Erik Frechette
@erikfrechette.bsky.social
"What distresses me is to see that human genius has limitations, and human stupidity has none." - A. Dumas, fils...maybe
Support your local booksellers and buy DRM-free audiobooks at https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm777257
Support your local booksellers and buy DRM-free audiobooks at https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm777257
It's almost as if we were never going to reason with the people who believe their prime directive involves ending the world in order to bring their god back to the Earth, so that he can wipe out all of their enemies and every non-believer.
a close up of a man 's face with the year 2023 visible
ALT: a close up of a man 's face with the year 2023 visible
media.tenor.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:13 AM
It's almost as if we were never going to reason with the people who believe their prime directive involves ending the world in order to bring their god back to the Earth, so that he can wipe out all of their enemies and every non-believer.
Finally getting around to James Lee McDonough's book William Tecumseh Sherman this week. Sherman was a white man of his time, an avowed white supremacist, even an anti-abolitionist, but he was also an atheist to the extent that he was anti-religious, loyal to the Union and a gifted tactician.
William Tecumseh Sherman Audiobook on Libro.fm
General Sherman's 1864 burning of Atlanta solidified his legacy as a ruthless leader. Yet Sherman proved far more complex than his legendary military tactics reveal. James Lee McDonough offers fresh i...
libro.fm
January 20, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Finally getting around to James Lee McDonough's book William Tecumseh Sherman this week. Sherman was a white man of his time, an avowed white supremacist, even an anti-abolitionist, but he was also an atheist to the extent that he was anti-religious, loyal to the Union and a gifted tactician.
Reposted by Erik Frechette
Mamdani: "I am in support of abolishing ICE. What we see is an entity that has no interest in fulfilling its stated reason to exist. We're seeing a government agency that is supposed to be enforcing some kind of immigration law, but instead what it's doing is terrorizing people."
January 20, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Mamdani: "I am in support of abolishing ICE. What we see is an entity that has no interest in fulfilling its stated reason to exist. We're seeing a government agency that is supposed to be enforcing some kind of immigration law, but instead what it's doing is terrorizing people."
Reposted by Erik Frechette
One month after the deadline set by Congress for the Justice Department to release all files on Jeffrey Epstein, the Trump administration has made available less than 1% of the files.https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/20/trump_epstein
A Distraction from Epstein Files? Trump Ramps Up Chaos in Minnesota, Greenland & Beyond
One month after the deadline set by Congress for the Justice Department to release all files on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Trump administration has made available less than 1...
www.democracynow.org
January 20, 2026 at 4:22 PM
One month after the deadline set by Congress for the Justice Department to release all files on Jeffrey Epstein, the Trump administration has made available less than 1% of the files.https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/20/trump_epstein
Keep hoping we'll get higher resolution versions of Ducati's GP26 launch pictures, but so far, it seems like the largest images anyone is sharing are 1200x800ish.
I like the matte/glass red finish and the racing stripes. We're getting closer to the first tests!
I like the matte/glass red finish and the racing stripes. We're getting closer to the first tests!
January 20, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Keep hoping we'll get higher resolution versions of Ducati's GP26 launch pictures, but so far, it seems like the largest images anyone is sharing are 1200x800ish.
I like the matte/glass red finish and the racing stripes. We're getting closer to the first tests!
I like the matte/glass red finish and the racing stripes. We're getting closer to the first tests!
Contender for BlueSky thread of the year thus far. What a wild ride!
Spoiler alert: everyone seems to have gotten to their destination safely, if not soundly.
Spoiler alert: everyone seems to have gotten to their destination safely, if not soundly.
I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place
January 20, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Contender for BlueSky thread of the year thus far. What a wild ride!
Spoiler alert: everyone seems to have gotten to their destination safely, if not soundly.
Spoiler alert: everyone seems to have gotten to their destination safely, if not soundly.
Reposted by Erik Frechette
AI is being marketed to cut jobs--and the people left will be doing more work and be blamed when the AI fails
January 20, 2026 at 4:25 AM
AI is being marketed to cut jobs--and the people left will be doing more work and be blamed when the AI fails
We already live in the ruins of the old empire.
January 20, 2026 at 3:19 AM
We already live in the ruins of the old empire.
Reposted by Erik Frechette
The "worst problem you've never heard of" is the leading cause of Black land loss in this country.
Over the years, it's seen Black families stripped of hundreds of billions of dollars in land. It's called "heirs' property."
From the ProPublica archives:
Over the years, it's seen Black families stripped of hundreds of billions of dollars in land. It's called "heirs' property."
From the ProPublica archives:
Their Family Bought Land One Generation After Slavery. The Reels Brothers Spent Eight Years in Jail for Refusing to Leave It.
features.propublica.org
January 20, 2026 at 2:00 AM
The "worst problem you've never heard of" is the leading cause of Black land loss in this country.
Over the years, it's seen Black families stripped of hundreds of billions of dollars in land. It's called "heirs' property."
From the ProPublica archives:
Over the years, it's seen Black families stripped of hundreds of billions of dollars in land. It's called "heirs' property."
From the ProPublica archives:
Reposted by Erik Frechette
It was inevitable.
Amazon's Ring to partner with Flock, a network of AI cameras used by ICE, feds, and police | TechCrunch
Agencies that use Flock can request that Ring doorbell users share footage to help with "evidence collection and investigative work."
techcrunch.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:02 AM
It was inevitable.
Reposted by Erik Frechette
"A protester detained, her bra removed and wedding ring cut off, and some of her clothes never returned..."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
In Minneapolis, a Pattern of Misconduct Toward Protesters
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:29 AM
"A protester detained, her bra removed and wedding ring cut off, and some of her clothes never returned..."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
Reposted by Erik Frechette
“Leave Greenland alone!”
Heckler interrupts Star-Spangled Banner at NBA game in London, wins cheers from crowd. (Video via Reddit)
Heckler interrupts Star-Spangled Banner at NBA game in London, wins cheers from crowd. (Video via Reddit)
January 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM
“Leave Greenland alone!”
Heckler interrupts Star-Spangled Banner at NBA game in London, wins cheers from crowd. (Video via Reddit)
Heckler interrupts Star-Spangled Banner at NBA game in London, wins cheers from crowd. (Video via Reddit)
Primary. All. Democrats.
These elected Dems still don’t get it. @booker.senate.gov
January 18, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Primary. All. Democrats.
Reposted by Erik Frechette
R.I.P. Roger Allers, director of Disney's The Lion King and Sony's Open Season (1949-2026)
January 18, 2026 at 6:48 PM
R.I.P. Roger Allers, director of Disney's The Lion King and Sony's Open Season (1949-2026)
IMSA Sportscar Challenge Race 2 at Daytona is down to ~15 minutes in heavy rain, for those inclined to partake in such amusements!
2026 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge at Daytona International Speedway | Race 2 | Florida
YouTube video by IMSA Official
www.youtube.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:50 PM
IMSA Sportscar Challenge Race 2 at Daytona is down to ~15 minutes in heavy rain, for those inclined to partake in such amusements!
People talking about the DOJ as if Trump's minions have done unique harm to a once vaunted, if not sanctified institution of Constitutional righteousness have never been on the wrong side of either the local, state, or federal legal system.
List of wrongful convictions in the United States - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 18, 2026 at 6:22 PM
People talking about the DOJ as if Trump's minions have done unique harm to a once vaunted, if not sanctified institution of Constitutional righteousness have never been on the wrong side of either the local, state, or federal legal system.
The CorpoDems are so compromised by donor money and conflicts of interest, they cannot look out at a country ravaged by corporate corruption, oligarchs buying power, and roving, lawless snatch/kill teams in their constituency's streets and muster anything beyond platitudes and cautionary language.
January 18, 2026 at 5:59 PM
The CorpoDems are so compromised by donor money and conflicts of interest, they cannot look out at a country ravaged by corporate corruption, oligarchs buying power, and roving, lawless snatch/kill teams in their constituency's streets and muster anything beyond platitudes and cautionary language.
IHIP can be very hit or miss, see the recent session with Cenk “Polymarket Populism BABY” Uygur. That’s said, this interview is something very different. Ruth Ben-Ghiat is always a good listen.
IHIP Next: Trump RAMPS UP Fascism as He Grows WEAK; Expert Breaks Down Why HE WILL FAIL!
YouTube video by I've Had It
youtu.be
January 18, 2026 at 5:10 PM
IHIP can be very hit or miss, see the recent session with Cenk “Polymarket Populism BABY” Uygur. That’s said, this interview is something very different. Ruth Ben-Ghiat is always a good listen.
I dream of being able to produce something this excellent someday. Great stuff!
January 18, 2026 at 4:39 PM
I dream of being able to produce something this excellent someday. Great stuff!
Apparently, the youtube algo has a sense of humor. This seems to be popping up in everyone's recommendations the past couple of days.
RIP David Bowie
RIP David Bowie
David Bowie - I'm Afraid of Americans (Official Video) [4K]
YouTube video by David Bowie
www.youtube.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:02 AM
Apparently, the youtube algo has a sense of humor. This seems to be popping up in everyone's recommendations the past couple of days.
RIP David Bowie
RIP David Bowie
Reposted by Erik Frechette
My last two shots before my world went dark.
January 17, 2026 at 9:55 PM
My last two shots before my world went dark.
AI advocates are deranged! People with no talent, no skill, no substance stealing the work of artists to feed their maniacal, regurgitation machines.
And just to add, whichever **** did this had the nerve to slap a “copyright” watermark on it.
January 18, 2026 at 3:25 AM
AI advocates are deranged! People with no talent, no skill, no substance stealing the work of artists to feed their maniacal, regurgitation machines.
Was an early as possible adopter of Amazon Prime. After 21 years, my membership has been cancelled. I initiated the cancellation last year, about 36 hours after my auto renewal.
For the first time since Dubya's second term, my life is devoid of Amazon. Feels good.
For the first time since Dubya's second term, my life is devoid of Amazon. Feels good.
January 17, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Was an early as possible adopter of Amazon Prime. After 21 years, my membership has been cancelled. I initiated the cancellation last year, about 36 hours after my auto renewal.
For the first time since Dubya's second term, my life is devoid of Amazon. Feels good.
For the first time since Dubya's second term, my life is devoid of Amazon. Feels good.
“…the bellicose frivolity of senile empires”
Chris Hedges: Grand Illusion
YouTube video by The Chris Hedges YouTube Channel
youtu.be
January 17, 2026 at 3:02 PM
“…the bellicose frivolity of senile empires”
Reposted by Erik Frechette
January 17, 2026 at 6:26 AM