Tim Mathews

The fatal flaw in using bitcoin as a currency There is a crypto parallel in the aftermath of Europe’s 14th century bubonic plague

www.ft.com/content/a18c...
(Paywall - sorry)

A Babson College student wanted to surprise her family for Thanksgiving. She was deported instead. - The Boston Globe Any Lucia Lopez Belloza was at Logan to catch a flight to Texas when immigration authorities detained her as she was about to board the plane.

I feel much safer today knowing that we deported a Babson College student back to a country where she hasn't lived since childhood.

She wasn't even flying internationally. She was flying to Texas.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone except Peacock, who wants to charge us $16.99/month to watch the Macy’s parade when we can just stream it for free on YouTube.

They’ve been pushing their Black Friday sale hard and I’m just like, “nah, I’m good.”

Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷

I like the fantasy genre. I’m reading “A World Without Email.”

A screenshot of the chess dot com puzzle game, showing that I’ve gotten 30 consecutive puzzles correct, raising my score to 1859.

Can’t sleep, but another good rally.

How Our Overly Restrictive Rules of Engagement Keep Us from Winning Wars | National Review The U.S. military is fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at an extreme disadvantage due to our overly restrictive Rules of Engagement.

I’m also curious if he stands by this lengthier article he wrote, which reinforces the myth of lawyers tying our soldiers’ hands. www.nationalreview.com/2015/12/rule...

Opinion | Trump Has Put the Military in an Impossible Situation

Again…

“In fact, I was frequently the JAG officer in the TOC…”

No, the author was the the judge advocate in the TOC.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...

Numberblocks We are the Numberblocks! Little blocks with big ideas, having a ton of number fun. Learn how to add, subtract and count the fun and educational way! For more, download the official Numberblocks apps;...

I’d like to say this is good parenting, or genetics, or genius. But it’s Numberblocks.
youtube.com/@numberblock...

My son and I were riding bikes today. He asked how fast we were going. I estimated 10 mph. He paused and said, “that’s 17,600 yards per hour… [pause] and 293 yards per minute.”
I checked his math in my phone. I asked how he figured that out. He explained all the steps he did in his head.

I hope everyone enjoyed Fibonacci day, and really soaked it in at 05:08:13am.

Hmmm. Did not think of that. The first two kids were 18 months apart, so the oldest was with me and not very mobile. They’re 7 and 5 now. It might work out that in-laws will be in town for Thanksgiving when it all goes down.

When my wife goes into labor and we all drive to the hospital, what should we bring to keep the kids entertained? iPads? Coloring books? Other ideas?

Reminder that there are streaming church services beginning pretty much anytime today that works for you. Here are a few with start times at 8:00, 8:55, 9:00, 9:15, 10:45, 11:00, 11:30, and 12:00 (all times eastern).

(Updated times and links)

Uniformed attorneys in the military are “judge advocates.” They belong to the “Judge Advocate General’s Corps” or “JAG Corps.” The senior uniformed attorney in each service department is “The Judge Advocate General” (TJAG) for that service. There is no “JAG” or “senior JAG.” (2/2)

Top military lawyer raised legal concerns about boat strikes The lawyer at U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the operations against alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela, disagreed that the strikes are legal and was overruled, according to six sources...

It’s not the point of the article, but…

“The lawyer, who serves as the senior judge advocate general, or JAG…”

The lawyer is not a “judge advocate general.”

(1/2)
www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...

“…officers knocked for about 20 minutes before lawfully entering the residence using their training and procedures.”

These dudes have about as much training as a kid reporting for day one of fat camp.

Airman behind famed ‘Burst of Joy’ photo dies at 92 Retired Col. Robert L. Stirm, the man featured in the famous Vietnam War Pulitzer Prize-winning photo “Burst of Joy” has died.

Retired Col. Robert L. Stirm, the man featured in the famous Vietnam War Pulitzer Prize-winning photo “Burst of Joy” has died.

Watch Untold: Malice at the Palace | Netflix Official Site Key figures from an infamous 2004 incident between players and fans at an NBA game in Michigan discuss the fight, its fallout and its lasting legacy.

21 years ago. www.netflix.com/title/81026439

This is not a metaphor for my life. It’s just a metaphor for the last week or so.

Sanford grandfather, born in refugee camp, nabbed by ICE after 70 years in U.S. Paul Bojerski never gained official residency, but he checked in regularly with ICE for years. Then in July, at age 79, he was detained and sent to Alligator Alcatraz.

79-year-old Paul Bojerski was born to Polish parents in a WWII German refugee camp. His family legally emigrated to the U.S. when he was 5.

He’s been taken by ICE in Florida.

www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/16/s...

Carrying these weapons is a choice that appears to have more to do with a desire to stroke their own egos, live out a fantasy, and intimidate the public, than it has to do with a legitimate, reasonably foreseeable purpose.
If you want to be an operator, join the military; don’t endanger the public.

Put another way, what is the threat that prompted ICE/CBP to start carrying carbines in Home Depot parking lots and walkable, tree-lined suburban neighborhoods? (Another spoiler: there isn’t one)

Perhaps most importantly, when has ICE/CBP ever encountered actual or threatened use of lethal force by someone whom they were attempting to detain? Even if this were to occur, under what plausible circumstance would responding with a carbine be more appropriate than a sidearm? (Spoiler: none)

Carbines fire rounds that can go through people. I chased more than my fair share of blood trails and saw victims of “shoot throughs.” If you hit your target, there’s still a risk of hitting bystanders. This is not an appropriate weapon to carry on routine patrol in an American city or suburb.

Bullet drop varies with several variables, but the drop for a .223 fired from a carbine is generally less than half that of a bullet fired from a sidearm. The less it drops over a given distance, the farther it travels without a backstop. The farther it travels, the more risk to bystanders.

The risk of missing your target is high when firing at a distance, under stress, or in a situation that requires a fast reaction. When you miss, the bullets keep going. Bystanders may get shot if you don’t have a safe backstop - and you’re unlikely to have a safe backstop in a crowded public place.

Carbines are for engaging targets at a distance in excess of what you would use a sidearm for; generally 25 to 300 meters. Why does ICE/CBP need the capability to do that in a Home Depot parking lot, let alone any urban or suburban area on a routine patrol? (Spoiler: they don’t)

This is irresponsible. When I was an infantry officer, I served for years in combat in Iraq. We carried weapons like this and shot insurgents with them. These are not appropriate for patrolling a Home Depot parking lot, especially with a magazine in the well.

A few thoughts on why…