Eric Harris

Ok, I've had whiskey and my flight is delayed, so...

time for some unadvised unadulterated software eng and management advice (thread)

I lie to myself and think that by putting my cpap on I’ll stop dopamine scrolling and fall asleep faster.

Every time I take a break from my ADHD meds and treat myself to caffeinated coffee, my body and brain think they can do all the things. For about 30 minutes. Then it’s nap time.

Me floating on the salt river in Arizona in a kayak, navigating very light rapids.

Selfie with the Salt River wild horses in the background.

Four of the Salt River wild horses grazing on the shoreline.

First time in the Salt River today, and first time on a kayak (we won’t speak of a previous 5 minute trip). Even got to see the wild horses!

I’ve started referring myself as “community-taught” rather than “self-taught”.

The type of problems, advice, and engineers I have had access to by working remotely and by discussing in online communities vastly overshadows the type of access I would have had at most local, in-office places.

You have three days, starting today, to leave a public comment with the FDA about, say, why COVID-19 boosters should remain available to everyone and also free. "Individual consumer" is the category you most likely want (unless you are one of the other categories; if so, choose that).

Happy birthday (belated edition)!

I’m so sorry. 😢

I should have done that instead. Good choice.

Congrats!

The final vote: 51-45, with 4 people absent.

CLOTURE FAILS, A CONGRESSIONAL SPORTS BAN WILL NOT HAPPEN.

Democrats hold firm, not a single dem voted for cloture.

MAJOR victory for everyone who called in today and this week in support of trans people.

Wow: Jeff Grant, a top career official at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, retired today. On his way out, Grant sent this letter excoriating Jeffery Anoka, who carried out the DOGE firings, and said Anoka is "ethically and legally bound to restore" the jobs of the fired employees.

Six and twelve sided dice both showing the number one.

I have the @wilwheaton.net curse at game night. I’ve rolled at least five ones.

I reported last night when I noticed. ✅

*Billie Joe Armstrong voice* “not gonna call it the Gulf of America”

[power chords]

Photo of resting heart rate history notification showing an increase from 69 bpm to 81 bpm over the past 10 days.

Yes Apple, I know it was a bad time to start a new job last week, still in the gov contracting world. You don’t need to call me out like that.

a lot of all of this fuckery we're seeing boils down to "i don't want to be forced to acknowledge the existence and humanity of people who are different than me."

Learning about stuff you don't know or is outside of your wheelhouse can be one of life's joys. If anything, it's an opportunity to expand your mind and worldview. "I don't know much about Kendrick Lamar, but I'm going to learn why he won 22 Grammy Awards, an Emmy and a Pulitzer Prize."

Arizona Nazis on campuses.

Corporate “DEI” is an imperfect vehicle for deeply meaningful ideals I have not thought or said much about DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) over the years. Not because I don’t care about the espoused ideals — I suppose I do, rather a lot — but because corporate…

I have a new blog post up: "Corporate 'DEI' Is An Imperfect Vehicle for Deeply Meaningful Ideals" charity.wtf/2025/02/10/c...

I know a lot of people are feeling incredibly scared and demoralized right now. I get it; I am too. (Who knows if my marriage will still be valid in two years?)

@lizthegrey.com is one of the top site reliability engineers [person whose entire job it is to make sure IT systems work and are secure] in the business. I would pay a lot of attention to what she says about DOGE.

This whole thread is spot on accurate, as we worked in the same modernization space at CMS. It’s hard and tedious work to modernize without financially destroying the Medicare claims system.

Don’t get me started on how the COBOL programs round numbers differently than you expect.

Medicare accounts for 4% of the US GDP alone (doing in a year what Amazon does in 10). Medicare already has CMMI to explore alternative models to save money.

Other issue with this is that Mr. Farritor’s laptop is probably a great way to cross-contaminate malware across agencies and also steal data

I used to listen to music, but after 6 years with most of my days being in and out of meetings I got out of the habit. Now I forget to put the music on when I actually have focus time.

SHARE WIDELY.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.

You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.

(1/3)

As more people make this move, what are the good RSS readers these days?

When Florida can report and arrest trans people for just going to the bathroom, and they can now also forcibly detransition people in prison by refusing their meds and shaving their heads, and the industry is still ✨⭐️conference at Epcot✨⭐️!

I feel this so hard right now. I just left my EM job of 6 years, and the sheer amount of impact I had on the people came at me all at once as I left. I felt profoundly proud and sad all at once.

I kept every note so I can look back when I doubt myself.