Apologies to those who wake early on Monday mornings with rapt anticipation of my latest scribbling. I can’t say I was too busy over the weekend to get to this necessary work, but I was a little busy. Not with other work, mind you, but with the ups and downs of this sixth decade of existence.
I don't disagree with your take about the blue check in theory, but in practice this whole thing has met with exactly the kind of people you'd expect: e.g., weird crypto bros defending Elon's every move and spending seemingly all their free time with "what, you can't afford $8" hot takes that now algorithmically bump up in the display. Simple enough to block and move on though, which has always been my twitter policy -- I find plenty to like and plenty of interesting people without those types. I am saddened that Elon's self-immolation puts more of them in front of me though, but he paid for it and he can do what he likes (even if it's objectively bad and probably bad for America).
You can pay for the edit button? I didn’t know that! Man, that’s probably worth it alone. If I had the extra $8 a month I’d think about it.
Agree entirely on backrooms. Congressional deliberations are much less potentially dangerous than national security secrets, but in both cases the public is better off not knowing. The proponents of “transparency” in Congress are much more anodyne than moronic weirdo leakers (like that Texeira kid), but in both cases they’re doing damage to this country.
What sometimes surprises Service Chiefs if they haven't experienced the appropriations or authorization processes in past postings is that the last 1% of the budget share...that which is the lone portion really up-for-grabs...is done on late night phone calls or in the Staff Director's office the weekend before unveiling. It is why elections matter...and who hires the professional, broad-minded staffs.
The Twitter Blue Checkmark
Off Topic!! Even so, very important part of our National Power: The Soft power of humanitarian assistance at home or overseas.
I am watching this UTube that lays it out very articulately: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRJtPSiVZ7w
I keep track of things via Ward Carroll and Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello.
Fair points.
I don't disagree with your take about the blue check in theory, but in practice this whole thing has met with exactly the kind of people you'd expect: e.g., weird crypto bros defending Elon's every move and spending seemingly all their free time with "what, you can't afford $8" hot takes that now algorithmically bump up in the display. Simple enough to block and move on though, which has always been my twitter policy -- I find plenty to like and plenty of interesting people without those types. I am saddened that Elon's self-immolation puts more of them in front of me though, but he paid for it and he can do what he likes (even if it's objectively bad and probably bad for America).
You can pay for the edit button? I didn’t know that! Man, that’s probably worth it alone. If I had the extra $8 a month I’d think about it.
Agree entirely on backrooms. Congressional deliberations are much less potentially dangerous than national security secrets, but in both cases the public is better off not knowing. The proponents of “transparency” in Congress are much more anodyne than moronic weirdo leakers (like that Texeira kid), but in both cases they’re doing damage to this country.
What sometimes surprises Service Chiefs if they haven't experienced the appropriations or authorization processes in past postings is that the last 1% of the budget share...that which is the lone portion really up-for-grabs...is done on late night phone calls or in the Staff Director's office the weekend before unveiling. It is why elections matter...and who hires the professional, broad-minded staffs.
But you know you could have paid for the edit feature with the old Twitter too?
You had me at “apologies”