John Dumas
@johndumas.bsky.social
Gay man. Likes art, photography, cooking. Esperanto. Science adjacent. Probably should write a better bio.
Clearly my oven gloves need to be opera length. Ouch. #kitchenMishaps
December 6, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Clearly my oven gloves need to be opera length. Ouch. #kitchenMishaps
"Willingly and enthusiastically." Seriously. The headline makes it sound like he realized one day he was in a racist chat group. "How'd I get here?" He wasn't a bystander, but one of the people making racist comments.
December 4, 2025 at 6:45 AM
"Willingly and enthusiastically." Seriously. The headline makes it sound like he realized one day he was in a racist chat group. "How'd I get here?" He wasn't a bystander, but one of the people making racist comments.
Reposted by John Dumas
New Commentary by Cory Doctorow: Show Me the Incentive, I’ll Show You the Outcome
Commentary: Cory Doctorow: Show Me the Incentive, I’ll Show You the Outcome
Who are we to blame for enshittification? That is, who is at fault for the pandemic of platform decay, in which the platforms we depend on, where we congregate, trade, perform, sell, buy, connect, …
locusmag.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
New Commentary by Cory Doctorow: Show Me the Incentive, I’ll Show You the Outcome
November 26, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by John Dumas
This is true. It is the best email I got this year.
November 26, 2025 at 9:50 PM
This is true. It is the best email I got this year.
Since pie questions are coming up, I want to speak in defense of pumpkin pie. It's the Thanksgiving dish. When Thanksgiving became a national holiday after the Civil War, Southerners weren't too keen on it. Pumpkin pie was heavy in abolitionist symbolism. Pumpkins are a good smallholder crop.
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Since pie questions are coming up, I want to speak in defense of pumpkin pie. It's the Thanksgiving dish. When Thanksgiving became a national holiday after the Civil War, Southerners weren't too keen on it. Pumpkin pie was heavy in abolitionist symbolism. Pumpkins are a good smallholder crop.
Reposted by John Dumas
Unearthed by three brothers cleaning out their late mother's attic, the copy netted $9.12 million this month at a Texas auction house which says it is the most expensive comic book ever sold. n.pr/3M5Rxfj
A rare 'Superman No. 1' comic book found in an attic fetches $9.12M
Unearthed by three brothers cleaning out their late mother's attic, the copy netted $9.12 million this month at a Texas auction house which says it is the most expensive comic book ever sold.
n.pr
November 25, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Unearthed by three brothers cleaning out their late mother's attic, the copy netted $9.12 million this month at a Texas auction house which says it is the most expensive comic book ever sold. n.pr/3M5Rxfj
While thinking about the clothes I will need for an upcoming trip to France, I realized that there is no difference in sound between "vêtements d'hiver" (winter clothing) and "vêtements divers." (IPA for "hiver" is /i.vɛʁ/ and for "divers" /di.vɛʁ/) #French
November 25, 2025 at 6:48 AM
While thinking about the clothes I will need for an upcoming trip to France, I realized that there is no difference in sound between "vêtements d'hiver" (winter clothing) and "vêtements divers." (IPA for "hiver" is /i.vɛʁ/ and for "divers" /di.vɛʁ/) #French
Reposted by John Dumas
Gorgeous colorizations of trans history images,
and a lot of incredible stories, including many lesser-known to many (A Zapatista colonel, a "transvestite pass" issued in 1928, the Scottish nobleman who the courts ruled should inherit his baronetcy in the 60s... for example...)
and a lot of incredible stories, including many lesser-known to many (A Zapatista colonel, a "transvestite pass" issued in 1928, the Scottish nobleman who the courts ruled should inherit his baronetcy in the 60s... for example...)
Coloring the Past - Eli Erlick
Using recent breakthroughs in photo editing techniques, Eli colorizes, restores, and digitizes photos from queer and trans history. The following images are originally from 1897-1973.
elierlick.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Gorgeous colorizations of trans history images,
and a lot of incredible stories, including many lesser-known to many (A Zapatista colonel, a "transvestite pass" issued in 1928, the Scottish nobleman who the courts ruled should inherit his baronetcy in the 60s... for example...)
and a lot of incredible stories, including many lesser-known to many (A Zapatista colonel, a "transvestite pass" issued in 1928, the Scottish nobleman who the courts ruled should inherit his baronetcy in the 60s... for example...)
How could anyone had predicted such a thing, other than by reading the many articles the @nytimes.com has published in which we heard of people who were lead by AI bots into mental breakdown or suicide?
Almost as soon as a consumer advocacy group began testing an A.I.-enabled toy bear, trouble began. Instead of chatting about homework or bedtime, testers said it sometimes spoke of knives and sexual topics. They warned that toys like it could allow children to stray into inappropriate exchanges.
A.I. Toy Bear Speaks of Sex, Knives and Pills, Consumer Group Warns
The chatter left startled adults unsure whether they heard correctly. Testers warned that interactive toys like this one could allow children to stray into inappropriate exchanges.
nyti.ms
November 23, 2025 at 6:43 AM
How could anyone had predicted such a thing, other than by reading the many articles the @nytimes.com has published in which we heard of people who were lead by AI bots into mental breakdown or suicide?
I've spent more time today reading an old Agatha Christie novel than reading the news, because it's easier to deal with the murder of Roger Ackroyd (don't tell who's responsible) than the murder of American democracy (we know who's responsible).
November 23, 2025 at 1:26 AM
I've spent more time today reading an old Agatha Christie novel than reading the news, because it's easier to deal with the murder of Roger Ackroyd (don't tell who's responsible) than the murder of American democracy (we know who's responsible).
We watched the first episode of "Pluribus," and we enjoyed it immensely, Carol.
November 12, 2025 at 6:02 AM
We watched the first episode of "Pluribus," and we enjoyed it immensely, Carol.
It’s so obvious. The Republicans won’t go for one year on the ACA subsidies?
Speak out loudly. Go to the press. Tell them that the NEW negotiation point is TWO years of ACA subsidies.
Speak out loudly. Go to the press. Tell them that the NEW negotiation point is TWO years of ACA subsidies.
November 10, 2025 at 4:32 AM
It’s so obvious. The Republicans won’t go for one year on the ACA subsidies?
Speak out loudly. Go to the press. Tell them that the NEW negotiation point is TWO years of ACA subsidies.
Speak out loudly. Go to the press. Tell them that the NEW negotiation point is TWO years of ACA subsidies.
Life when you’re married to a professor. Word has it that the spec midterm was “epic.”
November 10, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Life when you’re married to a professor. Word has it that the spec midterm was “epic.”
Reposted by John Dumas
I don't use AI for the same reason I don't eat tapeworms... I don't like parasites.
November 8, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I don't use AI for the same reason I don't eat tapeworms... I don't like parasites.
Reposted by John Dumas
"Misused Apostrophes: Most souls on this level are cursed to endlessly hunt for things that they mistakenly stated belonged to someone or something. Where is Kid’s party? What about Nacho’s $5.75? This entire level has lost it's way."
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/dan...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/dan...
Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell, Reimagined for Linguistic Transgressions
First Circle (Limbo): Autocorrect Here wander the otherwise virtuous souls who were forced into grievous errors by autocorrect programs. They sit ...
www.mcsweeneys.net
November 7, 2025 at 2:27 AM
"Misused Apostrophes: Most souls on this level are cursed to endlessly hunt for things that they mistakenly stated belonged to someone or something. Where is Kid’s party? What about Nacho’s $5.75? This entire level has lost it's way."
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/dan...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/dan...
Reposted by John Dumas
"We all saw the way your disciples looked at us. 'Oh, hey, a bunch of hicks,' they said to themselves. “Let’s give them the usual. Bet they live off of junk food anyway.” That sort of holier-than-thou attitude isn’t doing you any favors."
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand, but the Five Thousand Are Gluten Free
No, of course we appreciate the gesture. It’s just that, well, this menu is a little inconsiderate. Sure, all these loaves of bread, that’s very im...
buff.ly
November 6, 2025 at 2:40 AM
"We all saw the way your disciples looked at us. 'Oh, hey, a bunch of hicks,' they said to themselves. “Let’s give them the usual. Bet they live off of junk food anyway.” That sort of holier-than-thou attitude isn’t doing you any favors."
Reposted by John Dumas
November 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Halloween challah horrors!
I bought a bread mixer, but even after an extended kneading, my dough was still glop. Fortunately, I do know how to hand knead. The bread went up a bit late, but it's looks okay.
I bought a bread mixer, but even after an extended kneading, my dough was still glop. Fortunately, I do know how to hand knead. The bread went up a bit late, but it's looks okay.
November 1, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Halloween challah horrors!
I bought a bread mixer, but even after an extended kneading, my dough was still glop. Fortunately, I do know how to hand knead. The bread went up a bit late, but it's looks okay.
I bought a bread mixer, but even after an extended kneading, my dough was still glop. Fortunately, I do know how to hand knead. The bread went up a bit late, but it's looks okay.
October 29, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Reposted by John Dumas
Will be on MSNBC at 3 pm to discuss Kim Davis' zombie SCOTUS appeal, which the justices will consider at conference next week. slate.com/news-and-pol...
The Sudden Panic That SCOTUS Might Overturn Marriage Equality Misses the Real Threat
Kim Davis’ case will not be the vehicle the court uses to eradicate the equal dignity of same-sex couples.
slate.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Will be on MSNBC at 3 pm to discuss Kim Davis' zombie SCOTUS appeal, which the justices will consider at conference next week. slate.com/news-and-pol...
In a moment of nostalgia, I bought some NECCO wafers last year. I found myself thinking "are those even good any more." Turns out the rolls are dated best by May 23, 2027.
October 28, 2025 at 6:28 AM
In a moment of nostalgia, I bought some NECCO wafers last year. I found myself thinking "are those even good any more." Turns out the rolls are dated best by May 23, 2027.
I recently found that they released a 50th-anniversary release of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with the option of watching the movie in black-and-white up to when the doors open during "The Time Warp."
It hits differently in black-and-white. I noticed things I hadn't noticed before.
It hits differently in black-and-white. I noticed things I hadn't noticed before.
October 26, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I recently found that they released a 50th-anniversary release of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with the option of watching the movie in black-and-white up to when the doors open during "The Time Warp."
It hits differently in black-and-white. I noticed things I hadn't noticed before.
It hits differently in black-and-white. I noticed things I hadn't noticed before.