Basstastico
@basstastico.bsky.social
The Qualmless, The Benelephant
Truly excellent video--let's remember that all the "culture war" stuff is being sowed by the richest among us in order to keep us emotionally disregulated (while the $$ stuff gets more dire) and incapable of seeing the real villains here: the billionaire class.
youtu.be/W8Z3MfNpJpE?...
youtu.be/W8Z3MfNpJpE?...
Greed is Destroying the World
YouTube video by Drew Gooden
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Truly excellent video--let's remember that all the "culture war" stuff is being sowed by the richest among us in order to keep us emotionally disregulated (while the $$ stuff gets more dire) and incapable of seeing the real villains here: the billionaire class.
youtu.be/W8Z3MfNpJpE?...
youtu.be/W8Z3MfNpJpE?...
Reposted by Basstastico
I wrote about the seeming contradiction in two new survey findings: 71 percent of Americans fear AI will take their job; and 95 percent of AI tests at companies are failing to generate money. www.platformer.news/ai-job-loss-...
August 20, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I wrote about the seeming contradiction in two new survey findings: 71 percent of Americans fear AI will take their job; and 95 percent of AI tests at companies are failing to generate money. www.platformer.news/ai-job-loss-...
Definitely prefer local bookstores, but it's so comforting that Barnes & Noble is adding more stores as a response to an increase in traffic. Let's let Amazon (Kindles) go.
[bunch of guys who haven't read a piece of fiction in 20 years] my feeling is the kids don't read anymore
August 5, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Definitely prefer local bookstores, but it's so comforting that Barnes & Noble is adding more stores as a response to an increase in traffic. Let's let Amazon (Kindles) go.
Reposted by Basstastico
The cost of food has risen faster than overall inflation in the last year.
Almost 90% Of Americans Are Worried About The Cost Of Groceries
The cost of food has risen faster than overall inflation in the last year.
www.forbes.com
August 4, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The cost of food has risen faster than overall inflation in the last year.
Apparently, speech should only be free if it's in support of whatever Republicans want to say...
Nothing says “This is normal” like Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) crossing the aisle at the State of the Union to rip a “This is not normal” sign out of the hands of Rep Melanie Stansbury (D-NM). So much for supporting free speech.
Video @therecount.com
Video @therecount.com
March 5, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Apparently, speech should only be free if it's in support of whatever Republicans want to say...
For anyone who needs a break from the 24/7 news cycle, read Lapham's Quarterly (on hiatus, but planning to come back later this year--you can access their past issues, though): www.laphamsquarterly.org/energy/power...
Power Outage | Lewis H. Lapham
On the thermodynamics of history.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
February 8, 2025 at 4:20 PM
For anyone who needs a break from the 24/7 news cycle, read Lapham's Quarterly (on hiatus, but planning to come back later this year--you can access their past issues, though): www.laphamsquarterly.org/energy/power...
Again, for all my fellow liberals that sat this one out, you weren't just casting a protest vote. You were allowing this to happen.
Seismic, and catastrophic.
Russell Vought, an evil architect of Project 2025, is also an architect of Trump’s agenda to destroy the federal government.
Vought is a lawless ideologue who wants federal workers to be “traumatically affected” when Trump tears down executive government institutions.
Russell Vought, an evil architect of Project 2025, is also an architect of Trump’s agenda to destroy the federal government.
Vought is a lawless ideologue who wants federal workers to be “traumatically affected” when Trump tears down executive government institutions.
February 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Again, for all my fellow liberals that sat this one out, you weren't just casting a protest vote. You were allowing this to happen.
Maybe if Chicago police, our city government, and work crews took their jobs seriously, we'd find money in the budget to be able to afford things like better public transit/waste removal & recycling services...better schools? Anything.
A dead tree fell on a Chicago man's head after the city ignored his complaints. Now the city will have to pay a $3.5 million settlement.
Dead tree that fell on man's head leads to $3.5 million settlement after city ignored 311 complaints
Nicholas Pellegrino was examining his car battery on Hutchinson Street near Inner DuSable Lake Shore Drive when the tree that had been the subject of several calls to the city’s 311 nonemergency…
buff.ly
February 7, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Maybe if Chicago police, our city government, and work crews took their jobs seriously, we'd find money in the budget to be able to afford things like better public transit/waste removal & recycling services...better schools? Anything.
Reposted by Basstastico
Pam Bondi is disbanding the Foreign Influence Task Force - the FBI team that is charged with combatting foreign meddling in US elections.
Worth asking how this makes us more safe in any way, shape, or form.
Worth asking how this makes us more safe in any way, shape, or form.
February 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Pam Bondi is disbanding the Foreign Influence Task Force - the FBI team that is charged with combatting foreign meddling in US elections.
Worth asking how this makes us more safe in any way, shape, or form.
Worth asking how this makes us more safe in any way, shape, or form.
Reposted by Basstastico
This is supremely fucked up. I mean, I read about this earlier, but to see it in writing is devastating.
February 7, 2025 at 1:45 AM
This is supremely fucked up. I mean, I read about this earlier, but to see it in writing is devastating.
Reposted by Basstastico
It's ILLEGAL for special government employees to do government work that affects their own financial interests!
Musk's companies got $3.3 BILLION in US government contracts in 2024, and now he's deciding who gets federal funding.
House Judiciary Dems are calling on the DOJ to investigate NOW.
Musk's companies got $3.3 BILLION in US government contracts in 2024, and now he's deciding who gets federal funding.
House Judiciary Dems are calling on the DOJ to investigate NOW.
February 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
It's ILLEGAL for special government employees to do government work that affects their own financial interests!
Musk's companies got $3.3 BILLION in US government contracts in 2024, and now he's deciding who gets federal funding.
House Judiciary Dems are calling on the DOJ to investigate NOW.
Musk's companies got $3.3 BILLION in US government contracts in 2024, and now he's deciding who gets federal funding.
House Judiciary Dems are calling on the DOJ to investigate NOW.
Reposted by Basstastico
I am really frustrated that the press is discussing the destruction of USAID as something that has happened rather than an illegal action that will likely be undone in two weeks when courts tell the world that it was illegal.
February 7, 2025 at 12:34 AM
I am really frustrated that the press is discussing the destruction of USAID as something that has happened rather than an illegal action that will likely be undone in two weeks when courts tell the world that it was illegal.
I mean, these should be "no" across the board. All he had to do was read 1/4 of these peoples' wikipedia pages to know to vote like a real Democrat, that's how easy it is to spot these frauds.
John Fetterman announces he will be voting NO on Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr.
February 7, 2025 at 7:28 PM
I mean, these should be "no" across the board. All he had to do was read 1/4 of these peoples' wikipedia pages to know to vote like a real Democrat, that's how easy it is to spot these frauds.
Yes, but even beyond that, and I say this as someone who doesn't really love t swift...the president literally said that he hated her, broadcasting that to the whole world. Is this "good boyfriend material"? I don't really think so...
Fuck Kelce for welcoming Trump to #SuperBowl 🖕
President's DO NOT go out of respect for fans who shouldn't have to deal with security & traffic.
A prick move by a disrespectful FUCK who could give a shit about fans. He wants the limelight & photo-op of him & his goons in their bullet proof booth.
President's DO NOT go out of respect for fans who shouldn't have to deal with security & traffic.
A prick move by a disrespectful FUCK who could give a shit about fans. He wants the limelight & photo-op of him & his goons in their bullet proof booth.
Travis Kelce: Trump attending Super Bowl 'cool.' The president
said 'I hate Taylor Swift.'
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is praising the president's Super Bowl appearance after he previously wrote "I hate Taylor Swift" on social media.
www.usatoday.com
February 7, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Yes, but even beyond that, and I say this as someone who doesn't really love t swift...the president literally said that he hated her, broadcasting that to the whole world. Is this "good boyfriend material"? I don't really think so...
I paid $9 + tax for TWELVE EGGS yesterday... Something tells me the Republicans are not going to make things like this better... Can't say for sure, just a hunch.
Asked when prices will actually start coming down, a flustered Karoline Leavitt says, "prices at the store and at the grocery pump?" and provides a non-answer
February 6, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I paid $9 + tax for TWELVE EGGS yesterday... Something tells me the Republicans are not going to make things like this better... Can't say for sure, just a hunch.
How are things defamatory if they're true? If someone died or got worse waiting for healthcare because of UHC's AI denial bots, then how is that defamatory?
UnitedHealth has hired a defamation law firm to counter “inaccurate and irresponsible social media posts” about the company’s practices. Why? Because social media allows the public to put pressure on them to behave ethically and pay for lifesaving treatments.
UnitedHealth Hires Defamation Firm Over Social Media Posts (1)
UnitedHealth Group Inc. has hired a prominent defamation law firm to counter what it sees as inaccurate and irresponsible social media posts about the company’s practices.
news.bloomberglaw.com
February 6, 2025 at 3:12 PM
How are things defamatory if they're true? If someone died or got worse waiting for healthcare because of UHC's AI denial bots, then how is that defamatory?
The working-class MAGA crowd and the "liberal" crowd that stayed at home because Harris is an establishment Dem must be really proud of themselves for this one (and allll the ones that we've been seeing these last couple of weeks).
The Trump administration, busy firing U.S. prosecutors who worked on Trump investigations, now looks to steer the FBI from white-collar crime and national-security cases to illegal immigration
How Trump’s Sweeping Expulsions Have Thrown the FBI Into Chaos
Firings at the Justice Department and FBI herald revenge—and a broad shift from white-collar and national-security cases to illegal immigration and street crime.
www.wsj.com
February 6, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The working-class MAGA crowd and the "liberal" crowd that stayed at home because Harris is an establishment Dem must be really proud of themselves for this one (and allll the ones that we've been seeing these last couple of weeks).
Disheartening to see this...some working class hero. Hopefully we'll get someone who fights for us better in 2028.
By a vote 54-46, the #Senate confirmed the nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General.
Democrat Senator Fetterman voted in favor.
Democrat Senator Fetterman voted in favor.
February 5, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Disheartening to see this...some working class hero. Hopefully we'll get someone who fights for us better in 2028.
Reposted by Basstastico
NEW: Documents and interviews reveal how the now-disgraced political firm Cambridge Analytica targeted potential voters by combining its cache of confidential consumer data with information secretly collected from millions of gun buyers, sporting goods shoppers and others.
Gun Lobbyists and Cambridge Analytica Weaponized Gun Owners’ Private Details for Political Gain
Documents and interviews reveal how the now-disgraced political firm targeted potential voters by combining its cache of confidential consumer data with information secretly collected from millions of...
www.propublica.org
February 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
NEW: Documents and interviews reveal how the now-disgraced political firm Cambridge Analytica targeted potential voters by combining its cache of confidential consumer data with information secretly collected from millions of gun buyers, sporting goods shoppers and others.
It was time to de-Google five years ago. Honestly, I'm thinking about paying for a good online email/calendar set up to make sure they keep their paws off my data. I encourage others who can afford to do so think about it as well.
I wrote about Google unveiling its 'responsible AI progress report' by quietly deleting the part of its AI principles where it promised not to work on weapons www.platformer.news/google-ai-pr...
Google is ready to work on AI weapons now
The company’s promise to avoid building AI applications that cause harm has been deleted
www.platformer.news
February 5, 2025 at 2:50 PM
It was time to de-Google five years ago. Honestly, I'm thinking about paying for a good online email/calendar set up to make sure they keep their paws off my data. I encourage others who can afford to do so think about it as well.
Reposted by Basstastico
Thank you @jasmineforus.bsky.social. THIS is the energy we need from the opposition party during an attack on democracy.
February 5, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Thank you @jasmineforus.bsky.social. THIS is the energy we need from the opposition party during an attack on democracy.
Reposted by Basstastico
Ayanna Pressley: "Elon Musk is a Nazi nepo baby."
February 4, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Ayanna Pressley: "Elon Musk is a Nazi nepo baby."
I guess we can add this to the list. 👍
do you enjoy knowing that when you deposit money in a US bank, you won't lose that money? nice, right?
it's because bank deposits are insured by FDIC.
i don't know what FDIC ever did to these people, but apparently it too is now on their blow-it-up list:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
it's because bank deposits are insured by FDIC.
i don't know what FDIC ever did to these people, but apparently it too is now on their blow-it-up list:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Banking regulator rescinds more than 200 job offers for examiners it needs
A government-wide hiring freeze is adding to a staffing shortage at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., complicating the agency’s efforts to oversee thousands of banks across the country.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I guess we can add this to the list. 👍
Reposted by Basstastico
Brighter evenings ahead ☀️
The sun will set after 5 p.m. starting tomorrow. https://buff.ly/4jDB8eD
The sun will set after 5 p.m. starting tomorrow. https://buff.ly/4jDB8eD
January 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Brighter evenings ahead ☀️
The sun will set after 5 p.m. starting tomorrow. https://buff.ly/4jDB8eD
The sun will set after 5 p.m. starting tomorrow. https://buff.ly/4jDB8eD
Squash this at every possible turn. Left-leaning people need to care about a lot of things, but this one might be the biggest: do we want the most super-charged military in the world to also be a right-wing dictatorship? I would venture a guess and say...no.
We need to pay attention to this now before it’s too late.
January 28, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Squash this at every possible turn. Left-leaning people need to care about a lot of things, but this one might be the biggest: do we want the most super-charged military in the world to also be a right-wing dictatorship? I would venture a guess and say...no.