N.N. Scott
@nnscott.com
Archives and Records. Chicagoland.
"Unfortunately, a chimera bombinating in a vacuum is, nowadays, only too capable of producing secondary causes." -- Rudyard Kipling, 1905
"Unfortunately, a chimera bombinating in a vacuum is, nowadays, only too capable of producing secondary causes." -- Rudyard Kipling, 1905
If you see this, repost with your model of positive narcissism
December 7, 2025 at 1:16 AM
If you see this, repost with your model of positive narcissism
Unscientific conclusions:
-- *All* short-form video is mind-cancer garbage, a blight upon our time.
-- *Most* podcast-format programming is shallow, low-stakes, and grossly inefficient at conveying information.
-- *Some* (a minority) of long-form video is okay.
(source: I have YouTube premium)
-- *All* short-form video is mind-cancer garbage, a blight upon our time.
-- *Most* podcast-format programming is shallow, low-stakes, and grossly inefficient at conveying information.
-- *Some* (a minority) of long-form video is okay.
(source: I have YouTube premium)
It's weird, watching everybody except a relative few people either actively turning everything everywhere into complete garbage or else happily (or cluelessly) accepting that garbage.
I don't mean Facebook Reels, which was always mostly garbage. I mean everything.
I don't mean Facebook Reels, which was always mostly garbage. I mean everything.
December 7, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Unscientific conclusions:
-- *All* short-form video is mind-cancer garbage, a blight upon our time.
-- *Most* podcast-format programming is shallow, low-stakes, and grossly inefficient at conveying information.
-- *Some* (a minority) of long-form video is okay.
(source: I have YouTube premium)
-- *All* short-form video is mind-cancer garbage, a blight upon our time.
-- *Most* podcast-format programming is shallow, low-stakes, and grossly inefficient at conveying information.
-- *Some* (a minority) of long-form video is okay.
(source: I have YouTube premium)
Having watched far too many YouTube shorts recently, I have a strong feeling that one can detect the generated videos, with pretty good accuracy, on content alone. If it's "animal does something amazingly funny, sweet or brave" the red flag goes up. If it's "animal rescues a human" 100% fake
this was a nice video
it's also fake
and that makes it not a nice video
it's also fake
and that makes it not a nice video
Saturday Sweetness
Some shelters do something I love. They let the dog choose.
You sit in a quiet room. One dog walks in. No pressure. No scripts. The dog decides who feels safe.
A tiny reminder that sometimes the best connections happen when we let ourselves be chosen 🥹🫶🏻
Some shelters do something I love. They let the dog choose.
You sit in a quiet room. One dog walks in. No pressure. No scripts. The dog decides who feels safe.
A tiny reminder that sometimes the best connections happen when we let ourselves be chosen 🥹🫶🏻
December 6, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Having watched far too many YouTube shorts recently, I have a strong feeling that one can detect the generated videos, with pretty good accuracy, on content alone. If it's "animal does something amazingly funny, sweet or brave" the red flag goes up. If it's "animal rescues a human" 100% fake
As long as the cranks & psychos in charge keep promising low taxes, no regulations, & busting unions, the financiers in charge of the major media will be all in for them & Trump. I don't think we've accepted just how badly Joe Biden's support for unions enraged and scared some very rich Americans.
The fact that there’s barely a president is in fact a major national crisis, given who this (further) empowers
www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2025/12/the-...
www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2025/12/the-...
The fact that there's barely a president is in fact a major national crisis - Lawyers, Guns & Money
As Jason Linkins observes, in addition to the absurdly obvious double standard the relative lack of coverage that Trump’s very obvious physical and mental decline is receiving is particularly indefens...
www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:41 PM
As long as the cranks & psychos in charge keep promising low taxes, no regulations, & busting unions, the financiers in charge of the major media will be all in for them & Trump. I don't think we've accepted just how badly Joe Biden's support for unions enraged and scared some very rich Americans.
The CST article on this sad case, despite being front-and-center on their site, is rather brief & summary on details; mostly recounting Wilkerson's military career and achievements. This makes me wonder if there are other factors that the parties and justice system have chosen not to make public.
Former Cook County Judge Patricia Martin was sentenced Friday to four years of probation after pleading guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from World War II veteran Oscar Wilkerson Jr., who was one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen.
Stealing from one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen gets ex-Cook County judge 4 years of probation
chicago.suntimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The CST article on this sad case, despite being front-and-center on their site, is rather brief & summary on details; mostly recounting Wilkerson's military career and achievements. This makes me wonder if there are other factors that the parties and justice system have chosen not to make public.
This seems to be another example of what I've seen called "the quest to capture the next marginal user", the idea that the growth imperative incentivizes software, games, websites and entertainment to change so as to attract ever less-interested, less-attentive, and less-capable customers.
December 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
This seems to be another example of what I've seen called "the quest to capture the next marginal user", the idea that the growth imperative incentivizes software, games, websites and entertainment to change so as to attract ever less-interested, less-attentive, and less-capable customers.
It may be an example of how brain-pilled I've become on here that when I see someone post a link to something they wrote on their Substack, I just reflexively think of it as "something they wrote on their blog" with an inclination to dismiss it as non-serious. Not sure that's right, but it happens.
December 5, 2025 at 7:07 PM
It may be an example of how brain-pilled I've become on here that when I see someone post a link to something they wrote on their Substack, I just reflexively think of it as "something they wrote on their blog" with an inclination to dismiss it as non-serious. Not sure that's right, but it happens.
Apropos of nothing, a therapist once told me "You'd be astonished how many apparently ordinary people are only craving to receive ludicrous flattery. Fulsome, over-the-top compliments about their beauty, power, glamor and how much everyone loves them. Shakespeare had it 100% right in 'King Lear'."
the "ooooh" look he gets on his face when he sees the medal they gave him is sending me
just the world's largest toddler
just the world's largest toddler
December 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Apropos of nothing, a therapist once told me "You'd be astonished how many apparently ordinary people are only craving to receive ludicrous flattery. Fulsome, over-the-top compliments about their beauty, power, glamor and how much everyone loves them. Shakespeare had it 100% right in 'King Lear'."
It occurred to me recently that I hadn't seen the word "treatlerism" here in a long time, once common in the Discourse as a broadcast disparagement of the feckless short-term selfishness of Americans, etc. Went searching for it; still around but it does seem to have faded from use in the past year.
December 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
It occurred to me recently that I hadn't seen the word "treatlerism" here in a long time, once common in the Discourse as a broadcast disparagement of the feckless short-term selfishness of Americans, etc. Went searching for it; still around but it does seem to have faded from use in the past year.
"The internet is people, unfortunately."
-- Benedict Evans, 2021
-- Benedict Evans, 2021
between this and the literal Satanic Nazi cults, I'm beginning to think the internet was not a great idea.
December 5, 2025 at 5:20 AM
"The internet is people, unfortunately."
-- Benedict Evans, 2021
-- Benedict Evans, 2021
Without downloading any new pics, describe your vibe for today using an image from your gallery
December 4, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Without downloading any new pics, describe your vibe for today using an image from your gallery
The corollary, which I expect to see strong evidence of during the coming year from Big Tech, Crypto-World & the prestige USA media, will be "Which Dem is most like standard-GOP and *least* likely to pursue prosecution against Trump-orbit criminals, or to support better regulation and enforcement?"
The savvy political pivot for corporate leaders in 2026 is probably something like “We have to be mindful that future administrations could have a range of views and we don’t want to become a target by anchoring too much to the views of this administration.”
December 4, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The corollary, which I expect to see strong evidence of during the coming year from Big Tech, Crypto-World & the prestige USA media, will be "Which Dem is most like standard-GOP and *least* likely to pursue prosecution against Trump-orbit criminals, or to support better regulation and enforcement?"
I still wonder what incentivizes the media's behavior toward DJT. My current guess is it's 1/3 that they love him cause he makes great TV, 1/3 that their rich owners like GOP economics & don't care about the rest, & 1/3 that he doesn't acknowledge their influence & they have nothing to hit him with.
If Biden had said even 5% of this it would be regarded as a profound moment that stained the office, cast a shadow over his presidency, and probably constituted an existential political crisis. But Trump says it and everyone’s like “What a goof! Next, in the latest news about trade negotiations…”
December 3, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I still wonder what incentivizes the media's behavior toward DJT. My current guess is it's 1/3 that they love him cause he makes great TV, 1/3 that their rich owners like GOP economics & don't care about the rest, & 1/3 that he doesn't acknowledge their influence & they have nothing to hit him with.
A good example of why it's usually a bad idea to investigate the political and social opinions of any creative artist, performer, musician or sports figure we admire.
It's weird when you first discover that Wizard of Oz author Frank L Baum was an enthusiastic supporter of the genociding of indigenous Americans. In years to come, people who vaguely know Harry Potter as an omnipresent kids' entertainment will be similarly shocked to discover Rowling's beliefs.
December 3, 2025 at 2:33 PM
A good example of why it's usually a bad idea to investigate the political and social opinions of any creative artist, performer, musician or sports figure we admire.
He says this because he sees no downside. In our media environment the fact that he said it will be forgotten in a few days (the prestige media has no interest in recalling GOP statements like this) but if he said the other thing he might soon have a crazy rando coming to his home with a shotgun.
Sen. Roger Marshall on Trump's health: "I'll work 110 hours a week. He outworks me. He's the first person I've ever known that works harder than I do. He runs around that golf course. He's in incredible shape right now. And you talk about sharp! He's playing 4 dimensional chess"
December 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM
He says this because he sees no downside. In our media environment the fact that he said it will be forgotten in a few days (the prestige media has no interest in recalling GOP statements like this) but if he said the other thing he might soon have a crazy rando coming to his home with a shotgun.
I realize it's a bit beside the point but I ate breakfast at a Bob Evans in Cleveland not long ago and was, to be honest, kind of disappointed
In this Ohio town, it was tradition: Latin mass, biscuits and gravy at Bob Evans, and then down to the old marina to shoot a bunch of fishermen and claim they were running drugs. But now the woke mob wants to take all that away.
December 3, 2025 at 1:57 PM
I realize it's a bit beside the point but I ate breakfast at a Bob Evans in Cleveland not long ago and was, to be honest, kind of disappointed
Wondering if there's a rubric to identifying which current discourse is cancer on here because when one is, *anything* triggers it. Any attempt to get perspective & discuss the discourse as a discourse, will be soon pulled back into the "you're wrong--no you're wrong" of the first-order dispute.
we talk a lot about how modern info technology screws people up but the Falklands discourse is highlighting that maps do that too
December 2, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Wondering if there's a rubric to identifying which current discourse is cancer on here because when one is, *anything* triggers it. Any attempt to get perspective & discuss the discourse as a discourse, will be soon pulled back into the "you're wrong--no you're wrong" of the first-order dispute.
From the Chicago Sun-Times today, about the State of Illinois online auctions of un-needed property:
"The warehouse takes deliveries of 300 to 400 pounds of knives every other week, mostly items Transportation Security Administration agents have confiscated at Chicago’s major airports."
"The warehouse takes deliveries of 300 to 400 pounds of knives every other week, mostly items Transportation Security Administration agents have confiscated at Chicago’s major airports."
December 1, 2025 at 7:12 PM
From the Chicago Sun-Times today, about the State of Illinois online auctions of un-needed property:
"The warehouse takes deliveries of 300 to 400 pounds of knives every other week, mostly items Transportation Security Administration agents have confiscated at Chicago’s major airports."
"The warehouse takes deliveries of 300 to 400 pounds of knives every other week, mostly items Transportation Security Administration agents have confiscated at Chicago’s major airports."
In the 1960s Dan Blocker, who starred in the TV Western series "Bonanza" was approached somewhere by a rancher with advice about cattle raising. Blocker said, "You know it's just a TV show and I'm a Hollywood actor". The Rancher said, "Of course I know that. Now when you get back to the ranch..."
I just don't understand how anything gets done in this country. Look at the comments. Tons of those people seem to sincerely believe this shit is real, or else -- and I think this is the telling part -- they know it's fake but *decide to pretend like they think it's real*.
December 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
In the 1960s Dan Blocker, who starred in the TV Western series "Bonanza" was approached somewhere by a rancher with advice about cattle raising. Blocker said, "You know it's just a TV show and I'm a Hollywood actor". The Rancher said, "Of course I know that. Now when you get back to the ranch..."
No relation to today's discourse 🙄
December 1, 2025 at 3:55 PM
No relation to today's discourse 🙄
No one's anti-tech: we're all posting here! People are anti- the seven richest men on earth forcing out something that enormously empowers themselves & a tiny cohort of already empowered people, at the expense of everyone else. Empowerment is TO resist, not to go along. Laws and regs ARE power.
November 30, 2025 at 11:12 PM
No one's anti-tech: we're all posting here! People are anti- the seven richest men on earth forcing out something that enormously empowers themselves & a tiny cohort of already empowered people, at the expense of everyone else. Empowerment is TO resist, not to go along. Laws and regs ARE power.
People on here argue far too much about what ought to be done, and do not spend enough time exploring what is happening (most of which never gets mentioned here) or discussing what's most likely to happen next. Every discussion seems to get derailed into shout-fights about what ought to be.
November 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
People on here argue far too much about what ought to be done, and do not spend enough time exploring what is happening (most of which never gets mentioned here) or discussing what's most likely to happen next. Every discussion seems to get derailed into shout-fights about what ought to be.
The divide seems to be already manifesting itself but what I see is not quite that: it's between people who actually have to do work, create things, make order out of chaos and so on, vs. the admin-exec-oids whose work consists of attending meetings and receiving or generating various reports.
In the future, the divide will be between people who use AI and people who can read, write, and process information. You’re choosing to make yourself dumber when you rely on AI. You’re going to be in situations where AI can’t help (social skills, thinking on your feet) and you’ll be screwed.
November 29, 2025 at 8:49 PM
The divide seems to be already manifesting itself but what I see is not quite that: it's between people who actually have to do work, create things, make order out of chaos and so on, vs. the admin-exec-oids whose work consists of attending meetings and receiving or generating various reports.
Being an account on here that people don't really need to follow because all of your better posts will be bounced or quoted into their feed, is the Bluesky equivalent of when George Bernard Shaw was so famous that a postal letter addressed only with a hand-drawn caricature of him reached him.
November 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Being an account on here that people don't really need to follow because all of your better posts will be bounced or quoted into their feed, is the Bluesky equivalent of when George Bernard Shaw was so famous that a postal letter addressed only with a hand-drawn caricature of him reached him.
Counterpoint: for all its weaknesses "The Star-Spangled Banner" at bottom asks a question: "Is the USA still standing? Is it still here? Are its people still brave and free? Will it live another day?" It's the only national anthem I know of that does this. I find that profound.
One of my theories is that timelines where our national anthem is "This Land is Your Land" are the best timelines. Those with "America the Beautiful" are mid. And those with "Star Spangled Banner" are all in the Realm of Thud.
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November 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Counterpoint: for all its weaknesses "The Star-Spangled Banner" at bottom asks a question: "Is the USA still standing? Is it still here? Are its people still brave and free? Will it live another day?" It's the only national anthem I know of that does this. I find that profound.