Diane Patterson
@dianepatterson.bsky.social
She/her. Novelist, writer, fan of amaro. Stanford, USC, Seton Hill. Has no idea what’s going on but will probably get a degree in it. Trans rights are human rights. Lives in three places (CA, NYC, her own mind). Needs another cup of coffee, back soon.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
Capitalism has confused us on what the actual purpose of writing is. The purpose of writing isn't the product, it's the process. It's figuring out the puzzle. It's figuring out what you think. The product without the process doesn't change you. It's buying gym shoes and never going to the gym.
The mighty @maxgladstone.bsky.social is very smart about making things and you should read his newsletter.
buttondown.com/MaxGladstone...
buttondown.com/MaxGladstone...
Writing Doesn't Always Look the Way You Think
A couple days ago Penny Arcade posted a great scathing comic about an ad for an LLM; the ad promised that new users could “start writing for free!” Of course...
buttondown.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Capitalism has confused us on what the actual purpose of writing is. The purpose of writing isn't the product, it's the process. It's figuring out the puzzle. It's figuring out what you think. The product without the process doesn't change you. It's buying gym shoes and never going to the gym.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
There needs to be some serious accountability for the colossal harm to life these absolute demons have caused, and will cause. Life in prison is the moderate option.
February 13, 2026 at 12:45 AM
There needs to be some serious accountability for the colossal harm to life these absolute demons have caused, and will cause. Life in prison is the moderate option.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
On my flight today, a chatty lady said, “I can’t go to New York with all that’s going on over there.” And I said, “What? Free child care?” And she stopped talking to me.
February 12, 2026 at 5:14 AM
On my flight today, a chatty lady said, “I can’t go to New York with all that’s going on over there.” And I said, “What? Free child care?” And she stopped talking to me.
I knew I would eventually find my people in the wild.
Can’t believe eggnog season is already over. We’ve got to wait 7 months before ‘nog returns to the shelves and it’s socially acceptable to guzzle ‘nog in public. ‘nog
https://m.it’s
February 12, 2026 at 3:53 AM
I knew I would eventually find my people in the wild.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
I watched the whole thing because it's astonishing
February 12, 2026 at 1:36 AM
I watched the whole thing because it's astonishing
Reposted by Diane Patterson
Gee, Universal Basic Income recoups more than it costs AND the recipients are happier and healthier.
Hmmm. Where have I seen those results before? Oh yes, in every other goddam pilot study of UBI for more than a decade. Ireland joins Finland in at least making a start.
Hmmm. Where have I seen those results before? Oh yes, in every other goddam pilot study of UBI for more than a decade. Ireland joins Finland in at least making a start.
Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Gee, Universal Basic Income recoups more than it costs AND the recipients are happier and healthier.
Hmmm. Where have I seen those results before? Oh yes, in every other goddam pilot study of UBI for more than a decade. Ireland joins Finland in at least making a start.
Hmmm. Where have I seen those results before? Oh yes, in every other goddam pilot study of UBI for more than a decade. Ireland joins Finland in at least making a start.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
CNN confirms what MSNBC reported live a few hours ago: DOJ is surveilling Dem lawmakers when they go to the DOJ to search unredacted Epstein files.
CNN: "Another photograph - these are notes AG Bondi brought to the hearing today. This shows a list of Rep. Jayapal's search history. Lawmakers are allowed to go to a DOJ facility to search unredacted files. We learned from this photo that the searches are apparently being tracked & read by the DOJ"
February 11, 2026 at 9:36 PM
CNN confirms what MSNBC reported live a few hours ago: DOJ is surveilling Dem lawmakers when they go to the DOJ to search unredacted Epstein files.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
From now on, when I want to change the subject of any conversation, I will simply yell, "The Dow is over 50,000!" and storm out of the room.
February 11, 2026 at 7:15 PM
From now on, when I want to change the subject of any conversation, I will simply yell, "The Dow is over 50,000!" and storm out of the room.
Beginning to think that coffee wasn't decaf.
February 11, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Beginning to think that coffee wasn't decaf.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
People on Reddit are getting Amazon to refund their Ring products because of their partnership with Flock and that creepy Super Bowl ad
www.reddit.com/r/FlockSurve...
www.reddit.com/r/FlockSurve...
February 10, 2026 at 9:55 AM
People on Reddit are getting Amazon to refund their Ring products because of their partnership with Flock and that creepy Super Bowl ad
www.reddit.com/r/FlockSurve...
www.reddit.com/r/FlockSurve...
Reposted by Diane Patterson
This is why primarying people matters. Suddenly everybody involved in this race is in a firm spine contest.
GOLDMAN: Do you know what other regimes in the 20th century required similar proof of citizenship?
LYONS: Various nefarious regimes did that
GOLDMAN: Is Nazi Germany one?
LYONS: This is the wrong type of question
LYONS: Various nefarious regimes did that
GOLDMAN: Is Nazi Germany one?
LYONS: This is the wrong type of question
February 10, 2026 at 6:51 PM
This is why primarying people matters. Suddenly everybody involved in this race is in a firm spine contest.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
The aftermath of the snowstorm has highlighted how infrequently some New Yorkers use their vehicles.
Luckily for car-owners, one of the few things that comes free in New York City is a place to store your private automobile on public land. youtube.com/shorts/KKtZs...
Luckily for car-owners, one of the few things that comes free in New York City is a place to store your private automobile on public land. youtube.com/shorts/KKtZs...
What do New Yorkers actually use their cars for? #nyc #urbanism #snowstorm #shorts
YouTube video by Streetsblog NYC
youtube.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:47 PM
The aftermath of the snowstorm has highlighted how infrequently some New Yorkers use their vehicles.
Luckily for car-owners, one of the few things that comes free in New York City is a place to store your private automobile on public land. youtube.com/shorts/KKtZs...
Luckily for car-owners, one of the few things that comes free in New York City is a place to store your private automobile on public land. youtube.com/shorts/KKtZs...
Reposted by Diane Patterson
“We left with all my children”
????
????
VAN HOLLEN: Did you in fact make the visit to Epstein's private island?
LUTNICK: I did have lunch w/ him as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation. My wife was with me as were my 4 children and nannies. We had lunch on the island. That's true. For an hour. We left with all of my children
LUTNICK: I did have lunch w/ him as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation. My wife was with me as were my 4 children and nannies. We had lunch on the island. That's true. For an hour. We left with all of my children
February 10, 2026 at 3:55 PM
“We left with all my children”
????
????
Reposted by Diane Patterson
🗃️ Don’t miss your chance to experience the manhunt for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin this spring. Tickets for our 10.5+ hour tour through D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are going fast. #skystorians
Our March 14, 2026, Lincoln Assassination Tour is officially sold out! We're so excited to have a completely full bus for our inaugural tour over the escape route of John Wilkes Booth. There are still tickets available for our tours on April 18 and April 19 at www.lincolnassassinationtours.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:24 PM
🗃️ Don’t miss your chance to experience the manhunt for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin this spring. Tickets for our 10.5+ hour tour through D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are going fast. #skystorians
Reposted by Diane Patterson
people in 2030 paying higher rates to access doctors who went to med school before AI and/or verify that they never touch the stuff
February 10, 2026 at 2:52 PM
people in 2030 paying higher rates to access doctors who went to med school before AI and/or verify that they never touch the stuff
Reposted by Diane Patterson
The agenda. The comms. People. This is HOW.
Justice messaging folks take NOTE
Justice messaging folks take NOTE
New York City: The time has arrived. Finally, a chance to tell the city EXACTLY what your landlord’s been getting away with. NYC’s first Rental Ripoff Hearings are happening in all five boroughs, and we want to hear from you. Real New Yorkers. Real stories. Real policy changes.
February 10, 2026 at 2:52 PM
The agenda. The comms. People. This is HOW.
Justice messaging folks take NOTE
Justice messaging folks take NOTE
Reposted by Diane Patterson
Next Superbowl halftime should include a recreation of the confederate surrender at Appomattox while Jefferson Davis flees the scene dressed as an old lady.
February 9, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Next Superbowl halftime should include a recreation of the confederate surrender at Appomattox while Jefferson Davis flees the scene dressed as an old lady.
A friend and I discuss recent weather #AFriendAndI
February 9, 2026 at 4:58 PM
A friend and I discuss recent weather #AFriendAndI
Reposted by Diane Patterson
This technology already exists and is widely used. It doesn't involve 'government surveillance' and would not allow ICE or any other government agency to stop individual cars.
Just say you think thousands of kids dying every year is worth it so you can speed!
www.autoweek.com/news/a615322...
Just say you think thousands of kids dying every year is worth it so you can speed!
www.autoweek.com/news/a615322...
Speed Limiters Now Mandatory in All New EU Cars
Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) isn't an ironclad speeding prevention system, but could be just annoying enough to spark a backlash.
www.autoweek.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:16 PM
This technology already exists and is widely used. It doesn't involve 'government surveillance' and would not allow ICE or any other government agency to stop individual cars.
Just say you think thousands of kids dying every year is worth it so you can speed!
www.autoweek.com/news/a615322...
Just say you think thousands of kids dying every year is worth it so you can speed!
www.autoweek.com/news/a615322...
Reposted by Diane Patterson
U.K. might lose a prime minister because a guy who worked for him knew another guy who hung out with Epstein. Meanwhile the U.S. opposition party is telling our President, who was Epstein's best friend, that his secret police should get better training so their public street murders look less messy.
February 9, 2026 at 4:07 PM
U.K. might lose a prime minister because a guy who worked for him knew another guy who hung out with Epstein. Meanwhile the U.S. opposition party is telling our President, who was Epstein's best friend, that his secret police should get better training so their public street murders look less messy.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
An underrated good the next Democratic administration could do with virtually zero actual political blowback from voters would be to come in with anti-trust laws like a wrecking ball and break up media and tech companies. It would fuck up The Other Side, too.
Brendan Carr is also very excited for more local broadcast TV consolidation at the hands of the right wing!
You know, to improve competition, something Carr (who has rubber stamped every desire media and telecom giants have ever had) genuinely cares about
You know, to improve competition, something Carr (who has rubber stamped every desire media and telecom giants have ever had) genuinely cares about
February 9, 2026 at 4:40 PM
An underrated good the next Democratic administration could do with virtually zero actual political blowback from voters would be to come in with anti-trust laws like a wrecking ball and break up media and tech companies. It would fuck up The Other Side, too.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
Mission (to destabilize a previously stable democracy) accomplished
We've had 5 new Prime Ministers since June 2016 Brexit referendum in 9 & a half years
- May (3 yesrs)
- Johnson (3 years)
- Truss (50 days)
- Sunak (20 momths)
- Starner (19 momths, 2 years by July)
Previous 5 PMs lasted 37 years,1979-2016
Average: 7
Thatcher 11
Major 7
Blair 10
Brown 3
Cameron 6
- May (3 yesrs)
- Johnson (3 years)
- Truss (50 days)
- Sunak (20 momths)
- Starner (19 momths, 2 years by July)
Previous 5 PMs lasted 37 years,1979-2016
Average: 7
Thatcher 11
Major 7
Blair 10
Brown 3
Cameron 6
February 9, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Mission (to destabilize a previously stable democracy) accomplished
Btw, I don't know if you heard about this, but this halftime show rocks.
February 9, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Btw, I don't know if you heard about this, but this halftime show rocks.
Reposted by Diane Patterson
Not at all surprised to learn that Bad Bunny has a historical adviser. His halftime show was a reminder that our history and culture are deeply intertwined with the rest of the western hemisphere. We should think of his performance as part of #America250. #SuperBowl
news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
Pop star Bad Bunny needed a Puerto Rican history scholar. UW–Madison had just the one.
Bad Bunny collaborated with UW–Madison history professor Jorell Meléndez-Badillo on Puerto Rican narratives that accompany the new album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”
news.wisc.edu
February 9, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Not at all surprised to learn that Bad Bunny has a historical adviser. His halftime show was a reminder that our history and culture are deeply intertwined with the rest of the western hemisphere. We should think of his performance as part of #America250. #SuperBowl
news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
Congratulations to the white supremacist community for making me, a suburban mom who loathes football, interested in watching the Kendrick Lamar show (last year) and the Bad Bunny show (this year).
February 8, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Congratulations to the white supremacist community for making me, a suburban mom who loathes football, interested in watching the Kendrick Lamar show (last year) and the Bad Bunny show (this year).