Why Balcony Solar Panels Haven’t Taken Off in the US
Another good idea we’re denied by living in a technologically backward country. I’d install one if I could.
Finished: The Ministry of Time, by Kaliane Bradley 📚. I’m a sucker for a good time travel book, and this one is pretty good. Focused on the interpersonal relationships and intrigue rather than silly technical nuts and bolts, which is also good.
New Oklahoma curriculum includes pro-Trump conspiracy theories
The stupid, it hurts.
“The Trail Endures”
Olympus E-M10 IV with 14-42 kit lens @ 15mm, f/11, 1/160s, ISO 320. One of the few portions of the Jones Trail still visible after the fires.
Stephen Miller claims Americans likely ‘willing to pay more’ for US-made dolls
These people are just utterly, utterly out of touch with the financial realities of ordinary people trying to raise children. The choice for many parents is not “cheap import doll vs expensive better domestic better doll.” It’s “cheap import doll vs kids get no toys at all.”
Finished: The Last Kingdom, by Bernard Cornwell 📚. First book in Cornwell’s series about the making of Britain in the time of King Alfred. I enjoyed it, though I didn’t think it was as good as the Sharpe books. But then, what is?
Didn’t finish: The Insect Crisis, by Oliver Milman 📚. I think this could have made a really good long-form article somewhere like The Atlantic. As a book I just found it interminable.
Trump, brushing aside separation of church and state, establishes religious liberty commission
First Amendment? Never met her.
Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act for swift deportations is illegal, Trump-appointed judge rules
The losing continues. The ruling is here if you’d like to read it.
The historical record renders clear that the President’s invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and is contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the statute’s terms.
Perhaps more critical in the long term is the details analysis of (and rejection of) the administration’s claim that his decisions under this and similar laws are not subject to judicial review.
Trying out Firefox with vertical tabs. I think I like it, but I wish I could put the bookmark window to the left of the tab window. My muscle memory wants to go to the far left for bookmarks.
But also I’m glad to have developers make decisions and move on. “Everything should be configurable” is a huge trap that leads to lousy products.
Sam Altman’s Eye-Scanning Orb Is Now Coming to the US
This is an easy “hell no.” For all their protestations of saving humanity and data privacy, I’ll bet within ten years the US Government has access to the iris scans. Or Palantir. Or Open AI. Or whoever is leading the new fascist movement at that point.
“Fire is Not the End”
Olympus E-M10 IV with 14-42 kit lens @ 42mm, f/5.6, 1/30s, ISO 1250. Close to the Clark Butte trail.
A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store
It’s somewhat heartening to see that there can be serious consequences to a strategy of lying to a judge.
T. rex researchers eviscerate ‘misleading’ dinosaur leather announcement
I’m shocked, shocked that there is lying going on in the advertising industry.
Even MAGA Is Disgusted by Trump’s “Kim Jong Il–Style” Cabinet Meeting
That feeling when you agree with Ann Coulter
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I’d also missed that Pam Bondi claimed Trump saved us from 258 million overdose deaths - that’s 75% of the US population. So by their math 3 out of every 4 of your neighbors are fentanyl addicts.
Today I hiked 13.5 miles of basically obliterated trails. Perhaps not my best decision ever.
Trump’s tariffs loom over the economy as shipments from China fall
Hard to see how we avoid a recession at this point. And the only way China blinks first is if the Trump administration can convince the American public to accept as much pain as Xi can convince the Chinese public to accept. Good luck with that.
Trump Attacks Judges at 100 Days Rally, Plays Video of Men He Sent to El Salvador
The audience reaction may be the scariest part. Our own little Nuremberg Rally.
Obituary: Rule of Law, 1787-2025.
Trump Says He Could Free Abrego Garcia From El Salvador, but Won’t
At this point there is no doubt that Trump is openly and gleefully defying a Supreme Court lawyer. The “I’m only doing what my lawyers tell me to do” claim is obvious bullshit, and anyone who believes it is a damned fool. The Supreme Court order requiring him to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return is only a page long. Even this buffoon should be able to read that much. If he gets away with this, due process and the rule of law are pretty much dead, and we’re all in this country only until he decides otherwise.
The US government has a new policy for terminating international students’ legal status
No surprise: the pause in deporting international students was not a win. There is now an even more draconian policy for removing people that the government will, I’m sure, use to further suppress dissent.