Ellen Spertus
LightNews LightNews
banner
ellenspertus.bsky.social
Ellen Spertus
@ellenspertus.bsky.social
220 followers 690 following 36 posts
Computer science professor at #Khoury College of Computer Science at #NortheasternUniversity, formerly Mills College #Google #AppInventor #Mozilla #Code.org #MIT #Microsoft. #CSed #feminist #SanFrancisco #Oakland
Posts Replies Media Videos
ellenspertus.bsky.social
I joined fellow Jewish protesters on #YomKippur outside the offices of @schiff.senate.gov and @padilla.senate.gov, urging them to support the next resolution to ban arm sales to #Israel. We went next to the Israeli consulate, to urge immediate delivery of food and medicine to #Gaza. #BreakTheFast
A group of 14 protesters in downtown San Francisco holding signs reading "War has no winners", "BREAK THE FAST", "Food to Gaza", "JEWS SAY BREAK THE FAST" and "JEWS AGAINST STARVATION". Bags of packaged food on the sidewalk in front of a metal grid with signs reading "BREAK THE FAST", "Food to Gaza", "JEWS AGAINST STARVATION", "FASTING Should be a CHOICE", and "NEVER AGAIN for anyone". Two additional signs have illustrations. One has the text "CEASEFIRE" and a drawing of a grieving woman in a khimar holding a young child. Another sign says "AID NOW" and has a drawing of a dove carrying a bag of food.
October 3, 2025 at 12:58 AM
ellenspertus.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2457...
Setting: Man (M) and woman (W) talking at a cocktail party. M: What do you research? W: Worm holes. M: I've always wondered, what lies at the other end? W: Usually a worm W: I'm a zoologist @Twisteddoodles
December 11, 2024 at 4:17 AM
ellenspertus.bsky.social
Why is there a road sign for snakes watching a large-screen TV?
Diamond shaped road sign with yellow-orange background and black foreground showing two squiggly lines below structure with large base framing shoulders and head of human being. This structure is actually a car above squiggly lines and means "slippery when wet".
November 24, 2024 at 3:33 PM
ellenspertus.bsky.social
My state senator Scott Wiener sent a hilariously outraged letter to the DMV protesting their abbreviating "San Francisco" on driver's licenses to "San Fran". x.com/Scott_Wiener...
Letter on California State Senate stationery from Senstor Scott Wiener to Steve Gordon, DIrector of Motor Vehilces, Sacramento. Re: Slander against San Francisco on California Driver's Licenses Dear Director Gordon: It has recently come to my attention that DMV has issued a series of driver's licenses to San Francisco residents containing upsetting references to the City that no self-respecting San Franciscan would ever use -- as in truly never. Though DMV issues thoustands of correct licenses every month, my constituents report that in recent months, at least half a dozen licenses were issued that list addresses in "San Fran."... San Franciscans are gentle people, but the flowers in our hair come out quickly when The City is so egregiously misnamed. One lifelong resident, upon learning that her daughter had received one of the offending licenses, promptly advised the youg woman to "burn it.".... For the record, the following are acceptable ways to refer to San Francisco: * San Francisco (preferred) * SF * The City * City by the Bay * Best City In The World * Frisco (only by deeply authentic San Francisco natives, who know exactly whether they fit in this category -- if you don't know whether you are in this category, then you are not) I urge DMV to take swift action to correct this grave injustice so that my constituents can return to peacefully sittin' on the dock of the Bay. [Footnote: Technically Otis Redding wrote "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" on Bill Graham's houseboat in Sausalito, but still.] Thank you for your anticipated prompt action. Sincerely, Scott Wiener (signed) Scott Wiener Senator for the City by the Bay
October 31, 2024 at 4:13 AM