Kirk McElhearn
@kirkville.com
Lapsed New Yorker in Shakespeare's home town. I write and podcast about Apple, Scrivener, computer security, music, and photography.
kirkville.com
kirkville.com
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Ok so I’ve seen Wuthering Heights and if you like Disney princess movies, but with shagging, and in Yorkshire, it’s for you
February 18, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Ok so I’ve seen Wuthering Heights and if you like Disney princess movies, but with shagging, and in Yorkshire, it’s for you
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Revised National Parks Webpage Describes Harriet Tubman As Human Trafficker https://theonion.com/revised-national-parks-webpage-describes-harriet-tubman-as-human-trafficker/
February 18, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Revised National Parks Webpage Describes Harriet Tubman As Human Trafficker https://theonion.com/revised-national-parks-webpage-describes-harriet-tubman-as-human-trafficker/
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
It seems nuts to me that CNN has partnered with an online gambling site (Kalshi) and hypes their betting lines as “news” to report.
February 18, 2026 at 6:57 PM
It seems nuts to me that CNN has partnered with an online gambling site (Kalshi) and hypes their betting lines as “news” to report.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
“Sometimes we have to force ourselves upon them”
Trump: "Frankly, if these radical left lunatic Democrats would come and say, 'Please, help us, please,' we'd stop crimes all over the place. Sometimes we have to force ourselves upon them because they're so bad."
February 18, 2026 at 9:17 PM
“Sometimes we have to force ourselves upon them”
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
I’m constantly astounded at the sheer level of artistic production coming out of Iceland. Novels, movies, music. Amazing.
February 18, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Ho-lee Shit. This is phenomenally good news. Department of Education rolls back— for now— its attempts to destroy Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility initiatives. Keep an eye on them, of course, and watch for the hidden knife, always, but for now: Fantastic news.
February 18, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Ho-lee Shit. This is phenomenally good news. Department of Education rolls back— for now— its attempts to destroy Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility initiatives. Keep an eye on them, of course, and watch for the hidden knife, always, but for now: Fantastic news.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Leavitt today: “When you see something on Truth Social, you know it’s directly from President Trump. It’s coming straight from the horse’s mouth. That’s the beauty of this president.”
February 18, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Leavitt today: “When you see something on Truth Social, you know it’s directly from President Trump. It’s coming straight from the horse’s mouth. That’s the beauty of this president.”
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
wow it's almost like it wasn't about free speech at all
The ‘Most Massive Attack On Free Speech’ Is Happening Right Now, And The Twitter Files Crew Is Mighty Quiet
For the last five years, we had to endure an endless, breathless parade of hyperbole regarding the so-called "censorship industrial complex." We were told, repeatedly and at high volume,…
For the last five years, we had to endure an endless, breathless parade of hyperbole regarding the so-called "censorship industrial complex." We were told, repeatedly and at high volume,…
The ‘Most Massive Attack On Free Speech’ Is Happening Right Now, And The Twitter Files Crew Is Mighty Quiet
For the last five years, we had to endure an endless, breathless parade of hyperbole regarding the so-called "censorship industrial complex." We were told, repeatedly and at high volume, that the Biden administration flagging content for review by social media companies constituted a tyrannical overthrow of the First Amendment. In the Missouri v. Biden (later Murthy v. Missouri) case, Judge Terry Doughty—in a ruling that seemed to consist entirely of Twitter threads pasted into a judicial ruling—
www.techdirt.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:07 PM
wow it's almost like it wasn't about free speech at all
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
In a blind test, audiophiles couldn't tell the difference between audio signals sent through copper wire, a banana, or wet mud
In a blind test, audiophiles couldn't tell the difference between audio signals sent through copper wire, a banana, or wet mud — 'The mud should sound perfectly awful, but it doesn't,' notes the experiment creator
Who knew listening to a banana sounded so good?
www.tomshardware.com
February 15, 2026 at 7:46 PM
In a blind test, audiophiles couldn't tell the difference between audio signals sent through copper wire, a banana, or wet mud
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
When the USA tells other countries to spend more on their militaries, we shouldn't forget that the US military spends a lot of money on things that have nothing to do with defending the US from foreign enemies.
NEW — An obscure Navy contractor program is making Trump’s plans to quickly build out and supply immigrant concentration camps around the country a reality.
Here I explain WEXMAC TITUS, an acronym you need to understand:
Here I explain WEXMAC TITUS, an acronym you need to understand:
For ICE to build concentration camps quickly, they're leaning on this Dept. of War program
WEXMAC TITUS helps contractors bypass the traditionally lengthy government contract bidding process
www.thehandbasket.co
February 18, 2026 at 1:46 PM
When the USA tells other countries to spend more on their militaries, we shouldn't forget that the US military spends a lot of money on things that have nothing to do with defending the US from foreign enemies.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
if AI is good. why is everybody trying to trick me into using it
July 12, 2025 at 1:45 AM
if AI is good. why is everybody trying to trick me into using it
The technology to detect AI content is designed only so capitalists can extract more money from it.
asia.nikkei.com/business/tec...
asia.nikkei.com/business/tec...
Sony Group tech can identify original music in AI-generated songs
Japanese company seeks to help copyright holders receive share of revenue
asia.nikkei.com
February 18, 2026 at 10:37 AM
The technology to detect AI content is designed only so capitalists can extract more money from it.
asia.nikkei.com/business/tec...
asia.nikkei.com/business/tec...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
The article doesn't say that Apple headphones were tested, and since they are among the most widely sold, I'd want to know. They only mention audio brands.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Hazardous substances found in all headphones tested by ToxFREE project
Substances include chemicals that can cause cancer, neurodevelopmental problems, and the feminisation of males
www.theguardian.com
February 18, 2026 at 9:03 AM
The article doesn't say that Apple headphones were tested, and since they are among the most widely sold, I'd want to know. They only mention audio brands.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
How to Create, Edit, and Import Scrivener Styles on Mac and Windows
Learn how to create and modify styles in Scrivener, and how to import styles from other Scrivener projects.
Learn how to create and modify styles in Scrivener, and how to import styles from other Scrivener projects.
How to Create, Edit, and Import Scrivener Styles on Mac and Windows
Learn how to create and modify styles in Scrivener, and how to import styles from other Scrivener projects.
kirkville.com
February 18, 2026 at 8:41 AM
How to Create, Edit, and Import Scrivener Styles on Mac and Windows
Learn how to create and modify styles in Scrivener, and how to import styles from other Scrivener projects.
Learn how to create and modify styles in Scrivener, and how to import styles from other Scrivener projects.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
The left tried for decades to pass green energy subsidies, passed them, the subsidies worked, and now literally the entire planet's electricity grid is going to convert to solar+battery. It just doesn't feel like "tech" because it mostly produces kinda boring blue collar jobs instead of billionaires
is there a technology that "the left" is excited about?
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
The left is missing out on AI
As a movement, it has largely refused to engage seriously with AI, ceding debate about a threat and opportunity to the right
www.transformernews.ai
February 18, 2026 at 3:51 AM
The left tried for decades to pass green energy subsidies, passed them, the subsidies worked, and now literally the entire planet's electricity grid is going to convert to solar+battery. It just doesn't feel like "tech" because it mostly produces kinda boring blue collar jobs instead of billionaires
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
LEFT: Someone who appears in the Epstein files over a million times. Epstein called him his "best friend."
RIGHT: Someone never mentioned in the Epstein files—even once. And she never met him.
So guess which one is being hauled before our corrupt, cover-upping Congress to testify about Epstein.
RIGHT: Someone never mentioned in the Epstein files—even once. And she never met him.
So guess which one is being hauled before our corrupt, cover-upping Congress to testify about Epstein.
February 18, 2026 at 12:48 AM
LEFT: Someone who appears in the Epstein files over a million times. Epstein called him his "best friend."
RIGHT: Someone never mentioned in the Epstein files—even once. And she never met him.
So guess which one is being hauled before our corrupt, cover-upping Congress to testify about Epstein.
RIGHT: Someone never mentioned in the Epstein files—even once. And she never met him.
So guess which one is being hauled before our corrupt, cover-upping Congress to testify about Epstein.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Is he saying that violent criminals are ALSO working in low-wage jobs that now Americans can fill? That's kind of...nuts.
JD Vance: "What we have consistently said is that we want to deport violent criminals, people who came in under the Biden administration, and get them out of the country so Americans' wages can go up."
February 18, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Is he saying that violent criminals are ALSO working in low-wage jobs that now Americans can fill? That's kind of...nuts.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
its amazing how chatgpt knows everything about subjects I know nothing about, but is wrong like 40% of the time in things im an expert on. not going to think about this any further
March 8, 2025 at 12:13 AM
its amazing how chatgpt knows everything about subjects I know nothing about, but is wrong like 40% of the time in things im an expert on. not going to think about this any further
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
“.. ‘many system vendors will go bankrupt or exit product lines due to a lack of memory. Mobile phone production will be reduced by 200-250 million units, and PC and TV production will be significantly reduced.’ Yikes.”
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
February 17, 2026 at 6:37 PM
“.. ‘many system vendors will go bankrupt or exit product lines due to a lack of memory. Mobile phone production will be reduced by 200-250 million units, and PC and TV production will be significantly reduced.’ Yikes.”
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
A yellow star, you say?
Mike Rounds says Republicans just want to make you show your document with a yellow star in order to vote
February 17, 2026 at 10:09 PM
A yellow star, you say?
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Column! Everything I hate about Apple’s Pages, Numbers and Keynote revamp.
OK, well not quite *everything*, but still…
(Also: I hope my illustration isn’t too subtle.)
www.stuff.tv/features/eve...
OK, well not quite *everything*, but still…
(Also: I hope my illustration isn’t too subtle.)
www.stuff.tv/features/eve...
Everything I hate about Apple’s Pages, Numbers and Keynote apps
OK, well maybe not quite absolutely everything that I hate about the new AI-infused iWork updates, but still…
www.stuff.tv
February 17, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Column! Everything I hate about Apple’s Pages, Numbers and Keynote revamp.
OK, well not quite *everything*, but still…
(Also: I hope my illustration isn’t too subtle.)
www.stuff.tv/features/eve...
OK, well not quite *everything*, but still…
(Also: I hope my illustration isn’t too subtle.)
www.stuff.tv/features/eve...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Quick reminder that 3 °C of warming would set Europe up for heat domes that kill 30,000 people in a single week. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 17, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Quick reminder that 3 °C of warming would set Europe up for heat domes that kill 30,000 people in a single week. www.nature.com/articles/s41...