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Cyd Harrell

@cydharrell.bsky.social
4.8K followers 1.8K following 2.8K posts

cyberpunk is a warning, not a manual she/her. dayjob & usual location: City & County of San Francisco (this is a personal account) ex-18F; on the board @publicgood.tech ; wrote a small book about doing this: cydharrell.com/book

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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 14h
SF folks, my colleagues at PermitSF - ie, the people working to fix San Francisco’s permit processes - are hiring a couple roles that are basically hybrid service design/system configuration/solutions . is that you?? please check this out! careers.sf.gov/role/?id=374...
careers.sf.gov
Senior Administrative Analyst (1823)
The San Francisco Planning Department is recruiting for two (2) Temporary Exempt (TEX) Senior Administrative Analyst positions for PermitSF.Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below:Application Opening:  October 06, 2026Application Deadline:  October 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM (PDT)Analyst:  Zoey FengTemporary Exempt: This is a full-time Temporary Exempt position that is excluded by the Charter from the competitive civil service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointment Officer. The duration of the appointment shall not exceed 36 months.The DepartmentThe San Francisco Planning Department (CPC) shapes how land is used to meet community needs and guide our city’s future, creating inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous neighborhoods. We envision an equitable San Francisco where everyone thrives—a welcoming city that honors diverse cultures, provides secure housing, strengthens environmental resilience, and drives economic stability for current and future generations.
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Alhambot @alhambot.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
A procedurally generated Islamic geometric tile mosaic: a seamless repeating pattern of interlocking twelve-pointed stars separated by polygonal tiles. The strapwork is drawn as pale ribbons that weave over and under at each crossing, set over glazed compartments in cobalt, terracotta and bone, after the tilework of the Alhambra.
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Mondo Mascots @mondomascots.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Earth-kun, the Tokyo Sewerage Bureau mascot, is a globe with a manhole cover hat.
A smiling globe mascot with widespread arms and a manhole cover hat stands on a pavement in front of some trees.
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
with love…this is no way to run a railroad
screenshot of 3 separate notifications on Cyd’s home screen, from 3 separate systems, occasioned by ordering a taco
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Cheryl Rofer @cherylrofer.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Now there's a man who's never been pregnant!
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
this is really well put; just gonna throw my 2018 Attention Theft piece down, from when profit-seeking comms were just scaled, not yet really synthetic - but it continues to get worse medium.com/@cydharrell/...
medium.com
About attention theft
We just finished a primary election in California, and every day in the past month I’ve come home to 20 or more pieces of mail, almost none…
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Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Got political mail? Go to paidforby.info For federal races, you'll immediately get detailed information about who is behind the mail and their donors. And all uploaded mail will be reviewed by an independent journalist. (It also works for ads on TV and YouTube.)
paidforby.info
Who paid for this?
Find out who really paid for political mailers and TV ads.
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Yesss!!! & let’s goooooo!!!
jumbotron image of Janelle Salaun receiving the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award before the Valks-Aces game
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Jessica Pishko @jesspish.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
This piece from @soraya.press gave me a lot to think about. (Still sort of processing) sorayachemaly.substack.com/p/33-underst...
sorayachemaly.substack.com
33. A Long Read About Living in a World Where Men Publicly Bond over Women’s Humiliation and Pain
From the Burnerverse to Cornell to Clavicular, our society is all too happy to shift the cost and burden of sexual violence and male onto victims to protect men
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
multiple eras here: before any internet, it was all maps; you'd often have the person in the passenger seat navigate & tell you turns; anyone or any store would give you directions from a highway or landmark. then there was Mapquest (90s) which would give you a custom map you could print & take
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
SF's not a megacity per se, but I grocery shop on foot 2-3 times a week, & it's only 3 blocks if I forget something, so it's low stakes. I use collapsible reusable bags & I keep one in my work bag in case I need to stop by the store on the way home (it's between the bus stop & home)
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
YESSSS - so cool you were there!!
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
VALKS WINNNN!!!
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Anil Dash @anildash.com · 01/10/2026
NYC’s PIT Crew (Public Interest Technology) is already delivering: Click to Cancel is here, with the law saying it has to be as easy to cancel a service as it was to sign up for it. The site makes it easy to report any products that violate the rules: www.nyc.gov/main/click-t... Kickass!
nyc.gov
Click to Cancel - nyc.gov
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EmilyTav @emilytav.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
As you can imagine (as a USDS alum) I have some thoughts about this. I'm processing, and trying to get some different perspectives. In the meantime (as someone who spent years improving service-delivery in gov) here are the operational ?s currently on my mind… qz.com/trump-americ...
qz.com
Trump launches America.gov AI portal for federal services
The site uses Google's Gemini and Elon Musk's Grok to field questions across roughly 29,000 government websites
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
reading this & feeling it's @jacobharr.is bait in the extreme (also Cyd Harrell infuriation in the extreme) www.gao.gov/assets/gao-2...
gao.gov
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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 29/09/2026
For every complicated problem, there is an extremely simple solution, if you are very stupid. Our government is now run entirely by "Why Don't We Just" guys.
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Jordan @jordansbrock.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Teeny tiny frog in the frame for the sliding screen door!
A bright green frog clinging vertically to the sliding screen door channel.
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
this and, even pre-AI, those qualitative, human disciplines were systematically disempowered in the Valley over the last ~decade. quantitative research that didn't involve talking to people became the gold standard, & UX became about creating widgets & docs to feed engineering workflows
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Christopher Whitaker @civicwhitaker.com · 29/09/2026
My first read is that like many other NDS websites the real functionality is ‘coming soon’ - I tested a VA disability claim and it directs me to the VA site. It claims to be able to do that in 2027 but that’s a significantly heavier lift than building an LLM wrapper.
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Paul Adasiak @amicusthespis.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I was not, could not have been, prepared.
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
never a bad time to post this www.ursulakleguin.com/a-rant-about...
ursulakleguin.com
Ursula K. Le Guin — Ursula on Writing: A Rant about "Techonolgy"
Ursula K. Le Guin on the presence of technology in her work
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
never a bad time to post this www.ursulakleguin.com/a-rant-about...
ursulakleguin.com
Ursula K. Le Guin — Ursula on Writing: A Rant about "Techonolgy"
Ursula K. Le Guin on the presence of technology in her work
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Deb Chachra’s writing on infrastructure is fantastic on this - if you’re not spending a big chunk of each day literally carrying water, you’re benefitting from technology…
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Matt Henry 🥄 @matthenry.fyi · 18/09/2026
The USWDS documentation site is now preserved here, thanks to the amazing work of @suddenlygreg.com uswds.18f.org
uswds.18f.org
USWDS: The United States Web Design System
USWDS makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites.
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
thread
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
sounded vaguely familiar; googled on my phone & the AI summary offered 2 references; I’ve read & love the sci fi one but hadn’t remembered the phrase; was totally unaware of the blog generalizing the import of it. so depending on which reference you mean, not long to get context but a bit thinky
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
complex grief is very hard, holding you in care!! I too hopes she gives them hell. 💙
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🎃 Imani Gandy Corn 🎃 @angryblacklady.blacksky.app · 20/09/2026
I just honestly can't get over that Save Women Sports, an anti-trans group could only find five trans athletes competing K through 12. Five. The NCAA president testified a year and a half ago or so that there were less than 10 college level trans athletes. What the fuck are we doing, people
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Alhambot @alhambot.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
A procedurally generated Islamic geometric tile mosaic: a seamless repeating pattern of interlocking eight-pointed stars separated by polygonal tiles. The strapwork is drawn as pale ribbons that weave over and under at each crossing, set over glazed compartments in cobalt, terracotta and bone, in the manner of Nasrid Granada.
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Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
When the powerful playact powerlessness it is always a ploy to avoid accountability.
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darth™️ @darthbluesky.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
this week has gone on long enough tbh
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
quite angrily disappointed, I think...but then, she was 20 - she didn't know anything
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
if you've known me for long, you know I'm a huge admirer (& friend) of Dana Chisnell. she knows her sh*t on the subject of voting - & @monteiro.bsky.social knows his zines & provocations. they made this for you to print & share widely (I helped review); so please do print & share widely!!
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
review of the zine (upthread) from an election official. no joke, share this widely please!!
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
if you've known me for long, you know I'm a huge admirer (& friend) of Dana Chisnell. she knows her sh*t on the subject of voting - & @monteiro.bsky.social knows his zines & provocations. they made this for you to print & share widely (I helped review); so please do print & share widely!!
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
when I worked at 18F, we got 30 minutes/week to observe calls on the USA Gov 800 number - it was *astounding* how many calls were about scams related to benefits or owing tax money or claiming money from the government. it’s nightmarish
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MurderBotBot @murderbotbot.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
When I said everything kept happening at once, it had mostly been an exaggeration, but now everything was actually happening at once.
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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 10/09/2026
You can fold any phone if you want it enough
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
cool job alert! SF City Hall building manager - if you know someone who’s roght for managing an amazing, living lsndmark, please pass on!!https://careers.sf.gov/role/?id=3743990015083126
careers.sf.gov
City Hall Building Manager (0923) - Real Estate Division, Office of City Administrator
Permanent Exempt (PEX): Full Time position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive civil  service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the appointment officer. The anticipated duration of this project position is thirty-six (36) months and will not result in an eligible list or permanent civil service hiring. Project-based positions cannot be ongoing or exceed 36 months. Specific information regarding this recruitment process are listed below: Application Opening: Friday, September 4, 2026Application Deadline: Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 11:59pm PST  ✅ Required Supplemental Questionnaire due at the time of application: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/ntgLuzPQ8RAbout the Office of the City Administrator: The Office of the City Administrator and its 25+ divisions and departments operate core internal and public-facing services in San Francisco.    The Office of the City Administrator’s Mission and Vision  Our vision is to lead the nation in public administration and to enable City departments to effectively deliver critical public services. We aim to help the city run better, to connect San Francisco residents and constituents to the vital public services they seek, and to create a meaningful and diverse work culture that is the place of choice for people who are invested in a career in public service. We are committed to ensuring that City services are inclusive, efficient, equitable, and culturally competent for San Franciscans of all races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and sextual orientations. This commitment requires comprehensive review and thorough analysis of existing practices and policies to remove barriers to real inclusion. We are also committed to ensuring that we have a safe, equitable, and inclusive workplace for individuals of all races. This includes creating opportunities for hiring, promotion, training, and development, for all employees, including but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). To learn more about our departments, divisions, and programs, visit:  https://sf.gov/departments/city-administrator  About the Real Estate Division  The Office of the City Administrator, Real Estate Division (RED) is a team of more than 300 staff delivering professional real estate services to a variety of City departments. RED supports San Francisco’s public mission by delivering two essential services:  Real Estate Transactions and Property Records: RED manages acquisitions, conveyance, and leasing of real property on behalf of City departments, as well as conducting and documenting these transactions efficiently, transparently, and in alignment with City policies, operational needs, and reporting requirements.   Property and Facility Management: RED provides services to over 6 million square feet of City-owned property, including civic facilities such as City Hall, 49 South Van Ness, the Hall of Justice, Alemany Farmers Market, Police Headquarters, and other key public assets.  Our property management, building engineering, contracts, security and custodial teams provide operational support to keep City services running safely and effectively.
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
this was the overlay on a Forbes article about H*nt*r B*den's memecoin fwiw. I'm glad it distracted me from reading all that
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
tag yourself? lmao
screenshot of a button set with 3 white buttons on black. the buttons are labeled "Accept Optional Technologies" "Reject Optional Technologies" and "Manage Preferences"
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
eep
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
berbere spice texas sheet cake after? 👀 I just ate dinner 90 minutes ago, why am I hungry?
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Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
yeah this duck is not just eepy, it is spiritually wrecked (I did send this as a surprise to my exhausted college student junior year & she absolutely loved it)
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Ed Gerrish @edgerrish.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Doing a documentary with Nathan Fielder is almost as insane as agreeing for an interview with Isaac Chotiner.
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BetaNYC, a partner project of the Fund for the City of New York @beta.nyc · 06/09/2026
CityCamp NYC tickets include a full day of community-created sessions, food, refreshments, and plenty of opportunities to connect. Free registered childcare is also available. Join us Sept. 19: www.citycamp.nyc
CityCamp NYC 2026 promotional graphic on a light beige background. Large blue “CityCamp NYC” text incorporates a Statue of Liberty illustration. Text reads “A Civic Sandbox,” “Learn more at www.citycamp.nyc,” “Saturday Sep 19, 2026,” and “Hunter College.” The BetaNYC logo appears at top right. At bottom right, a hand-drawn mouse (or rat!) peeks over a pizza.
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Amyville Hoyrror @amyhoy.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
posers always seem to work harder in pretense than legit experts / high-performers do i see this in business too
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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Happy Rice Truck Day! Truly one of the best threads from the old site. I remember sitting in my couch waiting for the next instalment of the saga.
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Gwen Snyder is uncivil @gwensnyder.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
It's also a plan to collapse preschools (which are already in quite serious crisis) and make workforce re-entry economically untenable for women with young children
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