Laffy
@lafayette916.bsky.social
retired scientist, sailor, traveler, pickleball player
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/o....
Large-scale migration from the tropics to temperate zones is in our future. It's Stephen Miller's nightmare!
Large-scale migration from the tropics to temperate zones is in our future. It's Stephen Miller's nightmare!
Opinion | The New American Inequality: The Cooled vs. the Cooked
www.nytimes.com
August 20, 2025 at 5:01 PM
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/o....
Large-scale migration from the tropics to temperate zones is in our future. It's Stephen Miller's nightmare!
Large-scale migration from the tropics to temperate zones is in our future. It's Stephen Miller's nightmare!
Gaza is now a concentration camp using bullets and starvation instead of gas chambers. Shame on Israel.
July 27, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Gaza is now a concentration camp using bullets and starvation instead of gas chambers. Shame on Israel.
Email from SSA:
"The new law includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, ... [and] an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older, ensuring that retirees can keep more of what they have earned."
Really? Or is this a lie?
"The new law includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, ... [and] an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older, ensuring that retirees can keep more of what they have earned."
Really? Or is this a lie?
July 4, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Email from SSA:
"The new law includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, ... [and] an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older, ensuring that retirees can keep more of what they have earned."
Really? Or is this a lie?
"The new law includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, ... [and] an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older, ensuring that retirees can keep more of what they have earned."
Really? Or is this a lie?
Time to start a betting pool for when Trump will declare martial law. Will it be in response to the No Kings demonstration this Saturday or during later marches against ICE raids? Or just before the '26 elections? Maybe all should register Republican to ensure getting to vote.
June 9, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Time to start a betting pool for when Trump will declare martial law. Will it be in response to the No Kings demonstration this Saturday or during later marches against ICE raids? Or just before the '26 elections? Maybe all should register Republican to ensure getting to vote.
I wonder if a governor could deploy the national guard to protect the Federal courts in her/his state? Surely Federal courts deserve as much protection as ICE.
June 9, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I wonder if a governor could deploy the national guard to protect the Federal courts in her/his state? Surely Federal courts deserve as much protection as ICE.
IMHO US needs a new political party of that majority of citizens who prefer a kind society and effective constitutional government where practical improvement outweighs ideology. Growing the middle class should be a primary focus via improved economic opportunity, healthcare, and education.
May 25, 2025 at 7:22 PM
IMHO US needs a new political party of that majority of citizens who prefer a kind society and effective constitutional government where practical improvement outweighs ideology. Growing the middle class should be a primary focus via improved economic opportunity, healthcare, and education.
We could show solidarity with Ukraine and President Z by wearing a t shirt like the one he wore to the Oval Office (for which he has been criticized). I suggest a non-profit be started to sell these shirts and give profits to Ukraine.
March 2, 2025 at 6:33 PM
We could show solidarity with Ukraine and President Z by wearing a t shirt like the one he wore to the Oval Office (for which he has been criticized). I suggest a non-profit be started to sell these shirts and give profits to Ukraine.
I never expected that the USA would turn away from science and its benefits. If the Trump/MAGA coalition prevails, ignorance and superstition will eventually dominate public opinion and policy, a tragedy for anyone not independently wealthy. Xi and Putin are winning.
February 16, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I never expected that the USA would turn away from science and its benefits. If the Trump/MAGA coalition prevails, ignorance and superstition will eventually dominate public opinion and policy, a tragedy for anyone not independently wealthy. Xi and Putin are winning.
Having written computer code 3 decades, I can say with some confidence that the Musk geeks invading government computer systems are likely to cause catastrophes. Understanding of what code is doing is far more important than the code itself, and no AI tools will overcome that kind of ignorance.
February 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Having written computer code 3 decades, I can say with some confidence that the Musk geeks invading government computer systems are likely to cause catastrophes. Understanding of what code is doing is far more important than the code itself, and no AI tools will overcome that kind of ignorance.
This discussion between Ezra Klein and Yuval Levin (NY Times today) is a helpful perspective on what's happening in DC.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...
Opinion | The Breaking of the Constitutional Order
The political analyst Yuval Levin discusses Trump’s first few weeks in office and the limits of presidential power.
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2025 at 7:23 PM
This discussion between Ezra Klein and Yuval Levin (NY Times today) is a helpful perspective on what's happening in DC.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...
With Musk attempting to seize control of the Treasury Department's payment arm (WAPo article about David Lebryk's sudden retirement), it's hard to see how those of us who receive monthly checks (Social Security, government retirement, Medicare, etc.) won't suffer therefrom.
February 1, 2025 at 7:15 PM
With Musk attempting to seize control of the Treasury Department's payment arm (WAPo article about David Lebryk's sudden retirement), it's hard to see how those of us who receive monthly checks (Social Security, government retirement, Medicare, etc.) won't suffer therefrom.
New to BlueSky. Minimizing use of Facebook. Looking for a more respectful environment to exchange ideas and views.
January 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM
New to BlueSky. Minimizing use of Facebook. Looking for a more respectful environment to exchange ideas and views.