mjfgates
@mjfgates.bsky.social
Retired. Widower. Formerly "that FC with the voice." One of the most ancient shitposters on the internet.
Reposted by mjfgates
so, today I got the surgery center where I got my deviated septum fixed to send me an itemized bill so I could submit to my FSA for reimbursement
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
I was at an event yesterday where Rand Paul spoke via video and talked about how great it was to send ACA money "directly to the people" so that they could work collectively to get better deals on health care.
November 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
so, today I got the surgery center where I got my deviated septum fixed to send me an itemized bill so I could submit to my FSA for reimbursement
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
Reposted by mjfgates
Feeling annoyed at the cognitive cost of having to dismiss all the offers of "AI" assitance every time I use Acrobat to provide feedback on documents my students wrote. (NO I do NOT want an "AI" summary of this. In what world???)
Decided to check settings:
Decided to check settings:
November 10, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Feeling annoyed at the cognitive cost of having to dismiss all the offers of "AI" assitance every time I use Acrobat to provide feedback on documents my students wrote. (NO I do NOT want an "AI" summary of this. In what world???)
Decided to check settings:
Decided to check settings:
Reposted by mjfgates
You and the text you need to trim in order to meet the word limit
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 AM
You and the text you need to trim in order to meet the word limit
Reposted by mjfgates
Orcas have devised a clever trick to gang up on great white sharks and eat their livers, which has been captured on video for the first time.
Orcas are ganging up on great white sharks to eat their livers
For the first time, video footage has captured orcas in the Gulf of California hunting young great white sharks, using a trick to flip them over, paralise them and get at their energy-rich livers
www.newscientist.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Orcas have devised a clever trick to gang up on great white sharks and eat their livers, which has been captured on video for the first time.
Reposted by mjfgates
Next up - the optical weirdness of floating cargo ships and cities hovering in the sky: bsky.app/profile/mike...
6/
6/
Seeing the Northern Lights is one thing - but have you ever seen a *city* up there?
Yes, like that scene in ep. 1 of 'His Dark Materials'.
Because here's the weird thing: they exist. You can indeed see cities in the sky. There's credible, explainable science on it.
Let's do this. 🧵
1/
Yes, like that scene in ep. 1 of 'His Dark Materials'.
Because here's the weird thing: they exist. You can indeed see cities in the sky. There's credible, explainable science on it.
Let's do this. 🧵
1/
November 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Next up - the optical weirdness of floating cargo ships and cities hovering in the sky: bsky.app/profile/mike...
6/
6/
Reposted by mjfgates
I have a new interview about RAKESFALL up at Reactor! In which I am quite verbose reactormag.com/author-inter...
A Conversation With Vajra Chandrasekera, Author of Rakesfall - Reactor
"I think writers, like all artists, have a responsibility to act as human cultural workers in an actual society"
reactormag.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I have a new interview about RAKESFALL up at Reactor! In which I am quite verbose reactormag.com/author-inter...
Reposted by mjfgates
instead of saying this was good strategy, maybe senate dems should say: "the republicans were going to kill people by starving them to death, and because we aren't monsters, we decided to let this fight go. We'll keep fighting. Stop electing monsters."
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 PM
instead of saying this was good strategy, maybe senate dems should say: "the republicans were going to kill people by starving them to death, and because we aren't monsters, we decided to let this fight go. We'll keep fighting. Stop electing monsters."
Reposted by mjfgates
I'll get back to "party unity" as soon as the Senate Minority Leader tells us if he voted for the Democratic party nominee for mayor of his city.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
November 10, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I'll get back to "party unity" as soon as the Senate Minority Leader tells us if he voted for the Democratic party nominee for mayor of his city.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
Reposted by mjfgates
I waited a day to say this bc I respected everyone's right to vent some anger, but *remember to focus on what you can do*. Whether it's defending your community, taking action around what you've been venting about, whatever — but don't let all of your energy get captured in the social media space.
November 10, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I waited a day to say this bc I respected everyone's right to vent some anger, but *remember to focus on what you can do*. Whether it's defending your community, taking action around what you've been venting about, whatever — but don't let all of your energy get captured in the social media space.
Reposted by mjfgates
In the most predictable development ever, Mike Johnson is not committing to hold a House vote on ACA subsidies
November 10, 2025 at 10:19 PM
In the most predictable development ever, Mike Johnson is not committing to hold a House vote on ACA subsidies
Reposted by mjfgates
Democrats helped Republicans kill a ten billion dollar industry in order to cave on the shutdown.
of all the things about this deal that are pissing me off this might have pissed me off the most
November 10, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Democrats helped Republicans kill a ten billion dollar industry in order to cave on the shutdown.
Reposted by mjfgates
Katie Wilson is up 91 votes in the Seattle Mayor's race as Wilson-mentum continues to pay dividends.
Wilson-mentum is real.
The gap in the Seattle Mayor's race has narrowed to just 4,300 votes, or 1.88%.
The gap in the Seattle Mayor's race has narrowed to just 4,300 votes, or 1.88%.
November 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Katie Wilson is up 91 votes in the Seattle Mayor's race as Wilson-mentum continues to pay dividends.
Reposted by mjfgates
Thinking about how the attempt to subsume everything into the information economy dovetails so suspiciously well with AI.
By the information economy, I mean how every product, need, or service gets turned into something to be solved by supplying information.
By the information economy, I mean how every product, need, or service gets turned into something to be solved by supplying information.
November 11, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Thinking about how the attempt to subsume everything into the information economy dovetails so suspiciously well with AI.
By the information economy, I mean how every product, need, or service gets turned into something to be solved by supplying information.
By the information economy, I mean how every product, need, or service gets turned into something to be solved by supplying information.
Reposted by mjfgates
MAKE ME BETTER is my forthcoming novel about the horrors of community. It is about cults, wellness, control, and the things we will do to escape grief.
Sometimes it hurts to grow -- but your community believes that you can be made pure.
It comes out in May.
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
Sometimes it hurts to grow -- but your community believes that you can be made pure.
It comes out in May.
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
November 11, 2025 at 12:12 AM
MAKE ME BETTER is my forthcoming novel about the horrors of community. It is about cults, wellness, control, and the things we will do to escape grief.
Sometimes it hurts to grow -- but your community believes that you can be made pure.
It comes out in May.
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
Sometimes it hurts to grow -- but your community believes that you can be made pure.
It comes out in May.
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
Reposted by mjfgates
In a rare case of Substack notes usefulness, I just learned that Sarah Kendzior (author of They Knew and a brilliant writer) got bounced from Bluesky. What the hell? new @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 AM
In a rare case of Substack notes usefulness, I just learned that Sarah Kendzior (author of They Knew and a brilliant writer) got bounced from Bluesky. What the hell? new @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
Reposted by mjfgates
Let’s be clear: this is class warfare.
Tens of thousands of working-class Americans are going to die because of this “deal.”
Real people. Real deaths. For another tax break for the rich.
Those who voted for it — Republicans and Democrats — are on the side the 1%, fighting against the rest of us.
Tens of thousands of working-class Americans are going to die because of this “deal.”
Real people. Real deaths. For another tax break for the rich.
Those who voted for it — Republicans and Democrats — are on the side the 1%, fighting against the rest of us.
This deal to reopen the government is fucking disgraceful.
Tens of millions will lose their healthcare. Trump will be emboldened.
This is exactly what’s wrong with Democratic Party leadership and why we need more people in Congress who will actually hold the line.
Tens of millions will lose their healthcare. Trump will be emboldened.
This is exactly what’s wrong with Democratic Party leadership and why we need more people in Congress who will actually hold the line.
November 11, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Let’s be clear: this is class warfare.
Tens of thousands of working-class Americans are going to die because of this “deal.”
Real people. Real deaths. For another tax break for the rich.
Those who voted for it — Republicans and Democrats — are on the side the 1%, fighting against the rest of us.
Tens of thousands of working-class Americans are going to die because of this “deal.”
Real people. Real deaths. For another tax break for the rich.
Those who voted for it — Republicans and Democrats — are on the side the 1%, fighting against the rest of us.
Reposted by mjfgates
November -- 1975
Gales are master of Gitche Gumee.
Only the Edmund Fitzgerald stands before them.
Lakes are now battlefields.
Gales are master of Gitche Gumee.
Only the Edmund Fitzgerald stands before them.
Lakes are now battlefields.
November 11, 2025 at 5:45 AM
November -- 1975
Gales are master of Gitche Gumee.
Only the Edmund Fitzgerald stands before them.
Lakes are now battlefields.
Gales are master of Gitche Gumee.
Only the Edmund Fitzgerald stands before them.
Lakes are now battlefields.
Reposted by mjfgates
Portland City Councilor Angelita Morillo proposes reallocating $4.3 million from sweeps to support rent assistance, food access, & immigrant and refugee services.✔️
Testify in support of the Morillo 1 amendment here, to re-balance the budget toward proven solutions: www.portland.gov/council/docu...
Testify in support of the Morillo 1 amendment here, to re-balance the budget toward proven solutions: www.portland.gov/council/docu...
Portland City Council will consider an amendment next week to redirect $4.3 million from the city program that sweeps homeless encampments. If passed, the budget adjustment will instead invest $2 million in rent and food assistance, and support for immigrants and refugees.
City Council Mulling $4.3 Million Cut From Homeless Sweeps Budget
“We’re in a position right now, where people are going to end up being unhoused for the long-term, and we have to take action,” City Councilor Angelita Morillo said, explaining a proposal to divert fu...
www.portlandmercury.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Portland City Councilor Angelita Morillo proposes reallocating $4.3 million from sweeps to support rent assistance, food access, & immigrant and refugee services.✔️
Testify in support of the Morillo 1 amendment here, to re-balance the budget toward proven solutions: www.portland.gov/council/docu...
Testify in support of the Morillo 1 amendment here, to re-balance the budget toward proven solutions: www.portland.gov/council/docu...
Reposted by mjfgates
SEATTLE CURE YOUR VOTES PLEASE
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
November 11, 2025 at 12:37 AM
SEATTLE CURE YOUR VOTES PLEASE
Reposted by mjfgates
Weekly ratio feed is full of senators rn, really a sight to behold bsky.app/profile/did:...
November 10, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Weekly ratio feed is full of senators rn, really a sight to behold bsky.app/profile/did:...
Reposted by mjfgates
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The song by Gordon Lightfoot, retelling the somber tale, has enthralled me since I was a child.
Over on Mastodon, folks are posting memes and links to commemorate this event.
I feel seen.
#MaritimeHistory #EdmondFitzgerald
Over on Mastodon, folks are posting memes and links to commemorate this event.
I feel seen.
#MaritimeHistory #EdmondFitzgerald
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
xkcd.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The song by Gordon Lightfoot, retelling the somber tale, has enthralled me since I was a child.
Over on Mastodon, folks are posting memes and links to commemorate this event.
I feel seen.
#MaritimeHistory #EdmondFitzgerald
Over on Mastodon, folks are posting memes and links to commemorate this event.
I feel seen.
#MaritimeHistory #EdmondFitzgerald
Reposted by mjfgates
Dolores O'Riordan did not leave this world in pain for Banana Republic to turn "Linger" into an uptempo singalong for BR-clad cheery drunks in an overly picturesque Irish pub.
November 11, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Dolores O'Riordan did not leave this world in pain for Banana Republic to turn "Linger" into an uptempo singalong for BR-clad cheery drunks in an overly picturesque Irish pub.
Reposted by mjfgates
Share this with your friends who don't like to read and have a short attention span:
soundcloud.com/thehandbaske...
soundcloud.com/thehandbaske...
Breaking Basket 11/10/25 — Government shutdown and the future of SNAP
Subscribe at thehandbasket.co
soundcloud.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Share this with your friends who don't like to read and have a short attention span:
soundcloud.com/thehandbaske...
soundcloud.com/thehandbaske...
Reposted by mjfgates
excuse me I have been actively soliciting Edmund Fitzgerald memes for years
May 2, 2025 at 2:17 PM
excuse me I have been actively soliciting Edmund Fitzgerald memes for years
Reposted by mjfgates
roasting chile candle would sell like crazy i bet
if you could turn one food item that is not already a traditional food-scented candle into a candle, which would it be?
I think mashed potatoes and gravy candles would slap
I think mashed potatoes and gravy candles would slap
November 10, 2025 at 9:33 PM
roasting chile candle would sell like crazy i bet