The Gray Matters Report
@graymattersrep.bsky.social
Longtime loudmouth, chief cook & bottle washer, dab hand. Curator of stuff, enjoyer of food. Lots of etceteras. NYC in my bones, Terre Noire in my heart. Margaree Community Oven 🔥
Bespoke follower/blocker. This ≠ That.
Lenapehoking and Unama'ki
Bespoke follower/blocker. This ≠ That.
Lenapehoking and Unama'ki
Pinned
NEW: I wrote about how the richest man in the world is a Nazi.
thehandbasket.substack.com/p/elon-musk-...
thehandbasket.substack.com/p/elon-musk-...
And if he wasn't that rich this would have been broadly acknowledged long ago
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
November 26, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
And our @lollardfish.bsky.social recent OATHBREAKERS - this one about a medieval empire that devolves into brutal bloodshed between brothers when elites abandon the public good and only care about enriching themselves
www.harpercollins.com/products/oat...
www.harpercollins.com/products/oat...
Oathbreakers
“Fascinating.” — The Wall Street Journal
“An enlightening portrait of the medieval mindset.” — Publishers Weekly
The authors of The Bright Ages return with ...
www.harpercollins.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:47 AM
And our @lollardfish.bsky.social recent OATHBREAKERS - this one about a medieval empire that devolves into brutal bloodshed between brothers when elites abandon the public good and only care about enriching themselves
www.harpercollins.com/products/oat...
www.harpercollins.com/products/oat...
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
Since we’re talking about books I’d be grateful if you maybe bought mine & @lollardfish.bsky.social books!
First, THE BRIGHT AGES - a survey of medieval Europe as a permeable space and a period that’s fundamentally knowable
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
First, THE BRIGHT AGES - a survey of medieval Europe as a permeable space and a period that’s fundamentally knowable
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
The Bright Ages
\"The beauty and levity that Perry and Gabriele have captured in this book are what I think will help it to become a standard text for general audience...
www.harpercollins.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Since we’re talking about books I’d be grateful if you maybe bought mine & @lollardfish.bsky.social books!
First, THE BRIGHT AGES - a survey of medieval Europe as a permeable space and a period that’s fundamentally knowable
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
First, THE BRIGHT AGES - a survey of medieval Europe as a permeable space and a period that’s fundamentally knowable
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
HELLO MY FRIEND I AM READY!
This came from my mom's recipe collection, is improved by my wife's professional expertise as a receipe developer, and is a perfect cake.
www.patreon.com/posts/perfec...
This came from my mom's recipe collection, is improved by my wife's professional expertise as a receipe developer, and is a perfect cake.
www.patreon.com/posts/perfec...
A perfect treat for the holidays: Cranberry-Orange Cake | David M. Perry
Get more from David M. Perry on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:53 PM
HELLO MY FRIEND I AM READY!
This came from my mom's recipe collection, is improved by my wife's professional expertise as a receipe developer, and is a perfect cake.
www.patreon.com/posts/perfec...
This came from my mom's recipe collection, is improved by my wife's professional expertise as a receipe developer, and is a perfect cake.
www.patreon.com/posts/perfec...
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
Question about the dissent by (the far-right) Justice Ziegler: Does this quote actually appear in Moore v. Harper? Did Moore say that state courts' role in congressional redistricting is "exceedingly limited"? I don't think it did! vhdshf2oms2wcnsvk7sdv3so.blob.core.windows.net/thearp-media...
November 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Question about the dissent by (the far-right) Justice Ziegler: Does this quote actually appear in Moore v. Harper? Did Moore say that state courts' role in congressional redistricting is "exceedingly limited"? I don't think it did! vhdshf2oms2wcnsvk7sdv3so.blob.core.windows.net/thearp-media...
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
This is how I imagine today's NY Times would have covered Kristillnacht
November 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
This is how I imagine today's NY Times would have covered Kristillnacht
better not tell hegseth or we'll have a new war on our hands
South Korea intends to abolish provisions obligating soldiers and civil servants to follow superiors’ commands even when they may be improper or unlawful.
S. Korea pushes for soldiers, civil servants to have right to refuse unlawful orders
The South Korean government is moving to remove long-standing obedience requirements for civil servants and soldiers, on the heels of former President Yoon Suk
www.koreaherald.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
better not tell hegseth or we'll have a new war on our hands
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
I know zero real scientists who say this.
November 25, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I know zero real scientists who say this.
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
“Employees Rally Around [the University of Pennsylvania’s] Refusal to Disclose Jewish Faculty, Student Names *** The Trump administration asked the university to hand over personal information for the members of Jewish clubs & organizations as well as the Jewish Studies department.” 11/25/25 … 1/
Penn Refuses to Disclose Jewish Faculty, Student Names
The Trump administration asked the university to hand over personal information for the members of Jewish clubs and organizations as well as the Jewish Studies department.
www.insidehighered.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:24 PM
“Employees Rally Around [the University of Pennsylvania’s] Refusal to Disclose Jewish Faculty, Student Names *** The Trump administration asked the university to hand over personal information for the members of Jewish clubs & organizations as well as the Jewish Studies department.” 11/25/25 … 1/
This story is fascinating
In addition to being a fascinating (if horrific) insight into a mostly-unknown period of European prehistory, this includes a BANGER of a quote: "I can see why all these people without heads wouldn’t be good for a community, and might be a cause for abandonment."
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Headless bodies hint at why Europe’s first farmers vanished
Wave of mass brutality accompanied the collapse of the first pan-European culture
www.science.org
November 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
This story is fascinating
What's hilarious about this from Bloomberg is that right under the head & subhead with photos & bylines is this list of takeaways from the article generated by Bloomberg AI (I'm assuming the authors were not involved in that decision - did they even know?):
November 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
What's hilarious about this from Bloomberg is that right under the head & subhead with photos & bylines is this list of takeaways from the article generated by Bloomberg AI (I'm assuming the authors were not involved in that decision - did they even know?):
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed
It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed
It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
Trying to force a protégé to sleep with him is the least of Larry Summers sins. I’ve been hunting this toxic asset for three decades, and his victims number in the millions. No kidding. #LarrySummers #EpsteinFiles gregpalastinvestigates.substack.com/p/the-sins-o...
The sins of Summers go way beyond Epstein
His victims number in the millions
gregpalastinvestigates.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Trying to force a protégé to sleep with him is the least of Larry Summers sins. I’ve been hunting this toxic asset for three decades, and his victims number in the millions. No kidding. #LarrySummers #EpsteinFiles gregpalastinvestigates.substack.com/p/the-sins-o...
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
All of the Pittsburgh journalists who stayed on strike for three years are heroes. Salute.
As the striking journalists return to the newsroom, both sides expect it’ll be a rocky reunion. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/what...
What newsroom organizers learned from the years-long strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The importance of coordination, how digital news consumption patterns limit the effectiveness of public shame, and more.
www.niemanlab.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:45 PM
All of the Pittsburgh journalists who stayed on strike for three years are heroes. Salute.
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
Really not a fan of coverage that goes “Diplomatic Agreement Reached, What an Achievement!” in the headline and “except all the major points of contention still have to be worked out and no one has the slightest idea how to implement what’s been agreed to” in a subhead or body.
That’s a disservice.
That’s a disservice.
November 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Really not a fan of coverage that goes “Diplomatic Agreement Reached, What an Achievement!” in the headline and “except all the major points of contention still have to be worked out and no one has the slightest idea how to implement what’s been agreed to” in a subhead or body.
That’s a disservice.
That’s a disservice.
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
Three GOP appeals judges swooped in last week to lift a lower court order which told the Trump admin to stop brutalizing protesters, priests, & press in Chicago
I played the connect-the-dots game to see how they justified their decision--it's a hot mess, tbqh!
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
I played the connect-the-dots game to see how they justified their decision--it's a hot mess, tbqh!
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
How Conservative Judges Turned a Throwaway Line Into a Free Pass For ICE Violence
For these judges, the White House not getting its way is a legal crisis that requires immediate intervention.
ballsandstrikes.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Three GOP appeals judges swooped in last week to lift a lower court order which told the Trump admin to stop brutalizing protesters, priests, & press in Chicago
I played the connect-the-dots game to see how they justified their decision--it's a hot mess, tbqh!
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
I played the connect-the-dots game to see how they justified their decision--it's a hot mess, tbqh!
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
I can't speak for what was said at the protests, but seeing people react to an anodyne statement like "sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law" as if it were a vicious slur is clarifying.
Zohran Mamdani chastised a Manhattan synagogue that hosted an event promoting migration to Israel and settlements in occupied territories. His stance further tested his strained relationship with pro-Israel Jews in New York.
Mamdani Response to Protest Inflames Tensions with Jewish Leaders
The mayor-elect chastised a synagogue that hosted an event promoting migration to Israel and settlements in occupied territories. His stance further tested his strained relationship with pro-Israel Jews.
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I can't speak for what was said at the protests, but seeing people react to an anodyne statement like "sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law" as if it were a vicious slur is clarifying.
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
I hate how the bot dismisses serious research efforts and calls the question confused. For example
bsky.app/profile/jnkl...
bsky.app/profile/jnkl...
Is it possible to turn off AI assistance for searches and just get sites that, y’know, contain the search terms you enter, without commenting that you must be a total idiot for entering them? I long for Back Then.
November 25, 2025 at 11:08 AM
I hate how the bot dismisses serious research efforts and calls the question confused. For example
bsky.app/profile/jnkl...
bsky.app/profile/jnkl...
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
Everyone on here is mad that the article is too pro Israel and everyone on pro Israel Twitter is mad that the NYT is acknowledging that Nefesh B'Nefesh does in fact promote settlements lol
Zohran Mamdani chastised a Manhattan synagogue that hosted an event promoting migration to Israel and settlements in occupied territories. His stance further tested his strained relationship with pro-Israel Jews in New York.
Mamdani Response to Protest Inflames Tensions with Jewish Leaders
The mayor-elect chastised a synagogue that hosted an event promoting migration to Israel and settlements in occupied territories. His stance further tested his strained relationship with pro-Israel Jews.
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Everyone on here is mad that the article is too pro Israel and everyone on pro Israel Twitter is mad that the NYT is acknowledging that Nefesh B'Nefesh does in fact promote settlements lol
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
Seriously, what other president is even remotely in his league?
There was corruption in the Grant and Harding administrations, but the presidents were largely uninvolved. Nixon committed crimes in secret but didn't really line his own pockets.
Trump is like a Thomas Nast cartoon come to life.
There was corruption in the Grant and Harding administrations, but the presidents were largely uninvolved. Nixon committed crimes in secret but didn't really line his own pockets.
Trump is like a Thomas Nast cartoon come to life.
November 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Seriously, what other president is even remotely in his league?
There was corruption in the Grant and Harding administrations, but the presidents were largely uninvolved. Nixon committed crimes in secret but didn't really line his own pockets.
Trump is like a Thomas Nast cartoon come to life.
There was corruption in the Grant and Harding administrations, but the presidents were largely uninvolved. Nixon committed crimes in secret but didn't really line his own pockets.
Trump is like a Thomas Nast cartoon come to life.
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
After decades of neglect, local groups are optimistic about a city plan to transform the neighborhood, where the streets—and many residents' homes—flood with every rain. “Do you know how long I’ve been complaining about this?” one lifelong resident said. citylimits.org/housing-in-t...
Housing in 'The Hole'? Residents Have Hope After Decades of Disinvestment - City Limits
New York’s infamous ‘Hole’ neighborhood in East New York is slated for resiliency upgrades, a rezoning, and more housing.
citylimits.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:08 PM
After decades of neglect, local groups are optimistic about a city plan to transform the neighborhood, where the streets—and many residents' homes—flood with every rain. “Do you know how long I’ve been complaining about this?” one lifelong resident said. citylimits.org/housing-in-t...
Reposted by The Gray Matters Report
Not sure if it's journalistic best practice to frame "proof of involvement in a decades-long ring of powerful child rapists" as "the greatest challenge to his legacy."
Unless you're trying to actively help him overcome it, I think it should rightly be framed as the final word on his legacy.
Unless you're trying to actively help him overcome it, I think it should rightly be framed as the final word on his legacy.
November 25, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Not sure if it's journalistic best practice to frame "proof of involvement in a decades-long ring of powerful child rapists" as "the greatest challenge to his legacy."
Unless you're trying to actively help him overcome it, I think it should rightly be framed as the final word on his legacy.
Unless you're trying to actively help him overcome it, I think it should rightly be framed as the final word on his legacy.