Bill Shein
@billshein.bsky.social
Writer. Journalist. Friend to animals. Founder/Editor berkshireargus.com.
Pinned
Bill Shein
@billshein.bsky.social
· Sep 9
I thought this was poems by Vikings and was *very disappointed* to discover otherwise.
Reposted by Bill Shein
Remember the immigration raid on the apartment complex in Chicago almost two months ago? The one with the Black Hawk helicopter and federal agents rappelling on ropes? @ProPublica decided to take a deeper look. We found little evidence to support the government’s claims. 🧵
November 13, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Remember the immigration raid on the apartment complex in Chicago almost two months ago? The one with the Black Hawk helicopter and federal agents rappelling on ropes? @ProPublica decided to take a deeper look. We found little evidence to support the government’s claims. 🧵
Reposted by Bill Shein
I don't mean to be glib or trivializing: Texas A&M's "to end indoctrination you must teach only our doctrine" is some arbeit macht frei obscenity. No, of course it's not genocide. But it's the logic of sadistic erasure, the way in 1984 2+2=5 made even believing the truth impossible.
November 14, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I don't mean to be glib or trivializing: Texas A&M's "to end indoctrination you must teach only our doctrine" is some arbeit macht frei obscenity. No, of course it's not genocide. But it's the logic of sadistic erasure, the way in 1984 2+2=5 made even believing the truth impossible.
"I asked the DoorDash spokesperson if the company would agree with this characterization that inflation has been tamed. He said 'that's not something that we wrote in the report.'"
NEW — I spoke to DoorDash about the White House claiming the company's report shows "inflation has been tamed" and whether that's an interpretation one should make. An economist also weighed in, pointing out dictatorships use data obfuscation as a tool, and right now they're "grasping at straws."
WH claims 'inflation tamed,' per DoorDash stats. Company says that's not in its report.
It comes the same week we learned the WH would likely not release key economic reports for October.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 13, 2025 at 10:25 PM
"I asked the DoorDash spokesperson if the company would agree with this characterization that inflation has been tamed. He said 'that's not something that we wrote in the report.'"
For forty-three days, the administration fought to block SNAP benefits and keep food from hungry kids, but it had no trouble greenlighting roughly $6.2 billion in new Pentagon contract awards and modifications.
Turns out the war machine always gets fed on schedule...
Turns out the war machine always gets fed on schedule...
www.war.gov
November 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
For forty-three days, the administration fought to block SNAP benefits and keep food from hungry kids, but it had no trouble greenlighting roughly $6.2 billion in new Pentagon contract awards and modifications.
Turns out the war machine always gets fed on schedule...
Turns out the war machine always gets fed on schedule...
Important for understanding health insurance costs: If millions lose coverage under ACA, that will push up premiums across the board for everyone who gets insurance through work or elsewhere. A smaller pool and growth in uncompensated care.
This map tells a brutal story about rising health care premiums.
November 13, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Important for understanding health insurance costs: If millions lose coverage under ACA, that will push up premiums across the board for everyone who gets insurance through work or elsewhere. A smaller pool and growth in uncompensated care.
“All are disabled — a condition of the aid — and many are 50 or older. The document does not explain how they would find housing.”
Trump Administration to Drastically Cut Housing Grants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:22 AM
“All are disabled — a condition of the aid — and many are 50 or older. The document does not explain how they would find housing.”
So much for “Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free.”
Taken together, the administration’s policies appear increasingly rooted in eugenics and white supremacy.
Taken together, the administration’s policies appear increasingly rooted in eugenics and white supremacy.
U.S. visas can be denied for obesity, cancer and diabetes, Rubio says
The Trump administration has directed visa officers to consider obesity and other chronic health conditions when deciding whether to grant visas to immigrants.
wapo.st
November 13, 2025 at 11:21 AM
So much for “Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free.”
Taken together, the administration’s policies appear increasingly rooted in eugenics and white supremacy.
Taken together, the administration’s policies appear increasingly rooted in eugenics and white supremacy.
Reposted by Bill Shein
“We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement. We are saddened by…the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
Catholic Bishops Rebuke U.S. ‘Mass Deportation’ of Immigrants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:10 AM
“We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement. We are saddened by…the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
Sorry, this language in a news story is unacceptable, @nytimes.com.
Lawbreaking is lawbreaking. Period. It’s not “stretching the limits.”
“And the president has stretched the limits of his budgetary powers to achieve that agenda, sometimes without the permission of Congress.”
Lawbreaking is lawbreaking. Period. It’s not “stretching the limits.”
“And the president has stretched the limits of his budgetary powers to achieve that agenda, sometimes without the permission of Congress.”
Food Stamps May Face Lasting Damage From Trump’s Halt to Funds in Shutdown
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Sorry, this language in a news story is unacceptable, @nytimes.com.
Lawbreaking is lawbreaking. Period. It’s not “stretching the limits.”
“And the president has stretched the limits of his budgetary powers to achieve that agenda, sometimes without the permission of Congress.”
Lawbreaking is lawbreaking. Period. It’s not “stretching the limits.”
“And the president has stretched the limits of his budgetary powers to achieve that agenda, sometimes without the permission of Congress.”
Um, the Situation Room?
"Top administration officials met in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday with Representative Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican who is backing an effort to force a House vote on whether to demand the release of more files related to Mr. Epstein."
"Top administration officials met in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday with Representative Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican who is backing an effort to force a House vote on whether to demand the release of more files related to Mr. Epstein."
Epstein Files Live Updates: Trump Named in Emails Released by Democrats and Republicans
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Um, the Situation Room?
"Top administration officials met in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday with Representative Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican who is backing an effort to force a House vote on whether to demand the release of more files related to Mr. Epstein."
"Top administration officials met in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday with Representative Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican who is backing an effort to force a House vote on whether to demand the release of more files related to Mr. Epstein."
Reposted by Bill Shein
When you subscribe to a news source, you are not “supporting” it. You’re paying your fair share for labor from which you’re benefiting.
November 12, 2025 at 7:48 PM
When you subscribe to a news source, you are not “supporting” it. You’re paying your fair share for labor from which you’re benefiting.
Zig minus Zag equals Zing!
Not Sure How They Deal With Criminals In Your Town, But ’Round Here We Use A Restorative Justice Process
Well, well, well. What have we got here? Another city slicker who thinks he can waltz into my town and start causin’ all sorts of trouble. I’d be careful if I was you, fella. Because however they do t...
theonion.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Zig minus Zag equals Zing!
“Cat and Part of Dog Behind Wood Stove as Work Day Begins, Making Clear They Will Not Contribute to Remunerative Work Today” (Sotheby’s Lot No. 375582, bidding starts 12:00 noon ET, $15,000 starting bid.)
November 12, 2025 at 2:47 PM
“Cat and Part of Dog Behind Wood Stove as Work Day Begins, Making Clear They Will Not Contribute to Remunerative Work Today” (Sotheby’s Lot No. 375582, bidding starts 12:00 noon ET, $15,000 starting bid.)
Reposted by Bill Shein
A nice essay from a local newspaper editor.
"This isn’t my newspaper, it never was. It’s ours. And I thank you for the privilege of allowing us to start it, and to keep it going."
#localnews #newspaper
"This isn’t my newspaper, it never was. It’s ours. And I thank you for the privilege of allowing us to start it, and to keep it going."
#localnews #newspaper
AS WE SEE IT: This is your newspaper
Sometimes I think growing up in a society that values rugged individualism so strongly as a virtue can have some negative effects. Now, I'm not knocking individ
cartercountytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:46 AM
A nice essay from a local newspaper editor.
"This isn’t my newspaper, it never was. It’s ours. And I thank you for the privilege of allowing us to start it, and to keep it going."
#localnews #newspaper
"This isn’t my newspaper, it never was. It’s ours. And I thank you for the privilege of allowing us to start it, and to keep it going."
#localnews #newspaper
Reposted by Bill Shein
You go to one wild crazy party and do a few silly things, wake up relieved that photo cameras and social media don't exist yet and that soon everyone will have forgotten... but someone made a drawing...
Bernardus Paludanus's album(1550-1633)
National Library of the Netherlands
Bernardus Paludanus's album(1550-1633)
National Library of the Netherlands
November 12, 2025 at 3:37 AM
You go to one wild crazy party and do a few silly things, wake up relieved that photo cameras and social media don't exist yet and that soon everyone will have forgotten... but someone made a drawing...
Bernardus Paludanus's album(1550-1633)
National Library of the Netherlands
Bernardus Paludanus's album(1550-1633)
National Library of the Netherlands
Boy, this “hoax” has legs!
November 12, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Boy, this “hoax” has legs!
#philately friends: What are your favorite—or most hated?—novelty stamps? Like the Bhutan record stamps, various lenticular/“3D” stamps, metal stamps, others.
Been learning this week about the range of offbeat issues. Please share any images/interesting stories!
Been learning this week about the range of offbeat issues. Please share any images/interesting stories!
November 12, 2025 at 1:10 PM
#philately friends: What are your favorite—or most hated?—novelty stamps? Like the Bhutan record stamps, various lenticular/“3D” stamps, metal stamps, others.
Been learning this week about the range of offbeat issues. Please share any images/interesting stories!
Been learning this week about the range of offbeat issues. Please share any images/interesting stories!
We’re one episode into this and it’s pretty good so far. Great cast.
Death by Lightning review – absolutely nobody plays losers like Matthew Macfadyen
The Succession actor is utterly brilliant in every moment of this punchy historical miniseries. His portrayal of the crank who killed the US president in 1881 takes his mastery to the next level
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:28 PM
We’re one episode into this and it’s pretty good so far. Great cast.
Reposted by Bill Shein
Listen, I'm not saying I endorse brutal mockery of Avi Loeb's claims that every interstellar comet we see is an alien spaceship, but I will link to it because the aliens made me in order to sow doubt about their cometships.
oddnews.com/article/this...
oddnews.com/article/this...
“This Comet Thing Is Aliens,” Says Resident Harvard Fraud Avi Loeb
Like he does every week, without evidence.
oddnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Listen, I'm not saying I endorse brutal mockery of Avi Loeb's claims that every interstellar comet we see is an alien spaceship, but I will link to it because the aliens made me in order to sow doubt about their cometships.
oddnews.com/article/this...
oddnews.com/article/this...
I’ve been around politics long enough to recognize when someone is laying the groundwork for a campaign. And it’s very, very clear that this “FDR” guy is gearing up for a 2028 campaign—and with a pretty compelling message.
81 years ago, FDR proposed a second Bill of Rights to guarantee every American the right to employment, healthcare, education, housing, and a living income. His words are as relevant now as they were then. Watch.
November 12, 2025 at 12:08 PM
I’ve been around politics long enough to recognize when someone is laying the groundwork for a campaign. And it’s very, very clear that this “FDR” guy is gearing up for a 2028 campaign—and with a pretty compelling message.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong Part 67533678643
“Machines are rethinking what it is to be human, what it is to be alive,” said Michael Hecht, a chemistry professor at Princeton University focused on designing novel proteins and artificial genomes. “I find this very unsettling and staggering.”
“Machines are rethinking what it is to be human, what it is to be alive,” said Michael Hecht, a chemistry professor at Princeton University focused on designing novel proteins and artificial genomes. “I find this very unsettling and staggering.”
Inside the debate over a tech breakthrough raising questions about life itself
A research team at Stanford University has harnessed the power of AI to design phages, raising questions about the future of biotechnology and its applications.
wapo.st
November 12, 2025 at 10:02 AM
What Could Possibly Go Wrong Part 67533678643
“Machines are rethinking what it is to be human, what it is to be alive,” said Michael Hecht, a chemistry professor at Princeton University focused on designing novel proteins and artificial genomes. “I find this very unsettling and staggering.”
“Machines are rethinking what it is to be human, what it is to be alive,” said Michael Hecht, a chemistry professor at Princeton University focused on designing novel proteins and artificial genomes. “I find this very unsettling and staggering.”
Reminder: War is madness.
For Armistice Day, here's a letter my great uncle wrote to his old school in 1914 about the Christmas truce
November 12, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Reminder: War is madness.
He’s wrapping up after a full day of … this.
November 12, 2025 at 1:33 AM
He’s wrapping up after a full day of … this.
*Now* I understand why America’s chickens filed an amicus brief in the SCOTUS tariff case.
A shrinking of the American cattle herd, plus a tariff-driven decline in foreign imports, has led to a spike in beef prices.
Tyson Warns Of Plummeting Consumer Beef Purchases—As Chicken Sales Soar
A shrinking of the American cattle herd, plus a tariff-driven decline in foreign imports, has led to a spike in beef prices.
www.forbes.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM
*Now* I understand why America’s chickens filed an amicus brief in the SCOTUS tariff case.