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.”
I’m Not An Economist, But I Don’t Think This Tariff Thing Is Working, Guys (Ryan Broderick / Garbage Day)
AI avatars are the face of emerging telcos
I found this to be a fascinating story: “Digital humans” — realistic, AI-powered avatars — are poised to revolutionize human-computer interactions in the telecom sector. These avatars provide higher customer satisfaction and increased likelihood of purchases compared with traditional interfaces, according to research. Companies such as AT&T, Amdocs and ServiceNow are leveraging AI to automate network operations and enhance customer service.
Walking the dog this morning down a residential street, a white-haired older woman pulled up in a car next to me and rolled down her window and shouted something. I could not hear what she said, so I went a little closer and asked her to repeat it.
She said, “God loves you and your baby.”
I have had people shout worse things to me from rolled-down car windows.
We saw “A Complete Unknown” tonight. It paints a portrait of Dylan as a magnificently talented and charismatic asshole.
Sam Keen, Philosopher of the Men’s Movement, Is Dead at 93
Trip Gabriel / The New York Times
I did not read Keen‘s book. I had not even heard of it or him until I read this obituary. I did, however, read “Iron John,” by Robert Bly, which was published about the same time and was another touchstone of the men’s movement of the 90s.
I think there are many, many ways of being a man and I am not the type of man that the men’s movement of the 90s spoke to. And if the “manosphere” of the 2020s is anything like how I’ve seen it described, I certainly don’t want to be involved in that.