< Notes...

From The Atlantic podcast, “Defund Science, Distort Culture, Mock Education”.

“Autocrats engage in a mix of utopia and nostalgia, so the Smithsonian is a perfect target if you truly are aiming big. And authoritarians […], they think big; they think long-term. They’re very obsessed with their legacy.

You purge the content of histories that you no longer want, or people you no longer want featured—and instead, you promote your own sanitized, mythological version of history. It’s not enough to just fire people you are smearing who are “radical left,” even though they’re not. You have to go after the whole thing.”

➝ Via Kottke.

“Attendees should be aware that travel to and within the United States of America presents heightened risks. Recent immigration enforcement actions have included aggressive use of force and expanded detention. Transgender and gender-diverse travellers, in particular, may face increased scrutiny, misgendering, or denial of entry based on documentation or appearance. More broadly, the United States is experiencing political instability and the rapid expansion of authoritarian policies, sometimes implemented with little advance notice. Travellers are advised to review current conditions carefully, carry complete documentation, and assess personal risk before making travel plans. Consult your country’s travel advisory for more information.”

Travel advisory attached to every conference happening within the US (pick United States under “Countries”), at TechConf.Directory. 😢

Everybody lies. Everybody. That’s group one. Some people lie much, much, much more than others. That’s group two. Absolutely do not trust group two. Ever.

It was in the news yesterday that India had ordered all smartphones makers to ensure all new devices came preloaded with an app called Sanchar Saathi, allegedly to “bolster telecom cybersecurity”. Apple, non-publicly, stated that they would not comply. Today India is scrapping their mandatory order. Much planning, such wow!

“The Office of the First Lady of the United States needs to end. Institutional nepotism of this sort presents several problems. Primarily, we allocate budgetary resources and authority to a person whose sole qualification is being married to an elected representative.”

In complete agreement with Roshan on the “Abolish the First Lady” topic. “No one ever really cared who Angela Merkel’s husband was […] The real reason no one cared is that he’s just a guy there who stands or falls on his own merits”, he writes. Indeed!

“Be sure to bring up politics at Thanksgiving dinner. It’s going to save you money on Christmas gifts.”

Often the Fediverse brings small wisdom nuggets with a touch of humour. This one sure is funny. I don’t know if I have the heart to follow through on it, as I wouldn’t want the death of an elder in my conscience.

“There’s no other way to say it. We failed our children. We failed our climate. We failed our trans community. We failed our immigrants. We failed our middle class. We failed our increasingly desperate houseless population. We failed people of color. We failed our schools. We failed our future. We took the first steps over the threshold as a nation last night, into the dark unknown. The experiment is over, and we failed to prevent this disaster.”

Notice the date on which the post was written. Garrett successfully and eloquently verbalises what I felt, what many of us felt, then. And now.

When writing about the US Mint ending the production of new pennies, Jason Kottke wrote this witty remark with which I agree:

“One of the very few things that incompetent stopped clock in the White House has gotten accidentally right.”

➝ Via Kottke.

Our current government doesn't care about SNAP benefits
https://federate.social/@mattblaze →

“Honestly, I think it’s worse than indifference. I think they care quite a bit - about maximizing the suffering of those they view as mere parasitic drains on wealth that rightfully belongs to them. Witness the warnings to merchants to not provide discounts to people not getting their benefits - something that would help people and cost the government nothing.”

Does it makes sense to you that, after holding off for so long towards achieving a goal worth achieving, a few democrats decide to “cross lines” thus making all their efforts, and pains, worthless?

I am all for the drop of the penny, but with a marketing perversely centred around ending prices with “99” that’s going to prove to be difficult, or messy, or both.

The iconic White House website, previously the symbol of the American government, has become—as a friend wrote to me—the “parody of a government”. I sure hope it is being archived to serve as a perennial testament of a government gone way beyond south.

“The Pentagon certainly has the right to make its own policies, within the constraints of the law,” the Pentagon Press Association said in a statement on Monday. “There is no need or justification, however, for it to require reporters to affirm their understanding of vague, likely unconstitutional policies as a precondition to reporting from Pentagon facilities.”

Several news outlets (New York Times, AP, Newsmax amongst others) will not sign new Pentagon rules, which vastly limit access for credentialed media while inside the Pentagon complex.

“In our view, America’s leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that free marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education.”

➝ Via MIT Office of the President.

I remember reading that Jesus said: “Fear everyone, expel the stranger, blame the poor, feed the rich, ignore the sick, sacrifice the young, love only thyself, trust only Caesar, throw lots of stones.” Right? 🙄

“The party that controls both the House and the Senate, not to mention the executive branch, would like to remind you that the government being shut down right now is entirely the fault of the party that has no actual power right now.”

➝ Via @mattblaze.

‘We’ll probably have a shutdown’, Trump says in Oval Office press conference.

“They want to give Cadillac Medicare to illegal aliens… at the cost to everyone else,” the president said. This is a false claim that Trump and congressional Republicans have repeated since lawmakers have failed to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government funded. A reminder, this lapses tonight.

Undocumented immigrants aren’t eligible to enroll in subsidized programs like Medicaid, Medicare or the Affordable Care Act.

➝ Via The Guardian.

BERLIN, Feb. 3. 1939.—Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels today ended the professional careers of five “Aryan” actors and cabaret announcers by expelling them from the Reich’s Chamber of Culture on the grounds that “in their public appearances they displayed a lack of any positive attitude toward National Socialism and therewith caused grave annoyance in public and especially to party comrades.”

As printed in The New York Times. In 1939.

This guy is putting his nose—and face—on everything, everything that doesn’t pertain to him, nor anyone around him, and it’s truly bloody everything up. I can’t imagine how all of this will be unravelled.

I know this is about business, yet, I still hear the question in my head, why? As presidencies are ephemeral, can’t Apple widthstand the rough seas for 3.5 years?

From Franklin D. Roosevelt inaugural address, 20 January 1937, as ever present today as always.

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”

Yes, alone in our galaxy. No one else but us. All we have is our family, our friends, our neighbours, our fellow citizens, our equal human beings. Why can’t we all get along? Why can’t we care about each other? Seriously.

As I paid almost three times more for a tiny grocery shopping this evening, I felt grateful that at least they were harvested, and made by real American, patriotic, heterosexual, white, christian workers, and not illegal immigrants. 🇺🇸

“Man Afraid to Ride Subway Named Head of NASA”, reads the Rolling Stone headline, when referring to the man (Sean Duffy) which our president has picked to lead NASA as its interim administrator. It concludes, and I kid you not:

“Meanwhile, let’s hope Duffy (who’s afraid to hop on the 6 train) is ready to take on a government agency that has launched humans to the moon and probes to interstellar space.”

The US attack on Iran was not only reckless, but it accomplished next to nothing, and it cost quite a bit. “Mission Accomplished”. 🙄

Update: 02 Oct 2025 @ 07:33:49

It just occurred to me—because “Mission Accomplished” came to mind—that similarly we accomplished on Iraq: nothing. Iraqis, on the other hand, are arguably worse.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” is an abomination, and it will cause so much debt and harm to the country that its effects will be felt for generations (specifically and specially from middle and low income class) to come.

After the Republican party proposed a reconciliation package that will slash the Medicaid program, Mitch gave a short speech, “I know a lot of us are hearing from people back home about Medicaid. But they’ll get over it.”

Now that the Supreme Court has given an edge to the current regime in their intent to kill birthright citizenship, is more important than ever to remember how it came to be.

“For us as a nation, birthright citizenship is so vital both as a way of erasing—or trying to erase—the vestiges of slavery and acknowledging we’re a nation of immigrants where every child is born under the same status.”

That feeling of deep shame many Americans are feeling, and the constant urge to apologise for the actions of our government. Never before, since becoming an American, I have felt like this. Truly, truly, truly sorry!

“President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the U.S. military has conducted targeted airstrikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran, calling the operation ‘very successful.’”

Oh dear! So it begins. A day or two ago he said he would decide in two weeks. Of course, this man knows no truth. One step closer.

Update: 03 Oct 2025 @ 21:31:16

I do remember 2024. The now Liar-in-Chief then said, lying as always, to the American people in Michigan:

“If Kamala wins, only death and destruction await because she is the candidate of endless wars. I am the candidate of peace,” Trump continued. “I am peace.”

Like millions of people—if not billions—I don’t want this conflict to go nuclear. I am sure you know what I am referring to. Hiroshima and Nagasaki never again. Are we that stupid as not to learn from past mistakes? Are we going to let scumbags drag humankind down a nuclear holocaust?

Today is Juneteenth, and this is the first time I mention it on my notes, I think. It is meant to be the day to commemorate the end of slavery in the US. No wonder the Racist-Ignoramous-in-Chief made no mention of it.

Update: 03 Oct 2025 @ 21:36:24

Well, he actually wrote something, without directly mentioning Juneteenth, on his own social media—which exists solely and almost exclusively for him, pretty much.

“Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

It never ends.

All of these “appeasers” promissing changes to make the current regime look good. Make promises publicly, but never deliver them. A marketing scam. That’s what companies are doing today when they say they are bringing their manufacturing to the US, or investing $X to do it.

The people and the regime will forget, but should anyone remember they will make even more sweeter, unbelievable promises, and repeat the cycle.

What in the blankity blanket is this?! As sad as it is to say it, I hope no international students come while this regime is in power. The growing list of aggravations isn’t worth it.

“Foreign students will be required to unlock their social media profiles to allow US diplomats to review their online activity before receiving educational and exchange visas, the state department has announced. Those who fail to do so will be suspected of hiding that activity from US officials.”

I sent an email to the senators representing our state, to urge them to vote no on a rescissions package that would eliminate $1.1 billion in already-approved funding for public media. Next I know, Rick Scott’s office is already spamming me about “delivering a better, big, beautiful bill for Trump” (my emphasis).

I am forever thankful for “Hide my Email”, I can simply delete the alias, and emails bounce 🎉. And, for Trump, really? Isn’t that supposed to be for the citizens of the US? What an arse licker!

We need more than Obama. We need those who represent us at all levels in government to unite, understanding the risks at hand, and fight back.

“We’re not there yet completely, but I think that we are dangerously close to normalizing behavior like that. And we need people both outside government and inside government saying, ‘Let’s not go over that cliff because it’s hard to recover.’”

He went on to say:

Democracy, Mr. Obama said, requires government workers, judges and lawyers at the Justice Department to uphold the Constitution and follow the law.

“It requires them to take that oath seriously, and when that isn’t happening we start drifting into something that is not consistent with American democracy […]” he said.

I see we are wagging the dog once again. It is clear we have gotten pretty good at it too. In case it is not evident, I don’t like it.

This that Matt Blaze wrote in regards to the killing of a democrat lawmaker and her husband is very true, and quite worrisome. We have been going down the slippery slope for a while already, and I have a strong feeling it is going to end badly.

“We now have a political assassin impersonating a police officer on the loose in Minnesota, which, aside from being horrifying in and of itself, underscores the danger of the proliferation of anonymous federal law enforcement deployments from a wide variety of unfamiliar agencies conducting aggressive immigration operations across the country.

Is that uniformed person who’s stopping you or demanding entry to your home legit or a psychotic vigilante seeking to harm you? It’s impossible to know.”

Each and everyone of us is the descendent of an immigrant. Those ancestors we don’t know immigrated multiple times, many of them, for sure, illegally. And yet, here we are.

“‘I like Donald Trump, but when they want to act this way, it’s where they begin to lose a lot of America who just wonders, “Why does everything have to descend to this level?”’ Paul added.”

Because your party, Rand Paul, selected—and supports—a pig, and it’s full of spineless, despicable people. Don’t pretend you don’t know it. It goes beyond “immaturity” and “pettiness”, come on!