tlwest.bsky.social
@tlwest.bsky.social
Was that Prince Japanese Steakhouse? Certainly on my recommended list.
December 20, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Was that Prince Japanese Steakhouse? Certainly on my recommended list.
Praetorian donative?
December 19, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Praetorian donative?
I already hate it, but I think the next 10 years will be defined by the phrase “good enough”.
It’s a phrase I heard in the 90’s around outsourcing, except this time it won’t even be improving anyone’s standard of living.
It’s a phrase I heard in the 90’s around outsourcing, except this time it won’t even be improving anyone’s standard of living.
December 18, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I already hate it, but I think the next 10 years will be defined by the phrase “good enough”.
It’s a phrase I heard in the 90’s around outsourcing, except this time it won’t even be improving anyone’s standard of living.
It’s a phrase I heard in the 90’s around outsourcing, except this time it won’t even be improving anyone’s standard of living.
A little more extreme, but 40 years ago, while on joint winter exercises in Canada with a bunch of American soldiers, a friend had reasonable success engendering a great fear of snow snakes, which are white, drape off branches like snow and silently drop with fangs aimed at exposed warm skin.
December 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
A little more extreme, but 40 years ago, while on joint winter exercises in Canada with a bunch of American soldiers, a friend had reasonable success engendering a great fear of snow snakes, which are white, drape off branches like snow and silently drop with fangs aimed at exposed warm skin.
Bad news. Now the AI can be used to create the “live stream”.
December 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Bad news. Now the AI can be used to create the “live stream”.
And having that expectation, out and in the clear, is how you get those who are capable of being better to be better.
I always appreciate a well worded reminder. (Even as it consumes half the allowed post length :-( )
I always appreciate a well worded reminder. (Even as it consumes half the allowed post length :-( )
December 11, 2025 at 2:03 PM
And having that expectation, out and in the clear, is how you get those who are capable of being better to be better.
I always appreciate a well worded reminder. (Even as it consumes half the allowed post length :-( )
I always appreciate a well worded reminder. (Even as it consumes half the allowed post length :-( )
I would also point out that seeing everything he’s done, 41% of Americans still approve of what he is doing.
His basic drives embody what a large section of Americans feel right now, and the media is not going to change that.
They will change media before they change their view.
His basic drives embody what a large section of Americans feel right now, and the media is not going to change that.
They will change media before they change their view.
December 11, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I would also point out that seeing everything he’s done, 41% of Americans still approve of what he is doing.
His basic drives embody what a large section of Americans feel right now, and the media is not going to change that.
They will change media before they change their view.
His basic drives embody what a large section of Americans feel right now, and the media is not going to change that.
They will change media before they change their view.
When I’ve encountered such sentiments, there wasn’t any real goal or thought. It was more “when I was young, everyone around me was healthy. We should return to that.”
I feel that much of modern policy is just a vague “I want things to be like my perception of the past”.
No analysis. No thought.
I feel that much of modern policy is just a vague “I want things to be like my perception of the past”.
No analysis. No thought.
December 4, 2025 at 10:26 PM
When I’ve encountered such sentiments, there wasn’t any real goal or thought. It was more “when I was young, everyone around me was healthy. We should return to that.”
I feel that much of modern policy is just a vague “I want things to be like my perception of the past”.
No analysis. No thought.
I feel that much of modern policy is just a vague “I want things to be like my perception of the past”.
No analysis. No thought.
I made the mistake of reading the reply while my mic on in my team’s daily meeting and that hit me completely out of the blue.
I’m still chuckling 10 minutes later, and now they’re deliberately asking me questions to make me turn my mic back on.
My reputation is in tatters.
I’m still chuckling 10 minutes later, and now they’re deliberately asking me questions to make me turn my mic back on.
My reputation is in tatters.
November 25, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I made the mistake of reading the reply while my mic on in my team’s daily meeting and that hit me completely out of the blue.
I’m still chuckling 10 minutes later, and now they’re deliberately asking me questions to make me turn my mic back on.
My reputation is in tatters.
I’m still chuckling 10 minutes later, and now they’re deliberately asking me questions to make me turn my mic back on.
My reputation is in tatters.
Maybe ‘A cyclops wearing sunglass’ :-)
November 25, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Maybe ‘A cyclops wearing sunglass’ :-)
Total non-sequitur, but thank you so much for shepherding 3MA. It is indeed my “first-in-feed” podcast.
November 25, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Total non-sequitur, but thank you so much for shepherding 3MA. It is indeed my “first-in-feed” podcast.
My remark was mostly aimed at the sentiment that (in a defence against overly entitled readers) authors owe readers nothing at all, outside the of the book in their hands.
And while that is true, that’s read by readers who then wonder if they should invest emotionally in a series.
And while that is true, that’s read by readers who then wonder if they should invest emotionally in a series.
November 24, 2025 at 4:37 PM
My remark was mostly aimed at the sentiment that (in a defence against overly entitled readers) authors owe readers nothing at all, outside the of the book in their hands.
And while that is true, that’s read by readers who then wonder if they should invest emotionally in a series.
And while that is true, that’s read by readers who then wonder if they should invest emotionally in a series.
I would say that at least 2/3 of the time, an incomplete series is due to the publisher, not the author.
And then they wonder why it’s so hard to get readers to take a chance on book 1.
That same good faith effort applies to the publisher as much as the author.
And then they wonder why it’s so hard to get readers to take a chance on book 1.
That same good faith effort applies to the publisher as much as the author.
November 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I would say that at least 2/3 of the time, an incomplete series is due to the publisher, not the author.
And then they wonder why it’s so hard to get readers to take a chance on book 1.
That same good faith effort applies to the publisher as much as the author.
And then they wonder why it’s so hard to get readers to take a chance on book 1.
That same good faith effort applies to the publisher as much as the author.
I broadly agree.
However, if there wasn’t an unspoken implicit understanding that the author will make some attempt to complete a series, no one would ever buy book one of anything.
There is a space somewhere between no implicit obligation at all and “you must devote your life to the next book”.
However, if there wasn’t an unspoken implicit understanding that the author will make some attempt to complete a series, no one would ever buy book one of anything.
There is a space somewhere between no implicit obligation at all and “you must devote your life to the next book”.
November 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I broadly agree.
However, if there wasn’t an unspoken implicit understanding that the author will make some attempt to complete a series, no one would ever buy book one of anything.
There is a space somewhere between no implicit obligation at all and “you must devote your life to the next book”.
However, if there wasn’t an unspoken implicit understanding that the author will make some attempt to complete a series, no one would ever buy book one of anything.
There is a space somewhere between no implicit obligation at all and “you must devote your life to the next book”.
But since I consider myself leftish, I’m hyper sensitive to what I think is our biggest weakness: the tendency that just because we’re less awful than what we oppose, we’re good and moral.
Self-righteousness and the feeling of moral superiority that goes with it is our poison.
Self-righteousness and the feeling of moral superiority that goes with it is our poison.
November 23, 2025 at 3:48 PM
But since I consider myself leftish, I’m hyper sensitive to what I think is our biggest weakness: the tendency that just because we’re less awful than what we oppose, we’re good and moral.
Self-righteousness and the feeling of moral superiority that goes with it is our poison.
Self-righteousness and the feeling of moral superiority that goes with it is our poison.
Bit I strongly agree that it’s often used as a wedge. “Well, if it wasn’t terrible 100 years ago, then how bad can it be now?”
So, I do agree that it is often used for nefarious purposes.
So, I do agree that it is often used for nefarious purposes.
November 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Bit I strongly agree that it’s often used as a wedge. “Well, if it wasn’t terrible 100 years ago, then how bad can it be now?”
So, I do agree that it is often used for nefarious purposes.
So, I do agree that it is often used for nefarious purposes.
I like to think we’re on a gradual upward trend in moral behaviour, gradually widening who we consider fully human, but I’m pretty certain that we’re at a “4”, when 100 years ago we were at a “2”.
I think using today’s moral compass has the danger of implying we’re already near “10”.
I think using today’s moral compass has the danger of implying we’re already near “10”.
November 23, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I like to think we’re on a gradual upward trend in moral behaviour, gradually widening who we consider fully human, but I’m pretty certain that we’re at a “4”, when 100 years ago we were at a “2”.
I think using today’s moral compass has the danger of implying we’re already near “10”.
I think using today’s moral compass has the danger of implying we’re already near “10”.
Look, I know that closed borders is a crime against humanity, preventing billions from moving to where their life would immeasurably improve because I kind of like my utterly undeserved cushy life I have now.
Does “knowing better” make me enlightened? No it makes me a hypocrite.
Does “knowing better” make me enlightened? No it makes me a hypocrite.
November 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Look, I know that closed borders is a crime against humanity, preventing billions from moving to where their life would immeasurably improve because I kind of like my utterly undeserved cushy life I have now.
Does “knowing better” make me enlightened? No it makes me a hypocrite.
Does “knowing better” make me enlightened? No it makes me a hypocrite.
While I might pretend my ethical beliefs (which I am quite happy to impose on others through elections and social pressure) are entirely logical, I’m enough of a realist to recognize they’re a hodgepodge of lefty beliefs mixed with a serious dose of greed and selfishness.
November 23, 2025 at 6:05 AM
While I might pretend my ethical beliefs (which I am quite happy to impose on others through elections and social pressure) are entirely logical, I’m enough of a realist to recognize they’re a hodgepodge of lefty beliefs mixed with a serious dose of greed and selfishness.
The game I like to play is what set of beliefs do I hold today that future generations will show proves my monstrousness.
That I’ve owned a pet? Eaten meat? Accepted the existence of obligate carnivores?
That I’ve owned a pet? Eaten meat? Accepted the existence of obligate carnivores?
November 23, 2025 at 6:00 AM
The game I like to play is what set of beliefs do I hold today that future generations will show proves my monstrousness.
That I’ve owned a pet? Eaten meat? Accepted the existence of obligate carnivores?
That I’ve owned a pet? Eaten meat? Accepted the existence of obligate carnivores?
I think the danger is that it condemns every human being on the planet except ourselves as moral degenerates who passively accepted what we understand now as deeply unethical beliefs and behaviours.
I’m not quite comfortable with the arrogance necessary to make us the sole ethical human beings.
I’m not quite comfortable with the arrogance necessary to make us the sole ethical human beings.
November 23, 2025 at 5:54 AM
I think the danger is that it condemns every human being on the planet except ourselves as moral degenerates who passively accepted what we understand now as deeply unethical beliefs and behaviours.
I’m not quite comfortable with the arrogance necessary to make us the sole ethical human beings.
I’m not quite comfortable with the arrogance necessary to make us the sole ethical human beings.
I get the impulse not to forgive former supporters for previous monstrous behaviour. But if Trump goes all in, each person that has defected will be critical in determining whether the rest follow Trump to Götterdämmerung or lose their nerve.
It’s not justice, but it might be wisdom.
It’s not justice, but it might be wisdom.
November 15, 2025 at 11:39 PM
I get the impulse not to forgive former supporters for previous monstrous behaviour. But if Trump goes all in, each person that has defected will be critical in determining whether the rest follow Trump to Götterdämmerung or lose their nerve.
It’s not justice, but it might be wisdom.
It’s not justice, but it might be wisdom.
Except for damned private equity buying a smaller business with good reputation.
You can make a lot of money milking an existing reputation into the ground :-(. I’ve been caught by that more than once.
You can make a lot of money milking an existing reputation into the ground :-(. I’ve been caught by that more than once.
November 11, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Except for damned private equity buying a smaller business with good reputation.
You can make a lot of money milking an existing reputation into the ground :-(. I’ve been caught by that more than once.
You can make a lot of money milking an existing reputation into the ground :-(. I’ve been caught by that more than once.
The main thing I look for before establishing an attachment with a company is whether their overall success is linked with serving me better. If dropping quality or raising prices will make their business succeed better, then I’m very cautious.
Luckily, for most business, that’s not true.
Luckily, for most business, that’s not true.
November 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
The main thing I look for before establishing an attachment with a company is whether their overall success is linked with serving me better. If dropping quality or raising prices will make their business succeed better, then I’m very cautious.
Luckily, for most business, that’s not true.
Luckily, for most business, that’s not true.
The reason social media rules the world is that it has the ability to exploit its user’s psychological glitches for profit.
Traditional media tries, but mostly has to fall back to the tried and true tradition of exploiting its workers :-).
Traditional media tries, but mostly has to fall back to the tried and true tradition of exploiting its workers :-).
November 11, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The reason social media rules the world is that it has the ability to exploit its user’s psychological glitches for profit.
Traditional media tries, but mostly has to fall back to the tried and true tradition of exploiting its workers :-).
Traditional media tries, but mostly has to fall back to the tried and true tradition of exploiting its workers :-).