Stopped at McDonald's recently on the way to work, selected an Egg McMuffin from the big touch screen menu, and found it priced at US$4.99. No meal deal— just the sandwich. I turned around and left. (1/3)

Apparently it’s a common unsolved problem for Billionaire Bunker Builders: Once you assemble a team to run the place, how can you keep them loyal? I.e., after the apocalypse, when money means nothing?

Short answer: You can’t.

I wonder if they’ve asked the same question about their AI.

One has to admire the sheer audacity of hope that it takes to be bringing new planets into the universe in times such as these

Skólavörðustígur, Reykjavik’s Rainbow Street, has been painted this way since 1999. It leads uphill through a major shopping street to a Catholic cathedral. (!)

Maybe the City of Tallahassee, Florida could do likewise with the stretch of Adams St. between the Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion.

In 1994, this little gem appeared in bookstores, by little-known author V. Campudoni. It follows a man who tries to get help in finding his lost cat, from those who should care. Reading it in 2025 feels... interesting. (1/3)

Dickens’ celebrated beadle, from “Oliver Twist,” illustrating the motivations of certain seekers of public office (1/2)

Gen X is the Phil Collins generation. We slow-danced to ”In the Air Tonight” and cranked up “Take Me Home” on the car stereo for a mood lift. If you know what those songs are about, you have a glimpse of how we’re not quite right.

In mid-Nov. 2016, singer-songwriter David Wilcox recorded this poignant cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Urge for Going,” taking some lyrical liberties:

“I knew a girl in summer, with summer-colored skin; her flower-scented summer songs could fight the fall and win.”

Fight the fall, indeed.

Plaques on City Hall, Vilnius, Lithuania

Holding cell with celebrated (anticipated?) guest, in basement of the former KGB building, now the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights in Vilnius, Lithuania

Cafe door sign in Vilnius, Lithuania, 2023. These were a common sight and likely still are.

The Scottish Parliament knows which end is up. In addition to the Union Jack and the Flag of Scotland, they’re also flying flags of the EU (of which the UK is no longer a member) and of Ukraine.
Edinburgh, Dec. 2024

Bluesky in late 2024 reminds me of Usenet before Eternal September: lots of people chatting, few rules, and no one trying to sell me anything.