Brutkey

mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

Content developer/instructor with Software University at Apple. Interested in energy, electrification, efficiency. And subjects like health and photography whose names don’t begin with “e”.


Notes
11747
Following
0
Followers
0
mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

@caban4@mastodon.online

Sent as a physical letter, November 15, 2024

Summary: Build a coalition of states to absorb federal agencies ruined by Trump.

Dear Governor Newsom, Summary: Build a coalition of states to absorb federal agencies ruined by Trump. In more detail: It seems likely that the new administration will devastate many government agencies that not only house experts in their respective fields but a treasure trove of institutional knowledge. Once these are destroyed, it will take years to restore them, if they ever can be. Rather than resigning ourselves to this fate, I'd suggest "we" should jiu-jitsu the GOP by removing the agencies from under the federal government and establishing them in the trust of a coalition of states. This will not be cheap, but as the GOP reduces the size of government, they also reduce its power - and the requirements for financial support from states. Democrat-run states already, on average, contribute more to the federal government than they receive in return. In the future, this imbalance seems only set to increase (e.g. support from FEMA to east coast states such as Florida in the aftermath of hurricanes). This would be a bold strategy, and doubtless not without risk ("states' rights" only ever seem to apply to red states); however, it's not clear what other actions might actually save the agencies, information, and knowledge that we will collectively depend on in the future (especially in the domains of health and climate protection). Sincerely yours, Malcolm Crawford
mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

@SFBayTide@sfba.social @pcarlson001@sfba.social

For the benefit of ground-dwelling residents of #SanFrancisco / #SFBayArea, can also confirm it's sunny with clear blue skies — beyond the fog bank

Panoramic photograph of San Francisco and the Marin headlands from Belvedere; most of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge are shrouded in fog
mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

@SFBayTide@sfba.social @BobHorowitz@sfba.social

Haha, “giant nose hair trimmer" is a delightful description — it looked even more like that whilst under construction.

With the cranes, it also looked like a rather exasperated weak-armed robot.

#Photography
#SanFrancisco
#SFBayArea

Photograph of sunset over San Francisco in late January, 2017. The sky is layers of subdued orange clouds through which blue-ish lines of sky are visible. The SalesForce building is the tallest in the skyline, but although the floors seem complete the walls are absent, giving it an almost skeletal appearance. There are two cranes to left and right of the structure, reaching skyward above it.
mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

@Cdespinosa@mastodon.social

It must be almost 20 years since I wrote this.

#Documentation
#ObjectiveC
#Swift
#BritishComedy
#Porridge
#EasterEgg

mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

@RickiTarr@beige.party

Not sure if it counts.

Sample code and tutorial for original iPhoneOS SDK.

Very long hours, intense.

But exciting, fun, and hugely rewarding, culminating in managing related WWDC session track. And I believe I was the first person to use the Xcode toolchain to install an app on a device.

Truly extraordinary experience. We knew that supporting external developers in creation of their own apps for the platform would be pivotal.

mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

@JorisMeys@mstdn.social @pjw@social.coop @carl@chaos.social @benroyce@mastodon.social @screwturn@mastodon.social @HamonWry@mastodon.world @Strandjunker@mstdn.social

More relevant still:

"The problem with voter abstention is that abstention may more strongly signal apathy than whatever message the
abstainer wants to send. As long as apathetic non-voters significantly outnumber ideological abstainers, the abstainers signal apathy by not voting.”

Given that 36% were non-voters in the last election, this seems to be the situation we're in.

mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

@JorisMeys@mstdn.social @pjw@social.coop @carl@chaos.social @benroyce@mastodon.social @screwturn@mastodon.social @HamonWry@mastodon.world @Strandjunker@mstdn.social

Beyond that, seem to be number of issues to separate theoretical from practical:

Paper itself acknowledges that if the “idea of a [Manifest Normative Mandate] dictating whether a real world politician will act as a delegate or a trustee is naive” […] then the arguments that follow may rely on a problematic assumption”

Given readiness of candidates to go against likely wishes of their electors, I think this is a problem

mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

@JorisMeys@mstdn.social @pjw@social.coop @carl@chaos.social @benroyce@mastodon.social @screwturn@mastodon.social @HamonWry@mastodon.world @Strandjunker@mstdn.social

Paper itself also acknowledges:

"abstaining from voting is only a move in one of those games […] It is not a move in the game that signals a voter’s preferred policies.”

mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/08/10/anti-sunscreen-movement-risks/

(https://apple.news/AsamVs3L4RU2SJvIN6br7nA)

“I am definitely a MAHA mom and voted for Trump so that RFK Jr. could get into office,” said Summer Whiteside, 31, an ER nurse from Wildomar, California

She should be “de-registered”, or whatever it is to stop nurses from working in a medical field

#PublicHealth
#SkinCancer
#SunScreen
#MAHA

mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

Aptitude Metrix Reader: $50

Metrix COVID-19 Test x 2: $50

Finding dentist #Covid positive before appointment: Priceless

I was due to have a chip in a tooth repaired today, followed by general cleaning. I dropped off an Aptitude Metrix Reader (https://www.aptitudemedical.com) and a couple of tests for them yesterday; shortly before the appointment this morning I received a call saying the doctor has tested positive, although no symptoms…

Cc: @violetblue@mastodon.social, @augieray@mastodon.social

#COVID19

mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

#CDCSays do your own research

mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

https://apple.news/ATPNj0_lYSwGZzRwBZxcdKA

‘… some people are testing at Day 1 and Day 2 and saying, 'Oh, it's negative, I don't have COVID,'" Hudson said. "If they probably tested themselves a couple of days later, there's a pretty good chance that it actually would turn out to be COVID."’

Just what I’ve been saying for months.

Asserting that RATs are a great way to keep others safe is #Bullshit.

#WearAMask
#Covid
#CovidIsNotOver