Bill Shein
@billshein.bsky.social
Writer. Journalist. Friend to animals. Graying rapidly. Neophyte #philatelist. Words/etc at reasongonemad.com.
Pinned
“I believed that a newspaperman ought to use his power on behalf of those who were getting the dirty end of the deal, that he ought not join in those stale surrenders which are called the practical realities of the world.”
—I.F. Stone, 1952
—I.F. Stone, 1952
Imagine a marketing meeting where a junior executive proposed the label “Donroe Doctrine”—and would properly be laughed out of the room and fired.
Instead, a cartoonish name for a policy of authoritarian brute force, war, and violence is promotion-worthy.
Alas, this is where we are.
Instead, a cartoonish name for a policy of authoritarian brute force, war, and violence is promotion-worthy.
Alas, this is where we are.
How the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ Reinforces Xi’s Vision of Power in Asia
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Imagine a marketing meeting where a junior executive proposed the label “Donroe Doctrine”—and would properly be laughed out of the room and fired.
Instead, a cartoonish name for a policy of authoritarian brute force, war, and violence is promotion-worthy.
Alas, this is where we are.
Instead, a cartoonish name for a policy of authoritarian brute force, war, and violence is promotion-worthy.
Alas, this is where we are.
Dog Mind-Reading, Part 36836738583:
“Yes, I can simply *will* the deer to come out of the woods and into the field. And when they appear, I will greet them with endless, uncontrollable barking that brings all conversation and activity in this house to a standstill. Oh yes, that is what I will do.”
“Yes, I can simply *will* the deer to come out of the woods and into the field. And when they appear, I will greet them with endless, uncontrollable barking that brings all conversation and activity in this house to a standstill. Oh yes, that is what I will do.”
January 6, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Dog Mind-Reading, Part 36836738583:
“Yes, I can simply *will* the deer to come out of the woods and into the field. And when they appear, I will greet them with endless, uncontrollable barking that brings all conversation and activity in this house to a standstill. Oh yes, that is what I will do.”
“Yes, I can simply *will* the deer to come out of the woods and into the field. And when they appear, I will greet them with endless, uncontrollable barking that brings all conversation and activity in this house to a standstill. Oh yes, that is what I will do.”
Reposted by Bill Shein
Once again the @nytimes.com frames its stories around the wildly dangerous and unlawful assertions of Trump and his henchman, like MIller, and does do with euphemisms (“run Venezuela,” ”flexing”) that minimize the violence, alliance-busting, and autocratic nature of this illegal undertaking.
January 6, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Once again the @nytimes.com frames its stories around the wildly dangerous and unlawful assertions of Trump and his henchman, like MIller, and does do with euphemisms (“run Venezuela,” ”flexing”) that minimize the violence, alliance-busting, and autocratic nature of this illegal undertaking.
Oh, okay.
“Fueled by misinformation, driven by radical environmental policies, communities are missing out on the jobs, security and opportunities this technology is delivering,” said an email from Brian O. Walsh, executive director of the AI Infrastructure Coalition.
“Fueled by misinformation, driven by radical environmental policies, communities are missing out on the jobs, security and opportunities this technology is delivering,” said an email from Brian O. Walsh, executive director of the AI Infrastructure Coalition.
The data center rebellion is here, and it’s reshaping the political landscape
Backlash over the proliferation of data centers has entered the national political conversation and could affect voters of all political persuasions in this year’s midterm elections.
wapo.st
January 6, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Oh, okay.
“Fueled by misinformation, driven by radical environmental policies, communities are missing out on the jobs, security and opportunities this technology is delivering,” said an email from Brian O. Walsh, executive director of the AI Infrastructure Coalition.
“Fueled by misinformation, driven by radical environmental policies, communities are missing out on the jobs, security and opportunities this technology is delivering,” said an email from Brian O. Walsh, executive director of the AI Infrastructure Coalition.
Top responses, guaranteed:
“Stop texting me!”
“UNSUBSCRIBE!”
“JHMFC, still with the spam texting? Just stop. Please.”
“Stop texting me!”
“UNSUBSCRIBE!”
“JHMFC, still with the spam texting? Just stop. Please.”
We texted 1,000 Americans about U.S. actions in Venezuela. Here’s what they said.
A Washington Post poll shows Americans are split on sending military forces to Venezuela to capture Maduro. Most say it should have required Congress’s approval.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Top responses, guaranteed:
“Stop texting me!”
“UNSUBSCRIBE!”
“JHMFC, still with the spam texting? Just stop. Please.”
“Stop texting me!”
“UNSUBSCRIBE!”
“JHMFC, still with the spam texting? Just stop. Please.”
“If we have the right to be aggressive in our own backyard,” said Fiona Hill, a Russia expert at the Brookings Institution, “why can’t they?”
Trump’s Foray Into Venezuela Could Embolden Russia’s and China’s Own Aggression
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:57 AM
“If we have the right to be aggressive in our own backyard,” said Fiona Hill, a Russia expert at the Brookings Institution, “why can’t they?”
More timely than ever! If you’ve never seen it, *strongly recommend*!
January 5, 2026 at 5:59 PM
More timely than ever! If you’ve never seen it, *strongly recommend*!
Given that we’re rapidly baking the planet, if we’re going to lawlessly invade countries to steal their energy resources, perhaps we should take over China’s solar-panel production and Europe’s wind industry?
Just spitballin’ here…
@billmckibben.bsky.social
Just spitballin’ here…
@billmckibben.bsky.social
It’s a Gas | Bill McKibben
I’m writing this in the last days of the northern hemisphere’s autumn in 2025. Over recent weeks we’ve seen a hurricane hit Jamaica with wind speeds a few
www.nybooks.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Given that we’re rapidly baking the planet, if we’re going to lawlessly invade countries to steal their energy resources, perhaps we should take over China’s solar-panel production and Europe’s wind industry?
Just spitballin’ here…
@billmckibben.bsky.social
Just spitballin’ here…
@billmckibben.bsky.social
And this "press" conference has wrapped without *a single* question about the legal basis for this military action, "extracting" another country's leader, "taking over" another country, "running" another country, "taking" the oil, etc. Not an impressive showing by this group of reporters.
January 3, 2026 at 5:38 PM
And this "press" conference has wrapped without *a single* question about the legal basis for this military action, "extracting" another country's leader, "taking over" another country, "running" another country, "taking" the oil, etc. Not an impressive showing by this group of reporters.
Hegseth thanks the "men" in our armed forces.
January 3, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Hegseth thanks the "men" in our armed forces.
“Years and years and years” back to the approval of a certain document in 1787?
January 3, 2026 at 2:52 PM
“Years and years and years” back to the approval of a certain document in 1787?
Love this A.J. Liebling line quoted in a New Yorker piece this week:
“I write better than anyone who writes faster, and faster than anyone who writes better.”
“I write better than anyone who writes faster, and faster than anyone who writes better.”
January 3, 2026 at 3:02 AM
Love this A.J. Liebling line quoted in a New Yorker piece this week:
“I write better than anyone who writes faster, and faster than anyone who writes better.”
“I write better than anyone who writes faster, and faster than anyone who writes better.”
Like Cameo, only 1000x better.
Bublé for a Day, but He Can’t Sing and There’s Little Resemblance
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Like Cameo, only 1000x better.
Don’t know what this is and don’t want to know. Like it just the way it is.
January 2, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Don’t know what this is and don’t want to know. Like it just the way it is.
Reposted by Bill Shein
Possum o’clock.
Beautiful weather here tonight.
Beautiful weather here tonight.
January 2, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Possum o’clock.
Beautiful weather here tonight.
Beautiful weather here tonight.
Reposted by Bill Shein
Curious, indeed:
Trump on U.S. protestors: “Can’t we shoot them in the legs?”
Trump to Iran: “If you harm protestors, we’ll invade your country.”
Trump on U.S. protestors: “Can’t we shoot them in the legs?”
Trump to Iran: “If you harm protestors, we’ll invade your country.”
Trump Says U.S. Is ‘Locked and Loaded’ if Iran Kills Protesters
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Curious, indeed:
Trump on U.S. protestors: “Can’t we shoot them in the legs?”
Trump to Iran: “If you harm protestors, we’ll invade your country.”
Trump on U.S. protestors: “Can’t we shoot them in the legs?”
Trump to Iran: “If you harm protestors, we’ll invade your country.”
Wait, isn’t tomorrow Monday?
January 2, 2026 at 4:13 AM
Wait, isn’t tomorrow Monday?
“The World’s Most Rewarding Hobby(R)”—a registered trademark of the Kenmore Stamp Company of Milford, New Hampshire, says this envelope of #stamps from many decades ago.
Trademark was registered in 1980 and declared dead and, ironically for all of us #philately geeks, “cancelled” in September 1986.
Trademark was registered in 1980 and declared dead and, ironically for all of us #philately geeks, “cancelled” in September 1986.
January 2, 2026 at 2:14 AM
“The World’s Most Rewarding Hobby(R)”—a registered trademark of the Kenmore Stamp Company of Milford, New Hampshire, says this envelope of #stamps from many decades ago.
Trademark was registered in 1980 and declared dead and, ironically for all of us #philately geeks, “cancelled” in September 1986.
Trademark was registered in 1980 and declared dead and, ironically for all of us #philately geeks, “cancelled” in September 1986.
Another in my long-running “Simpler Times” #philately retrospective…
January 1, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Another in my long-running “Simpler Times” #philately retrospective…
January 1, 2026 at 8:56 PM
This stands out as somewhat remarkable in today’s politics—which says a lot about today’s politics.
“Mamdani offers kind words to Adams, mentioning his mother Dorothy and his working-class roots in New York City, even though Adams has attacked him repeatedly and sought to undermine his agenda.”
“Mamdani offers kind words to Adams, mentioning his mother Dorothy and his working-class roots in New York City, even though Adams has attacked him repeatedly and sought to undermine his agenda.”
January 1, 2026 at 8:54 PM
This stands out as somewhat remarkable in today’s politics—which says a lot about today’s politics.
“Mamdani offers kind words to Adams, mentioning his mother Dorothy and his working-class roots in New York City, even though Adams has attacked him repeatedly and sought to undermine his agenda.”
“Mamdani offers kind words to Adams, mentioning his mother Dorothy and his working-class roots in New York City, even though Adams has attacked him repeatedly and sought to undermine his agenda.”
Enough with the diet-shaming. Let Trump be Trump!
Finally, Trump's diet! Oh my god. The piece closes with RNC Chair Joe Gruters saying he was "shocked" to witness Trump eat "french fries, a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburger, a Big Mac and a Filet-O-Fish" in one sitting (5/6)
January 1, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Enough with the diet-shaming. Let Trump be Trump!
Yeeeeouch.
“John Carpenter has said that his experience directing [Chevy] Chase made him want to quit the business.”
“John Carpenter has said that his experience directing [Chevy] Chase made him want to quit the business.”
He’s Chevy Chase, and He’s Still Like That
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Yeeeeouch.
“John Carpenter has said that his experience directing [Chevy] Chase made him want to quit the business.”
“John Carpenter has said that his experience directing [Chevy] Chase made him want to quit the business.”