Frank Boosman
@fboosman.bsky.social
Global team leader in data center training (but my opinions are my own). MPH from the University of Edinburgh. Former chair of a malaria-focused NGO. Fascinated by the interconnectedness of audacious ideas. Thinking about what to do next in my spare time.
Every other year, for a while, the BBQ editor of Texas Monthly is the most powerful person in the state. I’m not kidding.
July 8, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Every other year, for a while, the BBQ editor of Texas Monthly is the most powerful person in the state. I’m not kidding.
3.2% of the US population took part in a #NoKings protest. Meanwhile, reliable estimates place the Trump crowd at between 20,000–50,000.
The Washington Post: "Trump watches the military parade of his dreams march through D.C." and "Trump's military parade, in photos and videos"
Do better, media.
The Washington Post: "Trump watches the military parade of his dreams march through D.C." and "Trump's military parade, in photos and videos"
Do better, media.
June 15, 2025 at 11:56 PM
3.2% of the US population took part in a #NoKings protest. Meanwhile, reliable estimates place the Trump crowd at between 20,000–50,000.
The Washington Post: "Trump watches the military parade of his dreams march through D.C." and "Trump's military parade, in photos and videos"
Do better, media.
The Washington Post: "Trump watches the military parade of his dreams march through D.C." and "Trump's military parade, in photos and videos"
Do better, media.
![A French menu reading "Menu enfant (moins de 10 ans) 15 [euros], Steak frites, Boule de glace"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bs46xcpuo5eazhapfkygnxmv/bafkreibmmkzzsiervjv4wyhikbsxuvv2dpya4igueehm6shlylrdx7zk6u@jpeg)
I didn’t have “manager of Walmart store from across the street brings cases of water bottles to hand out free to #NoKings protesters” on my bingo card today, but there you go.
June 14, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I didn’t have “manager of Walmart store from across the street brings cases of water bottles to hand out free to #NoKings protesters” on my bingo card today, but there you go.
Trump has no understanding of history and no sense of decency or decorum. He has no idea why what he did was bad, and wouldn't care if he did.
Speaking as a veteran, though, these soldiers should know better. Their reaction is shameful. And extremely dangerous. This is banana republic territory.
Speaking as a veteran, though, these soldiers should know better. Their reaction is shameful. And extremely dangerous. This is banana republic territory.
June 13, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Trump has no understanding of history and no sense of decency or decorum. He has no idea why what he did was bad, and wouldn't care if he did.
Speaking as a veteran, though, these soldiers should know better. Their reaction is shameful. And extremely dangerous. This is banana republic territory.
Speaking as a veteran, though, these soldiers should know better. Their reaction is shameful. And extremely dangerous. This is banana republic territory.
The first photo is Saddam Hussein in 1979 as he has a total of 68 Ba'ath Party members removed from a meeting, a few at a time, for alleged treason. 22 of them were later executed.
The second photo is one of many Party members responding by loudly proclaiming their loyalty to avoid punishment.
The second photo is one of many Party members responding by loudly proclaiming their loyalty to avoid punishment.
June 12, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The first photo is Saddam Hussein in 1979 as he has a total of 68 Ba'ath Party members removed from a meeting, a few at a time, for alleged treason. 22 of them were later executed.
The second photo is one of many Party members responding by loudly proclaiming their loyalty to avoid punishment.
The second photo is one of many Party members responding by loudly proclaiming their loyalty to avoid punishment.
« Faites attention, quand une démocratie est malade, le fascisme vient à son chevet, mais ce n’est pas pour prendre de ses Nouvelles. » — Albert Camus
("Be careful, when a democracy is sick, fascism comes to its bedside, but it is not to inquire about its health.")
("Be careful, when a democracy is sick, fascism comes to its bedside, but it is not to inquire about its health.")
June 11, 2025 at 5:05 PM
« Faites attention, quand une démocratie est malade, le fascisme vient à son chevet, mais ce n’est pas pour prendre de ses Nouvelles. » — Albert Camus
("Be careful, when a democracy is sick, fascism comes to its bedside, but it is not to inquire about its health.")
("Be careful, when a democracy is sick, fascism comes to its bedside, but it is not to inquire about its health.")
Either DJ Khaled is the Supreme of music or Supreme is the DJ Khaled of fashion. Or both.
June 7, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Either DJ Khaled is the Supreme of music or Supreme is the DJ Khaled of fashion. Or both.
"Hyatt Hotels Corporation today announced Unscripted by Hyatt, the newest brand in its growing Essentials portfolio."
Finally. Hyatt desperately needs more hotel brands. What kind of hotel superchain has only 34 brands? I mean, come on.
Finally. Hyatt desperately needs more hotel brands. What kind of hotel superchain has only 34 brands? I mean, come on.
May 31, 2025 at 10:13 AM
"Hyatt Hotels Corporation today announced Unscripted by Hyatt, the newest brand in its growing Essentials portfolio."
Finally. Hyatt desperately needs more hotel brands. What kind of hotel superchain has only 34 brands? I mean, come on.
Finally. Hyatt desperately needs more hotel brands. What kind of hotel superchain has only 34 brands? I mean, come on.
The update theme from the original Unsolved Mysteries will always be the creepiest music I have heard in my life. It's as if the producers asked the composer for music that was both jaunty (finding a missing person) or terrifying (discovering a murder victim)—and the composer nailed it.
May 28, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The update theme from the original Unsolved Mysteries will always be the creepiest music I have heard in my life. It's as if the producers asked the composer for music that was both jaunty (finding a missing person) or terrifying (discovering a murder victim)—and the composer nailed it.
“The fact that a senior government official is publicly behaving this way is a stark indicator of the United States’ accelerating decline.”
May 26, 2025 at 5:21 PM
“The fact that a senior government official is publicly behaving this way is a stark indicator of the United States’ accelerating decline.”
I'd love an explanation of how this works. It's baffling (and cool).
May 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I'd love an explanation of how this works. It's baffling (and cool).
Two words:
Saint Walter.
Of course, he’ll be popularly known as Saint Sweetness.
Saint Walter.
Of course, he’ll be popularly known as Saint Sweetness.
May 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Two words:
Saint Walter.
Of course, he’ll be popularly known as Saint Sweetness.
Saint Walter.
Of course, he’ll be popularly known as Saint Sweetness.
This is a sincere question. Has Facebook ever had a significant original idea of its own?
April 28, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This is a sincere question. Has Facebook ever had a significant original idea of its own?
And yet, I suspect that 1,361 days from now, Trump will still have the support of 40% of Americans, plus or minus 10%. It won’t matter how bad things get.
I’ll say this for him: when he said he could shoot someone in public and not lose his supporters, he was right.
I’ll say this for him: when he said he could shoot someone in public and not lose his supporters, he was right.
April 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
And yet, I suspect that 1,361 days from now, Trump will still have the support of 40% of Americans, plus or minus 10%. It won’t matter how bad things get.
I’ll say this for him: when he said he could shoot someone in public and not lose his supporters, he was right.
I’ll say this for him: when he said he could shoot someone in public and not lose his supporters, he was right.
“I’m not fat! I’m bulkin’ up!”—Eric Cartman #southpark
April 21, 2025 at 10:58 PM
“I’m not fat! I’m bulkin’ up!”—Eric Cartman #southpark
Officials: We're dismantling DEI programs because we believe the government should be blind to the color of one's skin.
Also, when we fire people from advisory boards, 88% of them will be female, Black, or Hispanic. No reason in particular. Certainly nothing to do with race.
Also, when we fire people from advisory boards, 88% of them will be female, Black, or Hispanic. No reason in particular. Certainly nothing to do with race.
Thirty-eight of 43 experts cut last month from the boards that review the science and research that happens in laboratories at the National Institutes of Health are female, Black or Hispanic, according to an analysis by the chairs of a dozen of the boards.
Women, minorities fired in purge of NIH science review boards
Scientists, with expertise in fields that include mental health, cancer and infectious disease, typically serve five-year terms and were not given a reason for their dismissal.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 18, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Officials: We're dismantling DEI programs because we believe the government should be blind to the color of one's skin.
Also, when we fire people from advisory boards, 88% of them will be female, Black, or Hispanic. No reason in particular. Certainly nothing to do with race.
Also, when we fire people from advisory boards, 88% of them will be female, Black, or Hispanic. No reason in particular. Certainly nothing to do with race.
The stock market is crashing, our allies are distancing themselves from us, governments are warning their citizens about visiting here, we have disease outbreaks, and we're on the edge of a constitutional crisis, yet Trump's support remains above 40%.
Something is deeply and profoundly wrong.
Something is deeply and profoundly wrong.
April 17, 2025 at 9:35 AM
The stock market is crashing, our allies are distancing themselves from us, governments are warning their citizens about visiting here, we have disease outbreaks, and we're on the edge of a constitutional crisis, yet Trump's support remains above 40%.
Something is deeply and profoundly wrong.
Something is deeply and profoundly wrong.
From @techdirt.com.web.brid.gy.
"[T]here must be a quota carved out for the kind of thought that the government prefers or there will be punishment. Were we to need a perfect example of thought-policing in the modern era, it appears we have it."
"[T]here must be a quota carved out for the kind of thought that the government prefers or there will be punishment. Were we to need a perfect example of thought-policing in the modern era, it appears we have it."
April 16, 2025 at 9:20 AM
From @techdirt.com.web.brid.gy.
"[T]here must be a quota carved out for the kind of thought that the government prefers or there will be punishment. Were we to need a perfect example of thought-policing in the modern era, it appears we have it."
"[T]here must be a quota carved out for the kind of thought that the government prefers or there will be punishment. Were we to need a perfect example of thought-policing in the modern era, it appears we have it."
A brief but vital thread.
1/4. On the White House’s theory, if they abduct you, get you on a helicopter, get to international waters, shoot you in the head, and drop your corpse into the ocean, that is legal, because it is the conduct of foreign affairs.
April 16, 2025 at 9:04 AM
A brief but vital thread.
"We didn't like what you did, or said, or thought, so we threw you into a pit from which no one can escape. We don't want to release you, but even if we did, we can't. You're no longer our problem and you're never coming back."
I'll say this for "The Pit": at least the prisoners could see the sky.
I'll say this for "The Pit": at least the prisoners could see the sky.
April 16, 2025 at 8:48 AM
"We didn't like what you did, or said, or thought, so we threw you into a pit from which no one can escape. We don't want to release you, but even if we did, we can't. You're no longer our problem and you're never coming back."
I'll say this for "The Pit": at least the prisoners could see the sky.
I'll say this for "The Pit": at least the prisoners could see the sky.
"It does feel really stupid. It’s callous and it’s evil and it’s craven but it’s also very, very stupid. Clown-show, clown-shoe, clown-shit stupid." — Chuck Wendig (h/t @gruber.foo)
terribleminds.com/ramble/2025/...
terribleminds.com/ramble/2025/...
April 14, 2025 at 10:21 AM
"It does feel really stupid. It’s callous and it’s evil and it’s craven but it’s also very, very stupid. Clown-show, clown-shoe, clown-shit stupid." — Chuck Wendig (h/t @gruber.foo)
terribleminds.com/ramble/2025/...
terribleminds.com/ramble/2025/...
There's so much stupidity right now that no one can keep up with it all, but I'd like to nominate this as the stupidest thing anyone in public life said yesterday. Nothing about this is factual, truthful, or consistent with scientific best practices. It's idiotic gobbledygook.
April 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
There's so much stupidity right now that no one can keep up with it all, but I'd like to nominate this as the stupidest thing anyone in public life said yesterday. Nothing about this is factual, truthful, or consistent with scientific best practices. It's idiotic gobbledygook.