The “ghost gun” 3D printing laws going around had me thinking about “ghost drones”. I think a lot of the NDAA and FAA noise around drones is an attempt to gain control over domestic drone use. They’re criminalizing flying a drone within 1km of ICE activities - which is impossible to know or avoid.

But you don’t need an expensive flight controller, fancy ESC, or even brushless motors to get your basic drone in the air. An esp32, some mosfets, servos (for a wing), and brushed motors will get the job done. Will it compete in multiGP? Hell no. But it’ll fly and it’ll cost like $15.

Please submit your driver’s license for age verification.

If you read the article though, it’s not as simple as being dissolved. They’re just massively reorganizing how it’s run so it’s dysfunctional and the original mission is lost. They’re letting states (industry) have dominating access and control over USFS policies and shutting down long running and irreplaceable research projects. Like RFK’s CDC, if you stop testing and gathering facts, you can then justify any policy you want.

its the (nearly?) richest country

Not at this rate.

One less person saying “no” to a land invasion of Iran :(

Nah? Battle of Stalingrad wasn’t even until 1943, after Operation Torch (N. Africa) had started.

The UK did more with less. Escorting supply convoys to Russia, fighting in N. Africa and the Middle East, keeping the Wermacht pinned to defending the French coast. You could argue they contained Germany on 3 sides/fronts where Russia only had the one (which was heavily supported by the US/UK).

Here’s a fascinating insight into the MAGA mind:

It’s never “How do we fix this or make it better?”, it’s always “Who do we blame and how much can we hurt them?”

At least the hate cannon is priming for blue-on-blue this time.

that despite being in a red state, I’m not nearly as isolated as I thought I was

That’s really nice to hear. I’m in a blue state and I imagine our protests look and feel very different, based on expectations.

Anyway, you gotta spread that story. I’m sick of the “what are these protests going to accomplish?” despair-mongering.

Trivia: Counties don’t do anything up here. I don’t think a Sheriff can even pull you over for speeding. It’s mostly a court and prison district thing.

Boston is going to be insane. The last one filled every bit of standing room across downtown. Most people weren’t in earshot of the speakers because you couldn’t get close enough.

It’s pretty fucking clear to me: Trump acts like a king and ignores the Constitution. That must be stopped at all costs.

I think what this article is failing to state clearly is that none of the government is working therefore No Kings can’t achieve its goal of reining in Trump. That doesn’t mean we stop protesting. That means we start thinking about the next step: “Stop. Or else”.

Christianity post-Jesus but pre-Constantine. They met in small groups in a person’s home. It was a book club for how to be a better person because (setting atheist skepticism aside) that was Jesus’ original teaching.

Once it became a state religion, it was all about the power. After the fall of Rome, the Catholic Church was effectively a nation state - controlling territory, collecting taxes, etc.

Very little of those require Congressional approval.

MAGA has effectively neutered the courts. I’m not sure a marginal victory is enough to restore 3 independent branches of government. Also, most of the above list is above enforcing very simple laws and Judge Cannon can’t preside over everything.

A more controversial item was left off: once Dems get the presidency, it must be destroyed. Rein in executive power as much as possible. It’s possible that the next GOP presidency will undo this but I doubt the Dems will hold on to power for very long. There’s a lot of damage to undo and the cleanup is going to be slandered at every turn.

“The right” here being a reactionary movement to change. Tolerance led to immigration, immigration led to poor brown refugees. The US GOP destroyed the global order in a hurry and every country is circling the wagons right now.

European immigration has always been its own thing, compared to the US. It’ll get tightened down as part of the fortifying new borders. After that, “the right” will be all about a new Euro identity, distinctly separate from the US. And suddenly nationalism looks cool again to everyone because the US is run by dicks.

I know. The world is going to change. A lot. Like “post-WW2” a lot. The show isn’t over but it’ll never look the same.

China will be the global superpower and they’re all about that face/reputation. Taiwan is an absolute goner and corporations will be very careful about public statements. The US is gonna look like Putin’s Russia: strong men promising a return to the glory days but that’s a mathematical impossibility.

Europe will probably look normal? Laid back and still enjoying their retirement from colonialism and starting world wars.

Here’s the problem with the constant stream of depressing news: you start averting your eyes to stay sane. My first reaction was: “When the fuck did we start bombing Ecuador?!”

I think we all kinda know that. The next question is harder: what’s the response? For the sake of discussion, let’s say Dems win the presidency and the house in 2028. What can be done to address the propaganda cult networks?

Here are some thoughts:

1. Full court press on conservative news:

• Modify how the press pool operates. Like Hegseth but legal and not dumb.
• Election law violations. Directing and collusion with campaigns (think PAC vs Super PAC).
• Insider trading law violations. The market manipulation is apparent.
• FCC Fair Time rule. If they want to play that way, let’s play.
• Anti-trust. Break up Sinclair.

2. Address the misinfo directly while avoiding “Ministry of Truth” vibes. Get lower ranking Dems on the news networks BUT

• Very publicly establish fair ground rules for on air discussions. Break the rules and the topic now becomes why the host is a propo shill
• Do a better job of getting lower ranking Dems together and being on the same page. GOP knows how to close ranks. We have a higher purpose.

3. Put. Them. In. Jail.

• Why is this so fucking hard.

Maybe these guys just like walking around the airport in their socks with their pants falling down? Don’t forget swabbing down your laptop with the magic Q-tip.

My tax dollars feel so much safer with the TSA.

Is there a tap to pay system that works on custom ROMs? I thought those really required SafetyNet/PlayIntegrity/Whatever-it-is-now.

I would rather not give up tap to pay but I will if I have to. It seems like trying to Magisk my way into getting Google Wallet to work would be a PITA.

3D printers are even less useful here though. The rocket bit can be replaced with a cardboard tube and some balsa fins. The important parts are the active control and circuitry.

But I guess logic doesn’t really enter into the conversation anyway.