Bill Shein
@billshein.bsky.social
Writer. Journalist. Friend to animals. Graying rapidly. Founder: The RGM Dispatch (coming soon). Current/former: berkshireargus.com
Pinned
Bill Shein
@billshein.bsky.social
· Sep 9
I thought this was poems by Vikings and was *very disappointed* to discover otherwise.
Speaking as an amateur astronomer: This is already a huge, and growing, problem. We are threatening the future of vital science, not to mention changing the f’ing night sky and undermining our enjoyment of it. What will be left for future humans?
The roughly 15,000 satellites in space are already a nuisance to astronomy research. It could get a LOT worse.
www.cbc.ca/news/science...
www.cbc.ca/news/science...
Launching hundreds of thousands of satellites will threaten space research, scientists warn | CBC News
We've all come to appreciate the beautiful images space telescopes provide us of galaxies, nebulas and more, but they also provide astronomers with important scientific information about our universe....
www.cbc.ca
December 4, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Speaking as an amateur astronomer: This is already a huge, and growing, problem. We are threatening the future of vital science, not to mention changing the f’ing night sky and undermining our enjoyment of it. What will be left for future humans?
I’m not a sophisticated political analyst by any means. But I have a strong hunch that the sound of the vice president pounding on the Cabinet Room table, with glee, as the president concludes a racist rant about Somali-Americans will not age well as 2028 approaches.
Trump Calls Somalis ‘Garbage’ He Doesn’t Want in the Country
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:34 PM
I’m not a sophisticated political analyst by any means. But I have a strong hunch that the sound of the vice president pounding on the Cabinet Room table, with glee, as the president concludes a racist rant about Somali-Americans will not age well as 2028 approaches.
Reposted by Bill Shein
Don’t show any reaction, but the man to my right, looking up at me, has been holding me hostage for several weeks. Nonchalantly take the paper out of my pocket and give it to the police. It explains everything.
December 3, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Don’t show any reaction, but the man to my right, looking up at me, has been holding me hostage for several weeks. Nonchalantly take the paper out of my pocket and give it to the police. It explains everything.
“We have come for those cookies you’re eating.”
December 3, 2025 at 1:40 AM
“We have come for those cookies you’re eating.”
Reposted by Bill Shein
This is probably fine
“Buy now pay later” services drove $747.5 million in online spending on Black Friday. That’s about 6 percent of what Americans spent online that day.
December 2, 2025 at 8:07 PM
This is probably fine
But wait, again, I was told this is, well, it’s not possible!
New Zealand generated more electricity from solar than from fossil fuels last week (excluding co-gen).
Off the back of 98 percent renewable generation over the week, prices fell again to $54/MWh - meaning power prices of 5 cents/kwh for the energy component of domestic consumers.
Off the back of 98 percent renewable generation over the week, prices fell again to $54/MWh - meaning power prices of 5 cents/kwh for the energy component of domestic consumers.
December 3, 2025 at 1:25 AM
But wait, again, I was told this is, well, it’s not possible!
Now *that* is a fine looking 1914 postcard. Who’s a good boy?
December 2, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Now *that* is a fine looking 1914 postcard. Who’s a good boy?
Haven’t been able to finish watching the Ken Burns thing yet. How’s it turn out at the end?
December 2, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Haven’t been able to finish watching the Ken Burns thing yet. How’s it turn out at the end?
They just told their leader that gas prices are as low as $1.99. I guess facts aren't allowed in these North Korean cabinet meetings.
December 2, 2025 at 6:11 PM
They just told their leader that gas prices are as low as $1.99. I guess facts aren't allowed in these North Korean cabinet meetings.
Watching this fascinating cabinet meeting live from North Korea right now. You wouldn’t believe it.
December 2, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Watching this fascinating cabinet meeting live from North Korea right now. You wouldn’t believe it.
December 2, 2025 at 5:35 PM
By the way, that’s a portrait of President James Polk behind Hegseth in the Oval Office.
Polk invented the modern war playbook: decide the prize, provoke the fight, claim innocence, call it destiny.
He lied us into war with Mexico and laid the groundwork for the Civil War.
FYI.
Polk invented the modern war playbook: decide the prize, provoke the fight, claim innocence, call it destiny.
He lied us into war with Mexico and laid the groundwork for the Civil War.
FYI.
December 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
By the way, that’s a portrait of President James Polk behind Hegseth in the Oval Office.
Polk invented the modern war playbook: decide the prize, provoke the fight, claim innocence, call it destiny.
He lied us into war with Mexico and laid the groundwork for the Civil War.
FYI.
Polk invented the modern war playbook: decide the prize, provoke the fight, claim innocence, call it destiny.
He lied us into war with Mexico and laid the groundwork for the Civil War.
FYI.
December 2, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Oh, so now we’re down from a forecast of 11 inches to just 5? Will it drop further until we’re just getting a dusting?
Great. Just great.
CUT TO: SHEIN’s basement, filled frantically yesterday with a prepper’s supply of dehydrated foodstuffs, 500 gallons of water, a live-in tutor for the kids, etc
Great. Just great.
CUT TO: SHEIN’s basement, filled frantically yesterday with a prepper’s supply of dehydrated foodstuffs, 500 gallons of water, a live-in tutor for the kids, etc
December 2, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Oh, so now we’re down from a forecast of 11 inches to just 5? Will it drop further until we’re just getting a dusting?
Great. Just great.
CUT TO: SHEIN’s basement, filled frantically yesterday with a prepper’s supply of dehydrated foodstuffs, 500 gallons of water, a live-in tutor for the kids, etc
Great. Just great.
CUT TO: SHEIN’s basement, filled frantically yesterday with a prepper’s supply of dehydrated foodstuffs, 500 gallons of water, a live-in tutor for the kids, etc
This is like reporting what happened at the roulette wheel or Blackjack table in a casino.
Bitcoin briefly dropped below $86,000 early on Monday, reversing the recovery it mounted last week following its worst month since the 2021 crypto crash.
Bitcoin Slides More Than 5% As Crypto Selloff Resumes
Bitcoin briefly dropped below $86,000 early on Monday, reversing the recovery it mounted last week following its worst month since the 2021 crypto crash.
www.forbes.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:33 AM
This is like reporting what happened at the roulette wheel or Blackjack table in a casino.
Reposted by Bill Shein
Reposted by Bill Shein
Crypto Leaders Call For Infusion Of 20 Million Dopes To Stabilize Market
Crypto Leaders Call For Infusion Of 20 Million Dopes To Stabilize Market
BOSTON—Stressing that the move would help keep digital currencies liquid through the coming year, crypto leaders called for an infusion of 20 million dopes Thursday to stabilize the market. “We’re cal...
theonion.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Crypto Leaders Call For Infusion Of 20 Million Dopes To Stabilize Market
“Another person said some of Hegseth’s top civilian staff appeared deeply alarmed about the revelations and were contemplating whether to leave the administration.”
Hegseth, with White House help, tries to distance himself from boat strike fallout
As Congress vows accountability, the Trump administration emphasized it was a top military commander — not the defense secretary — who directed the engagement.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:07 AM
“Another person said some of Hegseth’s top civilian staff appeared deeply alarmed about the revelations and were contemplating whether to leave the administration.”
Two books on the new(ish) shelf at my local library. Read most of the Buckley book recently and will clear the #TBR deck for “Baldwin: A Love Story” by Nicholas Boggs so I can read it over the holidays.
Yep, just need to finish about 10 other books (for work and play) in three weeks … 🤷♂️ #booksky
Yep, just need to finish about 10 other books (for work and play) in three weeks … 🤷♂️ #booksky
December 2, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Reposted by Bill Shein
‘You boy! How do I unsubscribe from all these Black Friday emails?’
December 1, 2025 at 7:42 AM
‘You boy! How do I unsubscribe from all these Black Friday emails?’
Reposted by Bill Shein
Meet two heroes of our times.
December 1, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Meet two heroes of our times.
Reposted by Bill Shein
My cartoon in this weeks @newyorker.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM
My cartoon in this weeks @newyorker.com
Preparing for the snowstorm, the pets are.
December 2, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Preparing for the snowstorm, the pets are.
"Truth is what you can get other people to believe."
--Tommy Smothers
--Tommy Smothers
December 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM
"Truth is what you can get other people to believe."
--Tommy Smothers
--Tommy Smothers