Friday Squid Blogging: I Caught a Squid

While regulations and catch limits dictated the fate of much of the day’s harvest—preventing the retention of the numerous cod brought to the surface—other species fared better under local guidelines. The anglers successfully reeled in a healthy quantity of hake and mackerel, both of which were cleared to keep. However, the highlight of the expedition occurred when an entirely different kind of marine life took the bait.

"And… I caught a squid!" Schneier wrote in a blog post detailing the outing. "Near as I can tell, it’s a longfin squid, sometimes called a Boston squid (Doryteuthis (Amerigo) pealeii)."

The longfin inshore squid is a familiar species in the Northwest Atlantic, frequently found from Nova Scotia down to the Gulf of Venezuela. Known commercially and recreationally in the Boston area and throughout New England, these cephalopods are prized by seafood enthusiasts for their tender texture and mild flavor profile when prepared fresh.

True to the spirit of a freshly caught seaside meal, the preparation that evening was kept remarkably simple. Rather than opting for an elaborate recipe, Schneier took the culinary approach straight to the backyard, cooking the newly acquired cephalopod over an open barbecue grill. The method was straightforward and traditional: hot and fast. According to the post, the brief exposure to high heat resulted in a dish that was thoroughly delicious.

To accompany the recounting of the day on the water, a photograph of the longfin squid was shared, documenting the catch against a vertical backdrop before its trip to the grill. The post quickly drew attention and engagement from readers and regular visitors to the long-running blog, sparking discussions that ranged from lighthearted jests about marine security to broader commentary on current events, technology, and global markets.

Among the respondents was regular commenter Clive Robinson, who pivoted the conversation toward significant macroeconomic developments happening internationally, specifically focusing on the stalled initial public offering of Australian artificial intelligence startup Firmus. Robinson raised questions about whether the sudden derailment of the massive financial offering was an isolated incident or an early indicator of a cooling artificial intelligence market.

The proposed IPO for Firmus Technologies had been anticipated as the second-largest stock market float in Australian history, trailing only the landmark Telstra listing in 1997. Founded in 2019 by Oliver Curtis, Tim Rosenfield, and Jonathan Levee, the Sydney-based AI startup was reportedly close to listing on the Australian Stock Exchange at a market capitalization of $43.7 billion. The company had laid out ambitions to raise approximately $7 billion by going public, with subsequent plans to leverage additional borrowing to construct extensive data center networks across Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. However, the high-profile transaction ultimately fell through, prompting analysts and market watchers to monitor potential ripple effects across the broader tech sector, particularly for key infrastructure backers such as Nvidia, whose high-end chips underpin modern data center operations.

Other readers used the comment section to touch on unrelated internet phenomena, such as viral misinformation campaigns, including debunked death hoaxes circulating online regarding prominent figures like Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Discussions also wandered into recent geopolitical headlines, international diplomacy, and historical anecdotes involving diplomatic tensions and public figures.

Amid the varied digital commentary, other contributors brought forward serious investigative topics, such as historical accounts of unexplained health incidents among government personnel, comparing past events in Western Australia from the late 1980s and early 1990s with ongoing global reporting surrounding neurological symptoms often referred to as Havana Syndrome.

For the most part, however, many respondents simply took the opportunity to appreciate the lighter side of the post, expressing amusement at the unexpected maritime find and offering warm remarks about the brief glimpse into a relaxing day spent enjoying the New England coastline, ocean breezes, and a freshly grilled catch of the day before the autumn season drew to a close.