Auld Dick
@dwinx49r.bsky.social
Long time Sci/Tech lover and practitioner, socially tolerant, fiscally conservative, apolitical, unremarkably ordinary, admitted pedant, long suffering cynic.
As a kid of the 50's and 60's I had subscriptions to Popular Mechanics, Popular Science and Analog Science Fiction magazines.
I used to look forward to the bright future with flying cars as promised.
These days, I wish they would work on cloning and mind transfer to get my 20yo body back.
I used to look forward to the bright future with flying cars as promised.
These days, I wish they would work on cloning and mind transfer to get my 20yo body back.
September 22, 2025 at 4:17 PM
As a kid of the 50's and 60's I had subscriptions to Popular Mechanics, Popular Science and Analog Science Fiction magazines.
I used to look forward to the bright future with flying cars as promised.
These days, I wish they would work on cloning and mind transfer to get my 20yo body back.
I used to look forward to the bright future with flying cars as promised.
These days, I wish they would work on cloning and mind transfer to get my 20yo body back.
Reposted by Auld Dick
As private business retirement plans have been fading in favor of 401k plans and the like, so should members of government be required to plan for their own retirement.
Want to save some money? Stop the golden retirement privileges for members of government.
They need some skin in the game.
Want to save some money? Stop the golden retirement privileges for members of government.
They need some skin in the game.
May 28, 2025 at 2:10 PM
As private business retirement plans have been fading in favor of 401k plans and the like, so should members of government be required to plan for their own retirement.
Want to save some money? Stop the golden retirement privileges for members of government.
They need some skin in the game.
Want to save some money? Stop the golden retirement privileges for members of government.
They need some skin in the game.
Reposted by Auld Dick
Every machine in a Hospital that diagnoses your body without cutting you open is based on a principle of Physics, discovered by a Physicist who had no interest in Medicine.
If you think the world doesn’t need Basic Science, or that somehow Science has failed you, think again.
If you think the world doesn’t need Basic Science, or that somehow Science has failed you, think again.
June 17, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Every machine in a Hospital that diagnoses your body without cutting you open is based on a principle of Physics, discovered by a Physicist who had no interest in Medicine.
If you think the world doesn’t need Basic Science, or that somehow Science has failed you, think again.
If you think the world doesn’t need Basic Science, or that somehow Science has failed you, think again.
Reposted by Auld Dick
What the actual everloving
Is there anyone - a single goddamned person - in the Trump cabinet who isn't a complete and utter clown?
www.rawstory.com/tulsi-gabbar...
Is there anyone - a single goddamned person - in the Trump cabinet who isn't a complete and utter clown?
www.rawstory.com/tulsi-gabbar...
Tulsi Gabbard used AI to figure out what to declassify in JFK files
President Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard admitted to using artificial intelligence software to determine what she should declassify out of the John F. Kennedy assassina...
www.rawstory.com
June 11, 2025 at 1:18 AM
What the actual everloving
Is there anyone - a single goddamned person - in the Trump cabinet who isn't a complete and utter clown?
www.rawstory.com/tulsi-gabbar...
Is there anyone - a single goddamned person - in the Trump cabinet who isn't a complete and utter clown?
www.rawstory.com/tulsi-gabbar...
Apparently, ChatGPT AI has been down for a few hours this morning.
Could it be that this is the point in the story where the AI becomes self-aware and goes rogue?
Could it be that this is the point in the story where the AI becomes self-aware and goes rogue?
June 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Apparently, ChatGPT AI has been down for a few hours this morning.
Could it be that this is the point in the story where the AI becomes self-aware and goes rogue?
Could it be that this is the point in the story where the AI becomes self-aware and goes rogue?
Just checked and WOOHOO!!!
The first episode of Murderbot is available on AppleTV+.
Hard to wait until I can savor it uninterrupted.😬
The first episode of Murderbot is available on AppleTV+.
Hard to wait until I can savor it uninterrupted.😬
May 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Just checked and WOOHOO!!!
The first episode of Murderbot is available on AppleTV+.
Hard to wait until I can savor it uninterrupted.😬
The first episode of Murderbot is available on AppleTV+.
Hard to wait until I can savor it uninterrupted.😬
Reposted by Auld Dick
With all sincerity, Elections Canada is a national treasure.
- Voting typically takes less than 15 minutes
- We make it easy for citizens to vote, without cumbersome registration hurdles
- We have every reason to trust that ballots will be counted fairly, and results reported swiftly
- Voting typically takes less than 15 minutes
- We make it easy for citizens to vote, without cumbersome registration hurdles
- We have every reason to trust that ballots will be counted fairly, and results reported swiftly
April 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
With all sincerity, Elections Canada is a national treasure.
- Voting typically takes less than 15 minutes
- We make it easy for citizens to vote, without cumbersome registration hurdles
- We have every reason to trust that ballots will be counted fairly, and results reported swiftly
- Voting typically takes less than 15 minutes
- We make it easy for citizens to vote, without cumbersome registration hurdles
- We have every reason to trust that ballots will be counted fairly, and results reported swiftly
Reposted by Auld Dick
America has had its share of crooks (Warren G. Harding, Richard Nixon), bigots (Andrew Jackson, James Buchanan), and incompetents (Andrew Johnson, George W. Bush). But never before Donald Trump did we have a president who combined all these nefarious qualities.
April 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM
America has had its share of crooks (Warren G. Harding, Richard Nixon), bigots (Andrew Jackson, James Buchanan), and incompetents (Andrew Johnson, George W. Bush). But never before Donald Trump did we have a president who combined all these nefarious qualities.
This is just more fuel for the argument that Trump must go.
Not only is he dismantling governance, he's trashing all the environmental science that has been done to set healthy policies that allow us to prosecute would-be polluters.
Not only is he dismantling governance, he's trashing all the environmental science that has been done to set healthy policies that allow us to prosecute would-be polluters.
Trump's EPA just moved to reverse state and local bans on toxic "forever chemicals" that can lead to birth defects and cancer.
So much for "Make America Healthy Again." https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/05/trump-pfas-toxic-forever-chemicals
So much for "Make America Healthy Again." https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/05/trump-pfas-toxic-forever-chemicals
Trump officials quietly move to reverse bans on toxic ‘forever chemicals’
EPA bids to change chemical risk evaluations, which could expose public to higher levels of PFAS and other pollutants
www.theguardian.com
April 12, 2025 at 6:10 PM
This is just more fuel for the argument that Trump must go.
Not only is he dismantling governance, he's trashing all the environmental science that has been done to set healthy policies that allow us to prosecute would-be polluters.
Not only is he dismantling governance, he's trashing all the environmental science that has been done to set healthy policies that allow us to prosecute would-be polluters.
💯
April 7, 2025 at 9:37 PM
💯
💯"America’s actual national emergency is Donald J. Trump."
While the United States has plenty of real problems to deal with, Trump is ignoring them to manufacture fake emergencies.
Why?
He wants more power — and in the process, he’s subjecting millions to real harm.
America’s actual national emergency is Donald J. Trump.
Why?
He wants more power — and in the process, he’s subjecting millions to real harm.
America’s actual national emergency is Donald J. Trump.
April 7, 2025 at 9:36 PM
💯"America’s actual national emergency is Donald J. Trump."
Reposted by Auld Dick
America has never been subject to this level of authoritarianism, and quite frankly, sheer incompetence.
Out of the ashes, this moment should radicalize us to embark on an era of new reform — of our economy, our democracy, and our commitment to social justice and the law.
Out of the ashes, this moment should radicalize us to embark on an era of new reform — of our economy, our democracy, and our commitment to social justice and the law.
March 31, 2025 at 6:01 PM
America has never been subject to this level of authoritarianism, and quite frankly, sheer incompetence.
Out of the ashes, this moment should radicalize us to embark on an era of new reform — of our economy, our democracy, and our commitment to social justice and the law.
Out of the ashes, this moment should radicalize us to embark on an era of new reform — of our economy, our democracy, and our commitment to social justice and the law.
It's been 58 days.
Given the current burn rate, our democratic republic won't be around in 2028.
By the mid-term elections, they will be hanging the going-out-of-business sale signs.
Given the current burn rate, our democratic republic won't be around in 2028.
By the mid-term elections, they will be hanging the going-out-of-business sale signs.
March 19, 2025 at 7:48 PM
It's been 58 days.
Given the current burn rate, our democratic republic won't be around in 2028.
By the mid-term elections, they will be hanging the going-out-of-business sale signs.
Given the current burn rate, our democratic republic won't be around in 2028.
By the mid-term elections, they will be hanging the going-out-of-business sale signs.
Reposted by Auld Dick
I don’t think we need another season of Black Mirror, it’s basically our reality now.
March 13, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I don’t think we need another season of Black Mirror, it’s basically our reality now.
Worth a bump. The question remains.
How do we, as citizens, get Trump and his cabal of self interested individuals, disguised as members of the Republican party, out of office? The damage is being done now. The next election will be too late to prevent the destruction of US Democracy as we know it.
March 9, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Worth a bump. The question remains.
I thought that was parents' job to decide what their kids can/should read.
GOP complains about the nanny state, this definitely smacks of government interference with individuals' rights and responsibilities.
GOP complains about the nanny state, this definitely smacks of government interference with individuals' rights and responsibilities.
Hey fellow Floridians.
Take a look at SB 1692 (HB 1539). It's trying to make book bans easier by creating a state-level THING that's going to cost you $3M a YEAR. This would make it nearly impossible for anyone to object when a book is deemed "harmful to minors"🧵
Take a look at SB 1692 (HB 1539). It's trying to make book bans easier by creating a state-level THING that's going to cost you $3M a YEAR. This would make it nearly impossible for anyone to object when a book is deemed "harmful to minors"🧵
House Bill 1539 (2025) - The Florida Senate
www.flsenate.gov
March 6, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I thought that was parents' job to decide what their kids can/should read.
GOP complains about the nanny state, this definitely smacks of government interference with individuals' rights and responsibilities.
GOP complains about the nanny state, this definitely smacks of government interference with individuals' rights and responsibilities.
@scalzi.com If you would be so kind. The next time you speak to Will Wheaton, please convey a sarcastic "Thanks a lot." on behalf of all of us named Dick who are not the folks that he referred to, (in)famously becoming Wheaton's Law. It was bad enough that "dick" already had a pejorative facility.
March 6, 2025 at 8:49 PM
@scalzi.com If you would be so kind. The next time you speak to Will Wheaton, please convey a sarcastic "Thanks a lot." on behalf of all of us named Dick who are not the folks that he referred to, (in)famously becoming Wheaton's Law. It was bad enough that "dick" already had a pejorative facility.
Reposted by Auld Dick
U.S. employers announced plans to cut 172k jobs in February.
Trump's massive federal layoffs and uncertainty around his economic policies helped contribute to the biggest monthly total of planned job cuts since the Great Recession.
Does this sound like economic leadership?
Trump's massive federal layoffs and uncertainty around his economic policies helped contribute to the biggest monthly total of planned job cuts since the Great Recession.
Does this sound like economic leadership?
March 6, 2025 at 6:01 PM
U.S. employers announced plans to cut 172k jobs in February.
Trump's massive federal layoffs and uncertainty around his economic policies helped contribute to the biggest monthly total of planned job cuts since the Great Recession.
Does this sound like economic leadership?
Trump's massive federal layoffs and uncertainty around his economic policies helped contribute to the biggest monthly total of planned job cuts since the Great Recession.
Does this sound like economic leadership?
Reposted by Auld Dick
I actually think the dems should attend the SOTU, wait till the 2nd sentence, and then walk out en masse, that'll do it, there'll be no address, he'll just have a meltdown on national Tv
March 3, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I actually think the dems should attend the SOTU, wait till the 2nd sentence, and then walk out en masse, that'll do it, there'll be no address, he'll just have a meltdown on national Tv
Reposted by Auld Dick
This is how our government has been corrupted:
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office.
2) Elected officials rewrite the rules in the donors' favor.
3) Donors make a huge profit.
4) Repeat.
For the sake of democracy, we must get Big Money out of politics.
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office.
2) Elected officials rewrite the rules in the donors' favor.
3) Donors make a huge profit.
4) Repeat.
For the sake of democracy, we must get Big Money out of politics.
February 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
This is how our government has been corrupted:
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office.
2) Elected officials rewrite the rules in the donors' favor.
3) Donors make a huge profit.
4) Repeat.
For the sake of democracy, we must get Big Money out of politics.
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office.
2) Elected officials rewrite the rules in the donors' favor.
3) Donors make a huge profit.
4) Repeat.
For the sake of democracy, we must get Big Money out of politics.
Kash Patel?!?
REALLY?!!!
REALLY?!!!
February 21, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Kash Patel?!?
REALLY?!!!
REALLY?!!!
If Trump takes over the US Mail, is it at all likely that his interest is in controlling and monitoring communications, old school? (rhetorical)
If you've never read George Orwell's classic "1984", now is the time to do so. It seems to foreshadow the direction that we may be going.
It's demolition.
If you've never read George Orwell's classic "1984", now is the time to do so. It seems to foreshadow the direction that we may be going.
It's demolition.
February 21, 2025 at 2:32 PM
If Trump takes over the US Mail, is it at all likely that his interest is in controlling and monitoring communications, old school? (rhetorical)
If you've never read George Orwell's classic "1984", now is the time to do so. It seems to foreshadow the direction that we may be going.
It's demolition.
If you've never read George Orwell's classic "1984", now is the time to do so. It seems to foreshadow the direction that we may be going.
It's demolition.
THIS is eminently worth the boost!
The DOGE firings have nothing to do with “efficiency” or “cutting waste.” They’re a direct push to weaken federal agencies perceived as liberal. This was evident from the start, and now the data confirms it: targeted agencies overwhelmingly those seen as more left-leaning. 🧵⬇️
February 20, 2025 at 7:10 PM
THIS is eminently worth the boost!
How do we, as citizens, get Trump and his cabal of self interested individuals, disguised as members of the Republican party, out of office? The damage is being done now. The next election will be too late to prevent the destruction of US Democracy as we know it.
February 20, 2025 at 6:57 PM
How do we, as citizens, get Trump and his cabal of self interested individuals, disguised as members of the Republican party, out of office? The damage is being done now. The next election will be too late to prevent the destruction of US Democracy as we know it.
A question for @neildegrassetyson.com : If this system is moving at 1.2 million mph, how does the light, it emits, traveling at ~186,000mph, ever reach earth?
www.nasa.gov/universe/nas...
www.nasa.gov/universe/nas...
NASA Scientists Spot Candidate for Speediest Exoplanet System - NASA
Astronomers may have discovered a scrawny star bolting through the middle of our galaxy with a planet in tow. If confirmed, the pair sets a new record for the
www.nasa.gov
February 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A question for @neildegrassetyson.com : If this system is moving at 1.2 million mph, how does the light, it emits, traveling at ~186,000mph, ever reach earth?
www.nasa.gov/universe/nas...
www.nasa.gov/universe/nas...