Bradford Pilcher
@bradfordpilcher.bsky.social
Untrained creative. Semi-trained father. Completely clueless husband. Sometimes, I write things. Other times, I design things.
More of me at https://bradfordpilcher.com
More of me at https://bradfordpilcher.com
Adding to my Chanukah wishlist.
The second edition of FAULT LINES is here, updated to bring you up through the 2024 election. (No spoilers!)
November 17, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Adding to my Chanukah wishlist.
“Does your dollar bill need to be plugged in” seems like an incredibly clarifying way of framing the issue.
Techbros: “We reinvented money and now it’s computer money and it’s totally better than old money except also it’s value is still technically calculated by the standard of old money oh ALSO it needs more power than many countries, does your inferior dollar bill need to be plugged in? I THINK NOT.”
Bitcoin now consuming as much energy as the entire country of Pakistan.
That seems bad.
That seems bad.
November 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“Does your dollar bill need to be plugged in” seems like an incredibly clarifying way of framing the issue.
If I could pass any law, I might start with one that requires an onscreen graphic show the actual statistics whenever somebody makes a statistical claim, whether they get it right or they’re just lying their fugly faces off.
Rep. Keith Self on Newsmax: "If you saw Fox News just recently, groceries, gas, inflation in general is down under President Trump. Now, the mainstream media won't tell you that. But those are the actual numbers. We just have to get the American people understanding."
November 17, 2025 at 1:40 PM
If I could pass any law, I might start with one that requires an onscreen graphic show the actual statistics whenever somebody makes a statistical claim, whether they get it right or they’re just lying their fugly faces off.
Oh what I wouldn’t give to hear @jdickerson.bsky.social’s reaction to this joke/insight.
But also, what I wouldn’t give for more “are you fucking kidding me” expressions from our newscasters. Real @davidplotz.bsky.social level incredulity. The deadpan normalizes the bullshit lying.
But also, what I wouldn’t give for more “are you fucking kidding me” expressions from our newscasters. Real @davidplotz.bsky.social level incredulity. The deadpan normalizes the bullshit lying.
Posted this 5 years ago today, but it holds up.
“Trump doesn’t get nearly enough credit for how he’s helped an entire generation of newscasters hone their deadpan expression.”
“Trump doesn’t get nearly enough credit for how he’s helped an entire generation of newscasters hone their deadpan expression.”
November 17, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Oh what I wouldn’t give to hear @jdickerson.bsky.social’s reaction to this joke/insight.
But also, what I wouldn’t give for more “are you fucking kidding me” expressions from our newscasters. Real @davidplotz.bsky.social level incredulity. The deadpan normalizes the bullshit lying.
But also, what I wouldn’t give for more “are you fucking kidding me” expressions from our newscasters. Real @davidplotz.bsky.social level incredulity. The deadpan normalizes the bullshit lying.
Reposted by Bradford Pilcher
Listen to the soaring cadence, the beauty of the well-crafted words of a president who inspires...President Josiah Bartlett, as brought to life by Martin Sheen. There are things worth fighting for, things that will unite and lift up this nation...
November 15, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Listen to the soaring cadence, the beauty of the well-crafted words of a president who inspires...President Josiah Bartlett, as brought to life by Martin Sheen. There are things worth fighting for, things that will unite and lift up this nation...
If @bsky.app ever bans @scalzi.com it will be over. I will open this app and then feed my phone into a wood chipper. Speakers first.
November 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
If @bsky.app ever bans @scalzi.com it will be over. I will open this app and then feed my phone into a wood chipper. Speakers first.
I agree wholeheartedly with @sarahkendzior.bsky.social and her hand gesture towards @bsky.app moderators. This is for her and for Patton Oswalt.
November 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
I agree wholeheartedly with @sarahkendzior.bsky.social and her hand gesture towards @bsky.app moderators. This is for her and for Patton Oswalt.
Reposted by Bradford Pilcher
In a world of Megyn Kelly's be a Patton Oswalt.
November 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
In a world of Megyn Kelly's be a Patton Oswalt.
They fucking suspended Patton fucking Oswalt!? Are you fucking kidding me fucking @bsky.app!? For criticizing an underage sexual abuse apologist!? PATTON!? OSWALT!?
Was it the wood chipper that got you or the feet first!? What the absolute fuck!?
Was it the wood chipper that got you or the feet first!? What the absolute fuck!?
patton oswalt has been suspended from bluesky for saying that megyn kelly should be fed to a woodchipper for justifying the sexual abuse of minors
November 14, 2025 at 2:54 PM
They fucking suspended Patton fucking Oswalt!? Are you fucking kidding me fucking @bsky.app!? For criticizing an underage sexual abuse apologist!? PATTON!? OSWALT!?
Was it the wood chipper that got you or the feet first!? What the absolute fuck!?
Was it the wood chipper that got you or the feet first!? What the absolute fuck!?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa right there, buddy!
james bond is a relic, keep him dead, and the franchise
November 13, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa right there, buddy!
Reposted by Bradford Pilcher
This is more concise and more insightful than anything I have read in the last 50 years.
drwhy.net/freud
Please repost if you agree with that analysis
drwhy.net/freud
Please repost if you agree with that analysis
November 13, 2025 at 1:34 AM
This is more concise and more insightful than anything I have read in the last 50 years.
drwhy.net/freud
Please repost if you agree with that analysis
drwhy.net/freud
Please repost if you agree with that analysis
Is Dropbox out of their fucking minds?
No no no begs every archivist. You are never going to be able to find anything. Please don’t start using emojis in file names. Who asked for this? What fresh hell is next?
November 12, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Is Dropbox out of their fucking minds?
Can’t wait to listen to this one. Cory Doctorow’s theory of enshitification is a perfect distillation of our present socio-economic experience.
This week’s main Better Offline episode is the audio of my panel with Cory Doctorow at the Seattle Public Library, where we talked about Enshittification and The Rot Economy. Whitney Beltràn moderated.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Linktr.ee/betteroffline
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Linktr.ee/betteroffline
Cory Doctorow and Ed Zitron on Enshittification and the Rot Economy
Podcast Episode · Better Offline · 11/12/2025 · 58m
podcasts.apple.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Can’t wait to listen to this one. Cory Doctorow’s theory of enshitification is a perfect distillation of our present socio-economic experience.
Reposted by Bradford Pilcher
⚠️ Fascinating new research shows LLMs become misaligned when optimized for audience—even when explicitly instructed to remain truthful
Paper:
arxiv.org/pdf/2510.06105
Paper:
arxiv.org/pdf/2510.06105
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
⚠️ Fascinating new research shows LLMs become misaligned when optimized for audience—even when explicitly instructed to remain truthful
Paper:
arxiv.org/pdf/2510.06105
Paper:
arxiv.org/pdf/2510.06105
get to know your mutuals, list 10 random things you like (besides star trek):
- graphic design
- basketball
- science-fiction generally, Severance, BSG, Warehouse 13, Stargate, and B5 specifically
- @scalzi.com novels, particularly Old Man’s War and the Last Emperox
🧵
- graphic design
- basketball
- science-fiction generally, Severance, BSG, Warehouse 13, Stargate, and B5 specifically
- @scalzi.com novels, particularly Old Man’s War and the Last Emperox
🧵
get to know your mutuals, list 10 random things you like (besides star trek):
* jamaican food
* college football
* trivia (i auditioned for jeopardy twice)
* downeast maine
* mountain lakes
* call the midwife
* naval uniforms
* canada
* monasticism
* national parks
* jamaican food
* college football
* trivia (i auditioned for jeopardy twice)
* downeast maine
* mountain lakes
* call the midwife
* naval uniforms
* canada
* monasticism
* national parks
Get to know your Mutuals, list 10 Random things you like:
* trivia
* frozen Lake Michigan
* pineapple jalapeno prosciutto pizza
* 80s movies
* jigsaw puzzles
* Victorian era period pieces
* baking shows
* billiards
* greasy spoon dive diners
* meandering long walks that go nowhere
* trivia
* frozen Lake Michigan
* pineapple jalapeno prosciutto pizza
* 80s movies
* jigsaw puzzles
* Victorian era period pieces
* baking shows
* billiards
* greasy spoon dive diners
* meandering long walks that go nowhere
November 11, 2025 at 10:47 PM
get to know your mutuals, list 10 random things you like (besides star trek):
- graphic design
- basketball
- science-fiction generally, Severance, BSG, Warehouse 13, Stargate, and B5 specifically
- @scalzi.com novels, particularly Old Man’s War and the Last Emperox
🧵
- graphic design
- basketball
- science-fiction generally, Severance, BSG, Warehouse 13, Stargate, and B5 specifically
- @scalzi.com novels, particularly Old Man’s War and the Last Emperox
🧵
So @anthonyhorowitz.com, Bond novelist who doesn’t understand continuity is not a thing in the Bond universe, doesn’t appear to be active on social media, and that’s probably for the best.
November 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
So @anthonyhorowitz.com, Bond novelist who doesn’t understand continuity is not a thing in the Bond universe, doesn’t appear to be active on social media, and that’s probably for the best.
I don’t understand why Bond died his hair brunette in Dr. No. He was a good looking blonde when he earned his double-0 status in that Casino Royale prequel… wait, these aren’t canonically-consistent, interlocking films? This writer is talking out his rectum? Who could’ve imagined!?
James Bond’s death in No Time to Die is causing a nightmare for the next film. Writers are stuck because Bond “was blown to pieces.”
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
November 11, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I don’t understand why Bond died his hair brunette in Dr. No. He was a good looking blonde when he earned his double-0 status in that Casino Royale prequel… wait, these aren’t canonically-consistent, interlocking films? This writer is talking out his rectum? Who could’ve imagined!?
Reposted by Bradford Pilcher
Absolutely.
The far right took over the GOP through the long process of taking over local and county organizations and the left can do the same. It’s not an instant fix but it actually works.
The far right took over the GOP through the long process of taking over local and county organizations and the left can do the same. It’s not an instant fix but it actually works.
Join your county Democratic Party! There are shockingly few people willing to show up and those are the people who get to make decisions
November 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Absolutely.
The far right took over the GOP through the long process of taking over local and county organizations and the left can do the same. It’s not an instant fix but it actually works.
The far right took over the GOP through the long process of taking over local and county organizations and the left can do the same. It’s not an instant fix but it actually works.
How does one get a job working for @jvancitters.bsky.social or whoever is in charge of the Trek literary universe? You know… out of curiosity. Just asking…
November 10, 2025 at 6:12 PM
How does one get a job working for @jvancitters.bsky.social or whoever is in charge of the Trek literary universe? You know… out of curiosity. Just asking…
The worst part of the cave gang’s protestations that the shutdown wasn’t working to achieve their goals, aside from being horrible messaging, is that it _was_ working, if you understand politics to be entirely about building leverage and applying pressure to 🧵
November 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The worst part of the cave gang’s protestations that the shutdown wasn’t working to achieve their goals, aside from being horrible messaging, is that it _was_ working, if you understand politics to be entirely about building leverage and applying pressure to 🧵
I take it back. It’s not just Angus King. Apparently they all coordinated on the worst messaging strategy imaginable to explain the cave.
weirdly honest messaging from the breakaway mod/institutionalist leaders who blew up the party strategy
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
November 10, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I take it back. It’s not just Angus King. Apparently they all coordinated on the worst messaging strategy imaginable to explain the cave.
Angus King’s messaging may actually be the worst of the bunch when it comes to explaining the cave.
At least _try_ to say something like, “We didn’t cave. We achieved real things. What we did accomplished something.”
At least _try_ to say something like, “We didn’t cave. We achieved real things. What we did accomplished something.”
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Angus King’s messaging may actually be the worst of the bunch when it comes to explaining the cave.
At least _try_ to say something like, “We didn’t cave. We achieved real things. What we did accomplished something.”
At least _try_ to say something like, “We didn’t cave. We achieved real things. What we did accomplished something.”
Don’t believe in the inevitability or earth-shattering utility of what we call AI these days. It’s a story as old as any other snake oil charlatan’s.
Good morning! AI is being force-fed to you by a handful of billionaires who will lose a bunch of money if they fail to convince you that you need it. You do not need it 🫶
November 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Don’t believe in the inevitability or earth-shattering utility of what we call AI these days. It’s a story as old as any other snake oil charlatan’s.
Reposted by Bradford Pilcher
"The AI industry’s most important product at this moment is not a chatbot or a video generator; it’s the story the AI industry is telling about itself.... According to an MIT study, 95% of businesses that have deployed generative AI have gotten no value from it." www.theringer.com/2025/11/04/t...
How Catastrophic Is It If the AI Bubble Bursts? An FAQ.
The AI industry's most important product is not a chatbot or a video generator; it's the story the AI industry is telling about itself
www.theringer.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:00 AM
"The AI industry’s most important product at this moment is not a chatbot or a video generator; it’s the story the AI industry is telling about itself.... According to an MIT study, 95% of businesses that have deployed generative AI have gotten no value from it." www.theringer.com/2025/11/04/t...
Reposted by Bradford Pilcher
Brewster Kahle says that in the aftermath of the copyright attacks on the Archive, “the world became stupider.” I agree.
Internet Archive’s legal fights are over, but its founder mourns what was lost
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Internet Archive’s legal fights are over, but its founder mourns what was lost
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Internet Archive’s legal fights are over, but its founder mourns what was lost
“We survived, but it wiped out the library,” Internet Archive’s founder says.
arstechnica.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Brewster Kahle says that in the aftermath of the copyright attacks on the Archive, “the world became stupider.” I agree.
Internet Archive’s legal fights are over, but its founder mourns what was lost
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Internet Archive’s legal fights are over, but its founder mourns what was lost
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...