You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills.
— Jim Rohn
In Europe, one is free to speak,
not free to spread illegal content.*
Man arrested in Strathfield driving black ‘Chinese Police’ sedan with firearms, ammunition in boot
Police in Sydney’s inner-west made a peculiar arrest on Friday after stopping a 21-year-old man armed to the teeth driving a black sedan.
Wars, Taxation, and Increases in Representation
A historical analysis shows that greater representation was a bargain autocratic, here feudal, rulers had to strike to get support for war
Inside ICE’s Supercharged Facial Recognition App of 200 Million Images
404 Media – “ICE officers are able to point their smartphone’s camera at a person and near instantaneously run their face against a bank of 200 million images, then pull up their name, date of birth, nationality, unique identifiers such as their “alien” number, and whether an immigration judge has determined they should be deported from the country, according to ICE material viewed by 404 Media
So, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Followed me on Bluesky
After a little more than a month on Bluesky, I had 141 followers and yesterday morning one of them became Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He follows 80 people, and one of them is me? A political gadfly on Bluesky and DKos? It’s not like 10,000 other people on Bluesky don’t say the sorts of things I say and worse.
So why is the fifth most powerful person in the United States government suddenly following me on Bluesky (again, out the whole 80 people he follows)? I hardly imagine he’s chosen to follow me because he admires my insightful analysis of his boss’ policies.
(It has occurred to me this is a fake Scott Bessent, but the posts are pretty sycophantically banal and what I would expect from someone like him.)
This feels like when the KGB back in the old Soviet Union used to let themselves in to people’s homes to rifle through their personal papers, then would pee in the toilet and not flush before they left, just to let you know they’d been there.
After a little more than a month on Bluesky, I had 141 followers and yesterday morning one of them became Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He follows 80 people, and one of them is me? A political gadfly on Bluesky and DKos? It’s not like 10,000 other people on Bluesky don’t say the sorts of things I say and worse.
So why is the fifth most powerful person in the United States government suddenly following me on Bluesky (again, out the whole 80 people he follows)? I hardly imagine he’s chosen to follow me because he admires my insightful analysis of his boss’ policies.
(It has occurred to me this is a fake Scott Bessent, but the posts are pretty sycophantically banal and what I would expect from someone like him.)
This feels like when the KGB back in the old Soviet Union used to let themselves in to people’s homes to rifle through their personal papers, then would pee in the toilet and not flush before they left, just to let you know they’d been there.
Defunding NPR and PBS passed the Senate — and it’s a direct hit to rural America
If passed by the House, the cuts will jeopardize emergency alerts and local news access for millions
Google vs. AI: when to use which
Digital Digging: “People ask AI chatbots for facts while Google chases AI with generative summaries—both approaches can be unreliable. This guide explains when to Google, when to chat, and how to combine them so you research faster while avoiding embarrassing errors.
- MAGA crackup: Not just Epstein (but also Epstein).
- Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
- Object permanence: Postapocalyptic Disney World, UK schools' "anti-radicalization" software; Blueleaks, EU kills US data-sharing
- Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
- Recent appearances: Where I've been.
- Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
- Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
- Colophon: All the rest.
