Jim Feuerstein

Elon Musk’s Grok Is Calling for a New Holocaust The chatbot is also praising Hitler and attacking users with Jewish-sounding names.

The focus here is on Elon Musk's AI tool (quite appropriately), but it also points to potential risks in AI tools generally #elonMusk #AI www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

Officials Feared Flood Risk to Youth Camps but Rejected Warning System

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/06/u... #texasFloods #campMystic

4/ So yeah, let’s celebrate that.

3/ In fact, SSA currently expects that it will run out of funds in about eight years. At that time, benefits will be totally dependent on current tax revenues. Assuming no change to revenues collected by taxes, benefits for everyone will have to be cut by about 20%.

2/ What the SSA neglects to mention is that the Big Bill cuts taxes for the rich, driving the deficit into the trillions of dollars, which means that social security benefits in the future are in danger.

1/ What is it celebrating? The SSA points to a reduction or elimination of taxes on social security income for those folks who are in the upper 50%, income-wise, of people who receive the benefits. (It does nothing for those in the lower 50%, who are totally dependent on those benefits.)

A political cartoon showing a man in a blue business suit, wearing a party hat, dancing, and throwing confetti at an elderly woman in a wheel chair. A tiny alligator sneaks in behind him. The caption reads: CELEBRATION! The Social Security Administration wants us to celebrate a small tax cut and hopes no one will notice a 20% cut in benefits that is sneaking in the back door.

The Social Security Administration has apparently become a marketing department for the Republican Party. Tonight it sent out emails to social security recipients saying that it is “celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

YouTube video by The Daily Show Jon Stewart on Trump's Botched Tariff Rollout & The Stock Market's Meltdown | The Daily Show

The #trump administration hasn't been very good at explaining the logic of its #tariff war. So let's get some clarity from Jon Stewart. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBfl...

Wall Street Blew It Investors discounted everything Trump has ever said about trade and tariffs. We’re all going to pay for that mistake.

So this is the bizarre thought behind our tariff war. And an explanation for why it is impossible to negotiate it. #trump #tariffs www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

A crowd of protestors gathers in front of San Fernando Cathedral carrying pro-democracy, anti-Musk and anti-Trump signs.

A man wearing a blue cap with the 'Rivian' written across the back.

In spite of Final Four traffic congestion, 2 or 3,000 people joined the anti- #Trump anti- #Musk #HandsOff’ march in downtown #SanAntonio this morning. The body of marchers extended for nearly 1 mile. Signage ranged from blunt to subtle. My favorite subtle signage: a guy wearing a Rivian cap.

5 Calls Spend 5 minutes. Make 5 calls. Make your voice heard.

There's so much damage being done by Musk and the Trump admin that it's hard to know where to start in response. One thing is to call your representatives to state your position on issues. I'm starting to do so regularly with help from 5calls.org, which makes it easy.

What the Press Got Wrong About Hitler Journalists accurately reported that the führer was a “Little Man” whom the whole world was laughing at. It didn’t matter.

This sounds disconcertingly familiar.

"Journalists accurately reported that #AdolfHitler was a “Little Man” the whole world was laughing at, Timothy W. Ryback writes. It didn’t matter."

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

#Trump

I’m spending a quiet late afternoon sitting at the bar, reading a book, in #libertyBar in #sanAntonio. I just watched bartender Cody delicately placing coffee beans into the foam of an espresso martini. I’m rehydrating with cold beer after 25 miles on the bike in gorgeous weather.

Opinion | Gillian Tett Discusses Donald Trump and the Economy (Gift Article) The Financial Times columnist Gillian Tett discusses what Trump’s plan to ‘detox’ the economy is actually meant to achieve.

Fascinating interview with a FT economic columnist and a member of the FT editorial board. It's a look at Trumpian economic policies and what’s really driving it. It’s much more fundamental (and perhaps scarier) than a lot of news coverage suggests. #Trump #Economics

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/o...

This comes as no surprise. In spite of his public statements of support for the military, Trump has always denigrated service members in private — especially those who have been killed and injured, calling them ‘suckers’ and ‘losers’, according to retired four-star Marine General John Kelly.

Chaos at the V.A.: Inside the DOGE Cuts Disrupting the Veterans Agency (Gift Article) Clinical trials have been delayed, contracts canceled and support staff fired. With deeper cuts coming, some are warning of potential harms to veterans.

#ElonMusk and the #Trump Administration are chopping services to #Veterans. An article yesterday in the NY Times paints a picture of what’s going on at the #VA, an agency that even Trump’s own Project 2025 called “one of the most respected U.S. agencies.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/09/u...

A cartoonish newspaper page with a map of the United States in red, with the words 'West Russia' printed across it. Beneath the map are caricatures of Vladimir Putin (labeled 'President of Russia') and Donald Trump, smiling with a double thumbs up gesture (labeled 'Governor of West Russia'). The headline reads "United states acquired by Russia". A subhead reads: "Republicans in house and senate caught by surprise but quickly declare it a 'savvy business deal'." And the body of the article reads: "In a stunning press conference today in Moscow, Vladimir Putin, with Donald Trump at his side, announced the purchase of the United States and all its territories from Mr Trump. The price was not disclosed, but reports say that Mr. Trump had demanded a figure that would make him at least one billion dollars richer than Elon Musk, who was arrested immediately after the event. In a side note, Google rushed to rename the Gulf of America to the Gulf of Russia."

#russia #putin #trump

A political cartoon showing portraits of Putin, Iran's Ayatollah, North Korea's Kim, and Donald Trump. Each portrait displays their country's flag. Labels on each portrait identify each as a 'member', except Trump's, which is labeled 'Application Approved'. Beneath the portraits is a headline reading: "We're joining Vladimir Putin's very exclusive anti-democracy club." Beneath the headline, the text reads: "When George W. Bush named this group the 'Axis of Evil', he intended that we stand up to them, not apply for membership."

#trumpPutin #axisOfEvil

A cartoon of Vladimir Putin in a mobster's pinstripe suit alongside a fat Donald Trump. A red X is drawn across them. A headline at the top of the image reads: "Yes to Zelensky, Ukraine, and Democracy" and another headline, at the bottom of the image, reads "No to Putin, Trump, and Russian Fascism"

#Putin #Trump #Ukraine #Zelenski

A cartoon image of a forest ranger standing amidst litter and garbage in Big Bend National Park. A headline reads: "SENATOR CORNYN TRASHES BIG BEND." A sub-heading reads: "STAFF CUTS THREATEN SUMMER AT BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, AND SENATOR CORNYN TAUNTS TEXANS. 'WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED, HE SAYS." The body text reads: "Staff cuts at the National Park Service are threatening the useability and safety of national parks across the country, including here in Texas. Staff being fired include everyone from park rangers to the maintenance staff that clean bathrooms and pick up trash. A few weeks ago, when San Antonio citizens protested against allowing Elon Musk to take over government finances and attempted to deliver a letter to our US Senator, his response was to decline the letter and to taunt on Facebook: "We're just getting started." What will you trash next, Senator Cornyn?"

#johncornyn #bigbend #nps #elonmusk

A cartoon showing a man wearing a tinfoil hat. The caption reads: In a rapid reaction to the Texas measles outbreak, Robert F Kennedy Jr, Secretary of Health and Human Services, has ordered the emergency manufacture of 300 million tinfoil hats.

#robertfkennedyjr #measles #vaccines

We've had our first death of a child in the recent Texas measles outbreak. The child was unvaccinated. Conspiracy theorists have fueled a reluctance among parents to take this basic step to protect the lives of their children. This is a good explainer: www.factcheck.org/2024/01/scic...

A dark, brooding Elon Musk wearing a hoodie with the words 'The Biggest Elder Scam Ever' emblazoned across the image. Next to the image there is a headline: "If your 78-year old grandfather wanted to give this man access to all the family's bank accounts, would you intervene?" The text beneath reads: "That's exactly what's happening now. An elderly President, who doesn't understand technology, has given this hacker free access to our nation's computer systems, including Social Security and IRS. And the Senate and House (mostly old people who also don't understand technology) are standing by, doing nothing."

A #Senate full of old men who don't understand technology are watching while an elderly President gives away the passwords to all our national computer systems. Doesn't AARP have a scam warning about this? #trump #musk #IRS #SocialSecurity

NBA All-Star Game draws deluge of criticism for tournament format, broadcast and so much Kevin Hart From the format to the broadcast to way too much Kevin Hart, Sunday's NBA All-Star tournament was a resounding dud.

Was this the worst 'sporting' event in history? More time spent on introductions than on basketball. As though they thought that watching All-Stars play was a distraction. Who the heck was this aimed at? Stopped watching after the first 'game' in the 'tournament'. sports.yahoo.com/nba-all-star...

A bowl of thick, chunky, red and tomatoey soup.

Dinner was Lima bean, tomato, and squash soup, with celery, onions, mushrooms, garlic, spices. Jane started with dried Lima beans and recommends using good quality diced tomato and tomato sauce. We like Muir Glen fire roasted. This amazingly came from a South Beach diet book. 👍👍 from us. #cooking

Measles outbreak in West Texas worsens Most of the infections have shown up in Gaines County. Texas health officials have consistently said that vaccination is the best way for people to avoid the highly contagious airborne disease.

#Measles is making a comeback in Texas, apparently due to #anti-vax attitudes, and probably also due to people not considering measles to be a serious illness. www.texastribune.org/2025/02/08/m...

A political cartoon showing five businessmen sitting around a table, smiling. The caption poses a question: "Donald trump has just announced 25% tariffs on imported steel. What action do you expect that american steelmakers will take?" Two possible answers are provided. "1. Take advantage of their new competitiveness by hiring more workers and increasing production." and "2. Raise their prices to make greater profits on their current level of production." The artist's comment follows: "Yeah, that's what I thought, too."

#tariffs #trump

PRIORITY SAUCE - Priority Bicycles The Sauce is awesome for crushing trails, blasting pump tracks, beer (or coffee) runs, mashing through the streets, or whatever...

The bike I really wanted was the Sauce, for the look. But I've shrunk a full inch off my 6 ft ¼ inch height, and all that shrinkage was inseam. I didn't think I'd be good standing over the Sauce. And anyhow, for my street riding the Eight was more practical. www.prioritybicycles.com/products/sauce

PRIORITY EIGHT - Priority Bicycles Get in gear! From the daily commute, to fitness miles, to weekend errands, to casual rides with friends—THE EIGHT is...

I'm a #cycling beginner. Bought a beginner bike a year ago and have been riding daily. Loving it, so I've just ordered a new one, an intermediate-beginner. Both bikes from Priority Bicycles. The original was a Coast, (cruiser). The new one is a 'sport hybrid': www.prioritybicycles.com/products/eight

Thanks, Ellen. Excellent piece. I've reposted.