Elbonian
@elbonian.bsky.social
Mostly retired. Working to be a philosopher king.
Andreesen is owned by the vulture capitalists who provide him with the billions he needs to grow his company. The very nature of capitalism is to seek profit regardless of moral considerations. Moral constraints on technology are against profitability. Thus capitalism has always been anti-morals.
Marc Andreesen,🥚, picked a fight with *the Pope* over a pretty basic call to exercise discernment when building AI.
Marc truly believes that any constraint on anything he does is fundamentally illegitimate.
Marc truly believes that any constraint on anything he does is fundamentally illegitimate.
November 9, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Andreesen is owned by the vulture capitalists who provide him with the billions he needs to grow his company. The very nature of capitalism is to seek profit regardless of moral considerations. Moral constraints on technology are against profitability. Thus capitalism has always been anti-morals.
I'm attending Indivisible's event, “Organizing with Care: Building Community Through Solidarity” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/indivisible/...
Organizing with Care: Building Community Through Solidarity · Indivisible
This moment calls for organizers who lead with courage and community. Join Indivisible and Solidarity Pledge for an interactive training on what it means to be a solidarity organizer—someone who conne...
www.mobilize.us
November 9, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I'm attending Indivisible's event, “Organizing with Care: Building Community Through Solidarity” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/indivisible/...
If you do not follow this Aussie economics brain, you should.
Every Friday night, as the markets close, a chill runs down my spine. Somewhere in D.C., a comms official is whispering, “Perfect time to announce it.”
November 7, 2025 at 11:01 PM
If you do not follow this Aussie economics brain, you should.
From the Clinton/Carville "It's the economy, stupid!" to Mamdani, Spanberger, and Sherrill's relentless focus on affordability, the Dems know how to win. In 2026 the Dems should have a Gingrich-like Contract With America focusing on affordability.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Leftist and centrist Democrats won on Tuesday. So what’s the party’s lesson? | Dustin Guastella
Zohran Mamdani, Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill focused their messages on the economy, but structural problems endure
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:44 PM
From the Clinton/Carville "It's the economy, stupid!" to Mamdani, Spanberger, and Sherrill's relentless focus on affordability, the Dems know how to win. In 2026 the Dems should have a Gingrich-like Contract With America focusing on affordability.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump's mind is so far gone he needs the sign to remember where his office entrance is.
Newsom's "Live, Laugh, LOSE" text is awesome, but it doesn't hit the mark against Trump's mental decline.
Newsom's "Live, Laugh, LOSE" text is awesome, but it doesn't hit the mark against Trump's mental decline.
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Trump's mind is so far gone he needs the sign to remember where his office entrance is.
Newsom's "Live, Laugh, LOSE" text is awesome, but it doesn't hit the mark against Trump's mental decline.
Newsom's "Live, Laugh, LOSE" text is awesome, but it doesn't hit the mark against Trump's mental decline.
Reposted by Elbonian
Troll level: master.
Gavin Newsom Hilariously Trolls Trump's Bizarre New Golden Sign Spotted Outside The Oval Office
www.comicsands.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Troll level: master.
Dems should adopt a Gingrich-like Contract With America emphasizing affordability issues. Child care. Health care. Utility regulations, including a pivot back to clean energy to reduce costs.
New: A new DNC memo on the party’s election wins provides a sense of Democrats’ plans to pivot to the midterms.
They include talking a lot about
“Our big tent party” and Trump forcing the country into “a gilded recession”
time.com/7331992/demo...
They include talking a lot about
“Our big tent party” and Trump forcing the country into “a gilded recession”
time.com/7331992/demo...
Exclusive: How Democrats Plan to Pivot to Midterms
The Democratic National Committee has laid out how Tuesday's "blue sweep" created the blueprint for 2026, in a memo obtained first by TIME.
time.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Dems should adopt a Gingrich-like Contract With America emphasizing affordability issues. Child care. Health care. Utility regulations, including a pivot back to clean energy to reduce costs.
The AP investigation found most of the men killed by Trump are small time criminals making a boat run for something like $500 to supplement their normal income of about $100 per month. As usual, the root of drug dealing is poverty.
The Trump administration alleges the boats targeted by recent U.S. strikes were being operated by narco-terrorists and cartel members. The AP identified four of the men who were on the boats—and found the truth is far more nuanced.
Trump has accused boat crews of being narco-terrorists. The truth, AP found, is more nuanced
One was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month. Another was a career criminal. A third was a former military cadet.
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The AP investigation found most of the men killed by Trump are small time criminals making a boat run for something like $500 to supplement their normal income of about $100 per month. As usual, the root of drug dealing is poverty.
The wealthy will not allow the end of scarcity. To achieve that goal, we need a socialist government. I also don't believe that AI extinguishes humanity. The Terminator was a fun movie, but surely we won't allow robots to kill us. So, as always, the middle path is most likely.
November 6, 2025 at 10:28 PM
The wealthy will not allow the end of scarcity. To achieve that goal, we need a socialist government. I also don't believe that AI extinguishes humanity. The Terminator was a fun movie, but surely we won't allow robots to kill us. So, as always, the middle path is most likely.
Quantum Machines (QMs) are the perfect platform for running AI because they are so blindingly fast that you can run multiple computes of the same problem and vote for the best answer, which is perfect to offset AI hallucinations. The issue is getting QMs out of the lab.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Will quantum be bigger than AI?
The highly-complex technology is increasingly being tipped to transform computing.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Quantum Machines (QMs) are the perfect platform for running AI because they are so blindingly fast that you can run multiple computes of the same problem and vote for the best answer, which is perfect to offset AI hallucinations. The issue is getting QMs out of the lab.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
So, they did the obesity version of the drug but not the diabetes version of the drug? I take Osempic for my diabetes. It works great. But it costs Medicare about $1,350 per month out of which I pay about $75 per month. It is the exact same drug in a different dose. Why can't I save too?
President Trump on Thursday announced a deal that could significantly expand access for millions of Americans to hugely popular obesity drugs by reducing the price to as little as $150 a month. nyti.ms/3LzfeMR
November 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
So, they did the obesity version of the drug but not the diabetes version of the drug? I take Osempic for my diabetes. It works great. But it costs Medicare about $1,350 per month out of which I pay about $75 per month. It is the exact same drug in a different dose. Why can't I save too?
It isn't just the insurance problem. A lot of properties in these cities are condos who are facing huge bills for inspections and fixes after new laws put requirements in place following the tragic collapse of a condo near Miami a few years ago. Blame what the Rs did in the legislature!
November 5, 2025 at 2:07 PM
It isn't just the insurance problem. A lot of properties in these cities are condos who are facing huge bills for inspections and fixes after new laws put requirements in place following the tragic collapse of a condo near Miami a few years ago. Blame what the Rs did in the legislature!
Reposted by Elbonian
The fact that Democrats won both elections yesterday for the Georgia Public Service Commission is remarkable enough (no Democrat had won a non-federal statewide race in GA since 2006).
But both won by a margin of 63% to 37%. In Georgia.
results.sos.ga.gov/results/publ...
But both won by a margin of 63% to 37%. In Georgia.
results.sos.ga.gov/results/publ...
November 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The fact that Democrats won both elections yesterday for the Georgia Public Service Commission is remarkable enough (no Democrat had won a non-federal statewide race in GA since 2006).
But both won by a margin of 63% to 37%. In Georgia.
results.sos.ga.gov/results/publ...
But both won by a margin of 63% to 37%. In Georgia.
results.sos.ga.gov/results/publ...
For many years Democrats have been trying to break the monopoly of Republicans on Georgia's Public Service Commission which regulates Georgia Power and other utilities. Now, after years of litigation, yesterday's special election delivered two seats to Democrats.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
In an Upset, Democrats Oust Two Republicans on Georgia’s Utility Board
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:59 AM
For many years Democrats have been trying to break the monopoly of Republicans on Georgia's Public Service Commission which regulates Georgia Power and other utilities. Now, after years of litigation, yesterday's special election delivered two seats to Democrats.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
Sometimes I have to wonder: is someone in the Trump administration part of that weird Christian cult that believes the Earth must be destroyed before Jesus will arrive to save them? Or is thus just the usual incompetency of Trump and his minions? What do you think it is?
Forrest Smith, the only National Park Service engineer cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells, lost his contract, leaving 93 orphaned wells on park lands unmanaged. These leaking wells release methane and toxins, threatening human health and the environment.
He Alone Tracked Leaky Oil Wells in National Parks. He Was Let Go.
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Sometimes I have to wonder: is someone in the Trump administration part of that weird Christian cult that believes the Earth must be destroyed before Jesus will arrive to save them? Or is thus just the usual incompetency of Trump and his minions? What do you think it is?
MAGA is increasingly trying to deport anyone who disagrees with them.
"To be clear, Trump can’t legally take away the citizenship of someone born in the US. But as we all know by now, Trump rarely seems to look at the law as an impediment."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"To be clear, Trump can’t legally take away the citizenship of someone born in the US. But as we all know by now, Trump rarely seems to look at the law as an impediment."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Katie Miller is threatening the citizenship of a critic | Arwa Mahdawi
Threatening to deport your critics, even those with US citizenship, seems to have become Maga policy
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:25 PM
MAGA is increasingly trying to deport anyone who disagrees with them.
"To be clear, Trump can’t legally take away the citizenship of someone born in the US. But as we all know by now, Trump rarely seems to look at the law as an impediment."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"To be clear, Trump can’t legally take away the citizenship of someone born in the US. But as we all know by now, Trump rarely seems to look at the law as an impediment."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
MSNBC just displayed a slide claiming that food costs are up nearly 50% in 5 years. "Fight for 15" is so 2020. $22.50 is the 2025 version of $15 in 2020. So, yes, "fight for 25!"
on the merits even 15 is far too low now, it wouldn’t bite at all. I saw McDonalds advertising for a night shift position at $16 the other day, here in backwoods PA. fight for 25!
It's so telling that centrists want Dems to back off from $15 to a $12 minimum wage. No real logic behind it - no economic reason, no political reason, nothing. They literally just looked at the numbers and said "well $12 is sort of halfway"
October 31, 2025 at 7:55 PM
MSNBC just displayed a slide claiming that food costs are up nearly 50% in 5 years. "Fight for 15" is so 2020. $22.50 is the 2025 version of $15 in 2020. So, yes, "fight for 25!"
Trump likes ruling by executive order. If the government was open, there would be all of those pesky laws to ignore. Congressional Republicans are happy to be on vacation. Congressional Democrats want changes which handcuff Trump with laws. and Trump will refuse that deal. The Senate is irrelevant.
“When it comes to the government shutdown, Trump barely seems to be paying attention,” Toluse Olorunnipa, Jonathan Lemire, and Russell Berman write. “Some of Trump’s closest advisers told us that the president has been distracted and busy dealing with other matters.”
The Government Is Closed. The President Is MIA.
Trump has been busy with everything but the government shutdown.
bit.ly
October 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Trump likes ruling by executive order. If the government was open, there would be all of those pesky laws to ignore. Congressional Republicans are happy to be on vacation. Congressional Democrats want changes which handcuff Trump with laws. and Trump will refuse that deal. The Senate is irrelevant.
When an "elite" college spends something like $250-$350 million, it is on a football stadium, not a ballroom. The University of Florida is about to spend $400 million on Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. GO GATORS! www.wruf.com/headlines/20...
October 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
When an "elite" college spends something like $250-$350 million, it is on a football stadium, not a ballroom. The University of Florida is about to spend $400 million on Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. GO GATORS! www.wruf.com/headlines/20...
Another authoritarian move. "YOU'RE FIRED!" You don't even get a chance to criticize my ballroom plans! (Normally, the commission recommends art installations for federal buildings. I guess Trump only wants fake gold leaf as art.)
The White House fired all members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency that would be tasked with reviewing some of President Trump’s construction projects.
White House Fires All Commission of Fine Arts Members
The independent federal agency is expected to review President Trump’s construction projects.
on.wsj.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Another authoritarian move. "YOU'RE FIRED!" You don't even get a chance to criticize my ballroom plans! (Normally, the commission recommends art installations for federal buildings. I guess Trump only wants fake gold leaf as art.)
I personally left the Republican Party when Reagan did the same things I found so objectionable with Lyndon Johnson. I was a Goldwater-loving pro-choice guy. I was fine with Goldwater's support of gay rights. Today's Republicans are truly deplorable! Ask this man.
www.thebulwark.com/p/my-last-da...
www.thebulwark.com/p/my-last-da...
My Last Day as an Accomplice of the Republican Party
Why I’m leaving the GOP and why I’m urging my former colleagues to do the same.
www.thebulwark.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I personally left the Republican Party when Reagan did the same things I found so objectionable with Lyndon Johnson. I was a Goldwater-loving pro-choice guy. I was fine with Goldwater's support of gay rights. Today's Republicans are truly deplorable! Ask this man.
www.thebulwark.com/p/my-last-da...
www.thebulwark.com/p/my-last-da...
These daily shutdown tracker articles miss the point. Why would Congress hold a session before January? Johnson will just continue to hold off bringing folks back because Democrats won't cave on healthcare. Trump is perfectly happy ruling by executive order. Where is the motivation for either side?
The government shutdown is just days away from the one-month mark. With the president abroad, no major breakthroughs in Congress are expected.
Government shutdown hits day 27 as Trump on multi-day Asia trip: Live updates
The government shutdown is just days away from the one-month mark. With the president abroad, no major breakthroughs in Congress are expected.
bit.ly
October 27, 2025 at 12:25 PM
These daily shutdown tracker articles miss the point. Why would Congress hold a session before January? Johnson will just continue to hold off bringing folks back because Democrats won't cave on healthcare. Trump is perfectly happy ruling by executive order. Where is the motivation for either side?
In the 1990s Dot Com Bubble, it was laying fiber optic cable. The market overestimated the need and each company overestimated its market share. By a lot. Now, AI capex is doing the same thing. The AI bubble will continue to grow as long as money is available to pay for all this capex. Then, crash.
Buybacks take backseat as AI drives record US capex spending reut.rs/48Orgvy
Buybacks take backseat as AI drives record US capex spending
Investors are increasingly favoring U.S. companies that channel capital toward AI innovation over those offering traditional shareholder payouts such as dividends and buybacks, even as the debate over soaring valuations and an AI bubble rages on.
reut.rs
October 27, 2025 at 12:16 PM
In the 1990s Dot Com Bubble, it was laying fiber optic cable. The market overestimated the need and each company overestimated its market share. By a lot. Now, AI capex is doing the same thing. The AI bubble will continue to grow as long as money is available to pay for all this capex. Then, crash.
The thought police are cranking up deportations for anyone who calls Israel genocidal. This time it is British journalist Sami Hamdi, who has been on a speaking tour in the US.
Hamdi’s "visa was revoked, and he is in ICE custody pending removal” says DHS.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Hamdi’s "visa was revoked, and he is in ICE custody pending removal” says DHS.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
ICE detains British journalist after criticism of Israel on US tour
Trump ally Laura Loomer took credit for Sami Hamdi’s detainment in move denounced as ‘affront to free speech’
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:59 AM
The thought police are cranking up deportations for anyone who calls Israel genocidal. This time it is British journalist Sami Hamdi, who has been on a speaking tour in the US.
Hamdi’s "visa was revoked, and he is in ICE custody pending removal” says DHS.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Hamdi’s "visa was revoked, and he is in ICE custody pending removal” says DHS.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
If Trump can do this to the East Wing of the White House, what stops him from demolishing the US Capitol building? After all, Johnson refuses to convene Congress without Trump's approval and what does King Trump need with Congress? #nokings
ABC News pulled the satellite imagery of the White House comparing Sept. 26 to today.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/new...
abcnews.go.com/Politics/new...
October 23, 2025 at 7:26 PM
If Trump can do this to the East Wing of the White House, what stops him from demolishing the US Capitol building? After all, Johnson refuses to convene Congress without Trump's approval and what does King Trump need with Congress? #nokings