Exposing a global ‘online rape academy’ that is teaching men how to abuse women and evade detection CNN exposes an online network of men encouraging each other to drug and assault their partners, and swap tips on how to get away with it.

I am not ashamed to be a man. But I am frequently ashamed and angry at many with whom I share a gender.
www.cnn.com/interactive/...

How many times have you purchased a book *again* because you thought when you read it you'd had a library copy?

The hardest promise to keep is the one you make toyourself

Putting pathological liars under oath. That'll go well. Just another strongly worded email. I am ashamed to be a Democrat.

I've used every CBT tool in my arsenal to commune with my anxiety. I've grown so effective that I've flipped. Now I convince myself that legitimate negative signals aren't true and that long established patterns of behavior are not actually patterns. They are.

Last night in my French session I forgot the imparfait of être. Completely spaced. For someone approaching B2 level, forgetting the fourth tense you learn (présent, impératif, passé composé, imparfait), is embarrassing and frankly, concerning.

The idea that there is some moral high ground relative to our action in Iran toppling a corrupt fundamentalist regime is laughable at best. Frankly, it is a dangerous fiction meant to hide the fact that they want to do the same to Iran as has been done to Gaza.

I would bet that the regime we put in Khameni's place is just as bad and just as superficially democratic. But hey, pro American.

To be fair to POTUS, he is engaging in an age old American diplomatic system: it is easier to deal with dictators than with democratic govts. Easier to bomb, easier to make trade deals, easier to control. But Trump is about Trump. Not American interests, and certainly not the Iranian people.

Iran's biggest threat to the US: Iran's people are providing a blueprint for all levels of society to resist an evil authoritarian regime. Overthrowing Iran's government is one mob boss taking advantage of the weakness of another.

Humanity has been fighting wars for stupid reasons for millennia. Good to know we haven't changed.

If I were a betting man, and after what I've said about Kalshi lately thre answer is "no"-- I would say Anthropic will find a way to cave to DoD. I hope I am wrong.

Starting to see memes about tax season. I don't mind paying for a government that works. I do mind paying for one that is a nationwide grift and an incredibly poor parody of government.

I read a lot of "leadership" books. I don't expect to find a lot of new ideas, but sometimes old ideas, quoted, resonate in a way they didn't before. Like this one from Stephen Covey: "We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behaviors."

This too shall pass!

And keeping up with the news.

Everything is a chore. Work. Eating. Sleeping. Reading. Studying French. Working out. Meditating. Maintaining friendships. Talking to family. Visiting my mother. Listening to podcasts. Writing. Watching TV. Social Media. Riding my bike. Playing video games. Everything is a chore without reward.

I used to identify as a misanthrope but these AI billionaire fuckwits have made me realize I'm just an introvert. (by comparison)

And refilling the bird feeders is constant right now. The squirrels don't help but the birds are voracious

It's a good question. I've suffered from depression and anxiety for many years (therapy+2 Rx) which I think makes me sensitive to the lack of progress in the world, the lack of empathy, foresight, a long term view. Makes it hard to see a point. Chickadees are awesome!

A bright yellow goldfinch peeks around from behind a cylindrical bird feeder.

Feeding the birds. Joking with the barista. My dark humor (especially in light of Trump). I am reading Sartre for my French class and thinking deeply about reading is something I have missed. But mostly the birds. The goldfinches are bright yellow right now.

When I ask for reading recommendations I should start by reading the room.

This has been a rough week/month. I have managed to keep up appearances for an unusually long period. Quieted my anger, calmed my anxiety, functioned through depression, found little bits of meaning in spite of my nihilism and lack of faith.

I worry about what der orangefarbene Anführer's panic will bring but at the same time, I don't want to discourage any of the actions bringing about the panic.

They want war by any means necessary. These man babies are desperate to play with their toys and shoot people.

Statistics only important to me: I finished 39 books in 2025, 10 from the library, 29 I own. 13 I read on paper, 9 in ebook, and 17 on audio.

This violation of the 1st Commandment...

I am letting my Duolingo streak die out of sheer spite. I find the angry and frozen owl icons insulting. Casse-toi, chouette.

This is the easiest boycott ever. I can not shop at Target forever.

In conflict of interest discussions, perception of conflict can be as bad as actual conflict. Hegseth has that problem: whether he actually gave the "kill them all" order, no one is denying he is capable of such a violation of human rights.