Brian, the Rude Mechanical
@brian456.bsky.social
Just some guy; over-educated blue collar worker; avid reader; TTRPG gamer; progressive. He/him
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
Oughe such thirsty! Must qwench!
November 26, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Oughe such thirsty! Must qwench!
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
This is the ultimate “bring back a past I’m nostalgic for without recreating any of the material conditions that made that possible.” Peak MAGA brain.
Sean Duffy, the U.S. transportation secretary, has been urging people for the past week to dress and comport themselves better as a way of restoring “civility” to air travel. On Tuesday, he added another item to his list of concerns: the quality of the snacks handed out on commercial flights.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Wants Healthier In-Flight Snack Options
Sean Duffy, who has been promoting greater decorum among air travelers, said he would like to see choices besides salty pretzels and buttery cookies.
nyti.ms
November 26, 2025 at 1:24 AM
This is the ultimate “bring back a past I’m nostalgic for without recreating any of the material conditions that made that possible.” Peak MAGA brain.
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
Juss a purrfikt smokey winter sunsett.
November 26, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Juss a purrfikt smokey winter sunsett.
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
Three things about the Witkoff tapes:
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Three things about the Witkoff tapes:
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
If a marriage is not good, it is good if women get get out of it. Just like, if a pregnancy is not wanted, it is good if women can end it.
November 23, 2025 at 11:15 PM
If a marriage is not good, it is good if women get get out of it. Just like, if a pregnancy is not wanted, it is good if women can end it.
Imagine seeing this news story in any other presidency. The absolute outrage (justified) it would provoke.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Imagine seeing this news story in any other presidency. The absolute outrage (justified) it would provoke.
Please, rats, form an orderly queue. You'll all get off the ship faster that way.
Things have gotten so bad that some Republicans are speculating that the House might even change hands before the end of the session - due to a flood of retirements. Republican lawmakers are heading for the exits.
The latest Press Pass from @cheetah.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/3XOpLXg
The latest Press Pass from @cheetah.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/3XOpLXg
November 25, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Please, rats, form an orderly queue. You'll all get off the ship faster that way.
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
At 55, I'm at the right age to think everything sucks compared to how things were back when I was hot and nothing hurt when I got out of bed in the morning. But when I talk to young people about the enshittification of basically everything, it's pretty clear that it's not just me being a curmudgeon.
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
At 55, I'm at the right age to think everything sucks compared to how things were back when I was hot and nothing hurt when I got out of bed in the morning. But when I talk to young people about the enshittification of basically everything, it's pretty clear that it's not just me being a curmudgeon.
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
"Too many European governments still behave as if losing Ukraine would be unfortunate but manageable. This is fantasy. The destruction of Ukraine would reshape Europe’s security architecture for decades, and not in Europe’s favour."
"Europe’s problem is not that it lacks options. It is that it refuses to use them". Jade McGlynn skewers both the Dmitriev/Witkoff plan for Ukraine's destruction, & Europe's refusal to act decisively enough to prevent disaster. open.substack.com/pub/smalldee...
Circus
Amidst the absolute chaos of a Witkoff-stamped Russian psyop-as-peace plan, discussion is filled with anger at Washington and at Moscow.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:03 AM
"Too many European governments still behave as if losing Ukraine would be unfortunate but manageable. This is fantasy. The destruction of Ukraine would reshape Europe’s security architecture for decades, and not in Europe’s favour."
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
Amazing to learn that Isaac Chotiner can apparently just come for you in your replies. Like suddenly realizing you're swimming in open ocean
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Amazing to learn that Isaac Chotiner can apparently just come for you in your replies. Like suddenly realizing you're swimming in open ocean
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
At what point do these people start to understand that a handful of billionaires getting richer doesn't mean an economy is moving forwards?
Nobody can afford anything, and the average person is either underpaid or unemployed.
This is not sustainable and -will- collapse.
Nobody can afford anything, and the average person is either underpaid or unemployed.
This is not sustainable and -will- collapse.
November 25, 2025 at 4:56 PM
At what point do these people start to understand that a handful of billionaires getting richer doesn't mean an economy is moving forwards?
Nobody can afford anything, and the average person is either underpaid or unemployed.
This is not sustainable and -will- collapse.
Nobody can afford anything, and the average person is either underpaid or unemployed.
This is not sustainable and -will- collapse.
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
Remember that US official leaks mean basically nothing.
"Canada agrees to give US right to exploit minerals first" was a story until someone asked literally any canadians
"Canada agrees to give US right to exploit minerals first" was a story until someone asked literally any canadians
ABC News reports Ukraine has agreed to the terms of the US peace proposal, with "minor details still outstanding".
US official says Ukrainian delegation has agreed with US on terms of potential peace deal
The U.S. has held secret talks in Abu Dhabi with a Russian delegation to discuss a Ukraine peace proposal.
abcnews.go.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Remember that US official leaks mean basically nothing.
"Canada agrees to give US right to exploit minerals first" was a story until someone asked literally any canadians
"Canada agrees to give US right to exploit minerals first" was a story until someone asked literally any canadians
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
I really don’t think we can overstate the harm that the tech ethos of move fast and break things (followed by the unsaid “and then just move on”) has done beyond tech. Government, ngos, universities, public schools that have invited the folks who think like this in keep ending up gutted
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter
U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency has disbanded with eight months left to its mandate.
www.cnbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I really don’t think we can overstate the harm that the tech ethos of move fast and break things (followed by the unsaid “and then just move on”) has done beyond tech. Government, ngos, universities, public schools that have invited the folks who think like this in keep ending up gutted
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter
U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency has disbanded with eight months left to its mandate.
www.cnbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:37 AM
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
"Get in!"
"But-"
"NOW."
"Okay..."
"Were you followed?"
"What?"
"WERE YOU FOLLOWED?"
"I don't think so."
"You have your passport?"
"I'm not sure."
"Never mind, open the glovebox."
"Alright. Hey, wha-"
"You know how to use that?"
"Frank, what-?"
"Better get used to calling me Jim."
"But-"
"NOW."
"Okay..."
"Were you followed?"
"What?"
"WERE YOU FOLLOWED?"
"I don't think so."
"You have your passport?"
"I'm not sure."
"Never mind, open the glovebox."
"Alright. Hey, wha-"
"You know how to use that?"
"Frank, what-?"
"Better get used to calling me Jim."
November 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM
"Get in!"
"But-"
"NOW."
"Okay..."
"Were you followed?"
"What?"
"WERE YOU FOLLOWED?"
"I don't think so."
"You have your passport?"
"I'm not sure."
"Never mind, open the glovebox."
"Alright. Hey, wha-"
"You know how to use that?"
"Frank, what-?"
"Better get used to calling me Jim."
"But-"
"NOW."
"Okay..."
"Were you followed?"
"What?"
"WERE YOU FOLLOWED?"
"I don't think so."
"You have your passport?"
"I'm not sure."
"Never mind, open the glovebox."
"Alright. Hey, wha-"
"You know how to use that?"
"Frank, what-?"
"Better get used to calling me Jim."
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
I've heard if you can decipher their true name from the runes on their chests and bellies, then once you've said it aloud they have to stop pretending they can't talk
November 25, 2025 at 11:39 AM
I've heard if you can decipher their true name from the runes on their chests and bellies, then once you've said it aloud they have to stop pretending they can't talk
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
Met longtime & excellent customer service rep at Dodd Camera, Eric Wethington, at the Cleveland store on East 30th Street. He started with Dodd in 1993 after being a regular customer and is a photographer himself. He also runs the YouTube channel One Body, One Lens, One Roll.
November 25, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Met longtime & excellent customer service rep at Dodd Camera, Eric Wethington, at the Cleveland store on East 30th Street. He started with Dodd in 1993 after being a regular customer and is a photographer himself. He also runs the YouTube channel One Body, One Lens, One Roll.
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
Mark Kelly: "I said something that was pretty simple and non-controversial, and that was that members of the military should follow the law. In response to that, Trump said I should be executed, I should be hanged ... it says a lot more about him than it says about me. I'm not going to be silenced."
November 25, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Mark Kelly: "I said something that was pretty simple and non-controversial, and that was that members of the military should follow the law. In response to that, Trump said I should be executed, I should be hanged ... it says a lot more about him than it says about me. I'm not going to be silenced."
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
The United States decided to put its name on the Kremlin’s bellicose demands as a “peace plan” and no one has resigned or anything
November 25, 2025 at 2:02 AM
The United States decided to put its name on the Kremlin’s bellicose demands as a “peace plan” and no one has resigned or anything
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
finally had dubai chocolate and it tasted awful
which is what i would expect from fucking dubai
which is what i would expect from fucking dubai
November 25, 2025 at 1:17 AM
finally had dubai chocolate and it tasted awful
which is what i would expect from fucking dubai
which is what i would expect from fucking dubai
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
For sweet F’s sake. Hegseth investigating M.K. because of “serious allegations of misconduct?” Give me a break!!! He’s not the one murdering innocents on the goddamned high seas.
November 24, 2025 at 7:47 PM
For sweet F’s sake. Hegseth investigating M.K. because of “serious allegations of misconduct?” Give me a break!!! He’s not the one murdering innocents on the goddamned high seas.
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
I don't know, y'all, I would just never choose to play these fucking games with a guy who was so competent and squeaky clean and reasonable that the federal government paid many millions of dollars to train him specifically to go into space. Super bad idea to shamelessly slander astronauts.
November 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I don't know, y'all, I would just never choose to play these fucking games with a guy who was so competent and squeaky clean and reasonable that the federal government paid many millions of dollars to train him specifically to go into space. Super bad idea to shamelessly slander astronauts.
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
Reposted by Brian, the Rude Mechanical
May come as a surprise to President Spontaneous J. Bonespurs that troops don't fight v well when they can't put into words what they're supposed to be fighting for.
Usually when you send your troops into a war you at least pretend to give them a moral justification. You know, so they don’t immediately fall into depression and hopelessness.
November 25, 2025 at 1:13 AM
May come as a surprise to President Spontaneous J. Bonespurs that troops don't fight v well when they can't put into words what they're supposed to be fighting for.