El
banner
watchingotters.bsky.social
El
@watchingotters.bsky.social
Reader, (board)gamer, dad. Trying to get back into writing at https://substack.com/@pacificreview.
I mean ya im not disagreeing with this bit. I would ask what that “confronted by truth” resulted in? We have a society now that cant agree on an objective reality, something that our “open society” clearly hypercharged!
…is that precisely because of its open liberal system, with its free press and vibrant digital public sphere, falsity was confronted by truth. Not just by U.S. speakers but worldwide. One cannot say the same of China where dissent from demonstrable government lies was punishable by prison.
December 18, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Reposted by El
…is that precisely because of its open liberal system, with its free press and vibrant digital public sphere, falsity was confronted by truth. Not just by U.S. speakers but worldwide. One cannot say the same of China where dissent from demonstrable government lies was punishable by prison.
December 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
So i feel like this IS the point though (and i appreciate @gawattia.bsky.social for responding). If the argument is “china will never overtake the US because it is a moral ogre, just look at their covid response” you HAVE to look at the outcomes. And again, im not defending China’s response here…
The article makes no claim that the U.S. response was “better” in terms of preventing unavoidable deaths within its social context. American governors and other important institutions did however do a comparatively better job acknowledging its reality and protecting free speech.
Which…is a choice in my mind. Like yes, China’s overbearing response and then “let it rip” opening both had extreme consequences. But I’m not confident that the US response was necessarily better? Like yes, we can point out the flaws in China’s response, but at least Xi didnt go on national tv… 3/x
December 18, 2025 at 9:25 PM
So I like Liberal Currents and people should read it, but this article…misses. Its thrust is that China’s closed/autocratic system creates moral and bureaucratic problems that will prevent China from overtaking the US, as I read it, specifically as global hegemon because it is a “moral ogre” 1/x
December 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by El
December 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by El
mean while biden is like what if that preschool in gaza had bombs in it
December 13, 2025 at 11:05 PM
youtu.be/v_BBQBywJoE?...

I can only hope that Herzog wrote this himself after playing the game and pondering its plot
Warframe | Wake Up, Tenno (featuring Werner Herzog)
YouTube video by PlayWarframe
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by El
Or there’s also this. I am full of helpful explications. kieranhealy.org/blog/archive...
December 10, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Of all these people, why does Stallone look like that?
President Trump with this year’s Kennedy Center honorees which include Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gene Simmons, and Gloria Gaynor.
December 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
So Warframe is just a great game that anyone who likes shooters should be playing.
- fully free to play
- kind, helpful, and active community
- batshit lore that includes a knockoff Flood, an eldritch entity beyond comprehension, and time travel
- very enjoyable gunplay and customization
December 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Reposted by El
NJT is losing ridership because of our failed state leadership, which has allowed fares to balloon as service continually deteriorates, and as NJT workers continue to make worst-in-the-region salaries despite highest-in-the-region fares.
Another month of US transit data is just in, & DC's WMATA remains the fastest-growing major US transit agency, with ridership up 10% compared to last year!

King County Metro (Seattle, +7%) & SEPTA (Philly, +5.3%) have performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit have lost riders🧵
December 5, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Trying to get back into writing and analysis as a hobby so here we go: Pacific Review Vol 1

open.substack.com/pub/pacificr...
Pacific Review Vol. 1 - December 5, 2025
Getting back into things...
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:39 PM