J.D. Vance visited the Pope of the Catholic Church in Rome. Hours later, the Pope died. Reports are sketchy, but we know he was pretty much alive before and during the meeting. Just stating the facts here.

She likes the views from the breakwater.

Post by @chrisgeidner@journa.host

Here is my full report at Law Dork: www.lawdork.com/p/judge-f…

I like filling up notebooks and starting new ones. Here’s the Moleskine notebook I just finished, stacked on top of the new one I just started.

She’s not scared of big sticks.

I got a pretty dog.

🔗 Manton Reece - Mastodon's incomplete migration

I assume the answer is that the Mastodon team has prioritized social features over microblogging features. It’s a trade-off, but it means that Mastodon is not suitable as a blog replacement anymore than Twitter / X is. Anyone who cares about their writing or photos should be publishing them at their own domain name.

I’m proud of Micro.blog’s comprehensive post import. As of 2025, I’ve coded custom importers for a dozen systems, all built-in: WordPress, Medium, Tumblr, Mastodon, Ghost, Markdown, Substack, Write.as, Pika, Foursquare, Instagram, and Twitter / X.

This is why I love micro.blog, too (and its tons of features). But, above all, that I can have my small corner in the world.

Using Micro Social is a pleasure. This new interface is awesome, its many options are very neatly and conveniently presented. Thanks @gregmorris

How can someone be as stupid as to call Chinese people “peasants”? What level of dumbness can that be?

youtu.be/CydeVWXVQ…

I’m making a few changes to my digital home.

  • english.umerez.eu will host my thoughts in English;
  • esteban.umerez.eu will be my personal site in Spanish;
  • legal.umerez.eu will be the place for stuff about the Law, in Spanish also;
  • umerez.eu will be the a static page with links to all three.

Microsoft employee disrupts 50th anniversary and calls AI boss ‘war profiteer’ | The Verge

A Microsoft employee disrupted the company’s 50th anniversary event to protest its use of AI.

“Shame on you,” said Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad, speaking directly to Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman. “You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide. Stop using AI for genocide in our region. You have blood on your hands. All of Microsoft has blood on its hands. How dare you all celebrate when Microsoft is killing children. Shame on you all.”

This is making me think about pacifist activism and whether it is still a thing in times like this. Not that this woman represents pacifism. I don’t think she does. But I’m pondering a few ideas I want to write about. I have the title for the post: Si vis pacem, para bellum.

I wanted to try something. I joined Truth Social. I said Trump is Truth. I now have the honor to announce that I just been appointed US Ambassador to Spain. Party tomorrow. Exact location TBA. Invitations via Signal only.

Can someone tell the YouTube algorithm to stop force feeding me Will Smith’s comeback videos? He’s the one guy that I want to see forever cancelled. The guy who used violence on a comedian for a joke. He deserves no respect from me. I don’t want to see any of it.

I think some major political actors in these days (Trump’s MAGA, China, Russia) have one path in common: they see that the post IIWW world order might be ending and they want to win the battle for the new order, one they can have power over and benefit from. Right wing oligarchs everywhere and nostalgic fascists are more than willing to help. I see no other way forward but total war.

Some bug caught me yesterday and brought me down to my knees. I know, I like to sound dramatic. I’ve been in bed for the most part of the last 24 hours and now I feel pretty good.

I have to stop watching Swiss Army Knife videos on YouTube AND/OR ordering Swiss Army Knives in Amazon.

🔗 What the Venezuelans Deported to El Salvador Experienced | TIME

The intake began with slaps. One young man sobbed when a guard pushed him to the floor. He said, “I’m not a gang member. I’m gay. I’m a barber.” I believed him. But maybe it’s only because he didn’t look like what I had expected—he wasn’t a tattooed monster.

The men were pulled from the buses so fast the guards couldn’t keep pace. Chained at their ankles and wrists, they stumbled and fell, some guards falling to the ground with them. With each fall came a kick, a slap, a shove. The guards grabbed necks and pushed bodies into the sides of the buses as they forced the detainees forward. There was no blood, but the violence had rhythm, like a theater of fear.

It will happen to us soon. To you and me. Have no doubt about it. Unless you fight for democracy, rule of law and due process.

Leia

A small dark-coated dog curls up on a patterned quilt in a cozy room with wooden furniture in the background. A small dog curled up, resting on a patchwork quilt in a cozy room with wooden doors and soft lighting in the background.

So I’m going back to basics. I’ve been living an analog life lately and, if I ever come back to blogging, I want to have a single place. No more estebantxo.com, social.estebantxo.com or blog.estebantxo.com. One single place, my old faithful umerez.eu

Suddenly, cutting ties with Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads and other social media is starting to make sense. Micro.blog is nice and cozy and social enough for me.

I managed to customize my home page like I have wanted for a long time. Only one single post, the latest one, and a few buttons for people to navigate around, if they so wish to do.

The pressure of having to be on the web, curating a digital presence for marketing purposes. I’m finding great pleasure on taking the opposite route, going back to my blog and taking care of my own garden, enjoying my small little world, not needing to be someone in the public space. #eng

I’m going to make lunch now, while I continue to think about the post I’m writing for this month’s IndieWeb Carnival. Spaghetti said the family, so spaghetti will be.

The sound of the noon chimes from the clock bells of the central nave of Bordeaux Cathedral.

www.youtube.com/watch

Bordeaux. February 2024.

A charcuterie board with various meats and cheeses, accompanied by red wine, served on an outdoor table.
Spanish: Una tabla de embutidos con diversas carnes y quesos, acompañada de vino tinto, servida en una mesa al aire libre.
Basque: Hainbat okela eta gaztarekin osatutako xarrikuteria taula bat, ardo gorriarekin lagunduta, kanpoaldeko mahai batean zerbitzatua. An elderly woman reads a book on a park bench, hand on chin, with a stroller passing by in the background.
Spanish: Una mujer anciana lee un libro en un banco del parque, mano en la barbilla, con un cochecito pasando por detrás.
Basque: Emakume zahar bat liburu bat irakurtzen ari da parkeko banku batean, eskua bizarrean, eta atzealdean ume-ibiliak pasatzen ari dira. A historic stone gate with a clock, flanked by two towers, viewed from a narrow street adorned with festive banners.
Spanish: Una puerta histórica de piedra con un reloj, flanqueada por dos torres, vista desde una calle estrecha adornada con banderines festivos.
Basque: Harriko ate historiko bat erlojuarekin, bi dorre inguratuta, jai-banderolez apaindutako kale estu batetik ikusita. People relax in a sunny park with trees, grass, and a statue in the background.
Spanish: Personas relajándose en un parque soleado con árboles, césped y una estatua al fondo.
Basque: Jendea eguzkitan lasai dago parke batean, zuhaitzak, belar eta atzeko planoko estatua dituela. #eng #nice