Hank
@hankify.bsky.social
Living in Indy and Chapel Hill. '80s: bond sales in London and NYC. '90s: journalism in Budapest. 2000s: Quizlab, Blogads, Twiangulate, Pullquote, Racery, and AdBiblio. (Formally @hc on X.)
"We" won the war against Germany in WWI and WWII. Meanwhile, "they," the Trumps, hid their German heritage by pretending to be Swedish.
Trump: "We have officially renamed the Dept of Defense back to the original name, Dept of War. And remember we won World War 1, we won World War 2, we won everything in between. We won everything that came before. And then we brilliantly decided to change the name. We became politically correct"
November 11, 2025 at 9:42 PM
"We" won the war against Germany in WWI and WWII. Meanwhile, "they," the Trumps, hid their German heritage by pretending to be Swedish.
Reposted by Hank
From 1875 to 1975, 6000 ships were lost on the Great Lakes.
Since November 10, 1975, zero ships have been lost.
Much of this is owed to technological advances, not just in shipbuilding and navigation, but also, crucially, in weather forecasting.
Since November 10, 1975, zero ships have been lost.
Much of this is owed to technological advances, not just in shipbuilding and navigation, but also, crucially, in weather forecasting.
November 11, 2025 at 4:21 AM
From 1875 to 1975, 6000 ships were lost on the Great Lakes.
Since November 10, 1975, zero ships have been lost.
Much of this is owed to technological advances, not just in shipbuilding and navigation, but also, crucially, in weather forecasting.
Since November 10, 1975, zero ships have been lost.
Much of this is owed to technological advances, not just in shipbuilding and navigation, but also, crucially, in weather forecasting.
Reposted by Hank
If I were an American I would save money by simply buying lottery tickets with winning numbers and not those with losing numbers.
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
November 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
If I were an American I would save money by simply buying lottery tickets with winning numbers and not those with losing numbers.
Reposted by Hank
a lot of the problem with the Nates and Matts is that they didn't go to grad school. I don't think going ensures you aren't a blowhard knowitall, but it does make you understand that people have been working on shit for a long time and you can't just brush up in 3 hours because you are a special boy
As someone who spent ten years in grad school (and did defend + graduate) I’m always so weirded out by people who think being smart about one thing makes them smart about everything when what being highly educated did to me was saddle me with the crushing certainty that I’m not smart about anything
the pandemic really fucked him up. he had no expertise in public health, but felt like being a quant guy should make him an expert by default, and people not agreeing with him on that point just sent him into a bizarre radicalizing ego spiral.
November 10, 2025 at 7:07 PM
a lot of the problem with the Nates and Matts is that they didn't go to grad school. I don't think going ensures you aren't a blowhard knowitall, but it does make you understand that people have been working on shit for a long time and you can't just brush up in 3 hours because you are a special boy
Reposted by Hank
It’s shit like this that makes me think the GOP doesn’t care about winning elections and they’re just not planning on having them. Because no one who thinks they have to win elections does this.
They're going to the highest court in the land to avoid feeding children.
November 8, 2025 at 1:09 AM
It’s shit like this that makes me think the GOP doesn’t care about winning elections and they’re just not planning on having them. Because no one who thinks they have to win elections does this.
Reposted by Hank
Many are unaware how close we are to the next Pandemic. Defra has already an avian flu control zone across England. If this jumps to human transmission we are in an awful place. Still no understanding of airborne transmission or ffp3 respirators. It’s very concerning.
November 6, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Many are unaware how close we are to the next Pandemic. Defra has already an avian flu control zone across England. If this jumps to human transmission we are in an awful place. Still no understanding of airborne transmission or ffp3 respirators. It’s very concerning.
Reposted by Hank
I have been writing for years about the fact that we are not ready for the destruction of costly signalling mechanisms. Writing used to be a way of measuring effort, ability and diligence. We still have no easy substitute
Now this paper confirms that cover letters have lost their value as predictor
Now this paper confirms that cover letters have lost their value as predictor
November 5, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I have been writing for years about the fact that we are not ready for the destruction of costly signalling mechanisms. Writing used to be a way of measuring effort, ability and diligence. We still have no easy substitute
Now this paper confirms that cover letters have lost their value as predictor
Now this paper confirms that cover letters have lost their value as predictor
Reposted by Hank
The range increments of a full subway sandwich are only 10/20 so you have disadvantage on your throw more than a few paces away. You can double the range with a half-sandwich wrapped tightly and druis have a fifth-level subclass feature that removes disadvantage if the sandwich has sprouts
It's not in this article but the government asserts that the sandwich was thrown at "point blank range", which implies subway sandwiches have defined effective weapon ranges of varying lethality, and I would like to see the government's chart of these ranges.
Trial Begins for Man Accused of Lobbing a Sandwich at a Federal Agent www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...
November 4, 2025 at 1:07 AM
The range increments of a full subway sandwich are only 10/20 so you have disadvantage on your throw more than a few paces away. You can double the range with a half-sandwich wrapped tightly and druis have a fifth-level subclass feature that removes disadvantage if the sandwich has sprouts
Reposted by Hank
I think we’re in for a bad reckoning re reader supported media. People are overextended and we’re already experiencing a consumer spending pullback generally
October 30, 2025 at 3:56 AM
I think we’re in for a bad reckoning re reader supported media. People are overextended and we’re already experiencing a consumer spending pullback generally
Nope. Cognitive dissonance is their credo, acceptance of absurdity is the banner they march under.
I am certainly no seasoned strategist but I am a little skeptical of the political wisdom behind building a giant golden ballroom and sharing a dozen photos of a renovated marble bathroom at the very moment that millions of people are losing access to healthcare and food.
October 31, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Nope. Cognitive dissonance is their credo, acceptance of absurdity is the banner they march under.
Reposted by Hank
i love ATProto and the ATmosphere 🤍
so cool & rewarding to see an app i built (@anisota.net) interoperating with multiple other apps on the same network, and seeing people talking about their experience of that interoperation via the interoperation itself (like in the comments on @leaflet.pub)
so cool & rewarding to see an app i built (@anisota.net) interoperating with multiple other apps on the same network, and seeing people talking about their experience of that interoperation via the interoperation itself (like in the comments on @leaflet.pub)
October 31, 2025 at 3:27 AM
i love ATProto and the ATmosphere 🤍
so cool & rewarding to see an app i built (@anisota.net) interoperating with multiple other apps on the same network, and seeing people talking about their experience of that interoperation via the interoperation itself (like in the comments on @leaflet.pub)
so cool & rewarding to see an app i built (@anisota.net) interoperating with multiple other apps on the same network, and seeing people talking about their experience of that interoperation via the interoperation itself (like in the comments on @leaflet.pub)
Reposted by Hank
Breaking character: This is a good thread. One my fixations is that Dems blow money on ads rather than building political infrastructure. My theory is they do this because the data tells them too just like the data told Robert McNamara to destroy Ford by cutting R&D to the bone.
Republicans have studied all of the Democratic ecosystem's ideas and strategies. They've directly copied every major left institution and then honed their own ideas in key ways:
1) Republicans use their money efficiently. They build institutions rather than rent them.
1) Republicans use their money efficiently. They build institutions rather than rent them.
What Republicans Know (Full Book) | Flux Community
Get more from Flux Community on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Breaking character: This is a good thread. One my fixations is that Dems blow money on ads rather than building political infrastructure. My theory is they do this because the data tells them too just like the data told Robert McNamara to destroy Ford by cutting R&D to the bone.
Reposted by Hank
“He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither…” —Declaration of Independence, 1776
October 29, 2025 at 3:52 AM
“He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither…” —Declaration of Independence, 1776
Reposted by Hank
One Longer Walk Trumps Several Shorter Ones
If you are shuffling around the house in brief bursts throughout the day, your heart might not be getting the memo. A new study of more than 33,000 adults suggests that people who walk continuously for 10 to 15 minutes at a time slash their risk of…
If you are shuffling around the house in brief bursts throughout the day, your heart might not be getting the memo. A new study of more than 33,000 adults suggests that people who walk continuously for 10 to 15 minutes at a time slash their risk of…
One Longer Walk Trumps Several Shorter Ones
If you are shuffling around the house in brief bursts throughout the day, your heart might not be getting the memo. A new study of more than 33,000 adults suggests that people who walk continuously for 10 to 15 minutes at a time slash their risk of cardiovascular disease by nearly two thirds compared to those who take the same number of steps in fragments shorter than five minutes.
scienceblog.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:52 AM
One Longer Walk Trumps Several Shorter Ones
If you are shuffling around the house in brief bursts throughout the day, your heart might not be getting the memo. A new study of more than 33,000 adults suggests that people who walk continuously for 10 to 15 minutes at a time slash their risk of…
If you are shuffling around the house in brief bursts throughout the day, your heart might not be getting the memo. A new study of more than 33,000 adults suggests that people who walk continuously for 10 to 15 minutes at a time slash their risk of…
"planning and plotting revival meetings sponsored by the US government..."
Christian nationalist Sean Feucht says he and the Trump administration are organizing a series of Christian revival meetings around the country as part of the nation's 250th anniversary of celebrations next year. www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwat...
October 27, 2025 at 7:50 PM
"planning and plotting revival meetings sponsored by the US government..."
Reposted by Hank
Here's the Ronald Reagan ad from Canada that Trump calls "fake."
October 24, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Here's the Ronald Reagan ad from Canada that Trump calls "fake."
Reposted by Hank
it took a few hundred years, but China is finally getting revenge on the West for the opium trade in the form of short-form vertical video
Much as I dislike Winnie the Pooh, he dunked on em’ good with that opium line
October 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
it took a few hundred years, but China is finally getting revenge on the West for the opium trade in the form of short-form vertical video
Reposted by Hank
Good news!
Be Funny Or Die - How Comedy Works And Why It Matters - will live again.
E-book out soon. We should be able to turn that around pretty fast, fingers crossed.
Then a new revised edition, in paperback, with additional material. Which is exciting…
WATCH THIS SPACE.
Be Funny Or Die - How Comedy Works And Why It Matters - will live again.
E-book out soon. We should be able to turn that around pretty fast, fingers crossed.
Then a new revised edition, in paperback, with additional material. Which is exciting…
WATCH THIS SPACE.
a man in a suit and tie is smiling and says space !
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is smiling and says space !
media.tenor.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Good news!
Be Funny Or Die - How Comedy Works And Why It Matters - will live again.
E-book out soon. We should be able to turn that around pretty fast, fingers crossed.
Then a new revised edition, in paperback, with additional material. Which is exciting…
WATCH THIS SPACE.
Be Funny Or Die - How Comedy Works And Why It Matters - will live again.
E-book out soon. We should be able to turn that around pretty fast, fingers crossed.
Then a new revised edition, in paperback, with additional material. Which is exciting…
WATCH THIS SPACE.
Reposted by Hank
WATCH: “A MASTER PLAN”
Usually stoic Kushner silently panics as Witkoff spills the beans on the Trump regime’s war profiteering in Gaza - they’ve been working on for ‘TWO YEARS’🤔
(But don’t worry, apparently $50 Billion is “not a lot of money”! 💰🙃)
PSA: This slip-up should be a big deal.
Usually stoic Kushner silently panics as Witkoff spills the beans on the Trump regime’s war profiteering in Gaza - they’ve been working on for ‘TWO YEARS’🤔
(But don’t worry, apparently $50 Billion is “not a lot of money”! 💰🙃)
PSA: This slip-up should be a big deal.
October 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
WATCH: “A MASTER PLAN”
Usually stoic Kushner silently panics as Witkoff spills the beans on the Trump regime’s war profiteering in Gaza - they’ve been working on for ‘TWO YEARS’🤔
(But don’t worry, apparently $50 Billion is “not a lot of money”! 💰🙃)
PSA: This slip-up should be a big deal.
Usually stoic Kushner silently panics as Witkoff spills the beans on the Trump regime’s war profiteering in Gaza - they’ve been working on for ‘TWO YEARS’🤔
(But don’t worry, apparently $50 Billion is “not a lot of money”! 💰🙃)
PSA: This slip-up should be a big deal.
remove the criminals the Law does not permit him to remove?!
Trump says he’s making military decisions based on what random “friends of mine” tell him about crime.
October 23, 2025 at 5:19 PM
remove the criminals the Law does not permit him to remove?!
Reposted by Hank
the "town square" now is more like Waffle House at 3 AM. Sure, you can have a good time with friends there, but fize you I would go somewhere else
October 16, 2025 at 4:52 PM
the "town square" now is more like Waffle House at 3 AM. Sure, you can have a good time with friends there, but fize you I would go somewhere else
Reposted by Hank
i love "no kings" especially because its making the gop do a batshit crazy argument of "no actually we like kings"
October 20, 2025 at 2:20 PM
i love "no kings" especially because its making the gop do a batshit crazy argument of "no actually we like kings"
Reposted by Hank
Auden, of course, was most famous as a poet - one of the best to write about the mix of despair & hope at a moment of great geopolitical uncertainty. There are the famous final stanzas (which Auden later hated) of "September 1, 1939," the date of the Nazi invasion of Poland
October 19, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Auden, of course, was most famous as a poet - one of the best to write about the mix of despair & hope at a moment of great geopolitical uncertainty. There are the famous final stanzas (which Auden later hated) of "September 1, 1939," the date of the Nazi invasion of Poland
ICE... What you get when you pack together a bunch of snowflakes.
October 18, 2025 at 10:28 AM
ICE... What you get when you pack together a bunch of snowflakes.
Reposted by Hank
I read this article when it was published in 2023, but haven't read anything since then that disproves its general thrust: Depression, like most stuff in the brain, is poorly understood and doctors do a lot of guessing about what it is and how to fix it! (Bipolar disorder is even more of mystery.)
Depression is almost certainly much more than an imbalance of brain chemicals.
The Cause of Depression Is Probably Not What You Think | Quanta Magazine
Depression has often been blamed on low levels of serotonin in the brain. That answer is insufficient, but alternatives are coming into view and changing our understanding of the disease.
www.quantamagazine.org
October 17, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I read this article when it was published in 2023, but haven't read anything since then that disproves its general thrust: Depression, like most stuff in the brain, is poorly understood and doctors do a lot of guessing about what it is and how to fix it! (Bipolar disorder is even more of mystery.)