Nicolas Ward
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ultranurd.net
Nicolas Ward
@ultranurd.net
130 followers 140 following 260 posts
Cloud securitician and AWS principal engineer. Married to Andrle. I like Star Trek, books, games, Lego, and politics that reduces harm. Opinions are my own. Ⓥ

Much more active over on Mastodon https://tacobelllabs.net/@ultranurd
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ultranurd.net
Nicolas Ward @ultranurd.net · Nov 11
Claimed my username On Here but unlikely to post much. Might see if there are a few people I miss from Twitter who have landed here but not Mastodon. I've otherwise found my post-Twitter home over at tacobelllabs.net/@ultranurd and of course my permanent home is always going to be www.ultranurd.net
ultranurd.net
Security Hub https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/12/02/security-hub-2/
Security Hub
Today at re:Invent our summer preview launch of the new Security Hub became generally available! Security Hub comes with new streamlined pricing as well as near-real time risk analytics, historical???
blog.ultranurd.net
December 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Nicolas Ward
foundepisodes.bsky.social
It's time to break out this holiday classic again! #StarTrek #TNGHolidaySpecial
Image of a DVD case featuring "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Holiday Special" title center. We see a view of space with multiple Enterprise D and Romulan Warbirds. Front & center is a collage of our TNG cast, from various eras. Along the bottom is a strip titled "Includes the Adventures of Q Cartoon" with special guest stars Jennifer Aniston, Will Smith, Dana Carvey, Betty White, and No Doubt.
December 1, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by Nicolas Ward
starfleetdesign.bsky.social
Do any old school FASA fans know anything more about this particular Romulan design? It seems to have been an early take on what would become a much more angular Winged Defender. I really like the flowing lines of this version, especially in the illustration.
Art by Dana M. Knutson. I couldn't immediately see anything else about this ship! Top pic comes from the Romulans supplement and below is from the STIII Starship Combat Game. Winged Defender Class
November 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
ultranurd.net
It’s Giving https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/28/its-giving/
It’s Giving
If you, like me, are a tech worker whose compensation is partially tied to stock… you probably had a good year powered by the AI bubble. It’s time to give some of that gain away! (Even ???
blog.ultranurd.net
November 28, 2025 at 8:32 PM
ultranurd.net
Thanksgiving 2025 https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/28/thanksgiving-2025/
A couple of white plates and a bamboo cutting board sit on a white countertop with a row of carrots, some seasoned tofu, crackers and a cheez wheel, and various garnishes. A close up of roughly square flaky laminated biscuits sitting on parchment paper Two golden brown square biscuits coated in garlic butter float on top of a chik'n pot pie in a small white bowl A small white dessert plate is piled high with three desserts: a slice of pumpkin pie drowning in vegan whipped topping, a crumbling pile of baked sweetened nut bar, and a small red fruit filled golden brown bar
November 28, 2025 at 7:45 PM
ultranurd.net
Scream Door https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/26/scream-door/
An older house being remodeled, with all of its siding removed. The lower level has modern plywood cladding but the upper dormer has old board slats for walls. Two former round windows appear to have been plugged in the past with other boards. They form "eyes" around a larger rectangular window opening that can be seen as a screaming mouth
November 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by Nicolas Ward
punsultant.bsky.social
Society is a construct. You can just ask someone to do a ska cover of Faith of the Heart and they'll say "$300 please" and you give it to them and then you have it.

Everyone, give
@skatunenetwork.bsky.social
your money. They deserve it.
November 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Nicolas Ward
flickybirb.bsky.social
who could forget Worf's Classic Mode ending, shit was iconic
November 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
ultranurd.net
Boba Fête https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/23/boba-fete/
Two boba teas sit on a stainless steel table near black boba straws. One is fruit juice colored with dark tea at the bottom; the other is light brown and milky. Both have pearls. The sealed lids have little drawings.
November 23, 2025 at 7:27 PM
ultranurd.net
Boxes https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/22/boxes/
A grid of dozens of vintage ('40s looking?) metal PO Boxes in the 91xx and 92xx range. They're silvery metal with brass locks, little windows, with red and gold numbers on them. Taken at an angle so the ones farther away are out of focus
November 23, 2025 at 12:15 AM
ultranurd.net
@sensornoise.com I got a lot out of that Fireworks to Dreamweaver setup in the early 2000s.
November 20, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Reposted by Nicolas Ward
sifu.tweety.fish
cloudflare's on-duty IT staff bangs on the doors which I have padlocked from the inside as I calmly break open lava lamp after lava lamp and drink the contents
November 18, 2025 at 1:59 PM
ultranurd.net
10 Years Vegan https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/17/10-years-vegan/
Screenshot of a Liquid Glass push notification over a nebula background. The icon is a white cow silhouette facing left in a black squircle. The text reads "Congratulations Happy veganniversary. Thank you for being vegan. Have a great day!" A well baked scone with blueberries embedded in it sits on a maple effect wood grain desktop.
November 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM
ultranurd.net
Mac Tonight https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/16/mac-tonight/
A round white bowl on a brown placement. The left 3/4 or so is yellow sauced elbow macaroni with specks of red in it. The right is a bunch of browned tofu crumbles. A baking sheet of crumbled tofu bacon bits on burnt white parchment paper. A pile of finely diced reddish sun-dried tomato. A bloom of cashew cream in a large Dutch oven of broth roiling on a stovetop.
November 17, 2025 at 6:55 AM
ultranurd.net
Steamed https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/16/steamed/
A set of black devices sits on a beige backdrop. In the upper left is a VR headset with two controllers; in the upper right is a cube shaped mini PC with a few USB ports; in the lower left is a large handheld console with controllers built around a screen; and in the lower right is a bulky game controller with joysticks and trackpads. Close up screen shot of the Steam interface showing "Games" selected in a drop down menu and an Apple logo selected in blue on dark grey. Next to it are clock icons for recently played and a play icon for ready to play. Below that is an expanded list that reads "All (112/249)"
November 16, 2025 at 8:31 PM
ultranurd.net
Tri-Co Hackathon https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/15/tri-co-hackathon/
An old summertime picture of a courtyard with a large tree and some benches and a long two story academic building in the background. The photographer is standing under some kind of breezeway.
November 16, 2025 at 7:27 AM
ultranurd.net
Media — October 2025 https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/09/media-october-2025/
A red themed vinyl slipcover sits on a teal couch with a clear and red flecked LP sticking out of it. The cover features Taylor dressed in a a jeweled headdress and feathers like a classic Vegas showgirl.
November 9, 2025 at 10:52 PM
ultranurd.net
Candle Semiotics https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/09/candle-semiotics/
A two by six grid of miniature safety warning symbols in black on white in an abstract line art style First row: - Caution triangle with exclamation point - Crossed out candle with European style exit sign of figure leaving room - Crossed out candle lighting a newspaper and a curtain on fire - Crossed out candle with a child's face and the outline of a cat - Crossed out candle next to a candle in a tray - Two candles with a double ended arrow between them labeled 7 cm Second row: - A crossed out candle below an open window with wind lines coming in. The candle's flame is angled in the wind - A crossed out candle to the left of a radiator with heat and a sun symbol above it - A scissor icon with a dotted line passing through a candle wick and a double ended arrow for height that is labeled 1 cm - A person blowing out a candle with their breath crossed out next to a candle being snuffed by a conical candle snuff - A match near a lit candle with falling powder crossed out - An previously burnt candle with an inset area where the wick is showing a knife icon and a dotted line trimming the wax edges and labeled 1 cm
November 9, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Nicolas Ward
witchcian.bsky.social
LUCASARTS PRESENTS
Columbo in:
SCUMM of the Earth
#pixelart
a pixel art scene of Columbo doddering around rendered in a style reminiscent of LucasArts' Point and Click adventure games. Columbo is looking at a dog resting on the ground, with the inspect dialogue: "You're a real friendly boy aren't you? Oh, you're a girl." In his inventory is a cigar, an egg, some sunflower seeds and some dog treats.
October 26, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Nicolas Ward
blipstress.bsky.social
My eyes have opened, and I have seen the deep truths of this reality.
Domino meme. Man tipping small domino labeled "William Goldman writes the cult classic comedy/fantasy novel The Prince Bride" next to larger dominos, the final one labeled Zohran Mamdani is elected Mayor of NYC
November 7, 2025 at 6:36 PM
ultranurd.net
Voting in Seattle https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/04/voting-in-seattle/
A smiling white man in glasses in a black tee (featuring classic iMacs and an I Voted sticker) and black hoodie drops two red and white ballot envelopes in a blue and white ballot box with Vote logo in front of a brick building. The sky is grey and the building behind has large metal letters RE (the end of Store) on a sign.
November 4, 2025 at 6:18 PM
ultranurd.net
November 1st… https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/11/01/november-1st/
The He Is Risen billboard meme that usually features Shrek but he's been replaced with Mariah Carey from her Christmas album. Her head and Santa dress shoulder are just visible over the brick building. An S has been prepended so it reads "She is Risen"
November 1, 2025 at 11:06 PM
ultranurd.net
There Will Come Ghost Rains https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/10/31/there-will-come-ghost-rains/
A kid in a classic white sheet ghost costume with black eye holes and a pink beanie hat on top. They are holding a purple small Trader Joe's bag and standing in front of a big decorated house with a fog machine running. It is dusk. The same ghost at the same host but much later and the kid is drooping with moisture with the pink hat askew. A group of kids trick or treating on the porch of a classic colonial style mansion. A misty view of the Seattle skyline from Kerry Park, with a railing in the foreground and the top of the Space Needle cut off in cloud.
November 1, 2025 at 6:50 AM
ultranurd.net
Veggie BOOrger https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/10/31/veggie-boorger/
Three burger patties sit on buns on a large white plate. They have melted cheez squares with cutouts to look like jack o' lanterns. The top one is more triangular eyed with fangs; the bottom left is villainous with a zig-zag mouth, and the right is goofy with squared teeth and rounded eyes with pupils.
November 1, 2025 at 12:57 AM
ultranurd.net
Carving Pumpkins https://blog.ultranurd.net/2025/10/30/carving-pumpkins/
Two Jack o lanterns on a white dining table in a dimly lit room, a smaller pumpkin in front of the them. Both are lit from inside. The one on the left has triangle eyes and vampire teeth; the one on the right has X eyes and laughing, kinda like Marshmello's style. A close up of the same two jack o lanterns, their positions reversed, sitting outside on a blue metal folding table, in front of a wood wall and white window sill.
October 31, 2025 at 5:29 AM