Seth Rubenstein
@sethrubenstein.info
Head of Engineering at @pewresearch.org. #WordPress #Gutenberg Contributor. Passionate about WordPress, buffalo wings, #StarCitizen, and surviving the slow motion ecological collapse from the D.C. area. 🚴 📷 🌹
Certified hater.
https://sethrubenstein.info
Certified hater.
https://sethrubenstein.info
With its emphasis on decentralization and API openness Bluesky really does remind me of early Twitter.
we've rolled out support for @bluecast.app links in Live Now!
bluecast.app is a super nice audio streaming app built on atproto — especially popular with many of our bsky friends in Japan
bluecast.app is a super nice audio streaming app built on atproto — especially popular with many of our bsky friends in Japan
January 26, 2026 at 10:34 PM
With its emphasis on decentralization and API openness Bluesky really does remind me of early Twitter.
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
The Plot to Enslave America:
The Trump administration is revoking approval for millions of acres of ocean to be set aside for offshore wind development
Trump Yanks Millions of Acres of Ocean Designated for Wind Power
The Trump administration is revoking approval for millions of acres of ocean to be set aside for offshore wind development amid an escalating attack on the renewable power source.
bloom.bg
January 4, 2026 at 10:44 PM
The Plot to Enslave America:
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
"Without checks and balances, [social media companies] have become a little bit tyrannical, very arrogant, and completely dismissive of their impact on our society."
Our CEO @imranahmed.bsky.social in @kpbssandiego.bsky.social ⤵️
https://bit.ly/48Xjtdl
Our CEO @imranahmed.bsky.social in @kpbssandiego.bsky.social ⤵️
https://bit.ly/48Xjtdl
December 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
"Without checks and balances, [social media companies] have become a little bit tyrannical, very arrogant, and completely dismissive of their impact on our society."
Our CEO @imranahmed.bsky.social in @kpbssandiego.bsky.social ⤵️
https://bit.ly/48Xjtdl
Our CEO @imranahmed.bsky.social in @kpbssandiego.bsky.social ⤵️
https://bit.ly/48Xjtdl
It's the first year we got season tickets to the National Theatre. First up for this season: Some Like It Hot
November 30, 2025 at 6:58 PM
It's the first year we got season tickets to the National Theatre. First up for this season: Some Like It Hot
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
“I was just following otters.”
November 28, 2025 at 9:09 PM
“I was just following otters.”
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
Good night
Photo by Petr Horalek
Photo by Petr Horalek
November 13, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Good night
Photo by Petr Horalek
Photo by Petr Horalek
They should make AirPods Pro that heat up during the cold months.
November 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
They should make AirPods Pro that heat up during the cold months.
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
They say AI will replace the web as we know it, and this time they mean it. Here follows a short list of previous times they also meant it,…
https://zeldman.com/2025/10/25/receipts-a-brief-list-of-prominent-articles-proclaiming-the-death-of-the-web/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
https://zeldman.com/2025/10/25/receipts-a-brief-list-of-prominent-articles-proclaiming-the-death-of-the-web/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
November 7, 2025 at 5:04 PM
They say AI will replace the web as we know it, and this time they mean it. Here follows a short list of previous times they also meant it,…
https://zeldman.com/2025/10/25/receipts-a-brief-list-of-prominent-articles-proclaiming-the-death-of-the-web/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
https://zeldman.com/2025/10/25/receipts-a-brief-list-of-prominent-articles-proclaiming-the-death-of-the-web/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
A source familiar with this incident told me today that not only did they arrest and charge the comedy club manager, but the Latino man he was defending from ICE -- who was also arrested and whisked away -- **is also a U.S. citizen.**
It's unclear where the Latino man is now.
It's unclear where the Latino man is now.
Laugh Factory manager charged with assaulting Border Patrol agent outside Chicago comedy club last week
The night manager at the Chicago Laugh Factory has been charged with assaulting U.S. Border Patrol agent during a confrontation outside the North Side comedy club last week.
www.cbsnews.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:41 PM
A source familiar with this incident told me today that not only did they arrest and charge the comedy club manager, but the Latino man he was defending from ICE -- who was also arrested and whisked away -- **is also a U.S. citizen.**
It's unclear where the Latino man is now.
It's unclear where the Latino man is now.
🛫 Off to GitHub Universe with the whole team. Excited to see what ideas we come back with!
October 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
🛫 Off to GitHub Universe with the whole team. Excited to see what ideas we come back with!
⚠️👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀⚠️
github.com/Automattic/v...
github.com/Automattic/v...
GitHub - Automattic/vip-real-time-collaboration: A real-time collaboration WordPress plugin made by WPVIP
A real-time collaboration WordPress plugin made by WPVIP - Automattic/vip-real-time-collaboration
github.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:25 PM
⚠️👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀⚠️
github.com/Automattic/v...
github.com/Automattic/v...
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
New enshittification just dropped: Compressing old DVD releases into single-layer DVD for re-releases to save 5 cents
youtu.be/Hzz_d9Y44ZE
youtu.be/Hzz_d9Y44ZE
Some DVD re-releases got cheapened out in a weird way
YouTube video by Technology Connextras
youtu.be
October 9, 2025 at 7:48 PM
New enshittification just dropped: Compressing old DVD releases into single-layer DVD for re-releases to save 5 cents
youtu.be/Hzz_d9Y44ZE
youtu.be/Hzz_d9Y44ZE
Someone should make Flighty app for trains
September 30, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Someone should make Flighty app for trains
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
This is fucking horrifying.
A man was just chased and arrested outside of the Broadview ICE facility in Chicago. When legal observers from the National Lawyers Guild asked why, an agent threatened to arrest them too.
September 27, 2025 at 11:02 PM
This is fucking horrifying.
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
Since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, HBCUs received terroristic threats. Black students have been expelled or forced to withdraw. Black professors and teachers have been fired and placed on leave. A Black firefighter was placed on leave. A Black journalist was fired
thebarbedwire.com/2025/09/26/f...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/09/26/f...
The Free Speech Crisis for Black Americans Is Worse Than You Think
Don’t let Jimmy Kimmel’s return fool you: Black academics are more frightened of talking to the press than I’ve ever seen.
thebarbedwire.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, HBCUs received terroristic threats. Black students have been expelled or forced to withdraw. Black professors and teachers have been fired and placed on leave. A Black firefighter was placed on leave. A Black journalist was fired
thebarbedwire.com/2025/09/26/f...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/09/26/f...
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
Italy said it deployed one of its naval vessels on Wednesday to come to the aid of an aid flotilla that was targeted by drones while trying to reach Gaza, with activists claiming that Israel was behind the strikes.
Italy deploys navy ship to help Gaza aid flotilla targeted in drone attack | CNN
Italy said it deployed one of its naval vessels on Wednesday to come to the aid of an aid flotilla that was targeted by drones while trying to reach Gaza, with activists claiming that Israel was behin...
www.cnn.com
September 24, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Italy said it deployed one of its naval vessels on Wednesday to come to the aid of an aid flotilla that was targeted by drones while trying to reach Gaza, with activists claiming that Israel was behind the strikes.
Ah damn. Today’s the worst day ever. IT got wise and stopped hard wired internet access for non IT machines. Back the work the laptop 😤
September 24, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Ah damn. Today’s the worst day ever. IT got wise and stopped hard wired internet access for non IT machines. Back the work the laptop 😤
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
Depolarization is not "a scalable solution for reducing societal-level conflict.... achieving lasting depolarization will likely require....moving beyond individual-level treatments to address the elite behaviors and structural incentives that fuel partisan conflict" www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
September 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Depolarization is not "a scalable solution for reducing societal-level conflict.... achieving lasting depolarization will likely require....moving beyond individual-level treatments to address the elite behaviors and structural incentives that fuel partisan conflict" www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
NJ PBS shutting down next summer.
“15yrs ago Gov. Christie ended 4 decades of state funding for public TV, forcing them to find a new funder. The state cut $750k in funding this yr, but that was hardly the fatal blow; that came from the end of federal funds.”
newjerseyglobe.com/media/new-je...
“15yrs ago Gov. Christie ended 4 decades of state funding for public TV, forcing them to find a new funder. The state cut $750k in funding this yr, but that was hardly the fatal blow; that came from the end of federal funds.”
newjerseyglobe.com/media/new-je...
New Jersey PBS shutting down in July - New Jersey Globe
New Jersey PBS is expected to cease operations in July 2026 following WNET's decision not to renew its agreement, the New Jersey Globe has learned. The
newjerseyglobe.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:31 PM
NJ PBS shutting down next summer.
“15yrs ago Gov. Christie ended 4 decades of state funding for public TV, forcing them to find a new funder. The state cut $750k in funding this yr, but that was hardly the fatal blow; that came from the end of federal funds.”
newjerseyglobe.com/media/new-je...
“15yrs ago Gov. Christie ended 4 decades of state funding for public TV, forcing them to find a new funder. The state cut $750k in funding this yr, but that was hardly the fatal blow; that came from the end of federal funds.”
newjerseyglobe.com/media/new-je...
Pretty cool! Run AI models locally on your iOS device including Apples on device models. apps.apple.com/app/id674142...
Locally AI - Local AI Chat
Run AI models like Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and more on your iPhone and iPad. Offline. Private. No login. No data collection. Powered by Apple MLX.
Meet Locally AI, the AI app that respects your privacy....
apps.apple.com
September 20, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Pretty cool! Run AI models locally on your iOS device including Apples on device models. apps.apple.com/app/id674142...
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
The hyper normalization of extrajudicial murder is accelerating within the infrastructure of the military that is quite quite bad news for when the full weight of the military is turned inward over the coming weeks and months.
This appears to be the 3rd lethal US strike in the Caribbean.
Once again, the specific "terrorist" entity targeted is not identified.
No legal justification is offered for this premeditated killing.
President Trump is asserting a license to kill outside of the law. 1/n
Once again, the specific "terrorist" entity targeted is not identified.
No legal justification is offered for this premeditated killing.
President Trump is asserting a license to kill outside of the law. 1/n
September 20, 2025 at 2:07 AM
The hyper normalization of extrajudicial murder is accelerating within the infrastructure of the military that is quite quite bad news for when the full weight of the military is turned inward over the coming weeks and months.
Reposted by Seth Rubenstein
Social media was once positioned as the great connecting force that would improve our world. If it ever did that, it certainly isn’t now.
We must rein in these platforms, and deceptive narratives aimed at stopped regulation isn’t helping. Age restrictions are an experiment worth trying.
We must rein in these platforms, and deceptive narratives aimed at stopped regulation isn’t helping. Age restrictions are an experiment worth trying.
Social media causes more harm than good
We need to stop falling for anti-regulation hysteria if we’re to get control of digital harms
disconnect.blog
September 19, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Social media was once positioned as the great connecting force that would improve our world. If it ever did that, it certainly isn’t now.
We must rein in these platforms, and deceptive narratives aimed at stopped regulation isn’t helping. Age restrictions are an experiment worth trying.
We must rein in these platforms, and deceptive narratives aimed at stopped regulation isn’t helping. Age restrictions are an experiment worth trying.