Jim Wright
@helicopterxp.bsky.social
Takes lots of pictures (If I post it, I took it). Flies things 🚁🛩️✈️. Lacrosse Rules.
"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned." - R Feynman
"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned." - R Feynman
My backyard tonight
November 12, 2025 at 3:13 AM
My backyard tonight
This needs to be a constitutional amendment, together with term limits for all positions (looking at you, SCOTUS), dark money, and more
My political hot take is that US voters should be able to recall elected representatives via petition - at any time.
No more hiding behind election terms.
No more hiding behind election terms.
November 12, 2025 at 1:09 AM
This needs to be a constitutional amendment, together with term limits for all positions (looking at you, SCOTUS), dark money, and more
Reposted by Jim Wright
I will donate to every candidate who moves to primary anyone who votes yes to a putative senate deal.
November 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I will donate to every candidate who moves to primary anyone who votes yes to a putative senate deal.
Reposted by Jim Wright
Equally unsat is this @groundnews.bsky.social aggregator service with their "bias indicator" that, itself, exhibits explicit bias.
"Hegseth purging military leaders with little explanation" - which is true: he has offered no reasons/justifications - are flagged as "left leaning".
"Hegseth purging military leaders with little explanation" - which is true: he has offered no reasons/justifications - are flagged as "left leaning".
November 9, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Equally unsat is this @groundnews.bsky.social aggregator service with their "bias indicator" that, itself, exhibits explicit bias.
"Hegseth purging military leaders with little explanation" - which is true: he has offered no reasons/justifications - are flagged as "left leaning".
"Hegseth purging military leaders with little explanation" - which is true: he has offered no reasons/justifications - are flagged as "left leaning".
Magical thinking by unqualified buffoons.
The future of mil aviation will quite certainly swing UAS heavy, but not "...as a way to reduce long-term personnel requirements, lower training and sustainment costs"
A UAS that can do a Black Hawk or Apache's job is more complex than what it's replacing.
The future of mil aviation will quite certainly swing UAS heavy, but not "...as a way to reduce long-term personnel requirements, lower training and sustainment costs"
A UAS that can do a Black Hawk or Apache's job is more complex than what it's replacing.
U.S. Army considers halting new helicopter purchases
The Department of War is evaluating a reform concept that would sharply reduce or halt the purchase of new piloted helicopters for the U.S. Army beginning in the second half of the decade, according t...
defence-blog.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Magical thinking by unqualified buffoons.
The future of mil aviation will quite certainly swing UAS heavy, but not "...as a way to reduce long-term personnel requirements, lower training and sustainment costs"
A UAS that can do a Black Hawk or Apache's job is more complex than what it's replacing.
The future of mil aviation will quite certainly swing UAS heavy, but not "...as a way to reduce long-term personnel requirements, lower training and sustainment costs"
A UAS that can do a Black Hawk or Apache's job is more complex than what it's replacing.
If only there was a historical precedent showing why this is Bad Idea... 1/2
Hegseth announces overhaul of U.S. military weapons procurement to speed up delivery and innovation
U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth has unveiled a major reform of the Pentagon’s weapons procurement process, aiming to accelerate the military’s access to modern technology.
defence-industry.eu
November 8, 2025 at 7:47 PM
If only there was a historical precedent showing why this is Bad Idea... 1/2
Catered by the local middle school kitchen?
Food served at Mar-a-Lago as Trump fights for the right to starve Americans
November 8, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Catered by the local middle school kitchen?
The last time I got one of these emails at work was when I had a trip to sub-Saharan Africa. Good to know that USG is now on the same list of warning triggers as Boko Haram these days.
November 6, 2025 at 9:43 PM
The last time I got one of these emails at work was when I had a trip to sub-Saharan Africa. Good to know that USG is now on the same list of warning triggers as Boko Haram these days.
Reposted by Jim Wright
you are missing incredible things on X
November 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
you are missing incredible things on X
For anyone concerned about the relevance of organized religion in the modern world, look no further.
Jesus, not Virgin Mary, saved the world, Vatican says
Jesus may have heard words of wisdom from his mother Mary, but she did not help him save the world from damnation, the Vatican said on Tuesday.
www.reuters.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:32 PM
For anyone concerned about the relevance of organized religion in the modern world, look no further.
I think the knowledge that NYC is going to elect a Muslim mayor today is in the running for COD.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died at age 84. He died Monday of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents of US history, dies at 84
Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died at age 84. He died Monday of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
pressofatlanticcity.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM
I think the knowledge that NYC is going to elect a Muslim mayor today is in the running for COD.
Is anyone surprised?
He dropped the plan out loud during an interview with Zelensky back in mid-August.
He dropped the plan out loud during an interview with Zelensky back in mid-August.
November 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Is anyone surprised?
He dropped the plan out loud during an interview with Zelensky back in mid-August.
He dropped the plan out loud during an interview with Zelensky back in mid-August.
Somewhere, in a DC bunker littered with empty food wrappers, beer cans, and whiskey bottles, people are discussing whether using a nuke on a boat full of narco-terrorists can be written off as a "test".
October 30, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Somewhere, in a DC bunker littered with empty food wrappers, beer cans, and whiskey bottles, people are discussing whether using a nuke on a boat full of narco-terrorists can be written off as a "test".
Funny. I consider most days I show up to work as an exercise in futility, but - ya know what? - I take The Man's money, I do The Man's work.
Mike Johnson says it's "futile" to bring House back during shutdown https://www.axios.com/2025/10/29/mike-johnson-government-shutdown-house-recess https://www.axios.com/2025/10/29/mike-johnson-government-shutdown-house-recess
October 29, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Funny. I consider most days I show up to work as an exercise in futility, but - ya know what? - I take The Man's money, I do The Man's work.
Reposted by Jim Wright
The last US-Russian arms control treaty expires in just 100 days. Yet, as the excellent ‘House of Dynamite’ makes clear, arms reductions buy us better protection than unreliable missile defenses. As I write on @msnbc.com, “The real answer is not more technology, but fewer weapons.”
October 29, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The last US-Russian arms control treaty expires in just 100 days. Yet, as the excellent ‘House of Dynamite’ makes clear, arms reductions buy us better protection than unreliable missile defenses. As I write on @msnbc.com, “The real answer is not more technology, but fewer weapons.”
Biased take on what Gates said. Other articles say he listed:
Climate Change
Hunger
Disease
as the 3 greatest threats to humanity, but based upon the immediacy of each, Climate Change may not be #1 anymore.
He said carbon reduction should continue, but the others might need more attention.
Climate Change
Hunger
Disease
as the 3 greatest threats to humanity, but based upon the immediacy of each, Climate Change may not be #1 anymore.
He said carbon reduction should continue, but the others might need more attention.
"Bill Gates Says Climate Change Isn’t So Bad After All --Experts are calling his latest memo "pointless, vague, unhelpful and confusing" by Victor Tangermann for @futurism.com: futurism.com/science-ener...
Bill Gates Says Climate Change Isn't So Bad After All
In a new memo published on his blog, Bill Gates pushed back on a "doomsday view of climate change," arguing we should help the poor instead.
futurism.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Biased take on what Gates said. Other articles say he listed:
Climate Change
Hunger
Disease
as the 3 greatest threats to humanity, but based upon the immediacy of each, Climate Change may not be #1 anymore.
He said carbon reduction should continue, but the others might need more attention.
Climate Change
Hunger
Disease
as the 3 greatest threats to humanity, but based upon the immediacy of each, Climate Change may not be #1 anymore.
He said carbon reduction should continue, but the others might need more attention.
Reposted by Jim Wright
Say it often, say it loud:
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
Fit for Purpose? How Today’s Commercial Digital Platforms Subvert Key Goals of Public Education
Digital educational platforms have become ubiquitous in American classrooms, with tools like Google Workspace for Education, Kahoot!, Zearn, Khan Academy, and many others now structuring curriculum, i...
nepc.colorado.edu
September 29, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Say it often, say it loud:
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
They're already prohibited from discussing/disclosing any information designated CUI or higher. This means they're not allowed to discuss even unclassified information.
Absurd, and likely means some truly criminal shit is going on behind the curtain. Shame on anyone who signs.
Absurd, and likely means some truly criminal shit is going on behind the curtain. Shame on anyone who signs.
Exclusive: US military officials required to sign NDAs tied to Latin America mission, sources say
U.S. military officials involved with President Donald Trump's expanding operations in Latin America have been asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, three U.S. officials say, a development that raises new questions about a military buildup that Venezuela fears may lead to an invasion.
www.reuters.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:55 PM
They're already prohibited from discussing/disclosing any information designated CUI or higher. This means they're not allowed to discuss even unclassified information.
Absurd, and likely means some truly criminal shit is going on behind the curtain. Shame on anyone who signs.
Absurd, and likely means some truly criminal shit is going on behind the curtain. Shame on anyone who signs.
"This year has been a particularly lethal one for America’s death-row prisoners. Together, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas have executed a total of 40 people in the past 10 months"
Christian Values
Christian Values
Donald Trump Dreams of More Executions
The president and the Republican Party are bringing capital punishment back to the forefront of American criminal justice.
www.theatlantic.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
"This year has been a particularly lethal one for America’s death-row prisoners. Together, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas have executed a total of 40 people in the past 10 months"
Christian Values
Christian Values
Reposted by Jim Wright
Fentanyl and coke are the new “weapons of mass destruction” lie. It’s Iraq all over again, folks. It’s always about controlling the oil.
October 27, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Fentanyl and coke are the new “weapons of mass destruction” lie. It’s Iraq all over again, folks. It’s always about controlling the oil.
Bet this "expert" thinks that AI is actually Intelligent, too. Probably not the dumbest take ever, but close. People take, hold, and control ground. Equipment is an enabler, not a solution.
You'd think a guy that spent most of his life in college and working DC thinktanks would know that... /jk /s
You'd think a guy that spent most of his life in college and working DC thinktanks would know that... /jk /s
What do you with an Army designed for Europe when Europe isn’t the focus anymore? The answer is drones, says one U.S. expert.
Drones could replace large US Army units in Europe, expert suggests
What do you with an Army designed for Europe when Europe isn’t the focus anymore? The answer is drones, says one U.S. expert.
www.defensenews.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Bet this "expert" thinks that AI is actually Intelligent, too. Probably not the dumbest take ever, but close. People take, hold, and control ground. Equipment is an enabler, not a solution.
You'd think a guy that spent most of his life in college and working DC thinktanks would know that... /jk /s
You'd think a guy that spent most of his life in college and working DC thinktanks would know that... /jk /s
Every single picture of this guy: snarling anger.
He's like a chihuahua, trying to make up for inadequacies with attitude. And, like a chihuahua, he can never really pull it off.
He's like a chihuahua, trying to make up for inadequacies with attitude. And, like a chihuahua, he can never really pull it off.
October 28, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Every single picture of this guy: snarling anger.
He's like a chihuahua, trying to make up for inadequacies with attitude. And, like a chihuahua, he can never really pull it off.
He's like a chihuahua, trying to make up for inadequacies with attitude. And, like a chihuahua, he can never really pull it off.
Interesting statistics.
For every person deported in a given time period, there are 3-4 in detention.
Why all the detention? It's not like these people are awaiting trial...
It's almost like the real goal was a get-rich-quick scheme running private mass detention centers, not mass deportation.
For every person deported in a given time period, there are 3-4 in detention.
Why all the detention? It's not like these people are awaiting trial...
It's almost like the real goal was a get-rich-quick scheme running private mass detention centers, not mass deportation.
October 28, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Interesting statistics.
For every person deported in a given time period, there are 3-4 in detention.
Why all the detention? It's not like these people are awaiting trial...
It's almost like the real goal was a get-rich-quick scheme running private mass detention centers, not mass deportation.
For every person deported in a given time period, there are 3-4 in detention.
Why all the detention? It's not like these people are awaiting trial...
It's almost like the real goal was a get-rich-quick scheme running private mass detention centers, not mass deportation.