2026-01-14 05:49:55
In JJ McCullough's recent video about PragerU's Guide to American Presidents, while correctly identifying the latter half of the book as hyper-partisan propaganda, he makes the spectacular mistake of suggesting that it is unfair to judge historical figures based on "today's values", and that revering earlier presidents is "fair".
This idea that we should judge slave holders, colonizers, and white supremacists based on "the values of their time" suggests that any time period has only one set of values, and erases other perspectives. Yes, most definitely there were white supremacists who thought it was okay to own black people and treat them as property, and perhaps this was a majority.
But so too were there abolitionists and MORE IMPORTANTLY, there were BLACK PEOPLE who were ENSLAVED.
Why do the slave holders' values become "the values of the time"? Why aren't the values of enslaved people and abolitionists and colonized natives considered "the values of the time"?
JJ can identify the second half of the book because it is explicitly partisan in its framing and use of language. The first half is just as biased and JJ misses it entirely because it uses objective-sounding language.
2026-01-13 05:33:00
I previously posted
Which has my christmas theme code
But just to be 100% sure I capture all changes I made since then, here's my CURRENT christmas theme code. I plan to start working on a new theme soon. I thought I was going to do it now, but Idk I don't think I'm in the mood.
/* @import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto+Mono:wght@100;200;300;400;500;600;700;800;900&display=swap');
*/
:root {
/* a color i saved idk why: #847996 */
cursor: url('https://reedybear.com/bearblog/cursor-wh.png'), auto;
/* Standard: Things that are non-creative, such as shades of black/white/grey.*/
--font-main: 'Roboto Mono', monospace;
--font-secondary: 'Roboto Mono', monospace;
--font-scale: .9em;
--heading-color: #232333;
--text-color: #232333;
--link-color: #232333;
--visited-color: #232333;
/*--main-color: #ff0000;*/
--code-background-color: #f2f2f2;
--code-color: #222;
--blockquote-color: #222;
}
/* my main styles */
:root {
/* header */
--header_background: #620062;
--header_background_mobile: #620062;
--header_border_radius: 0px 0px 16px 16px;
--header_link_color: white;
--header_heading_color: #FCEF30;
--header_shadow_color: #9d009d;
--header_link_underline_color: #FCEF30;
--header_link_hover_background: none;
--na_header_h1_background: none;
/* link hover */
--link_hover_underline_color: orange;
--link_hover_color: white;
--link_hover_border_color: orange;
--link_hover_border_top_color: purple;
/* other */
--underline_color: #a000a0;
--body_box_shadow: inset 0px 0px 3px #d900d93b ,0px 10px 10px #8000808a;
--toc_border_color: #9674cc; /* dark mode: #8439d */
--background_body: #fff;
--background_main: inherit;
--background_main_mobile: inherit;
--upvote_count_bg: #8b398b;
--main_padding: 20px;
}
/* Christmas 2025 styles */
:root {
/* header */
--header_background: #06672F;
--header_background:
url(https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/2025-christmas-lights-top-lgbear-1.png)
left/contain repeat-x, linear-gradient(352deg,rgba(255, 0, 5, 1) 0%, rgba(6, 103, 47, 1) 29%, rgba(6, 103, 47, 1) 72%, rgba(255, 0, 5, 1) 100%);
--header_background_mobile:
url(https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/2025-christmas-lights-top-lgbear.png)
left/contain repeat-x,
linear-gradient(344deg,rgba(255, 0, 5, 1) 0%, rgba(6, 103, 47, 1) 29%, rgba(6, 103, 47, 1) 72%, rgba(255, 0, 5, 1) 100%);
--header_border_radius: 0;
--header_link_color: white;
--header_heading_color: white;
--header_shadow_color: #146B3A;
--header_link_underline_color: #FF0005;
--header_link_hover_background: #FF0005;
--na_header_h1_background: url(https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/2025-christmas-lights-1.png) center/contain repeat-x;
/* link hover */
--link_hover_underline_color: #BB2528;
--link_hover_color: white;
--link_hover_border_color: #BB2528;
--link_hover_border_top_color: #06672F;
/* other */
--underline_color: #06672F;
--body_box_shadow: inset 0px 0px 3px #06672F3b ,0px 10px 10px #06672F8a;
--body_box_shadow: inset 0px 0px 7px #FF000576 ,0px 10px 10px #06672F8a;
--toc_border_color: #9674cc; /* dark mode: #8439d */
--background_main: url(https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/xmaslightssides-5.png) top/contain repeat-y, white;
--background_main_mobile: url(https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/xmaslightssides-6.png) top/contain repeat-y, white;
--background_body: url(https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/pexels-est1307-250177.webp) center/cover no-repeat fixed;
--upvote_count_bg: #06672F;
--main_padding: 30px;
}
main > h1:first-child {
background: #06672f;
color: white;
text-shadow: red;
padding: 0px 16px;
border-radius: 16px;
box-shadow: var(--body_box_shadow);
}
/** xmas lights at top of page DONT THINK I NEED THESE
html::before {
background:var(--header_h1_background);
display:block;
content:"";
width: 100%;
position: absolute;
height:35px;
}
*/
body > header {
background: var(--header_background);
padding: 4px 12px;
border-radius: var(--header_border_radius);
color: white;
--link-color: var(--header_link_color);
--heading-color: var(--header_heading_color);
--underline_color: var(--header_link_underline_color);
box-shadow: 0px 0px 15px var(--header_shadow_color);
margin: 0;
border: none;
}
body > header > nav a {
border-left: 2px solid transparent;
border-right: 2px solid transparent;
}
header h1 {
border-bottom: none;
text-align: left;
}
body > header > nav a:hover {
--underline_color: var(--link_hover_underline_color);
--link-color: var(--link_hover_color);
background: var(--header_link_hover_background);
border: 2px solid var(--link_hover_underline_color);
padding-top:4px;
padding-bottom: 2px;
border-radius: 75% 9px / 30% 8px;
}
body > main {
box-shadow: var(--body_box_shadow);
padding: var(--main_padding);
background: var(--background_main);
}
main > h1:first-child {
margin-bottom:0;
}
main > p:has(> i > time){
margin: 0;
}
/**
footer > span::after {
content: "Cursor icons by G-Cat on flaticon";
}
*/
body {
font-family: var(--font-secondary);
font-size: var(--font-scale);
margin: auto;
padding: 0px;
max-width: 720px;
text-align: left;
background: var(--background_body);
word-wrap: break-word;
overflow-wrap: break-word;
line-height: 1.5;
color: var(--text-color);
background: var(--background_body);
}
h1,
h2,
h3,
h4,
h5,
h6 {
font-family: var(--font-main);
color: var(--heading-color);
border-bottom: 2px solid var(--underline_color);
text-align: center;
}
a {
color: var(--link-color);
font-family: var(--font-main);
cursor: url('https://reedybear.com/bearblog/link-cursor-wh.png'), pointer;
text-decoration: none;
border-bottom: 3px solid var(--underline_color);
padding: 0 4px;
border-top: 1px solid transparent;
}
a:hover {
text-decoration: none;
border-radius:8px;
border-color: var(--link_hover_border_color);
border-top: 1px solid var(--link_hover_border_top_color);
}
nav a, nav a:hover {
margin-right: 8px;
padding: 4px 5px 2px 4px;
/*
border-radius: 25% 8px 12% 10px;
border-radius: 25% 12%;
border-radius: 50% 9px / 60% 6px;
*/
border-radius: 80% 9px / 40% 8px;
text-wrap:nowrap;
}
strong,
b {
color: var(--heading-color);
}
button {
margin: 0;
cursor: url('https://reedybear.com/bearblog/btn-cursor-wh.png'), pointer;
}
main {
line-height: 1.6;
}
table {
width: 100%;
}
hr {
border: 0;
border-top: 1px dashed;
}
img {
max-width: 100%;
}
code {
font-family: monospace;
padding: 2px;
background-color: var(--code-background-color);
color: var(--code-color);
border-radius: 3px;
}
blockquote {
border-left: 1px solid #999;
color: var(--code-color);
padding-left: 20px;
font-style: italic;
}
footer {
margin-top: 0px;
/*border-top: 3px dotted #232333; */
padding: 25px 0;
text-align: center;
background: #ffffffa0;
}
footer a {
background: #0006;
color: white;
border-radius: 8px;
}
footer a:hover {
background: #000c;
}
a.title {
border:none;
padding:0;
}
.title:hover {
text-decoration: none;
}
.title h1 {
font-size: 1.5em;
}
.inline {
width: auto !important;
}
.highlight,
.code {
padding: 1px 15px;
background-color: var(--code-background-color);
color: var(--code-color);
border-radius: 3px;
margin-block-start: 1em;
margin-block-end: 1em;
overflow-x: auto;
}
table {
border-spacing: 0;
}
th,
td {
padding: 6px 13px;
border: 1px solid #dfe2e5;
font-size: 1em;
}
/** The only part that needs modification for standard setups */
.upvote-button {
--width: 50px;
--height: 50px;
/* bear water fish happy */
--unclicked_url: url("https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/polar-bear6.webp");
--hover_url: url("https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/polar-bear7.webp");
--clicked_url: url("https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/polar-bear9.webp");
--clicked_and_hovering_url: url("https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/polar-bear8.webp");
/* bear and penguin */
/*
--unclicked_url: url("https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/polar-bear1.webp");
--hover_url: url("https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/polar-bear2.webp");
--clicked_url: url("https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/polar-bear4.webp");
--clicked_and_hovering_url: url("https://bear-images.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/reedybear/polar-bear5.webp");
*/
}
/* hide the default button */
.upvote-button svg {
display:none;
}
.upvote-count {
border: 1px solid lightgrey;
padding: 4px;
/* background: #fdfdfd; */
background: var(--upvote_count_bg);
color:white;
}
/* when your post is untoasted */
.upvote-count::before {
background: var(--unclicked_url);
display:block;
width: var(--width);
height: var(--height);
background-size:cover;
content: "";
}
/* when mouse hovers over the toast button */
.upvote-count:hover::before {
background: var(--hover_url);
display:block;
width: var(--width);
height: var(--height);
background-size: cover;
content: "";
}
/* when your post has been toasted */
.upvote-button[disabled] .upvote-count::before {
background: var(--clicked_url);
display:block;
width: var(--width);
height: var(--height);
background-size: cover;
content: "";
}
/* When mouse is hovering over your toast button AFTER your post is toasted */
.upvote-button[disabled] .upvote-count:hover::before {
background: var(--clicked_and_hovering_url);
display:block;
width: var(--width);
height: var(--height);
background-size: cover;
content: "";
}
/**
* Adding photos to blog list
*/
/* it didn't work well
* I got the image in, but I couldn't get the dang things to style how I wanted
* Plus I'm not sure I liked it with photos... even though it's a bear!
ul.blog-posts > li > a::after {
content: url("https://i.imgur.com/puT0UkBs.jpg");
content: url("https://i.imgur.com/laDt4Yf.png");
height:10px;
max-height:10px;
width:10px;
position:relative;
display:inline-block;
right: 10px;
}
ul.blog-posts > li > a {
position:relative;
margin-left: 10px;
}
ul.blog-posts > li {
display:inline-block;
}
/**/
/* table of contents */
.toc {
display: inline-block;
padding: 0px 24px 8px 24px;
margin: 0;
border: 2px dotted var(--toc_border_color);
border-radius: 4px;
line-height:1.5em;
}
.toc a {
text-decoration: none;
font-size: 1em;
}
.toc ol {
padding-left: 30px;
}
.toc ol > li > ul {
padding-left: 16px;
}
.toc ol > li > ul ul {
padding-left:32px;
}
#rb-jump-to-toc {
border-radius: 50%;
position:fixed;
bottom:30px;
right:30px;
width: 1em;
height: 1em;
}
#rb-jump-to-toc a, #rb-jump-to-toc a:hover {
background: none;
display: block;
padding: 3px;
width: 1em;
height: 1em;
border: solid black;
border-width: 0 3px 3px 0;
border-radius: 0px;
color: black;
transform: rotate(-135deg);
-webkit-transform: rotate(-135deg);
z-index:100;
}
#rb-jump-to-toc a:hover {
border-color: grey;
}
div.reference_links {
border: 1px solid black;
padding: 8px;
}
div.reference_links ul {
}
div.reference_links ul li {
display: inline-block;
margin: 4px;
}
/* blog post list */
i time {
font-style: normal;
opacity: 0.7;
}
ul.blog-posts:not(:has(> li > p)) {
list-style-type: none;
padding: unset;
}
ul.blog-posts:not(:has(> li > p)) li {
display: flex;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
ul.blog-posts:not(:has(> li > p)) li > a {
min-width: 5em;
}
ul.blog-posts:not(:has(> li > p)) li span {
flex: 0 0 130px;
}
ul.blog-posts:not(:has(> li > p)) li a:hover {
/* color: white !important; */
}
ul.blog-posts:not(:has(> li > p)) li a:visited {
color: var(--visited-color);
}
/* Make lists into grids */
@media (min-width: 600px) {
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: auto 1fr 2fr;
grid-template-rows: auto;
grid-gap: 8px;
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) > li {
display:grid;
grid-template-columns: subgrid;
grid-column: 1 / span 3;
align-items: center;
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) > li > span {
grid-column: 1;
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) > li > a {
grid-column: 2;
margin: 0 4px;
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) > li > p {
grid-column: 3;
}
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
body > header > nav a {
line-height: 2.0;
}
body > header {
background: var(--header_background_mobile);
}
body > main {
/*box-shadow: inset -5px -10px 5px #9015907d; */
background: var(--background_main_mobile);
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) {
list-style-type: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) > li {
display:flex;
flex-direction: column;
padding: 16px 8px;
margin: 8px 0;
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) > li:nth-child(2n - 1) {
background: #eaeaea;
border-radius: 8px;
border: 1px dotted black;
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) > li:nth-child(2n) {
border: 1px solid black;
border-radius: 8px;
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) > li > span {
order: 2;
text-align: center;
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) > li > a {
order: 1;
text-align: center;
}
ul.blog-posts:has(> li > p) > li > p {
order: 3;
text-align: center;
padding: 0;
margin: 0;
}
}
/**** BEGIN CRAZY STYLES ****/
main:has(a:hover) a:not(:hover){
animation: link_disappear 50s infinite,
shimmy_left 5s infinite;
position: relative;
}
main:has(a:hover) a:not(:hover)::before {
content: "FREE THE COWS" !important;
display:inline-block;
position: absolute;
bottom: 0;
left: 0;
animation: link_appear 50s infinite;
color: transparent;
text-wrap: nowrap;
}
main:has(a:hover) li:nth-child(2n) a:not(:hover)::before,
main:has(a:hover) p:nth-child(2n) a:not(:hover)::before
{
content: "END ANIMAL CRUELTY" !important;
}
main:has(a:hover) li:nth-child(2n-1) a:not(:hover) {
animation-delay: 0.1s;
}
main:has(a:hover) li:nth-child(2n) a:not(:hover) {
animation-delay: 0.2s;
}
main:has(a:hover) li:nth-child(3n) a:not(:hover) {
animation-delay: 0.3s;
}
main:has(a:hover) li:nth-child(4n) a:not(:hover) {
animation-delay: 0.4s;
}
main:has(a:hover) li:nth-child(5n) a:not(:hover) {
animation-delay: 0.5s;
}
main a {
display: inline-block;
}
main a:hover {
animation: link_weird 5s infinite;
animation-timing-function: linear;
/*overflow-y: hidden;*/
/*overflow-x: hidden;*/
/*text-wrap: nowrap;*/
/*text-overflow: clip;*/
/*display:inline-block;*/
position:relative;
display:inline-block;
}
main a:hover::before {
animation: link_before 5s infinite;
animation-timing-function: linear;
content: " ";
display:inline-block;
position: absolute;
top:0;
left: 0;
height: 100%;
border-radius: inherit;
background: rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
}
@keyframes link_before {
0% {
width: 0;
}
40% {
width: 100%;
background: rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
}
40.001% {
background: transparent;
}
100% {
background: transparent;
}
}
@keyframes link_weird {
0% {
/*color:inherit;*/
transform:scale(1,1);
transform: rotate(0deg);
}
40% {
transform:scale(1,1);
transform: rotate(0deg);
}
100% {
transform:scale(2,2);
transform: rotate(360deg);
/*color: transparent;*/
}
}
@keyframes link_disappear {
0% {
color:inherit;
}
5% {
color: transparent;
}
100% {
color: transparent;
}
}
@keyframes link_appear {
0% {
color:transparent;
}
3% {
color: transparent;
}
10% {
color: var(--link-color);
}
100% {
color: var(--link-color);
}
}
@keyframes shimmy_left {
0% {
transform: translateX(0);
}
25% {
transform: translateX(-20px);
}
75% {
transform: translateX(20px);
}
100% {
transform: translateX(0);
}
}
2026-01-13 05:13:15
Pantone's color of the year is an off-white color. OP's commentary is about a cultural/corporate trend toward blandness and its connection to white supremacy. It's an interesting perspective to consider. Not one I'm going to commit myself to believing (or not believing) because I don't have a clue and I'm not paying attention to those things in particular. But their commentary is definitely interesting and if I had to pick sides I'd be on theirs.
2026-01-13 05:06:15
I do not yet have a strong opinion on whether walking helps [with thinking] primarily by allowing you to think more clearly or simply because it eliminates the distractions.
I read (about half of) Move: how the new science of body movement can set your mind free by Caroline Williams.
Two really striking stories from this book.
That book makes me think that walking has huge benefits beyond removing distractions, in that we humans have co-evolved our movement capabilities and our minds, and that movement has distinct advantages for our minds.
I don't walk an hour a day, I think it would be great for my mental and physical well-being. I wish I did it, but I don't.
2026-01-13 04:58:31
Four the People | The Four Questions
What is Dave wearing today? I'm not Dave
How does Dave feel today? You'll have to ask Dave
What are the factors affecting Dave's mood? I've never met Dave
Why is Dave's office so cluttered? I'm not going to stalk Dave for you
2026-01-13 04:51:30
Sal posted Linux in the air, and I noticed the toast button is HIDDEN.
I liked the post though and i must satisfy the toast gods.
So I right clicked, inspected element (on the main text of the post), and found the <form> underneath the <main> tag. I then removed the display: none style and WAHBAM I SEE YOUR TOAST BUTTON NOW.
YOU GET A TOAST SAL
Gonna have to try harder next time.
