Muskian Delish...
I posted on this two days ago, but then the revelation of the raid on Twitter in France, and the implications sunk in for me, and the irony is delish...
Latest
Musk: Merging SpaceX and xAI, lol wut?
The merger of xAI and SpaceX makes no sense for what we are told. It is really a way to use SpaceX to help fund the cash bonfire that is xAI.
Sunday Vibes
January 2026 is in the books, and it was the longest month that I can remember having lived through, period. We talk Tesla, David Brooks (for the last time, I swear), and how Substack is enshittifying itself. Strap in, it's gon' get bumpy!
The MOAD... Epstein is vomitus on the polity
Needing a quick distraction, the DoJ sloppily dropped almost 3.5M files and documents from the Epstein trove. It's not all of it, but it will drive a lot of news cycles.
Farm to Taber: Once again, Sarah tells the truth
Why do farmers vote Republican? Is it a kinship, a belief in hardy conservative values? Nah, it's because Republicans give them more $$$
We have long been like this (prohibition)
It may seem like what we are experiencing is unprecedented, but it isn't. The temperance movement culminating in Prohibition is remarkably analogous to what we are experiencing today.
Not again: French on what will happen to the shooter
What a fucking shitty day to be alive in America. And for once I am not pissed at French after reading him, but at what he wrote (that is sadly true). We are well and truly fucked...
On Police and Emotions
The murder of Renee Good was horrifying. What is worse is hearing my fellow citizens say that the agent was right to pull his weapon because his emotions were running high. That is dangerous thinking.
New Gear: Strandberg N2.6
A killer new guitar, a bit out of my comfort zone, but damn, is it amazing.
Where to start on a week like this
It has become exhausting to just exist with all the fuckery happening. But last week something good did come out of the Trumpian chaos.
Fuck this fucking fucker - Adam Kinzinger
Adam Kinzinger is the fucker of the maxiamal fucking fuck, his political sensibilities is on par with his shitty courage after he bolted instead of fighting for his seat. A fucking coward.
External Distractions
What's in the Epstein files must fukkin' terrify Trump and his coterie, because distraction theater is ramping up. A round up
Music
Geek: Amplification
Guitarists are snobs, but our snobbery is a mere fraction of the nuttiness of the audiophile ecosystem. The myths are sticky, but real data and tests are good at busting them.
Tech
I was scammed
I got scammed. Alas, AI is democratizing spear-phishing, and you should be really wary of the risk.
Tech
AI gone wild
AI is increasingly being perverted to create non-consensual adult material, and even CSAM content. Most model owners "try" to gate it, but one seems to flaunt all common sense restictions. Additionally, the predictions about AI at the beginning of 2025 turn out to be dead wrong.
Newsletter
Another Anniversary - 16
Sixteen years ago today, I was going to die. Luck, a quick thinking wife (who was panicking) and a lot of hard work got me here.
Politics
Reading and Thoughts: Jan 2, 2026
First post of '26, the Bulwark does a fuckery, AI is going to destroy young people's career prospects, and Hayek's Bastards still are bastardy.
Newsletter
PBS "Passport" - a novel way to subscribe
Adding a streaming service, and supporting PBS and my local affiliate? Sign me the fuck up for that.
Tech
Lazy Scammers: Text Phishing
I miss the days of the Nigerian prince scams. At least they were entertaining. Alas, GenAI and some skeevy operators are making it trivial to attempt to scam people. Stay alert!
Tech
AYFKM? AI and 1% Commitment
AI is going to fuck up the workforce. Sal Khan (of the Khan Academy) is not offering a serious response to this tectonic shift.
Politics
One Week In, and What I'm Reading
The insanity doesn't take holidays off. Read to the end for a pleasant musical coda.
Newsletter
Early Internet Gold
Some maintenance of my dustiest archives uncovered some early internet video gems. I had to share the wealth with you at Christmas!
Newsletter
Favorite Christmas Movies
Enough politics insanity, what are my favorite Christmas movies? Here are my top list, ones I watch every year.
Newsletter
TFG: Jake Paul, Youtuber, punching bag.
I fucking hate youtube influencers, especially those tho scam their audiences, so when Jake Paul, an especially scammy fuck gets his arse kicked, it is a time to celebrate!