Ricky B
@ambivalentricky.bsky.social
Music, puzzles, writing, politics I guess. Future former lawyer. Beginner chess player. Disdained as an "egghead" by Matt Taibbi. Banned from Great Clips 7/20/24. He / him. https://billingsgate.neocities.org/
there's a war going on outside no man is safe from, Charlie Brown
November 25, 2025 at 4:59 AM
there's a war going on outside no man is safe from, Charlie Brown
all of us on this site at least once a week
what is the discourse? when i search on here i just get homemade pornography
November 24, 2025 at 11:06 PM
all of us on this site at least once a week
November 23, 2025 at 9:32 PM
oh Lido
whoa whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh
one more job ought to get it
one last shot 'fore we quit it
one more for the road
whoa whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh
one more job ought to get it
one last shot 'fore we quit it
one more for the road
Oh, thunder only happens when it's rainin'
Players only love you when they're playin'
Say women, they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you'll know
You'll know
Players only love you when they're playin'
Say women, they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you'll know
You'll know
November 23, 2025 at 2:54 AM
oh Lido
whoa whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh
one more job ought to get it
one last shot 'fore we quit it
one more for the road
whoa whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh
one more job ought to get it
one last shot 'fore we quit it
one more for the road
The portions of the recently declassified JFK papers I looked at were all records of federal investigators doing unpleasant things with rifles and cadavers and ballistic jelly and coming to the conclusions found in the Warren Report. Oswald was an alienated crank and a decent shot. That's it.
JFK was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone.
My first political memory - exactly 62 years ago right now, a 4-year-old boy trying to understand his mom's tears - is still the biggest event in my lifetime. We still (IMO) don't *really* know who killed JFK, but we know the public's trust was shattered. It's a straight line to today's mess
November 23, 2025 at 1:56 AM
The portions of the recently declassified JFK papers I looked at were all records of federal investigators doing unpleasant things with rifles and cadavers and ballistic jelly and coming to the conclusions found in the Warren Report. Oswald was an alienated crank and a decent shot. That's it.
I was really into this at the time. The country was obsessed with MTV from about 1982 to 1985. They were like the 80s Archies. Probably influenced Beavis & Butthead. Also exact same premise as Land of the Lost & the D&D cartoon which also kicked ass. Dude on the left is straight up Trevor Horn.
November 22, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I was really into this at the time. The country was obsessed with MTV from about 1982 to 1985. They were like the 80s Archies. Probably influenced Beavis & Butthead. Also exact same premise as Land of the Lost & the D&D cartoon which also kicked ass. Dude on the left is straight up Trevor Horn.
This might be a good time to mention that former NC House Speaker Rep. Tim Moore, who had a GOP Congressional district tailored for him in 2024, made $171,000 on the stock market in one day recently.
Over 100 members of Congress have a net worth over $10M.
Moore doesn't but maybe he will soon
Over 100 members of Congress have a net worth over $10M.
Moore doesn't but maybe he will soon
AOC on MTG retiring: "She's carefully timing her departure just 1-2 days after her pension kicks in and after making millions of dollars insider trading stocks for weapons manufacturers and others while in office."
November 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
This might be a good time to mention that former NC House Speaker Rep. Tim Moore, who had a GOP Congressional district tailored for him in 2024, made $171,000 on the stock market in one day recently.
Over 100 members of Congress have a net worth over $10M.
Moore doesn't but maybe he will soon
Over 100 members of Congress have a net worth over $10M.
Moore doesn't but maybe he will soon
George Washington, while president, personally led a militia into Pennsylvania to quell the Whiskey Rebellion. Two of the rebels were eventually found guilty of treason. Washington pardoned them both.
Southern neighbour totally having a normal one today
November 21, 2025 at 1:36 AM
George Washington, while president, personally led a militia into Pennsylvania to quell the Whiskey Rebellion. Two of the rebels were eventually found guilty of treason. Washington pardoned them both.
Reposted by Ricky B
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
![Excerpt from a BBC article: ""We usually work, 10, 11 or 12 hours a day," says a 49-year-old woman from Jiangxi unwilling to give her name. "On Sundays we work around three hours less."
She is in an alleyway, where a dozen people are huddled around a row of bulletin boards.
They are reading the job ads on the board, while examining the stitching on a pair of chinos draped over it.
This is Shein's supply chain. The factories are contracted to make clothes on order - some small, some big. If the chinos are a hit, orders will ramp up and so must production. Factories then hire temporary workers to meet the demand their permanent staff cannot fulfil.
The migrant worker from Jiangxi is looking for a short-term contract - and the chinos are an option.
"We earn so little. The cost of living is now so high," she says, adding that she hopes to make enough to send back to her two children who are living with their grandparents.
"We get paid per piece," she explains. "It depends how difficult the item is. Something simple like a t-shirt is one-two yuan [less than a dollar] per piece and I can make around a dozen in an hour.""](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreiber7g4o5pujmzmjjzsp5dkz7blfexburuwjispfpv6dki7akjb7a@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
Reposted by Ricky B
I really can't stress how important it is for progressive and leftists to contend for school, library, water, etc etc boards. Hyper local involvement in our communities where we can actually influence lives.
Following the recent election, leadership will be changing in many districts where conservative values previously dominated school board meetings and community actions.
epgn.com/2025/11/18/v...
epgn.com/2025/11/18/v...
Voters shift school boards toward LGBTQ+ inclusion across PA and N.J. - Philadelphia Gay News
School boards in PA and NJ are shifting fast—LGBTQ+ leaders are winning, conservatives are losing, and policy battles are heating up.
epgn.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I really can't stress how important it is for progressive and leftists to contend for school, library, water, etc etc boards. Hyper local involvement in our communities where we can actually influence lives.
Finally a version of this story that makes sense. LH won't be disbarred for this, but it's a good example of why lawyers have an affirmative duty not to practice law in areas they don't know enough about (a mistake I made once and maybe only once).
IIRC, under the FRCP if a case is dismissed w/o...
IIRC, under the FRCP if a case is dismissed w/o...
The facts are complicated, but here’s a summary of what appears to have happened based on the filings and today’s hearing:
NEWS: During a hearing in federal court in VA, prosecutors confirmed that the operative indictment in the case against James Comey was never shown to or voted on by the entire grand jury before it was presented in open court.
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
November 19, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Finally a version of this story that makes sense. LH won't be disbarred for this, but it's a good example of why lawyers have an affirmative duty not to practice law in areas they don't know enough about (a mistake I made once and maybe only once).
IIRC, under the FRCP if a case is dismissed w/o...
IIRC, under the FRCP if a case is dismissed w/o...
Reposted by Ricky B
People using Chrome may want to know about this.
To disable the new default AI mode. Type chrome://flags in your address bar. Search for AI mode in the search box below and disable the three options displayed.
To disable the new default AI mode. Type chrome://flags in your address bar. Search for AI mode in the search box below and disable the three options displayed.
November 19, 2025 at 7:53 PM
People using Chrome may want to know about this.
To disable the new default AI mode. Type chrome://flags in your address bar. Search for AI mode in the search box below and disable the three options displayed.
To disable the new default AI mode. Type chrome://flags in your address bar. Search for AI mode in the search box below and disable the three options displayed.
Speaking of Enron, one upside of its collapse was the exposure of fraud and criminality in the accounting profession.
I think there are slim odds that the books of the AI industry are entirely uncooked, which would be good because ordinarily nobody likes bailing out criminals
I think there are slim odds that the books of the AI industry are entirely uncooked, which would be good because ordinarily nobody likes bailing out criminals
I mean even if you wanted to bail them out, what assets do they actually have for us to secure loans with? The data centers are valueless w/o tenants and the "IP" is also pretty much valueless. This is an Enron situation, not a TARP one.
November 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Speaking of Enron, one upside of its collapse was the exposure of fraud and criminality in the accounting profession.
I think there are slim odds that the books of the AI industry are entirely uncooked, which would be good because ordinarily nobody likes bailing out criminals
I think there are slim odds that the books of the AI industry are entirely uncooked, which would be good because ordinarily nobody likes bailing out criminals
I've never been to Cincinnati but I once read something about racism there in which a white guy said something like, "white or black, we're all a bunch of alcoholics who love football and hate the police."
I have wondered ever since what that looks like on a day to day basis
I have wondered ever since what that looks like on a day to day basis
November 19, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I've never been to Cincinnati but I once read something about racism there in which a white guy said something like, "white or black, we're all a bunch of alcoholics who love football and hate the police."
I have wondered ever since what that looks like on a day to day basis
I have wondered ever since what that looks like on a day to day basis
This is based off of nothing but vibes but I feel like things will go as badly for CBP as they will in Durham if they go to Greensboro. Or possibly worse. It's a city full of stressed-out people who don't like or trust the police.
November 19, 2025 at 4:37 PM
This is based off of nothing but vibes but I feel like things will go as badly for CBP as they will in Durham if they go to Greensboro. Or possibly worse. It's a city full of stressed-out people who don't like or trust the police.
Reposted by Ricky B
Durham public schools absolutely *teeming* this morning with parents, grandparents, and community members making students feel welcome and safe and saying Fuck ICE.
I do not regret to inform you that North Carolina is getting into #formation. We're going to make ICE regret coming south like a bunch of weak-skinned retirees.
All of our existing civic and activist networks are lighting up. This is what we build community for. We protect us.
All of our existing civic and activist networks are lighting up. This is what we build community for. We protect us.
November 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Durham public schools absolutely *teeming* this morning with parents, grandparents, and community members making students feel welcome and safe and saying Fuck ICE.
Cardle
Guess the car in 5 tries. A new car is available each day.
www.playcardle.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM
This is a valuable thread.
When I was in solo legal practice I saw this regularly and the tells weren't obvious. When you actually represent persecuted people, delusions of persecution don't leap out the same way. I had to learn to look for the holes in prospective clients' stories and...
When I was in solo legal practice I saw this regularly and the tells weren't obvious. When you actually represent persecuted people, delusions of persecution don't leap out the same way. I had to learn to look for the holes in prospective clients' stories and...
LLMs give people with delusional belief systems a way to organise those beliefs. The model fills in gaps, supplies connective tissue, and wraps the madness in formal language.
It doesn't make the claims more credible to us, it just tidies them up.
It doesn't make the claims more credible to us, it just tidies them up.
November 19, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This is a valuable thread.
When I was in solo legal practice I saw this regularly and the tells weren't obvious. When you actually represent persecuted people, delusions of persecution don't leap out the same way. I had to learn to look for the holes in prospective clients' stories and...
When I was in solo legal practice I saw this regularly and the tells weren't obvious. When you actually represent persecuted people, delusions of persecution don't leap out the same way. I had to learn to look for the holes in prospective clients' stories and...
Reposted by Ricky B
resources re: ICE presence in North Carolina, distribute widely if you feel like it. all love to my community, no love to the people who said "but what is fascism really? historically, blah blah, name-calling gets us nowhere" when we were all saying "these people are fascists"
linktr.ee/apply_heat
linktr.ee/apply_heat
@apply_heat | Linktree
Show up for our neighbors
linktr.ee
November 19, 2025 at 1:20 PM
resources re: ICE presence in North Carolina, distribute widely if you feel like it. all love to my community, no love to the people who said "but what is fascism really? historically, blah blah, name-calling gets us nowhere" when we were all saying "these people are fascists"
linktr.ee/apply_heat
linktr.ee/apply_heat
Reposted by Ricky B
2025 is like if pets dot com had tens of billions of dollars in government contracts, and every other company on earth will go bankrupt if nobody buys enough dog toys.
also they all talk openly about how the puppet may kill us all but, they feel it's necessary to keep putting it on their hand.
also they all talk openly about how the puppet may kill us all but, they feel it's necessary to keep putting it on their hand.
November 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
2025 is like if pets dot com had tens of billions of dollars in government contracts, and every other company on earth will go bankrupt if nobody buys enough dog toys.
also they all talk openly about how the puppet may kill us all but, they feel it's necessary to keep putting it on their hand.
also they all talk openly about how the puppet may kill us all but, they feel it's necessary to keep putting it on their hand.
November 18, 2025 at 10:58 PM
I'm starting to see the outlines of this picture: suburban youth sports culture (perhaps thanks to the moneyed interests behind it) appears to be getting even weirder and more cult-like in a way that's actively undermining kids' educations.
🚨 EXPOSED: Parents are being threatened for recording their own kids’ hockey games. Private equity bought the rinks, banned filming, and now charges up to $50 a month to watch youth sports.
November 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I'm starting to see the outlines of this picture: suburban youth sports culture (perhaps thanks to the moneyed interests behind it) appears to be getting even weirder and more cult-like in a way that's actively undermining kids' educations.
Reposted by Ricky B
Mechanic [sliding out from under Optimus Prime]: I think I see what the issue is. This truck is also a big guy somehow
November 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Mechanic [sliding out from under Optimus Prime]: I think I see what the issue is. This truck is also a big guy somehow
Reposted by Ricky B
Me:
You know in "Flesh for Fantasy" when Billy Idol sings "face to face and back to back / you see and feel my sex attack"? I get the face-to-face part but I can't picture any sort of sex attack that can be launched if the two of you are back to back. You're the expert though
My orthopedist:
You know in "Flesh for Fantasy" when Billy Idol sings "face to face and back to back / you see and feel my sex attack"? I get the face-to-face part but I can't picture any sort of sex attack that can be launched if the two of you are back to back. You're the expert though
My orthopedist:
November 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Me:
You know in "Flesh for Fantasy" when Billy Idol sings "face to face and back to back / you see and feel my sex attack"? I get the face-to-face part but I can't picture any sort of sex attack that can be launched if the two of you are back to back. You're the expert though
My orthopedist:
You know in "Flesh for Fantasy" when Billy Idol sings "face to face and back to back / you see and feel my sex attack"? I get the face-to-face part but I can't picture any sort of sex attack that can be launched if the two of you are back to back. You're the expert though
My orthopedist: