Encinitas Highlands Surfer
@highlandsurfer.bsky.social
I live and work in Encinitas, and I like to talk about housing a lot, transportation and biking from time to time, California and Encinitas politics, and cannabis.
Pinned
Never figured this DOGE thing I made 5 years ago at the onset of COVID might have relevance in the future, and now I'm terrified at that reality.
Anyhow, hello Bluesky, guess I'm a federationalist now.
Anyhow, hello Bluesky, guess I'm a federationalist now.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
Lawfare is so, so good.
TODAY: Journalist Don Lemon is set to be arraigned on federal criminal charges in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church.
The case is far from the slam dunk some Justice Department officials have portrayed it to be.
We explain ⬇️⬇️
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/minn...
The case is far from the slam dunk some Justice Department officials have portrayed it to be.
We explain ⬇️⬇️
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/minn...
Minnesota FACE Off: A Deep Dive Into the St. Paul Church Protest Case
Unpacking the Don Lemon indictment, its factual allegations, the elements the government must prove to convict, and the potential defenses available to the accused.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 13, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Lawfare is so, so good.
RE: AI build out
I think you'd see a bigger productivity return per $ from investing in vocational and professional education.
I think you'd see a bigger productivity return per $ from investing in vocational and professional education.
February 13, 2026 at 4:46 PM
RE: AI build out
I think you'd see a bigger productivity return per $ from investing in vocational and professional education.
I think you'd see a bigger productivity return per $ from investing in vocational and professional education.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
Trump has lost the culture. But what if the universal conventional wisdom—that he won the culture in the first place—was never true? What if our warped media environment, then Trump's victory, created an illusion of MAGA cultural dominance that is now slipping. This is a long one, so strap in.
The Nonresponse To Donald Trump
How an obscure quirk of statistics and human nature explains the liberal crisis of confidence—and why it may finally be lifting.
www.offmessage.net
February 13, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Trump has lost the culture. But what if the universal conventional wisdom—that he won the culture in the first place—was never true? What if our warped media environment, then Trump's victory, created an illusion of MAGA cultural dominance that is now slipping. This is a long one, so strap in.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
I'm all for pardons and second chances. But it's a hell of a juxtaposition to pardon millionaire NFL players convicted of drug distribution while you're summarily executing impoverished fishermen making a few hundred bucks to shuttle drugs around the Caribbean.
President Trump pardons Hall of Famer Joe Klecko and four other former NFL players
Trump pardoned Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon for crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking.
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:46 PM
I'm all for pardons and second chances. But it's a hell of a juxtaposition to pardon millionaire NFL players convicted of drug distribution while you're summarily executing impoverished fishermen making a few hundred bucks to shuttle drugs around the Caribbean.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
pretty much every "AOC isn't far left enough to earn my vote" guy was also a vocal Bernie supporter who would've turned on him immediately had he actually won the nomination or especially became President.
February 13, 2026 at 7:38 AM
pretty much every "AOC isn't far left enough to earn my vote" guy was also a vocal Bernie supporter who would've turned on him immediately had he actually won the nomination or especially became President.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
Incredible how every person who’s ever found intelligence differences between races has also found that they are part of the superior race. What are the odds??
A great piece from @alibreland.bsky.social on Epstein's race science obsession—one he shares with much of the contemporary right wing elite www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The Epstein Emails Show How the Powerful Talk About Race
The files reveal the disgraced financier’s interest in “race science.”
www.theatlantic.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Incredible how every person who’s ever found intelligence differences between races has also found that they are part of the superior race. What are the odds??
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
social media in general needs aggressive regulation but the whole world would be markedly better off if Meta in particular were just nuked from orbit
this is comically evil. brazenly anti-social. just absolute black-pilled nihilism. we will not have a republic, we will not be free, until we regulate these companies to the point where — at a bare minimum — they're too afraid to put stuff like this down on paper.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
February 13, 2026 at 3:38 PM
social media in general needs aggressive regulation but the whole world would be markedly better off if Meta in particular were just nuked from orbit
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
Me: I want Democrats who plan to run for president to openly declare their support for full trans rights. This is my one requirement in order for me to consider voting for them.
Weird centrists: YOU SHOULD BE QUIET AND VOTE FOR WHICHEVER CANDIDATE HAS A D BY THEIR NAME NO MATTER WHERE THEY STAND
Weird centrists: YOU SHOULD BE QUIET AND VOTE FOR WHICHEVER CANDIDATE HAS A D BY THEIR NAME NO MATTER WHERE THEY STAND
February 13, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Me: I want Democrats who plan to run for president to openly declare their support for full trans rights. This is my one requirement in order for me to consider voting for them.
Weird centrists: YOU SHOULD BE QUIET AND VOTE FOR WHICHEVER CANDIDATE HAS A D BY THEIR NAME NO MATTER WHERE THEY STAND
Weird centrists: YOU SHOULD BE QUIET AND VOTE FOR WHICHEVER CANDIDATE HAS A D BY THEIR NAME NO MATTER WHERE THEY STAND
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
This is a 100% elite manufactured craze.
a stat i always cite is the number of anti-trans articles in the press went from 60 in a year, to 7,500
February 13, 2026 at 9:54 AM
This is a 100% elite manufactured craze.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
Anyone know why Russell Vought lost custody of his kids?
February 13, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Anyone know why Russell Vought lost custody of his kids?
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
No, the thing is, prices aren’t actually up very much. People aren’t actually upset about prices, the discontent over “prices” is just rationalized discontent over other stuff
US voters would be cheering fascism if Trump had delivered $3-per-pound ground beef.
That should fucking haunt us all.
That should fucking haunt us all.
February 13, 2026 at 3:16 PM
No, the thing is, prices aren’t actually up very much. People aren’t actually upset about prices, the discontent over “prices” is just rationalized discontent over other stuff
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
The fact that his entire deal is "I am a big gruff man who will reach other macho men" and the only defense anyone can throw out over his Nazi tattoo is "he jus a lil 40 year old drunken baby he no know what a Nazi is he is a pure little baby boy 🥺" keeps making my blood pressure bad
February 13, 2026 at 1:20 PM
The fact that his entire deal is "I am a big gruff man who will reach other macho men" and the only defense anyone can throw out over his Nazi tattoo is "he jus a lil 40 year old drunken baby he no know what a Nazi is he is a pure little baby boy 🥺" keeps making my blood pressure bad
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
In his confirmation hearings, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told U.S. senators that he would not cut funding for vaccine research or change the nation's official vaccine recommendations. He did both. n.pr/46QDn9p
RFK Jr. made promises to get his job as health secretary. He's broken many of them
In his confirmation hearings, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told U.S. senators that he would not cut funding for vaccine research or change the nation's official vaccine recommendations. He did both.
n.pr
February 13, 2026 at 2:20 PM
In his confirmation hearings, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told U.S. senators that he would not cut funding for vaccine research or change the nation's official vaccine recommendations. He did both. n.pr/46QDn9p
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
After two weeks of negotiations, it’s clear the Trump administration and Republicans are not serious about reining in this goon-squad violence against American citizens.
February 13, 2026 at 2:37 PM
After two weeks of negotiations, it’s clear the Trump administration and Republicans are not serious about reining in this goon-squad violence against American citizens.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
“He got Me Tooed” “He got Epsteined” amazing that people have re-invented the police passive for rapists.
February 13, 2026 at 2:29 PM
“He got Me Tooed” “He got Epsteined” amazing that people have re-invented the police passive for rapists.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
"I, a journalist, will accept money in exchange for sponsoring my work and it's not an ethical issue at all because I will simply choose not be influenced by it" like he's the first guy ever to think of that
February 13, 2026 at 5:54 AM
"I, a journalist, will accept money in exchange for sponsoring my work and it's not an ethical issue at all because I will simply choose not be influenced by it" like he's the first guy ever to think of that
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
CBP didn’t give her or anyone any water; she asked 3 times accg to other reports. CBP killed a 7yr old.
“8 hours after the girl & her father were taken into custody, she began having seizures & her body temperature was measured at 105.7 degrees by emergency medical technicians. shorturl.at/d2OTJ
“8 hours after the girl & her father were taken into custody, she began having seizures & her body temperature was measured at 105.7 degrees by emergency medical technicians. shorturl.at/d2OTJ
7-Year-Old Migrant Girl Dies Of Dehydration And Shock In U.S. Border Patrol Custody
The girl's death underscores the crisis precipitated by large groups of families seeking asylum where there are inadequate facilities to detain them.
shorturl.at
February 13, 2026 at 1:33 AM
CBP didn’t give her or anyone any water; she asked 3 times accg to other reports. CBP killed a 7yr old.
“8 hours after the girl & her father were taken into custody, she began having seizures & her body temperature was measured at 105.7 degrees by emergency medical technicians. shorturl.at/d2OTJ
“8 hours after the girl & her father were taken into custody, she began having seizures & her body temperature was measured at 105.7 degrees by emergency medical technicians. shorturl.at/d2OTJ
Never watched Theo Von before, so unsure about this, but does he write thoughts up on the ceiling and for that reason must constantly avoid eye contact and look up so he can remember them?
February 13, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Never watched Theo Von before, so unsure about this, but does he write thoughts up on the ceiling and for that reason must constantly avoid eye contact and look up so he can remember them?
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
More than a year after its formation, I continue to track DOGE's activities and try to shed light on their staffing based on what limited information I can find.
dogetrack.info
dogetrack.info
DOGE Track
An automatically-generated and frequently updated site for presenting data on DOGE’s rampage across government, designed to work on large screens and mobile phones.
dogetrack.info
February 13, 2026 at 1:50 AM
More than a year after its formation, I continue to track DOGE's activities and try to shed light on their staffing based on what limited information I can find.
dogetrack.info
dogetrack.info
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
Junk bonds have entered the chat.
NVIDIA CORP. WILL LEASE A 200-MEGAWATT DATA CENTER IN NEVADA FINANCED PARTLY BY A $3.8 BILLION JUNK-BOND SALE LED BY TRACT CAPITAL, WITH JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. AND MORGAN STANLEY MANAGING THE TRANSACTION.
February 12, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Junk bonds have entered the chat.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
A lot of residential only zoning in California traces back to anti Chinese laundry services and general anti saloon politics.
After housing, this is the next big zoning reform: the right to do business. Always found it odd that the USA, supposedly the land of the free market, makes it the hard if not outright illegal to open a business in most places.
Like many other planning failures, this one's also rooted in racism.
Like many other planning failures, this one's also rooted in racism.
The al pastor taco truck at sleepy North Berkeley BART is booming every night with neighbors, cyclists and families. Imagine what we could do with fully legalized street vending citywide.
February 13, 2026 at 4:34 AM
A lot of residential only zoning in California traces back to anti Chinese laundry services and general anti saloon politics.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
Kinda feels like this should be a bigger scandal. I know that every day there are a dozen things that should be a scandal. But this one should be bigger.
Bondi Spying On Congressional Epstein Searches Should Be A Major Scandal
Yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee. Among the more notable exchanges was when Rep. Pramila Jayapal asked some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims who were in the audience to stand up…
Yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee. Among the more notable exchanges was when Rep. Pramila Jayapal asked some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims who were in the audience to stand up…
Bondi Spying On Congressional Epstein Searches Should Be A Major Scandal
Yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee. Among the more notable exchanges was when Rep. Pramila Jayapal asked some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims who were in the audience to stand up and indicate whether Bondi's DOJ had ever contacted them about their experiences. None of them had heard from the Justice Department. Bondi wouldn't even look at the victims as she frantically flipped through her prepared notes.
www.techdirt.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Kinda feels like this should be a bigger scandal. I know that every day there are a dozen things that should be a scandal. But this one should be bigger.
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
Yes, NBC out-rated us this week, but it’s completely unfair to compare us when one of their anchors’ mothers was kidnapped and none of ours were.
by Bari Weiss
by Bari Weiss
February 12, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Yes, NBC out-rated us this week, but it’s completely unfair to compare us when one of their anchors’ mothers was kidnapped and none of ours were.
by Bari Weiss
by Bari Weiss
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
BREAKING: Judge Nancy Brasel, a Trump appointee, has issued a TRO in the Minnesota access-to-counsel case about treatment at Whipple.
"It appears that in planning for Operation Metro Surge, the government failed to plan for the constitutional rights of its civil detainees."
"It appears that in planning for Operation Metro Surge, the government failed to plan for the constitutional rights of its civil detainees."
February 13, 2026 at 12:14 AM
BREAKING: Judge Nancy Brasel, a Trump appointee, has issued a TRO in the Minnesota access-to-counsel case about treatment at Whipple.
"It appears that in planning for Operation Metro Surge, the government failed to plan for the constitutional rights of its civil detainees."
"It appears that in planning for Operation Metro Surge, the government failed to plan for the constitutional rights of its civil detainees."
Reposted by Encinitas Highlands Surfer
They think good is weak & evil is based, because they are wicked. ICE is doing wicked things & hiring wicked men to do them. It is difficult to look such a thing in the eye, but that is all there there is to them
This is just unconscionable man
February 13, 2026 at 1:49 AM
They think good is weak & evil is based, because they are wicked. ICE is doing wicked things & hiring wicked men to do them. It is difficult to look such a thing in the eye, but that is all there there is to them