Paul Willett
@momdude.bsky.social
Space cadet | Dad | Photography | Music | Travel | Science fiction | Hugo Award nominee | Writer | Private pilot | 5x NASA Socials | KC Chiefs | LA Kings | LA Angels | Senior Director Finance & Administration ALS Golden West | CAF SoCal | PaulJWillett.com
Reposted by Paul Willett
my favourite type of guy i accidentally discovered on youtube is “guy who owns a rolls royce jet engine and just fires that shit up on his property sometimes”
Rolls Royce RB211 Spring Crank Up Tristar L1011
YouTube video by gasturbine101
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 5:15 AM
my favourite type of guy i accidentally discovered on youtube is “guy who owns a rolls royce jet engine and just fires that shit up on his property sometimes”
Reposted by Paul Willett
Tyson Foods is closing its beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska, laying off 3,200 workers next month in a town of just 11,000.
An American Dream at risk: What happens to a small Nebraska town when 3,200 workers lose their jobs
Tyson Foods is closing its beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska, laying off 3,200 workers next month in a town of just 11,000.
bit.ly
December 22, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Tyson Foods is closing its beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska, laying off 3,200 workers next month in a town of just 11,000.
Reposted by Paul Willett
Blows my mind it hasn't even been a full year of congestion pricing in NYC yet. Years of cranks whining about it and then you just DO IT and everything is instantly better and everyone gets used to it and moves on. We should do good things more often!
PS - T-minus 12 days to Streets Mayor Mamdani!
PS - T-minus 12 days to Streets Mayor Mamdani!
I refuse to shut up about this: NYC started charging $9 to bring a car into our most transit-rich zone, the haters & trolls predicted doom, but traffic evaporated instantly and here’s Times Square tonite (even after the holiday tourists have left). For a better future, build transit & price driving!
December 20, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Blows my mind it hasn't even been a full year of congestion pricing in NYC yet. Years of cranks whining about it and then you just DO IT and everything is instantly better and everyone gets used to it and moves on. We should do good things more often!
PS - T-minus 12 days to Streets Mayor Mamdani!
PS - T-minus 12 days to Streets Mayor Mamdani!
The New Tree – Layer Two
New, bigger, better house - new, bigger, better Christmas tree. An array of options for the built in lighting, we chose to go with twinkling white lights. Next, it's time to two full strings of colored lights, plus two full strings of bubble lights. I do love me some of…
New, bigger, better house - new, bigger, better Christmas tree. An array of options for the built in lighting, we chose to go with twinkling white lights. Next, it's time to two full strings of colored lights, plus two full strings of bubble lights. I do love me some of…
The New Tree – Layer Two
New, bigger, better house - new, bigger, better Christmas tree. An array of options for the built in lighting, we chose to go with twinkling white lights. Next, it's time to two full strings of colored lights, plus two full strings of bubble lights. I do love me some of those bubble lights. A fond memory from my childhood, even if they were the very old-fashioned kind that were both highly flammable and poisonous. (Or should that be venomous?) The modern lights are safer. But they will still break if banged around, and today the algorithm brought me a string of videos of large dogs, particularly great danes, obliterating Christmas trees, and The Long-Suffering Wife dearly wants a great dane, so... Let's hope this isn't a foreshadowing comment.
pauljwillett.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:23 AM
The New Tree – Layer Two
New, bigger, better house - new, bigger, better Christmas tree. An array of options for the built in lighting, we chose to go with twinkling white lights. Next, it's time to two full strings of colored lights, plus two full strings of bubble lights. I do love me some of…
New, bigger, better house - new, bigger, better Christmas tree. An array of options for the built in lighting, we chose to go with twinkling white lights. Next, it's time to two full strings of colored lights, plus two full strings of bubble lights. I do love me some of…
Reposted by Paul Willett
Reposted by Paul Willett
In light of our incoming #AtmosphericRiver event in SoCal, let's re-up this timely reminder: a "Watch" means everything is in place for a thing to occur; a "Warning" means that thing is actually occuring. Like tacos!! 🌮
December 23, 2025 at 1:37 AM
In light of our incoming #AtmosphericRiver event in SoCal, let's re-up this timely reminder: a "Watch" means everything is in place for a thing to occur; a "Warning" means that thing is actually occuring. Like tacos!! 🌮
Reposted by Paul Willett
via The New Yorker, Ellis Rosen cartoon
December 23, 2025 at 5:31 AM
via The New Yorker, Ellis Rosen cartoon
Reposted by Paul Willett
The U.S. Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee settled on five options for coins marking America’s 250th anniversary, including Frederick Douglass and Ruby Bridges.
But the Treasury Department instead will include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. https://wapo.st/49c6WCU
But the Treasury Department instead will include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. https://wapo.st/49c6WCU
December 23, 2025 at 6:00 AM
The U.S. Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee settled on five options for coins marking America’s 250th anniversary, including Frederick Douglass and Ruby Bridges.
But the Treasury Department instead will include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. https://wapo.st/49c6WCU
But the Treasury Department instead will include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. https://wapo.st/49c6WCU
Reposted by Paul Willett
"I think this is a cover-up. We have to treat Trump's Justice Dept. the way we spoke about Soviet era quote 'Justice departments,'" Bill Kristol says. "This is not a Justice Dept. that's a little tilted, you know, a little pro-Trump, a little thumb in the scale. There is no scale."
December 23, 2025 at 6:00 AM
"I think this is a cover-up. We have to treat Trump's Justice Dept. the way we spoke about Soviet era quote 'Justice departments,'" Bill Kristol says. "This is not a Justice Dept. that's a little tilted, you know, a little pro-Trump, a little thumb in the scale. There is no scale."
Reposted by Paul Willett
The Dunning-Kruger Effect and the Streisand Effect, when merged, become the Bari Weiss Effect
December 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The Dunning-Kruger Effect and the Streisand Effect, when merged, become the Bari Weiss Effect
Reposted by Paul Willett
Bari Weiss should google the "Streisand Effect."
December 23, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Bari Weiss should google the "Streisand Effect."
Reposted by Paul Willett
When police returned Reggie Williams’ wallet, an officer told him: Don’t do anything bad and keep your ID on you.
To Williams, the warning echoed a slavery-era requirement that free African Americans carry documents to prove they weren’t enslaved.
(Published Nov. with @mlk50.com)
To Williams, the warning echoed a slavery-era requirement that free African Americans carry documents to prove they weren’t enslaved.
(Published Nov. with @mlk50.com)
“I Don’t Feel Safe”: Black Memphis Residents Report Harassment by Trump’s Police Task Force
A pastor was pulled over for looking lost. A 72-year-old was marched out in his bathrobe due to mistaken identity. Memphis’ mayor welcomed the federal law enforcement surge, but some residents say the...
www.propublica.org
December 23, 2025 at 4:00 AM
When police returned Reggie Williams’ wallet, an officer told him: Don’t do anything bad and keep your ID on you.
To Williams, the warning echoed a slavery-era requirement that free African Americans carry documents to prove they weren’t enslaved.
(Published Nov. with @mlk50.com)
To Williams, the warning echoed a slavery-era requirement that free African Americans carry documents to prove they weren’t enslaved.
(Published Nov. with @mlk50.com)
Reposted by Paul Willett
Looking forward to Nancy Mace’s condemnation of these men in a women’s bathroom.
ICE agents illegally break into a woman's bathroom in a NY nutrition bar manufacturing plant. "Pull up your pants," says a male agent. The agents only had a warrant to review employer documents. They didn't have a warrant to search for, detain, or arrest anyone there.
December 23, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Looking forward to Nancy Mace’s condemnation of these men in a women’s bathroom.
Reposted by Paul Willett
Tonight's sunset clouds. Holy mackerel.
December 22, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Tonight's sunset clouds. Holy mackerel.
Reposted by Paul Willett
Tonight's December Comfort Watch: Notting Hill, in which Julia Roberts, the most famous woman in the world at the time, plays Anna Scott, the most famous woman in the world at the time. Yes, it's typecasting, and yes, it absolutely works:
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/22/t...
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/22/t...
The December Comfort Watches 2025, Day Twenty-Two: Notting Hill
So, a story. More than a decade ago, I was having lunch with Tom Hanks, because he read my work and was a fan, and since I was in town on tour, he asked if he could meet me and I said, sure (actual…
whatever.scalzi.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Tonight's December Comfort Watch: Notting Hill, in which Julia Roberts, the most famous woman in the world at the time, plays Anna Scott, the most famous woman in the world at the time. Yes, it's typecasting, and yes, it absolutely works:
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/22/t...
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/22/t...
Reposted by Paul Willett
Everyone needs to see the 60 Minutes piece on Inside CECOT. If for no other reason, they don't want you to.
It's heartbreaking. And it should be Exhibit A in a bunch of criminal trials for Noem and others in a few years.
It's heartbreaking. And it should be Exhibit A in a bunch of criminal trials for Noem and others in a few years.
December 23, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Everyone needs to see the 60 Minutes piece on Inside CECOT. If for no other reason, they don't want you to.
It's heartbreaking. And it should be Exhibit A in a bunch of criminal trials for Noem and others in a few years.
It's heartbreaking. And it should be Exhibit A in a bunch of criminal trials for Noem and others in a few years.
Reposted by Paul Willett
After months of trying to conduct oversight of Broadview Processing Center, I finally gained access.
The conditions are inhumane.
We must hold DHS and Secretary Noem accountable for the pain and terror they are inflicting in our communities.
The conditions are inhumane.
We must hold DHS and Secretary Noem accountable for the pain and terror they are inflicting in our communities.
December 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
After months of trying to conduct oversight of Broadview Processing Center, I finally gained access.
The conditions are inhumane.
We must hold DHS and Secretary Noem accountable for the pain and terror they are inflicting in our communities.
The conditions are inhumane.
We must hold DHS and Secretary Noem accountable for the pain and terror they are inflicting in our communities.
Reposted by Paul Willett
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
December 23, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
Reposted by Paul Willett
From 2018 to 2024, the tax rate paid by eight major retailers was slashed from 30% to just 17.5%.
The CEOs of those major retailers were paid a collective $1.3 billion.
Meanwhile, the average worker at those stores was paid less than $32,000 in 2024.
Nothing trickled down.
The CEOs of those major retailers were paid a collective $1.3 billion.
Meanwhile, the average worker at those stores was paid less than $32,000 in 2024.
Nothing trickled down.
December 22, 2025 at 7:01 PM
From 2018 to 2024, the tax rate paid by eight major retailers was slashed from 30% to just 17.5%.
The CEOs of those major retailers were paid a collective $1.3 billion.
Meanwhile, the average worker at those stores was paid less than $32,000 in 2024.
Nothing trickled down.
The CEOs of those major retailers were paid a collective $1.3 billion.
Meanwhile, the average worker at those stores was paid less than $32,000 in 2024.
Nothing trickled down.
Reposted by Paul Willett
The most important thing about Bari Weiss is that Julius Streicher was hanged at Nuremberg
When you run propaganda for crimes against humanity, you commit crimes against humanity. I wonder how many of these fools know that
Weiss has now knowingly and publicly suppressed info on concentration camps
When you run propaganda for crimes against humanity, you commit crimes against humanity. I wonder how many of these fools know that
Weiss has now knowingly and publicly suppressed info on concentration camps
December 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The most important thing about Bari Weiss is that Julius Streicher was hanged at Nuremberg
When you run propaganda for crimes against humanity, you commit crimes against humanity. I wonder how many of these fools know that
Weiss has now knowingly and publicly suppressed info on concentration camps
When you run propaganda for crimes against humanity, you commit crimes against humanity. I wonder how many of these fools know that
Weiss has now knowingly and publicly suppressed info on concentration camps
Reposted by Paul Willett
Today is hard. Usually I wake up to all the apologies white people send me for being white. Then I use them to pay for my $100M mansion, 3 yachts & gold Ferrari.
Since Vance said white people don't have to apologize anymore, I haven't received ONE. Now how to pay for a diamond statue to myself?!
Since Vance said white people don't have to apologize anymore, I haven't received ONE. Now how to pay for a diamond statue to myself?!
December 22, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Today is hard. Usually I wake up to all the apologies white people send me for being white. Then I use them to pay for my $100M mansion, 3 yachts & gold Ferrari.
Since Vance said white people don't have to apologize anymore, I haven't received ONE. Now how to pay for a diamond statue to myself?!
Since Vance said white people don't have to apologize anymore, I haven't received ONE. Now how to pay for a diamond statue to myself?!
Reposted by Paul Willett
The Pentagon just failed their EIGHTH STRAIGHT AUDIT.
Congress cannot continue funneling hundreds of billions of dollars to a completely unaccountable agency while American families can’t afford food or health care. www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
Congress cannot continue funneling hundreds of billions of dollars to a completely unaccountable agency while American families can’t afford food or health care. www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
Pentagon fails financial audit for 8th year in a row
DOD is the only one of the government’s 24 major agencies never to pass.
www.militarytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The Pentagon just failed their EIGHTH STRAIGHT AUDIT.
Congress cannot continue funneling hundreds of billions of dollars to a completely unaccountable agency while American families can’t afford food or health care. www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
Congress cannot continue funneling hundreds of billions of dollars to a completely unaccountable agency while American families can’t afford food or health care. www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
Reposted by Paul Willett
"ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno has resigned to pursue another opportunity" is a surprisingly terse statement. Wonder what else is going on here? Very much doubt he's going to SpaceX, but Blue Origin is a possibility newsroom.ulalaunch.com/releases/sta...
Statement from ULA Board Chairs Robert Lightfoot and Kay Sears
Statement from Robert Lightfoot, ULA Lockheed Martin Board Chair and Kay Sears, ULA Boeing Board Chair
newsroom.ulalaunch.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:58 PM
"ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno has resigned to pursue another opportunity" is a surprisingly terse statement. Wonder what else is going on here? Very much doubt he's going to SpaceX, but Blue Origin is a possibility newsroom.ulalaunch.com/releases/sta...
Reposted by Paul Willett
