Activity

Finished reading:
Cover image of Rogue Protocol
The Murderbot Diaries series, book 3.
Rogue Protocol
by Martha Wells.
Published by Tor Books, . 158 pages.
science fiction, space
Started ; completed June 29, 2025.
Finished reading:
Cover image of Artificial Condition
The Murderbot Diaries series, book 2.
Artificial Condition
by Martha Wells.
Published . 158 pages.
science fiction, space
Started ; completed June 29, 2025.
Finished reading:
Cover image of Gathering Prey
Lucas Davenport series, book 25.
Gathering Prey
by John Sandford.
Audiobook.
Published . 407 pages.
crime, mystery, thriller
Started ; completed June 29, 2025.
Posted:

Lawsuits like this one are not something to celebrate just because you hate Fox News.

I'm not normally one to agree with Fox, but they're right in their statement that suits like this are "designed to chill free speech critical of [Newsom]."

“Gavin Newsom sues Fox News for $787M in defamation case over Trump call”.
Tyler Katzenberger in Politico.
The California governor accused Fox News of defamation in a lawsuit Friday morning, alleging the network should fork over $787 million after host Jesse Watters claimed Newsom lied about his phone calls with Trump, who ordered National Guard troops to Los Angeles this month.
Finished reading:
Cover image of Enshittification
Enshittification
Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It
by Cory Doctorow.
To be published . 352 pages.
technology
Started ; completed June 27, 2025.
Posted:

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte: “After significant studying, and in keeping with President Trump’s vision to make the United States the crypto capital of the world, today I ordered the Great Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prepare their businesses to count cryptocurrency as an asset for a mortgage” 

Order Issuing Directive to Consider Cryptocurrency as an Asset for Single-Family Loans Delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac WHEREAS, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) maintain a pivotal role in the U.S. housing finance system by providing stability and liquidity to the secondary market for residential mortgages through prudent standards to help ensure sustainable, long-term homeownership. WHEREAS, cryptocurrency is an emerging asset class that may offer an opportunity to build wealth outside of the stock and bond markets. WHEREAS, cryptocurrency has not typically been considered in the mortgage risk assessment process for mortgage loans delivered to the Enterprises, without converting the cryptocurrency to U.S. dollars prior to loan closing. WHEREAS, U.S. Federal Housing FHFA has now determined that the consideration of additional borrower assets in the Enterprises' single-family mortgage loan risk assessments may enable the Enterprises to assess the full spectrum of asset information available for reserves and to facilitate sustainable homeownership to creditworthy borrowers. NOW THEREFORE, U.S. Federal Housing FHFA, as conservator, hereby directs each Enterprise to prepare a proposal for consideration of cryptocurrency as an asset for reserves in their respective single-family mortgage loan risk assessments, without conversion of said cryptocurrency to U.S. dollars. Each Enterprise is directed to consider only cryptocurrency assets that can be evidenced and stored on a U.S.-regulated centralized exchange subject to all applicable laws. Additionally, each Enterprise is directed to consider additional risk mitigants per their own assessment, including adjustments for market volatility and ensuring sufficient risk-based adjustments to the share of reserves comprised of cryptocurrency. Prior to implementing any changes, each Enterprise must submit and receive approval from its Board of Directors prior to submitting to U.S. Federal Housing FHFA for review. This Order is effective immediately and should be implemented as soon as reasonably practical.

Notably, at this point they are merely directed to “prepare a proposal for consideration”.

Also notable: “Each Enterprise is directed to consider only cryptocurrency assets that can be evidenced and stored on a U.S.-regulated centralized exchange”.