Work: Engineer, educator, bus/psych consultant Home: Learning, writing, DIY, gardening, cooking, photography, painting, guitar, dogs, hubby, dadhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mldifgeqjc2fSocial needs are surprisingly powerful in the behaviors they drive. Even when our lives are threatened, we worry about what others might think about what we do. This can be a significant (though not necessarily the only) driver of heroic acts.08 May 2026 10:09 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mldifgeqjc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mld2elc7kc24Meanwhile, in the UK, Trumpian populists 'Reform' are doing scarily well.08 May 2026 05:58 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mld2elc7kc24https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3ml6j72vm3k2bCanada is in an interesting position. Carney has stood tall against Trump and gained much respect (even from Trump). This gives Canada the opportunity to pick up the reins of world leadership as Carney is probably the most trusted person out there right now. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 May 2026 10:40 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml6j72vm3k2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3ml4intvcgk2uI worry when we are obliged to listen to someone because they will be unhappy if we don't. We should be listener-led. When the speaker holds the baton, authoritarianism looms.05 May 2026 15:25 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4intvcgk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3ml3rs7zfls2yTrump killed the American dream. How? 1. Set ICE on the dreamers. 2. Seduced the tech bros. 3. Killed creative arts. 4. Holds lavish elite parties. 5. Makes everything about him. 6. Ignores the Constitution. 7. Blows up affordability. 8. Spends your money on vanities. 9. Put loyalty over merit. ...05 May 2026 08:36 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml3rs7zfls2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3ml3r27tpdk2yGlitz at the Met. But celebrity events no longer shine. Why? Because Trump killed the American dream. What was once a beacon of hope now engenders disgust and anger.05 May 2026 08:22 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml3r27tpdk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3ml2imcvrzc2qHistory will mark Trump as the most hated man in the world. Don't underestimate the global pain he had caused, from cutting aid to threatening allies to hiking prices.04 May 2026 20:19 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml2imcvrzc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkzmisqrhc25Two ways to get more money: 1. Profit: Make or acquire. Sell for more than it costs. For governments, this includes promoting growth and printing money. 2. Take: Persuade or force others to give to you. For governments, this includes taxation, corruption, and conquest.04 May 2026 11:56 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzmisqrhc25https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkzdtbd3gc27Survival instincts make most of us cowards, more likely to choose flight over fight. Those who would control us know this which is why aggression is a major method. Evil has no moral nor restraint and will kill without compunction. Hence we most fear evil and need more courage to face up to it.04 May 2026 09:20 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzdtbd3gc27https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkzd7jgdx227The greatest challenge facing the next government will be how to drain the great abscess of corruption. I suspect it will take strong laws and powerful punishment. People won't willingly give up power and plunder.04 May 2026 09:09 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzd7jgdx227https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkzcywavo227"Tax the rich" say liberals. But how will we take money away from the wealthy? Look at Hungary, where the oligarchs are busy shipping their money abroad. And laws here are stacked in favor of keeping the rich, rich. It will need strong laws and stronger enforcement. Maybe some kind of reverse ICE?04 May 2026 09:06 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzcywavo227https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkzcgomwsk27Oh look! I just passed a thousand followers. Thanks, everyone. It's nice that people are interested in my doodling. Curiously, it took about 10K posts. So 100 posts per follower. Not efficient, but I don't mind. Writing helps me think, as does the 300 character limit, which I've just about reached.04 May 2026 08:55 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzcgomwsk27https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkzbw2puy227There's a thing where some people want strong welfare and services, while others want very little (and a range of views in between). The underlying questions are about morality and money. What is 'right' and how will we pay. Soft and hard choices. Including who doesn't get help and who pays what.04 May 2026 08:46 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzbw2puy227https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkxkbuei5k27Why are cyber-truck wheels not square?03 May 2026 16:11 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkxkbuei5k27https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkxk4kuhs227Why won't Congressional Republicans take back control from Trump. They feel pinned against a wall with Trumpers pointing a gun at them. Yes, cowardice, but also feeling existential danger. Extreme threat is a Trump superpower.03 May 2026 16:08 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkxk4kuhs227https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkxjsifbwc27There are those who are struggling, those even worse off, and those at rock bottom. And for many of these, this happened through reasons beyond their control. -- No-blame Poverty -- It's a real thing.03 May 2026 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkxjsifbwc27https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkvise3n722uHere's an interesting multi-generational perspective on how we got to today's betrayal of the American dream. https://youtu.be/0YRTSA9q-6M?si=m6vbde2KmWPkJGHs02 May 2026 20:39 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkvise3n722uhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkrlrbruc22jTrumpian politics: 1. Promise the earth. 2. Deliver to donors. 3. Victimize the vulnerable. 4. Punish the peasants. 5. Live in luxury.01 May 2026 07:21 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkrlrbruc22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkq4son5pk27Every day, America goes backwards. We need a Project 29 to track it all and plan significant corrective action, including targeting and developing leaders who will restore and revise this assassination of the greatest nation.30 Apr 2026 17:21 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkq4son5pk27https://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkpmsckcyc2eAre History, Geography, and a whole raft of traditional subjects, 'dud' and should be canned? I studied engineering, which was mostly math, which I never used. Yet every day I still use the thinking and analysis that I learned. And I'll bet there are similar disciplines in traditional subjects.30 Apr 2026 12:34 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpmsckcyc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkpe7lfff22eThere is a dilemma in countering polarization with opposite polarization and consequently amplifying differences. There is also a dilemma when being nice doesn't work. We need to find and spread ways of reducing extremism. And sorry, I don't have a magic answer.30 Apr 2026 10:01 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpe7lfff22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkpay3mvdk2pThere's a whole thing about the decline and fall of companies, nations and empires. Luke Kemp's 'Goliath's Curse' identifies extreme inequality as a critical indicator. Unchecked power and endemic corruption are related. America is sliding down this path.30 Apr 2026 09:03 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpay3mvdk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkouf3w4e22pCivil rights stop civil wrongs. Take away people's rights and they will reluctantly engage in wrongs.30 Apr 2026 05:17 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkouf3w4e22phttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkmm2gngr22yThe Campfire of Elites Their bubble is small. The men are grand. The fire is tall. The end. And?29 Apr 2026 07:43 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkmm2gngr22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkmj2vava22yAI company bosses have an alarming similarity to Victor Frankenstein. The monster is now awakening as they frantically massage it into life. In the book, it does not kill Frankenstein, yet he still dies, of exhaustion, illness, and hypothermia, while pursuing his crazed creation across the Arctic.29 Apr 2026 06:50 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkmj2vava22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkmhyfa5p22yTrump is right. His reign will be consequential. Our children's children will still be laboring to pay off America's debt. Even those of the jailed elites.29 Apr 2026 06:30 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkmhyfa5p22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkmhpiyrws2yLook at Hungary. With Orban gone, all his chums are moving their ill-gotten plunder abroad. Soon, this will happen in America.29 Apr 2026 06:25 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkmhpiyrws2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/dmstraker.bsky.social/post/3mkkygaqbp22iI have a list of people who I will believe until they are proven wrong. When challenged, they openly consider the evidence. I have another list of people who I don't believe until they are proven right. When challenged, they usually get very angry. Donald Trump is at the top of the second list.28 Apr 2026 16:19 +0000at://did:plc:m74gtpbo3u6qagxkv7t7chat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkkygaqbp22i