Gary Schafer
@jesternofool.bsky.social
I herd photons and electrons. Now-retired electrical engineer from the National Security Agency (NSA). Background in technical security.
For those of you who are into the "Revolutionary War" series by Ken Burns on @pbs.org, I *highly* recommend the historical blog "Boston 1775" (boston1775.blogspot.com) by JL Bell. Bell has blogged *every day* since 2006, all on topics related to this time period.
#RevolutionaryWar #history
#RevolutionaryWar #history
Boston 1775
History, analysis, and unabashed gossip about the start of the American Revolution in New England.
boston1775.blogspot.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:33 AM
For those of you who are into the "Revolutionary War" series by Ken Burns on @pbs.org, I *highly* recommend the historical blog "Boston 1775" (boston1775.blogspot.com) by JL Bell. Bell has blogged *every day* since 2006, all on topics related to this time period.
#RevolutionaryWar #history
#RevolutionaryWar #history
Waiting for @dieworkwear.bsky.social to weigh in...
It is real:
November 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Waiting for @dieworkwear.bsky.social to weigh in...
I refuse to say "GOP". That stands for "Grand Old Party". And unless we all agree that the "G" now stands for "Grotesque", "Ghoulish", "Ghastly", "Greedy", or something similar, they're now the "SOP" (Shitty Old Party).
As in, "Did you see what the SOP did now?"
"Yes, it's SOP."
As in, "Did you see what the SOP did now?"
"Yes, it's SOP."
November 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I refuse to say "GOP". That stands for "Grand Old Party". And unless we all agree that the "G" now stands for "Grotesque", "Ghoulish", "Ghastly", "Greedy", or something similar, they're now the "SOP" (Shitty Old Party).
As in, "Did you see what the SOP did now?"
"Yes, it's SOP."
As in, "Did you see what the SOP did now?"
"Yes, it's SOP."
What's my personal trigger? Textbooks that use phrases such as "it's obvious that", "it's clearly seen", or "it's easy to see that". If it was "obvious / clear / easy to see", we wouldn't need your *%*&ing textbook.
You will see this material again.
You will see this material again.
November 18, 2025 at 11:54 PM
What's my personal trigger? Textbooks that use phrases such as "it's obvious that", "it's clearly seen", or "it's easy to see that". If it was "obvious / clear / easy to see", we wouldn't need your *%*&ing textbook.
You will see this material again.
You will see this material again.
Look, IT'S WHAT WE GARYS DO, PEOPLE!
From the picture alone you know Gary was worth every penny.
Amazing, no notes, I do not desire to learn anything else about this story, for it would only detract from the perfection on this headline.
November 17, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Look, IT'S WHAT WE GARYS DO, PEOPLE!
As someone who had a TS//SCI clearance for almost 4 decades, fuck the poly.
The FBI has recently used polygraph tests to ask senior employees if they have said anything negative about FBI Director Kash Patel or had spoken to the media.
Separately, Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two other staffers, exempting them from passing polygraph exams.
Separately, Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two other staffers, exempting them from passing polygraph exams.
FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff
As the FBI’s deputy director, Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau backgr...
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
As someone who had a TS//SCI clearance for almost 4 decades, fuck the poly.
Chesapeake City Bridge at night.
(Chesapeake City, MD)
(Chesapeake City, MD)
November 13, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Chesapeake City Bridge at night.
(Chesapeake City, MD)
(Chesapeake City, MD)
Reposted by Gary Schafer
There must be murders in the epstein files. These republicans don't care enough about women and children to be this afraid of the fallout
November 2, 2025 at 7:45 PM
There must be murders in the epstein files. These republicans don't care enough about women and children to be this afraid of the fallout
Bookshelves? This... is a good start, IMO.
November 12, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Bookshelves? This... is a good start, IMO.
MAGA: "We want religious liberty!"
Also MAGA: "No, not like that!"
Also MAGA: "No, not like that!"
“Federal authorities told demonstrators Friday that there would be ‘no more prayer’ in front of or inside the Broadview ICE facility, in a move that mystified local leaders and raised legal questions.” blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/07/f...
Feds Tell Faith Leaders 'No More Prayer' Outside Broadview Facility
In a possible violation of the First Amendment, federal officials instructed demonstrators to stop holding religious gatherings outside the immigration processing facility in suburban Broadview after ...
blockclubchicago.org
November 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
MAGA: "We want religious liberty!"
Also MAGA: "No, not like that!"
Also MAGA: "No, not like that!"
Just a friendly reminder of the difference between two words that SOUND the same, but are COMPLETELY different things. (Image on left: Credit Wikipedia user "Fokiki33"; image on right: Credit US Navy.)
November 9, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Just a friendly reminder of the difference between two words that SOUND the same, but are COMPLETELY different things. (Image on left: Credit Wikipedia user "Fokiki33"; image on right: Credit US Navy.)
But will it let you stay?
Update: I HAVE RETURNED TO THE SKY
November 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
But will it let you stay?
As someone who took this same course in the late 80s, can confirm. It was awesome!
Source is a "History of Indiana" course I took at Purdue in the 90's that broadened my horizons more than I could have imagined. It introduced me to Kurt Vonnegut, Booth Tarkington, Jean Shepard and more!
November 6, 2025 at 4:10 AM
As someone who took this same course in the late 80s, can confirm. It was awesome!
As an electrical engineer, my love of this post is tempered with the jealousy that I didn't think of it first.
Sure, LED Zeppelin is great, but you should really upgrade to OLED Zeppelin
November 3, 2025 at 2:26 AM
As an electrical engineer, my love of this post is tempered with the jealousy that I didn't think of it first.
It has to be fake. Penguins go for croissants.
Duh.
Duh.
i hate that AI has now caused me to question the authenticity of cute animal videos online, which is my primary use of social media. i don't even know if this baby penguin actually wore a beret to go buy a tiny baguette in paris
November 1, 2025 at 2:59 AM
It has to be fake. Penguins go for croissants.
Duh.
Duh.
JUST IN: Trump says he has instructed the Department of Defense to start testing our nuclear weapons
October 30, 2025 at 1:20 AM
At this point, even Sgt Schultz would be giving you the side eye and saying, "Dude..."
Q: What's your reaction to yesterday's purge of senior ICE officials? When is it time for Congress to do some oversight?
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know any of the details of that yet. I just heard about that, literally I was walking in.
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know any of the details of that yet. I just heard about that, literally I was walking in.
October 28, 2025 at 3:34 PM
At this point, even Sgt Schultz would be giving you the side eye and saying, "Dude..."
Trump raises the price of the ballroom to $350 million
(It changed from $200 million, then $300 million, now $350 million within the course of a few days)
(It changed from $200 million, then $300 million, now $350 million within the course of a few days)
October 23, 2025 at 9:35 PM
@elleisanisland.bsky.social just dropping truth bombs over here.
And while we're dealing with denial.. there's no way there aren't future plans for this whole building. A giant modern addition on just one side, stuck there like an out-of-control tumor? No. They're taking the whole White House down. They're trump towering it.
October 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM
@elleisanisland.bsky.social just dropping truth bombs over here.
Let's talk about the monstrosity that Trump et al are creating. I'm going to start with this plaque that used be mounted on the outside of the East Wing (I believe on the northeast corner). I consider it a historic relic. I captured this image while on a tour in 2004. /1
October 23, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Let's talk about the monstrosity that Trump et al are creating. I'm going to start with this plaque that used be mounted on the outside of the East Wing (I believe on the northeast corner). I consider it a historic relic. I captured this image while on a tour in 2004. /1
Idea: Once we're rid of him, we hold a naturalization ceremony inside this monstrosity. At the conclusion, the new citizens are given hammers and pickaxes to begin demolishing it. They get to keep anything they're able to chisel out. Finish the job with an all-new-immigrant company.
Here's the thing I don't understand. You can't as much as sneeze near a historic site in Washington without like 14 commissions, councils, and advisory boards giving you the okay. And everybody now is like...yup, fine with us? wtf?
NEW: After The Washington Post reported Monday on the demolition of the "East Wing facade," a new picture obtained by Law Dork that was taken on Tuesday shows that a substantial portion of the entirety of the East Wing has been demolished.
October 21, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Idea: Once we're rid of him, we hold a naturalization ceremony inside this monstrosity. At the conclusion, the new citizens are given hammers and pickaxes to begin demolishing it. They get to keep anything they're able to chisel out. Finish the job with an all-new-immigrant company.
In case you want to know why I'm EXTREMELY hesitant to click on links to press articles, this is the screen of my phone when I clicked on an article for The Daily Boulder: /1
October 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
In case you want to know why I'm EXTREMELY hesitant to click on links to press articles, this is the screen of my phone when I clicked on an article for The Daily Boulder: /1
I'm listening to a virtual meeting in which some high school kids who are part of a robotics team explain how they do their various parts (electrical, mechanical, programming). They're poised, well-spoken, and energized.
The kids are alright.
The kids are alright.
October 10, 2025 at 11:50 PM
I'm listening to a virtual meeting in which some high school kids who are part of a robotics team explain how they do their various parts (electrical, mechanical, programming). They're poised, well-spoken, and energized.
The kids are alright.
The kids are alright.
Took this during a walk around my neighborhood.
These neighbors absolutely Get It.
These neighbors absolutely Get It.
October 10, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Took this during a walk around my neighborhood.
These neighbors absolutely Get It.
These neighbors absolutely Get It.
Ya know, it's good that none of the people who turned spy for our adversaries ever did so for monetary reasons...
“Trump tells sailors not to ‘worry about’ paychecks as shutdown continues”
There isn’t a failsafe for military pay this time
1 in 3 “military families has less than $3,000 in savings,
[and]… nearly 1 in 4 service members has trouble putting food on the table.”
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
There isn’t a failsafe for military pay this time
1 in 3 “military families has less than $3,000 in savings,
[and]… nearly 1 in 4 service members has trouble putting food on the table.”
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
Trump tells sailors not to ‘worry about’ paychecks as shutdown continues
All troops will miss a paycheck if Congress does not agree on a deal to reopen the government before Oct. 15, the next pay date for the military.
www.stripes.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Ya know, it's good that none of the people who turned spy for our adversaries ever did so for monetary reasons...