“You have only two choices if Trump comes after you: 1. If Domestic, fight. 2. If foreign, and he’s only threatening, tell him to pound sand and ignore him. If he does something, retaliate.” [ianwelsh.net]
Welsh is talking about strategy, not ethics. Obedience doesn’t work with Trump, who sees compliance as weakness and comes back for more.
“Apparently, people don’t want the US dollar to be a meme stock.” Also: “Far-right populist parties get into power by raging against the incumbents and the establishment and then once they’re in office, they have to continue to pretend like they aren’t actually in power.” [garbageday.email]
Scientists dispute Colossal Biosciences’ claims to have brought the dire wolf back from extinction. “… extinction is still forever.”
I want to see one feature in the iPhone and iPad: support for a clipboard manager that runs in the background. I don’t care about Siri, thinner devices, foldable phones, improved battery life or other rumored advances. Just give me a clipboard manager that runs in the background.
The Original Stock Photo From ‘The Shining’ Has Finally Been Found
It’s the photo that ends the movie, of Jack Nicholson in period costume composited into a photo of dozens of formally-dressed 1920s partygoers.
After decades of mystery, the original image — sans Jack Nicholson — has finally resurfaced in a photo archive after 45 years…. no one kept a record of where, what, and who was in the original photo. Following an investigation by retired British academic Alasdair Spark and New York Times journalist Aric Toler, it has been revealed the original photo was taken by the now defunct Topical Press Agency at a St. Valentine’s Day Ball in the Royal Palace Hotel, London, on February 14, 1921.
Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA. “This would decimate American leadership in space.”
Massive cuts to NASA science are proposed in an early White House budget plan. “This is an extinction-level event for NASA science.”
Trump Is Stupid, Erratic and Weak (Paul Krugman)
Aussies miss when morning routine didn’t involve finding out whatever the fuck this cunt did today (John Delmenico / The Chaser)
Trump’s Psychological Vulnerability (Timothy Snyder) — “Donald Trump thinks that everyone is always ripping him off.” Trump has no conception of doing business fairly or of a deal where both sides are happy.
The Sick Psychology Behind Trump’s Tariff Chaos (Timothy Noah / The New Republic) — “Caregivers with [Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy] don’t poison their children once and then restore them to health. They do it over and over, because the cycle from sickness to health brings them pleasure.”
Nothing in your workflow is permanent (Matt Birchler)
The New York Times Ethicist blesses pirating e-books if you’ve already bought the hardcover. (Randy Cohen — thanks, Cory!)
America Is Trying To Form An Anti-China Trade Bloc
Trump has shown himself to be a partner who can’t be trusted — he’s unreliable and routinely goes back on his word. But Western nations hate China enough that Trump might pull this off, Welsh says.
If so, we’ll be the weaker side, as the USSR/Warsaw Pact was last time and we will lose the new Cold war, falling further and further behind technologically and watching as the Chinese enjoy goods we can barely even dream of, just as was true of the late Soviet Union.
Everything, and I mean everything, will be sacrificed to keep the oligarchs in power, keep making them richer and keep the flow of unearned cash pouring into every rich person’s orifices.
On the other hand, the EU and China are in talks to end EU tariffs on electric vehicles. “That sound you hear is Elon Musk puckering up to kiss his ass goodbye.”
“Paper is good. Somehow, a blank page and a pen makes the universe open up before you." (Dynomight) — All my writing, note-taking and task lists go into my computer or phone. I love the idea of writing on paper, but I do not do it. For me, this article is aspirational.
Tariffs, integrity, and chaos (Matt Birchler)
I have two superpowers: finding the right-sized Tupperware container for leftovers and moving things around in the refrigerator until there is room for something else when the refrigerator looks full.
Adobe Got Bullied Off Of Bluesky (Ryan Broderick / Garbage Day (seventh item — scroll down) — “… this is becoming a genuine issue for Bluesky…. It’s really easy to be the cool, new anti-corporate social network up until the point where you actually need to make money.”