SamUpstate
@sam.upstate.blog
A suburban dad enjoying and celebrating life in New York's Capital District.
Working to improve the world by supporting public education and strong, walkable communities.
He/him
https://sam.upstate.blog
🚴🏻♂️🌳🥃🖋🏳️🌈
Working to improve the world by supporting public education and strong, walkable communities.
He/him
https://sam.upstate.blog
🚴🏻♂️🌳🥃🖋🏳️🌈
Reposted by SamUpstate
we don't have very much but we can strip anybody who works for ICE of any social niceties whatsoever. you find out somebody is with them? they don't get to be ANYTHING to you anymore. and tell them WHY. it SUCKS to be ostracized and stigmatized. please use it on somebody who's earned it for once
January 14, 2026 at 2:20 AM
we don't have very much but we can strip anybody who works for ICE of any social niceties whatsoever. you find out somebody is with them? they don't get to be ANYTHING to you anymore. and tell them WHY. it SUCKS to be ostracized and stigmatized. please use it on somebody who's earned it for once
Reposted by SamUpstate
I would really caution anyone against implying that paywalling this feature is a legitimate response to public outcry. The paywall is an endorsement, not a restriction. Musk is saying "this thing you're all talking about is valuable. Pay me for it." The actual material effect is just monetization.
Now only paying subscribers can make violent non-consenual sexual imagery of women and children -
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery
X to limit editing function to paying subscribers after platform threatened with fines and regulatory action
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 8:17 AM
I would really caution anyone against implying that paywalling this feature is a legitimate response to public outcry. The paywall is an endorsement, not a restriction. Musk is saying "this thing you're all talking about is valuable. Pay me for it." The actual material effect is just monetization.
Reposted by SamUpstate
Anyway, shout out to the people that hear the GOP saying "We can't defund ICE!🤡" and think, "They don't know that the world thinks that they're evil fascists!"
But then turn around and unironically say, "We can't defund the police!🤡" knowing full well how many innocent people US cops kill.
🙂🙃
But then turn around and unironically say, "We can't defund the police!🤡" knowing full well how many innocent people US cops kill.
🙂🙃
January 9, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Anyway, shout out to the people that hear the GOP saying "We can't defund ICE!🤡" and think, "They don't know that the world thinks that they're evil fascists!"
But then turn around and unironically say, "We can't defund the police!🤡" knowing full well how many innocent people US cops kill.
🙂🙃
But then turn around and unironically say, "We can't defund the police!🤡" knowing full well how many innocent people US cops kill.
🙂🙃
Reposted by SamUpstate
John Oliver has said this explicitly FYI
That without local news he couldn't do his show (and to his credit, he's pretty good about crediting his news sources)
That without local news he couldn't do his show (and to his credit, he's pretty good about crediting his news sources)
When I was on CNN's northeast desk, the first job at 6a every morning was to read the local papers. That guided some of what the massive CNN machine followed every day.
When those papers die, CNN doesn't hire new regional reporters. What you get instead is more panel shows, more punditry.
When those papers die, CNN doesn't hire new regional reporters. What you get instead is more panel shows, more punditry.
"The newspaper industry served as a feeder for our entire news media ecosystem. So when we lose those newspapers, we've lost that journalism. In the early 2000s, we had 40 journalists per 100,000 people. We're now down to 8 journalists per 100,000 people," says @victorpickard.bsky.social.
December 26, 2025 at 12:11 AM
John Oliver has said this explicitly FYI
That without local news he couldn't do his show (and to his credit, he's pretty good about crediting his news sources)
That without local news he couldn't do his show (and to his credit, he's pretty good about crediting his news sources)
Reposted by SamUpstate
This feels like an underappreciated problem:
"Of more than 700 locations sampled, 61% exceeded aquatic life thresholds set by the EPA...60% of samples blew past the accepted healthy drinking water standard."
"Of more than 700 locations sampled, 61% exceeded aquatic life thresholds set by the EPA...60% of samples blew past the accepted healthy drinking water standard."
High levels of road salt in Pa., N.J., Del. pollute streams months past winter
Road salt applied during winter storms runs off into the groundwater and emerges in surface water streams months later. Advocates say roads can be made safe with less salt.
whyy.org
December 17, 2025 at 4:21 PM
This feels like an underappreciated problem:
"Of more than 700 locations sampled, 61% exceeded aquatic life thresholds set by the EPA...60% of samples blew past the accepted healthy drinking water standard."
"Of more than 700 locations sampled, 61% exceeded aquatic life thresholds set by the EPA...60% of samples blew past the accepted healthy drinking water standard."
Reposted by SamUpstate
Primary them all and block anybody who comes with the “at this crucial juncture the most important thing is that we win.” if they believed that they wouldn’t do this and with friends like them nobody needs enemies
Here are the 28 Dem Senators who voted to advance the first federal ban on trans athletes & a federal definition of sex that would make trans & intersex people non-existent: Angela Alsobrooks (MD), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Chris Coons (DE), ->
By a vote of 76-23, S 1071 passes the motion to proceed to the motion to concur. Won't know who voted for this until the roll call is uploaded, but safe to say it passed with the support of at least 24 members of the Democratic caucus. (Rand Paul probably voted nay and Steve Daines has been absent).
December 16, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Primary them all and block anybody who comes with the “at this crucial juncture the most important thing is that we win.” if they believed that they wouldn’t do this and with friends like them nobody needs enemies
Today's bake followed Paul Hollywood's recipe for white tin bread. I've made it before, and it's a great simple loaf (easy enough for an amateur like me to manage). It made great grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, as well as being great with butter and jam.... https://sam.upstate.blog/?p=2265
December 15, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Today's bake followed Paul Hollywood's recipe for white tin bread. I've made it before, and it's a great simple loaf (easy enough for an amateur like me to manage). It made great grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, as well as being great with butter and jam.... https://sam.upstate.blog/?p=2265
Reposted by SamUpstate
Herman Melville on moderates, all the way back in 1857:
May 27, 2024 at 8:27 PM
Herman Melville on moderates, all the way back in 1857:
Reposted by SamUpstate
Seems like a weird thing to tweet on the day when your boss said he’d pardon someone convicted of sending 400 tons of cocaine into the US.
November 29, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Seems like a weird thing to tweet on the day when your boss said he’d pardon someone convicted of sending 400 tons of cocaine into the US.
Reposted by SamUpstate
Dear foreign nationals in war-torn countries, terrorism hot-spots, and amidst our enemies:
If you help the United States, we’ll fuck you over and abandon you. Not the individual servicepeople or intelligence officers — they’ll fight for you. I mean the depraved, soulless leadership of the nation.
If you help the United States, we’ll fuck you over and abandon you. Not the individual servicepeople or intelligence officers — they’ll fight for you. I mean the depraved, soulless leadership of the nation.
So now they’re going to be doing individualized re-review of tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees’ cases on TOP of the re-review of 200,000+ refugees who entered under Biden?
November 27, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Dear foreign nationals in war-torn countries, terrorism hot-spots, and amidst our enemies:
If you help the United States, we’ll fuck you over and abandon you. Not the individual servicepeople or intelligence officers — they’ll fight for you. I mean the depraved, soulless leadership of the nation.
If you help the United States, we’ll fuck you over and abandon you. Not the individual servicepeople or intelligence officers — they’ll fight for you. I mean the depraved, soulless leadership of the nation.
We should be saying his name more: James McCrery.
And we should look into the other buildings and projects he's done and start viewing them with distaste and distrust. (Apparently that list includes a number of Catholic churches.)
And we should look into the other buildings and projects he's done and start viewing them with distaste and distrust. (Apparently that list includes a number of Catholic churches.)
Imagine going down in history as the architect that ruined The White House.
November 27, 2025 at 11:33 AM
We should be saying his name more: James McCrery.
And we should look into the other buildings and projects he's done and start viewing them with distaste and distrust. (Apparently that list includes a number of Catholic churches.)
And we should look into the other buildings and projects he's done and start viewing them with distaste and distrust. (Apparently that list includes a number of Catholic churches.)
Reposted by SamUpstate
The Trump regime is literally allowing this stuff to be sprayed on our food.
Wild turkeys off the menu in Maine after ‘forever chemicals’ found in birds
Contamination of wildlife with Pfas, which can increase risk of cancer, a growing problem in US
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The Trump regime is literally allowing this stuff to be sprayed on our food.
Reposted by SamUpstate
Two people were shot at a gas station in my rural town in Mississippi today.
I guess 500 troops are gonna have to be taken away from their families during the holidays to come occupy my small town now too, huh?
I guess 500 troops are gonna have to be taken away from their families during the holidays to come occupy my small town now too, huh?
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration orders 500 more National Guard members to Washington after shooting, Hegseth says.
November 27, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Two people were shot at a gas station in my rural town in Mississippi today.
I guess 500 troops are gonna have to be taken away from their families during the holidays to come occupy my small town now too, huh?
I guess 500 troops are gonna have to be taken away from their families during the holidays to come occupy my small town now too, huh?
Reposted by SamUpstate
The Target boycott that AFT joined on Labor Day is seeing success. This holiday season, we're doubling down to demonstrate organized labor's economic power, as well as the consequences of ignoring the will of workers and the good of working families.
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
We ain’t buying it: Why we boycott Target
For a long time, Target—that popular mega store that seemed to hit just the right combination of low prices and of-the-moment swagger—was everyone’s darling, the go-to spot for everything from groceri...
www.aft.org
November 27, 2025 at 3:23 AM
The Target boycott that AFT joined on Labor Day is seeing success. This holiday season, we're doubling down to demonstrate organized labor's economic power, as well as the consequences of ignoring the will of workers and the good of working families.
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
Reposted by SamUpstate
If you want to see how quickly everyone goes into manufacturing consent mode, compare the full-court press tonight to the response to any of the people ICE has shot in the last few months, some of whom died.
November 27, 2025 at 1:21 AM
If you want to see how quickly everyone goes into manufacturing consent mode, compare the full-court press tonight to the response to any of the people ICE has shot in the last few months, some of whom died.
This was my first attempt at creating a non-alcoholic cocktail using a "non-alcoholic spirit." The name is a nod to the fact that if it were made with full-proof gin, it would be a buck, but it parallels a Shirley Temple. 1 1/2 oz Free Spirits' Spirit of Gin 3/4... https://sam.upstate.blog/?p=2253
November 27, 2025 at 3:34 AM
This was my first attempt at creating a non-alcoholic cocktail using a "non-alcoholic spirit." The name is a nod to the fact that if it were made with full-proof gin, it would be a buck, but it parallels a Shirley Temple. 1 1/2 oz Free Spirits' Spirit of Gin 3/4... https://sam.upstate.blog/?p=2253
Reposted by SamUpstate
Reposted by SamUpstate
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by SamUpstate
Whoever at Google thought it was a good idea to make the Gmail mobile app search results default to "most relevant" instead of "most recent":
That was a terrible idea and you should feel bad about yourself for having had it.
That was a terrible idea and you should feel bad about yourself for having had it.
November 25, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Whoever at Google thought it was a good idea to make the Gmail mobile app search results default to "most relevant" instead of "most recent":
That was a terrible idea and you should feel bad about yourself for having had it.
That was a terrible idea and you should feel bad about yourself for having had it.
Reposted by SamUpstate
Physical mail, land lines, now increasingly even email — I find it tragic the way we will sooner abandon a once revolutionary communication technology than regulate* its use by those who seek to sell us junk by feigning familiarity.
*or even cease to subsidize, in some cases.
*or even cease to subsidize, in some cases.
November 25, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Physical mail, land lines, now increasingly even email — I find it tragic the way we will sooner abandon a once revolutionary communication technology than regulate* its use by those who seek to sell us junk by feigning familiarity.
*or even cease to subsidize, in some cases.
*or even cease to subsidize, in some cases.
This is a pretty solid version of ordinary Guinness (which is already a fairly low ABV at 4.2%). It's not quite as clean in its flavor (though in fairness, I'm comparing the NA version from a can to my memory of regular Guinness on draft), but it's a decent NA... https://sam.upstate.blog/?p=2240
November 22, 2025 at 12:26 AM
This is a pretty solid version of ordinary Guinness (which is already a fairly low ABV at 4.2%). It's not quite as clean in its flavor (though in fairness, I'm comparing the NA version from a can to my memory of regular Guinness on draft), but it's a decent NA... https://sam.upstate.blog/?p=2240
Reposted by SamUpstate
Yes, Trump is an extraordinary pathology in American politics. But it’s run-of-the-mill GOP politicians who have empowered RFK Jr to kill innumerable children with his lunacy.
Trump has murdered at least 83 people with extrajudicial military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats.
He needs to face consequences for this.
His secretary of DHHS, RFK Jr., will kill several orders of magnitude more with this disinformation.
He needs to face consequences for this.
His secretary of DHHS, RFK Jr., will kill several orders of magnitude more with this disinformation.
This is completely disgusting. Today, the CDC updated their vaccine safety page. It now says:
“The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism”.
“The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism”.
November 20, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Yes, Trump is an extraordinary pathology in American politics. But it’s run-of-the-mill GOP politicians who have empowered RFK Jr to kill innumerable children with his lunacy.