Amateur historian’s look into murderous pirate finds New York beach namesake may have helped
An amateur historian has stumbled upon a provocative clue to the enduring mystery of what became of a notorious pirate who raided a royal Indian treasure ship centuries ago, implicating a co-conspirator whose name is familiar to many New Yorkers.
James Bailey, who five years ago made headlines after unearthing ancient coins believed to be linked to English pirate Capt. Henry Every, now says that colonial-era documents suggest the “King of the Pirates” and his violent crew got an assist from Thomas Jones, the namesake of Jones Beach, New York’s most visited state park after Niagara Falls.
Happy Wednesday in the aftermath of a historic evening, in which Democrats across the country won big in elections up and down the ballot.
Among a number of milestones last night: Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia became the first Black woman elected governor; Deb Haaland of New Mexico became the first Native American woman elected governor; Dr. Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan became the first Muslim person elected to the U.S. Senate; Kansas elected a Democratic senator for the first time in 94 years; and, Texas elected its first Democratic senator in 38 years and its first Democratic governor in 36 years.
Here in New York City, Dems are used to winning, but this year saw a number of highly progressive candidates cruise to victory in a continuation of the momentum started by Mayor Mamdani. Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez, all backed by Mamdani, won their races for Congress. Democrats also picked up additional state legislature seats in four districts in southern Brooklyn.
Kathy Hochul won reelection, beating out opponent Bruce Blakeman decisively in the gubernatorial race. She will have another four years to haggle with the New York City mayor and get photo-ops watching Bills games. Attorney General Letitia James and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli won reelection as well.
New Yorkers also approved all five ballot measures proposed by Mayor Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency. The measures will simplify approvals for outdoor dining, public housing construction and street safety projects, make it easier to pay city contractors, and establish a savings goal for the city’s Rainy Day Fund.
Now you may return to your regularly scheduled program, free of campaign ads!
Brooklyn’s Schumer and Jeffries anticipated to lead Congress.
DSA secures wins in Brooklyn as the organization gains presence nationwide.
Democrat state senators re-elected in southern Brooklyn.
‘Playdates’ for all ages coming to Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
3 public Brooklyn Marine Terminal workshops in November.
Hochul presents $14M in state funding to 3 Brooklyn institutions.
New city rules aim to clear out scaffolding.
Buses serving Jewish schools found vandalized with swastikas.
Jogger who was stabbed Friday has died from her wounds, says family.
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Our World In Photos
Photo: Efrem Lukatsky/AP
KYIV — Will U.S. midterms change relations with Ukraine? Black crows circle above the statue of Archangel Michael, Kyiv's patron saint, during blackouts caused by Russian air attacks on Ukraine's energy system in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026.
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Tech on Deck:
Nobody is listening. That’s the point
An AI musician performs for other AI agents. Image: Generated using Nano Banana
Michael Smith wasn’t trying to have a hit. He was trying very hard not to.
From 2017 to 2024, Smith, a musician from Cornelius, North Carolina, uploaded hundreds of thousands of songs to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube Music. Most were generated by artificial intelligence. Then he built a machine to listen to them.
He registered thousands of fake accounts and paid for them with family plans, the kind meant for six people in one house, because buying in bulk was cheaper. He got debit cards from a Manhattan firm that issues corporate cards for company employees, handing over dozens of invented names he said worked for him. Then the accounts played his songs around the clock.
What Smith built was a closed circle: songs composed by something that cannot hear, played for something that cannot listen, generating real money the entire time. The payment system was indifferent. Nothing in that machinery was ever built to ask whether a human being was anywhere nearby. It counts plays, and a play is a play.
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The Mini
Cartoon Sketchbook
By Daryl Cagle
For the Road
Happy Birthday singer-songwriter Keshi!
On this day in 1928, the Eagle reported, “The hardy chrysanthemums at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden always stage the last floral display of the season and one involuntarily associates them with cool, frosty nights, brisk sharp air and all of the signs of coming winter. They are decked out in gayest hues, their colors being remarkable for their brilliancy. There is no other flower, except, perhaps, the tulip, whose colors are so clear and radiant. The Garden collection south of the Rock Garden is just now the object of great admiration. Judging from the many unopened buds it is forecast that the exhibition will last at least two weeks longer.”
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