TepidLatte ♿
@tepidlatte.bsky.social
Lukewarm denizen of a ramshackle planet run by clowns and grifters. Certified curmudgeon and licensed misanthrope.
As I was reading this post, an alert popped up from Amazon saying, "A new book from John Scalzi..."
So, yeah, they're watching all of us.
So, yeah, they're watching all of us.
November 14, 2025 at 6:42 PM
As I was reading this post, an alert popped up from Amazon saying, "A new book from John Scalzi..."
So, yeah, they're watching all of us.
So, yeah, they're watching all of us.
There's only discovery if someone is charged. An "active investigation" can go on for years without charges being filed.
November 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
There's only discovery if someone is charged. An "active investigation" can go on for years without charges being filed.
Will these "accountability centers" also have mass "showers?" Maybe with almond-scented water. That'd be swell.
Maybe they can have a jaunty slogan over the entrance, to encourage productivity. "Freedom Through Work" or something similarly uplifting.
Maybe they can have a jaunty slogan over the entrance, to encourage productivity. "Freedom Through Work" or something similarly uplifting.
November 14, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Will these "accountability centers" also have mass "showers?" Maybe with almond-scented water. That'd be swell.
Maybe they can have a jaunty slogan over the entrance, to encourage productivity. "Freedom Through Work" or something similarly uplifting.
Maybe they can have a jaunty slogan over the entrance, to encourage productivity. "Freedom Through Work" or something similarly uplifting.
"The Western Hemisphere is America's neighborhood." Sadly, America is the neighborhood crackhouse, complete with insane shouting and random gunfire.
November 14, 2025 at 6:37 AM
"The Western Hemisphere is America's neighborhood." Sadly, America is the neighborhood crackhouse, complete with insane shouting and random gunfire.
The excuse machine has been primed and loaded for centuries.
Rape victims have been "asking for it," or "dressed sexy," or "had it coming," or "lied about their age," or were "sexually mature beyond their years" for as long as there have been rapists.
It'll be easy for the cult to excuse this.
Rape victims have been "asking for it," or "dressed sexy," or "had it coming," or "lied about their age," or were "sexually mature beyond their years" for as long as there have been rapists.
It'll be easy for the cult to excuse this.
November 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
The excuse machine has been primed and loaded for centuries.
Rape victims have been "asking for it," or "dressed sexy," or "had it coming," or "lied about their age," or were "sexually mature beyond their years" for as long as there have been rapists.
It'll be easy for the cult to excuse this.
Rape victims have been "asking for it," or "dressed sexy," or "had it coming," or "lied about their age," or were "sexually mature beyond their years" for as long as there have been rapists.
It'll be easy for the cult to excuse this.
The word "just" is such a tell, isn't it? I work in tech, and whenever some bigwig says, "Can't we just..." I immediately know I'm about to experience legendary stupidity.
November 11, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The word "just" is such a tell, isn't it? I work in tech, and whenever some bigwig says, "Can't we just..." I immediately know I'm about to experience legendary stupidity.
It like stealing someone's wallet, then lending them $20 to "help them out."
November 11, 2025 at 4:27 AM
It like stealing someone's wallet, then lending them $20 to "help them out."
Either they're completely stupid, or they're complicit. Spoiler: they're not stupid.
November 10, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Either they're completely stupid, or they're complicit. Spoiler: they're not stupid.
"Heads I win, heads you lose."
November 10, 2025 at 8:24 PM
"Heads I win, heads you lose."
In Parliamentary systems, losing an election typically results in deposing the party leaders deemed responsible for the loss, followed by selecting and rallying behind new leadership.
In our system, "leaders" see no consequences for losing, keeping their jobs (and tired ideas) cycle after cycle.
In our system, "leaders" see no consequences for losing, keeping their jobs (and tired ideas) cycle after cycle.
November 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
In Parliamentary systems, losing an election typically results in deposing the party leaders deemed responsible for the loss, followed by selecting and rallying behind new leadership.
In our system, "leaders" see no consequences for losing, keeping their jobs (and tired ideas) cycle after cycle.
In our system, "leaders" see no consequences for losing, keeping their jobs (and tired ideas) cycle after cycle.
If Trump (or one of his "advisors") tells them to introduce such a bill, they'll do it. It's a prime way of pinning the Healthcare crisis on Dems, which is the kind of petty "revenge" Trump loves.
November 10, 2025 at 5:56 PM
If Trump (or one of his "advisors") tells them to introduce such a bill, they'll do it. It's a prime way of pinning the Healthcare crisis on Dems, which is the kind of petty "revenge" Trump loves.
This is just the setup. The payoff will come when the GOP introduces a bill restoring the subsidies, but loads it up with anti gay/minority/women provisions, ensuring Dems will vote against it, at which point the GOP crows about how it tried to lower Healthcare costs, but evil Dems blocked it.
November 10, 2025 at 5:29 PM
This is just the setup. The payoff will come when the GOP introduces a bill restoring the subsidies, but loads it up with anti gay/minority/women provisions, ensuring Dems will vote against it, at which point the GOP crows about how it tried to lower Healthcare costs, but evil Dems blocked it.
Here's how it'll go:
(1) GOP introduces bill restoring subsidies, but tacks on nationwide abortion ban.
(2) Dems vote against it.
(3) GOP blares across all media, "We tried to lower your Healthcare costs, but the Dems killed it."
(4) Dems get destroyed in midterms.
(1) GOP introduces bill restoring subsidies, but tacks on nationwide abortion ban.
(2) Dems vote against it.
(3) GOP blares across all media, "We tried to lower your Healthcare costs, but the Dems killed it."
(4) Dems get destroyed in midterms.
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Here's how it'll go:
(1) GOP introduces bill restoring subsidies, but tacks on nationwide abortion ban.
(2) Dems vote against it.
(3) GOP blares across all media, "We tried to lower your Healthcare costs, but the Dems killed it."
(4) Dems get destroyed in midterms.
(1) GOP introduces bill restoring subsidies, but tacks on nationwide abortion ban.
(2) Dems vote against it.
(3) GOP blares across all media, "We tried to lower your Healthcare costs, but the Dems killed it."
(4) Dems get destroyed in midterms.
We're not fooled by your performative whining. If you can't keep your party in line on important issues like this, what good are you?
November 10, 2025 at 5:29 AM
We're not fooled by your performative whining. If you can't keep your party in line on important issues like this, what good are you?
You realize, don't you, that even if the GOP honors their promise to vote on the subsidies, the bill will inevitably come bundled with a national abortion ban? I mean ,that's obvious to anyone paying attention, right? Right?
November 10, 2025 at 5:24 AM
You realize, don't you, that even if the GOP honors their promise to vote on the subsidies, the bill will inevitably come bundled with a national abortion ban? I mean ,that's obvious to anyone paying attention, right? Right?
Yep, someone's perks and privileges got a big metaphorical squeeze, and the too-comfortable Dem leadership stepped smartly back in line.
November 10, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Yep, someone's perks and privileges got a big metaphorical squeeze, and the too-comfortable Dem leadership stepped smartly back in line.
They either won't bring any bill, or what they do bring will have a big fat national abortion ban hanging off it. Then they can say, "we kept our word."
November 10, 2025 at 4:32 AM
They either won't bring any bill, or what they do bring will have a big fat national abortion ban hanging off it. Then they can say, "we kept our word."
The vote on continuing ACA subsidies will never happen. Bet on it.
November 10, 2025 at 4:13 AM
The vote on continuing ACA subsidies will never happen. Bet on it.
Trump's healthcare plan - like Iran's nuclear missile program - is always a few weeks away.
November 9, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Trump's healthcare plan - like Iran's nuclear missile program - is always a few weeks away.
Here, excess solar generation builds up a credit balance that can be consumed from the grid at night.
Now, the utility says its going to measure our "peak 15 minutes" of daily usage and bill us a multiple of that, even though we produced that power ourselves.
Now, the utility says its going to measure our "peak 15 minutes" of daily usage and bill us a multiple of that, even though we produced that power ourselves.
November 9, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Here, excess solar generation builds up a credit balance that can be consumed from the grid at night.
Now, the utility says its going to measure our "peak 15 minutes" of daily usage and bill us a multiple of that, even though we produced that power ourselves.
Now, the utility says its going to measure our "peak 15 minutes" of daily usage and bill us a multiple of that, even though we produced that power ourselves.
Cool 'fit...if you're 12.
November 9, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Cool 'fit...if you're 12.
They must think they're a lot bigger than they are, then shuffle forward as they discover their shortcomings. By the time they get to a distance commensurate with their endowment, they're in midair.
November 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM
They must think they're a lot bigger than they are, then shuffle forward as they discover their shortcomings. By the time they get to a distance commensurate with their endowment, they're in midair.
"If we can make the debt inheritable, we can have 100 year mortgages! The kids and grandkids can pay 'em off! Cigars and champagne all around!"
November 9, 2025 at 4:42 AM
"If we can make the debt inheritable, we can have 100 year mortgages! The kids and grandkids can pay 'em off! Cigars and champagne all around!"
Yeah, it's "special-purpose vehicles" and "tax efficient leaseback agreements" all the way down.
In my younger days, I was part of a team that flew a brand new Boeing jet from the factory into int'l airspace, just so the sales agreement could be signed onboard, thereby avoiding both regs and tax.
In my younger days, I was part of a team that flew a brand new Boeing jet from the factory into int'l airspace, just so the sales agreement could be signed onboard, thereby avoiding both regs and tax.
November 9, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Yeah, it's "special-purpose vehicles" and "tax efficient leaseback agreements" all the way down.
In my younger days, I was part of a team that flew a brand new Boeing jet from the factory into int'l airspace, just so the sales agreement could be signed onboard, thereby avoiding both regs and tax.
In my younger days, I was part of a team that flew a brand new Boeing jet from the factory into int'l airspace, just so the sales agreement could be signed onboard, thereby avoiding both regs and tax.
Meanwhile, in Nevada, the power company has started charging customers with solar installations extra for "freeloading" on the grid.
Apparently, significantly reducing the utility's need to invest in new capacity is "costing" it $100m per year. Suuure.
Apparently, significantly reducing the utility's need to invest in new capacity is "costing" it $100m per year. Suuure.
November 9, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Meanwhile, in Nevada, the power company has started charging customers with solar installations extra for "freeloading" on the grid.
Apparently, significantly reducing the utility's need to invest in new capacity is "costing" it $100m per year. Suuure.
Apparently, significantly reducing the utility's need to invest in new capacity is "costing" it $100m per year. Suuure.