PLEASE MAKE IT STOP (he shouted to the universe) U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/u...

The Wisdom of Storms open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

I'm going to be writing a lot more about my time at IBM--the good, the bad, and the ugly. But Lou Gerstner's unfortunate passing brought out all the feels in me, so I thought I'd share some now. Thanks for subscribing! The Wisdom of Storms open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

Looking at the Washington Post and they’re basically cheerleading Trump and heaping praise on him. Bezos’ influence is OBVIOUS. In another time they’d be calling for impeachment.

I learned a lot by writing this essay. Especially how I still carry around my ancestors' baggage on New Year's and every other holiday. Thanks for subscribing! The New Year Beginneth open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

I lost a few pounds this year. I’ve now found them.

I don’t like these “year in review” pieces. When we talked in terms of column inches they were useful because they took up space at the of the year. I also don’t like branding years or eras. As in, “2026 will be the year of AI” and “We are in the next economy.” Can we just be where we are?

Small things can trigger memories, not always good ones. That's what happened when I saw an old ad for this chemistry set. Knowing some people are reading what I write helps. A Mad Young Scientist open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

This is a good explanation of what it means to have a social democracy as your governing system. substack.com/@wayyuhl/not...

I wonder…can the DOJ be charged with obstruction because they redacted so much material in the Epstein files they’re rendered useless?

Hell Cats, Hell YES!!!

Why do I drink a cup of coffee and immediately feel tired afterwards? There’s got to be a physiological explanation.

My Christmas Wish Best wishes to all, and to all a good fight—to remember why we celebrate Christmas. open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

I just read a woman in my town poisoned her husband by making him drink antifreeze. It’s cold outside, but it’s not THAT cold!

In addition to writing on Substack, I’m writing for some publications on Medium. Here’s my first piece. medium.com/another-fuck...

Rubio says calibri is a woke font. So he puts it to sleep. Ridiculous.

For someone who reflects on things and writes about them, I sure don’t like reflective surfaces. Mirrors, glass, fluorescent lights, chrome, bright spinning things, escalators, all overwhelm my senses. Add in loud noises, crowded places, and a lot of people talking at the same time? Torture.

Here's my newest Substack essay. I hope you get something out of it. I know I did writing it. open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

Thanks to all for reading and subscribing and spreading the word about my publication. Now. . .EAT UP! open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

Verizon announced they’re firing 13K employees and fired their CEO. But their new CEO has a base salary of $1.5M and potential performance-based equity awards of up to $59.5M. That’s 2X as much as the prior CEO. An economic system that punishes the many while rewarding the few is unsustainable.

Maybe Bobby Kennedy Jr can handle this. Dead Sperm Whale on Nantucket Is Too Big to Move, for Now www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...

Let's talk turkey. With Thanksgiving coming up, I want my subscribers to know how grateful I am for their support. I'm grateful for anyone who reads my work, but none more so than the people who value my writing enough to subscribe. Thank you. open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

I’m concerned the Epstein files will be scrubbed clean of anything implicating Trump and his allies. This is about accountability. Everyone implicated needs to be held accountable. These women were children and didn’t have anyone to fight for them then. They do have people fighting for them now.

I was in a coffee shop with a friend today when I saw this small but mighty group of “No Kings” protesters outside. They were getting a lot of support from people driving by.

Here’s my new Wise Ash Substack post. I’m grateful for your likes, comments, re-stacks, recommendations to friends, and subscriptions. Especially your paid subscriptions, which help make it possible for me to write. Thank you open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

I love the nights where my head hits the cool pillow and I think, “For the next few hours I don’t have to be anything or do anything. Likely no one will ask anything of me and I won’t be expected to give anything to anyone.”

Tesla’s profit fell 37% in Q3 & they’re firing 14K people, but Musk got a pay package worth $1 trillion. $1T exceeds the GDP of many COUNTRIES, including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Argentina. In fact, it’s more than the GDP of 180 countries.  Our capitalistic system is broken.

Okay, so I did it. In honor of Sandwich Guy, on what should be the last day of his trial, I figured out the chords. And so, with apologies to the late and great Bob Marley, I banged out this quick and (very) rough rendition of "I Threw the Sandwich." 🤣

If the U.S. had a good nationwide rail system I’d never fly.

The Dodgers should NOT go to the White House. Just go to the governor’s mansion, see Newsom, celebrate their, and with a parade. #worldseries

I’d give the MVP to Yamamoto. #WorldSeries

You may be wondering, what is The Wise Ash? Didn’t he just change the name of his Substack from Things We Carry to Personal Histories? Yes, I did. If you read this Substack essay you'll know why I’m changing it again, hopefully for good. open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

Ancestry.com says I’m 22% Scandinavian on my mom’s side. Her mom was adopted and spent her childhood in Iowa/Minnesota/South Dakota where many Scandinavians settled in the 1800s. I see DNA matches of people who also have large % of Scandinavian and I wish I could find her birth parents through them.

I think the Democratic Party should start taking bids for the future demolition of Trump’s ballroom and the restoration of the East Wing to its prior state. Same with the Rose Garden.

Thanks for reading more of my personal history and the impact it's had on me. Now I want to read about YOURS! open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

Ohtani is otherworldly. What he’s doing is remarkable. He is a once in a generation talent. #Dodgers #Ohtani

Some news: My daughter, Sarah Thorn, is in this new play by Tom Hanks (yes THAT Tom Hanks) playing at The Shed in NYC until Dec. 21. Hasn’t opened yet, but tickets will go fast so get ‘em now! And get @hanks coffee while you’re at it. Every penny made goes to supporting our troops.

Saw this guy “living” it up today with cards, whiskey and a cigar.

Welcome to Personal Histories. New name, new post, same guy. Thanks for your support. open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

This indictment is Trump using a childish playground retort: “I'm rubber, you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!.” James Indictment Mirrors Her Civil Case Against Trump in Miniature www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/n... via @NYTimes

Someone must have spiked the Yankees drinks in Toronto. Actually, Toronto is just better.

Saw this 1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner in a parking lot today. I talked to the owner. Apparently it was a limited-production model that had a transparent, blue-green tinted Plexiglas "bubble top" over the front two-thirds of the roof. Red interior. Beautiful car. #cars

What’s the story? Two unopened chocolate jello deserts left on the steps of a parking lot. Forgotten? Left for someone?

My newest Subsstack essay went up today. Here it is. open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...

Now, instead of boycotting ABC, there needs to be a boycott of all the stations owned by Sinclair and Nextar who aren’t running Jimmy Kimmel’s show. At the very least, there should be a boycott of anything that runs in what was Kimmel’s time slot.

When churches empty out because of the “rapture” they should be used to house and feed homeless people.

I think the United Nations should be moved to The Hague, an international city of peace and justice.

How long before Trump starts regulating streaming services?