Charles Sumner
@charles-sumner.bsky.social
History dork. Radical Liberal. Boat nerd. Ride or die for Bidenism-Cochranism-Stancilism-Szechenyism. 19th century best century.
Pinned
Sir, nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.
-Charles Sumner, 1852
-Charles Sumner, 1852
Reposted by Charles Sumner
* TOP ENGINEERS AT CENTAURI PRIME UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCE SUCCESSFUL CREATION OF "TRIVALVE" SHELLFISH. "DELICIOUS WITH BUTTER" THEY SAY
December 17, 2025 at 8:29 PM
* TOP ENGINEERS AT CENTAURI PRIME UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCE SUCCESSFUL CREATION OF "TRIVALVE" SHELLFISH. "DELICIOUS WITH BUTTER" THEY SAY
Reposted by Charles Sumner
Like, this is orthagonal to AI discussion generally but game costs are in a spiral where devs are spending more for a product that costs the same and whether or not this is Larian’s reasoning, someone is going to try this for cost reasons eventually.
December 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Like, this is orthagonal to AI discussion generally but game costs are in a spiral where devs are spending more for a product that costs the same and whether or not this is Larian’s reasoning, someone is going to try this for cost reasons eventually.
Reposted by Charles Sumner
sometimes i'm like "wasn't there a time back when the news wasn't just wall to wall forum drama" and then i remember where we get the word "forum" from
December 17, 2025 at 3:57 AM
sometimes i'm like "wasn't there a time back when the news wasn't just wall to wall forum drama" and then i remember where we get the word "forum" from
Reposted by Charles Sumner
"Stancil is like Lenin" I say and piss off everyone on this site
December 17, 2025 at 4:55 AM
"Stancil is like Lenin" I say and piss off everyone on this site
Reposted by Charles Sumner
![Image: man in full MOPP-style protective gear, circa 1990s, in a bombed out warzone, looking back at the viewer in the same vehicle behind an MG mount.
"Hey friend listen, I know the world is scary right now but"
[Second panel, same image but zoomed in on his eyes behind goggles, with a NATO flag bearing the words GAY MARRIAGE IS NON-NEGOTIABLE on it]: the future is unknowable and will be determined by how hard we fight now for a loving world](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qp44wbdtbrgyzzgugn5ekx2b/bafkreia4xmkdvrktw4bwbusz6mbqy3km25vsjypxjawxov52ai75eltyuu@jpeg)
Reposted by Charles Sumner
Reposted by Charles Sumner
There remains a false perception of diplomacy as something in contrast to coercion and a naive faith that reasonability can resolve any crisis. It must be more broadly understood that sometimes you must coerce your opponent into reasonability.
“If our opponent is to be made to comply with our will, we must place him in a situation which is more oppressive to him than the sacrifice which we demand”
my negotiation strategy with russia is kill more russians
December 17, 2025 at 4:54 AM
There remains a false perception of diplomacy as something in contrast to coercion and a naive faith that reasonability can resolve any crisis. It must be more broadly understood that sometimes you must coerce your opponent into reasonability.
Reposted by Charles Sumner
Um, ok...
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
December 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Um, ok...
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
Reposted by Charles Sumner
Lightly snowy Boston
December 14, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Lightly snowy Boston
Reposted by Charles Sumner
I’m proud and eternally grateful to be the governor of a state where we cherish our diversity.
In joining together with our Jewish community to light the menorah tonight, Illinoisans once again have reaffirmed that the light outshines darkness.
Happy Hanukkah.
In joining together with our Jewish community to light the menorah tonight, Illinoisans once again have reaffirmed that the light outshines darkness.
Happy Hanukkah.
December 16, 2025 at 12:34 AM
I’m proud and eternally grateful to be the governor of a state where we cherish our diversity.
In joining together with our Jewish community to light the menorah tonight, Illinoisans once again have reaffirmed that the light outshines darkness.
Happy Hanukkah.
In joining together with our Jewish community to light the menorah tonight, Illinoisans once again have reaffirmed that the light outshines darkness.
Happy Hanukkah.
Reposted by Charles Sumner
No. 2 House Dem leader Katherine Clark will face a challenge from the left in 2026.
Organizer Jonathan Paz announced his campaign in a video Sunday night, saying “our Democratic leaders are failing us."
Organizer Jonathan Paz announced his campaign in a video Sunday night, saying “our Democratic leaders are failing us."
No. 2 House Democrat Katherine Clark gets primary challenger
Organizer Jonathan Paz said “our Democratic leaders are failing us” in a launch video.
www.politico.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:18 PM
No. 2 House Dem leader Katherine Clark will face a challenge from the left in 2026.
Organizer Jonathan Paz announced his campaign in a video Sunday night, saying “our Democratic leaders are failing us."
Organizer Jonathan Paz announced his campaign in a video Sunday night, saying “our Democratic leaders are failing us."
The soft thump you just heard was the sound of one of Admiral Sergei Gorshkov's skeletalized hands bursting through the earth of Novodevichye cemetery in Moscow.
After the destruction of the submarine, Russians are writing that they don’t really need a navy at all. They are a "land-based" state.
December 16, 2025 at 5:38 AM
The soft thump you just heard was the sound of one of Admiral Sergei Gorshkov's skeletalized hands bursting through the earth of Novodevichye cemetery in Moscow.
Reposted by Charles Sumner
There's a segment of the film "Shoah" that goes into detail about the economics of the death trains and how the Nazis had to coordinate everything from exchange rates to freight charges for rolling stock to make sure that the railroads got paid and the trains kept going.
Worth thinking about.
Worth thinking about.
Yesterday, N278GX did an ICE deportation flight from MSP to HRL, repositioned to AUS, and flew home the University of Wisconsin Volleyball team.
December 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM
There's a segment of the film "Shoah" that goes into detail about the economics of the death trains and how the Nazis had to coordinate everything from exchange rates to freight charges for rolling stock to make sure that the railroads got paid and the trains kept going.
Worth thinking about.
Worth thinking about.
Reposted by Charles Sumner
I genuinely affirmatively think that it is now a democratic imperative to spend as much time as you can offline. Read more offline. Socialise more offline. Discuss media you consume with other people offline. Out there is a real world full of people looking for real human connection - seize it
Reading a bunch of books this year has really solidified for me how awful the internet is in comparison nowadays. Obviously in terms of general hostility but more generally in terms of lack of depth, insight, reading comprehension, base of knowledge, etc
December 15, 2025 at 7:51 AM
I genuinely affirmatively think that it is now a democratic imperative to spend as much time as you can offline. Read more offline. Socialise more offline. Discuss media you consume with other people offline. Out there is a real world full of people looking for real human connection - seize it
Reposted by Charles Sumner
New Jersey just elected an assemblywoman who wants to eminent domain Bedminster if you want an idea of where the base is heading
December 14, 2025 at 10:37 PM
New Jersey just elected an assemblywoman who wants to eminent domain Bedminster if you want an idea of where the base is heading
I love old public information and travel films and the extent to which they describe 1950s France as still visibly scarred by WWII is striking. And Britain was still rationing!
Is is funny when Europeans talk about the 1950s here based on Americans ads. The 1950s in Europe were a post apocalyptic wasteland being slowly rebuilt
December 15, 2025 at 7:15 AM
I love old public information and travel films and the extent to which they describe 1950s France as still visibly scarred by WWII is striking. And Britain was still rationing!
Greek Yogurt has to be the food with the biggest gap in quality between full-fat and low-fat versions.
December 15, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Greek Yogurt has to be the food with the biggest gap in quality between full-fat and low-fat versions.
Reposted by Charles Sumner
Every few months now I re-read this "Who Goes Nazi?" piece from 1941 and am blown away by how it captures the people we are dealing with 80 years later.
harpers.org/archive/1941...
harpers.org/archive/1941...
Who Goes Nazi?, by Dorothy Thompson
harpers.org
October 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Every few months now I re-read this "Who Goes Nazi?" piece from 1941 and am blown away by how it captures the people we are dealing with 80 years later.
harpers.org/archive/1941...
harpers.org/archive/1941...
Reposted by Charles Sumner
The FBI is run by a social media clown. They jumped the gun on the Charlie Kirk shooter as well.
BREAKING: Person of interest in Brown University shooting being released by police, mayor says. Gunman is still at large
December 15, 2025 at 5:18 AM
The FBI is run by a social media clown. They jumped the gun on the Charlie Kirk shooter as well.
Reposted by Charles Sumner
yeah I'm involved in unethical non monogamy. no no, nobody's cheating on anyone else; me and my polycucle just operate a whaling ship.
December 14, 2025 at 1:56 AM
yeah I'm involved in unethical non monogamy. no no, nobody's cheating on anyone else; me and my polycucle just operate a whaling ship.
Reposted by Charles Sumner
People truly do not understand that most of a house's value is the land it sits on.
One of the most universal truths is that whenever you hear about super-cheap houses anywhere, there's a reason why they're super-cheap.
December 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
People truly do not understand that most of a house's value is the land it sits on.
The Brattle Theater showed "Casablanca" to a sold-out crowd in February, and I've never felt an audience *need* a movie more than we needed that movie that night. The air in that theater *crackled*. I doubt that movie has ever meant more to an (American) audience since its release than it did to us.
Raising the always fun question: What are your most memorable theater-going experiences?
Mine also include The Matrix, Blair Witch, and being way too stoned in Belgium when Fellowship of the Ring was sold out so we sat in the back row for Mulholland Drive instead.
Mine also include The Matrix, Blair Witch, and being way too stoned in Belgium when Fellowship of the Ring was sold out so we sat in the back row for Mulholland Drive instead.
It was hands-down one of the most memorable theater-going experiences I can remember, a collective 30-minute butt-clench/armrest-grab for the final climb. And we knew he lived! Wild.
December 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The Brattle Theater showed "Casablanca" to a sold-out crowd in February, and I've never felt an audience *need* a movie more than we needed that movie that night. The air in that theater *crackled*. I doubt that movie has ever meant more to an (American) audience since its release than it did to us.
Reposted by Charles Sumner
my best friend and i used to watch MST3K super regularly and over 30 years later, we still constantly quote it in regular conversation, to the bewilderment and annoyance of our friends. there’ll be some middle aged guy saying 6-7 to his buddies in 2058
the 6-7 phenomenon is in no way different from any other catchphrase that kids have yelled out at any point in the last hundred years, there's no daylight between that and when i was in high school, the year straight where every guy kept yelling "i'm rick james bitch"
December 13, 2025 at 7:47 AM
my best friend and i used to watch MST3K super regularly and over 30 years later, we still constantly quote it in regular conversation, to the bewilderment and annoyance of our friends. there’ll be some middle aged guy saying 6-7 to his buddies in 2058
Reposted by Charles Sumner
yeah it's one of the few things I can think of that wasn't the result of an ongoing battle bsky.app/profile/himd...
rape of nanking maybe? or certain episodes of the holocaust by bullets, but aside from that yeah
December 13, 2025 at 5:07 AM
yeah it's one of the few things I can think of that wasn't the result of an ongoing battle bsky.app/profile/himd...
Reposted by Charles Sumner
tired: ai zombie trump
inspired: multiple conflicting ai zombie trumps fighting for legitimacy
inspired: multiple conflicting ai zombie trumps fighting for legitimacy
December 13, 2025 at 7:46 AM
tired: ai zombie trump
inspired: multiple conflicting ai zombie trumps fighting for legitimacy
inspired: multiple conflicting ai zombie trumps fighting for legitimacy