Bob Davidson
@wa7iut.bsky.social
Out West somewhere with my dogs.
Eagle Scout
Time Magazine Person of the Year, 2006
Eagle Scout
Time Magazine Person of the Year, 2006
Reposted by Bob Davidson
Sure. Or grill them harder. Question their competence. “You’re a US Senator. How can you not know about this? This is a big deal. So are you genuinely ignorant or are you lying about being ignorant? Which do you think is worse for your constituents and American democracy?”
If they pretend they haven’t heard about the story of the day, end the interview right there.
“I’m sorry, Senator, we wanted to get your perspective on this story, but it seems you’re not fully aware of what’s going on.”
“I’m sorry, Senator, we wanted to get your perspective on this story, but it seems you’re not fully aware of what’s going on.”
December 7, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Sure. Or grill them harder. Question their competence. “You’re a US Senator. How can you not know about this? This is a big deal. So are you genuinely ignorant or are you lying about being ignorant? Which do you think is worse for your constituents and American democracy?”
Reposted by Bob Davidson
Nobody:
The view from Mexico City public transport system
The view from Mexico City public transport system
December 7, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Nobody:
The view from Mexico City public transport system
The view from Mexico City public transport system
Reposted by Bob Davidson
At some point someone just needs to say “you are an indecent person, you are lying to cover the slaughter of defenseless men, you know you are lying, and even under the tenets of your own professed faith you will certainly burn in hell if you continue down this path”
WELKER: Isn't it possible that even the act of taking off a t shirt could've been part of an attempt to get attention for help?
TOM COTTON: Or it could've been an attempt to signal to another cartel boat to come pick them up and pick up the cargo
TOM COTTON: Or it could've been an attempt to signal to another cartel boat to come pick them up and pick up the cargo
December 7, 2025 at 3:55 PM
At some point someone just needs to say “you are an indecent person, you are lying to cover the slaughter of defenseless men, you know you are lying, and even under the tenets of your own professed faith you will certainly burn in hell if you continue down this path”
Reposted by Bob Davidson
Even the legal justification for drone strikes on senior members of al Qaeda and associated forces (ostensibly covered under the 2001 AUMF) states that strikes are justified only “when capture is infeasible”
This is contemptible. Not only do we now have confirmation Hegseth has been lying from the jump, but it seems neither he nor his team understand that killing everyone on a target list *becomes* an illegal No Quarter Order if targets try to surrender or are neutralized. Their semantic games are vile.
Admiral told lawmakers everyone on alleged drug boat was on a list of military targets
Adm. Frank Bradley said U.S. intelligence had identified the 11 people on the boat and determined the military was authorized to kill them as part of Trump’s campaign against alleged drug-smuggling ve...
www.nbcnews.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Even the legal justification for drone strikes on senior members of al Qaeda and associated forces (ostensibly covered under the 2001 AUMF) states that strikes are justified only “when capture is infeasible”
Reposted by Bob Davidson
Funny how that worked out:
“Russia has welcomed US President Donald Trump's new National Security Strategy, calling it ‘largely consistent’ with Moscow's vision.”
bbc.com/news/article...
“Russia has welcomed US President Donald Trump's new National Security Strategy, calling it ‘largely consistent’ with Moscow's vision.”
bbc.com/news/article...
New US security strategy aligns with Russia's vision, Moscow says
The Kremlin welcomes the starkly worded document, which does not cast Russia as a threat to the US.
bbc.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Funny how that worked out:
“Russia has welcomed US President Donald Trump's new National Security Strategy, calling it ‘largely consistent’ with Moscow's vision.”
bbc.com/news/article...
“Russia has welcomed US President Donald Trump's new National Security Strategy, calling it ‘largely consistent’ with Moscow's vision.”
bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Bob Davidson
Homeland Security Boss Kristi Noem was met by protesters after attending an annual Christmas tradition at Navy Pier Saturday.
“The Grinch stole Christmas but Kristi Noem stole my neighbor" read one protester's sign.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/07/h...
“The Grinch stole Christmas but Kristi Noem stole my neighbor" read one protester's sign.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/07/h...
December 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Homeland Security Boss Kristi Noem was met by protesters after attending an annual Christmas tradition at Navy Pier Saturday.
“The Grinch stole Christmas but Kristi Noem stole my neighbor" read one protester's sign.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/07/h...
“The Grinch stole Christmas but Kristi Noem stole my neighbor" read one protester's sign.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/07/h...
Reposted by Bob Davidson
You got city hands Mr Bessent. Been countin money all your life.
December 7, 2025 at 4:24 PM
You got city hands Mr Bessent. Been countin money all your life.
Reposted by Bob Davidson
I am often asked: What is the best telescope to buy for someone just getting into astronomy?
🪐🔭👀
As a theorist, I am absolutely useless and can tell you nothing. HOWEVER, my friend the wonderful @philplait.bsky.social is NOT useless and has great advice & relevant links here! ⤵️
🪐🔭👀
As a theorist, I am absolutely useless and can tell you nothing. HOWEVER, my friend the wonderful @philplait.bsky.social is NOT useless and has great advice & relevant links here! ⤵️
BAN #275: Telescope buying advice, Book: It’s Alive, Dial-A-Moon 2021
30 November 2020 Issue #271
badastronomy.beehiiv.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I am often asked: What is the best telescope to buy for someone just getting into astronomy?
🪐🔭👀
As a theorist, I am absolutely useless and can tell you nothing. HOWEVER, my friend the wonderful @philplait.bsky.social is NOT useless and has great advice & relevant links here! ⤵️
🪐🔭👀
As a theorist, I am absolutely useless and can tell you nothing. HOWEVER, my friend the wonderful @philplait.bsky.social is NOT useless and has great advice & relevant links here! ⤵️
Reposted by Bob Davidson
Y'all, I just wrote an answer to a question about the sensationalized news headlines circulating about the Chernobyl containment structure.
The bottom line is that there's a hole in the structure, which is not good, but it's not the end of containment, which some reports make it sound like.
🧵
The bottom line is that there's a hole in the structure, which is not good, but it's not the end of containment, which some reports make it sound like.
🧵
The way this is being reported is extremely irresponsible.
There is a hole in the containment structure, about 10 feet across. No other damage is reported. That hole can allow some of the dusty radioactive material to escape.
That is what "can no longer do its job of containment" means.
There is a hole in the containment structure, about 10 feet across. No other damage is reported. That hole can allow some of the dusty radioactive material to escape.
That is what "can no longer do its job of containment" means.
December 7, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Y'all, I just wrote an answer to a question about the sensationalized news headlines circulating about the Chernobyl containment structure.
The bottom line is that there's a hole in the structure, which is not good, but it's not the end of containment, which some reports make it sound like.
🧵
The bottom line is that there's a hole in the structure, which is not good, but it's not the end of containment, which some reports make it sound like.
🧵
Reposted by Bob Davidson
without birthright citizenship in the united states, you don't have a democracy and you don't have rule of law.
revoking birthright citizenship gives fascists free rein to purge the country of literally anyone they don't like. it opens the door to atrocities and mass murder. i am not exaggerating.
revoking birthright citizenship gives fascists free rein to purge the country of literally anyone they don't like. it opens the door to atrocities and mass murder. i am not exaggerating.
December 7, 2025 at 3:24 AM
without birthright citizenship in the united states, you don't have a democracy and you don't have rule of law.
revoking birthright citizenship gives fascists free rein to purge the country of literally anyone they don't like. it opens the door to atrocities and mass murder. i am not exaggerating.
revoking birthright citizenship gives fascists free rein to purge the country of literally anyone they don't like. it opens the door to atrocities and mass murder. i am not exaggerating.
Reposted by Bob Davidson
No. It's a miniaturisation of the sculpture "Thoughts and Desires" donated by Azerbaijan to the UN. It's situated in the garden of the Geneva UN offices.
December 7, 2025 at 2:07 AM
No. It's a miniaturisation of the sculpture "Thoughts and Desires" donated by Azerbaijan to the UN. It's situated in the garden of the Geneva UN offices.
Reposted by Bob Davidson
December 6, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Reposted by Bob Davidson
If I was serious about popularizing the similarity between the sculpture and the cover of the book, I’d maybe post an image that visually juxtaposes the two:
December 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
If I was serious about popularizing the similarity between the sculpture and the cover of the book, I’d maybe post an image that visually juxtaposes the two:
Reposted by Bob Davidson
In Chicago, a Nativity scene features a zip-tied baby Jesus and Roman centurions in "ICE" vests.
Near Boston, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are absent from a Nativity scene, replaced with a sign reading "ICE was here."
It's all part of growing religious blowback to ICE. religionnews.com/2025/12/05/i...
Near Boston, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are absent from a Nativity scene, replaced with a sign reading "ICE was here."
It's all part of growing religious blowback to ICE. religionnews.com/2025/12/05/i...
ICE Nativity scenes: Churches reimagine Christmas story amid deportations
(RNS) — 'We know that Jesus was born into a Roman imperial occupation, and pretty much immediately becomes a refugee in Egypt, has to flee and faces political violence,' the Rev. Michael Woolf said.
religionnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:31 PM
In Chicago, a Nativity scene features a zip-tied baby Jesus and Roman centurions in "ICE" vests.
Near Boston, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are absent from a Nativity scene, replaced with a sign reading "ICE was here."
It's all part of growing religious blowback to ICE. religionnews.com/2025/12/05/i...
Near Boston, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are absent from a Nativity scene, replaced with a sign reading "ICE was here."
It's all part of growing religious blowback to ICE. religionnews.com/2025/12/05/i...
Reposted by Bob Davidson
Someone’s getting a reprimand
The Coast Guard seized a bunch of drugs in the Pacific WITHOUT having to blow up people who may or may not actually be drug traffickers. www.cbsnews.com/news/coast-g...
20,000-pound cocaine seizure by Coast Guard breaks 18-year-old record
Video shows Coast Guard vehicles pursuing a go-fast vessel that appeared to have multiple people aboard.
www.cbsnews.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Someone’s getting a reprimand
Reposted by Bob Davidson
New post, no paywall! "Early Calibration."
A look at the NYC AI-companion café and what it shows about the early normalization of synthetic intimacy in public space. jgcarpenter.com/blog.html?bl...
A look at the NYC AI-companion café and what it shows about the early normalization of synthetic intimacy in public space. jgcarpenter.com/blog.html?bl...
December 6, 2025 at 8:59 PM
New post, no paywall! "Early Calibration."
A look at the NYC AI-companion café and what it shows about the early normalization of synthetic intimacy in public space. jgcarpenter.com/blog.html?bl...
A look at the NYC AI-companion café and what it shows about the early normalization of synthetic intimacy in public space. jgcarpenter.com/blog.html?bl...
Reposted by Bob Davidson
December 6, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Bob Davidson
Brett Kavanaugh sees no problem with this woman being forced to do this every day for the rest of her life
“Traumatized, humiliated, degraded.”
The nurse, a US citizen, 4’11”, 85 lbs, says she was following orders when she was dragged out of her car by masked immigration agents in Florida.
It was the 3rd time she had been stopped and told to produce ID.
Free link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
The nurse, a US citizen, 4’11”, 85 lbs, says she was following orders when she was dragged out of her car by masked immigration agents in Florida.
It was the 3rd time she had been stopped and told to produce ID.
Free link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
Exclusive: Woman detained by feds in Keys says she was following agents’ orders
“This is not the America that I grew up in, and this is not the America that we represent.”
www.miamiherald.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Brett Kavanaugh sees no problem with this woman being forced to do this every day for the rest of her life
Reposted by Bob Davidson
“If you really respected our warriors you wouldn’t order them to commit murder.”
December 6, 2025 at 12:45 PM
“If you really respected our warriors you wouldn’t order them to commit murder.”
Reposted by Bob Davidson
There is no point along the chain of command—from then-VADM Bradley down to the crew member triggering the missile—where anyone has any excuse whatsoever for giving or following that order.
December 6, 2025 at 3:50 PM
There is no point along the chain of command—from then-VADM Bradley down to the crew member triggering the missile—where anyone has any excuse whatsoever for giving or following that order.
Reposted by Bob Davidson
We got Weird Al out here singing Killing In The Name, the time for moderation is over
December 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
We got Weird Al out here singing Killing In The Name, the time for moderation is over
Reposted by Bob Davidson
“America is now saying that key allies are in fact its greatest enemy…The Trump administration’s vision of American greatness is making the country poorer, weaker, and meaner.”
www.programmablemutter.com/p/america-ha...
www.programmablemutter.com/p/america-ha...
America has identified its greatest enemy: Western Europe
Trump's new National Security Strategy: what if groypers cosplayed George Kennan?
www.programmablemutter.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:46 PM
“America is now saying that key allies are in fact its greatest enemy…The Trump administration’s vision of American greatness is making the country poorer, weaker, and meaner.”
www.programmablemutter.com/p/america-ha...
www.programmablemutter.com/p/america-ha...
Reposted by Bob Davidson
US military officers need to put in prison for this, full stop.
December 6, 2025 at 2:47 PM
US military officers need to put in prison for this, full stop.
Reposted by Bob Davidson
@ichnologist.bsky.social Sea turtle traces in the news www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/s... ⚒️
Stampeding Turtles Might Have Made Fossil Tracks in Italian Cliffs
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:52 PM
@ichnologist.bsky.social Sea turtle traces in the news www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/s... ⚒️
Reposted by Bob Davidson
The whole piece is a subtweet and well worth reading.
"Indeed, as an institution, the military in Russia and the USSR was always non-political but highly autonomous. The military may have been subordinate to the civilian authorities, but had a wide degree of latitude in how it governed itself."
"Indeed, as an institution, the military in Russia and the USSR was always non-political but highly autonomous. The military may have been subordinate to the civilian authorities, but had a wide degree of latitude in how it governed itself."
"Today’s atrocities are all because Russia’s military never outgrew the mindset of its Soviet forebears; it remains focused on lethality and victory at all costs. ridl.io/the-unreform...
The Unreformed Russian Military – Riddle Russia
Jeff Hawn on why Russia’s military never outgrew the brutal mindset of its Soviet origins
ridl.io
December 6, 2025 at 12:14 PM
The whole piece is a subtweet and well worth reading.
"Indeed, as an institution, the military in Russia and the USSR was always non-political but highly autonomous. The military may have been subordinate to the civilian authorities, but had a wide degree of latitude in how it governed itself."
"Indeed, as an institution, the military in Russia and the USSR was always non-political but highly autonomous. The military may have been subordinate to the civilian authorities, but had a wide degree of latitude in how it governed itself."