Should Have Stayed at the Bus Station
@shouldhavestayed.bsky.social
Richard Linklater's Slacker, in handy snack form. Follow for semiregularly scheduled interventions into your regular attention field. "Honor thy error as a hidden intention."
Pinned
I mean, all those other directions, just because they thought about it...
became separate realities.
They just went on from there and lived the rest of their life.
I mean, entirely different movies, but we'll never see it...
because, you know, we're kind of trapped in this one reality restriction
became separate realities.
They just went on from there and lived the rest of their life.
I mean, entirely different movies, but we'll never see it...
because, you know, we're kind of trapped in this one reality restriction
— Yeah.
So what are you up to?
Same old, same old. Just...
lollygagging around.
Still unemployed.
Uh, I'm in this band.
Well, the one I was in before, but now we've changed our name.
Ta-da
We're The Ultimate Losers now.
And, uh, the singer is still a jerk.
And, uh, well.
So what are you up to?
Same old, same old. Just...
lollygagging around.
Still unemployed.
Uh, I'm in this band.
Well, the one I was in before, but now we've changed our name.
Ta-da
We're The Ultimate Losers now.
And, uh, the singer is still a jerk.
And, uh, well.
February 5, 2026 at 10:38 AM
— Yeah.
So what are you up to?
Same old, same old. Just...
lollygagging around.
Still unemployed.
Uh, I'm in this band.
Well, the one I was in before, but now we've changed our name.
Ta-da
We're The Ultimate Losers now.
And, uh, the singer is still a jerk.
And, uh, well.
So what are you up to?
Same old, same old. Just...
lollygagging around.
Still unemployed.
Uh, I'm in this band.
Well, the one I was in before, but now we've changed our name.
Ta-da
We're The Ultimate Losers now.
And, uh, the singer is still a jerk.
And, uh, well.
Yeah, I just got back about a week ago.
— Yeah? From where?
— Dallas.
Dallas? Man.
What were you doing up there?
Hanging out, resting.
I was in the hospital for a while.
— Wow.
— It was really awful.
— Yeah?
— Yeah. It was awful.
Your parents, probably?
— Yeah, you could say they put me there.
— Yeah? From where?
— Dallas.
Dallas? Man.
What were you doing up there?
Hanging out, resting.
I was in the hospital for a while.
— Wow.
— It was really awful.
— Yeah?
— Yeah. It was awful.
Your parents, probably?
— Yeah, you could say they put me there.
February 5, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Yeah, I just got back about a week ago.
— Yeah? From where?
— Dallas.
Dallas? Man.
What were you doing up there?
Hanging out, resting.
I was in the hospital for a while.
— Wow.
— It was really awful.
— Yeah?
— Yeah. It was awful.
Your parents, probably?
— Yeah, you could say they put me there.
— Yeah? From where?
— Dallas.
Dallas? Man.
What were you doing up there?
Hanging out, resting.
I was in the hospital for a while.
— Wow.
— It was really awful.
— Yeah?
— Yeah. It was awful.
Your parents, probably?
— Yeah, you could say they put me there.
Yeah, took all his stuff, just left these cards here.
— Can I have his room?
— Sure, why not?
Cool.
Hey, where you headed?
Oh, I got some band practice in about five hours...
so I figured I'd mosey on out.
— Okay.
— See you.
Stephanie?
— Oh, hi.
— Hi. Wow.
I haven't seen you around in a long time.
— Can I have his room?
— Sure, why not?
Cool.
Hey, where you headed?
Oh, I got some band practice in about five hours...
so I figured I'd mosey on out.
— Okay.
— See you.
Stephanie?
— Oh, hi.
— Hi. Wow.
I haven't seen you around in a long time.
February 5, 2026 at 6:16 AM
Yeah, took all his stuff, just left these cards here.
— Can I have his room?
— Sure, why not?
Cool.
Hey, where you headed?
Oh, I got some band practice in about five hours...
so I figured I'd mosey on out.
— Okay.
— See you.
Stephanie?
— Oh, hi.
— Hi. Wow.
I haven't seen you around in a long time.
— Can I have his room?
— Sure, why not?
Cool.
Hey, where you headed?
Oh, I got some band practice in about five hours...
so I figured I'd mosey on out.
— Okay.
— See you.
Stephanie?
— Oh, hi.
— Hi. Wow.
I haven't seen you around in a long time.
"Watch for the next episode:
"Juan joins up with an emerging European terrorist organization...
and soon returns to the U.S. With a supply of homemade nuclear weapons."
Huh. That's interesting.
Just a second.
— Hi.
— Hey, guy.
— Hi.
What's going on?
— Paul moved out, man.
— Oh, yeah?
"Juan joins up with an emerging European terrorist organization...
and soon returns to the U.S. With a supply of homemade nuclear weapons."
Huh. That's interesting.
Just a second.
— Hi.
— Hey, guy.
— Hi.
What's going on?
— Paul moved out, man.
— Oh, yeah?
February 5, 2026 at 4:05 AM
"Watch for the next episode:
"Juan joins up with an emerging European terrorist organization...
and soon returns to the U.S. With a supply of homemade nuclear weapons."
Huh. That's interesting.
Just a second.
— Hi.
— Hey, guy.
— Hi.
What's going on?
— Paul moved out, man.
— Oh, yeah?
"Juan joins up with an emerging European terrorist organization...
and soon returns to the U.S. With a supply of homemade nuclear weapons."
Huh. That's interesting.
Just a second.
— Hi.
— Hey, guy.
— Hi.
What's going on?
— Paul moved out, man.
— Oh, yeah?
"eats cereal or toast, reads the newspaper...
"looks out the front door, takes a walk...
"goes to a movie matinee, listens to the radio...
"watches sitcom reruns till 1:00...
"and usually falls asleep about 2:00.
He likes to sleep. Sometimes he has good dreams."
It's the finale.
"looks out the front door, takes a walk...
"goes to a movie matinee, listens to the radio...
"watches sitcom reruns till 1:00...
"and usually falls asleep about 2:00.
He likes to sleep. Sometimes he has good dreams."
It's the finale.
February 5, 2026 at 1:54 AM
"eats cereal or toast, reads the newspaper...
"looks out the front door, takes a walk...
"goes to a movie matinee, listens to the radio...
"watches sitcom reruns till 1:00...
"and usually falls asleep about 2:00.
He likes to sleep. Sometimes he has good dreams."
It's the finale.
"looks out the front door, takes a walk...
"goes to a movie matinee, listens to the radio...
"watches sitcom reruns till 1:00...
"and usually falls asleep about 2:00.
He likes to sleep. Sometimes he has good dreams."
It's the finale.
"Someone told him his fingerprints are unique, and he believes...
"there's too much direct evidence against uniqueness.
"He thinks that differences are minor compared to the
similarities.
"All his days are about the same.
"He wakes up at 11:00 or 12:00...
"there's too much direct evidence against uniqueness.
"He thinks that differences are minor compared to the
similarities.
"All his days are about the same.
"He wakes up at 11:00 or 12:00...
February 4, 2026 at 11:43 PM
"Someone told him his fingerprints are unique, and he believes...
"there's too much direct evidence against uniqueness.
"He thinks that differences are minor compared to the
similarities.
"All his days are about the same.
"He wakes up at 11:00 or 12:00...
"there's too much direct evidence against uniqueness.
"He thinks that differences are minor compared to the
similarities.
"All his days are about the same.
"He wakes up at 11:00 or 12:00...
"He comes from a light blue-collar family.
"He doesn't see his parents much anymore.
"He quit going to visit when they quit sending him money.
One of his grandparents died last month, but he can't remember which."
It's Uncle Fester.
"Last summer he thought about sticking his index finger in a fan.
"He doesn't see his parents much anymore.
"He quit going to visit when they quit sending him money.
One of his grandparents died last month, but he can't remember which."
It's Uncle Fester.
"Last summer he thought about sticking his index finger in a fan.
February 4, 2026 at 9:32 PM
"He comes from a light blue-collar family.
"He doesn't see his parents much anymore.
"He quit going to visit when they quit sending him money.
One of his grandparents died last month, but he can't remember which."
It's Uncle Fester.
"Last summer he thought about sticking his index finger in a fan.
"He doesn't see his parents much anymore.
"He quit going to visit when they quit sending him money.
One of his grandparents died last month, but he can't remember which."
It's Uncle Fester.
"Last summer he thought about sticking his index finger in a fan.
"So now he's looking for a job that doesn't involve much work.
"He rents a room in a large house and rarely sees the people he lives
with.
"One is called Frank something, and he thinks there are some more...
but he can't be sure."
I guess that means all of us.
"He rents a room in a large house and rarely sees the people he lives
with.
"One is called Frank something, and he thinks there are some more...
but he can't be sure."
I guess that means all of us.
February 4, 2026 at 7:22 PM
"So now he's looking for a job that doesn't involve much work.
"He rents a room in a large house and rarely sees the people he lives
with.
"One is called Frank something, and he thinks there are some more...
but he can't be sure."
I guess that means all of us.
"He rents a room in a large house and rarely sees the people he lives
with.
"One is called Frank something, and he thinks there are some more...
but he can't be sure."
I guess that means all of us.
— What do we have here?
— Those are the cards he left.
There's writing on the back of them.
They're numbered. It's like a little story or something.
"Juan Apagato spends a lot of time wandering around town.
"He tried college for a while, but it consumed too much time.
— Those are the cards he left.
There's writing on the back of them.
They're numbered. It's like a little story or something.
"Juan Apagato spends a lot of time wandering around town.
"He tried college for a while, but it consumed too much time.
February 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
— What do we have here?
— Those are the cards he left.
There's writing on the back of them.
They're numbered. It's like a little story or something.
"Juan Apagato spends a lot of time wandering around town.
"He tried college for a while, but it consumed too much time.
— Those are the cards he left.
There's writing on the back of them.
They're numbered. It's like a little story or something.
"Juan Apagato spends a lot of time wandering around town.
"He tried college for a while, but it consumed too much time.
Sitting there right in the middle. It's really bizarre.
Why don't you come look? It's really weird.
So where you getting all these statistics from anyway?
Dallas Morning News, man. You ought to read it for a change.
See, he's gone. All his stuff's gone.
— Strange.
— He's a strange guy.
Why don't you come look? It's really weird.
So where you getting all these statistics from anyway?
Dallas Morning News, man. You ought to read it for a change.
See, he's gone. All his stuff's gone.
— Strange.
— He's a strange guy.
February 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Sitting there right in the middle. It's really bizarre.
Why don't you come look? It's really weird.
So where you getting all these statistics from anyway?
Dallas Morning News, man. You ought to read it for a change.
See, he's gone. All his stuff's gone.
— Strange.
— He's a strange guy.
Why don't you come look? It's really weird.
So where you getting all these statistics from anyway?
Dallas Morning News, man. You ought to read it for a change.
See, he's gone. All his stuff's gone.
— Strange.
— He's a strange guy.
Oh, hey. Ow, man.
— Uh, Paul's moved, man.
— Where did he go?
I don't know. It's like he split, man.
He's like - He disappeared. Nobody knows where he is.
But, uh, his room is, like, totally empty.
It's got everything moved out.
And on the floor there's these postcards just sitting there.
— Uh, Paul's moved, man.
— Where did he go?
I don't know. It's like he split, man.
He's like - He disappeared. Nobody knows where he is.
But, uh, his room is, like, totally empty.
It's got everything moved out.
And on the floor there's these postcards just sitting there.
February 4, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Oh, hey. Ow, man.
— Uh, Paul's moved, man.
— Where did he go?
I don't know. It's like he split, man.
He's like - He disappeared. Nobody knows where he is.
But, uh, his room is, like, totally empty.
It's got everything moved out.
And on the floor there's these postcards just sitting there.
— Uh, Paul's moved, man.
— Where did he go?
I don't know. It's like he split, man.
He's like - He disappeared. Nobody knows where he is.
But, uh, his room is, like, totally empty.
It's got everything moved out.
And on the floor there's these postcards just sitting there.
So 18% is nothing.
It just seems like one day it's gonna dawn on everybody...
that this large nonvoting majority has been winning every election...
for the past three decades.
And the people who win these elections are gonna be too ashamed...
or better yet, too afraid to even take power at all.
It just seems like one day it's gonna dawn on everybody...
that this large nonvoting majority has been winning every election...
for the past three decades.
And the people who win these elections are gonna be too ashamed...
or better yet, too afraid to even take power at all.
February 4, 2026 at 10:38 AM
So 18% is nothing.
It just seems like one day it's gonna dawn on everybody...
that this large nonvoting majority has been winning every election...
for the past three decades.
And the people who win these elections are gonna be too ashamed...
or better yet, too afraid to even take power at all.
It just seems like one day it's gonna dawn on everybody...
that this large nonvoting majority has been winning every election...
for the past three decades.
And the people who win these elections are gonna be too ashamed...
or better yet, too afraid to even take power at all.
That's nothing. That's nothing. That's not a mandate.
— The people in Nazi Germany had
— You guys done male bonding yet?
Nazi Germany in 1932, the Nazis had maybe 34-38%.
And somebody like Pinochet who's already out of there back in Chile...
that guy's got maybe 34-43% of the vote.
— The people in Nazi Germany had
— You guys done male bonding yet?
Nazi Germany in 1932, the Nazis had maybe 34-38%.
And somebody like Pinochet who's already out of there back in Chile...
that guy's got maybe 34-43% of the vote.
February 4, 2026 at 8:27 AM
That's nothing. That's nothing. That's not a mandate.
— The people in Nazi Germany had
— You guys done male bonding yet?
Nazi Germany in 1932, the Nazis had maybe 34-38%.
And somebody like Pinochet who's already out of there back in Chile...
that guy's got maybe 34-43% of the vote.
— The people in Nazi Germany had
— You guys done male bonding yet?
Nazi Germany in 1932, the Nazis had maybe 34-38%.
And somebody like Pinochet who's already out of there back in Chile...
that guy's got maybe 34-43% of the vote.
Noncitizens, the underage, the overage, people too old to get to the polls.
People out in rural areas. People who don't have addresses.
I mean, to be conservative, the figure's more like 35%.
So Bush got 54% of 35%. What's that, 18%?
Maybe 18% of the people in this country support him.
People out in rural areas. People who don't have addresses.
I mean, to be conservative, the figure's more like 35%.
So Bush got 54% of 35%. What's that, 18%?
Maybe 18% of the people in this country support him.
February 4, 2026 at 6:16 AM
Noncitizens, the underage, the overage, people too old to get to the polls.
People out in rural areas. People who don't have addresses.
I mean, to be conservative, the figure's more like 35%.
So Bush got 54% of 35%. What's that, 18%?
Maybe 18% of the people in this country support him.
People out in rural areas. People who don't have addresses.
I mean, to be conservative, the figure's more like 35%.
So Bush got 54% of 35%. What's that, 18%?
Maybe 18% of the people in this country support him.
they say 50.3% of the eligible population participated in the '88
election.
But I think the figure's a hell of a lot lower than that. You gotta consider.
Prisoners. We got more people incarcerated in this country...
than any other country in Western history.
election.
But I think the figure's a hell of a lot lower than that. You gotta consider.
Prisoners. We got more people incarcerated in this country...
than any other country in Western history.
February 4, 2026 at 4:05 AM
they say 50.3% of the eligible population participated in the '88
election.
But I think the figure's a hell of a lot lower than that. You gotta consider.
Prisoners. We got more people incarcerated in this country...
than any other country in Western history.
election.
But I think the figure's a hell of a lot lower than that. You gotta consider.
Prisoners. We got more people incarcerated in this country...
than any other country in Western history.
The thing is, the media's trying to hold up this whole one-party,
two-faction system...
by telling you that George Bush got this mandate with 54% of the vote.
And that just doesn't take into account the whole population of the country.
They say that 50.3%, in the media...
two-faction system...
by telling you that George Bush got this mandate with 54% of the vote.
And that just doesn't take into account the whole population of the country.
They say that 50.3%, in the media...
February 4, 2026 at 1:54 AM
The thing is, the media's trying to hold up this whole one-party,
two-faction system...
by telling you that George Bush got this mandate with 54% of the vote.
And that just doesn't take into account the whole population of the country.
They say that 50.3%, in the media...
two-faction system...
by telling you that George Bush got this mandate with 54% of the vote.
And that just doesn't take into account the whole population of the country.
They say that 50.3%, in the media...
Oh, you live here. Okay, sure. Well.
Just a little security check. There've been some people missing.
Nothing to worry about, pal. Okay, you gotta go.
I mean, you're in a hurry. That makes perfect sense.
Things are speeding up here at the end.
Gotcha.
What a day, what a day.
Just a little security check. There've been some people missing.
Nothing to worry about, pal. Okay, you gotta go.
I mean, you're in a hurry. That makes perfect sense.
Things are speeding up here at the end.
Gotcha.
What a day, what a day.
February 3, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Oh, you live here. Okay, sure. Well.
Just a little security check. There've been some people missing.
Nothing to worry about, pal. Okay, you gotta go.
I mean, you're in a hurry. That makes perfect sense.
Things are speeding up here at the end.
Gotcha.
What a day, what a day.
Just a little security check. There've been some people missing.
Nothing to worry about, pal. Okay, you gotta go.
I mean, you're in a hurry. That makes perfect sense.
Things are speeding up here at the end.
Gotcha.
What a day, what a day.
Tell you what, listen. I'm gonna stick around outside, just for a little
while...
kind of make sure everything's okay.
You know, make sure we weren't followed.
Have a nice day.
— Hi, how you doing?
— All right.
— How's it going?
— Fine.
— Matter of fact, where are you going?
— Going home.
while...
kind of make sure everything's okay.
You know, make sure we weren't followed.
Have a nice day.
— Hi, how you doing?
— All right.
— How's it going?
— Fine.
— Matter of fact, where are you going?
— Going home.
February 3, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Tell you what, listen. I'm gonna stick around outside, just for a little
while...
kind of make sure everything's okay.
You know, make sure we weren't followed.
Have a nice day.
— Hi, how you doing?
— All right.
— How's it going?
— Fine.
— Matter of fact, where are you going?
— Going home.
while...
kind of make sure everything's okay.
You know, make sure we weren't followed.
Have a nice day.
— Hi, how you doing?
— All right.
— How's it going?
— Fine.
— Matter of fact, where are you going?
— Going home.
All right, look. I gotta go see this friend of mine, okay?
— Yeah, right in here.
— Is this it? Okay.
Anyway, look, pal. It's been nice talking to you.
I really hope your friend isn't one of them already.
— I'm sure he's not.
— Yeah, well.
— I just thought you had the right to know.
— Thanks.
— Yeah, right in here.
— Is this it? Okay.
Anyway, look, pal. It's been nice talking to you.
I really hope your friend isn't one of them already.
— I'm sure he's not.
— Yeah, well.
— I just thought you had the right to know.
— Thanks.
February 3, 2026 at 7:21 PM
All right, look. I gotta go see this friend of mine, okay?
— Yeah, right in here.
— Is this it? Okay.
Anyway, look, pal. It's been nice talking to you.
I really hope your friend isn't one of them already.
— I'm sure he's not.
— Yeah, well.
— I just thought you had the right to know.
— Thanks.
— Yeah, right in here.
— Is this it? Okay.
Anyway, look, pal. It's been nice talking to you.
I really hope your friend isn't one of them already.
— I'm sure he's not.
— Yeah, well.
— I just thought you had the right to know.
— Thanks.
There are not that many perverts around.
You know the worst thing about this, pal?
Is that you're in close proximity to all this.
You know, I mean, Houston's right down the road.
You know, the main headquarters. NASA.
Sure, in the main headquarters, around the world...
You know the worst thing about this, pal?
Is that you're in close proximity to all this.
You know, I mean, Houston's right down the road.
You know, the main headquarters. NASA.
Sure, in the main headquarters, around the world...
February 3, 2026 at 5:11 PM
There are not that many perverts around.
You know the worst thing about this, pal?
Is that you're in close proximity to all this.
You know, I mean, Houston's right down the road.
You know, the main headquarters. NASA.
Sure, in the main headquarters, around the world...
You know the worst thing about this, pal?
Is that you're in close proximity to all this.
You know, I mean, Houston's right down the road.
You know, the main headquarters. NASA.
Sure, in the main headquarters, around the world...
but you tell them to do something, and they do it.
They can follow instructions. Perfect employees.
— Sounds like most people I know.
— So.
They must like children too, because...
the statistics of the F.B.I. Since 1980...
said that 350,000 children are just missing.
They disappeared.
They can follow instructions. Perfect employees.
— Sounds like most people I know.
— So.
They must like children too, because...
the statistics of the F.B.I. Since 1980...
said that 350,000 children are just missing.
They disappeared.
February 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM
but you tell them to do something, and they do it.
They can follow instructions. Perfect employees.
— Sounds like most people I know.
— So.
They must like children too, because...
the statistics of the F.B.I. Since 1980...
said that 350,000 children are just missing.
They disappeared.
They can follow instructions. Perfect employees.
— Sounds like most people I know.
— So.
They must like children too, because...
the statistics of the F.B.I. Since 1980...
said that 350,000 children are just missing.
They disappeared.
Why do you think the C.I.A.'s down there hacking the hell out of
that forest, huh?
Make sense? Sure it does.
Yeah, this drug takes away your long-term memory...
leaves your short-term memory, so there you are.
You got people that don't know who they are, where they came from...
that forest, huh?
Make sense? Sure it does.
Yeah, this drug takes away your long-term memory...
leaves your short-term memory, so there you are.
You got people that don't know who they are, where they came from...
February 3, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Why do you think the C.I.A.'s down there hacking the hell out of
that forest, huh?
Make sense? Sure it does.
Yeah, this drug takes away your long-term memory...
leaves your short-term memory, so there you are.
You got people that don't know who they are, where they came from...
that forest, huh?
Make sense? Sure it does.
Yeah, this drug takes away your long-term memory...
leaves your short-term memory, so there you are.
You got people that don't know who they are, where they came from...
So they'll be looking for ordinary guys.
You know, just like you and me.
Yeah, they need those to kind of colonize things.
You know, they do a little psycho-surgery on us, a little liquid lobotomy
here.
Well. And I know this for a fact.
They got this drug down in Guatemala in the rain forest.
You know, just like you and me.
Yeah, they need those to kind of colonize things.
You know, they do a little psycho-surgery on us, a little liquid lobotomy
here.
Well. And I know this for a fact.
They got this drug down in Guatemala in the rain forest.
February 3, 2026 at 10:38 AM
So they'll be looking for ordinary guys.
You know, just like you and me.
Yeah, they need those to kind of colonize things.
You know, they do a little psycho-surgery on us, a little liquid lobotomy
here.
Well. And I know this for a fact.
They got this drug down in Guatemala in the rain forest.
You know, just like you and me.
Yeah, they need those to kind of colonize things.
You know, they do a little psycho-surgery on us, a little liquid lobotomy
here.
Well. And I know this for a fact.
They got this drug down in Guatemala in the rain forest.
The people they need, like scientists. You heard about that?
All the missing scientists around the world, and those that are
mysteriously dying...
that's all part of the recruiting process.
I really hope your friend is not, well -
Well, they need a lot of lackeys to do the labor though.
All the missing scientists around the world, and those that are
mysteriously dying...
that's all part of the recruiting process.
I really hope your friend is not, well -
Well, they need a lot of lackeys to do the labor though.
February 3, 2026 at 8:27 AM
The people they need, like scientists. You heard about that?
All the missing scientists around the world, and those that are
mysteriously dying...
that's all part of the recruiting process.
I really hope your friend is not, well -
Well, they need a lot of lackeys to do the labor though.
All the missing scientists around the world, and those that are
mysteriously dying...
that's all part of the recruiting process.
I really hope your friend is not, well -
Well, they need a lot of lackeys to do the labor though.
By the way, there's something you should know.
You see, this entire operation's being funded...
by the profits from the Medelln drug cartel.
And they're specifically set up by the C.I.A...
to handle large sums of money being funneled into this project.
Keep it under your hat.
You see, this entire operation's being funded...
by the profits from the Medelln drug cartel.
And they're specifically set up by the C.I.A...
to handle large sums of money being funneled into this project.
Keep it under your hat.
February 3, 2026 at 6:16 AM
By the way, there's something you should know.
You see, this entire operation's being funded...
by the profits from the Medelln drug cartel.
And they're specifically set up by the C.I.A...
to handle large sums of money being funneled into this project.
Keep it under your hat.
You see, this entire operation's being funded...
by the profits from the Medelln drug cartel.
And they're specifically set up by the C.I.A...
to handle large sums of money being funneled into this project.
Keep it under your hat.