Hi Folks!

With all the recent hysteria around drones/orbs right now. I wanted to offer a clear guide on how to get the best results when attempting to photo or video something you see.

If someone thinks they see a UFO - please know that quality is paramount right now. You should treat it like such. This isn't something folks can just whip out a phone and try and capture without contributing to the already-bad data. Given how long this mystery has persisted, I've been really surprised at how low effort most evidence is. Is this not important? Don't we want to get to the bottom of things? Well then, read on, here's how:

0. ALWAYS- Validate what you are seeing with public data. Use AR Astronomy apps to rule out bright stars and planets. Use AR Flight Radar apps to rule out commercial planes. Also ensure you aren't looking at a lens flair by comparing against other light patterns in the image.
1. ALWAYS- Use a tripod or stabilization of some sort and film from a stationary area. Even a mini tripod is better than nothing. Oh, and pull over if you're driving or ask to pull over if you are a passenger. This is important enough to pull over for right?
2. ALWAYS- Lock your focus to infinity. You might need a 3rd party app to do it. Anything further than a few hundred feet doesn't need a focus wheel - just go straight to "infinity" or as far out focus as you can and lock it.
3. TRY - To get as much data as possible. Is the orb still there? Do you have battery? Don't stop recording! 6 second snippets are a trend worth fighting against.
4. TRY - Astrophotography mode if your phone supports it. It stacks thousands of exposures and tries to increase detail. Stop the capture if the subject moves to avoid streaks.
5. TRY - Lucky imaging if you don't have an Astro mode on your phone. This means locking your shutter speed to 1 second, with a moderate-high ISO (about 3/4 of the way to max ISO) and taking images continuously. This can later be stacked in a photo editor or astronomy stacker where you can fine tune the image and get insane amounts of detail. If you find that the subject is too bright, reduce ISO first, then reduce shutter speed.
6. TRY - To use a telescopic lens OR mount your camera to a telescope of some type. Many of the videos suggest that these anomalies are often stationary for long enough to be viewable in astronomy telescopes.

If you follow these tips, you'll get better photos than 90% of what's being shared recently. Even if you're using a smartphone.

Anyone else have good tips?

EDIT: Added note about what to do if lucky imaging subject is too bright.

So first off, let me set this straight.

I actually like GenAI music. It offers me a way to er... "create" tracks that resonate with a particular moment in my life. It's more personal and relevant than anything most artists produce. But that's where it ends - I don't want to hear GenAI mass market slop. Heck, I don't want to hear MOST folk's AI Generated stuff. That's for them. The music I generate is for me.

Moving on from that - I primarily use Spotify currently for music discovery, and up until a few months ago it's been the most reliable way to find new Artists that might interest me. Their algorithm, while not perfect, generally hooked me up with artists that were in the ballpark of what I like and were REAL.

Today, about half of my "Release Radar" is AI generated slop. Some of it is published under their own names and labels which is fine, but others are transparently attempting to dupe listeners by imitating or outright impersonating known bands. However, even in the "nice" case of well labeled and non-impersonating AI tunes, it's significantly getting in the way of finding new stuff.

I think I'm done with Spotify, recent statements from the CEO has me thinking that they don't consider this to be a problem. They aren't looking to fix this issue, and aren't even pretending to.

But the problem is, none of the other music streaming services are in a better situation. None have sought to deal with the artist impersonation problem or general labeling of AI generated music.

I feel like I have to go back to CD's and word-of-mouth like back in the "old days" - at least if I'm to be sure that the music was actually made by a human. But how long would it be before we start getting CD's with AI generated music on them? My hope is that the fad is too "low effort" to bother with pressing vinyl or burning CD's.

How are you discovering new (human) music in this rapidly changing landscape?

🎉 Project Cornerstones: Your Footsteps, Our Future! 🎉

Feeling fiery and passionate about a cause but don’t know where to start? Look no further! Project Cornerstones, in collaboration with the Pima County Democratic Party, is here to fan the flames of change in Tucson! 🌿

What is Project Cornerstones?

Like the Sonoran monsoon, impactful change often starts with small, isolated showers before growing into large storms. We're all about micro-protests—powerful, intimate gatherings of fewer than a dozen folks. Show the world that even the smallest crowd can create mighty storms!

How You Can Get Involved

Crafters

Are you the creative type? Turn your artistry into activism! Design ready-to-use signs, and assemble protest packs specifically for our desert climate, complete with water and sunscreen. Add your unique flair and post your contact info in our “Maker Directory” thread!

Cornerstones

Ready to protest but need a hand? Just pick a corner and post a request for materials. Include the date, time, and location of your micro-protest. Get connected and get started!

Patrons (Honorary Role)

Can’t create or participate directly? No worries! Support the cause by donating crafting tools, poster boards, sunscreen, and bottled water.

Join the Conversation

Discuss the best mesquite-shaded, high-visibility spots for protests, coordinate with fellow activists, and share anything related to micro-protesting.

Ready to rock the revolution? Join us at tucson.social/c/cornerstones

Let’s turn up the heat of change right here in Tucson! Be the change today! 🌵

So, as y'all know. I made a call to action to protest the Supreme Court Ruling.

As part of this, I reached out to multiple local political organizations. The Pima County Democratic party was pretty excited to work with me. And we'll be having some mutual announcements soon about some neat things we're doing together.

However, contrasting this with the Tucson DSA is stark.

They absolutely refused any sort of solidarity because I had placed some initial rules about not protesting Bidens nomination right now. It's not that I don't believe in that cause (I do!), its that I want to keep the protests from falling to the same issues as Occupy by keeping a narrow focus with specific talking points.

They essentially refused to talk about it at all and walked away.

Folks, to build power, we have to work together. And if we assume everyone else is extremely rigid and walk away any time something even slightly challenges your personal truth, we're all worse for it. We must be open to the fact that compromise is possible

The Democratic Socialists of America will fail to build power. They are too extreme, too dogmatic, and are extremely hostile to even having conversations. They don't build much for anyone except themselves and rely on performance to communicate their virtue.

What was so hard about having a conversation with me on this? I wasn't stating these decisions were final in any way. Yet they weaponized one condition to cast this site as ideological enemies. I was totally down to be like "Well, how about we protest Joe Biden on X day?". Yet we couldn't even get that far because the Tucson DSA slammed the door in my face.

So yeah, I used to donate to them, I even used to like them. But they have failed as a political entity and will continue to fail because they would rather have virtue to signal than to actually build something in the community they are apart of.

I don't understand The Democratic Socialists of America's insistence on turning small disagreements into reasons to not work with allied parties. I formally denounce their performative bullshit and purity testing.

EDIT: Cooled a bit, and decided and use less expletives and refined the conclusion.

Esta es una convocatoria oficial para TODOS los residentes de Tucson - liberales o conservadores.

CUÁNDO:

• Hoy - 4PM-7PM
• Jueves - 4PM-7PM
• Sábado - 2PM-8PM

DÓNDE:

• Hoy - Banqueta frente a la sede del Partido Demócrata del Condado de Pima - (Trasladarse al Parque Himmel si está muy concurrido)
• Jueves - Banqueta frente a la sede del Partido Demócrata del Condado de Pima - (Trasladarse al Parque Himmel si está muy concurrido)
• Sábado - Parque Himmel

DIRECCIONES:

• Sede de Campaña del Partido Demócrata del Condado de Pima - 2302 E Speedway Blvd Suite 106, Tucson, AZ 85719
• Parque Himmel - 1000 N Tucson Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716

POR QUÉ:

"Más allá del destino de esta acusación en particular, las consecuencias a largo plazo de la decisión de hoy son graves. La Corte efectivamente crea una zona libre de leyes alrededor del Presidente, alterando el status quo que ha existido desde la Fundación. Esta nueva inmunidad por actos oficiales ahora 'yace como un arma cargada' para cualquier Presidente que desee poner sus propios intereses, su supervivencia política o su beneficio financiero por encima de los intereses de la Nación. El Presidente de los Estados Unidos es la persona más poderosa del país, y posiblemente del mundo. Cuando usa sus poderes oficiales de cualquier manera, según el razonamiento de la mayoría, ahora estará aislado de la persecución penal. ¿Ordena al Equipo 6 de los Navy Seals asesinar a un rival político? Inmune. ¿Organiza un golpe militar para aferrarse al poder? Inmune. ¿Acepta un soborno a cambio de un indulto? Inmune. Inmune, inmune, inmune. Dejen que el Presidente viole la ley, dejen que explote los atributos de su cargo para beneficio personal, dejen que use su poder oficial para fines malvados. Porque si supiera que algún día podría enfrentar responsabilidades por violar la ley, podría no ser tan audaz y valiente como nos gustaría que fuera. Ese es el mensaje de la mayoría hoy. Incluso si estos escenarios de pesadilla nunca se materializan, y ruego que nunca lo hagan, el daño ya está hecho. La relación entre el Presidente y el pueblo al que sirve ha cambiado irrevocablemente. En cada uso del poder oficial, el Presidente es ahora un rey por encima de la ley.

La fijación obstinada de la mayoría en la necesidad del Presidente de ser audaz y expedito ignora la necesidad contrapuesta de rendición de cuentas y restricción. Los Fundadores no eran tan obstinados. En los Documentos Federalistas, después de 'esforzarse por mostrar' que el Ejecutivo diseñado por la Constitución 'combina... todos los requisitos para la energía', Alexander Hamilton planteó una pregunta separada e igualmente importante: '¿Combina también los requisitos para la seguridad, en un sentido republicano, una debida dependencia del pueblo, una debida responsabilidad?' El Federalista No. 77, p. 507 (ed. J. Harvard Library 2009). La respuesta entonces era sí, basada en parte en la vulnerabilidad del Presidente a 'ser procesado en el curso común de la ley'. Ibíd. La respuesta después de hoy es no. Nunca en la historia de nuestra República un Presidente ha tenido razones para creer que sería inmune a un proceso penal si usara los atributos de su cargo para violar la ley penal. En adelante, sin embargo, todos los ex Presidentes estarán revestidos de tal inmunidad. Si el ocupante de ese cargo hace mal uso del poder oficial para beneficio personal, la ley penal que el resto de nosotros debe acatar no proporcionará un respaldo. Con temor por nuestra democracia, disiento."

--Jueza Sotomayor

QUÉ TRAER:

• Agua
• Bocadillos
• Protector solar
• Paraguas o impermeables (en caso de lluvia)
• Carteles protestando contra la decisión de inmunidad de la Corte Suprema
• A ti mismo y quizás a uno o tres amigos.

QUÉ NO TRAER:

• Ningún cartel que no proteste contra la inmunidad de la Corte Suprema u otra decisión reciente.
• Eso significa no protestar contra Biden como candidato. Deja eso para otro día.
• Armas (improvisadas o de otro tipo)

Nota: Esta traducción al español fue creada con la asistencia de inteligencia artificial y puede contener errores. Por favor, reporte cualquier error de traducción a u/th3raid0r o [email protected].

This is an official call to action for ALL Tucson residents - liberal or conservative.

WHEN:

• Today - 4PM-7PM
• Thursday (July 4th / Independence Day) - 4PM-7PM
• Saturday - 2PM-8PM

WHERE:

• Today - Sidewalk in front of Pima County Democratic Headquarters - (Move to Himmel Park if too crowded)
• Thursday (July 4th / Independence Day) - Sidewalk in front of Pima County Democratic Headquarters - (Move to Himmel Park if too crowded)
• Saturday - Himmel Park

ADDRESSES:

• Pima County Democratic Campaign Headquarters - 2302 E Speedway Blvd Suite 106, Tucson, AZ 85719
• Himmel Park - 1000 N Tucson Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716

WHY:

"Looking beyond the fate of this particular prosecution, the long-term consequences of today’s decision are stark. The Court effectively creates a law-free zone around the President, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the Founding. This new official-acts immunity now “lies about like a loaded weapon” for any President that wishes to place his own interests, his own political survival, or his own financial gain, above the interests of the Nation. The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majority’s reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune. Let the President violate the law, let him exploit the trappings of his office for personal gain, let him use his official power for evil ends. Because if he knew that he may one day face liability for breaking the law, he might not be as bold and fearless as we would like him to be. That is the majority’s message today. Even if these nightmare scenarios never play out, and I pray they never do, the damage has been done. The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.

The majority’s single-minded fixation on the President’s need for boldness and dispatch ignores the countervailing need for accountability and restraint. The Framers were not so single-minded. In the Federalist Papers, after “endeavor[ing] to show” that the Executive designed by the Constitution “combines . . . all the requisites to energy,” Alexander Hamilton asked a separate, equally important question: “Does it also combine the requisites to safety, in a republican sense, a due dependence on the people, a due responsibility?” The Federalist No. 77, p. 507 (J. Harvard Li- brary ed. 2009). The answer then was yes, based in part upon the President’s vulnerability to “prosecution in the common course of law.” Ibid. The answer after today is no. Never in the history of our Republic has a President had reason to believe that he would be immune from criminal prosecution if he used the trappings of his office to violate the criminal law. Moving forward, however, all former Presidents will be cloaked in such immunity. If the occupant of that office misuses official power for personal gain, the criminal law that the rest of us must abide will not provide a backstop. With fear for our democracy, I dissent."

--Justice Sotomayor

WHAT TO BRING:

• Water
• Snacks
• Sunscreen
• Umbrellas or Raincoats (in case of rain)
• Signs protesting the SC immunity decision
• Yourself and perhaps a friend or 3.

WHAT NOT TO BRING:

• Any signs that aren't protesting the SC immunity or other recent decision.
• That means no protesting Biden as the candidate. Leave that for another day.
• Weapons (improvised or otherwise)

Technically older than I'd like to post, but this information hasn't been posted before, and I was surprised to learn that, despite the lease cancellations that made the news, there's still a lot more alfalfa megafarms we need to deal with.

Just a quick reminder of the actions that are within our locus of control.

We can:

• Email our local and state level Democratic party orgs and representatives expressing our alarm and urgent need for a new candidate.
• Protest in front of local and state level Democratic campaign offices expressing our alarm and urgent need for a better candidate.
• Provide extreme feedback in polls and surveys. The DNC is very data driven, and if their internal polling goes south, it could very well force a change.
• Vote for the candidate we have.

There's probably more, but I've done #1, and am planning to do #2. Feel free to join in - the more voices, the louder the message.

The local Democrat Party office can be reached by email at [email protected].

Mark Kelly can be reached with this form here.

Mail correspondence and in-person appeals and protesting should occur at the Pima County Democratic Party headquarters located at 2302 E Speedway Blvd Suite 106, Tucson, AZ 85719.

As in title, my father is an American nomad, and he just recently got a spot with good internet signal for a few months.

He hasn't really played in years, and the last game he really enjoyed was Warface and Novalogic's Joint Operations: Combined Arms.

There is a bit of a twist though, his vision certainly isn't what it used to be, so whatever game I suggest needs accessibility options galore.

I found a really good "singleplayer only" experience in Ravenfield and the style lends itself very well to my father's limited vision.

Is there something like Ravenfield but with a well supported online component? Perhaps Battlebit: Remastered is pretty close?

EDIT: I suppose the genre is better described a "mil-sim" than "tactical shooter".

UPDATE: Someone recommended the latest Insurgency game. After realizing my father had over 1K hours in the previous Insurgency game I realized that this was the game to get. Turns out it was a good choice! That's where most of my father's online buddies ended up! Thanks all! Feel free to keep recommending things, but we already seem to have a winner!

Again, the names are:

• Clint Bolick
• Kathryn Hackett King

While you're here, I encourage you to also sign the petition to get Abortion Access on November's ballot.

Already signed? Donations are always welcome!

EDIT - I keep butchering the title. 😢 If I see issues with this one. I'ma wait a bit and assume I'm having a bad brain day. Sorry if you've been "spammed" by my edits/reposts.