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Matt Blaze

@mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy

847 followers 4 following 5.8K posts

Scientist, safecracker, etc. McDevitt Professor of Computer Science and Law at Georgetown. Formerly UPenn, Bell Labs. So-called expert on election security and […] 🌉 bridged from ⁂ federate.social/@mattblaze, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

I think it was in making this photo that I understood better Picasso's famous comment that art is "a lie that tells the truth". I don't actually know the story of this little house, but in photographing it, I think I tell a version of it that is both literal and fanciful.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

I think it was in making this photo that I understood better Picasso's famous comment that art is "a lie that tells the truth". I don't actually know the story of this little house, but in photographing it, I think I tell a version of it that is both literal and fanciful.

Reposted by Matt Blaze

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

The natural landscape of the American west has stunning and unique beauty almost everywhere you look, but when I'm out there I usually find my camera drawn more to the built world we attempt to superimpose on it.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

The natural landscape of the American west has stunning and unique beauty almost everywhere you look, but when I'm out there I usually find my camera drawn more to the built world we attempt to superimpose on it.

Reposted by Matt Blaze

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

Captured with a DSLR and a 24mm shifting lens, shifted vertically to preserve geometry. The tiny ghost town of Harvard is one of a series of sometimes extravagantly named, but now largely abandoned, communities near the Union Pacific Railroad and former Route 66 in the Mojave. Most of these […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

Captured with a DSLR and a 24mm shifting lens, shifted vertically to preserve geometry. The tiny ghost town of Harvard is one of a series of sometimes extravagantly named, but now largely abandoned, communities near the Union Pacific Railroad and former Route 66 in the Mojave. Most of these […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

Stone House (with Sofa), Harvard, CA, 2010 All the pixels, some repairs required, at www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/461… #photography

A simple one room stone house, apparently damaged by fire, with a couch sitting in front.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

Stone House (with Sofa), Harvard, CA, 2010 All the pixels, some repairs required, at www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/461… #photography

A simple one room stone house, apparently damaged by fire, with a couch sitting in front.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

Apparently pushback from party leaders has nixed the plan to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter. It might be tempting to conclude from this that there are lines they just won’t cross, but those lines tend to become flexible after a time. Just a few years ago, there was a line […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

All pack and ready to head to the wilds of suburban Philly for #jawncon

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

This is a really stupid game. Zero stars.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

Playing the game where I look at the delivery driver driving farther and farther away from my house with my food on the little map in the app and helplessly yelling ineffectual driving directions at my phone.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

Maybe that sounds too pretentiously artsy for some people's liking, but it's really how I think about it.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

I'm not trying to be difficult, really, but when I'm asked "why didn't you make this photo in color?", they might as well ask "why wasn't this rendered as a sculpture?" or "why didn't you write a poem?". They're all just different media.

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

I have mixed feelings about Le Corbusier's architecture (to say nothing of his urban planning philosophy - he clearly influenced Robert Moses), but I think the UN Secretariat building was one of his successes. An aside: If you look at the full resolution version (downloadable on flickr), you […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

I have mixed feelings about Le Corbusier's architecture (to say nothing of his urban planning philosophy - he clearly influenced Robert Moses), but I think the UN Secretariat building was one of his successes. An aside: If you look at the full resolution version (downloadable on flickr), you […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

The UN Secretariat building was designed by an international team of architects (most notably Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer) and completed in 1950. It was the first important "International Style" modernist skyscraper in New York - exemplified here here by a simple, unadorned rectangle with […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

The UN Secretariat building was designed by an international team of architects (most notably Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer) and completed in 1950. It was the first important "International Style" modernist skyscraper in New York - exemplified here here by a simple, unadorned rectangle with […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

Love them or hate them, mid-century rectangular glass curtain buildings like this are easy to dismiss as being "boring", but I think that misses something. Reflections of the surroundings become part of the facade, which changes at different angles and throughout the day. I visited several […]

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Original post on federate.social

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

Love them or hate them, mid-century rectangular glass curtain buildings like this are easy to dismiss as being "boring", but I think that misses something. Reflections of the surroundings become part of the facade, which changes at different angles and throughout the day. I visited several […]

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Original post on federate.social

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

Captured with the Phase One Achromatic back and the Rodenstock 32mm/4.0 HR-Digaron lens, with the back shifted down 8.5mm to maintain the building's geometry. I brought out contrast in the sky with a polarizer, but otherwise used no color contrast filtration. The camera was positioned across the […]

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Original post on federate.social

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

Captured with the Phase One Achromatic back and the Rodenstock 32mm/4.0 HR-Digaron lens, with the back shifted down 8.5mm to maintain the building's geometry. I brought out contrast in the sky with a polarizer, but otherwise used no color contrast filtration. The camera was positioned across the […]

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Original post on federate.social

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

United Nations Secretariat Building, NYC, 2021 All the pixels, solving any disputes with rational debate and mutual understanding, at www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/513… #photography

A glass curtain mid-century modernist office building, with a plaza and fountain in front.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

United Nations Secretariat Building, NYC, 2021 All the pixels, solving any disputes with rational debate and mutual understanding, at www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/513… #photography

A glass curtain mid-century modernist office building, with a plaza and fountain in front.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

@mizblueprint his work looks wonderful, but I’m getting vertigo just thinking about being on those rigs.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

@mizblueprint that would be a dream gig for me, except for the fact that I’d be mortally terrified of some of the best vantage points.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

@SteveBellovin Not unprecedented! People born in the Canal Zone when it was under US control remained “natural born” citizens after the US left (including, I believe, John McCain).

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

I like that DC provides “I Voted” stickers with its mail-in ballots, though I will admit that this may facilitate stolen valor by those who fail to return their ballots.

Excerpt of DC ballot instruction sheet, with a peel-able I Voted sticker affixed.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

@dwallach And now you've reminded me that it's been years since we've heard anything from the brilliant Alexia Massalin (whose work formed the foundation for superoptimization and who was a contemporary of mine in grad school). She disappeard into the (now defunct) MicroUnity startup, and I […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

I'm mostly satisfied with this photo, but if I were to do it again, I'd probably use a one or two stop ND grad at the top to even out the brightness of the dome with the main part of the building. I post this mostly as a periodic reminder to myself that it wasn't that long ago that the rule of […]

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Original post on federate.social

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

I'm mostly satisfied with this photo, but if I were to do it again, I'd probably use a one or two stop ND grad at the top to even out the brightness of the dome with the main part of the building. I post this mostly as a periodic reminder to myself that it wasn't that long ago that the rule of […]

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Original post on federate.social

Reposted by Matt Blaze

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

Captured with the Phase One IQ4-150 digital back, Rodenstock 90mm/5.6 HR-Digaron lens (@ f/6.3) and about 10mm of vertical shift to maintain geometry. A little over five years ago, a group of insurrectionist losers sacked this building in an attempt to overthrow the US Government and prevent […]

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Original post on federate.social

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

Captured with the Phase One IQ4-150 digital back, Rodenstock 90mm/5.6 HR-Digaron lens (@ f/6.3) and about 10mm of vertical shift to maintain geometry. A little over five years ago, a group of insurrectionist losers sacked this building in an attempt to overthrow the US Government and prevent […]

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Original post on federate.social

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, 2021 All the pixels, forming a more perfect union of pixels, at www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/512… #photography

The western side of the US Capitol building at night, with its prominent dome illuminated. Reflections are visible in the pool at foreground.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, 2021 All the pixels, forming a more perfect union of pixels, at www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/512… #photography

The western side of the US Capitol building at night, with its prominent dome illuminated. Reflections are visible in the pool at foreground.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

@xankarn yes, I made an effort to express a similar sentiment in my commentary on my photo.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026

The best jokes are the ones other people feel compelled to explain.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026

Caller: "Is your refrigerator running?" "Um, I think so." "Well, you better download the latest security patches."

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026

Unfortunately, when talking about US election processes, it’s necessary to speak in broad generalities because there’s an ENORMOUS amount of variation from state to state and even county to county. So please check with your local election office for authoritative information on what to expect […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026

I recommend returning your marked ballot in a local dropbox rather than via USPS if your jurisdiction has those option. (This requires that you be present in your home area; dropboxes from other counties won’t generally ensure you ballot will be received and counted).

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026

Election update: At this point, ballots have gone out to absentee/mail-in voters in about half of the states. (The legal timeframe for this varies quite a bit from state to state). So far, fortunately, there have been no reports of widespread postal shenanigans aimed specifically at election […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026

Until 1984, the Santa Fe Railroad moved freight cars across the San Francisco Bay by barge. Railroad cars were decoupled from trains and loaded onto special "carfloat" barges, which were pulled across the bay by a small fleet of tug boats, to be re-attached to trains at the other end. The […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026

Captured with a small mirrorless camera and 50mm lens on a lightweight tripod. I normally prefer lower contrast, but the ruined industrial subject worked reasonably well with a high contrast, backlit approach here. The sun was just above and directly in front of the frame.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026

Ruins of Santa Fe Railroad Carfloat Slip, Port Richmond, CA, 2011 All the pixels, no need to worry about moving trains, at www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/548… #photography

Charred ties and tracks on a pier over water, with hills across the water in the background.

Reposted by Matt Blaze

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/10/2026

I have mixed feelings about these cold war relics. On the one hand, they're artifacts of what was perhaps humanity's most dangerous folly to date, locking the world in a deadly game where the stakes only went up with each round. This doesn't seem like something to commemorate or celebrate. On […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/10/2026

It's unclear if the SAGE system would have actually been effective in tracking incoming bombers, which presumably would have employed radar jammers and other countermeasures. Fortunately, we never found out. The huge rotating antenna (not shown) was removed shortly after the site's […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/10/2026

From 1958 through 1980, this incongruous four level (82 foot) monolith was the centerpiece of the "Almaden Air Force Station", a long-range radar site that was part of NORAD's SAGE early warning system. The blast-hardened concrete building served as the platform for an FPS-24 radar system, a […]

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/10/2026

This is a stitched imaged made from two shifted side-by-side captures with the Rodenstock 70mm/5.6 HR-Digaron-W lens and a Phase One IQ4-150 digital back (@ ISO 50) on a Cambo WRS 1250 camera, shifted left/right +/- 15mm, producing a 230MP final image.

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Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/10/2026

AN/FPS-24 Radar Tower, Mt. Umunhum, Los Gatos, CA, 2024 All the pixels, but no doomsday machine, at www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/537… #photography

A large monolith-like building, with vents but no windows, atop the summit of a mountain.

Matt Blaze @mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/10/2026

@sophieschmieg Don't threaten me with a good time!