Kaushik Banerjee
@kaushikb.bsky.social
I manage enterprise software programs. I live on long walks, coffee, and rock. Out here, following my interests in technology, & impact of climate, and demographic changes.
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
So far during the second Trump administration, this puts the US military at:
—1,000+ air strikes in Yemen (in March-April)
—65+ air strikes in Somalia
—5 air strikes and 2 JSOC ground raids in Syria
—1 night of B-2 strikes on 3 sites in Iran
—1 air strike in Iraq
—1 air strike in the Caribbean
—1,000+ air strikes in Yemen (in March-April)
—65+ air strikes in Somalia
—5 air strikes and 2 JSOC ground raids in Syria
—1 night of B-2 strikes on 3 sites in Iran
—1 air strike in Iraq
—1 air strike in the Caribbean
Rubio’s tweet announcing a US military strike somewhere in the Caribbean…if I’m not mistaken, first combat action by SOUTHCOM since the Clinton administration called off the invasion of Haiti three decades ago.
September 3, 2025 at 12:12 AM
So far during the second Trump administration, this puts the US military at:
—1,000+ air strikes in Yemen (in March-April)
—65+ air strikes in Somalia
—5 air strikes and 2 JSOC ground raids in Syria
—1 night of B-2 strikes on 3 sites in Iran
—1 air strike in Iraq
—1 air strike in the Caribbean
—1,000+ air strikes in Yemen (in March-April)
—65+ air strikes in Somalia
—5 air strikes and 2 JSOC ground raids in Syria
—1 night of B-2 strikes on 3 sites in Iran
—1 air strike in Iraq
—1 air strike in the Caribbean
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
20+ years ago when the CIA participated in the lethal targeting of suspected drug traffickers in Latin America, the fatalities (and ensuing coverup) were something of a scandal.
One of the key players would go on to have a leading role in the CIA's torture program.
www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/w...
One of the key players would go on to have a leading role in the CIA's torture program.
www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/w...
C.I.A. Role Is Faulted in Air Crash Over Peru (Published 2010)
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 1:09 AM
20+ years ago when the CIA participated in the lethal targeting of suspected drug traffickers in Latin America, the fatalities (and ensuing coverup) were something of a scandal.
One of the key players would go on to have a leading role in the CIA's torture program.
www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/w...
One of the key players would go on to have a leading role in the CIA's torture program.
www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/w...
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
📢 v1.107 is rolling out now!
We've done what was previously thought to be impossible: you can now add image or videos to your post using one magical button.
Just one step in making posting simpler and more enjoyable.
We've done what was previously thought to be impossible: you can now add image or videos to your post using one magical button.
Just one step in making posting simpler and more enjoyable.
September 3, 2025 at 10:20 PM
📢 v1.107 is rolling out now!
We've done what was previously thought to be impossible: you can now add image or videos to your post using one magical button.
Just one step in making posting simpler and more enjoyable.
We've done what was previously thought to be impossible: you can now add image or videos to your post using one magical button.
Just one step in making posting simpler and more enjoyable.
Ughh. ConocoPhillips plans to cut 25% of its workforce.
Thousands of jobs are on the line in oil giant's new era.
Houston oil giant plans thousands of job cuts by end of 2025
Thousands of jobs are on the line in oil giant's new era.
bit.ly
September 3, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Ughh. ConocoPhillips plans to cut 25% of its workforce.
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
This is absolutely nuts. The level of innovation in China’s automotive sector and the cutthroat competition there is on another level.
🔌💡🔌🚗
🔌💡🔌🚗
September 2, 2025 at 1:27 PM
This is absolutely nuts. The level of innovation in China’s automotive sector and the cutthroat competition there is on another level.
🔌💡🔌🚗
🔌💡🔌🚗
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
With the latest Chinese export controls on gallium, germanium, & antimony, you’re gonna hear more about the need to cut red tape (i.e., environmental regs) to help 🇺🇸 extract and secure these critical minerals.
It’s a facile narrative rooted in political convenience & not commercial reality. 🧵(1/x)
It’s a facile narrative rooted in political convenience & not commercial reality. 🧵(1/x)
December 3, 2024 at 10:53 PM
With the latest Chinese export controls on gallium, germanium, & antimony, you’re gonna hear more about the need to cut red tape (i.e., environmental regs) to help 🇺🇸 extract and secure these critical minerals.
It’s a facile narrative rooted in political convenience & not commercial reality. 🧵(1/x)
It’s a facile narrative rooted in political convenience & not commercial reality. 🧵(1/x)
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
July 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
Wanna see a crazy chart? Of course you do.
Spending on constructing datacenters and manufacturing facilities for computers & electronic products in the US now exceeds the entire retail and wholesale industry and almost as much as the rest of the office and manufacturing sectors combined.
Spending on constructing datacenters and manufacturing facilities for computers & electronic products in the US now exceeds the entire retail and wholesale industry and almost as much as the rest of the office and manufacturing sectors combined.
August 5, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Wanna see a crazy chart? Of course you do.
Spending on constructing datacenters and manufacturing facilities for computers & electronic products in the US now exceeds the entire retail and wholesale industry and almost as much as the rest of the office and manufacturing sectors combined.
Spending on constructing datacenters and manufacturing facilities for computers & electronic products in the US now exceeds the entire retail and wholesale industry and almost as much as the rest of the office and manufacturing sectors combined.
Requiem for a newspaper
"Working at The Post feels like being on the Titanic after it struck an iceberg—drifting aimlessly as it sank with not enough lifeboats for everyone," writes @GlennKesslerWP. "The Carpathia (i.e., Bezos) appears too far away and too distracted to help." substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Why I left The Washington Post
“Democracy Dies in Darkness” — but what if the lights are going out from within?
substack.com
August 12, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Requiem for a newspaper
Thinking Is Becoming a Luxury Good www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/o...
This is something that I think many intuitively get(about the current age), but this is written / argued well.
This is something that I think many intuitively get(about the current age), but this is written / argued well.
Opinion | Thinking Is Becoming a Luxury Good
www.nytimes.com
August 10, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Thinking Is Becoming a Luxury Good www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/o...
This is something that I think many intuitively get(about the current age), but this is written / argued well.
This is something that I think many intuitively get(about the current age), but this is written / argued well.
This is somewhat crazy; but the comments do explains why public limited companies buying into bitcoin treasury concept are doing so well (tax, regulations, constrains against buying bitcoin directly against pension funds etc.) … Tulips, here we come …
Can anyone explain to me why you wouldn't just buy bitcoin directly if you thought it was a good investment?
Sorry to pollute the feed with technical financial terms, but this is all fxcking nuts
www.ft.com/content/8a16...
www.ft.com/content/8a16...
August 9, 2025 at 2:53 PM
This is somewhat crazy; but the comments do explains why public limited companies buying into bitcoin treasury concept are doing so well (tax, regulations, constrains against buying bitcoin directly against pension funds etc.) … Tulips, here we come …
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
The Netherlands surely watching this closely. If the Trump admin continues to loosen controls it could endanger the tacit US/Holland deal that keeps ASML's highest end gear out of China. Keeping that embargo intact is quite literally the whole ballgame. www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Trump’s retreat on China chip ban triggers policy spat
Democratic lawmakers expressed “grave concern” to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick after the administration approved Nvidia’s exporting chips to China, loosening controls imposed on national security...
www.washingtonpost.com
July 28, 2025 at 10:58 PM
The Netherlands surely watching this closely. If the Trump admin continues to loosen controls it could endanger the tacit US/Holland deal that keeps ASML's highest end gear out of China. Keeping that embargo intact is quite literally the whole ballgame. www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
one thing I wish more people knew is that many offices have such poor air circulation that CO2 levels in meeting rooms can rapidly exceed 1000ppm, the point at which people start to get groggy and sleepy
people are literally suffocating in offices every day & absolutely no one talks about it
people are literally suffocating in offices every day & absolutely no one talks about it
July 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
one thing I wish more people knew is that many offices have such poor air circulation that CO2 levels in meeting rooms can rapidly exceed 1000ppm, the point at which people start to get groggy and sleepy
people are literally suffocating in offices every day & absolutely no one talks about it
people are literally suffocating in offices every day & absolutely no one talks about it
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
TIL Brazil has a public payment system that is rapidly displacing both cash and cards, increasing to almost 50 percent of transactions in just 4 years paulkrugman.substack.com/p/has-brazil...
Has Brazil Invented the Future of Money?
And will it ever come to America?
paulkrugman.substack.com
July 23, 2025 at 2:50 PM
TIL Brazil has a public payment system that is rapidly displacing both cash and cards, increasing to almost 50 percent of transactions in just 4 years paulkrugman.substack.com/p/has-brazil...
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
"Before you raise your phone, pause for three seconds and ask: What do I want to remember about this moment? Is it the place? The person? The feeling? The answer should guide your shot."
— Karen D. Gros
— Karen D. Gros
Stop Taking Perfect Travel Photos (Please)
How to turn your iPhone into a memory machine (not just a camera)
substack.com
July 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM
"Before you raise your phone, pause for three seconds and ask: What do I want to remember about this moment? Is it the place? The person? The feeling? The answer should guide your shot."
— Karen D. Gros
— Karen D. Gros
Thoughtful essay that tries to game out a Middle East with a weakened / defeated Iran in which IRGC/khamenei regime has lost credibility with the people.
I put this piece on potential conflict trajectories for The New Statesman together before the wild gyrations over a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but I think the concerns expressed in it about postwar scenarios will remain relevant for quite some time
Trump and Netanyahu have forced European governments into a precarious position.
🌎 Alex Clarkson
🌎 Alex Clarkson
June 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Thoughtful essay that tries to game out a Middle East with a weakened / defeated Iran in which IRGC/khamenei regime has lost credibility with the people.
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
Some people get into journalism because they’re skeptical of power, and others do so because they’re impressed by it. Moments like this are clarifying with respect to who’s who.
June 22, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Some people get into journalism because they’re skeptical of power, and others do so because they’re impressed by it. Moments like this are clarifying with respect to who’s who.
Brent crude oil future will be interesting to look at tomorrow.
Iran’s Parliament, the Majlis, has reportedly approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the attacks by the US on Iranian nuclear facilities, the country’s state-owned media PressTV reported, citing Esmaeil Kowsari, a member of the Majlis.
www.thehindu.com/news/interna...
www.thehindu.com/news/interna...
Iranian Parliament votes to close vital Strait of Hormuz after U.S. strikes on nuclear sites
Iran's Parliament approves potential closure of Strait of Hormuz, impacting global oil trade and India's oil prices.
www.thehindu.com
June 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Brent crude oil future will be interesting to look at tomorrow.
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
This hits the crux of the issue why Bluesky is a useful fallback in a European or US context (the reason why it will get funding as long as Musk controls twitter), but not very helpful when it comes to information and debate about the wider world.
May 26, 2025 at 11:50 AM
This hits the crux of the issue why Bluesky is a useful fallback in a European or US context (the reason why it will get funding as long as Musk controls twitter), but not very helpful when it comes to information and debate about the wider world.
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
The U.S. government plans to open what amounts to a fly factory by the end of the year to breed millions of the insects in Texas near the border with Mexico as part of an effort to keep a flesh-eating parasite from infesting American cattle.
The US plans to open a fly factory in Texas as part of its fight against a flesh-eating parasite
The U.S. government plans to open what amounts to a fly factory by the end of the year to breed millions of the insects in Texas near the border with Mexico as part of an effort to keep a flesh-eating parasite from infesting American cattle.
bit.ly
June 21, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The U.S. government plans to open what amounts to a fly factory by the end of the year to breed millions of the insects in Texas near the border with Mexico as part of an effort to keep a flesh-eating parasite from infesting American cattle.
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
Why are Tories suddenly using the term "white british" in debates on immgration and citizenship?
www.ft.com/content/aceb...
www.ft.com/content/aceb...
June 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Why are Tories suddenly using the term "white british" in debates on immgration and citizenship?
www.ft.com/content/aceb...
www.ft.com/content/aceb...
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
it's very interesting how "video game logic" often is just "Japanese cultural logic." I had no idea that all those quests where you trade random knick-knacks from various people to get really good items was based in a Japanese buddhist folk tale.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_M...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_M...
Straw Millionaire - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
June 17, 2025 at 7:51 PM
it's very interesting how "video game logic" often is just "Japanese cultural logic." I had no idea that all those quests where you trade random knick-knacks from various people to get really good items was based in a Japanese buddhist folk tale.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_M...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_M...
Reposted by Kaushik Banerjee
A safety warning has been issued for the airport.
This Texas airport is desperately low on air traffic controllers
A safety warning has been issued for the airport.
bit.ly
June 19, 2025 at 2:00 AM
A safety warning has been issued for the airport.
No surprises here.
June 17, 2025 at 12:03 AM
No surprises here.