Aardvark Cheeselog
@wades.bsky.social
Grizzled veteran of the War on Christmas.
Please do not feed the trolls: block, don't engage.
Learn what a bot looks like, and block those that follow you.
Please do not feed the trolls: block, don't engage.
Learn what a bot looks like, and block those that follow you.
@historianzhang.bsky.social
I'm looking at marshaln.com/2011/11/on-t... and am reminded it promised "...a book on the history of tea practices in East Asia."
Any word on that?
I'm looking at marshaln.com/2011/11/on-t... and am reminded it promised "...a book on the history of tea practices in East Asia."
Any word on that?
On Tea and Friendship (I)
I’ve been reading books on tea again in a new project that I’m working on that will, one day, end up as a book on the history of tea practices in East Asia. One of the things that I&#…
marshaln.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:46 AM
@historianzhang.bsky.social
I'm looking at marshaln.com/2011/11/on-t... and am reminded it promised "...a book on the history of tea practices in East Asia."
Any word on that?
I'm looking at marshaln.com/2011/11/on-t... and am reminded it promised "...a book on the history of tea practices in East Asia."
Any word on that?
This has more resonance than one might have thought, back in the day
New Atheism was a psyop to allow pretentious ‘intellectuals’ to support the Iraq War whilst distancing themselves from the Bible Belt rabble. It has now served its purpose.
December 4, 2025 at 5:47 PM
This has more resonance than one might have thought, back in the day
I gather that H. Clinton has *still* not learned which speaking engagements she ought to decline, for respectability's sake
December 4, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I gather that H. Clinton has *still* not learned which speaking engagements she ought to decline, for respectability's sake
Reposted by Aardvark Cheeselog
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Nice rant, but if Hegseth is tossed tonight, why would you expect his replacement to be an improvement?
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Nice rant, but if Hegseth is tossed tonight, why would you expect his replacement to be an improvement?
Reposted by Aardvark Cheeselog
Everyone is reading this kinda wrong.
This is the WH recognizing things are getting out of hand and they're trying really hard to damage control. It's probably the first honest to god time I've seen this administration do this.
This is the WH recognizing things are getting out of hand and they're trying really hard to damage control. It's probably the first honest to god time I've seen this administration do this.
Quoting “officials” is an excuse to lie for Trump and everyone at the NYT knows that.
December 2, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Everyone is reading this kinda wrong.
This is the WH recognizing things are getting out of hand and they're trying really hard to damage control. It's probably the first honest to god time I've seen this administration do this.
This is the WH recognizing things are getting out of hand and they're trying really hard to damage control. It's probably the first honest to god time I've seen this administration do this.
Any day you don't remind yourself "I don't have to engage with that" you were either staying offline or you weren't being mindful.
The most precious commodity you have is your attention. You don’t have to waste it on poor-faith debates or arguments with strangers if you don’t think they’ll be productive. You can prioritize the things that matter to you and make your life richer.
December 1, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Any day you don't remind yourself "I don't have to engage with that" you were either staying offline or you weren't being mindful.
They would not be altogether wrong. The purpose of the New Deal was to make America safe for Capitalism, not to inaugurate the Socialist Order.
This is good but also we all know bluesky would be calling FDR a cringe lib lol.
December 1, 2025 at 12:25 AM
They would not be altogether wrong. The purpose of the New Deal was to make America safe for Capitalism, not to inaugurate the Socialist Order.
Partying like it's 1999 and you're the Telco equipment makers
NVIDIA earnings were a mirage. The market figured it out surprisingly fast. NVIDIA bump evaporated.
I don’t know how this information can enter the system without exploding the bubble.
But sometimes bezzles visible for months before crash.
Waiting for the feds?
open.substack.com/pub/shanakaa...
I don’t know how this information can enter the system without exploding the bubble.
But sometimes bezzles visible for months before crash.
Waiting for the feds?
open.substack.com/pub/shanakaa...
November 22, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Partying like it's 1999 and you're the Telco equipment makers
I endorse this product and/or service
Stare them right in the eyes and gerrymander even harder until A.) the R’s beg for legislation, or B.) the Dems have enough control to punch it through anyway 💪🏻😤💪🏻
November 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I endorse this product and/or service
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social this is what the Internet was supposed to be for, thanks
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social this is what the Internet was supposed to be for, thanks
Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos
This week (and next) we’re looking at hoplites, the heavy infantry of the ancient Greek poleis in the (early? mid? late?) Archaic and Classical periods, into the Hellenistic. In particular, I…
acoup.blog
November 21, 2025 at 4:42 PM
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social this is what the Internet was supposed to be for, thanks
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social this is what the Internet was supposed to be for, thanks
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
If there is a restoration of representative government in the US, one urgent reform is to pass a special section of the criminal code specifying punishments for law-enforcement officers who commit crimes like this.
If there is a restoration of representative government in the US, one urgent reform is to pass a special section of the criminal code specifying punishments for law-enforcement officers who commit crimes like this.
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
Exclusive: Agency accessed private conversations of New York ‘courtwatch’ group that was observing public hearings
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:52 PM
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
If there is a restoration of representative government in the US, one urgent reform is to pass a special section of the criminal code specifying punishments for law-enforcement officers who commit crimes like this.
If there is a restoration of representative government in the US, one urgent reform is to pass a special section of the criminal code specifying punishments for law-enforcement officers who commit crimes like this.
About this "Abundance" talk I'm hearing... If you think it's not warmed-over BS about "growing the pie and not fighting over how the pie is cut up" what should I read to bring me to your point of view?
November 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
About this "Abundance" talk I'm hearing... If you think it's not warmed-over BS about "growing the pie and not fighting over how the pie is cut up" what should I read to bring me to your point of view?
Indeed, "The Money does what it does because The Money is smart and pays attention to facts" is a zombie meme that needs to die.
The Money is instinctively reactionary: societies generally are structured primarily so that The Money gets to keep what it owns and to pass that ownership to its kids.
The Money is instinctively reactionary: societies generally are structured primarily so that The Money gets to keep what it owns and to pass that ownership to its kids.
i think if you want to argue that queer oppression is a result of capitalism you really need to argue for that point instead of just asserting it
November 12, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Indeed, "The Money does what it does because The Money is smart and pays attention to facts" is a zombie meme that needs to die.
The Money is instinctively reactionary: societies generally are structured primarily so that The Money gets to keep what it owns and to pass that ownership to its kids.
The Money is instinctively reactionary: societies generally are structured primarily so that The Money gets to keep what it owns and to pass that ownership to its kids.
Everybody was too busy looking forward, not backward.
It's important to look forward when there are good things to be sought out (or bad ones to be avoided) in the future. But "watch your back" is never bad advice, which D leaders apparently have completely forgotten.
It's important to look forward when there are good things to be sought out (or bad ones to be avoided) in the future. But "watch your back" is never bad advice, which D leaders apparently have completely forgotten.
it's a real shame there wasn't just a Democratic president with control of federal law enforcement for 4 years, otherwise it would be pretty fuckin outrageous that he didn't find this
A direct email exchange from 2011 between Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, just released by House Oversight Committee Democrats.
November 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Everybody was too busy looking forward, not backward.
It's important to look forward when there are good things to be sought out (or bad ones to be avoided) in the future. But "watch your back" is never bad advice, which D leaders apparently have completely forgotten.
It's important to look forward when there are good things to be sought out (or bad ones to be avoided) in the future. But "watch your back" is never bad advice, which D leaders apparently have completely forgotten.
Holy shit! It's almost like "giving young voters a chance to vote in favor of things that they want produces more engagement than telling them to pick the least evil and use that to vote against the greater one, so they can suffer somewhat marginally less. We hope."
Who could have imagined that?
Who could have imagined that?
“.. Mamdani demonstrated an extraordinary, if not magical, ability to change the character and composition of the electorate ..”
“.. The turnout rate of voters age 18 to 29 rose to 41.3 percent this year from 11.1 percent in .. 2021 ..”
@tomedsall.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...
“.. The turnout rate of voters age 18 to 29 rose to 41.3 percent this year from 11.1 percent in .. 2021 ..”
@tomedsall.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Holy shit! It's almost like "giving young voters a chance to vote in favor of things that they want produces more engagement than telling them to pick the least evil and use that to vote against the greater one, so they can suffer somewhat marginally less. We hope."
Who could have imagined that?
Who could have imagined that?
I yap a lot in blog comments about how Americans are going to find out what R governance is like with no blade guards or safeties at all, something not seen in almost 100 years. I still see almost everybody talking about '26 and '28, without having priced in how bad things are likely to get.
November 11, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I yap a lot in blog comments about how Americans are going to find out what R governance is like with no blade guards or safeties at all, something not seen in almost 100 years. I still see almost everybody talking about '26 and '28, without having priced in how bad things are likely to get.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
This is emblematic of how legislation to advance progressive policies is being perverted
This is emblematic of how legislation to advance progressive policies is being perverted
Gun violence prevention groups disqualified from grants built around their work
Trump administration altering program that was a lifeline for pioneering non-profits helping reduce gun violence
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
This is emblematic of how legislation to advance progressive policies is being perverted
This is emblematic of how legislation to advance progressive policies is being perverted
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/women-men-...
One thing I find myself wondering as I read this is, how does German men's reaction to manufacturing's decline as a share of jobs compare with that of American men?
One thing I find myself wondering as I read this is, how does German men's reaction to manufacturing's decline as a share of jobs compare with that of American men?
Women, Men and Jobs
Men are in trouble. Are women responsible?
paulkrugman.substack.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:57 PM
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/women-men-...
One thing I find myself wondering as I read this is, how does German men's reaction to manufacturing's decline as a share of jobs compare with that of American men?
One thing I find myself wondering as I read this is, how does German men's reaction to manufacturing's decline as a share of jobs compare with that of American men?
Back before the actual consumer Internet we did not reckon with the possibility that buying access to the net would involve agreeing to not run our own servers
Relying on commercial hosting of data to fulfill the promises of the net is a mistake
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Relying on commercial hosting of data to fulfill the promises of the net is a mistake
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Top FDA official demands removal of YouTube videos of himself that criticized Covid vaccines
Doctor who created now-defunct channel says he wanted to ‘preserve’ what Trump health officials said during Covid
www.theguardian.com
August 31, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Back before the actual consumer Internet we did not reckon with the possibility that buying access to the net would involve agreeing to not run our own servers
Relying on commercial hosting of data to fulfill the promises of the net is a mistake
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Relying on commercial hosting of data to fulfill the promises of the net is a mistake
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
There are a great many Americans who have always thought "I don't see how it affects my life, who is President."
Lots and lots of these people are going to learn over the next couple of years that it can affect their lives pretty spectacularly.
Lots and lots of these people are going to learn over the next couple of years that it can affect their lives pretty spectacularly.
August 28, 2025 at 2:33 PM
There are a great many Americans who have always thought "I don't see how it affects my life, who is President."
Lots and lots of these people are going to learn over the next couple of years that it can affect their lives pretty spectacularly.
Lots and lots of these people are going to learn over the next couple of years that it can affect their lives pretty spectacularly.
But how can Democrats stop using words they're not using?
These are words that you see in blog comment sections, or on BlueSky. These words are not found in the messaging of the D Party or its candidates.
This whole thing is a Republican talking point dressed up as an issue.
These are words that you see in blog comment sections, or on BlueSky. These words are not found in the messaging of the D Party or its candidates.
This whole thing is a Republican talking point dressed up as an issue.
It would be a huge step forward for Democrats and for general clarity in political writing if these terms went away. These came mostly from academic hothouses.
August 24, 2025 at 1:22 AM
But how can Democrats stop using words they're not using?
These are words that you see in blog comment sections, or on BlueSky. These words are not found in the messaging of the D Party or its candidates.
This whole thing is a Republican talking point dressed up as an issue.
These are words that you see in blog comment sections, or on BlueSky. These words are not found in the messaging of the D Party or its candidates.
This whole thing is a Republican talking point dressed up as an issue.
Reposted by Aardvark Cheeselog
It is remarkably frustrating to me to watch a system break down against a kind of threat its systems were *designed* - reasonably well designed! - to defeat because everyone whose job it is to actually *do* that is busy hiding under their desks hoping against hope someone else will bell the cat.
August 23, 2025 at 3:52 AM
It is remarkably frustrating to me to watch a system break down against a kind of threat its systems were *designed* - reasonably well designed! - to defeat because everyone whose job it is to actually *do* that is busy hiding under their desks hoping against hope someone else will bell the cat.
I think this pretty much hits the nail on the head, though I hope the bleakness of the last few grafs turns out to be fixating on worst-case scenarios
The LLMs will not stop "hallucinating." Not without some other kind of piece that knows about the world to put a brake on them.
The LLMs will not stop "hallucinating." Not without some other kind of piece that knows about the world to put a brake on them.
Hello. I wrote a nice long essay about AI and this very strange moment where we're constantly told we're living in the dawn of a strange new future but the only thing that's actually clear is that everyone feels pretty unmoored and uncertain. I hope you'll read it
AI Is a Mass-Delusion Event
Three years in, one of AI’s enduring impacts is to make people feel like they’re losing it.
www.theatlantic.com
August 19, 2025 at 3:27 AM
I think this pretty much hits the nail on the head, though I hope the bleakness of the last few grafs turns out to be fixating on worst-case scenarios
The LLMs will not stop "hallucinating." Not without some other kind of piece that knows about the world to put a brake on them.
The LLMs will not stop "hallucinating." Not without some other kind of piece that knows about the world to put a brake on them.
OTOH the rags the ICE guys are wearing on their faces would not be a lot of use to the firefighters.
These are the people that should be wearing masks, not the thugs from ICE.
Wildfire Fighters, Unmasked in Toxic Smoke, Are Getting Sick and Dying
www.nytimes.com
August 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
OTOH the rags the ICE guys are wearing on their faces would not be a lot of use to the firefighters.