"Every time Sundar Pichai reconfigures Google products to further force generative AI on users he assumes are hopelessly locked in, he increases the risk they finally throw up their hands and go somewhere else. And that’s exactly what Google users should do."

Sorry if I seem extra angry or whatever today. Mother’s Day is a weird holiday for me. As I’m sure it is for many.

Retractions never get proportional attention. This one should.

If we actually want to appreciate moms, we should be providing free childcare, healthcare, and guaranteed income for stay-at-home parents to put more money in families’ pockets and ensure no SAHP is reliant on a partner for their economic security. Idk I think that’s better than 15% off a vacuum.

Good to see local justice doing its thing in Hawai’i

Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, a Democrat, holds a burning Confederate flag inside the Tennessee State Capitol as state troopers move nearby.

New On The Blog - chrisullrich.net/2026/05/04/s...

I have friends everywhere.

Maybe fossil fuels aren’t the answer? We might want to try something else. Could work.

What a shitshow.

Anime isn't always renowned for its realism, but here are 4 fantastic series that will appeal to fans of hard science fiction, filled with detailed worldbuilding and examinations of the limits and possibilities of technology 🚀

Fake News

I’m listening to seasoned reporters talk about how frightened they were during the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner last night and imagining how much worse it is for America’s children. If there’s ever been a time to pass sensible gun control laws, it’s now.

Ew Moleskine used genAI for their Lord of the Ring collection by mentioning they used it, then entirely removing the claim after some backlash. Incredibly shitty of them for a brand that claims human creativity. cjleo.com/blog/moleski...

Georgia was shopping with her mum to buy trousers for school and recalled: "They didn't have real pockets; they just had fake ones .. and [the boys] had pockets and I thought it was unfair, so I bought boys' trousers." Georgia's letter said that girls needed pockets to carry things, too. #GoodNews

Always loved it. Still have my complete collection.

Someday, with luck and hard work, she will have a name too.

If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking. - Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood

If you get mad at THE PITT for not doing what you wanted THE PITT to do, you should try writing your own shit. I mean it! That's an impulse you can put to use instead of just being an entitled fan acting like art exists to meet your desires.

No shit.

2026 Locus Awards Top Ten Finalists locusmag.com/2026/04...

The first American leader of the Catholic Church has fiercely criticized the war in Iran, deepening tensions between the United States and the Vatican.

M O O N spells Moon.

🤞

It has come to my attention that not all of you are aware that this exists. So, here it is. It exists. Dozens of channels of randomized music videos and bumpers. Choose your era and return to your childhood. Bookmark it for when you need to escape back. wantmymtv.vercel.app/player.html

One day, "It" will happen, by which I mean sudden and unexpected news that you want to celebrate. In such cases, you will want the right outfit. 🧵

A look inside the world’s only maple syrup strategic reserve, housed in Quebec Genevieve Beauchemin shares an inside look at the strategic reserve and how it is preventing a potential shortage during this year's slow production. #Quebec #Canada www.ctvnews.ca/video/2026/0...

if you invented public libraries today, every opinion page in the country would be arguing for means tested subsidized Amazon Prime memberships

any other ladies or minorities hanging around that trump can chuck next time he's feeling grumpy or is he going to have to start self-soothing by firing some vestigial white guys

Space is cool.

If there's a Teamster in your life, please share this with them. Their president is parties with union busters, helps anti-union politicians, and spent nearly a million bucks last year paying a union-busting law firm. inthesetimes.com/article/team...

I do not use AI to write. Never needed to. Never wanted to. Never tempted to. If the writing sucks (or is occasionally pretty good) it’s all me.

I keep seeing "all authors use AI, the real issue is they're being forced to be sneaky about it" headlines. Full stop No. This is a lie peddled for normalization. It's schoolyard-level pressure tactics "C'mon, all the cool kids are already doing it. We won't tell. It's fine. We're on your side."

I'm celebrating Overhated's 300th episode by giving it away! This chat between me and @crobertcargill.bsky.social is available to free subscribers AND paying patrons! My thanks to all listeners, all episode guests, and of course our sponsor @effinbirds.com. Oh, and this is the movie Cargill chose:

i hope everyone around me on the subway enjoyed my look of abject disgust as i read this.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but we are not a Christian nation. We are a nation where you are free to be a Christian. Your religion guides you, not all of us. It’s as simple as that.

Went back to therapy today for the first time in a long time. Virtual session. Went well. Normalize help. It’s okay. You don’t have to do it alone.

Does it work properly? No. Are the people making it acting in good faith? No. Have they ensured it can't be used maliciously? No. Does it make people's lives better? No. Will it make people's lives better? No. Is it profitable? No. Is it popular? No. Is it harmless? No. The argument for AI.

No Kings

Looks like today won’t be the day. Maybe tomorrow.

A jury determined that Meta and Google were negligent and failed to warn users of the dangers associated with using YouTube, Instagram in a landmark social media addiction trial

My more nuanced take is FUCK J.K. Rowling. Our trans brothers, sisters, and siblings need our love and support more than we need another Harry Potter. Read and adapt books by better humans. Especially trans ones.

My dog is on better drugs than I am.

Good. Fuck AI.

ICE agents deployed to nation's swamped airports to stand around and do nothing: defector.com/ice-agents-d...

Got the cover art for my book today. Fun.

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY: March 28 will be the biggest protest in US history. Find your local No Kings event to make clear you're part of The Resistance to this regime’s brutality at home, pathetic ineptness, perpetual lying & their illegal war in Iran. ✊https://app.sosha.ai/s/39HA7UDd

Don't think just because you've never teleported to a Waffle House you're better than the rest of us.

guess it's my turn. just got fired from my job as editor at movieweb. if you're looking for a writer/editor with over 15 years of experience, hit me up.