K. Chen
@tznkai.bsky.social
Heartless humanist, unmovable automaton, fount of terrifying knowledge and purveyor of Collegey Velveteen Discourse. Creative, slightly off-putting, entirely accurate. Insightful and painful enough to be the germ of something really excellent.
Pinned
K. Chen
@tznkai.bsky.social
· Nov 8
I think I'll use this thread as a table of content for my health insurance and personal finance explainers, but with clickbait titles
There's probably a perverse way that having higher education can actually push one further away from scientific thinking, after all who needs something as petty as empiricism when you have knowledge and theory.
I'm literally just living a normal life while also experiencing a theophany via communication with the satellite called VALIS.
November 25, 2025 at 1:34 PM
There's probably a perverse way that having higher education can actually push one further away from scientific thinking, after all who needs something as petty as empiricism when you have knowledge and theory.
I think there's a kind of marginally attached Trump voter/supporter who doesn't really like Trump but likes what they think they get from Trump. And they strongly believe they understand how Big Things Really Work, while basically not understanding anything about anything in the world works.
November 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I think there's a kind of marginally attached Trump voter/supporter who doesn't really like Trump but likes what they think they get from Trump. And they strongly believe they understand how Big Things Really Work, while basically not understanding anything about anything in the world works.
I'm not sure how this ends, because the Boy Scouts is very apolitically small-c-conservative and patriotic but it's also mostly run by suburban moms.
Hegseth is very very terrified, deep deep down of something to do with maleness www.npr.org/2025/11/25/n...
U.S. ready to cut support to Scouts, accusing them of attacking 'boy-friendly spaces'
Documents show the U.S. military is planning to sever all ties with the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts.
www.npr.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I'm not sure how this ends, because the Boy Scouts is very apolitically small-c-conservative and patriotic but it's also mostly run by suburban moms.
It's still open enrollment and you still have the capacity to learn how insurance works! Come learn a thing then do the thing.
It's open enrollment time so here's a convenient peg to hang a little tutorial about how to choose your health insurance.
Most of the advice you get is bad. Most of your instincts are bad. I however used to work for a health insurance company and I do arithmetic for a living so I can help.
Most of the advice you get is bad. Most of your instincts are bad. I however used to work for a health insurance company and I do arithmetic for a living so I can help.
Personally I think it's great that my company's HR sends out an official looking tool where they even ask you to pre-populate your healthcare providers and instead of being the actual insurance enrollment process it's just some bullshit checklist to try and convince me I actually don't want a PPO
November 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
It's still open enrollment and you still have the capacity to learn how insurance works! Come learn a thing then do the thing.
Reposted by K. Chen
There really, really is. Which is lovely, and social media is Good, Actually for exposing us to each others’ discourse of reasons.
November 25, 2025 at 12:32 PM
There really, really is. Which is lovely, and social media is Good, Actually for exposing us to each others’ discourse of reasons.
Reposted by K. Chen
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
Extremely amusing to me that the pitch is dominated by quotes from [notable journalist at outfit] and also Sharon, Layla and Will.
Have a big development on the fundraiser today. Just nailing down the details and will hopefully announce soon. In the meantime please donate! gofund.me/e92c7f636
Donate to The Liberal Currents Startup Fund, organized by Adam Gurri
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. Liberal Currents is that. Help… Adam Gurri needs your support for The Liberal Currents Startup Fund
gofund.me
November 25, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Extremely amusing to me that the pitch is dominated by quotes from [notable journalist at outfit] and also Sharon, Layla and Will.
Not to give people ideas but there's probably a fundie church funding a problematic youth group trip to the holy land any given week a stone's throw away from anywhere in America. Weird how that never seems to quite generate the thrill people want.
Er yeah, you probably shouldn't protest a mosque as a non-Muslim either. Not sure why you thought this was some kind of gotcha.
If you’re not Muslim, don’t protest a mosque.
Regardless of what’s happening inside.
That’s what you sound like.
Regardless of what’s happening inside.
That’s what you sound like.
November 25, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Not to give people ideas but there's probably a fundie church funding a problematic youth group trip to the holy land any given week a stone's throw away from anywhere in America. Weird how that never seems to quite generate the thrill people want.
Reposted by K. Chen
Er yeah, you probably shouldn't protest a mosque as a non-Muslim either. Not sure why you thought this was some kind of gotcha.
If you’re not Muslim, don’t protest a mosque.
Regardless of what’s happening inside.
That’s what you sound like.
Regardless of what’s happening inside.
That’s what you sound like.
November 25, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Er yeah, you probably shouldn't protest a mosque as a non-Muslim either. Not sure why you thought this was some kind of gotcha.
Flint's water crisis followed a budget crisis which put Flint under the rule of a state level emergency manager. They needed cheaper water and chose to get it from a more local water source. That water authority subsequently failed to properly treat the water, leaving the water corrosive.
How Oregon’s Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis
Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
November 25, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Flint's water crisis followed a budget crisis which put Flint under the rule of a state level emergency manager. They needed cheaper water and chose to get it from a more local water source. That water authority subsequently failed to properly treat the water, leaving the water corrosive.
This is, unfortunately, also largely the problem with transhumanism.
Although we add in sports medicine.
Although we add in sports medicine.
The basic problem is that eugenics is for people who want "better" not to liberate people from disease or the cruel whims of biology, we also have jobs for the latter group, they're doctors, epidemiologists, and medical researchers.
you could just be really into genetic engineering, evo-devo, and robust genetics research to try to eliminate disease and enable people to modify themselves how they want
but that guy barely exists
but that guy barely exists
November 25, 2025 at 1:46 AM
This is, unfortunately, also largely the problem with transhumanism.
Although we add in sports medicine.
Although we add in sports medicine.
Rogue One is the Guns of Navarone except for the Star War replacing World War II which is what made it enjoyable and also bad as a standalone text.
yes i have seen ANDOR, no it does not “make it better” because any given film should be evaluated on its own as a standalone text.
November 25, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Rogue One is the Guns of Navarone except for the Star War replacing World War II which is what made it enjoyable and also bad as a standalone text.
Had me in the first half.
November 24, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Had me in the first half.
Reposted by K. Chen
so a society that views true war as a horrific abomination but also views terror and pain as unproblematic will evolve into a paper tiger, terrifying, dangerous to individuals, and wholly incapable of sustaining a peer conflict
November 24, 2025 at 10:27 PM
so a society that views true war as a horrific abomination but also views terror and pain as unproblematic will evolve into a paper tiger, terrifying, dangerous to individuals, and wholly incapable of sustaining a peer conflict
A lot of it would not hold up on rewatch but it has a pleasing throughline where "why don't they just" is answered or just done.
the science fiction StarX franchise for the discerning adult is and has always been Gate, not wars nor trek
November 24, 2025 at 9:50 PM
A lot of it would not hold up on rewatch but it has a pleasing throughline where "why don't they just" is answered or just done.
Reposted by K. Chen
the science fiction StarX franchise for the discerning adult is and has always been Gate, not wars nor trek
November 24, 2025 at 9:25 PM
the science fiction StarX franchise for the discerning adult is and has always been Gate, not wars nor trek
Reposted by K. Chen
this is one of my favorite Kate Beaton strips that gets overlooked. I say “SWORD” to my kid every time he’s about to forget something
November 22, 2025 at 8:12 PM
this is one of my favorite Kate Beaton strips that gets overlooked. I say “SWORD” to my kid every time he’s about to forget something
Alternatively you can admit right in the first post you didn't read the whole thing! I do it sometimes, admit your imperfections it is cleansing.
Hey here’s a thought - read the whole fucking article before taking to social media to heap praise all over it?
Just spitballing here.
Just spitballing here.
November 24, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Alternatively you can admit right in the first post you didn't read the whole thing! I do it sometimes, admit your imperfections it is cleansing.
Reposted by K. Chen
Extremely funny shot:chaser day on Bluesky.
November 24, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Extremely funny shot:chaser day on Bluesky.
I spotted them several times crossing through expo and they were incredible every time.
It was such an honor to be a part of the #MTGxATLA from the beginning to end. I remember the set getting announced in Chicago and I knew I wanted to be involved. I had no idea it would be THIS involved.
1/3
1/3
November 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I spotted them several times crossing through expo and they were incredible every time.
Reposted by K. Chen
I'm sorry, but this is what I think any time I see dice that are any fancier than "transparent, but you can still see the numbers."
Someone here is selling scented dice I think there might be too much money sloshing around in the hobby
November 24, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I'm sorry, but this is what I think any time I see dice that are any fancier than "transparent, but you can still see the numbers."
When this term started there was a lot of justified fear of full Wilhoit’s Law across the judiciary and right now it mainly seems Trump is the Birthday Boy at SCOTUS which is still Very Bad but could be a lot worse. And if everyone else in the GOP wakes up to the lack of cover, well
my ontology of law is “normal shit except SovCit for Trump in particular” lmao
November 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
When this term started there was a lot of justified fear of full Wilhoit’s Law across the judiciary and right now it mainly seems Trump is the Birthday Boy at SCOTUS which is still Very Bad but could be a lot worse. And if everyone else in the GOP wakes up to the lack of cover, well
Reposted by K. Chen
my ontology of law is “normal shit except SovCit for Trump in particular” lmao
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
my ontology of law is “normal shit except SovCit for Trump in particular” lmao
Reposted by K. Chen
how is this possible for a human body
⚡️ Ukrainian freediver Kateryna Sadurska broke the world record again with an 86 meter no fins dive.
November 24, 2025 at 6:51 PM
how is this possible for a human body
Reposted by K. Chen
i get why people like rolls, but it's just filler taking up stomach space you don't have
November 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
i get why people like rolls, but it's just filler taking up stomach space you don't have