Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Toast Conger

@toastchanges.com

1.6K followers 420 following 11K posts

Yes Toast. Topics I follow: change, NZ pocket friends, KDrama, weather, permaculture, weaving, she/her🌱🇳🇿 @[email protected] @toastfloats elsewhere

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · Jul 2

Maybe I just start collecting these
bsky.app/profile/crai...

Craig Harrington @craigipedia.bsky.social · Jul 2

Donald Trump announces his a "trade deal" with Vietnam, which increases taxes on American consumers while decreasing taxes on Vietnamese consumers.

The zero-rate tariff offer in Vietnam was proposed on April 4. He's essentially done nothing in 3 months.

A true genius at work. The art of the deal.

Donald Trump via Truth Social:
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114784098546698642

I just made a Trade Deal with Vietnam. Details to follow!
Jul 02, 2025, 10:25 AM

It is my Great Honor to announce that I have just made a Trade Deal with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after speaking with To Lam, the Highly Respected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. It will be a Great Deal of Cooperation between our two Countries. The Terms are that Vietnam will pay the United States a 20% Tariff on any and all goods sent into our Territory, and a 40% Tariff on any Transshipping. In return, Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade. In other words, they will “OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,” meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff. It is my opinion that the SUV or, as it is sometimes referred to, Large Engine Vehicle, which does so well in the United States, will be a wonderful addition to the various product lines within Vietnam. Dealing with General Secretary To Lam, which I did personally, was an absolute pleasure. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Jul 02, 2025, 10:44 AM

3 1 5

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 10h

Popehat Agitates And Irritates @kenwhite.bsky.social · 12h

OK. It's going to be coming out soon because of the relentless investigations of Pam Bondi and Kash Patel, so I might as well admit it before the news breaks:

I am the General Counsel of Antifa.

Reposted by Toast Conger

DBdant @dbdant.bsky.social · 1d

If Republicans can casually ignore precedent, so can Democrats.

Speaker Johnson has no right to stop duly elected representatives from taking office.

Call a press conference on the capitol steps, and swear in Democratic Representative-Elect Adelita Grijalva - NOW.

22 150 450

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 1d

Ignore the apostrophe mess. I haven't had coffee yet.

Please.

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 1d

This is a perfect example of how doomers saying the US cant vote it's way out of this mess are correct.

Rep. Dave Min @congressmin.bsky.social · 1d

It's been two weeks since Adelita Grijalva was elected and Mike Johnson has still refused to seat her, unlike in past cases where he swore in new members within 24 hours.

There cannot be one set of rules for Rs and another for Ds.

Also, release the damn Epstein files already.

1 2

Reposted by Toast Conger

DeepStateOps💙🇺🇦🏳‍🌈 @unfuckamerica.bsky.social · 1d

1 26 270

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

Oh that kicked my ass

1 1

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

Coffee machine update. I'm on cup 6. Coffee still f*ing amazing.

However, I am now painfully aware that decaff is not no caff.

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

That is the right phrase. Even this far removed, it's beyond our ability to wrap our hearts around let alone our heads. It's multigenerational and millions of people. Surreal levels of human tragedy.

There is no forgiving either the people who did it or the people who didn't stop it.

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

And are merely (huh... merely... shit) the bodily injuries. The massive emotional and mental health damage for everyone present is simply incalculable. It will shorten all lives at minimum but also make the lives so much harder, so much more difficult.

1 2

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

I'm on the third cup and it wasn't my imagination. Every single cup regardless of the capsule type tastes better.

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

Well, not effectively. Or efficiently. Or another moderately neutral to positive word.

Let's say functionally, ,maybe. In practice.

Reposted by Toast Conger

Garth Marenghi's Catbus @hayao.lol · 3d

whenever you see a post like "it is impossible to have a reasonable discussion on this web site, the hateful masses only want to destroy" on the timeline, you know it's because they said something so atomically stupid even their parents logged on to flame their bullshit

3 130 750

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

That resonates, Don. I can stand firm on thumping the side of the drier to get it to shut up without fearing this is just one slippery step removed from trying to quiet my daughter the same way.

I suspect many presenting the idea that it is are deeply unfamiliar with how LLMs actually work.

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

My theory is most of us have a 'natural age'. Mine is about 29, my #2 it is in her early 40s and she's been that way since birth. My husband has always been about 48 while my youngest appears to be 26 permanently. Only #1 seems to change her aspect age over the years.

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

This is my first encounter with this sentiment though apparently the feed is full of it this morning.

No. No that's a commonality. It is morally defensible to kick your lawn mower. It is not morally defensible to kick the dog.

LLMs are entirely inanimate. Please don't get confused.

1 9

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

I almost want to say life changing but that's taking it a step too far. Lol. But it tastes so good this morning. All the sour gone, same capsule variety.

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

I'm less and less baffled at media not doing the right thing. Social media isn't merely polarsing opinions and moving us into our echo chambers. From the moment that Craigslist killed the classifieds, we've been on an accelerating train to media destruction.

Musical Chairs @musicalchairs.bsky.social · 4d

OECD comparison of changes in unemployment relative to 2019 average. Second image shows all oecd countries. I remain baffled by the media not asking the obvious questions here: 'How have we fked up so badly? Who is accountable?'

Image shows NZ unemployment climbing relative to other countries and groups of countries.

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

If you are wondering why this matters, it doesn't. I just need small wins to counter the overwhelming wtfery of this world and a decent cup of coffee qualifies.

1 10

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 3d

PSA: I was about ready to bin the Nespresso machine and then I descaled it with citric acid and warm water yesterday. My coffee tastes better than it has in two years. Do NOT descale with the commercial expensive shit. Just 2tbs of citric acid in the normal amount of warm water.

2 5

Reposted by Toast Conger

Gooder Thinker @thinkgooder.bsky.social · 3d

2 15 140

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 4d

This is the rage part. Just wtf.

The Opportunities Party @top.org.nz · 4d

Luxon can't do maths apparently, telling school leavers to “get off the couch, stop playing PlayStation and go find a job”. Yet his own government has eliminated 9502 public service jobs* and tanked the economy causing the rise in unemployment to 5.2% and fall in our GDP.

#KiwisDeserveBetter

* Data from Stats NZ. Rotorua Daily Post article 3 October 2025.

Reposted by Toast Conger

EndMalcompetence @endmalcompetence.bsky.social · 4d

I don't have anything prepared, but I'm thinking I should buy a bunch of little American flags on toothpicks in advance.

Waking to the news, I will buy dozens of donuts, stick each one with a tiny patriotic flag, and hand them out to strangers.

1 1 9

Reposted by Toast Conger

David Hood @thoughtfulnz.bsky.social · 4d

I preferred it when Prime Ministers believed things like every person deserved “someone to love, somewhere to live, something to do, and something to hope for”, and acted on those beliefs.

3 20 130

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 4d

By all means let's blame the victims

David Cormack @davidcormack.bsky.social · 4d

god help me. this is just cruelty. these are human beings, you monsters.

'The world doesn’t owe you a living’: PM says 4300 teens will lose Jobseeker benefit next year

Toast Conger @toastchanges.com · 4d

Morena, Aotearoa. The weather around the motus looks shockingly bad. Like "is it still winter" shit. I'm taking this as a sign. I'll do some clean up this morning and some baking. Then build a fire, grab an old fashioned paper book, curl up with an oodie and sip something warm. See you tomorrow.

6 20