–2025)
Another year of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar has wrapped, and with it, 25 new inks join the ever-growing Inkvent archive. When I pulled out my calendars this year, I realized that Inkvent may be the most consistent stationery tradition I’ve maintained over time. In fact, for a couple of years, it was the only stationery purchase I made all year.
www.wellappointeddesk.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Inkvents Past: Every Diamine Inkvent Calendar Compared (2019–2025)
Reposted by Steve Downey
Renault 5 - Renard (1982, France)
October 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Renault 5 - Renard (1982, France)
Reposted by Steve Downey
This is true and I was the only one on set excited about it (and playing the song on my phone to blank stares)
Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
December 30, 2025 at 4:21 AM
This is true and I was the only one on set excited about it (and playing the song on my phone to blank stares)
Reposted by Steve Downey
New on the blog: You Will Never Know Enough — Make peace (and progress) with incomplete knowledge
kevlinhenney.medium.com/you-will-nev...
kevlinhenney.medium.com/you-will-nev...
You Will Never Know Enough
Make peace (and progress) with incomplete knowledge
kevlinhenney.medium.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
New on the blog: You Will Never Know Enough — Make peace (and progress) with incomplete knowledge
kevlinhenney.medium.com/you-will-nev...
kevlinhenney.medium.com/you-will-nev...
Reposted by Steve Downey
Flu antivirals don't kill the virus—they stop it from replicating. That's why the "take within 48 hours" guidance isn't arbitrary: every hour you wait means more virus for your body to deal with. Here's how to test at home and get treatment fast ⤵
www.patreon.com/posts/146890...
www.patreon.com/posts/146890...
December 30, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Flu antivirals don't kill the virus—they stop it from replicating. That's why the "take within 48 hours" guidance isn't arbitrary: every hour you wait means more virus for your body to deal with. Here's how to test at home and get treatment fast ⤵
www.patreon.com/posts/146890...
www.patreon.com/posts/146890...
Reposted by Steve Downey
Remembering Ian Fraser 'Lemmy' Kilmister 🖤
December 24, 1945 - December 28, 2015
Ramones and Lemmy - R.A.M.O.N.E.S- Live
#punk #punks #punkrock #lemmy #lemmykilmister #ramones #history #punkrockhistory #otd
December 24, 1945 - December 28, 2015
Ramones and Lemmy - R.A.M.O.N.E.S- Live
#punk #punks #punkrock #lemmy #lemmykilmister #ramones #history #punkrockhistory #otd
December 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Remembering Ian Fraser 'Lemmy' Kilmister 🖤
December 24, 1945 - December 28, 2015
Ramones and Lemmy - R.A.M.O.N.E.S- Live
#punk #punks #punkrock #lemmy #lemmykilmister #ramones #history #punkrockhistory #otd
December 24, 1945 - December 28, 2015
Ramones and Lemmy - R.A.M.O.N.E.S- Live
#punk #punks #punkrock #lemmy #lemmykilmister #ramones #history #punkrockhistory #otd
It's not what the article or studies say at all.
Early specialization doesn't last. There are huge filters to progress from youth to young adult to adult in specialized fields.
Early specialization doesn't last. There are huge filters to progress from youth to young adult to adult in specialized fields.
It's easy to assume that the most talented adults among us were once gifted children, but it turns out that talent during childhood is no guide to later success
High-achieving adults rarely began as child prodigies
It's easy to assume that the most talented adults among us were once gifted children, but it turns out that talent during childhood is no guide to later success
www.newscientist.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:36 PM
It's not what the article or studies say at all.
Early specialization doesn't last. There are huge filters to progress from youth to young adult to adult in specialized fields.
Early specialization doesn't last. There are huge filters to progress from youth to young adult to adult in specialized fields.