Author: Jason

Christian Libertarian, software engineer by trade, part-time political pundit. Graduate of Moravian College, Bethlehem PA

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Breaking Down Yesterday’s Massive Verizon Outage

If you found yourself staring at a dreaded “SOS” icon on your phone or frantically toggling airplane mode yesterday, you certainly weren’t alone. Wednesday, January 14, 2026, turned into a digital blackout for millions of Americans as Verizon suffered one of its most significant network disruptions in recent memory. Now that the dust has settled and the signal bars have returned, here is a look at exactly what happened, why it happened, and what the carrier is doing to make it right.

The Timeline of the Blackout

The trouble began right around lunchtime, specifically 12:30 PM ET. Reports immediately flooded in from across the country, with the outage hitting major population centers on the Eastern Seaboard and the Midwest particularly hard. At the height of the disruption, outage tracking sites logged over 1.5 million complaints. For roughly 10 hours, subscribers were cut off from data and voice services, leaving devices stuck in “SOS mode”—meaning they could function only to call 911 via other available carrier networks.

The Culprit: Glitch, Not Attack

Naturally, when a network of this magnitude goes dark, fears of foul play or security breaches arise. However, Verizon has explicitly stated that there was no indication of a cyberattack. The company identified the root cause as a widespread software issue within their network systems. Ultimately, it was an internal technical failure rather than an external threat that brought the network to a standstill.

Resolution and Getting Back Online

Engineering teams worked throughout the afternoon and evening to patch the software fault. Verizon officially declared the issue resolved at 10:15 PM ET last night. By late evening, the vast majority of devices had reconnected. For anyone still experiencing lingering connectivity issues today, the carrier advises a simple restart of your device. Powering your phone off and back on should force it to re-establish a fresh connection with the nearest cell towers.

Compensation for the Trouble

In response to the frustration caused by the day-long silence, Verizon has announced it is offering a $20 account credit to affected customers. The company noted that this amount is intended to cover multiple days of service. While consumer accounts are being handled largely through this flat credit, Verizon has stated that business customers will be contacted directly regarding compensation for their specific accounts.

It was a frustrating Wednesday for millions, but operations have returned to normal. Hopefully, the $20 credit will help smooth over the inconvenience of a day spent offline.

https://twitter.com/jasontromm/status/2011816623556927722
Dilbert and his office mates are standing around Scott Adams grave. "We never thought we'd outlive the deadlines."

Saffron Robes on a Rainy Road

‘Walk for Peace’ Pilgrimage Passes Through Rock Hill

ROCK HILL, S.C. — On a gray, sodden Wednesday morning, a striking splash of deep orange moved steadily along the wet asphalt of York County. It was a sight that caused many local drivers to do a double-take: Buddhist monks, serene and focused, walking the shoulder of the highway amid the January chill.

These monks are part of a dedicated group currently undertaking a massive “Walk for Peace,” a cross-country pilgrimage aimed at spreading a message of unity, compassion, and non-violence.

The group’s journey today took them through Rock Hill on their way north toward Fort Mill and Charlotte. The monks, clad in traditional saffron and maroon robes, navigated the slick roads in simple sandals, a testament to the arduous nature of their undertaking.

This trek is no small feat. The group is in the middle of a roughly 2,300-mile journey that began in Fort Worth, Texas. Their ultimate destination is Washington, D.C., where they hope to arrive by mid-February to deliver their message of peace to the nation’s capital.

Their presence in Rock Hill highlighted the very sort of unity they seek to promote. On Tuesday night, the walkers found shelter and hospitality at the Catawba Baptist Church in Rock Hill before setting out again on Wednesday morning.

While the visual of the monks walking is powerful, they are supported by a team in a vehicle following closely behind. The support vehicle currently houses their unofficial mascot, a rescue dog from India named “Aloka”—often referred to as the “Peace Dog”—who is currently resting up after recent surgery.

Local residents who spotted the walkers today witnessed a quiet, moving demonstration of faith in action. As the rain continued to fall, the monks marched northward, one step at a time, toward Washington.

Dilbert Creator Dies

Scott Adams, ‘Dilbert’ Creator, Dies at 68. 🤔💔😢 Adams revealed his cancer diagnosis in May. “I have prostate cancer that has also spread to my bones,” Adams said. “I expect to be checking out of this domain sometime this summer.” Link 🔗

There were times when I could swear that Scott worked in the same office as me.
Example:

Justice or Order?

The Real Meaning Behind Hamilton’s Famous Quote

“I think the first duty of society is justice.”

It sounds like a modern plea for equity or fairness. You might expect to see it on a protest sign or in a civil rights essay. But when Alexander Hamilton wrote these words in August 1794, he wasn’t calling for social reform—he was calling for the army to march on American citizens.

To understand this quote, we have to look at the crisis that gave rise to it: the Whiskey Rebellion.

The Crisis

In the early 1790s, the young United States was fragile. To pay off war debts, Hamilton (as Treasury Secretary) had instituted an excise tax on distilled spirits. For farmers on the western frontier, whiskey wasn’t just a drink; it was a currency. They viewed the tax as tyranny.

By 1794, protests in Western Pennsylvania had turned violent. Tax collectors were tarred and feathered, and armed insurgents threatened to burn Pittsburgh. The authority of the federal government was crumbling.

The “Tully” Essays

Hamilton wrote a series of essays for the American Daily Advertiser under the pseudonym “Tully.” His goal was to convince the public—and President George Washington—that the government had a moral obligation to use military force to crush the insurrection.

In this context, Hamilton’s definition of “justice” was strictly legal and political. He wasn’t talking about fairness; he was talking about the Rule of Law.

Hamilton argued that:

  • In a republic, laws are made by representatives elected by the majority.
  • If a violent minority can simply choose to ignore those laws, the government has failed.
  • Therefore, the “first duty” of society is to enforce its laws (justice) to protect the peace and liberty of the law-abiding majority.

The Legacy

Hamilton’s argument won the day. George Washington personally led a militia force of nearly 13,000 men into Pennsylvania—the first and only time a sitting U.S. President has led troops in the field. The rebellion dissolved without a major battle.

When you quote Hamilton today, remember the context. He wasn’t arguing for the government to be nicer; he was arguing that a government that cannot enforce its will is no government at all. For Hamilton, justice was the iron wall standing between civilization and anarchy.

Primary Source: “Tully No. III” by Alexander Hamilton

Today’s Comic

Minnesota Democratic leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have strongly condemned the shooting and rejected the DHS narrative. Walz called for a full state investigation, stating he’s seen footage that contradicts the federal account, and criticized the Trump administration’s approach. Frey went further, saying ICE is “causing chaos and distrust” and demanding they leave the city. Protests have ensued, with the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association calling for all leaders to tone down their rhetoric to prevent escalation.

Pascal’s Wager

Have you ever heard of Pascal’s Wager? It’s a philosophical question posed by Blaise Pascal.

He was a brilliant 17th-century French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and theologian. He was a child prodigy who made monumental contributions to science and math before later turning his focus to theology.

Here is the philosophical question he posed:

Believe in God: If He exists, you win everything (Heaven). If He doesn’t, you lose nothing.
Don’t Believe: If He exists, you lose everything. If He doesn’t, you gain nothing.

The math implies the only rational move is to bet on belief. 🎲🙏

This is how it should have ended.

After everything they went through, they deserved the happiest ending.