John Shortess
@johnshortess.bsky.social
I lead developer teams that use Drupal and open source to help make peoples’ lives better. Public media alum/fan. Recovering Louisianan. Proud PFLAG dad. Space nerd. Unrepentant Pokémon Go addict. Occasional musician/photographer/astrophotographer.
N: Reykjavik, Iceland
S: Key West, Florida, USA
E: Pompeii, Italy
W: Skagway, Alaska, USA
S: Key West, Florida, USA
E: Pompeii, Italy
W: Skagway, Alaska, USA
N: Amsterdam, Netherlands
S: St. Maarten and St. Thomas
E: Heidelberg, Germany
W: Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii, USA
S: St. Maarten and St. Thomas
E: Heidelberg, Germany
W: Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii, USA
actually!
Furthest I've been:
N: London, England
S: Oranjestad, Aruba
E: Amalfi, Italy
W: Seattle, WA
Furthest I've been:
N: London, England
S: Oranjestad, Aruba
E: Amalfi, Italy
W: Seattle, WA
August 8, 2025 at 1:13 AM
N: Reykjavik, Iceland
S: Key West, Florida, USA
E: Pompeii, Italy
W: Skagway, Alaska, USA
S: Key West, Florida, USA
E: Pompeii, Italy
W: Skagway, Alaska, USA
Reposted by John Shortess
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
July 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
Using only a restaurant, tell us where you went to college.
July 24, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Using only a restaurant, tell us where you went to college.
post an unusual sign if you feel like it
June 27, 2025 at 4:45 PM
post an unusual sign if you feel like it
Back in 1992 I gave John Lithgow and his son directions during an event I was working in Harvard Yard. A third of a century and one supremely unfortunate casting announcement later, I wish I'd get another opportunity to tell him where to go.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
June 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Back in 1992 I gave John Lithgow and his son directions during an event I was working in Harvard Yard. A third of a century and one supremely unfortunate casting announcement later, I wish I'd get another opportunity to tell him where to go.
Reposted by John Shortess
Hey, did you know there's an alternative to ChatGPT that makes sense economically and doesn't destroy the environment?
It's called English majors and they will happily fix all of your documents for the low price of health insurance and a living wage.
It's called English majors and they will happily fix all of your documents for the low price of health insurance and a living wage.
April 14, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Hey, did you know there's an alternative to ChatGPT that makes sense economically and doesn't destroy the environment?
It's called English majors and they will happily fix all of your documents for the low price of health insurance and a living wage.
It's called English majors and they will happily fix all of your documents for the low price of health insurance and a living wage.
I almost forgot! Happy Cheese Weasel Day to all the geeks celebrating today!
April 4, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I almost forgot! Happy Cheese Weasel Day to all the geeks celebrating today!
Reposted by John Shortess
A big part of the problem is stupid people have been convinced by rich people that AI is God, when AI is closer to an automatic dog food dispenser.
March 19, 2025 at 5:57 PM
A big part of the problem is stupid people have been convinced by rich people that AI is God, when AI is closer to an automatic dog food dispenser.
Reposted by John Shortess
the death of 18F/USDS is much sadder than losing something like direct file. USDS grew out of the team that helped fix healthcare.gov, and was a team dedicated towards recruiting tech talent to taking on deeply complicated tech debt in the government.
The loss of USDS is an end of an era.
The loss of USDS is an end of an era.
February 4, 2025 at 12:49 AM
the death of 18F/USDS is much sadder than losing something like direct file. USDS grew out of the team that helped fix healthcare.gov, and was a team dedicated towards recruiting tech talent to taking on deeply complicated tech debt in the government.
The loss of USDS is an end of an era.
The loss of USDS is an end of an era.
Mid-50s here. For people you're close to -- parents, siblings, children, chosen family -- make time to regularly keep in touch. Even if you don't have time. Especially if you don't have time. Say I love you when you talk to them. You never know which conversation is going to be the last one.
people over 30 quote this with some life advice for the rest of us?
January 30, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Mid-50s here. For people you're close to -- parents, siblings, children, chosen family -- make time to regularly keep in touch. Even if you don't have time. Especially if you don't have time. Say I love you when you talk to them. You never know which conversation is going to be the last one.
It's been a seriously unfun week for multiple reasons, but this was seven and a half minutes of pure delight. Okay, fifteen... I've watched it twice now. So far. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDxY...
Ladies & Gentlemen...50 Years of SNL Music | Official Preview | Peacock Original - SNL Fanatic
YouTube video by SNL Fanatic
www.youtube.com
January 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
It's been a seriously unfun week for multiple reasons, but this was seven and a half minutes of pure delight. Okay, fifteen... I've watched it twice now. So far. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDxY...
"Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole."
-- David Lynch, 1946-2025
-- David Lynch, 1946-2025
January 16, 2025 at 6:53 PM
"Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole."
-- David Lynch, 1946-2025
-- David Lynch, 1946-2025
Another recommendation for One More Page. Also pay A Thousand Stories in Herndon a visit before they close on 12/21!
My favorite indie shops:
- One More Page Books, Falls Church VA www.onemorepagebooks.com
- Old Town Books, Alexandria VA oldtownbooks.com
- Star Cat Books, Bradford VT starcatbooks.com
- Northshire Books, Saratoga Springs NY www.northshire.com/saratoga-spr...
- One More Page Books, Falls Church VA www.onemorepagebooks.com
- Old Town Books, Alexandria VA oldtownbooks.com
- Star Cat Books, Bradford VT starcatbooks.com
- Northshire Books, Saratoga Springs NY www.northshire.com/saratoga-spr...
Here's your daily reminder that bookstores keep the love of reading alive — but they also keep neighborhoods beautiful. They are places to gather, to celebrate stories, to find community.
Please do your holiday shopping at your local independent bookstore, if you are lucky enough to still have one.
Please do your holiday shopping at your local independent bookstore, if you are lucky enough to still have one.
December 5, 2024 at 3:34 AM
Another recommendation for One More Page. Also pay A Thousand Stories in Herndon a visit before they close on 12/21!
Reposted by John Shortess
Dune has the same plot as the Westminster Dog Show: After generations of careful breeding, we have produced this perfect little freak of nature and now it has behavioral issues
Mom: Let's pick out a Christmas movie to watch on Thanksgiving. Which one do you guys want to watch?
Family (in unison): DUNE!
Family (in unison): DUNE!
November 29, 2024 at 7:40 PM
Dune has the same plot as the Westminster Dog Show: After generations of careful breeding, we have produced this perfect little freak of nature and now it has behavioral issues
Reposted by John Shortess
With a fully remote team of just 20 employees, Bluesky has surpassed 20 million users in its first year since opening to the public and is stealing thunder from rivals hundreds of times its size.
At a time when conventional wisdom among bosses is that workers must be in-person to be productive.
At a time when conventional wisdom among bosses is that workers must be in-person to be productive.
November 20, 2024 at 4:16 PM
With a fully remote team of just 20 employees, Bluesky has surpassed 20 million users in its first year since opening to the public and is stealing thunder from rivals hundreds of times its size.
At a time when conventional wisdom among bosses is that workers must be in-person to be productive.
At a time when conventional wisdom among bosses is that workers must be in-person to be productive.
Reposted by John Shortess
Okay y’all I need to say that I Do Not Like the folks “shaming” Elon Musk by writing a feminine form of his name or referring to him as Trump’s “wife.” Please find a way to disparage him that does not rely on your reader being misogynistic and/or transphobic. There are many options. Thank you.
November 13, 2024 at 6:25 AM
Okay y’all I need to say that I Do Not Like the folks “shaming” Elon Musk by writing a feminine form of his name or referring to him as Trump’s “wife.” Please find a way to disparage him that does not rely on your reader being misogynistic and/or transphobic. There are many options. Thank you.
This morning, I channeled my shock, rage, and despair into helping my community, spending 3.5 hours participating in a trash pick-up. It didn’t make the world magically better, but at least my backache can distract me from Cheetolini for awhile.
November 10, 2024 at 1:24 AM
This morning, I channeled my shock, rage, and despair into helping my community, spending 3.5 hours participating in a trash pick-up. It didn’t make the world magically better, but at least my backache can distract me from Cheetolini for awhile.
Reposted by John Shortess
Did you know that @nytguildtech.bsky.social created a few strike-related games that you can play guilt-free while respecting the picket line?
For example, you can play Strikle! Or you can help Scabby cross 8th Avenue to the picket line guild-build.netlify.app
For example, you can play Strikle! Or you can help Scabby cross 8th Avenue to the picket line guild-build.netlify.app
November 7, 2024 at 2:05 AM
Did you know that @nytguildtech.bsky.social created a few strike-related games that you can play guilt-free while respecting the picket line?
For example, you can play Strikle! Or you can help Scabby cross 8th Avenue to the picket line guild-build.netlify.app
For example, you can play Strikle! Or you can help Scabby cross 8th Avenue to the picket line guild-build.netlify.app
Reposted by John Shortess
a nation’s fucking soul, you obtuse beancounter
November 1, 2024 at 12:08 PM
a nation’s fucking soul, you obtuse beancounter
Democracy dies in cowardice, @washingtonpost.com .
October 25, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Democracy dies in cowardice, @washingtonpost.com .
"Unless I'm allowed to destroy the planet, humanity won't be able to escape the planet I'm destroying."
if I can't violate labor laws and dump toxic heavy metal wastewater into coastal wildlife preserves all human progress will immediately end
October 4, 2024 at 4:42 PM
"Unless I'm allowed to destroy the planet, humanity won't be able to escape the planet I'm destroying."
Reposted by John Shortess
There are no cats on Mars because Curiosity killed them all
September 11, 2024 at 5:15 AM
There are no cats on Mars because Curiosity killed them all
Reposted by John Shortess
That’s what I call a rapid unscheduled disassembly
July 23, 2024 at 11:22 PM
That’s what I call a rapid unscheduled disassembly
Wow! This popped up in my feed between two posts about the 25th anniversary photo release from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, and the juxtaposition couldn't be more perfect.
Getting some renovations, so I decided to upgrade a plain purple "accent wall" that I had in my office. Now it's a nebula, and I love it so much. The photo doesn't do it justice. Marvelous mural made by Liah Bean! liahbean.substack.com
July 23, 2024 at 3:22 PM
Wow! This popped up in my feed between two posts about the 25th anniversary photo release from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, and the juxtaposition couldn't be more perfect.
Reposted by John Shortess
When your child comes out as trans you are confronted with the reality of who they are as opposed to the conception you had of them. You can either release the latter and embrace the former, or cling to the illusion you built yourself and be left with nothing.
July 22, 2024 at 11:50 PM
When your child comes out as trans you are confronted with the reality of who they are as opposed to the conception you had of them. You can either release the latter and embrace the former, or cling to the illusion you built yourself and be left with nothing.