iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 21h

Yet again, I was robbed!

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

He keeps trying to make ‘fetch’ happen…it’s not going to happen.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I don't want to connect dots that aren't there but given Trump's reported admiration for Hitler, did anyone else think of "flak tower" when he announced his triumphal arch was going to be loaded with weapons? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flak_to...

en.wikipedia.org

Flak tower - Wikipedia

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Imagine thinking not knowing your address is a flex when it really demonstrates you’ve made yourself less competent than an average 7 year old. It probably won’t matter and he’ll be rich forever but being *that* out of touch would freak me out

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I feel like one of the world leaders at the General Assembly needs to tell Trump this…

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

There’s an alternate universe where Trump gets 75% of the things he wants (even the egregious, unamerican stuff) and his popularity is well over 50%. Thankfully he can’t help shooting himself in the foot. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/a...

nytimes.com

Trump’s Name Must Stay Off Kennedy Center, Judge Rules (Gift Article)

A federal judge said he would not approve a plan to inscribe President Trump’s name on the building.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I think the country would be better off if we let 9-11 fade into history like the Spanish American War.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

These things may sooth Trump’s ego and feed the base but I can’t help feeling they also contribute to eroding his credibility among governments and others…

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Easy solution to this problem...Unleash the Swedes who: a) love crayfish b) for whom crayfish fishing is a popular pastime c) whose native crayfish populations have fallen d) have to get their crayfish from Turkey or further abroad www.theatlantic.com/science/2026...

theatlantic.com

American Crayfish Are Running Amok in Europe

What will it take for the Dutch to eat them?

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Which is another way of saying that after billions of dollars spent, Meta is still at the back of the pack.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

"What seems to propel these activists is not the specific issue that at any given moment is causing them to feel...panic and fear, but instead the need to experience these sensations constantly." Solid analysis of the movement www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

theatlantic.com

The Apocalyptic Style in Woke Thinking

Much of the climate movement, particularly its most radical elements, has pivoted to Palestine.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

We are as far away from 9/11 as the Johnson administration was from Pearl Harbor. While it (and its aftermath) had a major impact on my life, I look forward to it fading from our collective memory as much as the War of 1812.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

So much for the ‘we must defend Western civilization’ talk…

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Bizarro article that misses the forest for the (Potemkin) trees…victory is now seen as getting traffic to 60-70% of pre-war levels through the Straits? Optimism is based on some wild assumptions And evidence is quotes by Trump? 🤦‍♂️

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

New names for the Great Lakes: Lake America Lake America II - The Americaning Lake America III - The Final America Lake America IV - Return of America Lake America V - An America of America and America

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The Arday story *could* be a wake up call for people who claimed for years that they place facts and evidence over ideology. This is the left wing manifestation of election denialism. They face the risk of falling into the same cognitive black holes as MAGA has. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

theatlantic.com

The Jason Arday Truthers

The concerted effort to airbrush the late fabulist’s life

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I was donating blood today and the young lady who was playing Dracula said she went to school to be a phlebotomist and was planning at working at a hospital but the pay was $13/hour!!!! By way of comparison, a local canoe rental place here is offering $16/hour.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Lewis chessman-inspired rock carving.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Last year I gave some talks to intelligence analysts about using AI for our work. Among all the for/against talk, I never saw an attempt to assess the intent of the people behind the tech and their motivations or goals I'm not sure if these discussions were ever had but they should be.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

I think (hope!) that on some level the anti-AI sentiment is also a realization that the people who are pushing the technology have demonstrated decades of being bad actors who have no qualms about ruining people's lives. Of course people aren't likely to trust their B.S. claims of utopia.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

For those of you interested in intelligence analysis, the NextGen Intel Conference will be held virtually on 30 Sep! Students (with a .edu or similar domain) get an excellent discounted rate! Great speakers and amazing topics! nextgenintel.zohobackstage.com/NextGenIntel...

nextgenintel.zohobackstage.com

NextGen Intel Conference

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I’ve been losing interest in “For All Mankind” the last two seasons which is disappointing. The first two seasons were amazing, three was very good and then it just fell off a cliff for me with a sort of Star Wars-lite ‘goodies vs incompetent baddies’ story Star City, however is excellent!

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

A couple of thoughts about this “anti-extremism” position at Third Way. First, this wouldn’t fly *at all* in government circles (at least in non-Trumpian times) as all of the extremism here is Constitutionally protected activities and that means…thou shall not pass!

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

So much of this administration’s policies remind me of the 2024 GOP campaign chant “Daddy’s home” with this stylized vision of a father who imposes order through physical abuse and THAT reminds me of how many guys I knew in the Army who told fond tales of their dads beating the shit out of them 🤷‍♂️

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I feel like there’s a business opportunity by buying an old catering truck and selling rides in it as “Want to know what it feels like to be President of the U.S.? Ride in the same vehicle the President does! $5 for a 5 minute spin around the tarmac!”

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

There is no reality in which an organization chooses this person as their spokesperson and is serious about winning elections in the U.S.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

No big surprise but this sort of thing is an excellent reminder that we aren’t in a binary world and change requires building coalitions, which means compromises. Im apparently a “Loyal Liberal”, which includes 11% of U.S. adults. www.pewresearch.org/politics/qui...

pewresearch.org

Political Typology 2026

Take our quiz to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Worth your time! “Media reports treat this as a single data point of continuation, or perhaps escalation in the ongoing European war. But what that framing misses is the larger context - that of a world slipping rapidly into global conflict” cassandrastorch.substack.com/p/what-can-t...

cassandrastorch.substack.com

What can the Condor Legion teach us about North Korean involvement in Ukraine?

The Nazi Condor Legion of Spanish Civil War fame provides signposts about how militaries use proxy conflicts to prepare for global war.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I think this was inevitable…mass higher education + no planning -> degree inflation for jobs -> prioritization of getting a diploma vs learning -> ‘make AI do the work for me’ -> lots of people with low knowledge, critical thinking skills and resilience www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...

nytimes.com

A.I. Cheating Threatens the Value of Online Degrees

As colleges and students embrace virtual classes, the ease of A.I. cheating is raising questions about the value of an online degree.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Proof that the need to resist dopamine addiction doesn’t decrease with age.* ⬆️And maybe this post is further proof!!

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Why in the world can’t we get Section 230 thrown out and declare social media companies (at least those that pay creators) to be *publishers* and therefore be responsible for their content?

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Two unforgivable consequences of the War on Terror? 1) the proliferation of camouflage and other tactical-adjacent clothing & accessories 2) beards coming back in fashion I am convinced these two things has hastened our civilization’s decline

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

The thing I don’t get about Mitch and folks like him is, why in the world would you *want* to still do things like being a senator when you’re in your 80s? Let alone when you’re also clearly at the end of your life. Like, doesn’t this guy just want to chill? www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/u...

nytimes.com

Mitch McConnell Discharged From Rehabilitation Facility (Gift Article)

The Kentucky Republican has been absent from Congress for nearly two months after a health episode. He said he would continue recovering from home.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Having gone through deployment extensions I say with certainty, soap and toothpaste shortages aren’t the big problem…it’s the uncertainty. When will I be able to see my family? What happens next? When those questions are met with 🤷‍♂️ morale plummets, especially if it’s not clear what the mission is

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

I think we have a candidate for dumbest, most out of touch post of the year. We’re not talking about goose stepping nazis, or MAGA die hards…nope, ~40% of the population should be banished to the negative zone Because judging an entire class of people has worked wonderfully throughout history

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I’ll never forget a conversation with a denier I had years ago…their argument was “Why would I believe climate change…it makes me feel guilty” It seems like the same mindset that made people ashamed to admit to having cancer years ago.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

If I was giving a class on this administration, I think this the story I’d build my class around. It has everything. Internal feuding, hollowed out & incompetent agencies, weird loyalty rules, outsized own goals. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/u...

nytimes.com

In Dropping Reflecting Pool Case, Pirro Draws Trump’s Wrath (Gift Article)

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney in Washington, blamed shoddy construction, contradicting President Trump’s pet theory. Mr. Trump said he disagreed “100%” with her.

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I’ll get on my periodic soapbox and say that states could address many extremist groups by using anti-gang legislation that’s *already on the books & has passed judicial review*. That would yield real punishments = real deterrence

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Undoubtedly also why we’re seeing some influencers (Loomer, Owens) attempting to broaden their messaging to appeal to wider audiences (the Hunter Biden interviews/Ukraine mea culpa). We’re finding out how many are true believers and how many will evolve their positions to keep the money flowing

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Attention intelligence analysts! Early bird pricing for the NextGen Intel Conference ends today! Students registering from a .edu (or international equivalent) get special pricing. Check out our amazing lineup of speakers & topics! nextgenintel.zohobackstage.com/NextGenIntel...

nextgenintel.zohobackstage.com

NextGen Intel Conference

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

“It was as if Nature had intended to make a gorilla, and had changed its mind at the last moment.”

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Perhaps the grossest thing you’ll read today

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Dean Baratta @twsisu.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

The guy can NOT stand the idea that anyone has a loyalty or affinity for anyone beyond him.

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