Tom Salyers
@misterbadexample.bsky.social
Dual US/UK citizen. Amateur Shakespeare expert and software developer. I do terrible things to databases with Python.
I've been on one Microsoft OS or the other since the DOS days, but this "agentic" nonsense might be the thing that finally forces me into using Linux exclusively.
Windows boss Pavan Davuluri has tweeted that the platform is evolving into an agentic OS, sparking major push back from users online. buff.ly/icyxX4W
Windows president says platform is "evolving into an agentic OS," gets cooked in the replies — "Straight up, nobody wants this"
Microsoft's current Windows lead Pavan Davuluri has tweeted that the future of Windows will be one that evolves into an agentic OS, but has received significant pushback online.
www.windowscentral.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I've been on one Microsoft OS or the other since the DOS days, but this "agentic" nonsense might be the thing that finally forces me into using Linux exclusively.
I was feeling kind of run down and generally bleah today, but then this happened, which cheered me up a bit. news.sky.com/story/former...
Former US vice president Dick Cheney dies
The Republican was one of the most polarising vice presidents in US history under George W Bush from 2001 to 2009, and was a leading advocate of the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
news.sky.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I was feeling kind of run down and generally bleah today, but then this happened, which cheered me up a bit. news.sky.com/story/former...
Reposted by Tom Salyers
Reposted by Tom Salyers
Just saw an ad for an AI service for catching bugs that were created by using AI in programming.
Dr. Seuss villains had more honest business models than that.
Dr. Seuss villains had more honest business models than that.
September 11, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Just saw an ad for an AI service for catching bugs that were created by using AI in programming.
Dr. Seuss villains had more honest business models than that.
Dr. Seuss villains had more honest business models than that.
People occasionally ask me, a UK citizen born in the US, "Do you ever think about going back to America?", and...nope. I really don't.
Florida Schools Deploying Armed Drones to Battle School Shooters
Several schools in Florida will be fitted with dozens of armed drones, which can supposedly confront a shooter within fifteen seconds.
futurism.com
August 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
People occasionally ask me, a UK citizen born in the US, "Do you ever think about going back to America?", and...nope. I really don't.
Never before have I seen a movie described so perfectly.
4) I didn't say Jupiter Ascending is a good movie, I said I *loved it.*
How could I not love a movie that's basically Tina Belcher's furious scribbles with a Wachowski budget?
How could I not love a movie that's basically Tina Belcher's furious scribbles with a Wachowski budget?
July 22, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Never before have I seen a movie described so perfectly.
I'm never going to be able to retire, am I? People like Jason mean I'm going to expire at the keyboard in my 80s while fixing yet another piece of someone else's vibe-coded idiocy.
July 21, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I'm never going to be able to retire, am I? People like Jason mean I'm going to expire at the keyboard in my 80s while fixing yet another piece of someone else's vibe-coded idiocy.
Just saw some kid online saying that Trump was basically the new Reagan, and...no. I lived through Reagan, and I *wish* Trump were like Reagan. As godawful as Reagan was, you at least got the impression he kind of cared about America. Trump wants to hollow out America and wear its skin like a coat.
July 21, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Just saw some kid online saying that Trump was basically the new Reagan, and...no. I lived through Reagan, and I *wish* Trump were like Reagan. As godawful as Reagan was, you at least got the impression he kind of cared about America. Trump wants to hollow out America and wear its skin like a coat.
As a veteran of several "modernize ALL the things" projects, I speak from experience when I say that this rewrite effort will have all the efficiency, efficacy, and safety of a burning thermite-filled clown car careening over a mile-high cliff onto an orphanage built on a Superfund site.
DOGE Plans to Rebuild SSA Code Base in Months, Risking Benefits and System Collapse
Social Security systems contain tens of millions of lines of code written in COBOL, an archaic programming language. Safely rewriting that code would take years—DOGE wants it done in months.
www.wired.com
April 3, 2025 at 1:36 PM
As a veteran of several "modernize ALL the things" projects, I speak from experience when I say that this rewrite effort will have all the efficiency, efficacy, and safety of a burning thermite-filled clown car careening over a mile-high cliff onto an orphanage built on a Superfund site.
I sometimes hang out on early-IT-career Discord to hand out old-computer-guy wisdom I've accumulated over the years.
I saw some young programmer suggesting automatically sending logged errors to ChatGPT to have it try to fix them.
My reply: "I would rather pour lemon juice into my own eyes."
I saw some young programmer suggesting automatically sending logged errors to ChatGPT to have it try to fix them.
My reply: "I would rather pour lemon juice into my own eyes."
March 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I sometimes hang out on early-IT-career Discord to hand out old-computer-guy wisdom I've accumulated over the years.
I saw some young programmer suggesting automatically sending logged errors to ChatGPT to have it try to fix them.
My reply: "I would rather pour lemon juice into my own eyes."
I saw some young programmer suggesting automatically sending logged errors to ChatGPT to have it try to fix them.
My reply: "I would rather pour lemon juice into my own eyes."
Reposted by Tom Salyers
Our official statement from Albert Sellars LLP on President Trump's recent executive order.
March 23, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Our official statement from Albert Sellars LLP on President Trump's recent executive order.
Oh, Starmer. You useless, spineless, bandwagon-riding delivery system for a suit.
AI should replace some work of civil servants under new rules, Keir Starmer to announce
AI should replace some work of civil servants under new rules, Keir Starmer to announce
The new digital ‘mantra’, which aims to save the government £45bn, prompts unions to warn PM to stop blaming problems on Whitehall officials
AI should replace the work of government officials where it can be done to the same standard under new rules that…
www.theguardian.com
March 13, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Oh, Starmer. You useless, spineless, bandwagon-riding delivery system for a suit.
People who join online meetings while sitting in crowded noisy offices with people constantly talking in the background should be publicly flogged until they remember to find a conference room or something.
January 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
People who join online meetings while sitting in crowded noisy offices with people constantly talking in the background should be publicly flogged until they remember to find a conference room or something.
I feel like I should just make this my email signature or something at this point.
December 26, 2024 at 11:01 PM
I feel like I should just make this my email signature or something at this point.
Browsing job ads.
Me: "Oh, a company name that's a Neuromancer reference. Neat. I wonder what they--"
Ad: "Wintermute is one of the largest crypto-native algorithmic trading companies in digital assets."
Me: "NOPE."
Me: "Oh, a company name that's a Neuromancer reference. Neat. I wonder what they--"
Ad: "Wintermute is one of the largest crypto-native algorithmic trading companies in digital assets."
Me: "NOPE."
December 5, 2024 at 12:46 PM
Browsing job ads.
Me: "Oh, a company name that's a Neuromancer reference. Neat. I wonder what they--"
Ad: "Wintermute is one of the largest crypto-native algorithmic trading companies in digital assets."
Me: "NOPE."
Me: "Oh, a company name that's a Neuromancer reference. Neat. I wonder what they--"
Ad: "Wintermute is one of the largest crypto-native algorithmic trading companies in digital assets."
Me: "NOPE."
Dear NHS:
I would take your attempts to schedule me for colon cancer screening a *million billion times* more seriously if you didn't insist on writing the word "poo" in actual medical correspondence.
Love,
Tom
I would take your attempts to schedule me for colon cancer screening a *million billion times* more seriously if you didn't insist on writing the word "poo" in actual medical correspondence.
Love,
Tom
December 3, 2024 at 3:15 PM
Dear NHS:
I would take your attempts to schedule me for colon cancer screening a *million billion times* more seriously if you didn't insist on writing the word "poo" in actual medical correspondence.
Love,
Tom
I would take your attempts to schedule me for colon cancer screening a *million billion times* more seriously if you didn't insist on writing the word "poo" in actual medical correspondence.
Love,
Tom
I am fully aware that I am dating myself horribly when I tell you that looking at pretty much any pub menu will instantly give me an earworm:
"🎶 When I get there, she's got lager, beer, and cider/It's such a freaky scene...🎶"
"🎶 When I get there, she's got lager, beer, and cider/It's such a freaky scene...🎶"
November 24, 2024 at 6:49 PM
I am fully aware that I am dating myself horribly when I tell you that looking at pretty much any pub menu will instantly give me an earworm:
"🎶 When I get there, she's got lager, beer, and cider/It's such a freaky scene...🎶"
"🎶 When I get there, she's got lager, beer, and cider/It's such a freaky scene...🎶"
Valuable brick-related advice from Jorts.
Whether it’s Ohio nazis or a transphobic step-uncle, the reality is brick accidents happen. If you accidentally slip and brick someone in the face one or more times you should zip it and talk to a lawyer because brick accidents happen and cops will not help
November 21, 2024 at 11:39 AM
Valuable brick-related advice from Jorts.
So I've finally gotten around to playing Death Stranding on the XBox. I've got some thoughts (including the fact that Hideo Kojima is a wonderful ideas guy and gameplay designer, but should never ever be allowed to do the actual writing), but one thing really irritated me. (1/4)
November 17, 2024 at 12:15 AM
So I've finally gotten around to playing Death Stranding on the XBox. I've got some thoughts (including the fact that Hideo Kojima is a wonderful ideas guy and gameplay designer, but should never ever be allowed to do the actual writing), but one thing really irritated me. (1/4)
Reposting this because I work in a UK university, and the sector is currently looking kind of...grim. (Hiring freezes, budget cuts, VSS, etc.)
I'm also down to do data engineering and such, or branch out into, say, biotech. Drop me a message. :)
I'm also down to do data engineering and such, or branch out into, say, biotech. Drop me a message. :)
November 15, 2024 at 11:46 AM
Reposting this because I work in a UK university, and the sector is currently looking kind of...grim. (Hiring freezes, budget cuts, VSS, etc.)
I'm also down to do data engineering and such, or branch out into, say, biotech. Drop me a message. :)
I'm also down to do data engineering and such, or branch out into, say, biotech. Drop me a message. :)
If you're in the area for one of these, go check it out. James's talks are both informative and fun, and he gets his round in at the pub at least two-thirds of the time.
There are still a few dates left on the autumn leg of the Historic Building Mythbusting tour. I'm really proud of being able to do so many shows given the DIY status of the venture!
More info, tickets and entry details can be found here:
triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/mythbustingt...
More info, tickets and entry details can be found here:
triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/mythbustingt...
November 15, 2024 at 11:28 AM
If you're in the area for one of these, go check it out. James's talks are both informative and fun, and he gets his round in at the pub at least two-thirds of the time.
Well, I guess I'd better start using this thing now that a whole bunch of people are migrating over.
November 15, 2024 at 11:17 AM
Well, I guess I'd better start using this thing now that a whole bunch of people are migrating over.
Reposted by Tom Salyers
I had a lot of things to do and while I was trying to do the things more things happened so when I finish the FIRST things there will already be OTHER things to do. Fed up of doing things
November 15, 2024 at 5:36 AM
I had a lot of things to do and while I was trying to do the things more things happened so when I finish the FIRST things there will already be OTHER things to do. Fed up of doing things