Chris Lay
@chrislay.bsky.social
Villen, lefty, runner, engineer, in that order.
Formerly @christopherlay on the former birdsite.
Formerly chrislay on Zuckbook.
Also @chrislay at extinct pachyderm dot online.
Some ville, Mass
Formerly @christopherlay on the former birdsite.
Formerly chrislay on Zuckbook.
Also @chrislay at extinct pachyderm dot online.
Some ville, Mass
Pinned
Chris Lay
@chrislay.bsky.social
· Jul 24
An idea: UBI+JG. The SOEs staffed by the JG produce the basket of goods and services necessary to dignified material existence and participation in society, priced so that the whole basket costs the UBI. The UBI is fully taxed away by progressive income tax by the time you get to 1.5x median income.
Reposted by Chris Lay
Yes, there are a few areas where public spending is too generous and a bit more neoliberalism would be a good thing. Roads and parking are a big one. Cops are another.
December 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Yes, there are a few areas where public spending is too generous and a bit more neoliberalism would be a good thing. Roads and parking are a big one. Cops are another.
Reposted by Chris Lay
Less than a week after they were installed, many of the flex posts on the BU bridge have been destroyed by vehicles. Appreciate the thought but cyclists clearly need more protection at these intersections.
December 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Less than a week after they were installed, many of the flex posts on the BU bridge have been destroyed by vehicles. Appreciate the thought but cyclists clearly need more protection at these intersections.
Reposted by Chris Lay
Also the first English translation of "Just A Gigolo"…
"Georgia On My Mind," "I Got Rhythm," & "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" Among Standards Entering Public Domain In 2026
New Year’s Day also marks Public Domain Day, when the copyrights for thousands of published works expire, allowing anyone to freely record, perform, or interpolate them. This time around that means mu...
stereogum.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Also the first English translation of "Just A Gigolo"…
Reposted by Chris Lay
On New Year’s Day the copyrights for thousands of works expire, allowing anyone to freely record, perform, or interpolate them. That includes compositions (music and lyrics, not recordings) from 1930 including standards like “Georgia On My Mind,” “Dream A Little Dream Of Me,” and “I Got Rhythm.”
December 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
On New Year’s Day the copyrights for thousands of works expire, allowing anyone to freely record, perform, or interpolate them. That includes compositions (music and lyrics, not recordings) from 1930 including standards like “Georgia On My Mind,” “Dream A Little Dream Of Me,” and “I Got Rhythm.”
Reposted by Chris Lay
Shinju, 2016 by Kazuyuki Futagawa 二川和之 www.instagram.com/kazuyuki_fut...
December 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Shinju, 2016 by Kazuyuki Futagawa 二川和之 www.instagram.com/kazuyuki_fut...
Reposted by Chris Lay
Always a good reminder that, for all the US government's rhetoric around combating drug trafficking, it's often involved itself. prospect.org/2025/12/23/n...
The Narco-Terrorist Elite - The American Prospect
Why is Marco Rubio so hell-bent on making Iran-Contra again?
prospect.org
December 23, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Always a good reminder that, for all the US government's rhetoric around combating drug trafficking, it's often involved itself. prospect.org/2025/12/23/n...
Reposted by Chris Lay
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 Chris Lay
Retired 27-year FBI agent Brian Carroll, who specialized in managing exactly the type of cases like the Brown University shooting, explains all the ways in which Kash Patel just ain't it. Really great inside analysis:
prospect.org/2025/12/23/k...
prospect.org/2025/12/23/k...
The Empty Suit - The American Prospect
How FBI Director Kash Patel undermines the FBI’s performance and credibility.
prospect.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Retired 27-year FBI agent Brian Carroll, who specialized in managing exactly the type of cases like the Brown University shooting, explains all the ways in which Kash Patel just ain't it. Really great inside analysis:
prospect.org/2025/12/23/k...
prospect.org/2025/12/23/k...
Reposted by Chris Lay
Here are some screenshots of some of the most bonkers things the CEO of Roblox said in a recent interview with NYT www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/p...
December 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Here are some screenshots of some of the most bonkers things the CEO of Roblox said in a recent interview with NYT www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/p...
Reposted by Chris Lay
For @rollingstone.com, I wrote about the making of the myth of sheriff Buford Pusser, and how recent revelations that he was likely responsible for the 1967 murder of his wife, Pauline, undercuts that myth -- and begs for a new narrative about intimate partner violence and family trauma.
He Was a Legendary Sheriff Who Inspired a Movie. Did He Also Murder His Wife?
When Buford Pusser’s wife was killed, his grief turned into the movie ‘Walking Tall.’ But a new report from investigators suggests it was all a lie.
www.rollingstone.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:59 PM
For @rollingstone.com, I wrote about the making of the myth of sheriff Buford Pusser, and how recent revelations that he was likely responsible for the 1967 murder of his wife, Pauline, undercuts that myth -- and begs for a new narrative about intimate partner violence and family trauma.
Reposted by Chris Lay
MAGA radio gets an earful about disparities people face based on race when pursuing an apartment or mortgage.
Glad Mayor Wu is finding allies, including Armani White of Reclaim Roxbury, willing to speak up.
Glad Mayor Wu is finding allies, including Armani White of Reclaim Roxbury, willing to speak up.
December 23, 2025 at 2:57 PM
MAGA radio gets an earful about disparities people face based on race when pursuing an apartment or mortgage.
Glad Mayor Wu is finding allies, including Armani White of Reclaim Roxbury, willing to speak up.
Glad Mayor Wu is finding allies, including Armani White of Reclaim Roxbury, willing to speak up.
Reposted by Chris Lay
woah, woah, woah. Are you telling me Abundance created a strawman argument that actually wasn't the issue? And, can't be fixed through deregulation?? Big, if true.
When environmental groups do sue, they target ecosystems, water, and climate—not urban housing. The Sierra Club fights groundwater extraction. The Center for Biological Diversity protects endangered species. They’re almost never in court over apartment buildings or affordable housing.
December 22, 2025 at 11:08 PM
woah, woah, woah. Are you telling me Abundance created a strawman argument that actually wasn't the issue? And, can't be fixed through deregulation?? Big, if true.
Reposted by Chris Lay
Mayor @wutrain.bsky.social let’s do it too
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 2:58 PM
Mayor @wutrain.bsky.social let’s do it too
Reposted by Chris Lay
cmon this must already exist. Don't make me call it "Tweety's Law" or something loathsome like that
I feel like there should be a named curve of the decreasing effectiveness of automation if you’re trying to actually do good work
December 23, 2025 at 1:35 PM
cmon this must already exist. Don't make me call it "Tweety's Law" or something loathsome like that
Reposted by Chris Lay
feels like pam bondi is pushing trump onto the tracks to save herself from bipartisan impeachment. real sinking ship behavior
The DOJ is not even trying to hide that it functions as Trump's personal law firm
December 23, 2025 at 1:44 PM
feels like pam bondi is pushing trump onto the tracks to save herself from bipartisan impeachment. real sinking ship behavior
Reposted by Chris Lay
A bunch of commentators are busy qualifying this like “well what if it’s fake” and I submit to you that’s the whole problem, piles of piles of evidence exist on every vector and the reflex is to let him of the hook like “well what would constitute PROOF”
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 1:03 PM
A bunch of commentators are busy qualifying this like “well what if it’s fake” and I submit to you that’s the whole problem, piles of piles of evidence exist on every vector and the reflex is to let him of the hook like “well what would constitute PROOF”
Reposted by Chris Lay
Conservatives absolutely do not fret about whether evidence is fully buttoned up and they do not bear a political cost for it
December 23, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Conservatives absolutely do not fret about whether evidence is fully buttoned up and they do not bear a political cost for it
Reposted by Chris Lay
Pure fanaticism, just objectively bad policy especially while building all these new data centers. But also an opportunity for Democrats to say loudly, over and over again, that Trump and Republicans are making everything more expensive. Higher electricity costs impact everything.
Trump Halts Five Wind Farms Off the East Coast
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Pure fanaticism, just objectively bad policy especially while building all these new data centers. But also an opportunity for Democrats to say loudly, over and over again, that Trump and Republicans are making everything more expensive. Higher electricity costs impact everything.
Reposted by Chris Lay
these are the kind of numbers that, *at the end of a president's term*, herald a total wipeout for his party in the next election.
we are in december of year one.
we are in december of year one.
![Gallup poll | 12/1-12/15
President Trump approval crosstabs (%)
🟥Overall (59/36 disapprove) [-23]
🟥Democratic (93/3 disapprove) [-90]
🟩Republican (89/8 approve) [+81]
🟥Independent (68/25 disapprove) [-43]
🟥18-34 (68/25 disapprove) [-43]
🟥35-54 (59/36 disapprove) [-23]
🟥55+ (53/43 disapprove) [-10]
🟥No college (55/37 disapprove) [-18]
🟥College graduate (59/37 disapprove) [-22]
🟥Male (53/42 disapprove) [-11]
🟥Female (64/30 disapprove) [-34]
🟥White (52/46 disapprove) [-6]
🟥Non-white (71/21 disapprove) [-50]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hbpefio3f5csc44msmbgioxz/bafkreifnv6vxufu6icjvsd5toirz3lmqkzertdpdnlqh7q44momevhfjqq@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 2:26 AM
these are the kind of numbers that, *at the end of a president's term*, herald a total wipeout for his party in the next election.
we are in december of year one.
we are in december of year one.
Reposted by Chris Lay
Cool how we are smuggling domestic news in over the border from canada and people having to share it on bulletproof hosting providers to stop the government and media owners taking it down
December 23, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Cool how we are smuggling domestic news in over the border from canada and people having to share it on bulletproof hosting providers to stop the government and media owners taking it down
Reposted by Chris Lay
Some absolutely top notch orange cattery here
October 24, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Some absolutely top notch orange cattery here
Reposted by Chris Lay
Superb piece on why “AI” is bad user design from @sifu.tweety.fish - and why AI proponents and skeptics so frequently seem to be talking completely past each other.
buttondown.com/apperceptive...
buttondown.com/apperceptive...
"AI" is bad UX
teapot from the cover of Don Norman’s “The Design of Everyday Things” clumsily ‘shopped by me "AI" means bad UX There is an emergent strain of thought in...
buttondown.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Superb piece on why “AI” is bad user design from @sifu.tweety.fish - and why AI proponents and skeptics so frequently seem to be talking completely past each other.
buttondown.com/apperceptive...
buttondown.com/apperceptive...
Reposted by Chris Lay
OK I've watched it.
One key piece that hasn't been discussed: DHS didn't just decline to comment, they explicitly referred all questions to El Salvador.
One key piece that hasn't been discussed: DHS didn't just decline to comment, they explicitly referred all questions to El Salvador.
December 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM
OK I've watched it.
One key piece that hasn't been discussed: DHS didn't just decline to comment, they explicitly referred all questions to El Salvador.
One key piece that hasn't been discussed: DHS didn't just decline to comment, they explicitly referred all questions to El Salvador.
Reposted by Chris Lay
watching the CECOT 60 Minutes segment that CBS suppressed, it’s striking that Weiss specifically called out as unnecessary some of the most rigorous investigative work in the segment, including an explanation of how it was done (by human rights researchers)
December 22, 2025 at 11:07 PM
watching the CECOT 60 Minutes segment that CBS suppressed, it’s striking that Weiss specifically called out as unnecessary some of the most rigorous investigative work in the segment, including an explanation of how it was done (by human rights researchers)