@debrota.bsky.social
Tonight finished watching Episode 6 of Ken Burns' American Revolution. Learned a lot I didn't know. Awed by much of it. Humbled by all of it. Anyone who hasn't seen it... should.
December 7, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Tonight finished watching Episode 6 of Ken Burns' American Revolution. Learned a lot I didn't know. Awed by much of it. Humbled by all of it. Anyone who hasn't seen it... should.
Black Friday was totally meh this year. It used to be fun and wallet-draining. I bought a couple of Christmas gifts online. I visited multiple brick and mortar stores but bought only some groceries and a used book at Half Price Books, and that was primarily to get a free 2026 calendar with coupons.
November 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Black Friday was totally meh this year. It used to be fun and wallet-draining. I bought a couple of Christmas gifts online. I visited multiple brick and mortar stores but bought only some groceries and a used book at Half Price Books, and that was primarily to get a free 2026 calendar with coupons.
He's dead, Jim. My longest-lived mobile phone, iPhone 5S, no longer powers on. His battery was bulging (for the second time in the life of the device) and I tried to replace it myself. I'm gonna miss the old thing, which fit beautifully into any pocket. New phones are f-ing HUGE!
November 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM
He's dead, Jim. My longest-lived mobile phone, iPhone 5S, no longer powers on. His battery was bulging (for the second time in the life of the device) and I tried to replace it myself. I'm gonna miss the old thing, which fit beautifully into any pocket. New phones are f-ing HUGE!
Lots of distressing news lately. One ray of hope is that when I wake from sleep, having had my mobile phone on a charger during the night, the display reports "100%". A new day. Another chance for something good. Full power.
November 11, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Lots of distressing news lately. One ray of hope is that when I wake from sleep, having had my mobile phone on a charger during the night, the display reports "100%". A new day. Another chance for something good. Full power.
Each of us should make a simple list of the things our federal government does that directly provide value to us. I don't get SNAP, Social Security, or Medicaid. I do use national parks, weather reports, air traffic control, interstate highways, disease control, NIH research, and the post office.
November 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Each of us should make a simple list of the things our federal government does that directly provide value to us. I don't get SNAP, Social Security, or Medicaid. I do use national parks, weather reports, air traffic control, interstate highways, disease control, NIH research, and the post office.
Gerrymandering is simply wrong. It should be possible for a computer algorithm to be given census data and driving distances/times, and to then assign to each person a congressional district. Each district's boundary would be determined by the algorithm, not by politicians.
October 31, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Gerrymandering is simply wrong. It should be possible for a computer algorithm to be given census data and driving distances/times, and to then assign to each person a congressional district. Each district's boundary would be determined by the algorithm, not by politicians.
Attended a No Kings demonstration in Lebanon, Indiana today. In a deeply red county in a deeply red state. I'd say 200+ people were there. No violence. No police or ICE or National Guard I could see. No news media. Everyone friendly, many in costumes. America at its best.
October 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Attended a No Kings demonstration in Lebanon, Indiana today. In a deeply red county in a deeply red state. I'd say 200+ people were there. No violence. No police or ICE or National Guard I could see. No news media. Everyone friendly, many in costumes. America at its best.
Am I the only one who worries that masked ICE will be shooting to kill on Oct 18? There will be plenty of targets for them, so they won't need to be good marksmen.
October 11, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Am I the only one who worries that masked ICE will be shooting to kill on Oct 18? There will be plenty of targets for them, so they won't need to be good marksmen.
I remember when we used to call it science fiction. Now we just call it news. We literally cannot take seriously any headline or announcement that comes our way. This is especially true if it has anything to do with the federal government.
October 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
I remember when we used to call it science fiction. Now we just call it news. We literally cannot take seriously any headline or announcement that comes our way. This is especially true if it has anything to do with the federal government.
I haven't played bridge in years. But I'd be up for starting again, just so I could occasionally bid "no trump". It would make me smile to do so.
October 4, 2025 at 3:41 PM
I haven't played bridge in years. But I'd be up for starting again, just so I could occasionally bid "no trump". It would make me smile to do so.
Not a brag. Just a quick post to say that I just got the latest COVID vaccination. Because I hope it will help me avoid complications from long COVID if I get it (again). Because I hope it will keep me out of the hospital or crematorium. Because I hope it will keep someone else from getting it.
September 23, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Not a brag. Just a quick post to say that I just got the latest COVID vaccination. Because I hope it will help me avoid complications from long COVID if I get it (again). Because I hope it will keep me out of the hospital or crematorium. Because I hope it will keep someone else from getting it.
Is it just my imagination, or is the percentage of Bluesky posts somehow relating to cats now larger than ever? What does this say about the state of the world and the people in it? Should we worry if cats get more attention than climate change, wars, corrupt politicians, etc.?
August 8, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Is it just my imagination, or is the percentage of Bluesky posts somehow relating to cats now larger than ever? What does this say about the state of the world and the people in it? Should we worry if cats get more attention than climate change, wars, corrupt politicians, etc.?
AI told me I had to share this.
June 30, 2025 at 12:24 AM
AI told me I had to share this.
Got my 6th COVID vaccination a few days ago. Very mild body aches lasted ~24 hours. Reminder: you don't just vaccinate for your own sake, but also to help others.
June 13, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Got my 6th COVID vaccination a few days ago. Very mild body aches lasted ~24 hours. Reminder: you don't just vaccinate for your own sake, but also to help others.
Pharmacist told me today I was eligible for another COVID booster. I'd have had the jab immediately but for just-purchased ice cream melting in my car. Seriously. You get vaccinated not just for yourself and the people you love, but also for the people you don't even know. You may save a life.
May 29, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Pharmacist told me today I was eligible for another COVID booster. I'd have had the jab immediately but for just-purchased ice cream melting in my car. Seriously. You get vaccinated not just for yourself and the people you love, but also for the people you don't even know. You may save a life.
When I was a kid, the newspaper told us what was playing a local movie theaters and TV Guide said what was on TV. There was no VCR, no cable TV. You watched what was available. Today, we can literally watch anything ever made into a movie. So choosing takes a LONG time and some arguments.
May 29, 2025 at 10:40 PM
When I was a kid, the newspaper told us what was playing a local movie theaters and TV Guide said what was on TV. There was no VCR, no cable TV. You watched what was available. Today, we can literally watch anything ever made into a movie. So choosing takes a LONG time and some arguments.
If you are ignorant or unable to make sensible decisions, should you be allowed to vote? What if you are intoxicated? What if you are unable to recognize the name of a candidate for an office? Democracy assumes that you make an intelligent contribution to an election when you vote.
May 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
If you are ignorant or unable to make sensible decisions, should you be allowed to vote? What if you are intoxicated? What if you are unable to recognize the name of a candidate for an office? Democracy assumes that you make an intelligent contribution to an election when you vote.
De minimus. Read about it. It's how we have until recently been able to pay very low prices for goods made in China. I bought mostly tools and crafting supplies. Anyway, recent actions of our so-called government have changed it, and then changed the changes. Chaos, if you want to buy things.
May 16, 2025 at 12:12 PM
De minimus. Read about it. It's how we have until recently been able to pay very low prices for goods made in China. I bought mostly tools and crafting supplies. Anyway, recent actions of our so-called government have changed it, and then changed the changes. Chaos, if you want to buy things.
Seen the term "AI slop"? It apparently is used to disparage things presumed to have been generated by people giving minimalist prompts to AI tools. "Cartoon in the style of Randall Munroe's XKCD", or "Image of a baby POTUS signing an Executive Order with a crayon". Clever prompting is creativity.
May 9, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Seen the term "AI slop"? It apparently is used to disparage things presumed to have been generated by people giving minimalist prompts to AI tools. "Cartoon in the style of Randall Munroe's XKCD", or "Image of a baby POTUS signing an Executive Order with a crayon". Clever prompting is creativity.
Found a diary kept by my mother in the 1950s. Just wow. Not salacious. Thoughtful. Strengthens my frequently-offered advice to young people... keep a diary or journal. You may live long enough to be glad you did, and your descendants will know you better than possible with pictures or videos.
April 13, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Found a diary kept by my mother in the 1950s. Just wow. Not salacious. Thoughtful. Strengthens my frequently-offered advice to young people... keep a diary or journal. You may live long enough to be glad you did, and your descendants will know you better than possible with pictures or videos.
Much of primary care involves conversation between patient and provider. In many cases text-only conversation can suffice. But not in all cases. Live videoconference is better, offering providers nonverbal information absent in text, and building trust in patients.
www.wired.com/story/dr-oz-...
www.wired.com/story/dr-oz-...
Dr. Oz Pushed for AI Health Care in First Medicare Agency Town Hall
Dr. Oz, who now controls the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and its $1.5 trillion budget, promoted the idea that AI avatars could replace frontline health care workers.
www.wired.com
April 9, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Much of primary care involves conversation between patient and provider. In many cases text-only conversation can suffice. But not in all cases. Live videoconference is better, offering providers nonverbal information absent in text, and building trust in patients.
www.wired.com/story/dr-oz-...
www.wired.com/story/dr-oz-...
Is handyman now a real profession? I've recently had two very successful occasions using a handyman for things I wouldn't have done properly or didn't want to attempt. I believe I paid a fair price and that those doing the work were paid reasonably for their time and effort.
April 8, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Is handyman now a real profession? I've recently had two very successful occasions using a handyman for things I wouldn't have done properly or didn't want to attempt. I believe I paid a fair price and that those doing the work were paid reasonably for their time and effort.
I don't understand it. I've purchased lots of fitness equipment over the years. Why am I not stronger? Why am I still fatter than I would like? Have I been purchasing the wrong equipment? It seems to be in working order. I mean, I haven't tested it or anything.
April 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I don't understand it. I've purchased lots of fitness equipment over the years. Why am I not stronger? Why am I still fatter than I would like? Have I been purchasing the wrong equipment? It seems to be in working order. I mean, I haven't tested it or anything.
So a friend of mine ordered a new BMW prior to the election. It's now on a German dock waiting to be shipped to the US. But with tariffs, cost will be $16K more than the purchase agreement. Who should pay this? BMW dealer? Buyer? Conald?
April 3, 2025 at 11:15 PM
So a friend of mine ordered a new BMW prior to the election. It's now on a German dock waiting to be shipped to the US. But with tariffs, cost will be $16K more than the purchase agreement. Who should pay this? BMW dealer? Buyer? Conald?
This is just a simple message to Democratic party organizations. If you would like me to contribute money, I want to see some significant activity. Not just fundraising. Not just griping. I want to see some actual opposition to Conald and DOGE. I want to see Congress doing its job.
March 23, 2025 at 3:40 PM
This is just a simple message to Democratic party organizations. If you would like me to contribute money, I want to see some significant activity. Not just fundraising. Not just griping. I want to see some actual opposition to Conald and DOGE. I want to see Congress doing its job.