ABrockwell @aebrockwell@qoto.org

Democrats said “we’ll vote to re-open the government, without trying to fix any of the absolute horrors the Republicans have created, if Republicans will fund health insurance subsidies for one more year”.

Republicans said “fuck you, we’re going to starve children and take your healthcare”.

That’s it. That’s today’s shutdown development.

Let this sink in. The President of the United States is now appealing a court order forcing him to feed starving children.

Tried to do a lighthearted news morning then immediately got extremely sad. Do not read the news, people. No good can come of it. Something you don't see in the news is that somewhere on this crazy old rock, a load of people woke up full of peace and hope. Didn't have to face a bunch of horrors, yawned and stretched and made coffee and greeted the morning sun with a nice breakfast, and saw their loved ones and listened to music and were bathed in morning sunlight or listened warmly in thick jumpers to the calming rhythmic sound of rain against their window as they contemplated their day. Life is fucking delightful. Let that be in the news. News alert - some people fulfilled. Some people woke up, made love to their significant other, ate some sausages then went back to bed and read all day. Some people took a walk in the crisp autumnal morning light. Stick that in your pipe journo's.

Just witnessed a real Australia moment lol

@pluralistic

"The ethical is not halfway between white supremacists and human rights activists, rapists and feminists, synagogue massacrists and Jews, xenophobes and immigrants, delusional transphobes and trans people." -- Rebecca Solnit: On Not Meeting Nazis Halfway

Try my new file format, OCSV: Oxford Comma Separated Values

Peaceful protest has successfully driven Avelo out of Connecticut.

Protest matters.

Avelo Airlines should be ashamed. Call Avelo customer service at (346) 616-9500.

#AveloAirlines #AndrewLevy #ICE #NaziCollaborators #BoycottAvelo #USPol

2005: Don’t trust anything you see on Wikipedia

2025: Don’t trust anything you see online unless you saw it on Wikipedia

The Python Software Foundation shows more spine than every single tech giant in just one single decision.

> Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to the PSF’s values

https://pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-funding-statement.html

Anyone can become disabled.

Anyone can lose their job.

Anyone can become homeless.

Anyone can go hungry.

These are not moral failings. They can happen in an instant.

Most people are far closer to living in poverty than they realize.

We must fight for one another & for the most vulnerable.

Here is the ad which infuriated Trump so much, he does not want to continue trade talks with Canada.

I hope this gets a gazillion views.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pABUi669v3g

🎨: Claytoonz

The president.
Of the United States.
Used artificial intelligence.
To generate a video of himself.
Defecating on the American people.
And posted it to a social media site.
That he owns.
And there's no mention of it.
In the New York Times.

Instead, they went with this pressing news.

THIS.

You know how billionaires end up with severe cognitive deficits as a result of becoming surrounded by yes men who constantly tell them their every idea is genius? What if we made a bot that just does that to everyone. I think that would be great.

So if you're a Republican and kiss Trump's ass, you can commit crimes and get pardoned by Trump. And if you're a Democrat, you get charged with crimes you didn't commit.
Again, fascism to the core.

By popular request: here's the majority AI view, writing up the reasonable, thoughtful take on LLMs that (in my experience) the vast majority of people in tech hold, that gets overshadowed by the bluster and hype of the tycoons trying to shill their nonsense. https://www.anildash.com//2025/10/17/the-majority-ai-view/ Please share!

What should we make of Artificial Intelligence?

Here are some options... tick any you agree with... or add another in the replies

#AI

I took this photo on the beach today.
It reminded me that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
There really is.
My daughter worries about me running around in an inflatable costume. Today she wanted to be sure that I understand the gravity of politics right now. She asked that if I plan to protest in costume that I bring one of them with me so I have a support person just in case.
I had to gently tell her how much I appreciate their concern and love but that if I didn't understand the stakes I wouldn't even consider spending my retirement years dressing up as a chicken or cow. This is one of many things I can do. There are also things I can't do. I think my appetite for naked bike riding is nil.
I have always understood the risks of living on the same earth with the kind of people running our country.
I've dealt with small ignorant humans all my life. I will not let them see me be afraid.
We will win. Maybe not tomorrow, but we will prevail.