empiricalskeptic 1 month ago

Trying to see the big picture. What I see is Russia has failed to achieve its objectives in Ukraine. For that it Putin has already sacrificed its global ambitions as well. Original post:

Bluesky Social

Joni Askola (@joniaskola.bsky.social)

Ukraine continues to control all 23 regional capitals and special-status cities it held at the start of the full-scale war. 23/23! Russia is los...

empiricalskeptic 1 month ago

Support for military conquest of Greenland is indistinguishable from noise or polling error. Maybe literally 5 people pretend to think it’s a good idea. Or maybe it just a negotiation tactic. But support for purchasing it is not much higher.

empiricalskeptic 1 month ago

Had to disable Touch ID on my MacBook Pro M1 because it proved so unreliable. I am pretty sure 2FA based on fingerprints is dead, gone, and buried. Good riddance.

empiricalskeptic 1 month ago

Had to disable Touch ID on my MacBook Pro M1 because it proved so unreliable. I am pretty sure 2FA based on fingerprints is dead, gone, and buried. Good riddance.

empiricalskeptic 1 month ago

From Politico (credit where due).

empiricalskeptic 1 month ago

State sanctioned murder of innocent citizens. Official denials that clearly contradict video evidence. Bureaucratic foot dragging to prevent accountability.

empiricalskeptic 1 month ago

The streets of this Tokyo suburb are still much deader than I expected on Sunday morning at the end of the New Year’s holidays. This gym is also nearly empty.

empiricalskeptic 1 month ago

With all due respect to the skills of the US armed forces, who professionally disabled Venezuela’s air defenses and captured Maduro with minimal losses, decapitation was the easy part.

empiricalskeptic 1 month ago

https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/ I know the US Constitution is of little relevance lately, but: Section 8 "The Congress shall have the power... To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;"

empiricalskeptic 1 month ago

The Maduro regime is evil, amd the world will be better without him. However, Trump’s military operations in Venezuela have not been authorized by Congress are illegal. I strongly oppose this illegal and illegitimate use of military force. #venezuela #usa #trump

empiricalskeptic 2 months ago

My country seems determined to revive diseases that have already been eradicated. It's very bizarre, but because the effects are delayed, the perps in administration in charge of this fiasco won't have to deal with or be held accountable for the unnecessary future deaths.

empiricalskeptic 2 months ago

The premise of Plur1bus (Apple TV+) is interesting, but the main character must be the most unpleasant human ever conceived.

empiricalskeptic 3 months ago

In #japan a run on the Grace Delight Tote as an A4 sized tote bag makes a political statement. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/style/sanae-takaichi-handbag.html?unlocked_article_code=1.2E8.zCNf.jb2q3RtCus04&smid=nytcore-ios-share

empiricalskeptic 3 months ago

The venerable penny is still legal money but will become scarce in practice. Looks like merchants will round down cash prices to the nearest .X0 or .X5. US Mint in Philadelphia presses final pennies as the 1-cent coin gets canceled.

AP News

US Mint presses final pennies as production ends after more than 230 years

The U.S. has ended production of the penny. The last 1-cent coins were made Wednesday at the mint in Philadelphia.

empiricalskeptic 4 months ago

Listening to The Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World, perhaps most interesting is how oft heard was the lament “this is the end of western civilization.” #history #depression #perspective

empiricalskeptic 4 months ago

A Plea From Doctors: Cool It on the Supplements

As Americans take more gummies, pills and powders than ever, some physicians are trying to convince patients to be a bit more careful.

is

empiricalskeptic 4 months ago

A Plea From Doctors: Cool It on the Supplements

As Americans take more gummies, pills and powders than ever, some physicians are trying to convince patients to be a bit more careful.

is

empiricalskeptic 4 months ago

Reminder to boost your immunity with the Tdap vaccine every ten years. Original post:

Bluesky Social

Behrens Science Museum (@bsmuseum.org)

"A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough, the Mississippi State Department of Health announced on Monday, marking the state’s first whoo...

empiricalskeptic 4 months ago

What works in the battle space versus what expensive systems van get contract administrators promoted with cushy consulting gigs after retirement. #pentagon Original post:

Bluesky Social

Molly McKew (@mollymckew.bsky.social)

The Ukrainian military—the toughest, most experienced, most adaptable, most successful on the modern battlefield—is beardy old men, women, arti...

empiricalskeptic 4 months ago

Apple Podcasts

His Nuclear Reactor Will Make Energy CHEAP Faster Than You Think

Podcast Episode · Rational Optimist Podcast · 09/24/2025 · 58m