Jim

He lived a great life, and accomplished much.

We're no more than a few hours away from the next phase of digital propaganda: unverified videos of "liberated people celebrating" will go viral. Many of these videos will later be revealed to have predated the illegal war, or be entirely unrelated to current events

Upshot: verify before amplifying

Wonderful Green Party win in significant race in Britain. A blow to Keir Starmer, AND to Farage's fascism. Similar to Mamdani's win.

The Nation’s Most Democratic State Might Elect a Trump-Friendly Governor - The American Prospect California’s nonpartisan primary pits eight Democrats against two Republicans; only the top two finishers advance. Do the math.

Elsewhere in electoral weirdness: prospect.org/2026/02/09/c...

bsky.app/search?q=gor...

Perhaps of interest: Mamdani won the NYC Democraric Party primary w irv, defeating former Guv Cuomo. The Nov general election was a fptp, but Mamdani got 50.8 anyhow.

2016 Maine Question 5 - Wikipedia

Tho, to be complete, Maine state Supreme Court ruled that the Governor wouldn't be elected by IRV, evenad other positions were. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Ma... I Gorton a referendum on Farage, Starburst or FPTP/IRV??

From across the pond, Im having trouble understanding why Gorton isn't catalyzing a national conversation on IRV and transferable votes. Maine had a plurality win by a crazy rightwinger, and instituted IRV for governors races. I like the Greens myself, but don't want to see a Farage win.

A photo of an ice cream machine with a sign reading, "Anything is possible with ice cream." Beneath that is a hand lettered sign reading, "No ice cream".

2026 basically

3/3 I assume he was thinking there would be a statewide push to raise NY state taxes which would successfully pressure Hochul, whom....he just endorsed.

2/3 Of note- The NYT will often have progressive commenters come out in droves to bash Trump. If there are progressives with supportive thoughts, they are sitting this one out. Which would kill Mamdani.

Mamdani Threatens 9.5% Property Tax Increase if Wealth Tax Is Not Passed

1/2 This article on Mamdani and taxes has heavy 1977-'78 vibes to it. Tho I am surprised if NYC had a big semi-hidden deficit, both Mamdani and the press didn't talk about it DURING the election.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/n...

Poll Shows Massive Participation in Minnesota Shutdown Against ICE One in four Minnesota voters took part in January 23 day of action, or had a loved one who did.

1 in 4 Minnesotans participated in the Jan. 23 shutdown against ICE, or had a loved one who did.

Polling shows massive participation & support.

@sarahlazare.bsky.social, @bloomekatz.bsky.social & @thomasbirm.bsky.social report with @workdaymagazine.bsky.social

inthesetimes.com/article/labo...

YouTube video by Federal Reserve Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell

Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...

Purely factual description of events

You'll find out at 2:15 PM when the angry phone call comes.

Beautiful? Many adjectives might come to mind, but that one never occurred to me.

Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.

Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.

Crazy news that I was just able to confirm: Donald Trump had his hand removed

he’s fascinating to me to observe simply as an example of the varieties of human experience. Totally incapable of empathy or even the appropriateness that can serve as a guide to conceal the inability to feel empathy.

Now that I'm a (sometimes) paid writer, I agree even more.

Just keep him away from The Football.

This kind of jump has happened before? [I'm on Medicare, so it's only like 15% or so for me. Much larger from my younger friends].

That's leadership!

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Big day in German History as well, for four reasons.

It's a mystery why they don't sell go to Malaysia, right? [Headline writer gets to be anonymous].

@andertoon.bsky.social

This photo accompanying a news story about the heist at the Louvre is perfection.

Don't be fooled. These are obviously Godzilla's toes.