Bill Shein
@billshein.bsky.social
Writer. Journalist. Friend to animals. Graying rapidly. Founder: The RGM Dispatch (coming soon). Current/former: berkshireargus.com
Remember this?
The Great Thin Elvis vs. Somewhat Larger Elvis USPS Election of 1992.
Um, sorry: The young Elvis vs. the more mature Elvis.
Just found in a mixed lot o’ stuff. #philately #stampcollecting
The Great Thin Elvis vs. Somewhat Larger Elvis USPS Election of 1992.
Um, sorry: The young Elvis vs. the more mature Elvis.
Just found in a mixed lot o’ stuff. #philately #stampcollecting
December 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Remember this?
The Great Thin Elvis vs. Somewhat Larger Elvis USPS Election of 1992.
Um, sorry: The young Elvis vs. the more mature Elvis.
Just found in a mixed lot o’ stuff. #philately #stampcollecting
The Great Thin Elvis vs. Somewhat Larger Elvis USPS Election of 1992.
Um, sorry: The young Elvis vs. the more mature Elvis.
Just found in a mixed lot o’ stuff. #philately #stampcollecting
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.”
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?
December 2, 2025 at 6:52 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.
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.
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
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
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
Oh, come on now: Who among us can honestly say they’ve *never*, even *once*, orchestrated a decades-long drug-trafficking scheme that ravaged a country AND sent 500 tons of cocaine to the United States?
Sheesh, it’s amazing we’re *all* not in jail for 45 years, amirite?
Pardons all around, please.
Sheesh, it’s amazing we’re *all* not in jail for 45 years, amirite?
Pardons all around, please.
December 1, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Oh, come on now: Who among us can honestly say they’ve *never*, even *once*, orchestrated a decades-long drug-trafficking scheme that ravaged a country AND sent 500 tons of cocaine to the United States?
Sheesh, it’s amazing we’re *all* not in jail for 45 years, amirite?
Pardons all around, please.
Sheesh, it’s amazing we’re *all* not in jail for 45 years, amirite?
Pardons all around, please.
Daniel: “So what’s the goal, Mr. Miyagi?”
Miyagi: “Strong floor. No ceiling.”
Daniel: “I don’t get it.”
Miyagi: “Floor keep you standing. Ceiling only limit how high you grow.”
Daniel (after a long beat): Yeah, I gotta go.
Miyagi: “Strong floor. No ceiling.”
Daniel: “I don’t get it.”
Miyagi: “Floor keep you standing. Ceiling only limit how high you grow.”
Daniel (after a long beat): Yeah, I gotta go.
December 1, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Daniel: “So what’s the goal, Mr. Miyagi?”
Miyagi: “Strong floor. No ceiling.”
Daniel: “I don’t get it.”
Miyagi: “Floor keep you standing. Ceiling only limit how high you grow.”
Daniel (after a long beat): Yeah, I gotta go.
Miyagi: “Strong floor. No ceiling.”
Daniel: “I don’t get it.”
Miyagi: “Floor keep you standing. Ceiling only limit how high you grow.”
Daniel (after a long beat): Yeah, I gotta go.
BREAKING
(Another update)
(Another update)
November 30, 2025 at 5:56 PM
BREAKING
(Another update)
(Another update)
Yep, like clockwork, @nybooks.com arrives every few weeks to remind me that I’ll never read all the interesting books before I die. 😭
November 30, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Yep, like clockwork, @nybooks.com arrives every few weeks to remind me that I’ll never read all the interesting books before I die. 😭
“Sunday Morning of Thanksgiving Weekend 2025”
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
“Sunday Morning of Thanksgiving Weekend 2025”
Seen constantly in my ChatGPT threads:
“You’re right — Thank you for correcting that.”
CUT TO: Trillions of dollars of investment in energy-and-freshwater-sucking data centers
CUT TO:
“You’re right — Thank you for correcting that.”
CUT TO: Trillions of dollars of investment in energy-and-freshwater-sucking data centers
CUT TO:
November 30, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Seen constantly in my ChatGPT threads:
“You’re right — Thank you for correcting that.”
CUT TO: Trillions of dollars of investment in energy-and-freshwater-sucking data centers
CUT TO:
“You’re right — Thank you for correcting that.”
CUT TO: Trillions of dollars of investment in energy-and-freshwater-sucking data centers
CUT TO:
#Philately peeps: What makes these 19th century bank checks with revenue stamps interesting/valuable? Two lots like this of ~270 each went for $162 today.
Discuss and enlighten me about the life-changing magic of 1870s bank checks and revenue stamps (and also the life-changing magic of tidying up…)
Discuss and enlighten me about the life-changing magic of 1870s bank checks and revenue stamps (and also the life-changing magic of tidying up…)
November 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
#Philately peeps: What makes these 19th century bank checks with revenue stamps interesting/valuable? Two lots like this of ~270 each went for $162 today.
Discuss and enlighten me about the life-changing magic of 1870s bank checks and revenue stamps (and also the life-changing magic of tidying up…)
Discuss and enlighten me about the life-changing magic of 1870s bank checks and revenue stamps (and also the life-changing magic of tidying up…)
From “The Machine Stops” by E.M. Forster, written in 1909. (Or was it 2025?)
November 29, 2025 at 7:58 PM
From “The Machine Stops” by E.M. Forster, written in 1909. (Or was it 2025?)