Modern Day Bartleby
@moderndaybartleby.bsky.social
Former Clevelander, STL, SF now Tokyoite
He/Him/They/Them
#NowWithALT Creator
https://moderndaybartleby.wordpress.com/2024/08/16/nowwithalt/
Buy Me a Coffee - coff.ee/ModernDayBartleby
He/Him/They/Them
#NowWithALT Creator
https://moderndaybartleby.wordpress.com/2024/08/16/nowwithalt/
Buy Me a Coffee - coff.ee/ModernDayBartleby
Pinned
It Is Always Kopitiam
Objects can signify experiences, can stimulate memories, jumpstart nostalgia. This is what I imagine the silver kettle in the photo above does for those from a particular region of the world, Singa…
moderndaybartleby.wordpress.com
Got a chance to see the Singaporean Omnibus film KOPITIAM DAYS at the Tokyo International Film Festival. As a lover of coffee and the third spaces #coffee spawns, I greatly enjoyed it. #CoffeeSky
moderndaybartleby.wordpress.com/2025/11/20/i...
moderndaybartleby.wordpress.com/2025/11/20/i...
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
They also hunted down all grants that went to any purpose containing "LGBTQ" or similar words. I think it is pretty clear this is the brainchild of a conspiracy theorist who wants to "follow the money" to find out how the imaginary cabal of perpetually triggered leftists gets funded.
The majority of DOGE's "work" is to use LLMs to search federal grants for the keywords "LGBTQ," "BIPOC," and similar, and then to cancel those grants.
They are targeting minorities in the most literal, automated way. The outcomes of this are all over their own website:
They are targeting minorities in the most literal, automated way. The outcomes of this are all over their own website:
November 26, 2025 at 3:44 AM
They also hunted down all grants that went to any purpose containing "LGBTQ" or similar words. I think it is pretty clear this is the brainchild of a conspiracy theorist who wants to "follow the money" to find out how the imaginary cabal of perpetually triggered leftists gets funded.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
I don't think I have to explain that hunting down every instance of "LGBTQ" and "nonbinary" from all government software is the result of a homophobic conspiracy theory. It's not subtle.
November 26, 2025 at 3:41 AM
I don't think I have to explain that hunting down every instance of "LGBTQ" and "nonbinary" from all government software is the result of a homophobic conspiracy theory. It's not subtle.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
Before we were fired, we were interrogated. This had a very Office Space "so what would you say you do here" vibe, appearing to assume that government employees are ineffective, our systems broken.
They kept announcing things like "performance standards" as though we didn't already have them:
They kept announcing things like "performance standards" as though we didn't already have them:
Original Email to Employees
Welcome to opm.gov
www.opm.gov
November 26, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Before we were fired, we were interrogated. This had a very Office Space "so what would you say you do here" vibe, appearing to assume that government employees are ineffective, our systems broken.
They kept announcing things like "performance standards" as though we didn't already have them:
They kept announcing things like "performance standards" as though we didn't already have them:
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
Partisan messages like this violate the Hatch Act and, as nonpartisan civil servants sworn to uphold the law, we would never do this.
But conspiracy-brained people don't know we truly uphold the law, and in this case probably don't even know the law at all.
But conspiracy-brained people don't know we truly uphold the law, and in this case probably don't even know the law at all.
November 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Partisan messages like this violate the Hatch Act and, as nonpartisan civil servants sworn to uphold the law, we would never do this.
But conspiracy-brained people don't know we truly uphold the law, and in this case probably don't even know the law at all.
But conspiracy-brained people don't know we truly uphold the law, and in this case probably don't even know the law at all.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
They thought we, being radical leftists apparently, would put a "DOGE sucks" type of message onto government websites or into government communication systems
My evidence for that: the right did exactly this to government websites. So they were projecting what they planned to do onto us.
My evidence for that: the right did exactly this to government websites. So they were projecting what they planned to do onto us.
November 26, 2025 at 2:44 AM
They thought we, being radical leftists apparently, would put a "DOGE sucks" type of message onto government websites or into government communication systems
My evidence for that: the right did exactly this to government websites. So they were projecting what they planned to do onto us.
My evidence for that: the right did exactly this to government websites. So they were projecting what they planned to do onto us.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
One possible motivation to demand access was to steal data, and I think that was a part of it, but also I think DOGE (or Musk, anyway) was motivated by a conspiracy theory:
The belief that government workers would conspire to use the government's computer systems against them.
The belief that government workers would conspire to use the government's computer systems against them.
November 26, 2025 at 2:39 AM
One possible motivation to demand access was to steal data, and I think that was a part of it, but also I think DOGE (or Musk, anyway) was motivated by a conspiracy theory:
The belief that government workers would conspire to use the government's computer systems against them.
The belief that government workers would conspire to use the government's computer systems against them.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
Musk's people infiltrated the GSA technology arm early on and demanded root-level access to computer systems, trying to circumvent normal security procedures. Here's one example where they pushed so hard they forced someone to resign rather than give in.
Why did they do this?
Why did they do this?
Musk Ally Demands Admin Access to System That Lets Government Text the Public
A worker resigned in protest rather than giving Thomas Shedd access to Notify.gov, which they said would allow him to see "all personally identifiable information moving through the Notiy system, incl...
www.404media.co
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Musk's people infiltrated the GSA technology arm early on and demanded root-level access to computer systems, trying to circumvent normal security procedures. Here's one example where they pushed so hard they forced someone to resign rather than give in.
Why did they do this?
Why did they do this?
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
2/2 They found nothing, obviously, but they did destroy entire agencies and their dedicated staff, turned over reams of government data to Elon to train his AIs, dismantled our nation's soft power, and then slunk away with zero guilt, shame, or regret.
November 25, 2025 at 2:49 PM
2/2 They found nothing, obviously, but they did destroy entire agencies and their dedicated staff, turned over reams of government data to Elon to train his AIs, dismantled our nation's soft power, and then slunk away with zero guilt, shame, or regret.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter
U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency has disbanded with eight months left to its mandate.
www.cnbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:47 PM
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
November 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
Pretty convincing evidence here that the Trump administration was planning to jailbreak and provide asylum for Bolsonaro -- and that Trump inadvertently revealed the plan.
And this, as the now-cliche goes, would have been a paralyzing scandal for any other administration.
And this, as the now-cliche goes, would have been a paralyzing scandal for any other administration.
Trump appears to blurt out secret plan, not knowing it's already a bust
YouTube video by MS NOW
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Pretty convincing evidence here that the Trump administration was planning to jailbreak and provide asylum for Bolsonaro -- and that Trump inadvertently revealed the plan.
And this, as the now-cliche goes, would have been a paralyzing scandal for any other administration.
And this, as the now-cliche goes, would have been a paralyzing scandal for any other administration.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
True Crime: Brazil's Trump just tried to break out of jail and flee to America with Trump's help.
Trump accidentally blurted out the plan to jailbreak Bolsonaro, after it already failed. Oops!
www.badchoices.us/p/true-crime...
Trump accidentally blurted out the plan to jailbreak Bolsonaro, after it already failed. Oops!
www.badchoices.us/p/true-crime...
True Crime: Brazil's Trump just tried to break out of jail and flee to America with Trump's help.
Trump accidentally blurted out the plan to jailbreak Bolsonaro, after it already failed. Oops!
www.badchoices.us
November 26, 2025 at 12:25 AM
True Crime: Brazil's Trump just tried to break out of jail and flee to America with Trump's help.
Trump accidentally blurted out the plan to jailbreak Bolsonaro, after it already failed. Oops!
www.badchoices.us/p/true-crime...
Trump accidentally blurted out the plan to jailbreak Bolsonaro, after it already failed. Oops!
www.badchoices.us/p/true-crime...
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
I think it shocks some of my students but I emphasize that having a job outside journalism is fine and common. I also toss in practical industry talk that’s not strictly in the curriculum. On Monday we discussed contracts: “for-hire,” indemnity, kill fees, scope of work. Freelancers need to know!
If you have ever thought that my journalism or my first book were net positives for the world, understand that they probably would not exist if I did not have a spouse who paid the mortgage. If I'd been a solo earner/parent, I likely would have left criticism, journalism or book writing long ago.
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
November 26, 2025 at 1:16 AM
I think it shocks some of my students but I emphasize that having a job outside journalism is fine and common. I also toss in practical industry talk that’s not strictly in the curriculum. On Monday we discussed contracts: “for-hire,” indemnity, kill fees, scope of work. Freelancers need to know!
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
Trump to charge foreigners $100 per person plus entrance fees to visit national parks.
This is going to decimate the economy of a lot of small towns
www.ctvnews.ca/world/articl...
This is going to decimate the economy of a lot of small towns
www.ctvnews.ca/world/articl...
U.S. to slap big surcharge on foreign visitors to national parks
Foreign tourists visiting U.S. national parks including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone will now pay a hefty surcharge, the Trump administration announced Tuesday.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Trump to charge foreigners $100 per person plus entrance fees to visit national parks.
This is going to decimate the economy of a lot of small towns
www.ctvnews.ca/world/articl...
This is going to decimate the economy of a lot of small towns
www.ctvnews.ca/world/articl...
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
Lay's Greektown Gyro Chips (2015-2015): A finalist in the "Do Us a Flavor" contest, these kettle-style potato chips were meant to taste like a gyro, with notes of lamb & beef, a Greek herb and spice blend, and tangy tzatziki sauce
May 29, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Lay's Greektown Gyro Chips (2015-2015): A finalist in the "Do Us a Flavor" contest, these kettle-style potato chips were meant to taste like a gyro, with notes of lamb & beef, a Greek herb and spice blend, and tangy tzatziki sauce
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
So, a senior Justice Department official — along with several members of Congress — used the authority of their offices to boost an obviously dubious conspiracy theory accusing a federal employee of a horrific crime.
And now it’s clear the allegation was baseless.
www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-p...
And now it’s clear the allegation was baseless.
www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-p...
How an innocent woman's name was tied to the Jan. 6 pipe bombs
The FBI has ruled the woman out as a suspect in the 2021 plot, sources said, but only after her name circulated on social platforms and a conservative news site.
www.cbsnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:31 PM
So, a senior Justice Department official — along with several members of Congress — used the authority of their offices to boost an obviously dubious conspiracy theory accusing a federal employee of a horrific crime.
And now it’s clear the allegation was baseless.
www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-p...
And now it’s clear the allegation was baseless.
www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-p...
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
yes. if not for my husband’s health insurance/salary + some money my family gave me while i built my business, it’s unlikely i would be where i am—something for which i’m all too aware, and all too grateful. success in writing = talent + perseverance + coverage of human necessities.
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
November 25, 2025 at 11:51 PM
yes. if not for my husband’s health insurance/salary + some money my family gave me while i built my business, it’s unlikely i would be where i am—something for which i’m all too aware, and all too grateful. success in writing = talent + perseverance + coverage of human necessities.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 11:24 PM
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
While she was also signing letters decrying cancel culture … to actively suppress other journalists who would challenge her narrative
Olivia Nuzzi wrote an entire story based on unnamed sources about Biden's decline, reinvigorating calls for him to leave the race -- and the whole time, she was working on RFK Jr.'s behalf, according to her ex-fiance. newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Olivia Nuzzi’s Real Victims
More than her fiancé, or fellow female journalists, the public will pay the price for these misdeeds. RFK Jr. will see to that.
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:48 PM
While she was also signing letters decrying cancel culture … to actively suppress other journalists who would challenge her narrative
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
Olivia Nuzzi wrote an entire story based on unnamed sources about Biden's decline, reinvigorating calls for him to leave the race -- and the whole time, she was working on RFK Jr.'s behalf, according to her ex-fiance. newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Olivia Nuzzi’s Real Victims
More than her fiancé, or fellow female journalists, the public will pay the price for these misdeeds. RFK Jr. will see to that.
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Olivia Nuzzi wrote an entire story based on unnamed sources about Biden's decline, reinvigorating calls for him to leave the race -- and the whole time, she was working on RFK Jr.'s behalf, according to her ex-fiance. newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Reposted by Modern Day Bartleby
Will say it again: We the People don’t need (& shouldn’t want) our military to take unilateral action to remove a President. That would be a coup. We need our military to remain professional, disciplined, subservient to civil authority — & quietly stay in the barracks when ordered into the streets.
November 25, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Will say it again: We the People don’t need (& shouldn’t want) our military to take unilateral action to remove a President. That would be a coup. We need our military to remain professional, disciplined, subservient to civil authority — & quietly stay in the barracks when ordered into the streets.
The Profa Republican Party is an international crime syndicate of truly deplorable people
(1/4) The Trump administration is ordering the State Department to label countries with abortion access, LGBTQ+ protections, DEI policies, and even hate-speech safeguards as human rights violators.
Abortion And DEI Policies Now Considered Violations Of Human Rights, U.S. Says
The Trump administration has overhauled how the State Department conducts its annual Human Rights Report.
www.forbes.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 PM
The Profa Republican Party is an international crime syndicate of truly deplorable people