<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></title><description><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link><image><url>http://direct.ecency.com/logo512.png</url><title>RSS Feed</title><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link></image><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:14:56 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="http://direct.ecency.com/created/ramblerant/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Thoughts on Current Events]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here we are, three weeks into an undeclared, pointless war, and the story just keeps getting stranger. I've been avoiding the topic for the sake of my sanity, but I did want to comment on a couple]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/news/@jacobtothe/thoughts-on-current-events</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/news/@jacobtothe/thoughts-on-current-events</guid><category><![CDATA[news]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:54:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2dk2RRM2dZ8gKjXsrozapsD83FxL3Xbyyi5LFttAhrXxr16mCe4arfLHir7FdMHL5aXWZbxXHGcCjLkUpwS31dhZPuGKEpxmhQhQcomZKdknZhmBXHRb5XaSDHzrUdmp8dYZEfzM7whYDHAmH6JQMCrpfnV8vKDgBJN4H148te?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Assessing Trump vs. My Predictions]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sixteen months ago, Donald J. Trump was re-elected to a non-consecutive second term. This is only the second time in the nearly 240 years since the US Constitution was ratified in 1787 that such a re-election]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/trump/@jacobtothe/assessing-trump-vs-my-predictions</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/trump/@jacobtothe/assessing-trump-vs-my-predictions</guid><category><![CDATA[trump]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 20:24:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/k75bsZMwYNu2L3iBMXq5y7xeiy1isFJsZxnMZSXuXEsxe4ee1cUkGyPZAjdp7K4M8woMojNqQYNkJvfs9JURhaAbFishQJN8uRJegniNRx2wBtHbA4rwmt3X64UmYq3sLuEQU74kNLoiMq8wJ8gB5ZvTN22WD1icN?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Artificial Intelligence: Progress or Problem?]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have been harshly critical of A.I. slop and the corporate trend to label everything as "A.I.-enhanced," but I do think there is room for nuance. I'll try to explain my thought processes below,]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/ai/@jacobtothe/artificial-intellegence-progress-or-problem</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/ai/@jacobtothe/artificial-intellegence-progress-or-problem</guid><category><![CDATA[ai]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:58:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2dk2RRM2dZ8gKjXsrozapsD83FxL3Xbyyi5LFttAhrXxr16mCe4arfLHir7FdMHL5aXWZbxXHGxWPZBPgvGsZMiiMWcCFFTG3WqvifJ9EijYgg9k9nbERBcnjBTmktpz48XuMPYRELiqpMDnrK22ZT4ti6TFKBM6boY8U5uFNn?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ain't No Party Like a Political Party!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Over the last few decades, the American two-party system seems to have escalated in dividing society. I know enough of history to not be fooled into thinking this is a unique occurrence, but it should]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@jacobtothe/aint-no-party-like-a-political-party</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/politics/@jacobtothe/aint-no-party-like-a-political-party</guid><category><![CDATA[politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 04:08:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/6VvuHGsoU2QC6deq48A6iDhUtxbHe8KjUifJ4gpkrDZp7umK2475A3GBGSVHZumzVPSDaaB6ukewvS7Z3kkXvuSE4trf8HpnjxLSYMfvhsJPBEjnspiu2Vpas9nNT8?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Bad Start to 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[2025 was rough, but 2026 is shaping up to be worse if the first week and change are any indication. Buckle up. This is a long rambling post which may go nowhere. I won't fault you for a "tl;dr"]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/a-bad-start-to-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/a-bad-start-to-2026</guid><category><![CDATA[ramblerant]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:26:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/k75bsZMwYNu2L3iBMXq5y7xeiy1isFJsZxnMZSXuXEsxe4ee1cUkGyPZAjdp7K4M8woMojNqQYMb2R3g6SqatAQyfPwBU8Q38enqpZj7aPVdyvikgh7f8wUrWY9YhAxxYc1wVeYGmASu2e1dSQ3Akw7hsTRy4Axzi?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mornings]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mornings are not my thing. At least the after waking part, the wee hours of the morning before I've made it to bed is a different story. Can you believe some people actually like getting up early? Gets]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/hive-194913/@coloneljethro/mornings</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/hive-194913/@coloneljethro/mornings</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-194913]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[coloneljethro]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 15 Nov 2025 05:21:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/RGgukq5E6HBNvuPpuJoWwfXPpi5ckcLESTB3nmmnd6shBkvomK8gqFndbtZFuSyDMPj3t6xm2e8MwhxbJAZLpwUiLc9ZoYqEno2WuKr8C9h5VQYjGaVc9Bnn85aEbpa?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Free Speech Facsimiles]]></title><description><![CDATA[Remember how outrageously offensive the "free speech zones" were during the George W. Bush administration about 20 years ago? Remote areas were cordoned off, and protesters were corralled behind]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/hive-168088/@jacobtothe/free-speech-facsimiles</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/hive-168088/@jacobtothe/free-speech-facsimiles</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-168088]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 19 Oct 2025 23:09:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2dk2RRM2dZ8gKjXsrozapsD83FxL3Xbyyi5LFttAhrXxr16mCe4arfLHir7FdMHL5aXWZbxXHuDXcqauEzDLvmVVus5RSPRK28aMBYK8baz9VSjXQ5VhKXTDpSvk7RaawTiK2uQ6EKSsKN2AByQaXWnwLunqLUMhFfuv3pxC4e?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Assassins, Blame Games, and American Politics]]></title><description><![CDATA[Earlier today, American right-wing activist and media personality Charlie Kirk was assassinated by a gunman while speaking at a Utah university. I'm not a huge fan of the guy. He was a state supremacist]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/ramblewrite/@jacobtothe/assassins-blame-games-and-american-politics</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/ramblewrite/@jacobtothe/assassins-blame-games-and-american-politics</guid><category><![CDATA[ramblewrite]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:52:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/S5Eokt4BcQdk7EHeT1aYjzebg2hC7hkthT45eGjNiBXQwz3n3j35wxzA3Am4EpNwyXACQcv?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hoplophobic Hysteria]]></title><description><![CDATA[Every time there is a shooting, the knee-jerk response from the American authoritarian left is demands for new gun laws. Just yesterday (as of this post) a Minnesota Catholic church and school was subjected]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/hive-168088/@jacobtothe/hoplophobic-hysteria</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/hive-168088/@jacobtothe/hoplophobic-hysteria</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-168088]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2025 02:47:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/S5Eokt4BcQdk7EHeT1aYjzebg2hC7hkthT45eEP6hfimRKaVfWBvrixdtVeBdF9LqW3ZgUE?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stablecoins, Hive, HBD, and the "GENIUS Act"]]></title><description><![CDATA[It seems like the more convoluted the acronym, the more sinister the legislation. The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act) was recently passed by the government]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/hive-112018/@jacobtothe/stablecoins-hive-hbd-and-the-genius-act</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/hive-112018/@jacobtothe/stablecoins-hive-hbd-and-the-genius-act</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-112018]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2025 06:09:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/S5Eokt4BcQdk7EHeT1aYjzebg2hC7hkthT45eQrFMFjhsjVVx1kpXM49crqgWtMKbRat6Ez?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Real Scandal Behind the Signal Leak]]></title><description><![CDATA[A few days ago, news of a comically bad security failure in the Trump administration hit the headlines. Senior Trump administration officials were holding a meeting in the Signal chat app to plan military]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/the-real-scandal-behind-the-signal-leak</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/the-real-scandal-behind-the-signal-leak</guid><category><![CDATA[ramblerant]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:03:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/k75bsZMwYNu2L3iBMXq5y7xeiy1isFJsZxnMZSXuXEsxe4ee1cUkGyPZAjdp7K4M8woMojNqQYMb2R3g6SqatAQyfPwBU8Q38enqpZj7aPVdyvikgh7f8wUrWY9YhAxxYc1wVeYGmASu2e1dSQ3Akw7hsTRy4Axzi?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[COVID-19: Five Years Later]]></title><description><![CDATA[Five years ago, the world went mad. We can't forget what really happened as the court historians scrub the record and continue their eternal campaign to make the political class into heroes. What was announced]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/hive-168088/@jacobtothe/covid-19-five-years-later</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/hive-168088/@jacobtothe/covid-19-five-years-later</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-168088]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 16 Mar 2025 23:42:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2dk2RRM2dZ8gKjXsrozapsD83FxL3Xbyyi5LFttAhrXxr16mCe4arfLHir7FdMHL5aXWZbxXHGDSChQkdtZGHwtqDtazVacNTK5C8fDy8ymCxvZqjR37m8Xh2Zy5yUieu5JnkJ66EFxgypXpRhSwYN5McDTEG4bA7jpceZY2Jr?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Penny For Your Thoughts?]]></title><description><![CDATA[About a week ago, Donald Trump announced the US would stop producing the penny (pictured at right). According to The US Mint, it costs 3.69 cents to mint a 1-cent coin. As of this post, according to]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/hive-112018/@jacobtothe/a-penny-for-your-thoughts</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/hive-112018/@jacobtothe/a-penny-for-your-thoughts</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-112018]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 18 Feb 2025 03:26:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/k75bsZMwYNu2L3iBMXq5y7xeiy1isFJsZxnMZSXuXEsxe4ee1cUkGyPZAjdp7K4M8woMojNqQHDoE9f4huEdWHghNBNNWWuhG5pKEYewxH9rn1TcsbUszEzVQYWXhKTVermGUEHQkfb8pxMzJLiyX3QTS2tRnZYzJ?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[More Idaho Authoritarianism ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Idaho legislature is proposing a minimum $300 fine for marijuana possession. Neighboring Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Montana have almost entirely decriminalized marijuana. Spokane-area dispensaries]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/hive-168088/@jacobtothe/more-idaho-authoritarianism</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/hive-168088/@jacobtothe/more-idaho-authoritarianism</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-168088]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2025 22:03:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/k75bsZMwYNu2L3iBMXq5y7xeiy1isFJsZxnMZSXuXEsxe4ee1cUkGyPZAjdp7K4M8woMojNqmz4C2wUz8wihD1BHPDHPXY8QmbjfaN5DZhwfu75mAnVhMmGncgfaYUB4Pn7tLyrr6pn35Qh5cWPhnLaj9mqGvw5y8?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Durability, Quality, and Sustainability vs. Fast Fashion]]></title><description><![CDATA[Last year, I wrote a number of posts about my quest for better boots. I thought it would give me a good source of content other guys could relate to, but it's only a small part of a bigger problem I have]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/consumerism/@jacobtothe/durability-quality-and-sustainability-vs-fast-fashion</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/consumerism/@jacobtothe/durability-quality-and-sustainability-vs-fast-fashion</guid><category><![CDATA[consumerism]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Feb 2025 08:10:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/S5Eokt4BcQdk7EHeT1aYjzebg2hC7hkthT45eHCYex9AJnTXCUi8FFaxaSn55cynZdMyYmL?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Escalating Tensions in Eastern Europe and the World]]></title><description><![CDATA[I had plans for a fun post today, but I'm just not feeling it. Tensions have escalated yet again in Europe. Joe Biden may be too senile to run for re-election, but apparently he's still able to sign off]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/escalating-tensions-in-eastern-europe-and-the-world</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/escalating-tensions-in-eastern-europe-and-the-world</guid><category><![CDATA[ramblerant]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 20 Nov 2024 07:03:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/k75bsZMwYNu2L3iBMXq5y7xeiy1isFJsZxnMZSXuXEsxe4ee1cUkGyPZAjdp7K4M8woMojNqQYMb2R3g6SqatAQyfPwBU8Q38enqpZj7aPVdyvikgh7f8wUrWY9YhAxxYc1wVeYGmASu2e1dSQ3Akw7hsTRy4Axzi?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trump: A Worst-Case Scenario]]></title><description><![CDATA[I've had time now for a posting palate cleanser, but it's finally time for a follow-up to Trump: A Best-Case Scenario. While I still think the average Democrat has a mental straw man in place of a real]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/trump-a-worst-case-scenario</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/trump-a-worst-case-scenario</guid><category><![CDATA[ramblerant]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 12 Nov 2024 03:22:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/k75bsZMwYNu2L3iBMXq5y7xeiy1isFJsZxnMZSXuXEsxe4ee1cUkGyPZAjdp7K4M8woMojNqQYMb2R3g6SqatAQyfPwBU8Q38enqpZj7aPVdyvikgh7f8wUrWY9YhAxxYc1wVeYGmASu2e1dSQ3Akw7hsTRy4Axzi?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trump: A Best-Case Scenario]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here in the library world, there is a distinct slant to the left among staff and supporters, and the Donald Trump election victory has resulted in some paranoia. Some concerns are valid, but most are based]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/trump-a-best-case-scenario</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/trump-a-best-case-scenario</guid><category><![CDATA[ramblerant]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 08 Nov 2024 08:27:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/k75bsZMwYNu2L3iBMXq5y7xeiy1isFJsZxnMZSXuXEsxe4ee1cUkGyPZAjdp7K4M8woMojNqQYMb2R3g6SqatAQyfPwBU8Q38enqpZj7aPVdyvikgh7f8wUrWY9YhAxxYc1wVeYGmASu2e1dSQ3Akw7hsTRy4Axzi?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lessons for Democrats?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here in the USA, there's still a lot of chaos surrounding Election Day fallout. Trump apparently won, and Harris made a concession speech even though some states haven't finished counting and reporting]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/lessons-for-democrats</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/ramblerant/@jacobtothe/lessons-for-democrats</guid><category><![CDATA[ramblerant]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 07 Nov 2024 09:19:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/k75bsZMwYNu2L3iBMXq5y7xeiy1isFJsZxnMZSXuXEsxe4ee1cUkGyPZAjdp7K4M8woMojNqQYMb2R3g6SqatAQyfPwBU8Q38enqpZj7aPVdyvikgh7f8wUrWY9YhAxxYc1wVeYGmASu2e1dSQ3Akw7hsTRy4Axzi?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trump May Have Won?]]></title><description><![CDATA[According to the Associated Press election map just before 1 AM Pacific, odds are good Donald Trump managed re-election and has become the second president elected to two nonconsecutive terms. This may]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/election/@jacobtothe/trump-may-have-won</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/election/@jacobtothe/trump-may-have-won</guid><category><![CDATA[election]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jacobtothe]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 06 Nov 2024 09:37:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/k75bsZMwYNu2L3iBMXq5y7xeiy1isFJsZxnMZSXuXEsxe4ee1cUkGyPZAjdp7K4M8woMojNqQ6NMVZYEmSkFVwcVyjZtac2cDMoWjVMiHAdHnm3E2hXJUXCEv5hZ5DJEP2jRSjuJjU632WEioMVjHnSQaqKrhAZNW?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item></channel></rss>