“First they fascinate the fools then they muzzle the intelligent.” ― Bertrand Russell

Re the latest on Epstein, etc.: A lot of people snorted at us, when we talked about character, and its importance in high office, as in life. "Moral preening!" they cried. Bullshit. If character is not "destiny," it is still crucial, as we see every day, unto forever.

Predicted illegal military actions and an end to intel sharing after the 2024 election. Big factor in my decision to retire.

Small comfort, but if there's a silver lining, it's that the pro-democracy coalition will be motivated at the midterms. Sad that the pro-democracy crowd doesn't include these 8 Dem senators and Schumer. But those sheeps and goats -- they just keep sorting themselves.

The fact that someone was fooled by a spoof from a website (literally) called the Dunning-Kruger Times has no bearing at all on my confidence that he would definitely have the upper hand in any negotiation with President Xi, or Putin.

Dems should be seizing on this obvious 1st amendment violation. The Godless Republicans are denying prayer in public areas OUTSIDE a federal facility.

Federal authorities told demonstrators Friday that there would be “no more prayer” in front of or inside the Broadview ICE facility, in a move that mystified local leaders and raised legal questions blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/07/f...

Schumer snatching defeat from the jaws of victory again. 😑

He’s *this* close to proposing universal basic income.😳

This thread is horrifying, and is only happening with the complicity of Congress and the Supreme Court

A family friend was telling us about what her husband shared about his experience in Broadview before he was deported back to Mexico. She's been sharing to friends and family because she's just in disbelief & horror what her husband told her. She wasn't able to talk to him until he was in Mexico.

actual communism

Across the mountain from me. Deep red went…blue

The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones. John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946)

Conservatives come in many flavors. The American conservative, traditionally speaking, seeks to conserve the principles and ideals of the American founding. For @renewdemocracy.bsky.social's Next Move, I have written an essay on this touchy, important subject. www.thenextmove.org/p/american-c...

Yeah, but a good time to buy ketchup stocks. Demand is soaring.

Seems pretty obvious. Don’t be fascist.

Help fill the SNAP Gap. Research shows that the most effective way to help those in need is to give them money. No conditions. No strings. No workfare. Just give them money.

Wow. Did a lot of work with ONR in my day. China loves this move. Plays right into their hands.

res publica is the Latin root of “republic” meaning “public affair” or “for the people.” The most essential characteristic of a republic is liberty — freedom from arbitrary control of concentrated power. Remember this the next time MAGA autocrats claim we’re a republic — not if they get their way.

"When we are self-indulgent and uncritical, when we confuse hopes and facts, we slide into pseudoscience and superstition." -Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

Awesome map. I was raised in 32, educated in 36, exiled in 21, worked in 55, and retired in 40. Each definitely has a distinct culture.

I’ve known and worked with several flags throughout my career. Wish I could say I have complete faith in their oaths to the Constitution.

Translation: They did fine with free trade. We replaced free trade central planning and now they’re hurting. Central planning will pay them. The state now owns the means of production.

“Violence against the truth” is the most polite way of saying “stupid” you’ll ever see.

Protecting institutions and the rule of law used to be the bedrock of conservatism. Dems appear to be afraid of stating the obvious -- that the GOP is no longer conservative -- for fear of the implication that they are more conservative than the ruling party. Can't have that now, can we?

"If we continue to accumulate only power and not wisdom, we will surely destroy ourselves." - Carl Sagan, Pale blue dot

Trifecta. Bat and Squid nebulae are front and center(ish). The top of B150 (Dark Seahorse) is at the right edge. The bat flies about 2,400 light years away. ~80 hours of data collected in 4 wideband and 2 narrowband filters with my scope in SW New Mexico. #astrophotography #photography

Rapture not happening, y’all

Finding myself in a reflective mood today, I decided to reread Humberto Eco’s 1995 essay “Ur-Fascism.” Meditating on the definition & essential properties of fascism, Eco identified 14 key features, only one of which is needed “to allow fascism to coagulate around it." It is, perhaps, relevant. 🧵

Dropping this here for no particular reason...

Important.

Instead of the media’s lazy posthumous takes, I am in favor of Kirk’s actual words being spread far and wide.

Redshift: When political discourse accelerates so quickly into fascism that murder by the ruling party is normalized.

Guns up. Brains down. Feels exceptional to me.

More importantly, they equated the "pursuit of happiness" with the pursuit of virtue. Jefferson referred to Cicero's "Tusculan Disputations" as essential reading, and Disputation #5 is concerned with precisely the question of whether virtue is sufficient for a happy life (Cicero's answer is yes).

More than test, Putin is actively creating the stress points that he expects will lead to weakening of NATO, and possible US withdrawal from the alliance. He has good reason to believe this will work.

One of my favorite, and most true Sagan quotes

As predicted by Carl Sagan and just about every thinking person. Fun story: ~20 years ago I presented a paper at a conference that caught the eye of the Science Consul at the Australian Embassy. I was invited to present the paper again at the embassy with an audience flown up from down under. 1/x

Twenty years ago I did studies for DoD on the problem of drug interdiction of go fast boats. These boats are packed to the gills with drugs. They have room for 1 or 2 people at most with a full load of drugs. If there were 11 people onboard, the cargo was likely migrants. We murdered 11 migrants.

VA05: our rep is a fascist

The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what's true. - Carl Sagan

Yet another meeting that could have been an email.

We can judge our progress by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers, our willingness to embrace what is true rather than what feels good. - Carl Sagan

Saw this stupidity coming after the election and opted to retire rather than try to do science with these clowns.

Tulsi Gabbard is a threat to our national security and should be fired.

Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

Molecular dust flying about 600 light-years away. This image is about 3.5x2.5 degrees, which means the moon would fit inside the field of view 35 times. Taken with my Takahashi Epsilon in SW New Mexico and processed in my astro-den in Virginia. #astrophotography #photography

Ouch. Life long White Sox fan, which means I’m not allowed to say anything positive about the Cubs, but Ryne Sandberg was simply the best. He was the best of everything you’d want from a sports hero.

People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook. - Richard M. Nixon - Obama! Hillary! Squirrel! - The Entire GOP -