2024.12.DisappearingMoment
This month, a lot of people got worked up about the possibility of mystery drones over New Jersey. We made Orson Welles comparisons. The New York Times reported on drone fever.
A U.S. Representative said that the drones were Iran’s doing. New Jersey's best political reporter mewled that this "theory sounds possible". He wrote that there was "an absence of other plausible theories”. (Matt Friedman admitted his error four days later.)
The United States Department of Homeland Security got involved. So did the Federal Bureau of Investigation. And the Department of Defense. Along with the Federal Aviation Administration, these three issued a joint statement on drone sightings. The drones at night were loud and bright deep in the heart of Essex. You can read all about it in the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Drone Incidents FAQ.
In the mid-90s, I loved a quote by Sam Donaldson or Tom Brokaw. “In place of truth, we have created facts.” My update: In place of facts, we have created FAQs.
I'm writing about this to document the before times. A month from now, we will miss what it is like now. We will be sentimental, furious, terrified, tortured. We will wonder how we permitted coaxial atrocities.
When we look back, if we are able to look back, we should know who we were immediately before the collapse. We wanted answers to questions we stumbled to articulate. We believed what we felt rather than what was true.
Truth is a tiny, silent, piceous drone. Fungible and uninteresting. You don’t know it was there until you’re stuck with undeniable, retrospective evidence.
Welcome to December 2024’s Disappearing Moment, an inventory of my experiences. I hope you enjoy it.
Podcasts
Americana Partners’ Weekly Market Update Replay (Worth My Time): David M. Darst is my Walter Cronkite. I listen to find out what others consider important. And reassure myself that I haven't missed anything.
Nerdy Software
Convert M4A to MP3 in your browser if you’re feeling too lazy to use ffmpeg.
Free Font
B612: Optimize the overall homogeneity of your cockpit.
Bougie Products
I’m excited about my Viking Press and T-Bar Row attachments. There were some exercises I couldn't do at home. Now I can.
Personal Finance and Investing
Nisiprius is my favorite Boglehead. You should read his posts, starting with the one about risk tolerance. Then pick from over 53,000 others.
Reading
- Laura Olin, “You don’t actually have to stay on Twitter.” (A Personal Favorite): I think less of anyone who does.
- Melanie Sumner, “Living with ADHD” (I Liked It): Sometimes I struggle to "organize the stuff (I) need to do in a way that makes sure it gets done."
Some Topics I Intend to Write About in 2025
- Cryptocurrency. Learn from my mistakes.
- Dating a long-term spouse or partner.
- Democracy.
- Eating. Exercising.
- Investments that Beth and I have in our accounts. For transparency and accountability.
- Music.
- Running. I like writing about the professionals.
- Skincare.
- Values that matter to me as a librarian.
Thank you for spending a few moments with me. I appreciate you and look forward to corresponding again next month.
Brett
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No large language models were used in the production of the Disappearing Moment newsletter or website (inspired by RFC 9518 Appendix A ¶ 4 and Tantek Çelik).