Michael Hopcroft
@michaelhopcroft.bsky.social
Novelist, Worker, Fan, Gamer -- I wear any hat but red.
One of my leads told me she'd worked at Walmart for ten years. Sounds unfathomable, but it's likely her reasons are like mine.
December 8, 2024 at 3:11 PM
One of my leads told me she'd worked at Walmart for ten years. Sounds unfathomable, but it's likely her reasons are like mine.
I do not understand why you keep talking about this. I do not recall saying I was going to unfollow anybody. If someone does something especially offensive, I will of course drop them like a hot potato. I went to Bluesky to avoid this sort of thing.
December 8, 2024 at 3:03 PM
I do not understand why you keep talking about this. I do not recall saying I was going to unfollow anybody. If someone does something especially offensive, I will of course drop them like a hot potato. I went to Bluesky to avoid this sort of thing.
Two words: Arab Spring. Several dictators got overthrown in that moment, and some even lost their lives as well. But many of the new governments were unstable for various reasons, leading in at least one case {Libya) to an open civil war.
December 8, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Two words: Arab Spring. Several dictators got overthrown in that moment, and some even lost their lives as well. But many of the new governments were unstable for various reasons, leading in at least one case {Libya) to an open civil war.
Where is the dog?
December 8, 2024 at 6:33 AM
Where is the dog?
"Just as every cop's a criminal, and all the sinners saints" -- Mick Jagger.
December 5, 2024 at 11:01 PM
"Just as every cop's a criminal, and all the sinners saints" -- Mick Jagger.
That he wants to defund the ACLU at all is a sign that he has absolutely no faith in constitutional protections. There is a difference between dissent and treason that Musk the South African just doesn't grok.
December 5, 2024 at 10:54 PM
That he wants to defund the ACLU at all is a sign that he has absolutely no faith in constitutional protections. There is a difference between dissent and treason that Musk the South African just doesn't grok.
LAN parties are still around. I've been to a few, usually woth 300-400 guests and their mostly custom-built PCs. The monitors are all flat screens now, but the vibe is the same.
December 5, 2024 at 1:48 PM
LAN parties are still around. I've been to a few, usually woth 300-400 guests and their mostly custom-built PCs. The monitors are all flat screens now, but the vibe is the same.
He should have gone to prison, not the morgue. I feel compelled to remind folks that, media aside, there is no such thing as a good murder.
December 5, 2024 at 3:23 AM
He should have gone to prison, not the morgue. I feel compelled to remind folks that, media aside, there is no such thing as a good murder.
Although I have to wonder what will take its place, or how it will alter the balance of power in the Middle East.
December 5, 2024 at 3:03 AM
Although I have to wonder what will take its place, or how it will alter the balance of power in the Middle East.
That a "democracy" has the gall to outright ban a movie is a bit disturbing.
December 4, 2024 at 3:14 PM
That a "democracy" has the gall to outright ban a movie is a bit disturbing.
There needs to be a place for art and craft in moviemaking, or we end up with shameless imitation going on and on with no respite. Give us something we haven't seen before, not planned to have sequels, and pushing boundaries instead of buttons. Franchises are for burgers.
December 4, 2024 at 5:40 AM
There needs to be a place for art and craft in moviemaking, or we end up with shameless imitation going on and on with no respite. Give us something we haven't seen before, not planned to have sequels, and pushing boundaries instead of buttons. Franchises are for burgers.
Only, in real rap battles, without actually writing them down. I've never been to one, amd certainly wouldn't take part, nut it sounds like fun if you can take the emotional punishment.
December 4, 2024 at 5:18 AM
Only, in real rap battles, without actually writing them down. I've never been to one, amd certainly wouldn't take part, nut it sounds like fun if you can take the emotional punishment.
Our unfortunate tendency to "blame the victim" is a major barrier to getting people help they desperately need. It extends beyond not caring and well into malice.
December 4, 2024 at 5:07 AM
Our unfortunate tendency to "blame the victim" is a major barrier to getting people help they desperately need. It extends beyond not caring and well into malice.
Neither a state, a territory, of an independent nation. The GOP in particular has been unwilling to let go the last legacy of Aerica's failed experiment with colonialism. The only reason PR isn't a state is because the Republicans don't want to see two new senate seats occupied by Democratic POC.
December 4, 2024 at 5:01 AM
Neither a state, a territory, of an independent nation. The GOP in particular has been unwilling to let go the last legacy of Aerica's failed experiment with colonialism. The only reason PR isn't a state is because the Republicans don't want to see two new senate seats occupied by Democratic POC.
And Oregon's [ath to the championship would be blunting the Buckeyes plans for revenge. A rematch would be slmost unprecedented. And I think THE OSU has all the advantages in that game. Now watch Tennessee win the first-round game and nobody can figure out what's happening.
December 4, 2024 at 3:39 AM
And Oregon's [ath to the championship would be blunting the Buckeyes plans for revenge. A rematch would be slmost unprecedented. And I think THE OSU has all the advantages in that game. Now watch Tennessee win the first-round game and nobody can figure out what's happening.
Was it common a hundred years ago to play football on entirely dirt fields? I guess the term "Three yards and a cloud of dust" was taken quite literally.
December 4, 2024 at 3:28 AM
Was it common a hundred years ago to play football on entirely dirt fields? I guess the term "Three yards and a cloud of dust" was taken quite literally.
Haters are going to hate, but when haters win elections nobody is better off. And victim-blaming remains a favorite sport in many circles.
December 4, 2024 at 12:33 AM
Haters are going to hate, but when haters win elections nobody is better off. And victim-blaming remains a favorite sport in many circles.
Maybe some of the things Trump does because he has money (or had) are things they wanted to be able to do but are too broke to stay out of prison for them.
December 4, 2024 at 12:24 AM
Maybe some of the things Trump does because he has money (or had) are things they wanted to be able to do but are too broke to stay out of prison for them.
we did make a serious attempt in the early 19th century to conquer and annex Canada. That's what the War of 1812 was about -- a chance to sneak in and grab Canada which the British were occupied with Napoleon. It failed, Washington burned, and when Napoleon was beaten the USA sued for peace.
December 4, 2024 at 12:18 AM
we did make a serious attempt in the early 19th century to conquer and annex Canada. That's what the War of 1812 was about -- a chance to sneak in and grab Canada which the British were occupied with Napoleon. It failed, Washington burned, and when Napoleon was beaten the USA sued for peace.
I didn't listen to much truly new music, but "The Tortured Poets Department" is a very interesting album. Even if it is Taylor Swift.
December 4, 2024 at 12:09 AM
I didn't listen to much truly new music, but "The Tortured Poets Department" is a very interesting album. Even if it is Taylor Swift.
In a different way, just about every movie that glamorizes horse racing is an example of that as well.
December 4, 2024 at 12:03 AM
In a different way, just about every movie that glamorizes horse racing is an example of that as well.
And I believe he used them again in "Waterloo". It was standard practice in the'60s and '70s.
December 4, 2024 at 12:01 AM
And I believe he used them again in "Waterloo". It was standard practice in the'60s and '70s.
"Waterloo" and most other pre-ASPCA Napoleonic films didn't just portray the use of horses as disposable weapons of war, but the methods used to reproduice mass cavalry charges and horses being killed in action we so dangerous to the horses that IIRC about half of them actually died.
December 3, 2024 at 11:59 PM
"Waterloo" and most other pre-ASPCA Napoleonic films didn't just portray the use of horses as disposable weapons of war, but the methods used to reproduice mass cavalry charges and horses being killed in action we so dangerous to the horses that IIRC about half of them actually died.
Just as long as they don't binge on Milton Friedman. It's hard to think of a less deserving Nobel Laureate than Milton Friedman.
December 3, 2024 at 11:53 PM
Just as long as they don't binge on Milton Friedman. It's hard to think of a less deserving Nobel Laureate than Milton Friedman.