Kirk McElhearn
@kirkville.com
Lapsed New Yorker in Shakespeare's home town. I write and podcast about Apple, Scrivener, computer security, music, and photography.
kirkville.com
kirkville.com
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
I found a petition to ban smart glasses in public spaces that needs a bit of a boost, if anyone else feels strongly about this: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Petition: Ban the use of smart glasses with recording capability in public spaces
We ask the Government to ban smart glasses with cameras in public spaces. We believe they allow secret filming, and undermine privacy, safety and the public’s right to know when they’re being recorded...
petition.parliament.uk
January 24, 2026 at 9:04 AM
I found a petition to ban smart glasses in public spaces that needs a bit of a boost, if anyone else feels strongly about this: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Smart glasses *need* to be banned. Struggling to think of any value they actually bring to day to day life that outweighs the sickeningly easy ways they can be used to violate privacy.
What a thing that a) people are just wandering round secretly filming women and putting their details on the internet and b) that we have devised a piece of equipment to make that sneakier www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Women filmed in secret for TikTok content - then harassed online
So-called manfluencers wearing smart glasses approach women and then post videos to TikTok.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 24, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Smart glasses *need* to be banned. Struggling to think of any value they actually bring to day to day life that outweighs the sickeningly easy ways they can be used to violate privacy.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
CNN: DHS officials have come to FEMA staff and told them to limit the use of the word ice…they are worried that by posting something like, watch out for the ice, that it's going to become a meme….
January 24, 2026 at 12:07 AM
CNN: DHS officials have come to FEMA staff and told them to limit the use of the word ice…they are worried that by posting something like, watch out for the ice, that it's going to become a meme….
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Two women trained as first responders were abducted by three ICE agents. One of the agents starts seizing. The other two don’t know what to do. The women jump into action and save the agent’s life, only to be re-handcuffed and processed.
www.startribune.com/detained-by-...
www.startribune.com/detained-by-...
Detained by ICE, two women became first responders during agent’s seizure
The women say they guided agents through the emergency, later raising concerns about medical protocols, weapons safety and accountability.
www.startribune.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Two women trained as first responders were abducted by three ICE agents. One of the agents starts seizing. The other two don’t know what to do. The women jump into action and save the agent’s life, only to be re-handcuffed and processed.
www.startribune.com/detained-by-...
www.startribune.com/detained-by-...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
This is what secret police do and repressive regimes.
January 24, 2026 at 3:48 AM
This is what secret police do and repressive regimes.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
I've seen several popular movements in my lifetime and history now as someone who teaches comparative politics.
When people show up in the dead of winter, on a workday, when it is the most inconvenient because of cold, it shows how strongly they are motivated against the government.
When people show up in the dead of winter, on a workday, when it is the most inconvenient because of cold, it shows how strongly they are motivated against the government.
January 23, 2026 at 11:20 PM
I've seen several popular movements in my lifetime and history now as someone who teaches comparative politics.
When people show up in the dead of winter, on a workday, when it is the most inconvenient because of cold, it shows how strongly they are motivated against the government.
When people show up in the dead of winter, on a workday, when it is the most inconvenient because of cold, it shows how strongly they are motivated against the government.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
"Oh my gosh, it was so nice to see you! Have a lovely day, fuck ICE!"
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
January 23, 2026 at 11:17 PM
"Oh my gosh, it was so nice to see you! Have a lovely day, fuck ICE!"
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
Is Greenland in the Eurovision song contest?
(I usually don’t post AI generated videos, but this one is worth it.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS0w...
(I usually don’t post AI generated videos, but this one is worth it.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS0w...
Greenland Defense Front - The Hungry Giant (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by demonflyingfox
www.youtube.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Is Greenland in the Eurovision song contest?
(I usually don’t post AI generated videos, but this one is worth it.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS0w...
(I usually don’t post AI generated videos, but this one is worth it.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS0w...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
This is not a dunk whatsoever, but I wholeheartedly disagree with the first sentence. I'm old enough that a friend in my K class got polio and she ended up in a wheelchair for life. I think not vaccinating is akin to neglect like not feeding or clothing a child. And yes I have a kid.
I do think parents should absolutely have the right to choose not to vaccinate their kids.
I also think schools, sports teams, and other clubs or activities should absolutely have the right to exclude those who don’t want to participate in keeping these communities safe by getting vaccinated.
I also think schools, sports teams, and other clubs or activities should absolutely have the right to exclude those who don’t want to participate in keeping these communities safe by getting vaccinated.
January 23, 2026 at 8:08 PM
This is not a dunk whatsoever, but I wholeheartedly disagree with the first sentence. I'm old enough that a friend in my K class got polio and she ended up in a wheelchair for life. I think not vaccinating is akin to neglect like not feeding or clothing a child. And yes I have a kid.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
This got me to check how Windows 11 Home handles Bitlocker recovey keys. And while it does back them up automatically to your Microsoft account, you can save a copy elsewhere (like in an e2e-encrypted password manager) and then delete the uploaded key.
January 23, 2026 at 6:45 PM
This got me to check how Windows 11 Home handles Bitlocker recovey keys. And while it does back them up automatically to your Microsoft account, you can save a copy elsewhere (like in an e2e-encrypted password manager) and then delete the uploaded key.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
If you saw this happening in another country, what would you call it?
[Cartoon by Mike Luckovich]
[Cartoon by Mike Luckovich]
January 23, 2026 at 5:17 PM
If you saw this happening in another country, what would you call it?
[Cartoon by Mike Luckovich]
[Cartoon by Mike Luckovich]
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
A hero, a legend, a great and kind man.
A message from Eliza Carthy about her dad, #MartinCarthy
January 23, 2026 at 5:06 PM
A hero, a legend, a great and kind man.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
RFK Jr. appointee Kirk Milhoan has just clearly stated, out loud, that he wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread.
January 22, 2026 at 7:47 PM
RFK Jr. appointee Kirk Milhoan has just clearly stated, out loud, that he wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Honoured to be in this issue of @memoiresdulivre.bsky.social on visibility & publishing, eds @sarahbrouillette.bsky.social & @julienlf.bsky.social
Me & @michaelakralova.bsky.social wrote about publishing & translation, focusing on the sexy topic of metadata :-)
www.erudit.org/en/journals/...
Me & @michaelakralova.bsky.social wrote about publishing & translation, focusing on the sexy topic of metadata :-)
www.erudit.org/en/journals/...
Data, Discoverability, and Translation in the UK and Irish Book Markets – Mémoires du livre / Studies in Book Culture
An article from Mémoires du livre / Studies in Book Culture, on Érudit.
www.erudit.org
January 22, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Honoured to be in this issue of @memoiresdulivre.bsky.social on visibility & publishing, eds @sarahbrouillette.bsky.social & @julienlf.bsky.social
Me & @michaelakralova.bsky.social wrote about publishing & translation, focusing on the sexy topic of metadata :-)
www.erudit.org/en/journals/...
Me & @michaelakralova.bsky.social wrote about publishing & translation, focusing on the sexy topic of metadata :-)
www.erudit.org/en/journals/...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
New to Scrivener, or just want to get more organized? The #ScrivenerMadeSimple YouTube Playlist gives you short, powerful tutorials to keep you moving toward your writing goals.
Explore the videos here: buff.ly/IX0vVFs
Explore the videos here: buff.ly/IX0vVFs
January 23, 2026 at 10:50 AM
New to Scrivener, or just want to get more organized? The #ScrivenerMadeSimple YouTube Playlist gives you short, powerful tutorials to keep you moving toward your writing goals.
Explore the videos here: buff.ly/IX0vVFs
Explore the videos here: buff.ly/IX0vVFs
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
For anyone who's interested, James O'Brien is discussing Trump's comments about NATO on his programme this morning with traumtaised ex-military and bereaved families phoning in.
Callers in tears at the sense of betrayal and anger.
It makes for difficult listening.
@mrjamesob.bsky.social
Callers in tears at the sense of betrayal and anger.
It makes for difficult listening.
@mrjamesob.bsky.social
January 23, 2026 at 10:55 AM
For anyone who's interested, James O'Brien is discussing Trump's comments about NATO on his programme this morning with traumtaised ex-military and bereaved families phoning in.
Callers in tears at the sense of betrayal and anger.
It makes for difficult listening.
@mrjamesob.bsky.social
Callers in tears at the sense of betrayal and anger.
It makes for difficult listening.
@mrjamesob.bsky.social
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Quality performance art. Easy to parse, thematically relevant, kinda gross. Love it.
January 22, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Quality performance art. Easy to parse, thematically relevant, kinda gross. Love it.
It's amazing how much of a scam the student loan system is in the UK. It is run by the state, and turns people into indentured servants. The only upside is that, after 30 years of paying back the loan and not making a dent in the principle, the balance is wiped.
www.theguardian.com/money/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/money/2026/j...
Student loans: ‘My debt rose £20,000 to £77,000 even though I’m paying’
Millions of graduates are trapped by ballooning debts, as their repayments are dwarfed by the interest added
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:54 AM
It's amazing how much of a scam the student loan system is in the UK. It is run by the state, and turns people into indentured servants. The only upside is that, after 30 years of paying back the loan and not making a dent in the principle, the balance is wiped.
www.theguardian.com/money/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/money/2026/j...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
It is impossible to overstate how sinister this is. Not only is the US govt blatantly lying about recorded events like the killing of Renee Good and Trump mistaking Iceland for Greenland, they are now manipulating images to create a new digital record.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
White House posts digitally altered image of woman arrested after ICE protest
Guardian analysis shows images are the same, with Nekima Levy Armstrong looking composed in original but sobbing after alteration
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:01 AM
It is impossible to overstate how sinister this is. Not only is the US govt blatantly lying about recorded events like the killing of Renee Good and Trump mistaking Iceland for Greenland, they are now manipulating images to create a new digital record.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
TODAY, Friday January 23rd, 2026:
We are ALL residents of Minnesota.
We ALL want #ICE_OutForGOOD 🚫 🧊
Also: #ICE_OUT4ReneeGood 💔
We are ALL residents of Minnesota.
We ALL want #ICE_OutForGOOD 🚫 🧊
Also: #ICE_OUT4ReneeGood 💔
January 23, 2026 at 8:03 AM
TODAY, Friday January 23rd, 2026:
We are ALL residents of Minnesota.
We ALL want #ICE_OutForGOOD 🚫 🧊
Also: #ICE_OUT4ReneeGood 💔
We are ALL residents of Minnesota.
We ALL want #ICE_OutForGOOD 🚫 🧊
Also: #ICE_OUT4ReneeGood 💔
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Sir, you can’t break up with someone who already blocked your number
January 23, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Sir, you can’t break up with someone who already blocked your number
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
#Scrivener 3 on Windows & macOS Tip of the Day: Convert a PDF document into text by selecting the PDF in your binder and going to ‘Documents > Convert > PDF File to Text’.
January 23, 2026 at 6:06 AM
#Scrivener 3 on Windows & macOS Tip of the Day: Convert a PDF document into text by selecting the PDF in your binder and going to ‘Documents > Convert > PDF File to Text’.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
guys crazy idea what if every friday was a general strike
January 23, 2026 at 4:31 AM
guys crazy idea what if every friday was a general strike
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
I know I don't have a ton of media followers, but I'll put this out there anyway: if you need someone to comment/offer context on the removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philly, get in touch. I just finished an entire book on Americans' fight over Washington and slavery.
January 23, 2026 at 12:04 AM
I know I don't have a ton of media followers, but I'll put this out there anyway: if you need someone to comment/offer context on the removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philly, get in touch. I just finished an entire book on Americans' fight over Washington and slavery.