@sampanzer.bsky.social
Strongly agree!
The Three Body Problem lost me when it started going on about unfolding a proton. I'm no physics major but I found it far less believable than if no explanation was provided at all. Alien technology is that much more intimidating when we have no idea how it functions
The Three Body Problem lost me when it started going on about unfolding a proton. I'm no physics major but I found it far less believable than if no explanation was provided at all. Alien technology is that much more intimidating when we have no idea how it functions
February 8, 2026 at 3:17 AM
Strongly agree!
The Three Body Problem lost me when it started going on about unfolding a proton. I'm no physics major but I found it far less believable than if no explanation was provided at all. Alien technology is that much more intimidating when we have no idea how it functions
The Three Body Problem lost me when it started going on about unfolding a proton. I'm no physics major but I found it far less believable than if no explanation was provided at all. Alien technology is that much more intimidating when we have no idea how it functions
Maybe we should start naming more foreseen consequences after someone responsible, like with Kavanaugh Stops. Say, Roberts immunity or Roberts class actions, or Roberts PACs
February 3, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Maybe we should start naming more foreseen consequences after someone responsible, like with Kavanaugh Stops. Say, Roberts immunity or Roberts class actions, or Roberts PACs
Yet another book recommendation: the Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik.
It opens: "I decided that Orion needed to die after the second time he saved my life."
I know someone who finished the audiobook in a single sitting, overnight.
It opens: "I decided that Orion needed to die after the second time he saved my life."
I know someone who finished the audiobook in a single sitting, overnight.
February 3, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Yet another book recommendation: the Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik.
It opens: "I decided that Orion needed to die after the second time he saved my life."
I know someone who finished the audiobook in a single sitting, overnight.
It opens: "I decided that Orion needed to die after the second time he saved my life."
I know someone who finished the audiobook in a single sitting, overnight.
How terrible!
What will Democrats do about it if the 2026 midterms go well? And how about if you win a trifecta in 2028?
What will Democrats do about it if the 2026 midterms go well? And how about if you win a trifecta in 2028?
February 2, 2026 at 3:20 PM
How terrible!
What will Democrats do about it if the 2026 midterms go well? And how about if you win a trifecta in 2028?
What will Democrats do about it if the 2026 midterms go well? And how about if you win a trifecta in 2028?
The problem with the "but the combatants" argument is that just the number of children killed is far too high. So long as the Gaza Health ministry is on the right order of magnitude, the scale needs to be taken seriously. And yet so many refuse to do so.
February 1, 2026 at 1:03 PM
The problem with the "but the combatants" argument is that just the number of children killed is far too high. So long as the Gaza Health ministry is on the right order of magnitude, the scale needs to be taken seriously. And yet so many refuse to do so.
Chiming in with yet another thank you to you and @hankgreen.bsky.social: the two of you helped convince me and my wife to buy an electric car when our old one died. I had said I wanted its replacement to be electric *over a decade ago*!
January 31, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Chiming in with yet another thank you to you and @hankgreen.bsky.social: the two of you helped convince me and my wife to buy an electric car when our old one died. I had said I wanted its replacement to be electric *over a decade ago*!
If the Democratic party can't put together a clear anti-corruption plan to ban all obvious self-dealing, it's one of the worst own goals of the upcoming election cycle IMO. And there are a lot of available opportunities to squander.
And they have to be obviously against their own stock trading etc.
And they have to be obviously against their own stock trading etc.
January 30, 2026 at 2:09 AM
If the Democratic party can't put together a clear anti-corruption plan to ban all obvious self-dealing, it's one of the worst own goals of the upcoming election cycle IMO. And there are a lot of available opportunities to squander.
And they have to be obviously against their own stock trading etc.
And they have to be obviously against their own stock trading etc.
The Nassau County Democratic Party is not very good at its job. Didn't George Santos only win because Suozzi decided on a futile run for governor instead?
January 26, 2026 at 7:03 PM
The Nassau County Democratic Party is not very good at its job. Didn't George Santos only win because Suozzi decided on a futile run for governor instead?
That would be more likely if the ADL hadn't abandoned its mission for partisan hackery.
January 13, 2026 at 12:30 PM
That would be more likely if the ADL hadn't abandoned its mission for partisan hackery.
As tempting as it is to blame the people who didn't listen, it was the job of the Democratic party to be convincing to those people. And the party tragically failed at that task.
January 8, 2026 at 4:12 PM
As tempting as it is to blame the people who didn't listen, it was the job of the Democratic party to be convincing to those people. And the party tragically failed at that task.
Worth noting that this is based on one YouGov poll that is relatively bearish on Trump. The Silver Bulletin polling average, for example, has Trump at -12 as compared to -17 from this poll. So states between -5 and 0 are well within the margins. But the broad point still stands!
January 6, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Worth noting that this is based on one YouGov poll that is relatively bearish on Trump. The Silver Bulletin polling average, for example, has Trump at -12 as compared to -17 from this poll. So states between -5 and 0 are well within the margins. But the broad point still stands!
That is true, but - and this is very important - "you made a bad choice" cannot be the *leading* statement. People being scolded by someone they don't know and don't have reason to trust will just decide the scolder doesn't like them and dig in on their beliefs AKA the backfire effect.
December 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM
That is true, but - and this is very important - "you made a bad choice" cannot be the *leading* statement. People being scolded by someone they don't know and don't have reason to trust will just decide the scolder doesn't like them and dig in on their beliefs AKA the backfire effect.
I take your point! Though I don't find it convincing even if he's back at ~40% approval. Trump's ~40% approval here in the US is a profound moral failure of the American public. Same goes for Israel.
October 8, 2023 was also before Israel's devastation of Gaza. His approval is up since then.
October 8, 2023 was also before Israel's devastation of Gaza. His approval is up since then.
December 18, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I take your point! Though I don't find it convincing even if he's back at ~40% approval. Trump's ~40% approval here in the US is a profound moral failure of the American public. Same goes for Israel.
October 8, 2023 was also before Israel's devastation of Gaza. His approval is up since then.
October 8, 2023 was also before Israel's devastation of Gaza. His approval is up since then.
This is well besides your main point, but Netanyahu's popularity hit an all-time high in October with clear majority approval: www.jns.org/netanyahus-a...
A majority of Israel accepts his project the same way that a majority of the US accepted Trump's in 2024. Heartbreaking in both cases.
A majority of Israel accepts his project the same way that a majority of the US accepted Trump's in 2024. Heartbreaking in both cases.
Netanyahu’s approval ratings at all-time high: Poll
The survey also found that if elections were held today, the ruling coalition would win a 66-seat majority.
www.jns.org
December 18, 2025 at 1:16 PM
This is well besides your main point, but Netanyahu's popularity hit an all-time high in October with clear majority approval: www.jns.org/netanyahus-a...
A majority of Israel accepts his project the same way that a majority of the US accepted Trump's in 2024. Heartbreaking in both cases.
A majority of Israel accepts his project the same way that a majority of the US accepted Trump's in 2024. Heartbreaking in both cases.
Or maybe you've seen the future! 😁
December 13, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Or maybe you've seen the future! 😁
You're right that the bribery accusations am are a problem and that Cuellar should be sent home by the party, but he was not convicted (yet), just charged.
December 13, 2025 at 9:04 PM
You're right that the bribery accusations am are a problem and that Cuellar should be sent home by the party, but he was not convicted (yet), just charged.
This MacWorld article walks through some possibilities: www.macworld.com/article/6764...
How to delete System Data on a Mac
Wondering what's taking up so much space in System on your Mac? You can reduce system storage on a Mac and reclaim space. Here's how:
www.macworld.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:52 PM
This MacWorld article walks through some possibilities: www.macworld.com/article/6764...
There's extensive research that candidates that fit their district well outperform. In this case it likely meant someone without baggage and plausibly though not necessarily more moderate.
The (good!) +12 result can reasonably be attributed to the heavily anti-R environment for special elections.
The (good!) +12 result can reasonably be attributed to the heavily anti-R environment for special elections.
December 3, 2025 at 8:05 PM
There's extensive research that candidates that fit their district well outperform. In this case it likely meant someone without baggage and plausibly though not necessarily more moderate.
The (good!) +12 result can reasonably be attributed to the heavily anti-R environment for special elections.
The (good!) +12 result can reasonably be attributed to the heavily anti-R environment for special elections.
Looks like an overall 12 point swing from the 2024 House results according the the NYT.
Amazingly turnout was nearly identical to the 2022 midterm in the district!
Amazingly turnout was nearly identical to the 2022 midterm in the district!
December 3, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Looks like an overall 12 point swing from the 2024 House results according the the NYT.
Amazingly turnout was nearly identical to the 2022 midterm in the district!
Amazingly turnout was nearly identical to the 2022 midterm in the district!
Overall result is R+9 in a district that had a 2024 House margin of R+21. That's a 12-point swing.
If better candidates can eke out just a few more points in each race, that translates to even more House seats in the aggregate if the swing holds. Surely you would prefer a larger D wave in 2026!
If better candidates can eke out just a few more points in each race, that translates to even more House seats in the aggregate if the swing holds. Surely you would prefer a larger D wave in 2026!
December 3, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Overall result is R+9 in a district that had a 2024 House margin of R+21. That's a 12-point swing.
If better candidates can eke out just a few more points in each race, that translates to even more House seats in the aggregate if the swing holds. Surely you would prefer a larger D wave in 2026!
If better candidates can eke out just a few more points in each race, that translates to even more House seats in the aggregate if the swing holds. Surely you would prefer a larger D wave in 2026!
That's a good point!
I remain convinced that the document leak forced Google's hand, but that it only sped up the inevitable. See: his complete lack of contrition after being fired. Compare with Blake Lemoine's more recent firing for the "AI is sentient" thing. That wasn't a "cancellation."
I remain convinced that the document leak forced Google's hand, but that it only sped up the inevitable. See: his complete lack of contrition after being fired. Compare with Blake Lemoine's more recent firing for the "AI is sentient" thing. That wasn't a "cancellation."
November 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
That's a good point!
I remain convinced that the document leak forced Google's hand, but that it only sped up the inevitable. See: his complete lack of contrition after being fired. Compare with Blake Lemoine's more recent firing for the "AI is sentient" thing. That wasn't a "cancellation."
I remain convinced that the document leak forced Google's hand, but that it only sped up the inevitable. See: his complete lack of contrition after being fired. Compare with Blake Lemoine's more recent firing for the "AI is sentient" thing. That wasn't a "cancellation."
Damore didn't even lose his job for his views. He was fired for continuing to push his document in different spaces even after he was told he needed to stop because it was upsetting people. That's not a "cancellation" as most people use the term IMO.
November 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Damore didn't even lose his job for his views. He was fired for continuing to push his document in different spaces even after he was told he needed to stop because it was upsetting people. That's not a "cancellation" as most people use the term IMO.
That's because Costco requires itself to pass on most savings to their customers! Check out www.acquired.fm/episodes/cos... for fast more details on how and why Costco does this and will continue to do so
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November 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
That's because Costco requires itself to pass on most savings to their customers! Check out www.acquired.fm/episodes/cos... for fast more details on how and why Costco does this and will continue to do so
Pedantic nit: it wasn't every single county, though it was close!
The NYT lists four counties (Lancaster, Charlotte, Appomattox, and Mecklenburg) as shifting towards Republicans, plus Northumberland being nearly exactly even with the 2024 presidential results. All were tiny and shifted <2.4 pts
The NYT lists four counties (Lancaster, Charlotte, Appomattox, and Mecklenburg) as shifting towards Republicans, plus Northumberland being nearly exactly even with the 2024 presidential results. All were tiny and shifted <2.4 pts
November 5, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Pedantic nit: it wasn't every single county, though it was close!
The NYT lists four counties (Lancaster, Charlotte, Appomattox, and Mecklenburg) as shifting towards Republicans, plus Northumberland being nearly exactly even with the 2024 presidential results. All were tiny and shifted <2.4 pts
The NYT lists four counties (Lancaster, Charlotte, Appomattox, and Mecklenburg) as shifting towards Republicans, plus Northumberland being nearly exactly even with the 2024 presidential results. All were tiny and shifted <2.4 pts