Indeed. I look forward to the near future in which actual experts are told they’re wrong because some AI said the opposite of whatever.

An oddity of the return process: they said to just take it to UPS, but they make it really hard for UPS to look up the account. Needed my full name, address, zip, account number, mother’s maiden name (ok, not really the last one) - it felt like they wanted the return process to fail.

It was rhetorical.

A more serious question is whether they’re intentionally trying to trick customers into paying the penalty, or their AI is just that stupid.

The AI agent here said the equipment was so old I did not need to return it. When the new router arrived, the enclosed documentation said I had to return the old equipment or pay $200. Which to believe?

And every confederate statue and monument while we’re at it.

The annual data seem to clump into three groups: one along the mean, one above and one below. Is that real? Do we understand the reason for it?

Map of the contiguous United States showing the spring bloom index anomaly as of April 19, 2026 from the USA National Phenology Network. Many areas are earlier than normal.

Aside from Florida, nearly the entire contiguous U.S. has experienced earlier than average first plant blooms in 2026. Earlier springs can cause longer allergy seasons, accelerate wildfire risk, increase pests/mosquitoes, and lead to less reliable snow-fed water.

Map: www.usanpn.org/data/maps/sp...

Another week. Two weeks, tops.

IRGC broadcasting on VHF: "We will open [the strait of Hormuz] by the order of our leader, not by the tweets of some idiot” which, fair.

Victory Reflections in Cleveland, Ohio

That’s really cool.

All your grooming needs in one convenient location.

Gotta do something to reign in the disinformation - AI or otherwise.

They’ll probably switch it back at the last minute.

5am: loud snarling sounds.
Driveway: two fat raccoons engaged in a dispute.
Me: Oy!
Raccoons: run to the side of the garage, continue loud dispute.
Me: Don’t make me come out there.
Raccoons: even louder.
Me: gets dressed.
Raccoons, staring into flashlight, shocked: crazy bastard meant it!

Who among us hasn’t had underlings call for breaching equipment after a bender?

Cover of report "Mission Aborted: how NASA illegally implemented the president's budget request without congressional approval. Minority staff report, prepared by members of the committee on science, space, and technology, us house of representatives, April 2026

This report came out today by minority staff of the House science committee on how three NASA missions were aborted due to NASA illegally following the FY26 president's budget request instead of congressionally approved budget. Very important reading. 🔭🧪 democrats-science.house.gov/staff-report...

Deep-diving robots help crack the mystery of Antarctica’s vanishing sea ice Ten years ago, Antarctica's sea ice suddenly and dramatically declined. Scientists now blame a "very violent release" of deep, pent-up heat.

"A decade ago, southern sea ice suddenly and dramatically declined. Scientists say the culprit was a 'very violent release' of deep, pent-up heat." via @grist.org at grist.org/oceans/deep-...

Two weeks!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wr0...

Physics bachelors programs at Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio U, and Wright State will be eliminated! ⚛️🧪🔭

Listening to a presentation about the demographics of applicants to our university and surprise, the republican war on foreigners has succeeded is reducing applications from foreign students - especially those who can afford to pay tuition.

Me: internet, you are slow
Provider AI: I will check your setup…
Me: the router is old
AI: there is a hardware failure that cannot be repaired. We will send you a new router.
Me: like I’ve asked repeatedly
AI: holy shit, this thing is like eleventy-one in internet years.

A kitchen counter lined up with dishes of good Greek food!

Tonight's Greek Easter dinner: spanikopita, keftethes, roast potatoes, fasolakia, horiatiki. With a nice bottle of retsina.

Καλό Πάσχα -- Kalo Pascha -- Happy Easter!

The AI bubble gonna pop like

It has been two weeks.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=e35B...

Again it seems necessary to point out that dark matter is not a viable explanation for Milky Way gamma rays. tritonstation.com/2025/12/20/h...