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Reposted by Arieh Kovler

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · 6h

You know how there’s been this big push towards encouraging older people to do puzzles, cognitive games, and to learn new things to keep them from succumbing to dementia?

Wonder where that’s gonna go with the rise of “outsource your cognitive functions to AI, it’ll be convenient” culture

SteveIsDamaged @steveisdamages.bsky.social · 6h

Cognition is like strength. Use is required to not just gain, but maintain. The more thinking and cognitive work we offload, the duller we become as a result.

It's like deciding you'll use a mobility scooter without need and then figuring out a year later that you can no longer walk.

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Reposted by Arieh Kovler

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 5h

Pulte letter: s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Indictment:

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 7h

NEW: Here's the two-count indictment against NY AG Letitia James. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

INDICTMENT
October 2025 Term - at Alexandria, Virginia
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES THAT:
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
At all times relevant to this Indictment:
1. Letitia A. James ("JAMES) was a resident of Brooklyn, New York, and the borrower on a
Fannie Mae-backed mortgage loan for the property located at 3121 Peronne Avenue,
Norfolk, Virginia.
2. OVM Financial (also known as Old Virginia Mortgage / AnnieMac) was a mortgage lending business located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, engaged in the business of originating and underwriting residential mortgage loans, including those backed by the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"). OVM Financial qualified as a "financial institution" within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 20(10).
3. Fannie Mae was a federally chartered corporation that purchased and guaranteed mortgages,
operating as a government-sponsored enterprise under the oversight of the Federal Housing

Finance Agency ("FHFA").
4. First Savings Bank was a state-chartered, FDIC-insured financial institution (Certificate
#29961), headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana, which acquired mortgage loans through assignment or acquisition. First Savings Bank qualified as a "financial institution" within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 20(1).
5. On or about August 17, 2020, JAMES, as sole borrower, purchased the three (3) bedroom,
(1) bathroom property located at 3121 Peronne Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23509 (the
"Peronne Property"), for approximately $137,000, financed with a mortgage loan of approximately $109,600 (Loan #4430025978) backed by Fannie Mae.
6. The loan was originated by OVM Financial under a signed Second Home Rider, which required JAMES, as the sole borrower to occupy and use the property as her secondary residence, and prohibited its use as a timesharing or other shared ownership arrangement or agreement that requires her either to rent the property or give any other person any control over the occupancy or use of the property.
7. Despite these representations, the Peronne Property was not occupied or used by JAMES as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property, renting the property to a family of (3).
8. This misrepresentation allowed JAMES to obtain favorable loan terms not available for investment properties, including a note rate of 3.000% (avoiding a 0.815% higher
comparable investment property rate of 3.815%, resulting in approximately $17,837 in rate savings over the life of the loan), a seller credit of approximately $3,288 (exceeding the seller credit for investment properties by approximately $1,096), for total ill-gotten gains of approximately $18,933 over the life of the loan.
9. JAMES' Universal Property application for homeowners' insurance indicated "owner-

occupied non-seasonal use," further misrepresenting the intended use of the property.
10. JAMES filed Schedule E tax forms), under penalties of perjury, treating the Perrone Property as rental real estate, reporting fair rental days, zero personal use days, thousand(s)
of dollars in rents received, and claiming deductions for expenses relating to the property, further contradicting the second home classification.
11. The loan was acquired by or assigned to First Savings Bank by March 2021, exposing it to risks associated with the misrepresented loan.
12. The acts described herein occurred within the Eastern District of Virginia.
COUNT ONE
(Bank Fraud - 18 U.S.C. § 1344)
13. The allegations in paragraphs 1 through 12 are re-alleged and incorporated herein.
14. From on or about August 7, 2020, through at least January 2024, in the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere, the Defendant, LETITIA A. JAMES, did knowingly execute and attempt to execute a scheme and artifice to defraud OVM Financial and First Savings Bank,
financial institutions, and to obtain moneys, funds, and credits owned by and under the custody and control of OVM Financial and First Savings Bank by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.
15. The scheme involved falsely representing the Peronne Property as a secondary residence to obtain favorable mortgage terms, while using it as an investment property with no intended
or actual personal occupancy or use by her.
(In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344).
COUNT TWO
(False Statements to a Financial Institution - 18 U.S.C. § 1014)
16. The allegations in paragraphs 1 through 12 are re-alleged and incorporated herein.

17. From on or about July 28, 2020, through at least August 31, 2020, in the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere, the Defendant, LETITIA A. JAMES, did knowingly make and cause to be made false statements and reports for the purpose of influencing the action of OVM Financial, a Fannie Mae-backed lender, upon an application for a loan, in that JAMES represented and affirmed in uniform residential loan applications and related documents that
the Peronne Property would be used as a secondary residence, when in truth and fact, as JAMES then knew, the property was intended and used as an investment property with no intended or actual personal occupancy or use by her.
(In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1014).
FORFEITURE NOTICE
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(a) and Title 18, U.S.C. §
982(a)(2)(A), upon conviction of the offenses in Counts One and Two, the Defendant, Letitia
A. James, shall forfeit to the United States any property constituting, or derived from, proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of such violations, including but not limited to a money judgment in the amount of $18,933.
If any of the property described above, as a result of any act or omission of the Defendant: (a) cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence; (b) has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party; (c) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court; (d) has been substantially diminished in value; or (e) has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided without difficulty, the United States shall be entitled to a forfeiture of substitute property pursuant to Title 21, U.S.C. § 853(b), as incorporated by Title
18 U.S.C. § 982(b)(1).
(In accordance with Title 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) and 982(a)(1); Title 28, U.S.C. § 2461(c); and Title 21 U.S.C. § 853(p).)

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Reposted by Arieh Kovler

Jacob Shamsian @jayshams.bsky.social · 9h

I've been wondering why Dominion Voting Systems suddenly reached settlements with Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and One America News.

Turns out, it's been purchased by a Republican-owned election tech firm that insisted on it, per Axios.

www.axios.com/2025/10/09/d...

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Chris 🎃 DevPods.gg gamedev community @chrisdeleon.bsky.social · 1d

Portland protestor frog costume: What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge pepper balls?

Morpheus from Matrix movie: No, Frog. I'm trying to tell you that when you're ready, you won't have to.

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Kendra, regular version @kendrawcandraw.bsky.social · 15d

Please don't call it that

What You Will Need
• Experience: 5+ years as a video editor or producer-editor ("preditor").

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Dan Hassler-Forest @danhf.bsky.social · 16h

Samuel Beckett is *cackling* in his grave. 😈

Lux "Nightmare" Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 1d

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it

One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.

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Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 17h

oh wow what's that, you're wondering who here may have read Sátántangó from beginning to end, and assuming that person must be so clever and, dare I say, good looking

well my friends you're in luck, Marie Le Conte here,

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 17h

Breaking News: The Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Laszlo Krasznahorkai, the Hungarian novelist, for his “visionary oeuvre.”

Laszlo Krasznahorkai Is Awarded Nobel Prize in Literature

The award comes with prize money of almost $1.2 million.

nyti.ms

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Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 22h

The funny thing about this post, at this time of year, is that Jews know what the deal is with the chickens but to everyone else the question sounds weird and possibly racist.

Wisdom of r/religion @reddit-religion.bsky.social · 1d

r/religion
u/True-Wrongdoer-7932 • 2d • Agnostic Atheist
Jews: What's the deal with the chickens?

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Quinta Jurecic @qjurecic.bsky.social · 1d

incredibly, bleakly funny that trump is going after christopher wray, who spent his entire tenure at the fbi with his head down desperately trying to avoid trump's attention and did nothing to protect the bureau from trump's attacks www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Other prosecutors are investigating former CIA director John Brennan, another prominent Trump critic, and former FBI director Christopher Wray, who was originally appointed by Trump but enraged conservatives who came to believe he had wielded the bureau’s powers against them. Former officials have received subpoenas in recent days in the Wray inquiry, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

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Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 1d

Six months, not five, almost to the day. Maybe a man of his age has twice yearly checkups? Doesn't necessarily indicate a medical issue. Possible, sure.

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Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 1d

NOTE: Leavitt says Trump will "stop by for his routine yearly check up."

But…Trump had his annual check up already. 5 months ago. On April 11.

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 1d

New — White House says Donald Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday.

"On Friday morning, President Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center for a planned meeting and remarks with the troops. While there, President Trump will stop by for his routine yearly check up. He will then return to the White House. President Trump is considering going to the Middle East shortly thereafter." - White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

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Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 1d

I do the wry, detached commentator thing in my media persona, but it's 1:30am and I'm crying a little at the increasing hope that the 2-year-long nightmare is ending for Israelis and Gazans, that the last living hostages can be freed, and that this awful war might actually be over.

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macmuiris @macmuiris.bsky.social · 1d

He has a wife you know.

You know what she's called?

She's called Posse.

Posse Comitatus.

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Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 1d

Vewy Well. Wewease Habeus Corpus!

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Q: Have you given any more thought to possibly suspending habeas corpus?

TRUMP: Suspending who?

Q: Habeas corpus

TRUMP: I don't know. I'd rather leave that to Kristi.

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Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 1d

As we await genuinely momentous news, let's take a moment and remember how it's going to be announced on a social media company owned by Trump himself, and not via the White House or general media release.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 1d

Good lord.

@apnews.com

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Eli Valley @elivalley.bsky.social · 1d

More history from this Nazi adulated by the Trump team. These are explicit, proud Nazis who scream and cry and call every referee they can find when you quote their Nazism back to them.

Multiple tweets from Nazi Jack Posobiec in 2016 making "jokes" involving the Nazi code "1488."

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Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 1d

Suspend Habeus Corpus? That hardworking Roman prison guard? He didn't do anything wrong except for that time he released Biggus Dickus instead of Brian.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Q: Have you given any more thought to possibly suspending habeas corpus?

TRUMP: Suspending who?

Q: Habeas corpus

TRUMP: I don't know. I'd rather leave that to Kristi.

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southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 1d

Everyone can set aside partisanship, psychologizing, pathologizing, whatever, and—I would hope—still see that it’s incredibly dangerous for a political leader to be this disconnected from the real conditions in the country.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "I don't know what could be worse than Portland. You don't even have stores anymore. They don't even put glass up. They put plywood on their windows."

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Amy @lolennui.bsky.social · 1d

So cool that whenever someone asks the president, “did you eat the Lindbergh baby” he’s like, “no but I’d be allowed to, I have the right to, I might do it later”

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Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo.bsky.social · 1d

SCOOP: Last year, Ubisoft cancelled an Assassin's Creed game set during Reconstruction. Was to feature a Black Assassin who, among other things, fought the rise of the Klan

Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke

www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...

Scoop: Ubisoft cancelled a post-Civil War Assassin’s Creed last year

Company leadership deemed the project too controversial for the moment, sources tell Game File

www.gamefile.news

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Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 1d

Other signs that this may be real: reports that Trump may travel to Cairo for a signing ceremony; Israeli civil servants are drafting the official Cabinet decisions needed to implement a deal legally; Netanyahu has cancelled his planned vacation at a luxury hotel this weekend.

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Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 1d

Subsequent talks would focus on a new govt for Gaza without Hamas, more Israeli withdrawals, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction.

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Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 1d

Phase 1 would see:

Hamas release all the hostages, alive and dead, within a few days
Israel releasing dozens of terrorists convicted of murder
Huge increase in aid to Gaza
Limited Israeli withdrawal from the cities of Gaza
Ceasefire while negotiations continue for a permanent end to the war.

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Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 1d

Multiple reports from Israeli, Arab and US sources that a ceasefire deal in Gaza could be imminent, with the hope that Phase 1 is signed today or tomorrow and hostage releases would begin almost immediately.

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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 1d

I managed to conceive of a reason Jack Smith might want call logs for GOP senators that isn't rooted in Joe Biden "weaponizing" the government.
www.pbump.net/o/dethawing-...

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