James
@whitewaterlawyer.bsky.social
blog at whitewaterlawyer.com
Adventurous attorney. Usually adventurous. In my hermit era. Whitewater kayaker, Appalachian homeowner, continent traveler. I think about a lot of things and sometimes write about them. I do some things as well.
Adventurous attorney. Usually adventurous. In my hermit era. Whitewater kayaker, Appalachian homeowner, continent traveler. I think about a lot of things and sometimes write about them. I do some things as well.
Pinned
James
@whitewaterlawyer.bsky.social
· Apr 28
Everything I write on here, ever, has the following implied asterisk:
There's a 300 character limit, so i'm going to often use a simplified phrase and not fully explain every single concept I mention, and sometimes my wording here must be less precise than it would be in a legal brief.
There's a 300 character limit, so i'm going to often use a simplified phrase and not fully explain every single concept I mention, and sometimes my wording here must be less precise than it would be in a legal brief.
This should not be possible.
Bad algorithm. No cookie. (see alt)
Bad algorithm. No cookie. (see alt)
September 27, 2025 at 1:48 PM
This should not be possible.
Bad algorithm. No cookie. (see alt)
Bad algorithm. No cookie. (see alt)
Combine (the names of) two foods to make a synergistically even worse food.
Example: Salmon + Nilla wafers
Salmon nilla wafers would be awful, but salmonella wafers would be the true worst.
Example: Salmon + Nilla wafers
Salmon nilla wafers would be awful, but salmonella wafers would be the true worst.
September 26, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Combine (the names of) two foods to make a synergistically even worse food.
Example: Salmon + Nilla wafers
Salmon nilla wafers would be awful, but salmonella wafers would be the true worst.
Example: Salmon + Nilla wafers
Salmon nilla wafers would be awful, but salmonella wafers would be the true worst.
I got an Apple Watch to basically just use as a backup phone for when I want to escape from my phone, and poking at it, it feels very close to the "iPhone Nano" that I want. 64 gigabytes, so it can hold as much music as my first iPod. Make calls, text, and not much else. One handed interface.
September 26, 2025 at 4:36 AM
I got an Apple Watch to basically just use as a backup phone for when I want to escape from my phone, and poking at it, it feels very close to the "iPhone Nano" that I want. 64 gigabytes, so it can hold as much music as my first iPod. Make calls, text, and not much else. One handed interface.
I may never get over the irony that writing and/or singing about being poor is considered one of the main ways to become rich in this society.
September 21, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I may never get over the irony that writing and/or singing about being poor is considered one of the main ways to become rich in this society.
In an abstract way, I’m happy for the celebrity I like getting yet another Emmy Award.
On the other hand, really, how meaningful is an award that gets given to the same dozen people over and over again? It’s not as though “best late night network talk show” is a wide and growing competitive field.
On the other hand, really, how meaningful is an award that gets given to the same dozen people over and over again? It’s not as though “best late night network talk show” is a wide and growing competitive field.
September 15, 2025 at 6:39 PM
In an abstract way, I’m happy for the celebrity I like getting yet another Emmy Award.
On the other hand, really, how meaningful is an award that gets given to the same dozen people over and over again? It’s not as though “best late night network talk show” is a wide and growing competitive field.
On the other hand, really, how meaningful is an award that gets given to the same dozen people over and over again? It’s not as though “best late night network talk show” is a wide and growing competitive field.
I toyed with my Deepseek instance asking whether it could give me ideas for my crime novel about how bad guys might set up a false flag in terms of evidence planting, because the article saying "the bullets said transgender and antifa on them" seemed to implausible.
It refused to help.
It refused to help.
September 14, 2025 at 3:22 AM
I toyed with my Deepseek instance asking whether it could give me ideas for my crime novel about how bad guys might set up a false flag in terms of evidence planting, because the article saying "the bullets said transgender and antifa on them" seemed to implausible.
It refused to help.
It refused to help.
The podcasters and proud boys running the FBI couldn't tell the difference between ammunition brand markings and "transgender ideology."
This is our national leadership today.
This is our national leadership today.
September 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The podcasters and proud boys running the FBI couldn't tell the difference between ammunition brand markings and "transgender ideology."
This is our national leadership today.
This is our national leadership today.
The next time someone tells me to check Youtube for something I'm gonna respond asking if they have a better source for accurate and non-manipulative information, like maybe tiktok or idk, pornhub?
Our society has collapsed. The majority of the population has no access to verifiable reality.
Our society has collapsed. The majority of the population has no access to verifiable reality.
September 13, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The next time someone tells me to check Youtube for something I'm gonna respond asking if they have a better source for accurate and non-manipulative information, like maybe tiktok or idk, pornhub?
Our society has collapsed. The majority of the population has no access to verifiable reality.
Our society has collapsed. The majority of the population has no access to verifiable reality.
The Charlie Kirk thing is legitimately sad and tragic for all involved parties. I truly don't get it because every time he spoke it was hateful, infuriating crap, a mix of outright lies and misinformation, and yet apparently there were people who legitimately liked him and thought he was a Christian
September 11, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The Charlie Kirk thing is legitimately sad and tragic for all involved parties. I truly don't get it because every time he spoke it was hateful, infuriating crap, a mix of outright lies and misinformation, and yet apparently there were people who legitimately liked him and thought he was a Christian
Watching the "Everyone's a Vulcan" episode of SNW and it occurs to me that Vulcans are essentially autistic people who develop intense discipline as an adaptive strategy to deal with overwhelming emotions and sensitivities.
I have always identified with these characters, too.
I have always identified with these characters, too.
September 11, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Watching the "Everyone's a Vulcan" episode of SNW and it occurs to me that Vulcans are essentially autistic people who develop intense discipline as an adaptive strategy to deal with overwhelming emotions and sensitivities.
I have always identified with these characters, too.
I have always identified with these characters, too.
I often wonder if the key to happiness is simply letting go of ideals and grandiose ideas to just accept the world around you and the hand you are dealt.
September 10, 2025 at 11:15 PM
I often wonder if the key to happiness is simply letting go of ideals and grandiose ideas to just accept the world around you and the hand you are dealt.
with no identity of the shooter etc, is there any evidence whatsoever to suggest that Charlie Kirk was killed for political motivation and not just by one of his many regular enemies?
September 10, 2025 at 10:23 PM
with no identity of the shooter etc, is there any evidence whatsoever to suggest that Charlie Kirk was killed for political motivation and not just by one of his many regular enemies?
So, I finally found the "everyone who opposes genocide is an antisemite" side of Bluesky and it's kind of even worse than the other side?
About ready to leave this platform and accept that Trumpism is actually what the left wants as well, by least common denominator consensus.
About ready to leave this platform and accept that Trumpism is actually what the left wants as well, by least common denominator consensus.
September 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
So, I finally found the "everyone who opposes genocide is an antisemite" side of Bluesky and it's kind of even worse than the other side?
About ready to leave this platform and accept that Trumpism is actually what the left wants as well, by least common denominator consensus.
About ready to leave this platform and accept that Trumpism is actually what the left wants as well, by least common denominator consensus.
I know the standard joke is "space heater" but with a slow circulating breeze of about the temperature of a cup of coffee steadily wafting, it makes a pretty decent sock dryer too.
September 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I know the standard joke is "space heater" but with a slow circulating breeze of about the temperature of a cup of coffee steadily wafting, it makes a pretty decent sock dryer too.
Mansplaining is bad, and comes down to a gendered situation of a less knowledgable person talking down to someone who is actually more knowledgable. Discourse on this is mostly gendered. But apart from gender, what is real protocol? How do you navigate knowledge level ambiguity? Avoid talking down?
September 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Mansplaining is bad, and comes down to a gendered situation of a less knowledgable person talking down to someone who is actually more knowledgable. Discourse on this is mostly gendered. But apart from gender, what is real protocol? How do you navigate knowledge level ambiguity? Avoid talking down?
I hate when I have to agree with Rand Paul. Stopped clock and all that.
I did not have "Rand Paul becomes one of the more sensible Republicans pushing back against fascism" on my 2025 bingo card.
I did not have "Rand Paul becomes one of the more sensible Republicans pushing back against fascism" on my 2025 bingo card.
September 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I hate when I have to agree with Rand Paul. Stopped clock and all that.
I did not have "Rand Paul becomes one of the more sensible Republicans pushing back against fascism" on my 2025 bingo card.
I did not have "Rand Paul becomes one of the more sensible Republicans pushing back against fascism" on my 2025 bingo card.
I don't know why this Hyundai story isn't trending more.
Trump made a deal with Hyundai to expand a factory, and then raided that factory arresting the Korean workers… building a factory for americans to work in.
Parable of the tortoise and scorpion?
Trump made a deal with Hyundai to expand a factory, and then raided that factory arresting the Korean workers… building a factory for americans to work in.
Parable of the tortoise and scorpion?
September 7, 2025 at 5:02 AM
I don't know why this Hyundai story isn't trending more.
Trump made a deal with Hyundai to expand a factory, and then raided that factory arresting the Korean workers… building a factory for americans to work in.
Parable of the tortoise and scorpion?
Trump made a deal with Hyundai to expand a factory, and then raided that factory arresting the Korean workers… building a factory for americans to work in.
Parable of the tortoise and scorpion?
Going at a literal snails pace, finishing about ten feet of this french drain per day. Just as i'm saying "the hard part is done" I realize the last stretch is a lot hairier to work in than I realized earlier. And I'd really like to pull some more of the dirt down off the house. so (alt)
September 5, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Going at a literal snails pace, finishing about ten feet of this french drain per day. Just as i'm saying "the hard part is done" I realize the last stretch is a lot hairier to work in than I realized earlier. And I'd really like to pull some more of the dirt down off the house. so (alt)
Fun fact: It's actually not against the law to use hot dog buns for other kinds of sandwiches.
Reimagined breakfast sandwich shaped to resemble a chili dog, with pesto rosso thick sliced bacon, and fried egg on a Dollar General hot dog bun.
Reimagined breakfast sandwich shaped to resemble a chili dog, with pesto rosso thick sliced bacon, and fried egg on a Dollar General hot dog bun.
September 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Fun fact: It's actually not against the law to use hot dog buns for other kinds of sandwiches.
Reimagined breakfast sandwich shaped to resemble a chili dog, with pesto rosso thick sliced bacon, and fried egg on a Dollar General hot dog bun.
Reimagined breakfast sandwich shaped to resemble a chili dog, with pesto rosso thick sliced bacon, and fried egg on a Dollar General hot dog bun.
Can someone explain to me how "People have a right to make their own decisions, informed decisions. What you put into your body is because of your relationship with your body and your god. I don’t have that right. Government does not have that right" squares with GOP opposition to trans healthcare?
September 5, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Can someone explain to me how "People have a right to make their own decisions, informed decisions. What you put into your body is because of your relationship with your body and your god. I don’t have that right. Government does not have that right" squares with GOP opposition to trans healthcare?
I'm lately obsessed more than usual with spoonerisms and trying to invent meanings for them.
Chicken nuggets => nick and chug its? New soft drink to accompany easy chicken?
Calendar spam... spa lender cam? We're just imagining a theme of linguistically silly villains now.
Chicken nuggets => nick and chug its? New soft drink to accompany easy chicken?
Calendar spam... spa lender cam? We're just imagining a theme of linguistically silly villains now.
September 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I'm lately obsessed more than usual with spoonerisms and trying to invent meanings for them.
Chicken nuggets => nick and chug its? New soft drink to accompany easy chicken?
Calendar spam... spa lender cam? We're just imagining a theme of linguistically silly villains now.
Chicken nuggets => nick and chug its? New soft drink to accompany easy chicken?
Calendar spam... spa lender cam? We're just imagining a theme of linguistically silly villains now.
European jazz never took off because nobody wants to buy albums from Kilometers Davis or John Windmilltrane.
September 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
European jazz never took off because nobody wants to buy albums from Kilometers Davis or John Windmilltrane.
Funny how we are already on a shutdown fight after the last bit of legislation was called "one big beautiful bill" meant to solve that problem for years
but oh I guess "meeting basic constitutional obligations of congress" didn't make the cut for priorities in that 1000+ page boondoggle.
but oh I guess "meeting basic constitutional obligations of congress" didn't make the cut for priorities in that 1000+ page boondoggle.
September 2, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Funny how we are already on a shutdown fight after the last bit of legislation was called "one big beautiful bill" meant to solve that problem for years
but oh I guess "meeting basic constitutional obligations of congress" didn't make the cut for priorities in that 1000+ page boondoggle.
but oh I guess "meeting basic constitutional obligations of congress" didn't make the cut for priorities in that 1000+ page boondoggle.
continuing my holiday tradition of avoiding all public and recreational spaces for fear of running into people having fun.
looking forward to kayaking tomorrow afternoon with the river to myself.
looking forward to kayaking tomorrow afternoon with the river to myself.
September 1, 2025 at 10:41 PM
continuing my holiday tradition of avoiding all public and recreational spaces for fear of running into people having fun.
looking forward to kayaking tomorrow afternoon with the river to myself.
looking forward to kayaking tomorrow afternoon with the river to myself.
software request:
Anyone know a good iOS text editor app with a character and word counter, that isn't quite as bloated or expensive as Microsoft office?
Anyone know a good iOS text editor app with a character and word counter, that isn't quite as bloated or expensive as Microsoft office?
August 31, 2025 at 10:19 PM
software request:
Anyone know a good iOS text editor app with a character and word counter, that isn't quite as bloated or expensive as Microsoft office?
Anyone know a good iOS text editor app with a character and word counter, that isn't quite as bloated or expensive as Microsoft office?