Valastrius
@valastrius.bsky.social
BRD specializing in ska and cackles, most often in the direction of Crumbling Muscovy.
Pinned
Valastrius
@valastrius.bsky.social
· Nov 8
The First was Life, the Quickening of Matter
The Second Was Mind, the Awakening of Flesh
The Third was Glyph, the Embodying of Thought
The Fourth was Light, Weaving These into Sand
The Second Was Mind, the Awakening of Flesh
The Third was Glyph, the Embodying of Thought
The Fourth was Light, Weaving These into Sand
Reposted by Valastrius
New Syrian currency designs go incredibly hard
December 30, 2025 at 3:03 AM
New Syrian currency designs go incredibly hard
Reposted by Valastrius
The US is at war with Venezuela.
No Congressional authorization, no public debate, no clearly stated goal, no casus belli, and a gradual ramp up rather than big opening, so many haven’t noticed (or deny it). But this attack removes the ambiguity.
US is at war with Venezuela. With no end in sight.
No Congressional authorization, no public debate, no clearly stated goal, no casus belli, and a gradual ramp up rather than big opening, so many haven’t noticed (or deny it). But this attack removes the ambiguity.
US is at war with Venezuela. With no end in sight.
Exclusive: CIA carried out drone strike on port facility on Venezuelan coast | CNN Politics
The CIA carried out a drone strike earlier this month on a port facility on the coast of Venezuela, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, marking the first known US attack on a target inside that...
www.cnn.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:05 AM
The US is at war with Venezuela.
No Congressional authorization, no public debate, no clearly stated goal, no casus belli, and a gradual ramp up rather than big opening, so many haven’t noticed (or deny it). But this attack removes the ambiguity.
US is at war with Venezuela. With no end in sight.
No Congressional authorization, no public debate, no clearly stated goal, no casus belli, and a gradual ramp up rather than big opening, so many haven’t noticed (or deny it). But this attack removes the ambiguity.
US is at war with Venezuela. With no end in sight.
Reposted by Valastrius
(2/2). Now lets say we seize, and manage to sell for cash, EVERY SINGLE FUCKING CENT. All $55t of their wealth, be it stocks, houses, cars, whatever: now property Uncle Sam.
That $55t will fund the *current* deficit, with no tax/spend changes, for only about 30 years. then what do we do?
That $55t will fund the *current* deficit, with no tax/spend changes, for only about 30 years. then what do we do?
December 30, 2025 at 3:46 AM
(2/2). Now lets say we seize, and manage to sell for cash, EVERY SINGLE FUCKING CENT. All $55t of their wealth, be it stocks, houses, cars, whatever: now property Uncle Sam.
That $55t will fund the *current* deficit, with no tax/spend changes, for only about 30 years. then what do we do?
That $55t will fund the *current* deficit, with no tax/spend changes, for only about 30 years. then what do we do?
Reposted by Valastrius
alright, here's just a back of the envelope calculation for why "just soak billionaires" won't actually solve the deficit.
fy2025 budget deficit was ~$1.8t. total us household net worth is ~$165 trillion (give/take). the 1% (n.b. not just billionaires) control roughly a third, so ~$55t. (1/2)
fy2025 budget deficit was ~$1.8t. total us household net worth is ~$165 trillion (give/take). the 1% (n.b. not just billionaires) control roughly a third, so ~$55t. (1/2)
We are spending $1 trillion on debt service alone at this point, the fiscal crisis is here, and we gotta soak everybody up and down the scale to get out of it with our hair intact
One of my more controversial opinions is that the US needs to significantly raise taxes to the tune of a couple % of GDP right now, even before any expansive social democratic reforms, and that means you—yes you, dear highly educated professional—will need to pay up, not just nebulous billionaires.
December 30, 2025 at 3:46 AM
alright, here's just a back of the envelope calculation for why "just soak billionaires" won't actually solve the deficit.
fy2025 budget deficit was ~$1.8t. total us household net worth is ~$165 trillion (give/take). the 1% (n.b. not just billionaires) control roughly a third, so ~$55t. (1/2)
fy2025 budget deficit was ~$1.8t. total us household net worth is ~$165 trillion (give/take). the 1% (n.b. not just billionaires) control roughly a third, so ~$55t. (1/2)
Reposted by Valastrius
also, if you actually grew up in the 90s, media for kids was pretty woke. every cartoon had a black kid, an asian kid, and a kid in a wheelchair. they all ended with 2 minutes of the main characters telling you not to litter, to wear your seatbelt and to be nice to people different from you
December 30, 2025 at 1:00 AM
also, if you actually grew up in the 90s, media for kids was pretty woke. every cartoon had a black kid, an asian kid, and a kid in a wheelchair. they all ended with 2 minutes of the main characters telling you not to litter, to wear your seatbelt and to be nice to people different from you
Reposted by Valastrius
This seems significant for the whole “mailbox rule” in contract law - now not even the accepting party knows the date of their acceptance?
USPS quietly changed its postmark rules — mail is no longer dated when you drop it off. The “official” date is when it hits automated sorting — sometimes days later
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
December 29, 2025 at 9:46 PM
This seems significant for the whole “mailbox rule” in contract law - now not even the accepting party knows the date of their acceptance?
Reposted by Valastrius
Yeah actually shocker. This is fucking yikes man YIKES. While in Congress. Holy Jesus. This isn't pre Congress dad's failson times in Florida this is on the taxpayers dime pedophilia. What the fuck man
December 30, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Yeah actually shocker. This is fucking yikes man YIKES. While in Congress. Holy Jesus. This isn't pre Congress dad's failson times in Florida this is on the taxpayers dime pedophilia. What the fuck man
Reposted by Valastrius
woke, for lack of a better word, is good. woke is right. woke works.
December 30, 2025 at 1:10 AM
woke, for lack of a better word, is good. woke is right. woke works.
Reposted by Valastrius
the no tax on tips thing getting no serious pushback and the growing right-wing opposition to property taxes is a dark omen for the future of political economy
paying your taxes is good and that includes you (yes you) not just "billionaires"
paying your taxes is good and that includes you (yes you) not just "billionaires"
The year is 2035. California's entire base of taxation is young renters and their entire budget goes to insuring suburban McMansions built in fire hazard regions. Half of Florida is underwater financially and the other half literally. Illinois is fine but still fucks up transit funding constantly.
December 29, 2025 at 1:47 AM
the no tax on tips thing getting no serious pushback and the growing right-wing opposition to property taxes is a dark omen for the future of political economy
paying your taxes is good and that includes you (yes you) not just "billionaires"
paying your taxes is good and that includes you (yes you) not just "billionaires"
Reposted by Valastrius
Reposted by Valastrius
I always tell students if you ask a good question the article will write itself
December 30, 2025 at 4:12 AM
I always tell students if you ask a good question the article will write itself
Reposted by Valastrius
Not just the rich and that's also something to sit with.
COVID really opened my eyes.
We had two paths ahead of us, and as soon as we took a single step towards THINKING about an equitable world, the rich put their full force into stopping it.
They loath humanity.
We had two paths ahead of us, and as soon as we took a single step towards THINKING about an equitable world, the rich put their full force into stopping it.
They loath humanity.
December 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Not just the rich and that's also something to sit with.
Reposted by Valastrius
Remember when we told them to do air-land battle without the air component and when asked "what do we do about the ungodly number of minefields observed by drone corrected artillery?" we just told them "just go around lmao"
I actually sort of worry that a lack of American military presence even purely as observers not only means we’re not learning the right lessons but not even learning lessons at all
Ukrainians are Woke, you see.
The US Army Field Artillery can’t learn from them.
The US Army Field Artillery can’t learn from them.
December 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Remember when we told them to do air-land battle without the air component and when asked "what do we do about the ungodly number of minefields observed by drone corrected artillery?" we just told them "just go around lmao"
Reposted by Valastrius
"Uncommitted":
December 29, 2025 at 8:25 PM
"Uncommitted":
Reposted by Valastrius
Happy feast of Ss. David and Jonathan, AKA Pray the Gay To Stay Day
December 29, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Happy feast of Ss. David and Jonathan, AKA Pray the Gay To Stay Day
Reposted by Valastrius
I simply cannot take popularism remotely seriously when nobody involved even tries to answer the question "what happened to keir starmer"
at best they point to a few policies they don't like, but "move right on social issues and immigration" is his main platform and look what fucking happened!
at best they point to a few policies they don't like, but "move right on social issues and immigration" is his main platform and look what fucking happened!
Keir Starmer was the model for centrists and popularists who insisted that moving right on issues, especially immigration, is how you win at politics.
Wonder if there will ever be any self-reflection here! Ah well nevertheless
Wonder if there will ever be any self-reflection here! Ah well nevertheless
December 29, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I simply cannot take popularism remotely seriously when nobody involved even tries to answer the question "what happened to keir starmer"
at best they point to a few policies they don't like, but "move right on social issues and immigration" is his main platform and look what fucking happened!
at best they point to a few policies they don't like, but "move right on social issues and immigration" is his main platform and look what fucking happened!
Evil is boring and sucks.
Every time I think 'this time, this time I will play a Dark Urge playthrough', and every time I get to the bard I go 'no, time to roll up another Tav instead'.
I don't know why i always end up playing the Paragon/good side in RPGs, even though I sometimes plan to do the darker/bad choices
it happens every time.
it happens every time.
December 29, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Evil is boring and sucks.
Reposted by Valastrius
raise my boomer neighbors property taxes above prop 13 margins or im turning my MacBook and PhD diploma into weapons
December 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
raise my boomer neighbors property taxes above prop 13 margins or im turning my MacBook and PhD diploma into weapons
Reposted by Valastrius
One of my more controversial opinions is that the US needs to significantly raise taxes to the tune of a couple % of GDP right now, even before any expansive social democratic reforms, and that means you—yes you, dear highly educated professional—will need to pay up, not just nebulous billionaires.
December 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
One of my more controversial opinions is that the US needs to significantly raise taxes to the tune of a couple % of GDP right now, even before any expansive social democratic reforms, and that means you—yes you, dear highly educated professional—will need to pay up, not just nebulous billionaires.
Reposted by Valastrius
Fabled main character
December 29, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Fabled main character
Reposted by Valastrius
I mean, the entire Manhattan project was underpinned by immigrant researchers, and the reason why America got the nukes and Germany didn't is because the Nazis adopted the exact vile, boneheaded blood-and-soil bullshit that Miller is spouting and drove out all their smartest guys.
Immigrant-hating Stephen Miller talks about Americans being "first to harness the atom." But the first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was conducted by a team led by Italian immigrant Enrico Fermi, who didn't become a U.S. citizen until a year and a half later.
December 29, 2025 at 3:41 AM
I mean, the entire Manhattan project was underpinned by immigrant researchers, and the reason why America got the nukes and Germany didn't is because the Nazis adopted the exact vile, boneheaded blood-and-soil bullshit that Miller is spouting and drove out all their smartest guys.
Reposted by Valastrius
Important and powerfully written piece.
Some excerpts:
"...once a state grants itself the power to unmake a citizen, the line can always be moved."
"Sweden, now with a population of 10 million, has the world’s highest proportion of dollar billionaires per capita."
Some excerpts:
"...once a state grants itself the power to unmake a citizen, the line can always be moved."
"Sweden, now with a population of 10 million, has the world’s highest proportion of dollar billionaires per capita."
December 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Important and powerfully written piece.
Some excerpts:
"...once a state grants itself the power to unmake a citizen, the line can always be moved."
"Sweden, now with a population of 10 million, has the world’s highest proportion of dollar billionaires per capita."
Some excerpts:
"...once a state grants itself the power to unmake a citizen, the line can always be moved."
"Sweden, now with a population of 10 million, has the world’s highest proportion of dollar billionaires per capita."
Reposted by Valastrius
Nobody:
The guys who wrote Enoch and Jubilees: WE FUCKING HATE THE MOON FUCKING DIE YOU SHAPESHIFTING LITTLE BITCH WE GOTTA BLOW UP THE MOON WE GOTTA BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE M
The guys who wrote Enoch and Jubilees: WE FUCKING HATE THE MOON FUCKING DIE YOU SHAPESHIFTING LITTLE BITCH WE GOTTA BLOW UP THE MOON WE GOTTA BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE M
December 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Nobody:
The guys who wrote Enoch and Jubilees: WE FUCKING HATE THE MOON FUCKING DIE YOU SHAPESHIFTING LITTLE BITCH WE GOTTA BLOW UP THE MOON WE GOTTA BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE M
The guys who wrote Enoch and Jubilees: WE FUCKING HATE THE MOON FUCKING DIE YOU SHAPESHIFTING LITTLE BITCH WE GOTTA BLOW UP THE MOON WE GOTTA BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE MOON BLOW UP THE M
Reposted by Valastrius
seeing a lot of people wonder why NYT is giving this overt antisemite such a glowing profile but they’re all forgetting their shared interest in ruining the lives of trans people
Sorry but you do not, under absolutely any circumstances, gotta hand it to Marjorie Taylor Greene www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/m...
‘I Was Just So Naïve’: Inside Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Break With Trump
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:47 PM
seeing a lot of people wonder why NYT is giving this overt antisemite such a glowing profile but they’re all forgetting their shared interest in ruining the lives of trans people
Reposted by Valastrius
God willing we end up in a place in ~10 years where someone can make an absolutely insufferable death of stalin movie about trump
December 29, 2025 at 3:29 PM
God willing we end up in a place in ~10 years where someone can make an absolutely insufferable death of stalin movie about trump