the mjl (michael j leblanc)
@themjl.bsky.social
Engineer. Musician. Wily Chaote. Full-Stack Acerbic Humanist.
Bandcamp: https://thebellmechanical.bandcamp.com/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/the_bell_mechanical
Musings: https://nopeanutsinchurch.com/
Middle of Massachusetts. USENET refugee.
Bandcamp: https://thebellmechanical.bandcamp.com/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/the_bell_mechanical
Musings: https://nopeanutsinchurch.com/
Middle of Massachusetts. USENET refugee.
Pinned
"Christianity is NOT the only possible vessel for Morality..."
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
“Investors in our junk fund aimed at bag-holders are advised to continue holding that bag indefinitely.”
About that redemption halt? Yeah, it’s back — and it’s permanent.
@financialtimes.com #$OWL
www.ft.com/content/b2f2...
@financialtimes.com #$OWL
www.ft.com/content/b2f2...
February 19, 2026 at 2:19 AM
“Investors in our junk fund aimed at bag-holders are advised to continue holding that bag indefinitely.”
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Boycotting the State of the Union is Good, Counter-Rally is Bad
open.substack.com/pub/martinlo...
open.substack.com/pub/martinlo...
Boycotting the State of the Union is Good, Counter-Rally is Bad
This is a real moment of crisis that calls for seriousness not distractions.
open.substack.com
February 19, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Boycotting the State of the Union is Good, Counter-Rally is Bad
open.substack.com/pub/martinlo...
open.substack.com/pub/martinlo...
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
🧵: Let's talk Iran. Once again, below, is my 2018 professional pub on why going to war w/Iran would be a galactically bad idea.
My February 2026 BLUF: Despite all sorts of changes since 2018, if CENTCOM & SOCOM stick an arm in there, they’re going to pull back a bloody stump. 1/
My February 2026 BLUF: Despite all sorts of changes since 2018, if CENTCOM & SOCOM stick an arm in there, they’re going to pull back a bloody stump. 1/
February 19, 2026 at 12:38 AM
🧵: Let's talk Iran. Once again, below, is my 2018 professional pub on why going to war w/Iran would be a galactically bad idea.
My February 2026 BLUF: Despite all sorts of changes since 2018, if CENTCOM & SOCOM stick an arm in there, they’re going to pull back a bloody stump. 1/
My February 2026 BLUF: Despite all sorts of changes since 2018, if CENTCOM & SOCOM stick an arm in there, they’re going to pull back a bloody stump. 1/
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Retro Rover: LT6502 Laptop Packs 8-Bit Power on the Go
Retro Rover: LT6502 Laptop Packs 8-Bit Power on the Go
Hackaday Article
hackaday.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:05 AM
Retro Rover: LT6502 Laptop Packs 8-Bit Power on the Go
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
February 18, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger (2001)
Episode 5
Episode 5
February 18, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger (2001)
Episode 5
Episode 5
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
4chan.gov
Exclusive: The US State Department is developing an online portal to enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda, sources told Reuters reut.rs/4cySsA6
Exclusive: US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere
The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal that will enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propagan...
reut.rs
February 18, 2026 at 11:03 PM
4chan.gov
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Unlike a lot of people putting out hazily sourced allegations, @sollenbergerrc.bsky.social is a serious journalist and old colleague of mine. I trust he did the legwork to establish these connections.
And now DOJ disappeared the evidence.
sollenbergerrc.substack.com/p/doj-remove...
And now DOJ disappeared the evidence.
sollenbergerrc.substack.com/p/doj-remove...
DOJ Removed Record of Multiple FBI Interviews with Underage Trump Accuser, Epstein Data Shows
The FBI spoke at least four times with a woman who credibly accused Trump of sexually assaulting her when she was a minor, Epstein files show. That document is no longer accessible on the DOJ website.
sollenbergerrc.substack.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Unlike a lot of people putting out hazily sourced allegations, @sollenbergerrc.bsky.social is a serious journalist and old colleague of mine. I trust he did the legwork to establish these connections.
And now DOJ disappeared the evidence.
sollenbergerrc.substack.com/p/doj-remove...
And now DOJ disappeared the evidence.
sollenbergerrc.substack.com/p/doj-remove...
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
AIPAC is secretly funnelling millions into three Chicago House races
Democrats say the powerful pro-Israel group is meddling in their races, using shell organizations to secretly crush progressive candidates in Chicago. If you care about the future of the Democratic Party, you should be outraged.
Democrats say the powerful pro-Israel group is meddling in their races, using shell organizations to secretly crush progressive candidates in Chicago. If you care about the future of the Democratic Party, you should be outraged.
AIPAC accused of covert campaigning as Democratic support falters
Democrats in Illinois have accused the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the powerful pro-Israel organization, of meddling in competitive primary races.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 18, 2026 at 12:34 PM
AIPAC is secretly funnelling millions into three Chicago House races
Democrats say the powerful pro-Israel group is meddling in their races, using shell organizations to secretly crush progressive candidates in Chicago. If you care about the future of the Democratic Party, you should be outraged.
Democrats say the powerful pro-Israel group is meddling in their races, using shell organizations to secretly crush progressive candidates in Chicago. If you care about the future of the Democratic Party, you should be outraged.
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
I’ve always maintained that if you scratch a libertarian most of the time you find a conservative that wants whatever their niche issue happens to be to be legal and unregulated.
February 18, 2026 at 4:34 PM
I’ve always maintained that if you scratch a libertarian most of the time you find a conservative that wants whatever their niche issue happens to be to be legal and unregulated.
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
25 years ago, a bunch of libertarians moved to NH to take over state government. Jason Osborne, one of those "Free Staters," has since risen to be majority leader in the state house.
How is he fighting for "liberty?" By helping Stephen Miller build a 324,000-foot prison for migrants and refugees.
How is he fighting for "liberty?" By helping Stephen Miller build a 324,000-foot prison for migrants and refugees.
Communities nationwide push back against proposed ICE facility sites
A proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Merrimack is continuing to spark strong reactions from residents and local officials.
www.wmur.com
February 18, 2026 at 4:29 PM
25 years ago, a bunch of libertarians moved to NH to take over state government. Jason Osborne, one of those "Free Staters," has since risen to be majority leader in the state house.
How is he fighting for "liberty?" By helping Stephen Miller build a 324,000-foot prison for migrants and refugees.
How is he fighting for "liberty?" By helping Stephen Miller build a 324,000-foot prison for migrants and refugees.
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
So basically the point of RFK Jr’s video was to promote improved health outcomes by encouraging men to ride a stationary bike in a sauna shirtless in jeans while your male friend does pushups next to you in shorts before you jump into a hot tub together?
February 18, 2026 at 5:05 PM
So basically the point of RFK Jr’s video was to promote improved health outcomes by encouraging men to ride a stationary bike in a sauna shirtless in jeans while your male friend does pushups next to you in shorts before you jump into a hot tub together?
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
hey JD it sounds like you're implying that we should recognize the people born in America as citizens
have you talked to your boss
have you talked to your boss
From @theathletic.com: Vice President JD Vance does not seem to agree with Eileen Gu's choice to represent China, rather than the United States, at the Olympics. Gu, who was born in San Francisco, has won five medals for China, where her mother is from. nyti.ms/3ZJtaYv
JD Vance insinuates Eileen Gu should be representing the United States at Winter Olympics
Gu was born in 2003, and her mother, Yan Gu, is a first-generation Chinese immigrant. Her father is American.
nyti.ms
February 18, 2026 at 6:35 PM
hey JD it sounds like you're implying that we should recognize the people born in America as citizens
have you talked to your boss
have you talked to your boss
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
I have seen this claim several times on here and it is abject fucking madness. bordering on antivax sentiment
February 18, 2026 at 5:33 PM
I have seen this claim several times on here and it is abject fucking madness. bordering on antivax sentiment
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Just because the authoritarians have made fascist tech doesn’t mean good parts of tech don’t still exist. *Most* of the internet is still good! Most people making tech around the world are still good and decent. The toxic exceptions are more visible, but we cede them power if we let them define it.
February 18, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Just because the authoritarians have made fascist tech doesn’t mean good parts of tech don’t still exist. *Most* of the internet is still good! Most people making tech around the world are still good and decent. The toxic exceptions are more visible, but we cede them power if we let them define it.
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
I think this is the core of it. People have been working on “AI” for more than half a century. I don’t want to concede that the tech is defined by the fascist financiers anymore than I concede that the Internet is defined by the fascist financiers. Investors aren’t inventors! Reject their platforms.
If "AI" was being built, used, and planned for in responsible ways--the way a civilization designed to enhance human thriving would do--then a lot more people would be enthusiastic about its potential. But the people in charge of defining what AI will be are the fucking worst short-term scumbags.
February 18, 2026 at 3:19 PM
I think this is the core of it. People have been working on “AI” for more than half a century. I don’t want to concede that the tech is defined by the fascist financiers anymore than I concede that the Internet is defined by the fascist financiers. Investors aren’t inventors! Reject their platforms.
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
February 18, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Trump: It’s a hoax. We should move on.
Trump’s DOJ: There’s nothing to investigate.
The UN: The revelations suggest a global criminal enterprise…a number of the abuses meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity.
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
Trump’s DOJ: There’s nothing to investigate.
The UN: The revelations suggest a global criminal enterprise…a number of the abuses meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity.
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
UN panel says Epstein abuses may constitute ‘crimes against humanity’
Experts say newly released documents show the need for an independent investigation into Epstein's sex-trafficking ring.
www.aljazeera.com
February 18, 2026 at 4:14 AM
Trump: It’s a hoax. We should move on.
Trump’s DOJ: There’s nothing to investigate.
The UN: The revelations suggest a global criminal enterprise…a number of the abuses meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity.
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
Trump’s DOJ: There’s nothing to investigate.
The UN: The revelations suggest a global criminal enterprise…a number of the abuses meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity.
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
I imagine it was extremely disturbing
February 18, 2026 at 6:14 PM
I imagine it was extremely disturbing
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
2026 basically
February 18, 2026 at 4:23 PM
2026 basically
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Bari Weiss’s lecture at UCLA on “the future of journalism” canceled
February 18, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Bari Weiss’s lecture at UCLA on “the future of journalism” canceled
Reposted by the mjl (michael j leblanc)
Years ago I used to think that guns must be very complicated considering how many shooting accidents happen. Then I went to the range and learned to shoot and realized that a lot of gun lovers are just stupid as shit.
February 18, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Years ago I used to think that guns must be very complicated considering how many shooting accidents happen. Then I went to the range and learned to shoot and realized that a lot of gun lovers are just stupid as shit.