Chris Alfano
@themightychris.bsky.social
I'm just over here tryina help avert the next great filter where MBAs and concentrated tech optimize us all into grey goo...
#civictech #publictransit #opensource #govcapacity
#civictech #publictransit #opensource #govcapacity
Are any entrepreneurs out there working on designing power outlets for planes that work?
September 18, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Are any entrepreneurs out there working on designing power outlets for planes that work?
So UPS's "brokerage service" is to 4x the tariff??!
September 16, 2025 at 10:12 PM
So UPS's "brokerage service" is to 4x the tariff??!
Just listened to Stolen Focus
Deleting Threads for real this time
Bluesky fam gimme some likes I need a hit
Deleting Threads for real this time
Bluesky fam gimme some likes I need a hit
September 2, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Just listened to Stolen Focus
Deleting Threads for real this time
Bluesky fam gimme some likes I need a hit
Deleting Threads for real this time
Bluesky fam gimme some likes I need a hit
Reposted by Chris Alfano
Hunter Biden has a point. And a quite colorful one.
July 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Hunter Biden has a point. And a quite colorful one.
how is it 2025 and UPS/FedEx still can't just have an app that gives you a push notification when the truck is ~15 mins out and then shows you it on a map
"out for delivery between 7am and 7pm" really???
"out for delivery between 7am and 7pm" really???
July 9, 2025 at 2:53 PM
how is it 2025 and UPS/FedEx still can't just have an app that gives you a push notification when the truck is ~15 mins out and then shows you it on a map
"out for delivery between 7am and 7pm" really???
"out for delivery between 7am and 7pm" really???
*puts on old man hat*
Back in MY day water dispensers had REAL buttons!
Back in MY day water dispensers had REAL buttons!
June 27, 2025 at 7:52 PM
*puts on old man hat*
Back in MY day water dispensers had REAL buttons!
Back in MY day water dispensers had REAL buttons!
TFW you're investigating a bunch of random service issues and nothing makes sense, and then you check the cloud platform status page and everything is red and not your problem
June 12, 2025 at 7:45 PM
TFW you're investigating a bunch of random service issues and nothing makes sense, and then you check the cloud platform status page and everything is red and not your problem
HyperCard is what first got me into coding, RIP
HyperCard is one of the earliest intros to programming I ever had, before I really knew what programming meant.
The story of Atkinson writing HyperCard after an LSD trip is the main reason my netstack is called "Ergot".
RIP to a real one.
The story of Atkinson writing HyperCard after an LSD trip is the main reason my netstack is called "Ergot".
RIP to a real one.
June 8, 2025 at 11:40 PM
HyperCard is what first got me into coding, RIP
June 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Let's be sure to cast blame where it's due—I doubt anyone who works for TRB wanted to do this—our fascist federal administration has a gun to their heads and they're forced to figure out how to keep as much of the work going as possible
TRB is dissolving all committees. This wasn't unexpected, but they're couching it in a technocratic need to "get back to basics" and ease administrative burden when in fact it's a great big shit sandwich that we're all expected to eat and not make a fuss about.
June 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Let's be sure to cast blame where it's due—I doubt anyone who works for TRB wanted to do this—our fascist federal administration has a gun to their heads and they're forced to figure out how to keep as much of the work going as possible
Reposted by Chris Alfano
TRB is dissolving all committees. This wasn't unexpected, but they're couching it in a technocratic need to "get back to basics" and ease administrative burden when in fact it's a great big shit sandwich that we're all expected to eat and not make a fuss about.
June 1, 2025 at 11:46 AM
TRB is dissolving all committees. This wasn't unexpected, but they're couching it in a technocratic need to "get back to basics" and ease administrative burden when in fact it's a great big shit sandwich that we're all expected to eat and not make a fuss about.
Reposted by Chris Alfano
Next week's May 28th ride starts at the northernmost fountain of the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial, just up the SRT from Boathouse Row. Last year we started in one of the plazas, but they all have steps, not great for bikes
May 22, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Next week's May 28th ride starts at the northernmost fountain of the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial, just up the SRT from Boathouse Row. Last year we started in one of the plazas, but they all have steps, not great for bikes
Reposted by Chris Alfano
Work requirements are welfare for Deloitte.
May 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Work requirements are welfare for Deloitte.
If you want to understand why tech billionaires and Christian Nationalists have teamed up to sew chaos and disorder in the US government, this video is a great primer on the force that's uniting them: youtu.be/NAy17cK2Xw4
The Ideology Behind The End Of Democracy
YouTube video by Leeja Miller
youtu.be
May 22, 2025 at 3:02 PM
If you want to understand why tech billionaires and Christian Nationalists have teamed up to sew chaos and disorder in the US government, this video is a great primer on the force that's uniting them: youtu.be/NAy17cK2Xw4
Reposted by Chris Alfano
Thinking of our TTS colleagues today. 💙
"DOGE has already dismantled two of the federal government’s key tech brain trusts—the U.S. Digital Service and 18F (the latter of which is housed within TTS)—and now appears to be stripping TTS itself of its resources and purpose."
"DOGE has already dismantled two of the federal government’s key tech brain trusts—the U.S. Digital Service and 18F (the latter of which is housed within TTS)—and now appears to be stripping TTS itself of its resources and purpose."
DOGE just announced more layoffs at TTS, the government's vaunted tech group, sources say
Elon Musk’s group is accomplishing its goals in part by creating dysfunction and paralysis within government agencies, insiders say.
www.fastcompany.com
April 11, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Thinking of our TTS colleagues today. 💙
"DOGE has already dismantled two of the federal government’s key tech brain trusts—the U.S. Digital Service and 18F (the latter of which is housed within TTS)—and now appears to be stripping TTS itself of its resources and purpose."
"DOGE has already dismantled two of the federal government’s key tech brain trusts—the U.S. Digital Service and 18F (the latter of which is housed within TTS)—and now appears to be stripping TTS itself of its resources and purpose."
Reposted by Chris Alfano
was challenged by a friend a few weeks back to lay out what I mean when I talk about "raising the floor" in the context of government tech - uh which I do, a lot. I think I've got it tied down to 5 things, wanna see em? I'm interested if this resonates.
April 1, 2025 at 3:58 AM
was challenged by a friend a few weeks back to lay out what I mean when I talk about "raising the floor" in the context of government tech - uh which I do, a lot. I think I've got it tied down to 5 things, wanna see em? I'm interested if this resonates.
Reposted by Chris Alfano
So look at that. DOGE has cost the US Treasury fucking half a trillion dollars. HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS. This is your cost savings.
To review what we from @washingtonpost.com are reporting out of the IRS today:
- Projected tax revenue this year is down 10% ($500 billion) as Trump's downsizing is emboldening tax cheats
- IRS is nearing an agreement with ICE to assist on mass deportations
- Projected tax revenue this year is down 10% ($500 billion) as Trump's downsizing is emboldening tax cheats
- IRS is nearing an agreement with ICE to assist on mass deportations
March 22, 2025 at 9:20 PM
So look at that. DOGE has cost the US Treasury fucking half a trillion dollars. HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS. This is your cost savings.
Reposted by Chris Alfano
All you need to know about Twitter
March 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
All you need to know about Twitter
Reposted by Chris Alfano
Figured I’d hop on here today for the 15th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.
With everything going on right now, it’s easy to feel like regular folks can’t make a difference – but the ACA is a reminder that change is possible when we fight for progress.
With everything going on right now, it’s easy to feel like regular folks can’t make a difference – but the ACA is a reminder that change is possible when we fight for progress.
March 23, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Figured I’d hop on here today for the 15th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.
With everything going on right now, it’s easy to feel like regular folks can’t make a difference – but the ACA is a reminder that change is possible when we fight for progress.
With everything going on right now, it’s easy to feel like regular folks can’t make a difference – but the ACA is a reminder that change is possible when we fight for progress.
Reposted by Chris Alfano
FASCINATING
This is absurdly great, but I haven't read a single news article about it. A fully open source, offline-first alternative to Notion that's a collab between the French and German governments because they want to host docs securely and on their own terms. THIS is what Europe should be doing.
Docs
Docs: Your new companion to collaborate on documents efficiently, intuitively, and securely.
docs.numerique.gouv.fr
March 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
FASCINATING
Reposted by Chris Alfano
A few points about DOGE's destruction of 18F open.substack.com/pub/theconne... (1/n)
Breaking Government in Order to "Fix" It
Why the destruction of 18F, the digital services arm of GSA, is so telling--plus what Elon Musk is really after. Plus, the Democratic Party's tech debt is no longer a insider secret.
open.substack.com
March 6, 2025 at 1:41 AM
A few points about DOGE's destruction of 18F open.substack.com/pub/theconne... (1/n)
Reposted by Chris Alfano
What we're seeing borne out of DOGE now is panic as the realization sets in that they can't suddenly 'fix' all the digital services the government relies on.
These things go slow because they're really really REALLY complex systems. They are not something you can fix overnight.
These things go slow because they're really really REALLY complex systems. They are not something you can fix overnight.
March 10, 2025 at 8:21 PM
What we're seeing borne out of DOGE now is panic as the realization sets in that they can't suddenly 'fix' all the digital services the government relies on.
These things go slow because they're really really REALLY complex systems. They are not something you can fix overnight.
These things go slow because they're really really REALLY complex systems. They are not something you can fix overnight.
JFC... From Feb 3 to March 11... I can't even
March 11, 2025 at 4:23 AM
JFC... From Feb 3 to March 11... I can't even
Reposted by Chris Alfano
Volunteer fire departments are having a hell of a time finding volunteers, and I think this is a big part of why. How the heck does anybody have the time and energy to volunteer for regular shifts?
What Putnam misses is that we're struggling to form community because we've been forced to DIY society. Without unions or a decent safety net, most Americans are caught in precarity and have to put so much energy into paid work and unpaid care for family that they have nothing left for community.
March 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Volunteer fire departments are having a hell of a time finding volunteers, and I think this is a big part of why. How the heck does anybody have the time and energy to volunteer for regular shifts?