philtor
@philtor.bsky.social
Semi retired software developer in Oregon. Foodie. Gardener. Trying to make sense of <looks around> all of this.
Reposted by philtor
This is almost a weekly event now. "Belgium flounders as 5 drones buzz nuclear power plant." www.politico.eu/article/dron...
November 11, 2025 at 1:15 AM
This is almost a weekly event now. "Belgium flounders as 5 drones buzz nuclear power plant." www.politico.eu/article/dron...
Reposted by philtor
Jeff always has an interesting perspective on our nightmare. Sadly , Trump makes his comments even more real. 2547–release the files now. 🇺🇸
November 10, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Jeff always has an interesting perspective on our nightmare. Sadly , Trump makes his comments even more real. 2547–release the files now. 🇺🇸
Reposted by philtor
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. “
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
George Orwell, 1984
That was a day of love," Trump said
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
George Orwell, 1984
That was a day of love," Trump said
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 PM
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. “
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
George Orwell, 1984
That was a day of love," Trump said
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
George Orwell, 1984
That was a day of love," Trump said
Reposted by philtor
Trumpists attack BBC, and its response is woeful: my comprehensive analysis -
youtu.be/S6fuqxDO7Zc?...
youtu.be/S6fuqxDO7Zc?...
Trump threatens to sue BBC for $1 billion
YouTube video by Vlad Vexler Chat
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Trumpists attack BBC, and its response is woeful: my comprehensive analysis -
youtu.be/S6fuqxDO7Zc?...
youtu.be/S6fuqxDO7Zc?...
Reposted by philtor
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
You can't win a shutdown fight when the other side actually likes having the government shutdown.
November 10, 2025 at 3:57 PM
You can't win a shutdown fight when the other side actually likes having the government shutdown.
Reposted by philtor
I'm still digesting all of this after my initial rage, but Josh Marshall makes some points here to consider: talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-qui...
A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win
I have what I suspect is a somewhat counterintuitive take on the...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I'm still digesting all of this after my initial rage, but Josh Marshall makes some points here to consider: talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-qui...
Reposted by philtor
The BBC chair rightly admits an error in editing Trump’s Jan 6 speech. But he does not challenge the false Trumpian claim in the dossier: that Panorama “completely” and “materially”misrepresented its meaning. This is not impartiality. It’s surrender to post-truth populism.
November 10, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The BBC chair rightly admits an error in editing Trump’s Jan 6 speech. But he does not challenge the false Trumpian claim in the dossier: that Panorama “completely” and “materially”misrepresented its meaning. This is not impartiality. It’s surrender to post-truth populism.
Unpopular opinion here on bsky re the shutdown: the Dems were pointing a gun to their own heads threatening to shoot if ACA subsidies weren't extended. It was a worthy thing to fight for, but they were never going to win this one. Best to end the shutdown now.
November 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Unpopular opinion here on bsky re the shutdown: the Dems were pointing a gun to their own heads threatening to shoot if ACA subsidies weren't extended. It was a worthy thing to fight for, but they were never going to win this one. Best to end the shutdown now.
Reposted by philtor
I wrote a whole book on tshirts like this. Did not expect to see one for sale at Walmart. You can report it (as I have) by scrolling down on the item’s page and reporting it for offensive or prohibited content.
November 9, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I wrote a whole book on tshirts like this. Did not expect to see one for sale at Walmart. You can report it (as I have) by scrolling down on the item’s page and reporting it for offensive or prohibited content.
Reposted by philtor
Now the Dutch—even the very rightwing Dutch—are tasking themselves with preserving US history our own American fascists want o erase.
Eleven of the parties in the provincial parliament of Limburg have now requested the Limburg government to look into the possibility of creating a (temporary) memorial for our Black American liberators in cooperation with Eijsden-Margraten (where the cemetery is located).
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Limburgse Statenleden willen tijdelijke herdenkingsplek voor zwarte bevrijders
Statenleden willen een gedenkteken voor zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders nu hun informatiepanelen in Margraten zijn verwijderd
www.nrc.nl
November 9, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Now the Dutch—even the very rightwing Dutch—are tasking themselves with preserving US history our own American fascists want o erase.
Reposted by philtor
Thread
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Thread
Reposted by philtor
Checking in on how a focus on "personal liberties and free markets" is going at the Washington Post.
Generalissimo Zohran Mamdani? Oh OK.
Generalissimo Zohran Mamdani? Oh OK.
November 8, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Checking in on how a focus on "personal liberties and free markets" is going at the Washington Post.
Generalissimo Zohran Mamdani? Oh OK.
Generalissimo Zohran Mamdani? Oh OK.
Reposted by philtor
"Our country will be woke no longer." - Donald Trump
November 8, 2025 at 5:02 PM
"Our country will be woke no longer." - Donald Trump
Reposted by philtor
The Trump administration asked to Supreme Court to block the court order requiring full payment of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.
Wild to see a government actively trying to harm its citizens just to win a fight over tax cuts for the rich.
Wild to see a government actively trying to harm its citizens just to win a fight over tax cuts for the rich.
Supreme Court temporarily freezes order requiring Trump administration to provide full SNAP payments to millions of Americans
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Friday froze, for now, a lower court order that required the Trump administration to swiftly provide full SNAP benefits to roughly 42 million Americans.
www.cbsnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:42 AM
The Trump administration asked to Supreme Court to block the court order requiring full payment of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.
Wild to see a government actively trying to harm its citizens just to win a fight over tax cuts for the rich.
Wild to see a government actively trying to harm its citizens just to win a fight over tax cuts for the rich.
Reposted by philtor
One of the things I’m most thankful for is that I didn’t push my kid to get into tech. The entry level job market is non-existent and the entire industry is spending trillions of dollars to replace their experienced workers with chatbots.
November 7, 2025 at 3:35 AM
One of the things I’m most thankful for is that I didn’t push my kid to get into tech. The entry level job market is non-existent and the entire industry is spending trillions of dollars to replace their experienced workers with chatbots.
Reposted by philtor
pretty impressive example of the effect of propaganda that tesla shareholders at the annual meeting just booed the NYS comptroller for proposing that Tesla repeal a new bylaw that makes it effectively impossible for regular shareholders to sue the company
November 6, 2025 at 9:42 PM
pretty impressive example of the effect of propaganda that tesla shareholders at the annual meeting just booed the NYS comptroller for proposing that Tesla repeal a new bylaw that makes it effectively impossible for regular shareholders to sue the company
Reposted by philtor
I’ve a young friend who recently quit a job for a mental health AI project a fraction as evil as this. She just couldn’t do it. To keep working for this trash once you’ve seen what it is is worse than peddling fentanyl. Maybe some say they’re trying to make it better. Yeah, “better” fentanyl.
There are no words for how evil this is
November 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I’ve a young friend who recently quit a job for a mental health AI project a fraction as evil as this. She just couldn’t do it. To keep working for this trash once you’ve seen what it is is worse than peddling fentanyl. Maybe some say they’re trying to make it better. Yeah, “better” fentanyl.
Reposted by philtor
FIFA making up a Peace Prize to award Donald Trump is the most on brand thing they’ve done this year.
FIFA to award new peace prize at World Cup draw in Washington
FIFA has announced the creation of a peace prize, which it plans to award for the first time at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5 in Washington.
www.pbs.org
November 7, 2025 at 12:35 PM
FIFA making up a Peace Prize to award Donald Trump is the most on brand thing they’ve done this year.
Reposted by philtor
"Why American-style polarisation is spreading across the West"
Two words: algorithms and incentives. Mostly incentives. Until we modify or eliminate incentives, all we can do is watch as the fabric of society is pulled apart, strand by strand. www.ft.com/content/5060...
Two words: algorithms and incentives. Mostly incentives. Until we modify or eliminate incentives, all we can do is watch as the fabric of society is pulled apart, strand by strand. www.ft.com/content/5060...
November 7, 2025 at 2:57 PM
"Why American-style polarisation is spreading across the West"
Two words: algorithms and incentives. Mostly incentives. Until we modify or eliminate incentives, all we can do is watch as the fabric of society is pulled apart, strand by strand. www.ft.com/content/5060...
Two words: algorithms and incentives. Mostly incentives. Until we modify or eliminate incentives, all we can do is watch as the fabric of society is pulled apart, strand by strand. www.ft.com/content/5060...
Reposted by philtor
New rule: if you have enough money for a private island, you have to stay on it.
November 6, 2025 at 10:35 PM
New rule: if you have enough money for a private island, you have to stay on it.
Reposted by philtor
The Onion can’t top this.
November 7, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The Onion can’t top this.
Reposted by philtor
While billionaires are trying to make it out to be a disaster that a scandal free politician who wants to help people won an election, the rest of us are like
November 7, 2025 at 1:51 AM
While billionaires are trying to make it out to be a disaster that a scandal free politician who wants to help people won an election, the rest of us are like
Who's going to use this for an album cover?
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 6, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Who's going to use this for an album cover?
Reposted by philtor
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. setting his shoes on fire running out of the room so quickly when there is a medical emergency is the most perfect Trump thing ever.
holy shit -- one of Trump's toadies just passed out and the White House event is brought to an abrupt end
November 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. setting his shoes on fire running out of the room so quickly when there is a medical emergency is the most perfect Trump thing ever.