J “Still Spooky” Marotta
@jmarotta.bsky.social
Very angry nerd. Texas based.
All opinions my own, and I stand by them usually.
All opinions my own, and I stand by them usually.
I used to sing Birdhouse In Your Soul to my now 14 year old at bedtime, while in the crib. It’s a special song to me, too.
Basic as hell but two grad program friends of mine got married with a (not live) beautiful string quartet version of Birdhouse in Your Soul as the processional and so in addition to it being a genuinely lovely song it will always be special to me for that reason
Name your fav They Might Be Giants song.
November 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I used to sing Birdhouse In Your Soul to my now 14 year old at bedtime, while in the crib. It’s a special song to me, too.
As they turn the crank to lower the coffin, the coffin will get stuck midway through.
“Dammit, this thing never works,” the cemetery workers will mutter.
“Dammit, this thing never works,” the cemetery workers will mutter.
R.I.P. Burt Meyer, toymaker who brought us Mouse Trap, Lite-Brite, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, and more
One of his designs, Lite-Brite, sits in the National Toy Hall of Fame. The toymaker was 99 years old.
metv.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
As they turn the crank to lower the coffin, the coffin will get stuck midway through.
“Dammit, this thing never works,” the cemetery workers will mutter.
“Dammit, this thing never works,” the cemetery workers will mutter.
I’m not saying this as a “wow, look how awesome the technology is”. I want to point out what uses could be made of large scale ML, and yet our overlords choose not to do that.
Just imagine.
This same type of technology could potentially be used to scan bridges or cars to find structural defects.
It could be used to section biopsies a little better. Or identify crop blights in a large field.
This same type of technology could potentially be used to scan bridges or cars to find structural defects.
It could be used to section biopsies a little better. Or identify crop blights in a large field.
November 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I’m not saying this as a “wow, look how awesome the technology is”. I want to point out what uses could be made of large scale ML, and yet our overlords choose not to do that.
I’m way more excited than I thought I’d be because my wife comes back home tonight. I get to have a whole week hanging out with all my favorite people.
November 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I’m way more excited than I thought I’d be because my wife comes back home tonight. I get to have a whole week hanging out with all my favorite people.
*Stares in doctoral program dropout*
“You can be whatever you want to be when you grow up!”, so damaging to so many folks (and we’re all living in the wreckage)
Journalism is not for everybody.
November 22, 2025 at 1:09 PM
*Stares in doctoral program dropout*
I’m enjoying it, and also enjoying the idea that some trump’s most ardent followers are going to need to resolve some hefty cognitive dissonance after this meeting.
I don't think you need to think there will be long term shifts in Trump's policies or behavior (there won't be) to enjoy what just happened, sometimes it's good to enjoy things that are funny in the moment
November 21, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I’m enjoying it, and also enjoying the idea that some trump’s most ardent followers are going to need to resolve some hefty cognitive dissonance after this meeting.
The cat groomer rescheduled once, tried to reschedule a second time, and is now trying to talk me out of getting the cat shaved.
I’d be more open to the lower level shaving if she didn’t try to reschedule and I hadn’t already paid for it.
I’d be more open to the lower level shaving if she didn’t try to reschedule and I hadn’t already paid for it.
November 21, 2025 at 10:50 PM
The cat groomer rescheduled once, tried to reschedule a second time, and is now trying to talk me out of getting the cat shaved.
I’d be more open to the lower level shaving if she didn’t try to reschedule and I hadn’t already paid for it.
I’d be more open to the lower level shaving if she didn’t try to reschedule and I hadn’t already paid for it.
If there’s one thing that might bring me back to mass, it’s the incredibly remote possibility that this pope (specifically) will throw a rave for my birthday.
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 21, 2025 at 10:37 PM
If there’s one thing that might bring me back to mass, it’s the incredibly remote possibility that this pope (specifically) will throw a rave for my birthday.
You’ll never guess what just happened while I’m eating lunch and wearing The Shirt That I Always Spill Food On While Eating Lunch.
November 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
You’ll never guess what just happened while I’m eating lunch and wearing The Shirt That I Always Spill Food On While Eating Lunch.
“Why don’t you just shut the fuck up?”
November 21, 2025 at 3:04 PM
“Why don’t you just shut the fuck up?”
If I ever run into past Joe, I’m grabbing him by the shoulders and staring him deep in the eyes before a big slap to the face yelling “get confident, stupid!”
Update: it was bad and hurt my feelings. Thank you past Cheru, you goofy bitch.
In other news, I made a bad decision today that will likely haunt me later
November 21, 2025 at 1:28 PM
If I ever run into past Joe, I’m grabbing him by the shoulders and staring him deep in the eyes before a big slap to the face yelling “get confident, stupid!”
The Princess Bride, obviously
Fright Night
The Explorers (or The Last Starfighter; I’m split)
The Thing
Fright Night
The Explorers (or The Last Starfighter; I’m split)
The Thing
Name your top 4 80s films.
November 21, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The Princess Bride, obviously
Fright Night
The Explorers (or The Last Starfighter; I’m split)
The Thing
Fright Night
The Explorers (or The Last Starfighter; I’m split)
The Thing
Reposted by J “Still Spooky” Marotta
happy trans day of remembrance. you are beautifully and wonderfully made and I will never stop fighting for you. the world is better because you are in it
November 20, 2025 at 11:54 PM
happy trans day of remembrance. you are beautifully and wonderfully made and I will never stop fighting for you. the world is better because you are in it
Getting high on my own supply (eating beef jerky that I made at home)
November 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Getting high on my own supply (eating beef jerky that I made at home)
I’m reading this article and this line:
“Bock’s son also worked for Trump for a time as a fact-checker in the White House speechwriting office.”
While extremely not the point, stood out.
How do I get that job? It must be the easiest way to earn a living.
“Bock’s son also worked for Trump for a time as a fact-checker in the White House speechwriting office.”
While extremely not the point, stood out.
How do I get that job? It must be the easiest way to earn a living.
How Riley Gaines transformed herself from college swimmer to Regina George of the MAGA movement
How right-wing superstar Riley Gaines built an anti-trans empire
The swimmer tied a trans woman for fifth. The MAGA industrial complex took care of the rest.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I’m reading this article and this line:
“Bock’s son also worked for Trump for a time as a fact-checker in the White House speechwriting office.”
While extremely not the point, stood out.
How do I get that job? It must be the easiest way to earn a living.
“Bock’s son also worked for Trump for a time as a fact-checker in the White House speechwriting office.”
While extremely not the point, stood out.
How do I get that job? It must be the easiest way to earn a living.
At least on of the “here’s what’s happening this weekend” email shows me stuff from Tucson, a place I haven’t lived in 16 years.
Follow me for some recommendations on what’s going on at the Rialto!
Follow me for some recommendations on what’s going on at the Rialto!
November 19, 2025 at 10:46 PM
At least on of the “here’s what’s happening this weekend” email shows me stuff from Tucson, a place I haven’t lived in 16 years.
Follow me for some recommendations on what’s going on at the Rialto!
Follow me for some recommendations on what’s going on at the Rialto!
They’re playing my song!
True dudes recognize that a brittle and hostile patriarchy hurts *everyone*, and by becoming better, kinder, gentler, wiser, they uplift not only themselves but marginalized communities as well, in a cycle of healing
November 19, 2025 at 10:42 PM
They’re playing my song!
Oh I think my roommate in college got this catalog.
November 19, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Oh I think my roommate in college got this catalog.
Song: Your Retro Career Melted, 2001
The Faint, Album: Danse Macabre
The Faint, Album: Danse Macabre
you're telling me these mannequins are reclaimed
November 19, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Song: Your Retro Career Melted, 2001
The Faint, Album: Danse Macabre
The Faint, Album: Danse Macabre
Someday maybe I’ll tell the story of my job interview at Theranos, if I haven’t already.
Juicero!
If I hadn’t been there to see it — it was being demoed at a conference I attended — I would have thought it was something Mike Judge invented for “Silicon Valley.”
If I hadn’t been there to see it — it was being demoed at a conference I attended — I would have thought it was something Mike Judge invented for “Silicon Valley.”
From the people who brought you the financial crisis, Theranos, and Juicero: say hello to data center financial engineering!
I'm pretty nervous about this ending badly, but everyone's dug in because AI is the only pulse in the economy.
prospect.org/2025/11/19/a...
I'm pretty nervous about this ending badly, but everyone's dug in because AI is the only pulse in the economy.
prospect.org/2025/11/19/a...
November 19, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Someday maybe I’ll tell the story of my job interview at Theranos, if I haven’t already.
This is what I aspire to as a dad, but I will never, under any circumstances, call myself an alpha. Even if it’s the scientifically accurate model.
Whereas the top wolves are basically just acting like parents and making sure everybody’s got food and letting the cubs crawl all over them.
Honestly, the most wolf-like people around are mom friends and the dads who check your oil and sneak jumper cables into your trunk.
Honestly, the most wolf-like people around are mom friends and the dads who check your oil and sneak jumper cables into your trunk.
November 19, 2025 at 2:17 PM
This is what I aspire to as a dad, but I will never, under any circumstances, call myself an alpha. Even if it’s the scientifically accurate model.
She’s looking regal tonight.
November 19, 2025 at 3:12 AM
She’s looking regal tonight.
No no that’s the dessert beef jerky.
Here is the breakfast beef jerky.
Here is the breakfast beef jerky.
November 19, 2025 at 3:00 AM
No no that’s the dessert beef jerky.
Here is the breakfast beef jerky.
Here is the breakfast beef jerky.
He desired desire.
I desire a spicy chicken sandwich, with crunchy lettuce, a just-ripe tomato, and the perfect amount of mayo. And a side of seasoned curly fries.
We are not the same.
I desire a spicy chicken sandwich, with crunchy lettuce, a just-ripe tomato, and the perfect amount of mayo. And a side of seasoned curly fries.
We are not the same.
November 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
He desired desire.
I desire a spicy chicken sandwich, with crunchy lettuce, a just-ripe tomato, and the perfect amount of mayo. And a side of seasoned curly fries.
We are not the same.
I desire a spicy chicken sandwich, with crunchy lettuce, a just-ripe tomato, and the perfect amount of mayo. And a side of seasoned curly fries.
We are not the same.
Again, Mike, if you need a hobby, I think there’s room for one more in my gaming group. We’re about to start a Shadowrun campaign, so it’s a great time to join.
We’re already have a decker and a couple of magic users, so a tank or a rigger would really help complete the party.
We’re already have a decker and a couple of magic users, so a tank or a rigger would really help complete the party.
What is Mike Collier thinking running for Lt Gov as an independent? It sounds like some of the Democrats who worked his past campaigns are very concerned & could speak out about how he may complicate the party's chances in what could be a great year for them
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
Up in Smoke? Not So Fast
Podcast Episode · Quorum Report Radio · 11/17/2025 · 56m
podcasts.apple.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Again, Mike, if you need a hobby, I think there’s room for one more in my gaming group. We’re about to start a Shadowrun campaign, so it’s a great time to join.
We’re already have a decker and a couple of magic users, so a tank or a rigger would really help complete the party.
We’re already have a decker and a couple of magic users, so a tank or a rigger would really help complete the party.