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pht.bsky.social
ATL/GA/Pedal Steel Player/Techie/pragmatic progressive https://bandcamp.com/paulie2612
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Had dinner with my old college friend and ex-roommate yesterday, a 'libertarian' as long as I've known him, and it really felt like an object lesson of false equivalence and media bubbles. He really thinks that that the second Trump administration isn't meaningfully worse (yet) than previous ones.

A question that comes up a lot these days: Morally speaking, how are compassionate people supposed to treat people who despise much of what you care about and revel in everyone like you suffering? The teachings of Jesus suggest turning the other cheek, but I'm having a hard time with the asymmetry.

I just got a replacement credit card that did not require any action whatsoever to activate, and suddenly I trust the entirety of the banking world less than I did a few minutes ago.

Bluesky follow management rule: any user that follows me that 1) I don't obviously know in real life 2) Doesn't have any posts that aren't reposts 3) Has 3-5 numbers after the initial text part of their name Gets immediately blocked. Honestly, I'm not even sure the second part is necessary.

Finally cancelled my Washington Post subscription. Changing the internal slogan to “Riveting Storytelling for All of America.” made it sound like it's gunning to displace USA Today as the king of feckless centrist content.

Related to my last post, I've been a FB user since 2009. About 80% of everyone I know is on there, more if you exclude people old enough to not care. Assuming for a moment that we're not happy with their service, how the heck do we unwind that?

Top features I would love in Bluesky that I don't think are there yet (I think). 1) Private Lists (for personal sorting) 2) Exclusive lists (only visible to people in the lists) 3) The ability to limit posts to lists or just following 4) Calendar/Event integration Any other ideas?

Today in meta-political commentary: listening to left-leaning Supreme court podcasts has gotten really bleak.

Steak lunch at home today. Experimental pan sauce consisted of capers, port wine, and caramelized onion reduction. No complaints, would do again if I had the onion reduction on hand.

I'm annoyed, in multiple ways, by the simple fact that I feel better, think better, and have more energy when I'm slightly hungry. It chafes at my Epicurean nature.

As Bitcoin passes $100,000, I still strongly suspect all cryptocurrency is caught in a long running speculative bubble on what are functionally "Internet math pogs".

Should be a word for the guilt you feel for giving your close friends a cold.

Lost Whamageddeon hard this year at a weimachtsmarkt in Berlin. Both original and cover versions just to be certain. Merciless.

It's telling that after a few years of trying different Amaros and Kraüterliquor, I am absolutely unfazed by prescription German mouthwash. Honestly, if you put it in a fancy bottle with a quirky name & retro label Id probably pay 6€ for a shot.

Don't know about y'all, but between Windows 10 EOL next year and incoming tariffs, new computer buying season is go for me

Welp, bluesky is uncool now since I'm here, you can shut it down when you're ready