Paul Murray
@pmurray63.bsky.social
Insights, opinions and wisecracks on a variety of topics. Have/will never use a Musk or Zuck product (among others). Zero tolerance for trolls, conspiracy nuts and spammers.
WSJ: Sinclair (local TV owners who joined the Kimmel boycott, and who force their stations to run conservative editorials) wants to buy EW Scripps for its TV stations.
Not good. Keep the current FCC limits on how big owners can get. (via Reliable Sources)
www.wsj.com/business/dea...
Not good. Keep the current FCC limits on how big owners can get. (via Reliable Sources)
www.wsj.com/business/dea...
Sinclair Takes Stake in E.W. Scripps to Push Takeover Deal
Sinclair believes scale is increasingly necessary in the broadcast TV industry and bought up the stake to pressure Scripps to strike a deal.
www.wsj.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
WSJ: Sinclair (local TV owners who joined the Kimmel boycott, and who force their stations to run conservative editorials) wants to buy EW Scripps for its TV stations.
Not good. Keep the current FCC limits on how big owners can get. (via Reliable Sources)
www.wsj.com/business/dea...
Not good. Keep the current FCC limits on how big owners can get. (via Reliable Sources)
www.wsj.com/business/dea...
Does it annoy anyone else that Chromebooks don't have a delete key? (Ditto with Macs, but I don't use them very much.)
I cannot tell you how many times I have to mouse or cursor forward so that I can backspace to get rid of text that I could do much faster on a Windows (and probably Linux?) PC.
I cannot tell you how many times I have to mouse or cursor forward so that I can backspace to get rid of text that I could do much faster on a Windows (and probably Linux?) PC.
November 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Does it annoy anyone else that Chromebooks don't have a delete key? (Ditto with Macs, but I don't use them very much.)
I cannot tell you how many times I have to mouse or cursor forward so that I can backspace to get rid of text that I could do much faster on a Windows (and probably Linux?) PC.
I cannot tell you how many times I have to mouse or cursor forward so that I can backspace to get rid of text that I could do much faster on a Windows (and probably Linux?) PC.
Congratulations to Senate Dems for an unbroken string of feckless posturing.
a man in a purple vest and bow tie says " you get nothing "
Alt: Willy Wonka says " you get nothing "
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Congratulations to Senate Dems for an unbroken string of feckless posturing.
Senate Dems: Don’t snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Do not cave on the government shutdown.
Looking at you, @peters.senate.gov and @slotkin.senate.gov
Looking at you, @peters.senate.gov and @slotkin.senate.gov
November 10, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Senate Dems: Don’t snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Do not cave on the government shutdown.
Looking at you, @peters.senate.gov and @slotkin.senate.gov
Looking at you, @peters.senate.gov and @slotkin.senate.gov
Think you can dodge the Trump tariffs by keeping your current vehicle running instead of buying a new one? Think again.
www.thedrive.com/news/car-rep...
www.thedrive.com/news/car-rep...
Car Repairs Are About To Get Much More Expensive Thanks to Tariffs
"Wouldn't be a bad idea to stock up," Premium Guard Inc. CEO Anan Bishara told The Drive.
www.thedrive.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Think you can dodge the Trump tariffs by keeping your current vehicle running instead of buying a new one? Think again.
www.thedrive.com/news/car-rep...
www.thedrive.com/news/car-rep...
Reposted by Paul Murray
By my count: Of the 15 Departments of the US Government, 13 launched new BlueSky accounts tonight (all but Justice and HUD), and all 13 have posted explicitly partisan political posts blaming Democrats and/or Chuck Schumer for the government shutdown.
October 18, 2025 at 12:33 AM
By my count: Of the 15 Departments of the US Government, 13 launched new BlueSky accounts tonight (all but Justice and HUD), and all 13 have posted explicitly partisan political posts blaming Democrats and/or Chuck Schumer for the government shutdown.
Reposted by Paul Murray
Ever wondered where all the Cheers title photos are from? I did. And I've gathered everything I can find into this post. That was fun.
joelmorris.substack.com/p/where-nobo...
joelmorris.substack.com/p/where-nobo...
Where nobody knows your name...
Tracing the anonymous faces at the start of Cheers.
joelmorris.substack.com
October 5, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Ever wondered where all the Cheers title photos are from? I did. And I've gathered everything I can find into this post. That was fun.
joelmorris.substack.com/p/where-nobo...
joelmorris.substack.com/p/where-nobo...
By way of @sepinwall.bsky.social (who incidentally has relocated, but read his explanation), Robert Redford's final onscreen appearance. Very brief, but worth it. RIP, Mr. Redford.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dj3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dj3...
High Stakes Chess feat. George R. R. Martin and Robert Redford! | Dark Winds | New Episodes Sundays
YouTube video by amc+
www.youtube.com
September 17, 2025 at 12:24 AM
By way of @sepinwall.bsky.social (who incidentally has relocated, but read his explanation), Robert Redford's final onscreen appearance. Very brief, but worth it. RIP, Mr. Redford.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dj3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dj3...
More on the potential big win for auto companies on both sides of the Atlantic if Europe and the US agree to accept each other's standards.
My big question: How would this affect Chinese automakers?
www.detroitnews.com/story/busine...
My big question: How would this affect Chinese automakers?
www.detroitnews.com/story/busine...
Here's what reciprocal recognition of U.S., EU vehicle regulations could mean
Automakers today must homologate vehicles to meet differing rules between the regions around lighting, technology, bumpers and other specifications.
www.detroitnews.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:39 PM
More on the potential big win for auto companies on both sides of the Atlantic if Europe and the US agree to accept each other's standards.
My big question: How would this affect Chinese automakers?
www.detroitnews.com/story/busine...
My big question: How would this affect Chinese automakers?
www.detroitnews.com/story/busine...
Reposted by Paul Murray
The last 100 years of US politics
September 4, 2025 at 1:12 AM
The last 100 years of US politics
Reposted by Paul Murray
NEW: Trump has targeted political foes — including Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook — for claiming more than one primary residence on their loan papers.
But ProPublica found that at least three of the president’s Cabinet members have done the same thing.
But ProPublica found that at least three of the president’s Cabinet members have done the same thing.
Trump Is Accusing Foes With Multiple Mortgages of Fraud. Records Show 3 of His Cabinet Members Have Them.
The White House has targeted opponents, including a Fed governor, for having more than one primary residence on their loan papers. ProPublica found that, in one case, a Trump cabinet secretary got two...
www.propublica.org
September 4, 2025 at 7:18 PM
NEW: Trump has targeted political foes — including Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook — for claiming more than one primary residence on their loan papers.
But ProPublica found that at least three of the president’s Cabinet members have done the same thing.
But ProPublica found that at least three of the president’s Cabinet members have done the same thing.
Reposted by Paul Murray
This They Might Be Giants TONIGHT SHOW performance of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" from 1990 remains firmly lodged in my noggin thanks to the Tonight Show Band's full commitment and Doc Severinsen's incredible trumpeting... It took an already great song and made it transcendent.
August 23, 2025 at 8:44 AM
This They Might Be Giants TONIGHT SHOW performance of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" from 1990 remains firmly lodged in my noggin thanks to the Tonight Show Band's full commitment and Doc Severinsen's incredible trumpeting... It took an already great song and made it transcendent.
Huge development for automakers on both sides of the Atlantic, if true.
(The article is paywalled and I haven't even read it, but the headline and first sentence I can read are enough. Truett is a very knowledgeable reporter.)
www.autonews.com/manufacturin...
(The article is paywalled and I haven't even read it, but the headline and first sentence I can read are enough. Truett is a very knowledgeable reporter.)
www.autonews.com/manufacturin...
Trade agreement bombshell? U.S., EU may accept each other’s vehicle safety and emissions standards
The implications of potential changes remain unclear, but one scenario could allow U.S. and EU vehicles to be sold on both sides of the Atlantic without meeting the same safety and emissions standards...
www.autonews.com
August 22, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Huge development for automakers on both sides of the Atlantic, if true.
(The article is paywalled and I haven't even read it, but the headline and first sentence I can read are enough. Truett is a very knowledgeable reporter.)
www.autonews.com/manufacturin...
(The article is paywalled and I haven't even read it, but the headline and first sentence I can read are enough. Truett is a very knowledgeable reporter.)
www.autonews.com/manufacturin...
Happy Birthday, Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980).
Some people here are posting their top 5 films of his. I need 11 (mostly unranked):
1. North by Northwest
Vertigo
Psycho
The Lady Vanishes
The 39 Steps
Shadow of a Doubt
Foreign Correspondent
Strangers on a Train
Notorious
Rear Window
To Catch a Thief
Some people here are posting their top 5 films of his. I need 11 (mostly unranked):
1. North by Northwest
Vertigo
Psycho
The Lady Vanishes
The 39 Steps
Shadow of a Doubt
Foreign Correspondent
Strangers on a Train
Notorious
Rear Window
To Catch a Thief
August 13, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Happy Birthday, Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980).
Some people here are posting their top 5 films of his. I need 11 (mostly unranked):
1. North by Northwest
Vertigo
Psycho
The Lady Vanishes
The 39 Steps
Shadow of a Doubt
Foreign Correspondent
Strangers on a Train
Notorious
Rear Window
To Catch a Thief
Some people here are posting their top 5 films of his. I need 11 (mostly unranked):
1. North by Northwest
Vertigo
Psycho
The Lady Vanishes
The 39 Steps
Shadow of a Doubt
Foreign Correspondent
Strangers on a Train
Notorious
Rear Window
To Catch a Thief
A moment of kindness: I reached out to a friend for an opinion about some career-related education. Unsolicited, they offered to help me financially to pursue it. I was not and am not looking for that, but I'm genuinely touched. There are still good people among us; I just wanted to share that fact.
August 7, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A moment of kindness: I reached out to a friend for an opinion about some career-related education. Unsolicited, they offered to help me financially to pursue it. I was not and am not looking for that, but I'm genuinely touched. There are still good people among us; I just wanted to share that fact.
Reposted by Paul Murray
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
July 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
RIP Tom Lehrer, a brilliant lyricist and satirist from the 1960s, who was a formative influence on me (see below).
Honestly, the man's rhyming ability was up there with Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, etc.
Honestly, the man's rhyming ability was up there with Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, etc.
July 27, 2025 at 5:56 PM
RIP Tom Lehrer, a brilliant lyricist and satirist from the 1960s, who was a formative influence on me (see below).
Honestly, the man's rhyming ability was up there with Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, etc.
Honestly, the man's rhyming ability was up there with Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, etc.
Jimmy Kimmel's blunt reaction to CBS pulling the plug on Colbert
Hint: it involves an f-bomb.
www.thedailybeast.com/jimmy-kimmel...
Hint: it involves an f-bomb.
www.thedailybeast.com/jimmy-kimmel...
Jimmy Kimmel Tears Into CBS for Canceling Colbert
Stephen Colbert’s rival had an instant, furious reaction to the bombshell news.
www.thedailybeast.com
July 18, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Jimmy Kimmel's blunt reaction to CBS pulling the plug on Colbert
Hint: it involves an f-bomb.
www.thedailybeast.com/jimmy-kimmel...
Hint: it involves an f-bomb.
www.thedailybeast.com/jimmy-kimmel...
Lalo Schifrin wrote a *lot* of great music ... but yes, the "Mission: Impossible" theme was undoubtedly the most famous. RIP, sir.
apnews.com/article/lalo...
apnews.com/article/lalo...
Lalo Schifrin, composer of the 'Mission: Impossible' theme, dies at 93
The composer who wrote the endlessly catchy theme for “Mission: Impossible” and more than 100 other arrangements for film and television, Lalo Schifrin has died.
apnews.com
June 26, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Lalo Schifrin wrote a *lot* of great music ... but yes, the "Mission: Impossible" theme was undoubtedly the most famous. RIP, sir.
apnews.com/article/lalo...
apnews.com/article/lalo...
I just finished a few posts about my experience at the No Kings rally on Saturday -- my first-ever protest -- and this story resonated with me. We had short connections like this, too ...
So yes. Just got reminded of this. It's not a long story, and not a particularly beginning-middle-end one, but I've been chewing on the encounter since it happened. Here goes...
I’m going to say more when I’m at a keyboard, but there was a gravity to the event, a new intensity. I had a conversation with a woman as I was leaving that’s going to stay with me a very long time.
June 16, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I just finished a few posts about my experience at the No Kings rally on Saturday -- my first-ever protest -- and this story resonated with me. We had short connections like this, too ...
After more than half a century, I attended my first-ever political protest on Saturday, at a local No Kings rally. It was great. I felt like I was doing something, and it was nice to be around other people who felt the same way. It was fun reading the signs, too.
June 16, 2025 at 5:09 PM
After more than half a century, I attended my first-ever political protest on Saturday, at a local No Kings rally. It was great. I felt like I was doing something, and it was nice to be around other people who felt the same way. It was fun reading the signs, too.
Reposted by Paul Murray
RIP Brian Wilson - so much pleasure and wonder. This is my favourite Beach Boys track with vocals isolated to get its full splendour www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOQQ...
Heroes And Villains (A Cappella)
YouTube video by The Beach Boys - Topic
www.youtube.com
June 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
RIP Brian Wilson - so much pleasure and wonder. This is my favourite Beach Boys track with vocals isolated to get its full splendour www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOQQ...
Reposted by Paul Murray
New, from me: A Brown student built an AI-powered harassment machine of university staff. When the university investigated (and cleared) him, he was presented as a free speech victim. He became a right-wing celebrity, which was his goal all along. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-to-bec...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-to-bec...
How to become a right-wing star? Harass people
A Brown student used crummy AI to label university staff as worthless; now he has a Times profile and is testifying to Congress
donmoynihan.substack.com
June 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
New, from me: A Brown student built an AI-powered harassment machine of university staff. When the university investigated (and cleared) him, he was presented as a free speech victim. He became a right-wing celebrity, which was his goal all along. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-to-bec...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-to-bec...
Reposted by Paul Murray
A long long time ago, in a far away galaxy... the US used to tax the rich
May 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM
A long long time ago, in a far away galaxy... the US used to tax the rich
Reposted by Paul Murray
This is absolutely terrible news.
With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.
h/t @merz.bsky.social
With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.
h/t @merz.bsky.social
Moderna withdraws application for COVID-flu combination vaccine
Moderna said on Wednesday it has withdrawn an application seeking approval for its flu and COVID combination vaccine candidate after discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
www.reuters.com
May 22, 2025 at 6:46 AM
This is absolutely terrible news.
With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.
h/t @merz.bsky.social
With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.
h/t @merz.bsky.social