Civilian Reader
@civilianreader.com
Reader of books (biblio-Sisyphus), listener of music, watcher of movies, drinker of coffee & wine. (Same handle on Insta.) I also like basketball. Basically just ricocheting my way through life.
http://civilianreader.com
http://civilianreader.com
Reposted by Civilian Reader
The president is such a bumbling idiot he thinks tweeting out the word "hereby" a couple times on his white supremacist social media site is the same thing as making an actual law.
The only story here is the one about a mentally diminished, increasingly erratic president who thinks he's a king.
The only story here is the one about a mentally diminished, increasingly erratic president who thinks he's a king.
It should go without saying, but the president has no authority to do this, and anyone reporting the story needs to say as such.
November 28, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The president is such a bumbling idiot he thinks tweeting out the word "hereby" a couple times on his white supremacist social media site is the same thing as making an actual law.
The only story here is the one about a mentally diminished, increasingly erratic president who thinks he's a king.
The only story here is the one about a mentally diminished, increasingly erratic president who thinks he's a king.
Reposted by Civilian Reader
At first you're like, why does this have a wiki page
Then you find out it might be the best wiki page ever
Then you find out it might be the best wiki page ever
November 28, 2025 at 10:00 PM
At first you're like, why does this have a wiki page
Then you find out it might be the best wiki page ever
Then you find out it might be the best wiki page ever
Reposted by Civilian Reader
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
November 28, 2025 at 10:15 PM
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
Reposted by Civilian Reader
"It's too much of a black box."
Insurance Companies Are Terrified to Cover AI, Which Should Probably Tell You Something
Three major insurance companies have requested permission to exclude AI from their policies as anxiety grows throughout the industry.
trib.al
November 26, 2025 at 2:01 AM
"It's too much of a black box."
Reposted by Civilian Reader
It's far more efficient when not being bogged down by all that censorship.
Researchers Hack DeepSeek to Speak Freely About Tiananmen Square
Researchers claim to have found a workaround to AI model DeepSeek's Chinese censorship, slimming it down in the process.
trib.al
November 28, 2025 at 7:46 PM
It's far more efficient when not being bogged down by all that censorship.
Reposted by Civilian Reader
But our shiny new toys!
The Economy Is Sputtering as People Keep Using Their Old Phones That Work Fine
Consider ditching your old phone and buying a new one to boost the economy run by trillion dollar monoliths.
trib.al
November 28, 2025 at 9:32 PM
But our shiny new toys!
Yup
I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.
November 28, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Yup
Reposted by Civilian Reader
We’re delighted to announce The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky (@aptshadow.bsky.social), a massive—37 stories, more than 600 pages—collection by the author of many acclaimed novels. Featuring a foreword by @scalzi.com. Full details and preorder: subterraneanpress.com/newsannounci...
Announcing THE BEST OF ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY—Over 600 Pages!
We’re delighted to announce The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky, a massive—37 stories, more than 600 pages—collection by the author of many acclaimed novels, including Alien Clay, Shroud,...
subterraneanpress.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
We’re delighted to announce The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky (@aptshadow.bsky.social), a massive—37 stories, more than 600 pages—collection by the author of many acclaimed novels. Featuring a foreword by @scalzi.com. Full details and preorder: subterraneanpress.com/newsannounci...
Reposted by Civilian Reader
The media treated Biden's pardon of Hunter for trumped-up gun possession charges as more scandalous - far more scandalous - than Trump's pardon of war criminal serial killer Eddie Gallagher. And here we are:
Exclusive: Hegseth ordered everyone killed in the first alleged drug boat strike on Sept. 2, prompting a second hit to finish off survivors in the water in a mission led by SEAL Team 6. Ordering no quarter could legally perilous www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
The media treated Biden's pardon of Hunter for trumped-up gun possession charges as more scandalous - far more scandalous - than Trump's pardon of war criminal serial killer Eddie Gallagher. And here we are:
Reposted by Civilian Reader
What a great headline
November 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
What a great headline
Good episode, this!
Also available as an audio-only podcast on all good podcast streamers so you don't have to look at my face:
Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/4KiQ...
Player FM:
player.fm/series/galax...
Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/4KiQ...
Player FM:
player.fm/series/galax...
America’s Slide Toward Simulated Democracy with Eliot Higgins
Podcast Episode · Galaxy Brain · 11/28/2025 · 59m
podcasts.apple.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Good episode, this!
Ah, we finally reach Black Friday. The day when the flood of damned sale emails starts slowing down…
November 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Ah, we finally reach Black Friday. The day when the flood of damned sale emails starts slowing down…
Book People is fantastic. Only been to Austin once, but pretty much made a beeline to it on day one.
Thanks Gabino!
Today y’all should head over to @bookpeople.com and buy lots of books.
Mine, Gabino’s, errbody’s. 🖤
Today y’all should head over to @bookpeople.com and buy lots of books.
Mine, Gabino’s, errbody’s. 🖤
November 28, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Book People is fantastic. Only been to Austin once, but pretty much made a beeline to it on day one.
Reposted by Civilian Reader
Today is the anniversary of the British evacuating New York City after the end of the Revolutionary War. Here's how I learned about it: the piece that introduced me to the terrific work of @bencarp.bsky.social
Evacuation Day: Marking the End of the Revolutionary War
We know how to honor the image of soldiers charging forward, but we often forget to cheer the backs of troops as they peaceably depart.
werehistory.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Today is the anniversary of the British evacuating New York City after the end of the Revolutionary War. Here's how I learned about it: the piece that introduced me to the terrific work of @bencarp.bsky.social
Reposted by Civilian Reader
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Civilian Reader
This is absolutely true. I worked at a small indie store and if a book that wasn't from a major author sold within a month of being brought in, we would reorder. The margin for success is tiny in small bookstores.
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 28, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This is absolutely true. I worked at a small indie store and if a book that wasn't from a major author sold within a month of being brought in, we would reorder. The margin for success is tiny in small bookstores.
Reposted by Civilian Reader
I don’t get it, why does making art become unsatisfying when you remove the part where your brain works and is rewarded with a sense of accomplishment
November 28, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I don’t get it, why does making art become unsatisfying when you remove the part where your brain works and is rewarded with a sense of accomplishment
Reposted by Civilian Reader
A reminder: Trump 1.0 ordered the Afghanistan withdrawal, and Trump 2.0 granted the shooter asylum this past April. Trump 2.0 also dismantled the joint terrorism task force, and gutted our national security apparatus.
CIA statement about the Afghan man identified as the gunman who shot two National Guardsmen in Washington
November 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
A reminder: Trump 1.0 ordered the Afghanistan withdrawal, and Trump 2.0 granted the shooter asylum this past April. Trump 2.0 also dismantled the joint terrorism task force, and gutted our national security apparatus.
Reposted by Civilian Reader
A vaccine is a cheat sheet for your immune system.
💉 One thing I rarely see explained is how vaccination *is* "natural immunity".
The immunity is developed by your body not the vaccine. The vaccine itself doesn’t do the work.
I think the confusion partly comes from a phrase scientists use. 🧵⬇️
1/n
The immunity is developed by your body not the vaccine. The vaccine itself doesn’t do the work.
I think the confusion partly comes from a phrase scientists use. 🧵⬇️
1/n
RFK Jr.’s new CDC deputy director prefers “natural immunity” over vaccines
Ralph Abraham is “dangerous,” but somehow not the worst among those considered.
arstechnica.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:59 PM
A vaccine is a cheat sheet for your immune system.
It was a fun game.
Seemed like both teams were often confused by some of the refs’ calls.
Seemed like both teams were often confused by some of the refs’ calls.
As Brandon Ingram went at Pascal Siakam in the waning seconds on Wednesday night, I was reminded of two important NBA lessons: 1. Things can change quickly: 2. Don't let a bad context blind you of what a skilled player can do.
Brandon Ingram’s game winner over Pascal Siakam shows how quickly NBA changes
Thanks to Ingram, the Toronto Raptors — winners of nine in a row — cannot find a way to lose.
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:45 PM
It was a fun game.
Seemed like both teams were often confused by some of the refs’ calls.
Seemed like both teams were often confused by some of the refs’ calls.
Finally started DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC by Candice Millard. I’ve been aware of it for years, but for some reason just never got around to reading it. A few chapters in, very much enjoying it.
Out now, published by Vintage:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/114423...
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
Out now, published by Vintage:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/114423...
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard: 9780767929714 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
The inspiration for the Netflix series Death by Lightning – now streaming! • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The extraordinary account of James Garfield's rise from poverty to the American...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Finally started DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC by Candice Millard. I’ve been aware of it for years, but for some reason just never got around to reading it. A few chapters in, very much enjoying it.
Out now, published by Vintage:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/114423...
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
Out now, published by Vintage:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/114423...
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
Reposted by Civilian Reader
Absolutely solid rave from the children, just like this Maurice Sendak story! www.openculture.com/2015/09/maur...
November 27, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Absolutely solid rave from the children, just like this Maurice Sendak story! www.openculture.com/2015/09/maur...
Sigh. One of my favourite wineries used AI for their recent post/ad. One of their reds apparently is made from an indecipherable kind of “hops”, and another red is a “Cablenet Salvionon”… FFS.
November 27, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Sigh. One of my favourite wineries used AI for their recent post/ad. One of their reds apparently is made from an indecipherable kind of “hops”, and another red is a “Cablenet Salvionon”… FFS.
Reposted by Civilian Reader
Cover Reveal!
“The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy" arrives on August 4, 2026.
How extremist tech billionaires are dismantling democracy to crown themselves as kings—and what we can do about it.
Please pre-order! ➡️ www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
“The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy" arrives on August 4, 2026.
How extremist tech billionaires are dismantling democracy to crown themselves as kings—and what we can do about it.
Please pre-order! ➡️ www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
November 26, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Cover Reveal!
“The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy" arrives on August 4, 2026.
How extremist tech billionaires are dismantling democracy to crown themselves as kings—and what we can do about it.
Please pre-order! ➡️ www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
“The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy" arrives on August 4, 2026.
How extremist tech billionaires are dismantling democracy to crown themselves as kings—and what we can do about it.
Please pre-order! ➡️ www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
Reposted by Civilian Reader
ICYMI, CREED turns 10 this week.
"Our movie, it’s like a weird baby of Rocky, Rocky II, and Rocky V. But it’s about Apollo Creed, so obviously, III and IV have to be in there, right? It’s like this amalgamation of all the movies before it."
www.theringer.com/2025/11/25/m...
"Our movie, it’s like a weird baby of Rocky, Rocky II, and Rocky V. But it’s about Apollo Creed, so obviously, III and IV have to be in there, right? It’s like this amalgamation of all the movies before it."
www.theringer.com/2025/11/25/m...
If I Fight, You Fight: The Oral History of ‘Creed’
Ten years ago, Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan cemented their partnership and pulled off a million-to-one shot, bringing the ‘Rocky’ franchise into a new era
www.theringer.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
ICYMI, CREED turns 10 this week.
"Our movie, it’s like a weird baby of Rocky, Rocky II, and Rocky V. But it’s about Apollo Creed, so obviously, III and IV have to be in there, right? It’s like this amalgamation of all the movies before it."
www.theringer.com/2025/11/25/m...
"Our movie, it’s like a weird baby of Rocky, Rocky II, and Rocky V. But it’s about Apollo Creed, so obviously, III and IV have to be in there, right? It’s like this amalgamation of all the movies before it."
www.theringer.com/2025/11/25/m...