TrooperBari
@trooperbari.bsky.social
Have notebook, will travel. Indie game aficionado, "Asia hand" (whatever that means), too stubborn or cowardly to quit newspapers. He/him
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/trooperbari
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trooperbari
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/trooperbari
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trooperbari
Reposted by TrooperBari
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 TrooperBari
Remember, when journalists just let trans people live their lives in peace, it’s “ideological capture”, but when they use their own personal anti-trans beliefs to lead a campaign to close down the only place in the country trans youth received healthcare, it’s absolutely fine, nothing to see here.
Emily Maitlis admitting she worked at the bbc to try and get healthcare for trans people shut down
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Remember, when journalists just let trans people live their lives in peace, it’s “ideological capture”, but when they use their own personal anti-trans beliefs to lead a campaign to close down the only place in the country trans youth received healthcare, it’s absolutely fine, nothing to see here.
So what I'm hearing is I should take all my retirement savings out of stocks and put them in Labubu dolls.
Japanese giant SoftBank said Tuesday it has sold its entire stake in tech giant Nvidia for $5.83 billion.
Click here to read more: https://cnb.cx/49LCIs8
Click here to read more: https://cnb.cx/49LCIs8
November 11, 2025 at 8:02 AM
So what I'm hearing is I should take all my retirement savings out of stocks and put them in Labubu dolls.
I had a blast reading Magica Riot, and I couldn't pre-order Full Bloom fast enough. If trans joy or riot grrrl magical girls at all appeal to you, check out her work. You'll have a ton of fun.
I’m building a trans-centric entirely queer contemporary magical girl universe with my own two hands and incredible art, editing, & voice collaborators. Zero AI. The next novel comes out on December 5th, so you’ve got a lot of fun and feels ahead of you. 🥹
Come join the adventure at magicariot.com
Come join the adventure at magicariot.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:59 AM
I had a blast reading Magica Riot, and I couldn't pre-order Full Bloom fast enough. If trans joy or riot grrrl magical girls at all appeal to you, check out her work. You'll have a ton of fun.
Reposted by TrooperBari
I’m building a trans-centric entirely queer contemporary magical girl universe with my own two hands and incredible art, editing, & voice collaborators. Zero AI. The next novel comes out on December 5th, so you’ve got a lot of fun and feels ahead of you. 🥹
Come join the adventure at magicariot.com
Come join the adventure at magicariot.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:37 AM
I’m building a trans-centric entirely queer contemporary magical girl universe with my own two hands and incredible art, editing, & voice collaborators. Zero AI. The next novel comes out on December 5th, so you’ve got a lot of fun and feels ahead of you. 🥹
Come join the adventure at magicariot.com
Come join the adventure at magicariot.com
Reposted by TrooperBari
American tankie influencer gets interrogated by actual Chinese state police while visiting Tiananmen Square sounds like a comedy sketch and yet it's real lmao
www.reddit.com/r/Livestream...
www.reddit.com/r/Livestream...
From the LivestreamFail community on Reddit: Chinese security police harassed Hasan Piker while he was live streaming in Tiananmen Square
Explore this post and more from the LivestreamFail community
www.reddit.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:25 AM
American tankie influencer gets interrogated by actual Chinese state police while visiting Tiananmen Square sounds like a comedy sketch and yet it's real lmao
www.reddit.com/r/Livestream...
www.reddit.com/r/Livestream...
Maurice Duverger lights up a few more Gitanes from beyond the grave and nods sagely.
(For the non-polisci tragics: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duverge...)
(For the non-polisci tragics: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duverge...)
“Rather than taking over the Democratic Party the same way the right took over the Republican Party, we should take the easier route and just start up a new party ourselves!”
I’m about to fill my pockets with stones and walk into the sea.
I’m about to fill my pockets with stones and walk into the sea.
November 11, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Maurice Duverger lights up a few more Gitanes from beyond the grave and nods sagely.
(For the non-polisci tragics: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duverge...)
(For the non-polisci tragics: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duverge...)
Happy "Milk More Money Out of Single People Looking for a Break from the Horrors of Modernity" to all who celebrate.
China's largest online sales festival, dubbed Singles' Day, is getting longer as retailers try to entice frugal shoppers to spend more.
China's 'Singles' Day' shopping festival a gauge of Beijing's effort to get consumers to spend more
China's largest online sales festival, dubbed Singles' Day, is getting longer as retailers try to entice frugal shoppers to spend more.
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Happy "Milk More Money Out of Single People Looking for a Break from the Horrors of Modernity" to all who celebrate.
Reposted by TrooperBari
we should not be letting any company get away with blaming AI for their failures. I'm not even sure how we got to this point. people are like "it's just a tool" okay so is a forklift and we still hold somebody responsible when it goes wrong and hurts someone. this is YOUR AI!
November 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
we should not be letting any company get away with blaming AI for their failures. I'm not even sure how we got to this point. people are like "it's just a tool" okay so is a forklift and we still hold somebody responsible when it goes wrong and hurts someone. this is YOUR AI!
Reposted by TrooperBari
a few months ago I said "having generative AI handle absolutely anything with regards to healthcare is a nightmare and should be banned" and a bunch of people made fun of me and called me stupid. anyways,
November 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
a few months ago I said "having generative AI handle absolutely anything with regards to healthcare is a nightmare and should be banned" and a bunch of people made fun of me and called me stupid. anyways,
Reposted by TrooperBari
We could make this real fucking simple. Call it Medicare for All. Single-payer. Whatever. Insurance cos as government contractors or eliminate the sector entirely and pay direct to providers. I don’t give a shit. But access to healthcare is a basic human right and we should start acting like it.
November 11, 2025 at 4:44 AM
We could make this real fucking simple. Call it Medicare for All. Single-payer. Whatever. Insurance cos as government contractors or eliminate the sector entirely and pay direct to providers. I don’t give a shit. But access to healthcare is a basic human right and we should start acting like it.
Reposted by TrooperBari
Dismantling ACA isn’t about punishing insurance cos. The subsidies Dems were haggling for are tax credits. That’s our money. Not theirs. They’re talking about health savings as pre-tax dollars like your 401k. This is deregulation. Letting insurance cos resume denying coverage and selling junk plans.
November 11, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Dismantling ACA isn’t about punishing insurance cos. The subsidies Dems were haggling for are tax credits. That’s our money. Not theirs. They’re talking about health savings as pre-tax dollars like your 401k. This is deregulation. Letting insurance cos resume denying coverage and selling junk plans.
Reposted by TrooperBari
The new Republican plan same as the old Republican plan: Fucking die already.
Rick Scott told me his plan would be to take all of the remaining ACA subsidies and redistribute them to HSA accounts and people can then buy whatever insurance a state certifies. Basically a repeal/replace.
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
November 11, 2025 at 4:25 AM
The new Republican plan same as the old Republican plan: Fucking die already.
Reposted by TrooperBari
China has a huge LBGTQ population (obviously) and acceptance among the population (especially youth) has grown significantly over the past three decades since decriminalization, yet the government still drags its feet over legal recognition and protection.
Hopefully that changes in the future.
Hopefully that changes in the future.
SCOOP: China's top 2 gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, became unavailable on app stores over the weekend. Apple confirmed to WIRED that it removed the two apps following "an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China."
latest with @lmatsakis.bsky.social
latest with @lmatsakis.bsky.social
Apple Pulls China’s Top Gay Dating Apps After Government Order
The removal of Blued and Finka marks another setback for China’s marginalized LGBTQ+ community.
www.wired.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
China has a huge LBGTQ population (obviously) and acceptance among the population (especially youth) has grown significantly over the past three decades since decriminalization, yet the government still drags its feet over legal recognition and protection.
Hopefully that changes in the future.
Hopefully that changes in the future.
"U.S. officials deny politics played a role ... An official noted, as evidence, that the Trump administration has friendly relations with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni." As though friendliness is any insulation against President Pudd'nhead slapping tariffs on your exports. Just ask India.
Dumping? FFS Italian pasta has always been more expensive than American brands. He’s a f***ing moron.
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Italian Pasta Is Poised to Disappear From American Grocery Shelves
The Trump administration is set to impose duties of 107% on Italian pasta imports, among most punitive of the tariffs it has levied.
www.wsj.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:05 AM
"U.S. officials deny politics played a role ... An official noted, as evidence, that the Trump administration has friendly relations with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni." As though friendliness is any insulation against President Pudd'nhead slapping tariffs on your exports. Just ask India.
Reposted by TrooperBari
It's really just nostalgia and homesickness that makes me want to move back to the States. Any practical consideration would be the lifestyle equivalent of shooting myself in the hand with a shotgun
My ACA current plan is going from $385/mo to $821/mo.
November 11, 2025 at 3:25 AM
It's really just nostalgia and homesickness that makes me want to move back to the States. Any practical consideration would be the lifestyle equivalent of shooting myself in the hand with a shotgun
Reposted by TrooperBari
On the one hand, GTFO. On the other, this World Cup is getting more true blue American by the day.
FIFA's current parking prices will cost more than some actual match tickets at previous World Cups.
Parking and transportation have long represented an imposing challenge for the World Cup’s 16 North American host cities.
Parking and transportation have long represented an imposing challenge for the World Cup’s 16 North American host cities.
November 10, 2025 at 5:58 PM
On the one hand, GTFO. On the other, this World Cup is getting more true blue American by the day.
"There are some who argue"
"Raises questions about"
"Critics say"
All stock weasel words that professors and editors have cautioned against using in my 25-plus years in journalism. Somehow, though, the activists carrying out the NYT's sacred mission of protecting the powerful missed that memo.
"Raises questions about"
"Critics say"
All stock weasel words that professors and editors have cautioned against using in my 25-plus years in journalism. Somehow, though, the activists carrying out the NYT's sacred mission of protecting the powerful missed that memo.
“New York Times conducts hostile interview with children’s education influencer questioning her recognition of comprehensively documented war crimes” is not a sentence I could have imagined a few years ago
November 11, 2025 at 2:28 AM
"There are some who argue"
"Raises questions about"
"Critics say"
All stock weasel words that professors and editors have cautioned against using in my 25-plus years in journalism. Somehow, though, the activists carrying out the NYT's sacred mission of protecting the powerful missed that memo.
"Raises questions about"
"Critics say"
All stock weasel words that professors and editors have cautioned against using in my 25-plus years in journalism. Somehow, though, the activists carrying out the NYT's sacred mission of protecting the powerful missed that memo.
Reposted by TrooperBari
more information in her caption
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
more information in her caption
Reposted by TrooperBari
Ms Rachel says The New York Times asked her if she’s funded by Hamas
November 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Ms Rachel says The New York Times asked her if she’s funded by Hamas
Reposted by TrooperBari
The whole 'don't eat things with lots of ingredients or ingredients you can't pronounce' is the stupidest advice & makes me immediately skeptical of whoever is offering it. Probably more people in the U.S. can pronounce "butter" and "arsenic" than can pronounce "quinoa," so then what?
“This thing is definitely bad for us but no one can say what it is”
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target. n.pr/4qMrN7P
November 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The whole 'don't eat things with lots of ingredients or ingredients you can't pronounce' is the stupidest advice & makes me immediately skeptical of whoever is offering it. Probably more people in the U.S. can pronounce "butter" and "arsenic" than can pronounce "quinoa," so then what?
Reposted by TrooperBari
it's not 'performative' if you're taking pictures of random fucking strangers reading. they're just reading! you're the creepy one!
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
it's not 'performative' if you're taking pictures of random fucking strangers reading. they're just reading! you're the creepy one!
Reposted by TrooperBari
i’m ready for something different than whatever the fuck this is
November 10, 2025 at 12:51 AM
i’m ready for something different than whatever the fuck this is
Reposted by TrooperBari
When the Conservative Party in Korea declared martial law, the Korean Democrats knew if they didn’t send them to hell there would be no opposition afterwards. And look at them. They’re taking the ex conservative president and ensuring he never breathes free ever again.
South Korea special prosecutor indicts ex-President Yoon on more charges reut.rs/3Xka3TD
South Korea special prosecutor indicts ex-President Yoon on more charges
South Korea's special prosecutor on Monday indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on additional charges of abusing power and aiding an enemy state related to his short-lived imposition of martial law last year.
reut.rs
November 10, 2025 at 3:33 AM
When the Conservative Party in Korea declared martial law, the Korean Democrats knew if they didn’t send them to hell there would be no opposition afterwards. And look at them. They’re taking the ex conservative president and ensuring he never breathes free ever again.
Reposted by TrooperBari
if you ever randomly get the urge to donate to the democratic party, feel free to venmo that money to me or another trans person instead - we'll make sure it doesn't get used to take away people's healthcare
November 10, 2025 at 3:44 AM
if you ever randomly get the urge to donate to the democratic party, feel free to venmo that money to me or another trans person instead - we'll make sure it doesn't get used to take away people's healthcare