Tom Roche

Some Emacs commands are potentially destructive (like kill-emacs, which exits Emacs) and may require some kind of confirmation. The usual way of confirming that this is really what I want to do is y-or-n-p (and a few more functions from its family) and yes-or-no-p. Sometimes, however, there is a command which does not invoke y-or-n-p or any similar function, but for some reason I want it to ask for confirmation. An example is mu4e-compose-reply (bound to R in Mu4e) – I usually want mu4e-compose-wide-reply (bound to W), aka “reply to all”. I thought about advising mu4e-compose-reply, but then it occurred to me that Emacs already has a feature which ensures that I won’t invoke some command by accident: disabled commands.

Marcin Borkowski (mbork) has a really great post about arranging for certain commands to prompt for verification before executing. Usually, those prompts are simply annoying but sometimes they’re actually useful. For example, you can arrange for Emacs to ask you for confirmation before exiting. Normally that would be really annoying but after I accidentally exited Emacs several times by fat fingering some shortcut, I began to appreciate its usefulness.

Some, dangerous, commands always prompt for approval. Others, like kill-emacs don’t ask for approval by default but can be configured to do so to help those like me who are prone to fat fingering. But, of course, most commands don’t ask for confirmation and don’t have a configuration option to enable it.

Mbork gives an example of a command where he wanted approval before it executed. I have another: Several times I fat fingered the command to print the current buffer—which always seemed to send my printer into a schizophrenic fit—and finally decided to do something about it. But what?

Mbork has two suggestions. He first thought about advising the function he wanted to protect—that’s what I did with print buffer—but then it occurred to him there was a builtin solution. He realized that he could simply mark the function in question as disabled and Emacs would automatically prompt before executing it. Even better, you can also specify what the prompt will be.

But wait! There’s more. While researching that solution he discovered the command command-query that does exactly what he wanted. You can check out his post for the details but the TL;DR is that if you want a prompt before executing a given command, command-query is the solution.

We’re joined by video doc king Jon Bois to discuss some of his recent projects with Secret Base, specifically REFORM!, a history of Ross Perot and the Reform party. Jon shares his fascination and research into this bizarre eddy of American electoral politics, the various cranks and characters that populated it, and how the Reform Party prefigured a swath of our current political landscape. We also touch on James Rebhorn’s character in Independence Day, slipping on banana peels, and the best and worst of Olympic sports.

Part 1 of the REFORM! Series is on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqqaW1LrMTY

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Rick Perlstein's POW/MIA piece Amber recommended: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/enduring-cult-vietnam-missing-action/

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Comedian Ian Smith is constantly stressed and in this series he is looking for any means to calm the hell down. In this episode Ian explores how being Northern has made him more stressed and attempts a new wellness fad that’s sweeping the fields of England, cow-hugging.

A new stand-up series from Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated comedian Ian Smith.

Written and Performed by Ian Smith

Additional Material from Rhiannon Shaw, Max Davis and Charlie Dinkin

Assistant Producer: Ewan McAdam

Produced by Benjamin Sutton and Laura Shaw

A Daddy’s SuperYacht production for BBC Radio 4

We return with Danny and Derek’s series on the end of the Cold War with Fritz Bartel, assistant professor at the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University. In this second episode, the group gets into the nitty gritty of Fritz’s book The Triumph of Broken Promises: The End of the Cold War and the Rise of Neoliberalism, discussing…

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Co-hosts John Dolan & Mark Ames

Co-hosts John Dolan & Mark Ames

Once again, the Treacherous Two bring word from the world. This week: an update on the horror in Gaza (0:32), Hamas names Sinwar as overall leader (7:07), more ceasefire efforts (9:43), and the wait for a retaliation from Iran continues (13:44); protests in Bangladesh force Sheikh Hasina’s resignation (18:43); rebels in Myanmar make gains in Shan State (23:56); Mali and Niger cut diplomatic relations with Ukraine (25:39); the US withdrawal process continues in Niger (28:12); a Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast (29:21) and European countries are buying more Russian natural gas (33:02); the Colombia/ELN ceasefire expires (35:35); the Pentagon rescinds the plea deal it offered three Guantanamo Bay detainees (37:44); and July 2024 breaks the streak of “hottest month ever” despite being abnormally above average (40:21).

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Danny and Derek continue to insist that you be informed. This week: Israel’s assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas and Fuad Shukr of Hezbollah (1:02); a mini-New Cold War update featuring Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin in East Asia (9:31); Sudan comes close to engaging in ceasefire talks before collapsing at the last minute (12:30); a ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s conflict with M23 (14:58); a large prisoner swap between Russia and the US (17:10); fallout from this week’s presidential election in Venezuela (19:31); and the US strikes a plea deal with three detainees accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks (24:11).

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Be sure to check out our specials on Israel’s assassinations and the Venezuela election.

We’re joined by Eyup Lovely to look at the absolute shambles of the U.K. under the Keir Starmer ministry. Starting with this week’s nation-wide race riots egged on by years of anti-immigration sentiment espoused by both Labor and the Tories, we also take a deep dive into Keir himself, his career, his background, and some of the more grotesque media toadies that puff him up.

Follow Eyup: https://x.com/eyuplovely

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The stock market crashed on August 5, in a new "Black Monday". What caused it? Is the USA on the verge of a new financial crisis? Ben Norton is joined by economist Michael Hudson to discuss the extreme volatility, AI / Big Tech bubble, Japanese yen carry trade unwind, Chinese economy, and geopolitical dangers. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stgBVvz5RIM Check out Geopolitical Economy Hour, the program Michael Hudson hosts with Radhika Desai, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP His website: https://michael-hudson.com Topics 0:00 Teaser 0:54 Why did the stock market crash? 8:19 Is the US economy entering a recession? 12:36 Japan and the yen carry trade unwind 27:14 China's economy 32:41 Popping of the AI / Big Tech bubble? 46:05 Geopolitics: Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran 54:19 Re-inflating the bubble? 1:03:51 Can't the debt be rolled over? 1:07:27 Asset price inflation vs consumer price inflation 1:11:29 Capital gains grow faster than the economy 1:13:12 What is missing from most economic analysis? 1:26:05 Outro

Ryan and Saagar discuss Kamala Picks Tim Walz for VP, US troops injured in Iran linked attack, Google ruled to be illegal monopoly, UK riots over immigration tensions, RFK admits he left dead bear in Central Park, Israeli media UNRWA op falls apart. 

 

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Ryan and Emily discuss Morning Joe melts down over Walz pick, MSNBC savages Kamala VP pick benefits, Trump says Walz will cause hell on earth, Cenk debate pro-Trump lawyer on 2024, AIPAC unseats Cori Bush, Elon says UK riots are sign of civil war. 

 

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Danny and Derek welcome to the podcast J.W. Mason, associate professor of economics at John Jay College and fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, to help us make sense of the last several days of volatility in global markets and whether it’s time to “crack each other’s heads open and feast on the goo inside.”

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We’re joined by Beirut bureau chief Séamus Malekafzali to look at another eventful and disturbing week of events in Israel and its neighboring countries. Starting with yesterday’s assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh - potentially by remote bomb planted months ago in his Tehran residence - we discuss Iranian intelligence failures, Israel’s intentional sabotage of the peace negotiating process, western reporting on the Israeli rape riots, policies of pure revenge, sexual assault as imperialist ideology, and the ever-looming chance regional war. Then…when will we be able to finally find some peace from all these killings we’re doing so we can enjoy a dang game of baseball?

Find all of Seamus’ writings at: https://www.seamus-malekafzali.com/

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The Washington Post’s Jeff Stein stops by to discuss his extensive new piece investigating the ever-ballooning U.S. international sanctions regime. Despite Biden recently bragging he’s leaving office with the U.S. not involved in any foreign conflicts, the U.S. now has sanctions in place in over a third of all nations around the world, including more than 60% of “developing” nations. Jeff walks us through this increasingly central policy of worldwide economic coercion, how it shapes American imperial aims, and some intended & unintended consequences of the exponential expansion of sanctions in the 21st century. Then, we take a quick look at the state of the Veepstakes, Josh Shapiro’s whole deal, and of course, RFK Jr. and the road-kill bear.

Check out Jeff’s sanctions investigation here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2024/us-sanction-countries-work/

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Having issues with your `pre-commit` setup? In this troubleshooting guide, I've collected the most common errors `pre-commit` users face and provided explanations and guidance for fixing them.

Garrett Millerick’s Do Gooders is a new ensemble sitcom that takes us behind the charity curtain and mines the numerous frustrations that come with trying to ‘do good’ on an industrial scale. With Frank Skinner, Fay Ripley, Lisa McGrillis, Ahir Shah and Ania Magliano.

The series follows the exploits of the fundraising events team at a fictional mid-level charity, The Alzheimers Alliance. Fundraising for this kind of mid-table organisation comes with its own unique set of challenges, be it setting up eye catching events, courting celebrity endorsement or juggling the inter charity politics.

And while certainly not languishing on the lowest rungs of the charity league table, Alzheimers hasn’t got the dazzling sheen or the pulling power of a cancer charity, nor does it capture the public’s sympathies in the way lifeboats or guide dogs do.

If Cancer Research is Coca-Cola, Alzheimers Alliance is Lilt. A cracking drink, but they’ve got to work hard to remind people they exist - or face total extinction.

Episode One - The Team Player Clive has one day to prove to Harriett that he can be a team player, or risk losing his status as a manager. Lauren and Ken battle it out over the new hot desking arrangements and Gladys introduces the new hire Achi to the peculiarities of life at The Alzheimers Alliance.

Cast: Lauren – Ania Magliano Gladys – Lisa McGrillis Clive – Garrett Millerick Harriett – Fay Ripley Achi – Ahir Shah Ken – Frank Skinner

Writer – Garrett Millerick Sound Engineer – David Thomas Editor – David Thomas Production Assistant – Jenny Recaldin Producer – Jules Lom Executive Producers – Richard Allen-Turner, Daisy Knight, Julien Matthews, Jon Thoday

An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4

Toward a Second Cuban Missile Crisis? - Theodore Postol, Alexander Mercouris & Glenn Diesen

China prepares for Collective West sanctions attack The Duran: Episode 1975

Danny and Derek once again speak with Aziz Rana, the incoming J. Donald Monan, S.J., professor of law and government at Boston College, this time to conclude the series on Americans’ relationship with the Constitution. This episode explores how economic transformations affected attempts at constitutional reform in the 70s, the rise of originalism, judge…

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Nick and Ciarán sit down and chat about the documentary Merkel (2022) where Tony Blair says some things. For some reason.

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Columns. Analysis. The Guardian's Long Read. Who has time? Catherine Bohart, that's who, and she's going beyond the headlines to give you the lowdown on one of the biggest stories this week, alongside a guest journalist and roving correspondent Sunil Patel.

This week: Biden steps down, Kamala steps up, but what's going to happen next? Puzzled by US politics? We've got you babes.

Katy Balls, political editor of The Spectator, and US politics junkie, is our guide through it all; and Professor Sarah Churchwell joins to look deeper into how a younger candidate might affect the vote.

Meanwhile, in the TL;DR Sidebar, comedian Sunil Patel throws his hat in the ring to be the Vice Presidential nominee. For both Trump and Harris.

Written by Catherine Bohart, with Madeleine Brettingham, Sarah Campbell and Ellen Robertson.

Produced by Victoria Lloyd & Lyndsay Fenner

Recorded at the Museum of Comedy, and Edited by David Thomas

Production Coordinators - Beverly Tagg & Katie Sayer

A Mighty Bunny production for BBC Radio 4

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When the US government has been running a decades-long regime-change operation, sabotaging another country with shadow governments and crippling sanctions, it’s hard to take anything it says about the country’s leaders at face value. Which is why, as Venezuela held elections this week and corporate media shouted reports of stolen elections, dictatorship, and civil war, you might find yourself asking:

Is any of this actually true?

Journalist Anya Parampil, author of the new book Corporate Coup: Venezuela and the End of US Empire, documents the bipartisan efforts of the last four US presidents to destroy Venezuela’s economy enough to remove its leaders from power and instate a US-backed puppet as head of state.

“You can't deny,” she says, “what was an orchestrated demolition of the Venezuelan economy on behalf of foreign powers.” And while we hear repeatedly from corporate media that the problems come from within Venezuela, whether it’s dictatorship, gangs, or corruption, Anya points out a basic truth:

“Coming at it from the point of an American, I'm not going to intervene in your country at all, and beyond that all I know is that their lives would be better if the sanctions were lifted.”

She explains why, even after the constant meddling of neocons like John Bolton and Gargamel-doppelganger Elliot Abrams, the piracy of the country’s oil, and the destruction of countless people’s lives with harsh sanctions, the US has still been unsuccessful in regime change.

Subscribe to hear the full interview with Anya Parampil where she details how each US president from Bush to Biden made efforts to derail Venezuela’s economy, how these efforts have actually created the immigration problems they love to complain about, and Anya’s epic 2019 interview with Tucker Carlson which led to a call from then-President Trump.

Plus, catch this week’s Thursday Throwdown: The State Dept Doesn't Know What a War Crime Is

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Danny and Derek welcome back to the podcast Alejandro Velasco, associate professor of modern Latin America at New York University, to discuss this week’s presidential election in Venezuela, the results of which have prompted allegations of fraud and corruption by the opposition.

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Further reading:

• Alejandro’s book Barrio Rising: Urban Popular Politics and …

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Krystal and Emily discuss stun poll with Kamala flipping swing states, Trump implodes Project 2025, Israel assassinates top Hamas and Hezbollah figures, Kamala accidentally reveals VP, Krystal debates panel on JD Vance, and did Trump betray the religious right on abortion.

 

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In Barry Levinson and David Mamet's WAG THE DOG (1997), a political spin-doctor teams with a movie producer to fake a war and save an incumbent president. You've heard of manufacturing consent, but to what extent can Hollywood and Washington manufacture reality? We're joined by Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison of the American Prestige podcast to discuss. Check out American Prestige - https://www.americanprestigepod.com/ Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

Danny and Derek break down what we know about Israel’s killing of Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas as he visited Iran, as well as its drone strike on Fuad Shukr of Hezbollah in Beirut.

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Krystal and Saagar discuss JD admits Kamala replacement 'sucker punch', JD Vance 'Childless Cat Ladies', White Dudes for Kamala Zoom call, Biden proposes SCOTUS reforms, secret service aware of Trump shooter earlier than previously thought, Israelis storm torture camp. 

 

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Felix and Alex provide some Olympics commentary by reviewing the last few Assassin’s Creed games. Plus, a return of our Animal News segment with a discussion of how much screen time captive gorillas should get. Then: Republicans get “weird,” Megyn Kelly critiques Kamala’s rise to power, Trump seems like he’s running out of gas, and Israel gets a January 6 by people demanding their soldiers’ freedom to commit sexual violence. Finally, a reading series on the phenomenon of “medbeds” and the people who hope Trump will unleash unlimited free space healing technology.

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