Brian Gongol
@briangongol.bsky.social
Make money. Have fun. Clean up after yourself. Mind your business.
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Brian Gongol
@briangongol.bsky.social
· Dec 7
Digital Ouija
On "Three's Company", the Mandela effect, and the two very different paths that we could take towards digitally preserving and accessing the essence of a person after they die
issues.eveningpostandmail.com
Column #1,196: Memory is already fragile at best and easily corrupted at worst, and introducing convincing synthetic remakes of deceased people creates a wildly fraught ethical trap -- especially when AI hallucinations are already a known hazard.
issues.eveningpostandmail.com/p/digital-ou...
issues.eveningpostandmail.com/p/digital-ou...
"A final victory is an accumulation of many short-term encounters. To lightly dismiss a success because it does not usher in a complete order of justice is to fail to comprehend the process of achieving full victory."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
a.co/07lGS4oK
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
a.co/07lGS4oK
Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (King Legacy Book 2)
Quote shared via Kindle: "A final victory is an accumulation of many short-term encounters. To lightly dismiss a success because it does not usher in a complete order of justice is to fail to comprehe...
a.co
February 13, 2026 at 2:52 PM
"A final victory is an accumulation of many short-term encounters. To lightly dismiss a success because it does not usher in a complete order of justice is to fail to comprehend the process of achieving full victory."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
a.co/07lGS4oK
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
a.co/07lGS4oK
Maybe we *do* want them to ignore each other and stay glued to their phones...depending on the context.
February 11, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Maybe we *do* want them to ignore each other and stay glued to their phones...depending on the context.
ChiTrib | Bovino praised CBP officer for shooting Chicago woman
DW | Syrian relocation push
NHK | Starmer not quitting
#newsnightwatch
DW | Syrian relocation push
NHK | Starmer not quitting
#newsnightwatch
February 11, 2026 at 7:06 AM
ChiTrib | Bovino praised CBP officer for shooting Chicago woman
DW | Syrian relocation push
NHK | Starmer not quitting
#newsnightwatch
DW | Syrian relocation push
NHK | Starmer not quitting
#newsnightwatch
Tonight's lead stories 🗞 (at 00:56 CST):
ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, USAT, LAT, NPR | Nancy Guthrie abduction
NYT, BBC, AP, Reuters, CBC | BC mass shooting
WaPo, S&S | No indictment for Kelly, Slotkin, et al.
WSJ | Warner/Netflix deal threatened
ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, USAT, LAT, NPR | Nancy Guthrie abduction
NYT, BBC, AP, Reuters, CBC | BC mass shooting
WaPo, S&S | No indictment for Kelly, Slotkin, et al.
WSJ | Warner/Netflix deal threatened
February 11, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Tonight's lead stories 🗞 (at 00:56 CST):
ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, USAT, LAT, NPR | Nancy Guthrie abduction
NYT, BBC, AP, Reuters, CBC | BC mass shooting
WaPo, S&S | No indictment for Kelly, Slotkin, et al.
WSJ | Warner/Netflix deal threatened
ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, USAT, LAT, NPR | Nancy Guthrie abduction
NYT, BBC, AP, Reuters, CBC | BC mass shooting
WaPo, S&S | No indictment for Kelly, Slotkin, et al.
WSJ | Warner/Netflix deal threatened
Reuters | "As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts"
CBC | "Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between Windsor and Detroit"
#newsnightwatch
CBC | "Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between Windsor and Detroit"
#newsnightwatch
February 10, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Reuters | "As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts"
CBC | "Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between Windsor and Detroit"
#newsnightwatch
CBC | "Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between Windsor and Detroit"
#newsnightwatch
NPR | "Lindsey Vonn says she suffered 'complex tibia fracture' in her Olympic downhill crash"
AP | "US skater Amber Glenn faces fallout over politics and issues with music copyright after Olympic gold"
AP | "US skater Amber Glenn faces fallout over politics and issues with music copyright after Olympic gold"
February 10, 2026 at 6:27 AM
NPR | "Lindsey Vonn says she suffered 'complex tibia fracture' in her Olympic downhill crash"
AP | "US skater Amber Glenn faces fallout over politics and issues with music copyright after Olympic gold"
AP | "US skater Amber Glenn faces fallout over politics and issues with music copyright after Olympic gold"
WSJ | "Trump to repeal landmark climate finding in huge regulatory rollback"
LAT | "Schiff endorses Swalwell for California governor"
ChiTrib | "Gov. JB Pritzker talked Bears with NFL commissioner"
BBC | "King's 'profound concern' as police consider Andrew claims over Epstein"
LAT | "Schiff endorses Swalwell for California governor"
ChiTrib | "Gov. JB Pritzker talked Bears with NFL commissioner"
BBC | "King's 'profound concern' as police consider Andrew claims over Epstein"
February 10, 2026 at 6:27 AM
WSJ | "Trump to repeal landmark climate finding in huge regulatory rollback"
LAT | "Schiff endorses Swalwell for California governor"
ChiTrib | "Gov. JB Pritzker talked Bears with NFL commissioner"
BBC | "King's 'profound concern' as police consider Andrew claims over Epstein"
LAT | "Schiff endorses Swalwell for California governor"
ChiTrib | "Gov. JB Pritzker talked Bears with NFL commissioner"
BBC | "King's 'profound concern' as police consider Andrew claims over Epstein"
CNN | "Savannah Guthrie appeals to the public in new video"
NYT | "Newly unbound, Trump weighs more nuclear arms and underground tests"
WaPo | "Justice Dept. seeks to undo Bannon’s conviction for defying Jan. 6 subpoena"
USAT | "Will DHS shut down? Reform talks between Dems, White House ongoing"
NYT | "Newly unbound, Trump weighs more nuclear arms and underground tests"
WaPo | "Justice Dept. seeks to undo Bannon’s conviction for defying Jan. 6 subpoena"
USAT | "Will DHS shut down? Reform talks between Dems, White House ongoing"
February 10, 2026 at 6:27 AM
CNN | "Savannah Guthrie appeals to the public in new video"
NYT | "Newly unbound, Trump weighs more nuclear arms and underground tests"
WaPo | "Justice Dept. seeks to undo Bannon’s conviction for defying Jan. 6 subpoena"
USAT | "Will DHS shut down? Reform talks between Dems, White House ongoing"
NYT | "Newly unbound, Trump weighs more nuclear arms and underground tests"
WaPo | "Justice Dept. seeks to undo Bannon’s conviction for defying Jan. 6 subpoena"
USAT | "Will DHS shut down? Reform talks between Dems, White House ongoing"
Tonight's lead stories 🗞 (at 00:15 CST):
ABC | "Ex-police chief says Trump told him 'thank goodness you're stopping' Epstein"
CBS | "Less than 14% of those ICE arrested had violent criminal records"
NBC | "Backlash to Trump emboldens Democrats on DHS and ICE as partial shutdown looms"
ABC | "Ex-police chief says Trump told him 'thank goodness you're stopping' Epstein"
CBS | "Less than 14% of those ICE arrested had violent criminal records"
NBC | "Backlash to Trump emboldens Democrats on DHS and ICE as partial shutdown looms"
February 10, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Tonight's lead stories 🗞 (at 00:15 CST):
ABC | "Ex-police chief says Trump told him 'thank goodness you're stopping' Epstein"
CBS | "Less than 14% of those ICE arrested had violent criminal records"
NBC | "Backlash to Trump emboldens Democrats on DHS and ICE as partial shutdown looms"
ABC | "Ex-police chief says Trump told him 'thank goodness you're stopping' Epstein"
CBS | "Less than 14% of those ICE arrested had violent criminal records"
NBC | "Backlash to Trump emboldens Democrats on DHS and ICE as partial shutdown looms"
Footnotes and marginalia for the win!
It’s this literal slop that has encouraged my new obsession of collecting old used cookbooks. 100 times more educational and in touch with humanity especially when I find notes from someone’s grandmother scribbled in the margins. May the ai bubble soon burst. 💥
February 8, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Footnotes and marginalia for the win!
Serious food for thought here:
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
Focus on Speaking Is Ancient Answer to AI Writing (opinion)
Returning to a focus on speaking offers distinct benefits.
www.insidehighered.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Serious food for thought here:
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
Shared with endorsement.
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when I read intelligent people talking about AI agents as if they're sentient beings -- especially when they speculate about AI models having "feelings".
Feelings are *physiological* conditions. Can't have 'em without senses or chemistry.
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when I read intelligent people talking about AI agents as if they're sentient beings -- especially when they speculate about AI models having "feelings".
Feelings are *physiological* conditions. Can't have 'em without senses or chemistry.
January 30, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Shared with endorsement.
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when I read intelligent people talking about AI agents as if they're sentient beings -- especially when they speculate about AI models having "feelings".
Feelings are *physiological* conditions. Can't have 'em without senses or chemistry.
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when I read intelligent people talking about AI agents as if they're sentient beings -- especially when they speculate about AI models having "feelings".
Feelings are *physiological* conditions. Can't have 'em without senses or chemistry.
"Every human being has the right to live with dignity and to develop integrally; this fundamental right cannot be denied by any country."
- Pope Francis
- Pope Francis
January 30, 2026 at 7:57 PM
"Every human being has the right to live with dignity and to develop integrally; this fundamental right cannot be denied by any country."
- Pope Francis
- Pope Francis
These are the kinds of mundane little improvements that many people overlook. But they're products (and reflections) of a peaceful world order governed by the kinds of rules and institutions that too many people want to destroy.
January 30, 2026 at 3:20 AM
These are the kinds of mundane little improvements that many people overlook. But they're products (and reflections) of a peaceful world order governed by the kinds of rules and institutions that too many people want to destroy.
Progress can be measured in many ways, but here's one: For less than the cost of eating at the cheapest fast-food joint, we had fresh salmon, whole wheat orzo, cherry tomatoes, and a side of applesaucefor dinner tonight. You can thank trade, consumer demand, and rising standards of living for that.
January 30, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Progress can be measured in many ways, but here's one: For less than the cost of eating at the cheapest fast-food joint, we had fresh salmon, whole wheat orzo, cherry tomatoes, and a side of applesaucefor dinner tonight. You can thank trade, consumer demand, and rising standards of living for that.
Scalper's Delight
January 30, 2026 at 3:03 AM
Scalper's Delight
This, friends, is what we know as Baumol's Cost Disease.
You can't play a quartet with only three musicians. And if you want someone with other career options to become a musician, you have to pay them wages comparable to those other options.
You can't play a quartet with only three musicians. And if you want someone with other career options to become a musician, you have to pay them wages comparable to those other options.
Reddit wants live theater to be high quality, with professionally built sets, a live orchestra, and everyone paid a living wage with benefits, and also tickets should be $20 or less so art is accessible to everyone and then gets mad when you point out those goals are not mutually compatible.
January 29, 2026 at 10:25 PM
This, friends, is what we know as Baumol's Cost Disease.
You can't play a quartet with only three musicians. And if you want someone with other career options to become a musician, you have to pay them wages comparable to those other options.
You can't play a quartet with only three musicians. And if you want someone with other career options to become a musician, you have to pay them wages comparable to those other options.
Just calls for regional customization. For instance, Midwesterners may be responsive to conversions like:
CIG1 ➙ Dad will be taking video of the tornado, be sure he has enough battery
CIG2 ➙ Don't let Dad off the front porch while he's taking the tornado video
CIG3 ➙ Even Dad is in the basement
CIG1 ➙ Dad will be taking video of the tornado, be sure he has enough battery
CIG2 ➙ Don't let Dad off the front porch while he's taking the tornado video
CIG3 ➙ Even Dad is in the basement
January 29, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Just calls for regional customization. For instance, Midwesterners may be responsive to conversions like:
CIG1 ➙ Dad will be taking video of the tornado, be sure he has enough battery
CIG2 ➙ Don't let Dad off the front porch while he's taking the tornado video
CIG3 ➙ Even Dad is in the basement
CIG1 ➙ Dad will be taking video of the tornado, be sure he has enough battery
CIG2 ➙ Don't let Dad off the front porch while he's taking the tornado video
CIG3 ➙ Even Dad is in the basement
"Anything really worth doing begins as a kludge."
- Ada Lovelace, probably
- Ada Lovelace, probably
January 29, 2026 at 8:41 PM
"Anything really worth doing begins as a kludge."
- Ada Lovelace, probably
- Ada Lovelace, probably
Looks maybe a bit like a Daryl Full-Time Re-Coding Job Security Thing.
January 29, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Looks maybe a bit like a Daryl Full-Time Re-Coding Job Security Thing.
On MI6, Mitt Romney, and the steady stream of new opportunities to do better than those who have set up an unstable world (490 words) ⤵️
issues.eveningpostandmail.com/p/the-space-...
issues.eveningpostandmail.com/p/the-space-...
The space between peace and war
On MI6, Mitt Romney, and the steady stream of new opportunities to do better than those who have set up an unstable world
issues.eveningpostandmail.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:00 AM
On MI6, Mitt Romney, and the steady stream of new opportunities to do better than those who have set up an unstable world (490 words) ⤵️
issues.eveningpostandmail.com/p/the-space-...
issues.eveningpostandmail.com/p/the-space-...
If everyone else is up for it, I'm OK with raising a generation of kids who are sarcastic but largely wholesome.
My children are currently watching what appears to be a Peppa Pig twitch stream where a guy is watching Peppa Pig and doing the most G rated MST3K of it you can imagine, and this was not what I was up to when I was eleven and had access to, well, anything I wanted to watch
January 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM
If everyone else is up for it, I'm OK with raising a generation of kids who are sarcastic but largely wholesome.
It appears to stretch from the window to the wall, and then some.
January 24, 2026 at 5:05 AM
It appears to stretch from the window to the wall, and then some.
Not only are those first six articles not objectionable, they're affirmatively good ideas.
January 23, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Not only are those first six articles not objectionable, they're affirmatively good ideas.
Article 1: Let's figure out our differences peacefully.
Article 2: Let's promote free institutions as a self-evident good.
Article 3: Let's be porcupines together and deter invasions.
Article 4: Teamwork, friends.
Article 5: All for one, one for all.
Article 6: Borders are borders.
Article 2: Let's promote free institutions as a self-evident good.
Article 3: Let's be porcupines together and deter invasions.
Article 4: Teamwork, friends.
Article 5: All for one, one for all.
Article 6: Borders are borders.
January 23, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Article 1: Let's figure out our differences peacefully.
Article 2: Let's promote free institutions as a self-evident good.
Article 3: Let's be porcupines together and deter invasions.
Article 4: Teamwork, friends.
Article 5: All for one, one for all.
Article 6: Borders are borders.
Article 2: Let's promote free institutions as a self-evident good.
Article 3: Let's be porcupines together and deter invasions.
Article 4: Teamwork, friends.
Article 5: All for one, one for all.
Article 6: Borders are borders.