2025 can be summarized in one sentence: Every accusation is a confession.

It’s a 3-second video clip that you can only view after a 15-second ad. Saved you a click and nearly a minute of your life.

Life goals. www.wsj.com/lifestyle/re...

I remember when we made it through the pandemic and we were all just like, “wow, lots of people dead, lots of people turned into crazy conspiracy theorists, lots of people with brain rot from mainlining Fox News and Newsmax, but at least it can’t get any worse.” Then we had 2025. FFS, in 2026, vote.

Over the last several years, we’ve been that boring family in bed by 10pm on New Year’s Eve. This year, my wife and I are planning to be up at midnight… with an infant screaming in our faces. 😵‍💫

I made a fire pit this week. It might be larger than necessary. I used 45 retaining wall blocks. Footprint: 48” diameter. Inside diameter on top: 30”. Height: 16”. To ensure air flow, the bottom layer has about an inch between each block. Wood is stacked 4” off the ground on a 22” grate.

I am so sick of these scam calls.

Haven’t seen anyone post the correct answer yet, so here you go.

I am confident that neither he nor anyone in this administration has read “Seeing Like a State” by James C. Scott.

Reminder that there are streaming church services beginning pretty much anytime today that works for you. Here are a few with start times at 8:00, 8:55, 9:00, 9:15, 10:45, 11:00, 11:30, and 12:00 (all times eastern). (Updated times and links)

With only 18 months between our first two kids, the second kid felt like a continuation of the first. It was years of surviving and trying to get screaming babies to shut up. With our third child, nearly six years later, we have a different perspective and are embracing the experience.

🎁 🔗 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/b...

Oof. This is a wonderful area walking distance from my apartment while I was in law school. Sad to see this and I hope everyone is safe.

Very excited for recycling pickup tomorrow.

Downside to having a newborn at this time of year: you are sleep deprived at a time when you are busier than normal. Upsides: - no expectation to travel for holidays - good excuse to not put up exterior Christmas decor - easier to get away with sending gift cards or unwrapped gifts to relatives

“Pensioners are twice as likely as under-25s to use news apps or websites… appear to be more susceptible than others to online hoaxes... And when the elderly are misled it is everyone’s problem, because they are the most likely to vote.” economist.com/leaders/2025...

Christmas when I was a child: “Batteries not included.” Christmas for my kids: “USB C charger not included.”

My kids reminded me at bedtime that we have to put milk and cookies out for Santa. And carrots for the reindeer. I explained that Santa has low expectations for families with newborns. We compromised on a whole milk protein shake with 5g of creatine, along with a cookies & cream protein bar.

At risk of agreeing with Weiss… this all sounds fairly reasonable.

Brilliant from @adamserwer.bsky.social: the Roberts Court's attack on the Reconstruction Amendments are "consistent with the Antebellum Constitution’s narrow definition of who “We the People” are." Here are some legal historians exploring the Antebellum Const. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

I think this post nails the actual problem, for researchers at least—AI hallucinations would simply not be a problem in academic work if we’d not normalized citation-as-signaling rather than actual engagement—you can only cite a fake paper if you’re not in the habit of reading the papers you cite

To clear the air here, because I am getting a lot of questions and feedback on this, we are cooked. Here is why:

I’m glad to see this debate out in the open. You don’t arrive at the views held by Richerson and others by reading your Bible. You arrive at these views by mainlining the administration’s propaganda. These pastors are lost and you should avoid their churches. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/u...

As we approach the winter solstice, you will begin to see articles about it being “the shortest day of the year.” That is misinformation put out by Big Calendar. A day is 24 hours, or one spin of the Earth. Either way you measure it, the winter solstice is not the shortest day of the year.

2025 has not gone well, but at least it ends with this. youtu.be/trQH-lXMums?...

“The video also showed an agent running after the tow truck and SUV. In the criminal complaint filed Aug. 22, the officer said Nunez was laughing as he used his cellphone to record what was happening.” www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/m...

Huge news: after many years, my bipartisan bill with Senator Todd Young to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force against Iraq was signed into law. This is a historic win for Americans and allows us to close the book on this forever war.

This article is 🔥🔥🔥 www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

For extended sessions of holding a newborn, I recommend wearing AirPods and having some videos or podcasts in the queue.

More than 2,900 attorneys quit the Justice Department or were fired during the first 10 months of this year -- about triple the number who depart in a typical year. personnel records obtained by Reuters show.

What is the point of this letter from TRICARE? A bill might have been underpaid or overpaid. They’re not sure. They’re also not telling me what the bill was for. They expect to figure it out in 90 days. Ok?

I can’t help but think that floating the idea of “JTF-War” less than 2 weeks away from Christmas is not a coincidence. This may an omen of a new campaign in the War on Christmas. I hope we’re not getting overconfident. Santa’s elves can mass produce drones on a scale that dwarfs Russia’s capacity.

Charles Shay was a Penobscot Nation elder in Maine, and served as a combat medic during the invasion of Normandy. He passed away at the age of 101. RIP. www.pressherald.com/2025/12/03/c...

This is a really good deal. I’m a big fan of The Great Courses. www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/lp/t5/1.99-2...

Hundreds gather in Lewiston to support Somali Mainers

Kids’ new favorite breakfast: Bananadilla.

Looking for gift ideas. My wife has the suburban mom starter kit: Owala and Stanley cups, Bogg bag, Lululemon athleisurewear and sidebags, iPhone and Apple watch, On Cloud shoes, etc. What's the new thing for 2026 that she doesn't have yet?

Baby’s first diaper blow out. What a milestone.

Every time I try to use the big AI platforms for something useful or interesting I’m baffled as to why people think these things are so important.

I know it doesn’t look like much, but this is the most sleep I’ve had in two weeks, and also the most uninterrupted sleep I’ve had in two weeks. Until last night, I think my longest stretch was 2 hours.

Just subscribed to The Economist and WSJ for free through DoD MWR Libraries.

1/ A few thoughts about @williambaude.bsky.social’s comment in yesterday’s NYT chat that, “It’s amazing how many of our problems today could be solved by a Congress that was willing and able to legislate in response to national problems.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/o...

Latest post provides a critique of Trumps’ National Security Strategy, placing it in context of past NSS’s, and asks how seriously we should take it and how Europeans should respond. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...?

Getting into the Christmas spirit.

Any critical reviews of this book? Or any thoughts from folks on this platform who have read it? press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...

I wish a notice like this wasn't necessary. www.icrc.org/en/article/i...

Normally a coffee guy, but I ordered some loose leaf tea from @rakkasantea.bsky.social. Quick shipping.

After a few days in the hospital and few days at home with our newborn daughter, we are turning a corner in the battle against the laundry. The gains are significant, but fragile and reversible. The next week could be decisive. 🧺

Happy ten year anniversary to David Cameron saying “You ain’t no Muslim, bruv.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfju...