sfenster.bsky.social
@sfenster.bsky.social
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
December 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
This is as easy a test of your belief in the American system as is conceivable: Should this be an acceptable argument from a president?
December 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
This is as easy a test of your belief in the American system as is conceivable: Should this be an acceptable argument from a president?
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
It's actually worse. The Supreme Court has held 9-0 -- Clarence Thomas and other executive power fanatics included -- that detainees rendered to another country via the Alien Enemies Act are entitled to a pre-deportation hearing. There is no legal debate whatsoever.
Belatedly, this line from Weiss' memo is...something
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
December 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM
It's actually worse. The Supreme Court has held 9-0 -- Clarence Thomas and other executive power fanatics included -- that detainees rendered to another country via the Alien Enemies Act are entitled to a pre-deportation hearing. There is no legal debate whatsoever.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
US post-World War II scientific preeminence is in large part due to the fact that many of the world's best researchers found in our federal & expanding public higher education system the perfect place to work.
In just a few months, Trump & allies have wrecked so much of what was built over 75 yrs.
In just a few months, Trump & allies have wrecked so much of what was built over 75 yrs.
So you’re telling me that when your country welcomes talented people from around the globe, and brings them together in world-class universities, they make discoveries that save lives? Interesting.
UM researchers make breakthrough to treat form of leukemia
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
UM researchers make breakthrough to treat form of leukemia
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
UM researchers make breakthrough to treat form of leukemia
In part due to research by two University of Michigan researchers, a form of leukemia can be treated more easily through an FDA-approved drug.
www.detroitnews.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
US post-World War II scientific preeminence is in large part due to the fact that many of the world's best researchers found in our federal & expanding public higher education system the perfect place to work.
In just a few months, Trump & allies have wrecked so much of what was built over 75 yrs.
In just a few months, Trump & allies have wrecked so much of what was built over 75 yrs.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
Christmas is a cultural holiday as well as a religious one, so I don't really mind the Merry Christmas message. Merry Christmas, everyone! It's the statement that we all share a savior that goes way over the line. They really are trying to establish an official state religion.
December 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Christmas is a cultural holiday as well as a religious one, so I don't really mind the Merry Christmas message. Merry Christmas, everyone! It's the statement that we all share a savior that goes way over the line. They really are trying to establish an official state religion.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
Here’s the U.S. government being officially religious in a country with no official religion.
December 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Here’s the U.S. government being officially religious in a country with no official religion.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
“It turns out that banishing the slur from public discourse was, in fact, important. Because now it’s back and it turns out that it does matter when subtext becomes actual text, when terrible people enable open hatred and bigotry, encouraging others to emulate them, degrading us all.”
Perry: The return of the r-word
"These days, the r-word slur has become a staple of the American right wing, uttered with few professional or social consequences," David M. Perry writes.
www.startribune.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“It turns out that banishing the slur from public discourse was, in fact, important. Because now it’s back and it turns out that it does matter when subtext becomes actual text, when terrible people enable open hatred and bigotry, encouraging others to emulate them, degrading us all.”
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
Trump take State Department. (We already had a record number of embassy vacancies before this move; we haven't had an ambassador in Russia, for instance, since June.) www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump administration plans to promote loyal diplomats after recall of 30 ambassadors, sources say
Move comes as union representing US diplomats said it was ‘deeply concerned’ by the process, which could ‘politicise’ foreign service
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Trump take State Department. (We already had a record number of embassy vacancies before this move; we haven't had an ambassador in Russia, for instance, since June.) www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
they also can't say "what he FUCK did you just ask me?"
December 23, 2025 at 3:34 PM
they also can't say "what he FUCK did you just ask me?"
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
right, they can't say "that's a stupid question" or "I can't figure out how to answer that in a way that makes sense to me" or "actually let me answer a more interesting related question and see if that helps", at least right now.
December 23, 2025 at 3:34 PM
right, they can't say "that's a stupid question" or "I can't figure out how to answer that in a way that makes sense to me" or "actually let me answer a more interesting related question and see if that helps", at least right now.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
(And of course, what it confabulates, as you can probably predict well enough that there's no need to read any of that, isn't weird or interesting—just the sort of generic answer-shaped bullshit that is quite literally the most statistically probable answer to a question it can't answer.)
December 22, 2025 at 7:55 PM
(And of course, what it confabulates, as you can probably predict well enough that there's no need to read any of that, isn't weird or interesting—just the sort of generic answer-shaped bullshit that is quite literally the most statistically probable answer to a question it can't answer.)
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
The thing is, LLMs are a genuine (and late-Wittgenstein-vindicating) technological feat. It is impressive and interesting that a shape made of weighted tokens can stochastically arrive at a basically correct analysis of the (utterly conventional) logic behind my (very idiosyncratic) reaction.
December 22, 2025 at 7:55 PM
The thing is, LLMs are a genuine (and late-Wittgenstein-vindicating) technological feat. It is impressive and interesting that a shape made of weighted tokens can stochastically arrive at a basically correct analysis of the (utterly conventional) logic behind my (very idiosyncratic) reaction.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
yeah the gulf between "phrase a request as precisely as you can in natural language" and "have a gratingly cheerful back and forth with a computer program that is blowing smoke up your ass for some reason" is vast
December 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
yeah the gulf between "phrase a request as precisely as you can in natural language" and "have a gratingly cheerful back and forth with a computer program that is blowing smoke up your ass for some reason" is vast
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
And this is from the last days of first Trump administration. His own DOJ.
Among the newly-released Epstein files. This Justice Dept email from Jan 2020
'I wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported"
'I wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported"
December 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
And this is from the last days of first Trump administration. His own DOJ.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
Found the Associated Press article where the existence of this letter was first disclosed two years ago, in response to a FOIA request
It's definitely real
apnews.com/article/jeff...
It's definitely real
apnews.com/article/jeff...
December 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Found the Associated Press article where the existence of this letter was first disclosed two years ago, in response to a FOIA request
It's definitely real
apnews.com/article/jeff...
It's definitely real
apnews.com/article/jeff...
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
This appears to have been written just days before Epstein's suicide in August 2019.
December 23, 2025 at 6:40 AM
This appears to have been written just days before Epstein's suicide in August 2019.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
DOJ briefly uploaded this letter from Jeff Epstein to serial child molester Larry Nassar:
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
December 23, 2025 at 6:03 AM
DOJ briefly uploaded this letter from Jeff Epstein to serial child molester Larry Nassar:
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
This is critically important. Democrats need to pass it if they retake Congress. Trump will veto it. So pass it again. Campaign on it. Given current polling, corruption of the FBI, and the brutality of ICE and BP, there’s no better time to say, “Federal police are not above the law.”
Restoring Bivens rights: one bill "would allow citizens to sue for damages resulting from constitutional violations committed by federal officers," while the other "would create a cause of action against federal law enforcement agencies and police depts for constitutional violations."
These congressmen want to give you the right to sue federal law enforcement for violating your rights
The proposed bills aim to codify a 1971 Supreme Court ruling that allowed individuals to sue the feds for Fourth Amendment violations.
reason.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
This is critically important. Democrats need to pass it if they retake Congress. Trump will veto it. So pass it again. Campaign on it. Given current polling, corruption of the FBI, and the brutality of ICE and BP, there’s no better time to say, “Federal police are not above the law.”
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
Where we send you if we catch you inferring future events on the basis of resemblance to past occurrences. Or, at least, where we've sent people so far.
December 23, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Where we send you if we catch you inferring future events on the basis of resemblance to past occurrences. Or, at least, where we've sent people so far.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
Just as Marcy was one of the VERY few calling out Trump's political prosecutions of the first term, she's continually kept focus on the first political prosecution of this regime and the most ominous one—a member of Congress!
Why has LaMonica Iver gotten 1/1000th the coverage of Comey?
You know.
Why has LaMonica Iver gotten 1/1000th the coverage of Comey?
You know.
December 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Just as Marcy was one of the VERY few calling out Trump's political prosecutions of the first term, she's continually kept focus on the first political prosecution of this regime and the most ominous one—a member of Congress!
Why has LaMonica Iver gotten 1/1000th the coverage of Comey?
You know.
Why has LaMonica Iver gotten 1/1000th the coverage of Comey?
You know.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
"Her family has now been told she has been deported, despite US District Judge Brendan Hurson ruling Thursday that she could not be deported pending a hearing...attorneys said Monday that they have...confirm[ed] with the hospital she was born in Maryland." https://bit.ly/3MMdJvz
ICE detains woman whose lawyer insists is US citizen. DHS says she isn't
Federal agents arrested Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales on her way home in Baltimore, Maryland.
bit.ly
December 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"Her family has now been told she has been deported, despite US District Judge Brendan Hurson ruling Thursday that she could not be deported pending a hearing...attorneys said Monday that they have...confirm[ed] with the hospital she was born in Maryland." https://bit.ly/3MMdJvz
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
Yelling at SCOTUS works
Keep it up
Keep it up
Kavanaugh goes out of his way to pen a footnote not having to deal with the case at hand.
He appears to be trying to narrow the forces he unleashed with his prior opinion allowing for race- and ethnicity-based #KavanaughStops
He appears to be trying to narrow the forces he unleashed with his prior opinion allowing for race- and ethnicity-based #KavanaughStops
December 23, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Yelling at SCOTUS works
Keep it up
Keep it up
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
the most notable thing JD Vance has done in the last five years is tell vicious racist lies about immigrants. If you think he hasn't taken a side on bigotry, you are an idiot. He's for it. He's very strongly for it.
December 23, 2025 at 2:41 PM
the most notable thing JD Vance has done in the last five years is tell vicious racist lies about immigrants. If you think he hasn't taken a side on bigotry, you are an idiot. He's for it. He's very strongly for it.
Reposted by sfenster.bsky.social
On DOGE’s watch, federal spending did not go down at all. It went up. But is still led to cuts that closed offices, canceled programs and deprived people of food, medicine and other aid.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little?
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
On DOGE’s watch, federal spending did not go down at all. It went up. But is still led to cuts that closed offices, canceled programs and deprived people of food, medicine and other aid.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...