Victor Sojo

BRIAN Wilson tells the story of how Don Henley once came backstage after a concert. The Eagles co-founder arrived clutching his copy of Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys' classic 1966 album, and told Wilson how much their music had inspired him when he was younger. Keen to have Wilson autograph the album, he watched as Wilson picked up a Sharpie and wrote: "To Don - thanks for all the great songs." Henley turned to leave but Wilson called him back and, grabbing the record, crossed out "great" and replaced it with "good"

incredible Brian Wilson self-edit here:

U.S. may require visa applicants to post bond up to $15,000 to enter country The State Department is proposing requiring applicants for business and tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States.

This will effectively kill scientific conferences in the United States

www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...

Motherfucking wind farms…

It was big :)

If you're interested, you can watch many thousands and thousands of fellow Australians right now marching across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge for peace in Palestine

It's bucketing down rain, and still they keep coming, and still they keep marching

#MarchForHumanity #FreeGaza

webcamsydney.com

Cancelled my subscription when I first heard the news. Let’s stop funding sociopaths who are ruining humanity.

After a Lag, Consumers Begin to Feel the Pinch of Tariffs There are growing signs that President Trump’s levies are filtering through to consumer prices, as companies exhaust options for keeping them stable.

Prices rose in June on items heavily exposed to tariffs, such as home furnishings, toys and appliances, government data show.

Opinion: A little league heartbreak The State Department denied one Venezuelan Little League team entry into the U.S., but allowed another. NPR's Scott Simon questions how the sports exemption to Trump's travel ban is being applied.

The State Department denied one Venezuelan Little League team entry into the U.S., but allowed another. NPR's Scott Simon questions how the sports exemption to Trump's travel ban is being applied.

August 1, 2025 AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION Committee on Economic Statistics and Committee on Government Relations Statement from the American Economic Association on the Dismissal of the BLS Commissioner Leaders of the American Economic Association express their grave concern over the dismissal of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) earlier today. The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions. Undermining the independence or credibility of these agencies threatens the integrity of the information that markets, institutions, and the public rely on every day. Measuring the vast and dynamic U.S. economy in real time is inherently challenging. It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as more complete and higher-quality data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor-not failure or bias. The BLS has long had a well-deserved reputation for professional excellence and nonpartisan integrity. Safeguarding this tradition is vital for the continued health of the U.S. economy and public trust in our institutions. We call upon elected officials to respect and preserve the independence of the nation's statistical infrastructure. Lawrence Katz President, American Economic Association Katharine Abraham President-Elect, American Economic Association Karen Dynan Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Economic Statistics Kenneth Troske Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Government Relations

Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing

As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements

This is a big deal

Opinion | First thing we do, let’s fire all the statisticians The Trump administration’s strategy in dealing with tough numbers: Don’t count them.

Just remembering I wrote this ~3 weeks ago. For once wishing I’d been wrong. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

The only *helpful* thing I can offer is if you need BLS data, I would go download it NOW. Like within the day. #econsky

"ChatGPT is great for brainstorming!"

Sure, but here’s a wild idea — we already have a tool for that. It’s called a brain. That’s literally what brainstorming means. Clue’s in the name.

The Bureau Labor Statistics Jobs Numbers Are Right, We Can Check There is zero reason to question the integrity of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs numbers.

Of course the Bureau of Labor Statistics is right about job growth and Trump is lying, but just in case you wanted to check, you can substack.com/home/post/p-...

Trump Orders Firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Chief The president’s move throws the quality of America’s statistical apparatus into question.

THE FIRINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE MACROECONOMIC STATISTICS IMPROVE

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Social sciences, medical research, humanities and arts largest sources of ANU's National Institutes Grants | Region Canberra The Australian National University's recently published 2024 annual report has shown that the social sciences brought in the most National…

“These redundancies will not just deprive staff of their livelihoods, but also restrict what students can study.” ANU student Finnian Colwell said

“We are demanding that the cuts stop, that Bell resign and that the government commit to full funding for universities”

region.com.au/social-scien...

We feed you.
They hunt us.

Two Israeli human rights groups say their country is committing genocide in Gaza It is the first time that Jewish-led organizations in Israel have made such accusations against the country during nearly 22 months of war.

It is the first time that Jewish-led organizations in Israel have made such accusations against the country during nearly 22 months of war.

The U.S. is destroying $9.7 million in contraceptives. Is there another option? This planned destruction of birth control devices is part of the dismantling of USAID services — and linked to allegations by the government that cite abortion. Critics are speaking out.

This planned destruction of birth control devices is part of the dismantling of USAID services — and linked to allegations by the government that cite abortion. Critics are speaking out.

Starvation in Gaza as Israel’s ‘tactical pause’ allows limited aid Sir Keir Starmer says he and President Trump agreed at their meeting that humanitarian aid must be allowed into Gaza "at scale and pace".

Starvation in Gaza as Israel’s ‘tactical pause’ allows limited aid
www.channel4.com/news/starvat...

“science”

Marco Rubio, Stephen Miller, Kirsti Noem, Joseph Mazzara, Emil Bove, Drew Sargent, and everyone else involved in planning, executing, and obstructing justice around the CECOT imprisonments are responsible for Andry's torture and rape.

Each bears a share of the blame. Don't ever let them forget it.

Drug giants targeting Australia’s PBS are paying tiny amounts of tax Global pharmaceutical giants make billions of dollars in Australia but pay a fraction of that in tax. They say the price they get for their drugs is too low.

Drug companies: PBS is unfair

Also drug companies: $5 billion in 🇦🇺 revenue last year but only paid around 2% tax

We should protect the PBS and ensure multinationals pay tax here.
www.afr.com/companies/he...

One aid truck carries up to 40 pallets. Gaza needs at least 500 trucks, or 20,000 pallets, per day.

Stop running Israeli govt propaganda.

I’m confused: did a memo go out this week saying it’s finally okay for politicians and the press to be outraged that Israel is starving Palestinians?

If so, I didn’t see the memo. But I did see the evidence of this war crime back in late 2023.

Where are we at? Starving is bad, bombing is ok?

Two in five arrested for last summer’s UK riots had been reported for domestic abuse Police data indicates overlaps between public violent disorder and domestic violence and abuse

In "Legitimate Concerns" news.

41% of the 899 arrested for taking part in Farage Riots last year had been reported for crimes associated with intimate partner violence.

For those arrested by one police force, this figure was 68%.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

The latest child to starve to death in Gaza weighed less than when she was born The latest child to starve to death in Gaza weighed less than when she was born. The body of 5-month-old Zainab Abu Halib arrived at a hospital in southern Gaza on Friday and her family buried her on ...

Baby Zainab weighed 6.6 pounds at birth.

Five months later, she died, weighing just 4.4 pounds.

apnews.com/article/gaza...

Y’all. What are we doing?

www.cnn.com/2025/07/26/s...

Five-month-old baby dies in mother’s arms in Gaza, a new victim of escalating starvation crisis | CNN A 5-month-old Palestinian baby suffering from severe malnutrition died in her mother’s arms in Gaza Friday, one of the latest victims of a starvation crisis that has generated international outrage bu...

The girl – Zeinab Abu Halib – died Friday as her mother tried to get her to a hospital in southern Gaza.

“Terrible things are happening outside. At any time of night and day, poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes...Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared."
-- Anne Frank

No Proof Hamas Routinely Stole U.N. Aid, Israeli Military Officials Say Israel has long restricted or completely blocked aid to Gaza on the argument that Hamas steals it to use as a weapon of control over the population.

Breaking News: Israeli military officials say they have no proof Hamas routinely steals UN aid, undercutting a claim Israel has used to limit food for Gaza.