Alex Balashov
@abalashov.bsky.social
VoIP engineer, Kamailio consultant, SIP systems developer, semi-serious road cyclist, unabashed AI sceptic.
I am quite aware of this research and development tax credit. It is definitely not meant to be used for normal operational expenditures or ordinary capital investments.
How Meta Uses A.I. Data Centers to Avoid Billions in Federal Taxes (Gift Article)
Meta is exploiting a lucrative tax break intended to support research and experimentation. Its own accountants say the gambit is risky.
www.nytimes.com
September 30, 2026 at 5:16 PM
I am quite aware of this research and development tax credit. It is definitely not meant to be used for normal operational expenditures or ordinary capital investments.
My ClueCon 2026 talk, about open-weight models and de-skilling from agentic coding.
Many thanks to the SignalWire team for arranging it, and for the opportunity to speak!
Many thanks to the SignalWire team for arranging it, and for the opportunity to speak!
ClueCon 2026 | Alex Balashov: Navigating AI and Open-Source with Sanity
YouTube video by FreeSWITCH
www.youtube.com
September 29, 2026 at 1:15 PM
My ClueCon 2026 talk, about open-weight models and de-skilling from agentic coding.
Many thanks to the SignalWire team for arranging it, and for the opportunity to speak!
Many thanks to the SignalWire team for arranging it, and for the opportunity to speak!
"But much of the problem can be blamed on Trump and the GOP, the so-called party of fiscal discipline."
Lenders Don’t Trust the United States Anymore
Blame Trump for rising borrowing costs.
www.theatlantic.com
September 26, 2026 at 5:05 PM
"But much of the problem can be blamed on Trump and the GOP, the so-called party of fiscal discipline."
"It would not be so bad if things had stopped there, but that’s not how most human brains work"
One month without AI
Several months ago, I decided that AI contributions were no longer welcome in a FOSS project I am building and maintaining - LibreWeddingPlanner. It’s not that it got a lot of contributions with AI — ...
blog.bustikiller.com
September 26, 2026 at 3:08 PM
"It would not be so bad if things had stopped there, but that’s not how most human brains work"
Liberal media discovers slow romance and courtship. /s
An Underappreciated Problem With Dating Apps
Going on lots of first dates with strangers is not a great way to find love. Getting to know someone slowly is.
www.theatlantic.com
September 25, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Liberal media discovers slow romance and courtship. /s
"The third-country deportation program has been used by the Trump administration to get around rules barring certain people from being deported to their home countries."
Trump Administration Scrambles to Stop Third-Country Deportations After Court Ruling (Gift Article)
The decision adds a new burden for the government as it attempts to rapidly remove migrants from the United States without interference from their lawyers.
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2026 at 6:35 PM
"The third-country deportation program has been used by the Trump administration to get around rules barring certain people from being deported to their home countries."
"The exchange highlights Trump’s warped understanding of journalism—in which stories are either good or bad, reporters are 'friendly' or 'terrible,' and a president decides who covers him and who doesn’t."
A Revealing Exchange Between Donald Trump and Kaitlan Collins
The president doesn’t understand how journalism works.
www.theatlantic.com
September 24, 2026 at 3:04 PM
"The exchange highlights Trump’s warped understanding of journalism—in which stories are either good or bad, reporters are 'friendly' or 'terrible,' and a president decides who covers him and who doesn’t."
"But the old order’s failures do not mean that its restraints were meaningless."
The Makings of a Prewar World
President Trump’s speech to the United Nations clarifies the vision he shares with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.
www.theatlantic.com
September 24, 2026 at 1:30 PM
"But the old order’s failures do not mean that its restraints were meaningless."
I've said this my whole life, but does anyone listen to me?
"Even after recognizing other financial benefits of ownership, such as a tax code that puts a thumb on the scale toward buying, opportunity cost makes the returns to homeownership considerably less spectacular."
"Even after recognizing other financial benefits of ownership, such as a tax code that puts a thumb on the scale toward buying, opportunity cost makes the returns to homeownership considerably less spectacular."
Essay | Owning a Home Is Seen as a Financial Holy Grail. But What If It Isn’t?
There are many unrecognized trade-offs to home ownership that can make renting a better economic choice.
www.wsj.com
September 24, 2026 at 11:34 AM
I've said this my whole life, but does anyone listen to me?
"Even after recognizing other financial benefits of ownership, such as a tax code that puts a thumb on the scale toward buying, opportunity cost makes the returns to homeownership considerably less spectacular."
"Even after recognizing other financial benefits of ownership, such as a tax code that puts a thumb on the scale toward buying, opportunity cost makes the returns to homeownership considerably less spectacular."
"The Trump administration has agreed to pay at least $410 million to facilitate its so-called 'third-country deportations' for immigrants.
As of the end of June, 31 countries, mostly in Latin America or Africa, have made deals to take immigrants expelled from the United States..."
As of the end of June, 31 countries, mostly in Latin America or Africa, have made deals to take immigrants expelled from the United States..."
Trump Sends Millions to Authoritarian Leaders in Deportation Crackdown
The deals were made at the behest of Stephen Miller.
newrepublic.com
September 23, 2026 at 3:35 PM
"The Trump administration has agreed to pay at least $410 million to facilitate its so-called 'third-country deportations' for immigrants.
As of the end of June, 31 countries, mostly in Latin America or Africa, have made deals to take immigrants expelled from the United States..."
As of the end of June, 31 countries, mostly in Latin America or Africa, have made deals to take immigrants expelled from the United States..."
Reposted by Alex Balashov
Perpetually “concerned” Susan Collins should be VERY concerned by the latest reporting from ProPublica, revealing her involvement in an alleged bribery/pay to play scheme of awarding defense contracts to a specific firm right after that company made campaign “donations."
youtu.be/f2fFlCPjKnk?...
youtu.be/f2fFlCPjKnk?...
GOP Senator CAUGHT RED-HANDED In MASSIVE BRIBERY SCHEME Probe!?!
YouTube video by Katie Phang
youtu.be
September 22, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Perpetually “concerned” Susan Collins should be VERY concerned by the latest reporting from ProPublica, revealing her involvement in an alleged bribery/pay to play scheme of awarding defense contracts to a specific firm right after that company made campaign “donations."
youtu.be/f2fFlCPjKnk?...
youtu.be/f2fFlCPjKnk?...
To the people rewriting things in Rust for “performance”: you know C has been around since the 70s? What’s stopped you rewriting everything in C?
Man says Naperville officer stalked him with Flock technology after starting affair with his fiancée
Patrick Dowhen tells the I-Team he was tracked using Flock after a Naperville police officer began having an affair with his fiancée.
abc7chicago.com
September 23, 2026 at 11:24 AM
To the people rewriting things in Rust for “performance”: you know C has been around since the 70s? What’s stopped you rewriting everything in C?
"But what once appeared to allies like temporary political turbulence is now looking like a more lasting change in Washington’s priorities."
America’s Allies Are No Longer Waiting for Trump to Leave
They now figure isolationism and protectionism will be U.S. foreign policy for a long time to come.
www.theatlantic.com
September 23, 2026 at 2:39 AM
"But what once appeared to allies like temporary political turbulence is now looking like a more lasting change in Washington’s priorities."
"Trump has not only halted the agonizingly slow accommodation of conservative whites to a multiracial nation, he has also legitimated and exacerbated the most toxic attitudes toward race and immigration held by Republican voters."
Opinion | Trump Makes Republicans More Racist and Democrats Less So (Gift Article)
The president is recasting the U.S. government as an instrument of prejudice.
www.nytimes.com
September 22, 2026 at 5:28 PM
"Trump has not only halted the agonizingly slow accommodation of conservative whites to a multiracial nation, he has also legitimated and exacerbated the most toxic attitudes toward race and immigration held by Republican voters."
"The message Mr. Miller described quickly turned into policy. Now, a year later, it is clear how bright a line of demarcation the period after Mr. Kirk’s death has become in the efforts by President Trump and his allies to target Americans they see as 'the enemy within.'"
How Trump Has Cracked Down on Dissent Since the Killing of Charlie Kirk (Gift Article)
The White House has labeled critics terrorists, attributed violence to a left-wing conspiracy and investigated unions, nonprofits and other groups in a battle over free speech.
www.nytimes.com
September 22, 2026 at 12:07 PM
"The message Mr. Miller described quickly turned into policy. Now, a year later, it is clear how bright a line of demarcation the period after Mr. Kirk’s death has become in the efforts by President Trump and his allies to target Americans they see as 'the enemy within.'"
"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stopped publicly revealing where it is holding thousands of detainees who are subject to final deportation orders, an unannounced move that has made it far more difficult for lawyers and relatives to find them..."
AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stopped publicly revealing where it is holding most detainees who are subject to final deportation orders, in a move that has made it harder for lawyers an...
apnews.com
September 21, 2026 at 9:58 PM
"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stopped publicly revealing where it is holding thousands of detainees who are subject to final deportation orders, an unannounced move that has made it far more difficult for lawyers and relatives to find them..."
"Massie and some Democrats have argued it’s because, if a vote were called, it could have attracted the support of almost every Democrat and enough Republicans to succeed in the House — a messaging embarrassment for Trump and the GOP."
Democrats have stumbled onto a new impeachment strategy
Democrats have plenty of experience in impeaching President Donald Trump. But there’s a different approach that’s already picking up steam thanks to one of Trump’s most persistent GOP critics.
www.ms.now
September 21, 2026 at 9:18 PM
"Massie and some Democrats have argued it’s because, if a vote were called, it could have attracted the support of almost every Democrat and enough Republicans to succeed in the House — a messaging embarrassment for Trump and the GOP."
Reposted by Alex Balashov
honestly laughing so hard. we're doomed. but we'll be able to laugh at his fails a lot as we swirl the bowl
LMFAO -- Trump is holding an event at the White House right now but there's no audio because the press pool isn't there. The Newsmax host notes that this is an example of Trump's attacks on the press "backfiring just a little bit"
September 21, 2026 at 5:57 PM
honestly laughing so hard. we're doomed. but we'll be able to laugh at his fails a lot as we swirl the bowl
"'Get real-time updates and live events streamed DIRECTLY to your phone,' the White House wrote on X on Monday. It pitched the official app as a way to receive 'the news that matters most — straight from the Trump Administration.'"
White House shredded for promoting its own news app after Trump’s media ban
The White House promoted its official app as a way to receive ‘the news that matters most’
www.the-independent.com
September 21, 2026 at 9:06 PM
"'Get real-time updates and live events streamed DIRECTLY to your phone,' the White House wrote on X on Monday. It pitched the official app as a way to receive 'the news that matters most — straight from the Trump Administration.'"
"The agreements have been secured under the orders of Stephen Miller... known for his relentless anti-immigration focus, has been able to push key appointments at the State Department that have allowed him to overrule other foreign policy objectives in his goal of achieving more deportations."
archive.ph
September 21, 2026 at 12:59 PM
"The agreements have been secured under the orders of Stephen Miller... known for his relentless anti-immigration focus, has been able to push key appointments at the State Department that have allowed him to overrule other foreign policy objectives in his goal of achieving more deportations."
"Pentagon whistleblowers send 'urgent SOS' about Pete Hegseth in extraordinary public appeal: 'Dumb, deluded and utterly incompetent'..."
Pentagon whistleblowers send 'urgent SOS' about 'dumb' Pete Hegseth
Pentagon staffers are risking their careers to blow the whistle on the disarray and discontentment consuming the Department of Defense under Secretary Pete Hegseth.
www.dailymail.com
September 21, 2026 at 12:06 PM
"Pentagon whistleblowers send 'urgent SOS' about Pete Hegseth in extraordinary public appeal: 'Dumb, deluded and utterly incompetent'..."
"Stephen Miller is leading an unprecedented and intense White House drive across a host of government departments to accelerate the removal of undocumented immigrant children from the US, using tactics that critics say are cruel and racist and, in some cases, flout federal law..."
Trump ally Stephen Miller leads sweeping push to accelerate removal of migrant children
Exclusive: key White House loyalist orchestrating multi-agency effort condemned by critics as cruel and racist
www.theguardian.com
September 19, 2026 at 7:59 PM
"Stephen Miller is leading an unprecedented and intense White House drive across a host of government departments to accelerate the removal of undocumented immigrant children from the US, using tactics that critics say are cruel and racist and, in some cases, flout federal law..."
"Two men deported to Equatorial Guinea by the Trump administration were hooded, bound, beaten with guns and shoved down a flight of stairs recently by police officers at a remote hotel where immigrants are being held indefinitely, according to witnesses and lawyers."
A Central African Hotel Has Become a Nightmare Prison for U.S. Deportees (Gift Article)
Witnesses say men were hooded and beaten in Equatorial Guinea. The autocratic government there is a partner in President Trump’s deportation program.
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2026 at 10:24 PM
"Two men deported to Equatorial Guinea by the Trump administration were hooded, bound, beaten with guns and shoved down a flight of stairs recently by police officers at a remote hotel where immigrants are being held indefinitely, according to witnesses and lawyers."
Reposted by Alex Balashov
"Everyone should study the movement against Flock. Take notes. These ordinary people from all walks of life are teaching us how to seize back control of our future."
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www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/o... #Flock #DeFlock #Axon #Surveillance #AxonAxoff #fyp #trending #ALPR #AI
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www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/o... #Flock #DeFlock #Axon #Surveillance #AxonAxoff #fyp #trending #ALPR #AI
Opinion | How Flock Cameras Became the Enemy
The campaign against Flock shows that fighting to protect personal privacy isn’t a lost cause.
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2026 at 5:26 PM
"Everyone should study the movement against Flock. Take notes. These ordinary people from all walks of life are teaching us how to seize back control of our future."
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www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/o... #Flock #DeFlock #Axon #Surveillance #AxonAxoff #fyp #trending #ALPR #AI
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www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/o... #Flock #DeFlock #Axon #Surveillance #AxonAxoff #fyp #trending #ALPR #AI
"The brief ... urged the court to conclude that the First and Fourth Amendments require the government to obtain a warrant before searching a cellphone at the border. The Second Circuit rejected these arguments in today’s ruling."
Second Circuit Allows Government to Search Electronic Devices at the Border Without Any Suspicion
knightcolumbia.org
September 18, 2026 at 4:21 PM
"The brief ... urged the court to conclude that the First and Fourth Amendments require the government to obtain a warrant before searching a cellphone at the border. The Second Circuit rejected these arguments in today’s ruling."