ben.exe has crashed
@ben.vampirefriday.org
General nerd in the PNW. Amateur musician. Former photographer. Occasional podcaster but we don't have to talk about that. He/They
Reposted by ben.exe has crashed
i think it is ok to reiterate that the victim as a us citizen. yes, noncitizens are equally entitled to human rights. but also, it's important to illustrate how ice isn't about immigration at all
January 8, 2026 at 1:41 AM
i think it is ok to reiterate that the victim as a us citizen. yes, noncitizens are equally entitled to human rights. but also, it's important to illustrate how ice isn't about immigration at all
After watching your Who Framed Roger Rabbit (the game) video earlier this evening, it did really, really make me want to watch Who Framed Roger Rabbit (the movie). A true gem.
January 8, 2026 at 2:15 AM
After watching your Who Framed Roger Rabbit (the game) video earlier this evening, it did really, really make me want to watch Who Framed Roger Rabbit (the movie). A true gem.
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losing my mind at the "she should have followed directions" people
really? really? you're cool with "if you don't follow directions, they get to kill you"? that seems like a good state of affairs to you? that seems like how law enforcement ought to work: instant obeisance or death?
really? really? you're cool with "if you don't follow directions, they get to kill you"? that seems like a good state of affairs to you? that seems like how law enforcement ought to work: instant obeisance or death?
January 7, 2026 at 6:25 PM
losing my mind at the "she should have followed directions" people
really? really? you're cool with "if you don't follow directions, they get to kill you"? that seems like a good state of affairs to you? that seems like how law enforcement ought to work: instant obeisance or death?
really? really? you're cool with "if you don't follow directions, they get to kill you"? that seems like a good state of affairs to you? that seems like how law enforcement ought to work: instant obeisance or death?
I have an e-ink picture frame and I used it to put the most important picture in human history on my wall.
January 7, 2026 at 8:54 PM
I have an e-ink picture frame and I used it to put the most important picture in human history on my wall.
Reposted by ben.exe has crashed
Reposted by ben.exe has crashed
Poe just happened to be what I was listening to last, but also this is just a damn good album.
One of the things I really like about a device that is NOT streaming is that when you don't have access to basically every song ever, you rediscover some classics you kind of forgot about.
One of the things I really like about a device that is NOT streaming is that when you don't have access to basically every song ever, you rediscover some classics you kind of forgot about.
January 7, 2026 at 6:37 AM
Poe just happened to be what I was listening to last, but also this is just a damn good album.
One of the things I really like about a device that is NOT streaming is that when you don't have access to basically every song ever, you rediscover some classics you kind of forgot about.
One of the things I really like about a device that is NOT streaming is that when you don't have access to basically every song ever, you rediscover some classics you kind of forgot about.
Also I did mine in 90s clear purple so obviously it’s just super cool.
January 7, 2026 at 5:56 AM
Also I did mine in 90s clear purple so obviously it’s just super cool.
If you already have one or can source one cheap, it’s a fun project (with the exception of a few infuriatingly tiny screws). But since a lot of people are refurbing them, they can be a little pricey even before you get replacement parts. I love mine though.
January 7, 2026 at 5:52 AM
If you already have one or can source one cheap, it’s a fun project (with the exception of a few infuriatingly tiny screws). But since a lot of people are refurbing them, they can be a little pricey even before you get replacement parts. I love mine though.
Let this be the year you drop the most toxic online services in your life. The ones riddled with ads and data vacuums and ai bullshit and funded by the worst people on the planet. Replace even just one. You’re worth it.
January 7, 2026 at 4:25 AM
Let this be the year you drop the most toxic online services in your life. The ones riddled with ads and data vacuums and ai bullshit and funded by the worst people on the planet. Replace even just one. You’re worth it.
There are also paid services to replace the ones mired in enshitification. You are still putting your trust in a service but there are some pretty good ones.
I recently switched my email to FastMail, but there are others. Ghost exists for running a newsletter. They’re not free, but they’re solid.
I recently switched my email to FastMail, but there are others. Ghost exists for running a newsletter. They’re not free, but they’re solid.
January 7, 2026 at 4:23 AM
There are also paid services to replace the ones mired in enshitification. You are still putting your trust in a service but there are some pretty good ones.
I recently switched my email to FastMail, but there are others. Ghost exists for running a newsletter. They’re not free, but they’re solid.
I recently switched my email to FastMail, but there are others. Ghost exists for running a newsletter. They’re not free, but they’re solid.
I still buy BluRays and rip them, so I can still own them but stream them to a TV.
I refurbished an old iPod and filled it with my music.
I host my own blog and my own RSS service.
These things are not free. They all took some knowhow. But it is possible.
I refurbished an old iPod and filled it with my music.
I host my own blog and my own RSS service.
These things are not free. They all took some knowhow. But it is possible.
January 7, 2026 at 4:20 AM
I still buy BluRays and rip them, so I can still own them but stream them to a TV.
I refurbished an old iPod and filled it with my music.
I host my own blog and my own RSS service.
These things are not free. They all took some knowhow. But it is possible.
I refurbished an old iPod and filled it with my music.
I host my own blog and my own RSS service.
These things are not free. They all took some knowhow. But it is possible.
I know it takes varying amounts of time, money, and knowhow, but I advocate more than ever for taking control of your digital life.
Whether that is a less invasive service, or a self-hosted one, or getting back into physical media.
Whether that is a less invasive service, or a self-hosted one, or getting back into physical media.
Today is one of those days where I’m struck anew by how *bad* the internet has gotten. It’s almost unusable. Clouds, apps, advertising — nothing is where it should be and it’s nigh impossible sometimes to do basic tasks online.
January 7, 2026 at 4:16 AM
I know it takes varying amounts of time, money, and knowhow, but I advocate more than ever for taking control of your digital life.
Whether that is a less invasive service, or a self-hosted one, or getting back into physical media.
Whether that is a less invasive service, or a self-hosted one, or getting back into physical media.
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No, it was a successful coup. None of the people who led it were punished, and are in fact back in power, rewarded for their efforts to break the system by running it. Donald Trump is currently the dictator he attempted to become 5 years ago, and it’s because nobody treated trying as a crime.
We must speak plainly: January 6th was an attempted coup. It was an effort to nullify millions of lawful votes and subvert the will of the American people.
January 6, 2026 at 6:26 PM
No, it was a successful coup. None of the people who led it were punished, and are in fact back in power, rewarded for their efforts to break the system by running it. Donald Trump is currently the dictator he attempted to become 5 years ago, and it’s because nobody treated trying as a crime.
May her memory be a blessing.
January 7, 2026 at 1:54 AM
May her memory be a blessing.
I feel like Buffy and Angel lasted long enough where he really got a chance to Joss it up, while Firefly died so quickly it that it didn’t get the same Joss’d up vibes.
January 6, 2026 at 5:29 PM
I feel like Buffy and Angel lasted long enough where he really got a chance to Joss it up, while Firefly died so quickly it that it didn’t get the same Joss’d up vibes.
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Just thinking about how my local mall in the 90s had a giant sculpture of Yosemite Sam using a fish as a fleshlight
January 6, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Just thinking about how my local mall in the 90s had a giant sculpture of Yosemite Sam using a fish as a fleshlight
Joss was on my shortlist, less for Buffy and more for Firefly. That dude sure sucks though!
January 6, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Joss was on my shortlist, less for Buffy and more for Firefly. That dude sure sucks though!
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Legislators address car infrastructure because it affects them. They cut transit infrastructure because it doesn’t.
I’m so glad we have folks like Angelita who use transit every day and are willing to fight for it and who understand just how necessary it is.
I’m so glad we have folks like Angelita who use transit every day and are willing to fight for it and who understand just how necessary it is.
Due to a lack of federal and state dollars, TriMet is cutting multiple key bus lines I take.
I can’t drive. I don’t have a car. Not sure what people are supposed to do other than rage against the state legislators who let this happen 🤷🏻♀️
Feel free to name and shame in the replies!
I can’t drive. I don’t have a car. Not sure what people are supposed to do other than rage against the state legislators who let this happen 🤷🏻♀️
Feel free to name and shame in the replies!
January 6, 2026 at 4:51 AM
Legislators address car infrastructure because it affects them. They cut transit infrastructure because it doesn’t.
I’m so glad we have folks like Angelita who use transit every day and are willing to fight for it and who understand just how necessary it is.
I’m so glad we have folks like Angelita who use transit every day and are willing to fight for it and who understand just how necessary it is.
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For sale: High-heeled shoes, never worn.
January 6, 2026 at 4:22 PM
For sale: High-heeled shoes, never worn.
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30 years ago they were like we have to ban song lyrics for the children but it’s full steam ahead for the here’s how to do drugs until you die machine
“ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances, and in one chat, it wrote, ‘Hell yes—let’s go full trippy mode’”
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.
"Who on earth gives that advice?"
www.sfgate.com
January 5, 2026 at 11:30 PM
30 years ago they were like we have to ban song lyrics for the children but it’s full steam ahead for the here’s how to do drugs until you die machine
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I promise you, you'll never guess which "politics" they're referring to
January 4, 2026 at 4:39 PM
I promise you, you'll never guess which "politics" they're referring to
I say this as somebody whose life benefitted greatly from spending a decade on Twitter. I loved it. Loved the people who were (or are still!) only in my life because we met there. I still miss the “good” times there.
But it would be a lie to say that Twitter wasn’t sludge. Even when I loved it.
But it would be a lie to say that Twitter wasn’t sludge. Even when I loved it.
January 5, 2026 at 11:43 PM
I say this as somebody whose life benefitted greatly from spending a decade on Twitter. I loved it. Loved the people who were (or are still!) only in my life because we met there. I still miss the “good” times there.
But it would be a lie to say that Twitter wasn’t sludge. Even when I loved it.
But it would be a lie to say that Twitter wasn’t sludge. Even when I loved it.
Every online space will, once it becomes large enough, turn toxic. Any positive and healthy community you make inside it is a bubble that exists among other bubbles floating around in a toxic sludge. The existence of the bubble doesn’t mean the sludge doesn’t exist.
"nearly all digital communities become incredibly toxic as a result of fundamental issues in how online socialization works"
"What about [single example of a healthy community]"
thank you for this incredibly salient counter argument.
"What about [single example of a healthy community]"
thank you for this incredibly salient counter argument.
January 5, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Every online space will, once it becomes large enough, turn toxic. Any positive and healthy community you make inside it is a bubble that exists among other bubbles floating around in a toxic sludge. The existence of the bubble doesn’t mean the sludge doesn’t exist.