Sign in

Michael Belfiore

@michaelbelfiore.bsky.social
721 followers 606 following 522 posts

Technology writer. Author of books on DARPA and space travel. Dad. Citizen.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Michael Belfiore
Climate News @climatenews.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
A very intelligent framing was presented by a commentator recently calling this “simulated intelligence” which is afar more accurate description. These algorithms are simulating intelligence like climate models simulate a climate. The climate models ARE NOT PLANETS.
1256
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"From the early stages of the war, we noticed that the universities were deliberately targeted. The university has a certain symbolic significance. It brings together all the future talent and potential, whether among students or the teaching staff." www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
theguardian.com
‘First there’s the gruelling task of trying to charge my laptop’: a day in the life of a university lecturer in Gaza
As the war in Gaza approaches its fourth year, the Guardian follows five ordinary Palestinians as they go about their lives. Each tells the story of their day, revealing the terrible toll of the confl...
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Google: Please give more details on what would encourage you to continue your subscription. Me: I am moving my email to a more democracy-friendly provider with a focus on privacy. Google could begin to regain my trust by restoring the proper names of Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico in Maps.
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Way back in 1949, Ray Bradbury published an amazingly prescient short story about the potential of chatbots to drive the user insane. www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/7...
Illustration by Hannes Bok for "I, Mars" by Ray Bradbury showing a man holding a 1940s-style telephone surrounded by taunting faces.
000
Reposted by Michael Belfiore
MapQuest @mapquest.com · 29/08/2026
Live at MapQuest Headquarters:
842759
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
“If I had any clue that anything remotely like this was even possible, I would never have gotten involved in supporting Trump in the first place and I’m very ashamed that I did.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Deported Milo Yiannopoulos says he is ‘ashamed’ of support for Trump
British far-right pundit breaks silence on ICE arrest and deportation and says he was ‘really, really terrified’
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Let’s GOOOOO….
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Whatever it is you want to do, don’t put it off. We don’t have unlimited time.
Graveyard with grass, trees, and a blue sky.
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Air & Nothingness Press is what inspired me to write short stories again after more years than I can count. These anthologies about hope at the end of the world and, just, the end (no time-wasting beginnings and middles) look like they’re gonna be great.
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I've been an actor, a technical writer, a journalist, an author.... Now I'm putting the pieces together to tell stories in a new way. Can you guess what it is?
A desk and office chair with boxes of different sizes stacked around them.
030
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
“There is little appetite to return to the pre-Trump era, a broken system that led to his rise in the first place, but rather to reimagine wealth redistribution, stronger unions, democratic reform and a just foreign policy.”
021
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Started reading the sample, ended up going with the audiobook because Emily Beresford does a great job with it.
030
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Still time to back the Locus year's best SFF anthology. They absolutely crushed their funding goal (I helped a tiny bit). Here's hoping this becomes an annual thing.
020
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Looking forward to this pair of anthologies about getting on top of the end of the world coming from @aanpress.bsky.social.
120
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
How we got here and what to do about it. Read this book. “My years of researching degrowth have given me something I didn’t really expect—hope.” —Less Is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World by @jasonhickel.bsky.social www.jasonhickel.org/less-is-more
jasonhickel.org
Less is More — Jason Hickel
How Degrowth Will Save the World (Penguin Random House)
020
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Man, it’s feeling like Invasion of the Body Snatchers out there with AI. Even the humans are singing the machine’s praises.
230
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
I’m going to start unfollowing folks who post quotes, stats, and other supposed statements of fact without sources. Misinformation is how we got into this mess. I don’t need it in my feed.
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Power went out in my neighborhood in under extreme heat and a thunderstorm. The band playing outside packed up and the already sparse crowd left. I’m online thanks to the solar generator I got for this eventuality. This is America at 250.
Power pack charging my phone and powering internet access during a blackout on July 4, 2026.
121
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Trunk full of free range, 100% natural speculative fiction with no artificial fillers right here.
041
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
In other words, racism. “No amount of persuasion will move those who have chosen to maintain control and violence over putting food on the table when the point of their trade-off is keeping others from putting food on theirs.” www.theguardian.com/inequality/n...
theguardian.com
The white working class knows the American project isn’t working. Here’s why that will never matter to them
Access to power over other racial groups is their preferred political currency
121
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Legal Defense Fund for MN Anti-ICE Organizers chuffed.org/project/1865...
chuffed.org
Legal Defense Fund for MN Anti-ICE Organizers
On the morning of June 16th 2026 fifteen anti-ICE organizers were indicted on federal conspiracy charges in Minnesota, 12 of whom were arrested in aggressive raids across the Twin Cities. This fundrai...
100
Reposted by Michael Belfiore
Meg @megalodonreturns.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
🔥 Emmett Doyle, a musician and one of the 15 observers indicted today in the Antifa raids in Minneapolis. His anti-ICE song: “Dick Blizzard” Keep fighting fascism 🔥💙💪 Source: www.reddit.com/r/Minneapoli... youtu.be/BmM1OEhNGi8?...
youtu.be
Dick Blizzard, anti-ICE song, live at Plumms
YouTube video by Emmett Doyle
1202
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
“Brandolini's Law: The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it.” @carlbergstrom.com thebullshitmachines.com/lesson-2-the...
thebullshitmachines.com
Lesson 2: The Nature of Bullshit
This lesson explores philosopher Harry Frankfurt's notion of bullshit, and explains why LLMs are, by his definition, bullshit machines.
240
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Our global political, social, economic, and environmental crises are interconnected. @thomaspiketty.bsky.social and his colleagues at the World Inequality Lab have solutions. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘An equal and habitable world is possible’: academics set out sweeping vision for planetary survival
Global report provides an alternative to climate breakdown, political extremism and economic tensions
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the universe… Amazing 3D view of the Martian surface.
110
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Alex Pretti memorial during my visit to my hometown last week. Community members stand vigil and hand out flowers to people paying their respects.We won’t forget.
Alex Pretti memorial in Minneapolis with a portrait and flowers
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
“Capital works according to a simple, straightforward formula: take more — from nature and from labour — than you give back.” If you’re wondering how we got here and what to do next, read Less Is More by @jasonhickel.bsky.social.
Cover of the book Less Is More by Jason Hickel
000
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Look what I just added to my reading table: Tea or Coffee, Stars and Gravity, hot off the press from @aanpress.bsky.social and featuring all-new stories containing the title elements, including one by yours truly!
Book titled Tea or Coffee, Stars and Gravity on a stained glass coffee table with a candle and cut flowers.
020
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
"We are going to be with constrained oil supply until we stop using oil.... We're not going back to 2025."
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
"Despite the deep pockets of the backers of fossil fuel fascism, their resistance will be futile." www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
theguardian.com
The American epoch of oil is collapsing. What comes next could be ugly | Jonathan Watts
China is dominating the energy transition with astonishing result, while fossil fuel fascists in the US try to turn back the clock
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Just finished reading my science fiction short story in the new anthology from @aanpress.bsky.social for the podcast of one of my co-authors, @jessicapixie.bsky.social. Looking forward to hearing the other stories, too!
030
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Just finished Creative, Not Famous: The Small Potato Manifesto by @east-village-inky.bsky.social from @microcosm.bsky.social. Inspiring ode to the power of artistic community and the creative life. Wonderful illos too. Somehow I ended up with a signed copy, making it extra special.
Title page for Creative, Not Famous by Ayun Halliday, with a cat in the background.
151
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Congrats to my fellow Tea or Coffee, Gravity, or Stars anthology authors. Looking forward to reading the other stories this summer!
161
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
I was excited enough about the premise of the upcoming anthology, Tea or Coffee, Stars, and Gravity, from @aanpress.bsky.social to join the Kickstarter campaign as a backer. Now, I find myself included as one of the authors (no, I don't think my measly 25 bucks influenced the decision)!
Cover for the Air and Nothingness Press anthology, Tea or Coffee, Stars, and Gravity, featuring a spacesuited astronaut stepping into the universe.
2173
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
“The age of denial seems to be coming to an end. It's hard to tell people that the climate isn't changing when it's so very obvious it is.”
000
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
The article by @stephenmarche.bsky.social on AI for writing is worth a read. No, I don’t think a machine wrote it for him. “Thinking, creating, understanding – these cannot be replaced, certainly not by artificial intelligence. Trust me. I’ve tried.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
I wrote a novel using AI. Writers must accept artificial intelligence – but we are as valuable as ever | Stephen Marche
Mastery of banal style is losing its usefulness – but language is more powerful than ever. It’s up to the writer to do what machines can’t
000
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Plug-in solar that can go on apartment balconies gets renters on board with renewable energy. It's spreading across Europe and growing here in the US.
110
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
More like this. "As the Director of the Rutherford County Library System (RCLS), I am professionally and ethically bound to uphold the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution."
010
Reposted by Michael Belfiore
Ian @ianpatterson.com · 23/03/2026
Despite the incessant pull of big tech towards large walled gardens on the web rather than free spirited individual content, there are those who push back. Kagi (the search engine folk) have a Small Web initiative - a catalogue of smaller scale human content blog.kagi.com/small-web-up...
blog.kagi.com
Kagi Blog - Small Web Just Got Bigger
Small Web, the non-commercial part of the internet made by real people, has always been at the heart of what we do at Kagi. Today, we're adding to the Small Web experience with new browser extensions,...
0213
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Excellent longform reporting by @changche.bsky.social in @theguardian.com on the rise of robots in China. “To be grim, anything that eliminates people from the production line is basically my job.” www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Inside China’s robotics revolution
The long read: How close are we to the sci-fi vision of autonomous humanoid robots? I visited 11 companies in five Chinese cities to find out
000
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
This is a great piece. Funny, to the point. Go Heater! Go Kat!
000
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
I’m backing this graphic novel because the story and art look amazing. Also excited to have a role in helping it come to life.
132
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
One of the cool things about this new anthology is that is pretty much guaranteed to have all original work. I mean, who has an old story featuring coffee or tea, stars, and gravity lying around?
030
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Leading by example.
000
Reposted by Michael Belfiore
Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 25/02/2026
You know what’s better than free two-day shipping? Knowing you’re the reason your local bookstore still exists.
445981
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Minnesota is still getting rocked, and neighbors are on the front line. Photostory in The Guardian. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
theguardian.com
How daily routines in Minneapolis and St Paul have changed amid 3,000 federal immigration agents – in pictures
Many people have been sheltering at home. Protests have become part of the daily rhythm. Community networks continue to patrol and document agents’ interactions
021
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
If you had any doubt that the US is no longer a free country... www.theguardian.com/law/2026/feb...
theguardian.com
Credit cards cancelled, Google accounts closed: ICC judges on life under Trump sanctions
Kimberly Prost and Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza vow US reprisals will not affect work of international criminal court
220
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
No words.
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Tech is always about people.
010
Michael Belfiore @michaelbelfiore.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Good rundown and update on #TeslaTakedown. Tesla = "the exhaust port on the Death Star."
0264