Alex SM
@section42.bsky.social
Professional income tax advisor | EU based
Passionate about
• personal finances
• investing
• space exploration
• science fiction
• cybersecurity
• Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate, The Expanse
Proud Kindle reader!
Passionate about
• personal finances
• investing
• space exploration
• science fiction
• cybersecurity
• Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate, The Expanse
Proud Kindle reader!
Reposted by Alex SM
Just to reiterate for the curious:
While there's *nothing wrong* with thinking about whether some interstellar objects could be alien technology, 3I/ATLAS has had its coma clearly detected since July 3. It's very clearly, *unambiguously*, a comet.
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
While there's *nothing wrong* with thinking about whether some interstellar objects could be alien technology, 3I/ATLAS has had its coma clearly detected since July 3. It's very clearly, *unambiguously*, a comet.
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
Avi and 3I/ATLAS
Avi Loeb has gained a reputation for suggesting and outright claiming things could be alien spacecraft even when there’s little to no objective reason to think so. So when the third interstellar objec...
sites.psu.edu
July 30, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Just to reiterate for the curious:
While there's *nothing wrong* with thinking about whether some interstellar objects could be alien technology, 3I/ATLAS has had its coma clearly detected since July 3. It's very clearly, *unambiguously*, a comet.
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
While there's *nothing wrong* with thinking about whether some interstellar objects could be alien technology, 3I/ATLAS has had its coma clearly detected since July 3. It's very clearly, *unambiguously*, a comet.
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
Reposted by Alex SM
"On Tyranny" is a #1 NYT bestseller again. I wish the moment were different. But I’m glad the book is useful. And grateful for all the kind words about putting the 20 lessons to work.
snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...
snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...
Twenty Lessons, read by John Lithgow
Key selections from On Tyranny, for viewing and sharing
snyder.substack.com
April 19, 2025 at 1:28 PM
"On Tyranny" is a #1 NYT bestseller again. I wish the moment were different. But I’m glad the book is useful. And grateful for all the kind words about putting the 20 lessons to work.
snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...
snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...
How do you find the new #linkinpark song: Up from the bottom? Better than the other songs on the From Zero album?
For me, The emptiness machine is still the best song on the album.
For me, The emptiness machine is still the best song on the album.
March 30, 2025 at 6:30 PM
How do you find the new #linkinpark song: Up from the bottom? Better than the other songs on the From Zero album?
For me, The emptiness machine is still the best song on the album.
For me, The emptiness machine is still the best song on the album.
Kiddo woke up at 8.30 today. Felt good to have also had a longer sleep myself. The downside is that the midday nap timing is too late now. Gonna be a fun night also considering the stupid change to summer time…
March 29, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Kiddo woke up at 8.30 today. Felt good to have also had a longer sleep myself. The downside is that the midday nap timing is too late now. Gonna be a fun night also considering the stupid change to summer time…
Morten Morland from The Times captures the reality of the Oval Office meeting between President Zelensky and the other guys quite well. A meeting between a man without a suit and a suit without a man!
March 2, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Morten Morland from The Times captures the reality of the Oval Office meeting between President Zelensky and the other guys quite well. A meeting between a man without a suit and a suit without a man!
Reposted by Alex SM
A member of Russia’s state-owned news agency gained access to the Oval Office for President Trump’s sit-down with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky – even as the AP and Reuters were barred from the high-level meeting.
A Russian state media reporter gained entry to the Oval Office for Trump-Zelensky sit-down | CNN Business
A member of Russia’s state-owned news agency gained access to the Oval Office on Friday to cover President Trump’s sit-down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – even as the AP and Reuters wer...
www.cnn.com
February 28, 2025 at 8:50 PM
A member of Russia’s state-owned news agency gained access to the Oval Office for President Trump’s sit-down with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky – even as the AP and Reuters were barred from the high-level meeting.
Reposted by Alex SM
Interesting graphic showing #genai adoption amongst young people in the EU.
European Parliament on LinkedIn: Young Europeans are embracing generative AI.
The European Parliament’s… | 21 comments
Young Europeans are embracing generative AI.
The European Parliament’s latest youth survey found that 57% of respondents aged 16-30 had used AI-based… | 21 comments on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
February 22, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Interesting graphic showing #genai adoption amongst young people in the EU.
This is really fricking scarry. Thankful I am not living in the US dystopia but doubt that its effects will not reverberate in Europe, where the far right is also gaining popularity…
Project 2025 Tracker
Track the progress on Project 2025
www.project2025.observer
February 21, 2025 at 3:17 AM
This is really fricking scarry. Thankful I am not living in the US dystopia but doubt that its effects will not reverberate in Europe, where the far right is also gaining popularity…
I heard numerous praises about the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy by Cixin Liu and how great of a #darkforest type of story it is. I have yet to read it but Peter Hamilton wrote an awesome #darkforest type trilogy as well that deserves more attention than it received: #salvationsequence.
February 16, 2025 at 11:16 AM
I heard numerous praises about the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy by Cixin Liu and how great of a #darkforest type of story it is. I have yet to read it but Peter Hamilton wrote an awesome #darkforest type trilogy as well that deserves more attention than it received: #salvationsequence.
A very simple yet effective explanation of macroeconomics and how various statistical indicators can be manipulated to support a particular narrative.
An alternative possibility is that it is simply compositional.
Imagine an economy of 2 people
1 earns £750
1 earns £1500
GDP per worker is £1125
Next year everyone’s income rises 10% and another low income worker joins
2 earn £825
1 earns £1650
GDP per worker is £1100 but everyone better off
Imagine an economy of 2 people
1 earns £750
1 earns £1500
GDP per worker is £1125
Next year everyone’s income rises 10% and another low income worker joins
2 earn £825
1 earns £1650
GDP per worker is £1100 but everyone better off
February 9, 2025 at 10:06 AM
A very simple yet effective explanation of macroeconomics and how various statistical indicators can be manipulated to support a particular narrative.
Seen on X and summarizes well the fascist salute given by Elon. Truly concerning what is happening across the ocean!
January 22, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Seen on X and summarizes well the fascist salute given by Elon. Truly concerning what is happening across the ocean!
Did the ‘first buddy’, Elon just perform the Sieg Heil salute twice at inauguration? I can’t believe I used to be a fan of this person a few years ago :(
January 21, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Did the ‘first buddy’, Elon just perform the Sieg Heil salute twice at inauguration? I can’t believe I used to be a fan of this person a few years ago :(
Rereading Salvation by #peterfhamilton and stumbled on this quote:
‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,’
‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,’
January 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Rereading Salvation by #peterfhamilton and stumbled on this quote:
‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,’
‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,’
This is truly astonishing! If you have not visited Pompeii and you are in Italy do yourself a favour and go! The archaeologists have done an amazing job uncovering the buried treasures and buildings!
The fact that we are still finding stuff is truly incredible and a testament to Roman construction!
The fact that we are still finding stuff is truly incredible and a testament to Roman construction!
Pompeii: Spectacular new discoveries unearthed include private spa
A huge private bathhouse is found after lying hidden for 2,000 years under volcanic rock and ash.
www.bbc.com
January 18, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This is truly astonishing! If you have not visited Pompeii and you are in Italy do yourself a favour and go! The archaeologists have done an amazing job uncovering the buried treasures and buildings!
The fact that we are still finding stuff is truly incredible and a testament to Roman construction!
The fact that we are still finding stuff is truly incredible and a testament to Roman construction!
Restarted reading the #salvationsequence by the one and only Peter Hamilton! First time I read the books only the first 2 were out so now am planning to finish the series.
January 9, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Restarted reading the #salvationsequence by the one and only Peter Hamilton! First time I read the books only the first 2 were out so now am planning to finish the series.
Listening the audio version of Countdown to zero day by Kim Zetter. Great account of the Stuxnet cyberattack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Scary and technical!
January 7, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Listening the audio version of Countdown to zero day by Kim Zetter. Great account of the Stuxnet cyberattack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Scary and technical!
Listening to the Ty&That guy podcast and have to say it is really funny and interesting hearing the origin story for The expanse.
If you haven’t checked out the books in #theexpanse universe, you are missing out on the best scifi universe in the last 20 years. Do yourself a favour and get reading!
If you haven’t checked out the books in #theexpanse universe, you are missing out on the best scifi universe in the last 20 years. Do yourself a favour and get reading!
January 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Listening to the Ty&That guy podcast and have to say it is really funny and interesting hearing the origin story for The expanse.
If you haven’t checked out the books in #theexpanse universe, you are missing out on the best scifi universe in the last 20 years. Do yourself a favour and get reading!
If you haven’t checked out the books in #theexpanse universe, you are missing out on the best scifi universe in the last 20 years. Do yourself a favour and get reading!
Is this the year when #Goodreads gets more functionalities and maybe a redesign? I like the revamped Goodreads challenges and badges. Adds a bit of fun and gamification. Do you use goodreads to track your reading lists and goals? What functionality are you missing and would like to see implemented?
January 5, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Is this the year when #Goodreads gets more functionalities and maybe a redesign? I like the revamped Goodreads challenges and badges. Adds a bit of fun and gamification. Do you use goodreads to track your reading lists and goals? What functionality are you missing and would like to see implemented?
Jerry Seinfeld on AI: ‘If I got this right: we’re smart enough to invent AI, dumb enough to need it and so stupid we can’t figure out if we did the right thing.’
Priceless :)
Priceless :)
January 4, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Jerry Seinfeld on AI: ‘If I got this right: we’re smart enough to invent AI, dumb enough to need it and so stupid we can’t figure out if we did the right thing.’
Priceless :)
Priceless :)
Watched the first episode of season 2 of the #Ringsofpower. I know, i know, very late…
I have to admit it was not that bad! Looking forward to the rest of the season!
I have to admit it was not that bad! Looking forward to the rest of the season!
January 3, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Watched the first episode of season 2 of the #Ringsofpower. I know, i know, very late…
I have to admit it was not that bad! Looking forward to the rest of the season!
I have to admit it was not that bad! Looking forward to the rest of the season!
Best wishes for 2025 everyone! May you make meaningful progress on your goals!
January 1, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Best wishes for 2025 everyone! May you make meaningful progress on your goals!