Hector Valdes
@valdeshe.bsky.social
De P Fockin R. Husband, Father, Attorney.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
This was a wonderful interview. There’s a moment where Terry Gross plays him a tape of his father Carl talking about him that he had not heard before that’s very affecting.
If you’re a fan of Rob Reiner, or his dad, or Spinal Tap, or All In The Family, or American comedy in general, don’t miss his Fresh Air interview.
Rob Reiner's 'Spinal Tap' Still Goes To 11 : Fresh Air
www.npr.org/2025/09/09/n...
Rob Reiner's 'Spinal Tap' Still Goes To 11 : Fresh Air
www.npr.org/2025/09/09/n...
Rob Reiner's 'Spinal Tap' Still Goes To 11 : Fresh Air
Reiner's 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap sparked a new genre of satire. Now, more than 40 years later, the band is back in a new sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. "They have grown neither...
www.npr.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:36 AM
This was a wonderful interview. There’s a moment where Terry Gross plays him a tape of his father Carl talking about him that he had not heard before that’s very affecting.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
MyTaxReceipt shows you a breakdown of how your U.S. federal taxes get spent — enter your Zip code and the amount you paid in Federal taxes (or you can use the default average for your Zip code). It generates a receipt-style summary showing what portion goes to defense, healthcare, interest on debt..
MyTaxReceipt.org
See exactly where your federal income taxes go — and message Congress about it in one click.
my-tax-reciept.vercel.app
December 7, 2025 at 3:19 PM
MyTaxReceipt shows you a breakdown of how your U.S. federal taxes get spent — enter your Zip code and the amount you paid in Federal taxes (or you can use the default average for your Zip code). It generates a receipt-style summary showing what portion goes to defense, healthcare, interest on debt..
Reposted by Hector Valdes
Last week @theverge.com published my essay exploring the limitations of large-language models. This week, that same essay is cited by a federal judge in Michigan to distinguish the process of human reasoning from what these models do. Very, very gratifying.
h/t @robertfreundlaw.bsky.social
holy shit, an accurate legal critique of LLMs. LLMs don't reason because they're just stitching together plausible-looking sentences indifferent to the content
holy shit, an accurate legal critique of LLMs. LLMs don't reason because they're just stitching together plausible-looking sentences indifferent to the content
December 3, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Last week @theverge.com published my essay exploring the limitations of large-language models. This week, that same essay is cited by a federal judge in Michigan to distinguish the process of human reasoning from what these models do. Very, very gratifying.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
In LESS THAN A CALENDAR YEAR these absolute cretins figured out, oh yeah, Donald Trump is old and maybe not a magical send-it-back-to-2019 switch we can flip and I personally loathe the shit out of them for it. Thermostatic public idiocy more like
December 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
In LESS THAN A CALENDAR YEAR these absolute cretins figured out, oh yeah, Donald Trump is old and maybe not a magical send-it-back-to-2019 switch we can flip and I personally loathe the shit out of them for it. Thermostatic public idiocy more like
Reposted by Hector Valdes
Don't get me wrong I lost a lot of respect for a lot of people in 2024 but the people who I lost the most respect for is The People, and I gotta say, seeing the special election results makes me madder at them
December 3, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Don't get me wrong I lost a lot of respect for a lot of people in 2024 but the people who I lost the most respect for is The People, and I gotta say, seeing the special election results makes me madder at them
Reposted by Hector Valdes
“The juvenile actions and accusatory language spouting from every orifice of government may be among the most superficial features of our current crisis, but it is symptomatic of a larger disrespect for professionalism and professional competence.” www.liberalcurrents.com/the-war-on-p...
The War on Professionalism and Professional Competence
Incompetence and sloppiness are the self-conscious ethos of the administration.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
“The juvenile actions and accusatory language spouting from every orifice of government may be among the most superficial features of our current crisis, but it is symptomatic of a larger disrespect for professionalism and professional competence.” www.liberalcurrents.com/the-war-on-p...
Reposted by Hector Valdes
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Blow for OpenAI in Germany as court rules song lyrics used illegally
A German court ruled on Tuesday that OpenAI violated copyright on nine popular songs in a lawsuit that marked another attempt to prevent the free use of artists' content online. The Munich Regional Co...
www.yahoo.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Reposted by Hector Valdes
The bumper says 'rugged working man'.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
November 9, 2025 at 9:35 AM
The bumper says 'rugged working man'.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
Again, for those that have the time to keep up.
nasstatus.faa.gov
It's real easy to make assumptions. I was a controller at ZTL (Atlanta Center) for 25 years and I can't tell you them implications of every detail. But I can point you towards the data the FAA releases.
(More in the remarks)
nasstatus.faa.gov
It's real easy to make assumptions. I was a controller at ZTL (Atlanta Center) for 25 years and I can't tell you them implications of every detail. But I can point you towards the data the FAA releases.
(More in the remarks)
November 7, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Again, for those that have the time to keep up.
nasstatus.faa.gov
It's real easy to make assumptions. I was a controller at ZTL (Atlanta Center) for 25 years and I can't tell you them implications of every detail. But I can point you towards the data the FAA releases.
(More in the remarks)
nasstatus.faa.gov
It's real easy to make assumptions. I was a controller at ZTL (Atlanta Center) for 25 years and I can't tell you them implications of every detail. But I can point you towards the data the FAA releases.
(More in the remarks)
Reposted by Hector Valdes
"I find that a lot of them aren’t as masculine as I would have hoped."
So close to getting it.
So close to getting it.
This Washington Post article about MAGA people trying and failing to date in Washington is...really something
www.removepaywall.com/search?url=h...
www.removepaywall.com/search?url=h...
November 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM
"I find that a lot of them aren’t as masculine as I would have hoped."
So close to getting it.
So close to getting it.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
The energy we need is this suburban dad standing out in the street -- barefoot with Blackhawks pajama pants on -- screaming at the masked goons to get the fuck out of their neighborhood.
October 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The energy we need is this suburban dad standing out in the street -- barefoot with Blackhawks pajama pants on -- screaming at the masked goons to get the fuck out of their neighborhood.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
@carlquintanilla.bsky.social got it exactly correct. China has other buyers. Also, other sellers (Argentina for soybeans, for instance). We are a long way from the 1950s when the USA, largely undamaged after WW II, could set the trade rules for the world.
October 25, 2025 at 1:05 PM
@carlquintanilla.bsky.social got it exactly correct. China has other buyers. Also, other sellers (Argentina for soybeans, for instance). We are a long way from the 1950s when the USA, largely undamaged after WW II, could set the trade rules for the world.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
A civil attorney who Trump enthusiast Lindsey Halligan brought in to prosecute the Letitia James case screwed up his initial appearance and the court had to give him step-by-step instructions about how to save a PDF.
October 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
A civil attorney who Trump enthusiast Lindsey Halligan brought in to prosecute the Letitia James case screwed up his initial appearance and the court had to give him step-by-step instructions about how to save a PDF.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
"We are going to have to live here with each other" is the exact premise that Republicans do not agree about. Their proposition is mass immiseration, mass expulsion and mass murder. The only way to oppose political violence and avoid further political violence is to contend directly with that fact.
"All I can say for me in the work I do is that I want to create a space that takes our disagreements seriously, that takes the stakes of them seriously, the consequences for people seriously, but does so without deepening our divisions irreparably. We are going to have to live here with each other"
September 20, 2025 at 10:32 AM
"We are going to have to live here with each other" is the exact premise that Republicans do not agree about. Their proposition is mass immiseration, mass expulsion and mass murder. The only way to oppose political violence and avoid further political violence is to contend directly with that fact.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
If you want to understand how Latinos can support a president who deports their primos, their Abuelas and suegras, read
@mikemadrid.bsky.social's The Latino Century
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-La...
and @paoramos.bsky.social's The Defectors
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741645...
@mikemadrid.bsky.social's The Latino Century
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-La...
and @paoramos.bsky.social's The Defectors
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741645...
The Latino Century
An insightful investigation of how and why the two major political parties have failed to appeal to the Latino vote—the largest ethnic voting group...
www.simonandschuster.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:55 AM
If you want to understand how Latinos can support a president who deports their primos, their Abuelas and suegras, read
@mikemadrid.bsky.social's The Latino Century
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-La...
and @paoramos.bsky.social's The Defectors
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741645...
@mikemadrid.bsky.social's The Latino Century
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-La...
and @paoramos.bsky.social's The Defectors
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741645...
Reposted by Hector Valdes
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
For iPhones, I
put together this list of security settings for my fam:
Settings/Privacy and Security/Tracking/Allow Apps to Request to Track: Disable.
Settings/Privacy and Security/Apple Advertising/Personalized Ads: Disable.
Settings/Privacy and Security/Tracking: Disable
1/
put together this list of security settings for my fam:
Settings/Privacy and Security/Tracking/Allow Apps to Request to Track: Disable.
Settings/Privacy and Security/Apple Advertising/Personalized Ads: Disable.
Settings/Privacy and Security/Tracking: Disable
1/
November 18, 2024 at 4:11 PM
For iPhones, I
put together this list of security settings for my fam:
Settings/Privacy and Security/Tracking/Allow Apps to Request to Track: Disable.
Settings/Privacy and Security/Apple Advertising/Personalized Ads: Disable.
Settings/Privacy and Security/Tracking: Disable
1/
put together this list of security settings for my fam:
Settings/Privacy and Security/Tracking/Allow Apps to Request to Track: Disable.
Settings/Privacy and Security/Apple Advertising/Personalized Ads: Disable.
Settings/Privacy and Security/Tracking: Disable
1/
Reposted by Hector Valdes
"this is not about politics. this is about power."
what the fuck do you think politics is if it is not about power?
what the fuck do you think politics is if it is not about power?
October 1, 2025 at 5:48 AM
"this is not about politics. this is about power."
what the fuck do you think politics is if it is not about power?
what the fuck do you think politics is if it is not about power?
Reposted by Hector Valdes
Ezra Klein has played a fascinating role in entrenching “polarization” as the – deeply flawed – master narrative of our time: His 2020 book “Why We’re Polarized” did a lot to propagate the idea.
But if you read the book carefully, Klein inadvertently provides a good case *against* this diagnosis.
But if you read the book carefully, Klein inadvertently provides a good case *against* this diagnosis.
September 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Ezra Klein has played a fascinating role in entrenching “polarization” as the – deeply flawed – master narrative of our time: His 2020 book “Why We’re Polarized” did a lot to propagate the idea.
But if you read the book carefully, Klein inadvertently provides a good case *against* this diagnosis.
But if you read the book carefully, Klein inadvertently provides a good case *against* this diagnosis.
Reposted by Hector Valdes
i do not understand suing a dairy because you made the unwise decision to purchase and consume raw milk www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2...
Mother sues Florida dairy farm, claims she lost fetus after raw milk led to bacterial infection
A New Smyrna Beach dairy farm was named in a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims she lost her fetus after falling ill while caring for her toddler who became sick after drinking raw, unpasteurized mil...
www.clickorlando.com
August 17, 2025 at 4:55 PM
i do not understand suing a dairy because you made the unwise decision to purchase and consume raw milk www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2...
Reposted by Hector Valdes
idk if you’ve seen this yet but it’s one of the best breakdowns on the new cc natural gas plant situation in the US I’ve seen (also gets into nuclear and renewables): www.projectfinance.law/publications...
The Shift Back to Gas | Norton Rose Fulbright
The federal government is making a concerted effort to promote construction of new power plants that burn fossil fuels.
www.projectfinance.law
August 5, 2025 at 1:16 PM
idk if you’ve seen this yet but it’s one of the best breakdowns on the new cc natural gas plant situation in the US I’ve seen (also gets into nuclear and renewables): www.projectfinance.law/publications...
Reposted by Hector Valdes
I am still haunted by this poem, "The Myth Was Never The Unicorn," written by one of the teens who participated in the creative writing program at the museum this summer. A reminder that girls are always aware.
Read the full piece and listen to the author recite it: journey75.org/2025/the-myt...
Read the full piece and listen to the author recite it: journey75.org/2025/the-myt...
August 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I am still haunted by this poem, "The Myth Was Never The Unicorn," written by one of the teens who participated in the creative writing program at the museum this summer. A reminder that girls are always aware.
Read the full piece and listen to the author recite it: journey75.org/2025/the-myt...
Read the full piece and listen to the author recite it: journey75.org/2025/the-myt...
Reposted by Hector Valdes
OMG
Coldplay's Chris Martin accidentally exposes astronomer CEO Andy Byron having an affair with his HR chief Kristin Cabot.
July 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
OMG
Reposted by Hector Valdes
Another civpro lesson courtesy of Justin Baldoni and his whizbang lawyer Bryan Freedman
with @andrewtorrez.bsky.social
www.lawandchaospod.com/p/sanctions-...
with @andrewtorrez.bsky.social
www.lawandchaospod.com/p/sanctions-...
Sanctions For Justin?
(Probably)
www.lawandchaospod.com
June 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Another civpro lesson courtesy of Justin Baldoni and his whizbang lawyer Bryan Freedman
with @andrewtorrez.bsky.social
www.lawandchaospod.com/p/sanctions-...
with @andrewtorrez.bsky.social
www.lawandchaospod.com/p/sanctions-...