Absentia
@absentia.bsky.social
Many interests, little patience for trolls. Just glad to be here.
I knew she was Canadian but I didn't know she was *that* Canadian.
January 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I knew she was Canadian but I didn't know she was *that* Canadian.
Oh no what if the EU bans something that's legal in America.
January 20, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Oh no what if the EU bans something that's legal in America.
Dense urban areas, desert, etc. Anywhere without a lot of dry vegetation sitting around.
January 15, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Dense urban areas, desert, etc. Anywhere without a lot of dry vegetation sitting around.
Depends on how you count your top 5, I guess. Is "Nuclear Apocalypse" one item or are there separate lines for "Nuclear Apocalypse (China)", "Nuclear Apocalypse (Russia)", and "Nuclear Apocalypse (Rogue AI)"?
January 14, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Depends on how you count your top 5, I guess. Is "Nuclear Apocalypse" one item or are there separate lines for "Nuclear Apocalypse (China)", "Nuclear Apocalypse (Russia)", and "Nuclear Apocalypse (Rogue AI)"?
I'm not an anti-AI guy but these "animated paintings" creep me out.
January 10, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I'm not an anti-AI guy but these "animated paintings" creep me out.
Probably worse, because most voters are pro choice.
Fortunately she ran as explicitly pro choice. She even got Cheney to admit that red state abortion bans went too far.
Fortunately she ran as explicitly pro choice. She even got Cheney to admit that red state abortion bans went too far.
January 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Probably worse, because most voters are pro choice.
Fortunately she ran as explicitly pro choice. She even got Cheney to admit that red state abortion bans went too far.
Fortunately she ran as explicitly pro choice. She even got Cheney to admit that red state abortion bans went too far.
1. No, the marginal voter likes bipartisanship.
2. You seem to misunderstand what an "opportunity cost" is. Accepting Liz's support didn't stop her from doing anything. There were no policy concessions.
2. Republicans who oppose Trump and vote against him are in fact much better than Trumpists.
2. You seem to misunderstand what an "opportunity cost" is. Accepting Liz's support didn't stop her from doing anything. There were no policy concessions.
2. Republicans who oppose Trump and vote against him are in fact much better than Trumpists.
January 9, 2025 at 6:50 PM
1. No, the marginal voter likes bipartisanship.
2. You seem to misunderstand what an "opportunity cost" is. Accepting Liz's support didn't stop her from doing anything. There were no policy concessions.
2. Republicans who oppose Trump and vote against him are in fact much better than Trumpists.
2. You seem to misunderstand what an "opportunity cost" is. Accepting Liz's support didn't stop her from doing anything. There were no policy concessions.
2. Republicans who oppose Trump and vote against him are in fact much better than Trumpists.
Moreover, saying economics isn't a science because downturns still happen is like saying meteorology isn't a science because tornadoes still happen, or medicine isn't a science because heart attacks still happen. That's nonsense.
January 6, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Moreover, saying economics isn't a science because downturns still happen is like saying meteorology isn't a science because tornadoes still happen, or medicine isn't a science because heart attacks still happen. That's nonsense.
Modern economics has been extremely successful at reducing the frequency and severity of economic disasters. Between 1850 and 1950 the US economy was in recession or depression about 39% of the time. Since 1950 we've been in recession about 12.5% of the time, and the recessions are less deep.
January 6, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Modern economics has been extremely successful at reducing the frequency and severity of economic disasters. Between 1850 and 1950 the US economy was in recession or depression about 39% of the time. Since 1950 we've been in recession about 12.5% of the time, and the recessions are less deep.
Economics is purely descriptive; there are no moral judgments, just math and logic.
That being said, it is true that bad choices often come with consequences, which is why economists strive to help people and societies make better choices.
That being said, it is true that bad choices often come with consequences, which is why economists strive to help people and societies make better choices.
January 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Economics is purely descriptive; there are no moral judgments, just math and logic.
That being said, it is true that bad choices often come with consequences, which is why economists strive to help people and societies make better choices.
That being said, it is true that bad choices often come with consequences, which is why economists strive to help people and societies make better choices.
One of the many seemingly-obvious things that I learned as an econ major but the average person seems to have no concept of is the existence of tradeoffs.
January 5, 2025 at 12:00 AM
One of the many seemingly-obvious things that I learned as an econ major but the average person seems to have no concept of is the existence of tradeoffs.
Not to relitigate 2016 but there was a reason why I preferred Hillary despite her many shortcomings.
January 2, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Not to relitigate 2016 but there was a reason why I preferred Hillary despite her many shortcomings.
Try asking ChatGPT? I pasted your question and it gave me a solution. I can't verify that it works but doesn't seem too complicated.
January 2, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Try asking ChatGPT? I pasted your question and it gave me a solution. I can't verify that it works but doesn't seem too complicated.
The risk here is that you become The Guy Who Makes Charts Look Nice and get assigned to format all the charts instead of just your own.
January 2, 2025 at 12:38 AM
The risk here is that you become The Guy Who Makes Charts Look Nice and get assigned to format all the charts instead of just your own.
Uh, there's a bunch of Jews and Italians, it snows a lot, the Pirates are always bad and the Steelers are always good. Anything else you want to know about it?
December 29, 2024 at 11:20 PM
Uh, there's a bunch of Jews and Italians, it snows a lot, the Pirates are always bad and the Steelers are always good. Anything else you want to know about it?
If I didn't know he was a real guy who went to Hillsdale, I would assume this was satire. Not even particularly subtle satire. It's incredible.
December 28, 2024 at 8:28 PM
If I didn't know he was a real guy who went to Hillsdale, I would assume this was satire. Not even particularly subtle satire. It's incredible.
If you're willing to carry the risks, the answer is probably drugs. Untraceable, robust black market, nobody is going to ask where they came from.
December 28, 2024 at 6:59 PM
If you're willing to carry the risks, the answer is probably drugs. Untraceable, robust black market, nobody is going to ask where they came from.
I'm, uh... *furious googling* sorry to hear that.
December 27, 2024 at 10:43 PM
I'm, uh... *furious googling* sorry to hear that.
If anyone is rent seeking, it's healthcare providers. I could go on about this at length. Pharma companies are especially bad but doctors' orgs do it too.
Insurers' piece of the pie is modest in comparison, and unless/until nationalized healthcare becomes a reality, it *is* a necessary service.
Insurers' piece of the pie is modest in comparison, and unless/until nationalized healthcare becomes a reality, it *is* a necessary service.
December 24, 2024 at 3:48 AM
If anyone is rent seeking, it's healthcare providers. I could go on about this at length. Pharma companies are especially bad but doctors' orgs do it too.
Insurers' piece of the pie is modest in comparison, and unless/until nationalized healthcare becomes a reality, it *is* a necessary service.
Insurers' piece of the pie is modest in comparison, and unless/until nationalized healthcare becomes a reality, it *is* a necessary service.
The service that the insurance industry provides is risk management. You're paying for the security that you won't go bankrupt if something awful happens. This is true of life insurance, car insurance, and health insurance, and (despite valid complaints) it's a good thing for society that it exists.
December 24, 2024 at 3:29 AM
The service that the insurance industry provides is risk management. You're paying for the security that you won't go bankrupt if something awful happens. This is true of life insurance, car insurance, and health insurance, and (despite valid complaints) it's a good thing for society that it exists.
Control? In this economy?
December 23, 2024 at 10:00 PM
Control? In this economy?
Yes it costs extra to have somebody bring the Big Mac (and fries and drink) to your door.
You are paying someone to cook your food, and someone else to drive the food to you. If having two servants is too expensive for you, you can make a burger yourself for maybe $5.
You are paying someone to cook your food, and someone else to drive the food to you. If having two servants is too expensive for you, you can make a burger yourself for maybe $5.
December 22, 2024 at 8:44 PM
Yes it costs extra to have somebody bring the Big Mac (and fries and drink) to your door.
You are paying someone to cook your food, and someone else to drive the food to you. If having two servants is too expensive for you, you can make a burger yourself for maybe $5.
You are paying someone to cook your food, and someone else to drive the food to you. If having two servants is too expensive for you, you can make a burger yourself for maybe $5.
Not a lot of room in the modern GOP for people who are capable of feeling shame. True believers and pure cynics only.
December 21, 2024 at 12:34 AM
Not a lot of room in the modern GOP for people who are capable of feeling shame. True believers and pure cynics only.
I don't get seasonal depression but I do get seasonal annoyance that it's dark and freezing outside when I want to go out for dinner.
December 20, 2024 at 4:03 AM
I don't get seasonal depression but I do get seasonal annoyance that it's dark and freezing outside when I want to go out for dinner.